Société Française d'Ophtalmologie - SFO Mobility Grants

SFO Mobility Grants

You will receive up to 7,500 EUR for a training programme lasting up to 3 months at a specialist eye centre abroad. If you are based in France, the scholarship covers the costs of a stay outside France. If you are from abroad, it covers the costs of a stay at a centre in France. The French Society of Ophthalmology (Société Française d’Ophtalmologie, SFO) awards a maximum of 4 of these grants each year. You may combine this funding with other grants, which is advantageous if you are staying for a longer period in a country with a high cost of living.

Who can apply

• Your field: You work in ophthalmology (eye medicine), either already qualified or still in training.
• Membership: You are a member of the SFO and have paid your membership fee by the time the grant was approved.
• Your plan: You have arranged a host institution with the written consent of the head of department, as well as a confirmed research project.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. The application route depends on where you are based: to France if you are coming from abroad, or from France if you are based there.

How to apply

Please send your application, together with your CV, a covering letter, details of your project, written consent from your host and a justification for the amount requested, to the SFO office. The Executive Committee reviews applications twice a year, at its meetings in January and June. There are two submission deadlines: 30 June and 31 December.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is highly selective: you must be an ophthalmologist and a contributing member of the SFO, and have a specific training plan that has already been approved by a host clinic. As a result, the pool of applicants is small and highly specialised. With only 4 scholarships awarded each year, competition remains fierce, but a well-prepared project and a clear financial plan offer you strong prospects. If you finalise your hosting agreement and your research project before applying, you will stand out from other applicants.