The Nordic Research Council for Criminology - Research grants

NSfK Research Grants

You receive up to 7,380,000 ISK (about 50,000 EUR) for a solo research project. If several researchers across the Nordic region team up on one shared project, you can get up to 18,400,000 ISK (about 125,000 EUR). The money can cover your own salary or a stipend (a living allowance) while you take leave from your job. It can also pay for gathering and analysing data, study trips, translation and publishing your findings. Overheads are capped at 20% of the salary part. The grant comes from a joint body run by the justice ministries of the five Nordic states. It funds research into crime, crime policy and crime prevention.

Who can apply

• Who you are: You are applying as an individual researcher or as a group.
• Where you live: You are resident in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden. The grant will not be paid out outside these countries.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, provided they are resident in one of the five countries.
• Subject: Your project focuses on crime, crime policy or crime prevention in the Nordic countries.
• Level: Your project must be a new initiative, not one that has already been completed, and must be carried out in at least one Nordic country. Master’s theses are not eligible. Early-career researchers are expressly encouraged to apply.
• Team projects: To be eligible for the larger joint grant, your project must involve researchers from all five Nordic countries. Collecting data in more than two of these countries will strengthen your application.
• Earlier grants: Any previous NSfK grants you have received must have been completed and finalised before you can submit a new application.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted in English via the online portal at nsfk.apurahat.net. For the 2026 round, the deadline for applications is 18 January 2026 at 23:59 GMT. The Council decides which projects will receive funding at its annual meeting in March. Please read the funding guidelines first, as applications that do not meet the formal requirements will not be processed.