Polytechnical University of Madrid - Social Council Grants for Training and International Mobility of Doctorate Students

What you get

You will receive up to 6,000 EUR for a research placement lasting from 3 to 6 months at a university or research institution outside Spain. The exact amount depends on the destination country. The scholarship is awarded by the Social Council (Consejo Social) of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM). It is intended to help PhD students gain international research experience. You may combine it with other funding, provided that such funding is not intended for the same research placement.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are a current PhD student with an employment contract at the Polytechnic University of Madrid.
• How far along you are: You must be in at least your third year of your PhD programme if you are studying full-time, or in your fifth year if you are studying part-time.
• Publications: You have authored at least two research articles as first author which have been published in a prestigious journal (Q1) in your field or have been officially accepted for publication.
• Where you go: Any public or private university or research centre outside Spain, provided that it is not situated in the country of which you are a national.
• No double funding: You have not received this grant or a similar official grant in previous funding rounds.
• Field of study: All participants are eligible to take part.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the UPM’s Consejo Social using the official form. For the 2026/2027 round, the application deadline has been extended to 31 May at 14:00 (Madrid local time). Selection will be based on the documents you submit.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding scheme is very restrictive. You must already be enrolled as a PhD student at UPM on a contract, be well advanced in your PhD studies, and have two articles published as first author in prestigious specialist journals. This leaves only a small group of highly qualified applicants. If you clearly meet these requirements, particularly the publication requirement, your chances are good. Apply early, as the application round runs until a set deadline.