FWO - Grant for participation in an international workshop or course

What the FWO grant covers

The Flemish Research Foundation (FWO) funds a research trip abroad to enable you to further your training in your field of expertise or to learn new techniques at a research centre. Travel costs between Brussels and the venue are covered. Flight costs are reimbursed at economy class rates, and rail travel at the cheapest available fare. For stays of more than 7 days, you will also receive a daily allowance of 66 EUR per day for accommodation, up to a total of 1,848 EUR. The stay may last up to 31 days. You may receive a maximum of one FWO travel grant per calendar year.

Who can apply

• Where you are based: For your whole stay abroad, you must be affiliated with a university, university hospital or recognised academic research hospital in the Flemish Community, or work as scientific staff at a federal or Flemish scientific institute.
• Degree (PhD candidates): You hold a master's degree from the European Economic Area or Switzerland. If your master's is from elsewhere, your university must confirm it lets you write a doctoral thesis.
• Postdoctoral and above: There are no specific qualification requirements.
• Retired professors: Even after being granted emeritus status, you may still apply for up to 3 years.
• Publications: You have at least one peer-reviewed publication (an article that has been reviewed by other experts prior to publication). If this is not the case, you must explain in the form why you nevertheless meet the requirements.
• Field of study: Open to all fields of research.
• Nationality: Applicants of any nationality may apply, provided they retain their Flemish affiliation.
• Bench-fee exception: If you are an FWO Fellow or SB PhD grant holder who already gets a bench fee (extra money for research costs), you can only apply for events outside the EEA, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

How to apply

Apply for the grant online in English via the FWO E-Loket. Submit your application no later than 3 months before your departure date; this deadline must be strictly adhered to. Please enclose your confirmation of enrolment for the course or workshop. The Committee for International Cooperation (CIWC) will decide on your application and notify you of the outcome by email.

You can find more scholarships in our guide Scholarships in Belgium.