Great news for women scientists from developing countries in the Global South! Applications for the OWSD PhD Fellowships 2025 are now open. This article provides an overview of the fellowship program, its benefits, and the step-by-step application process.
The OWSD PhD Fellowship 2025-2026 is fully funded and aims to support women scientists from science- and technology-lagging countries (STLCs) in pursuing PhD research in fields like natural sciences, engineering, and information technology. The fellowship covers a monthly stipend, visa costs, and annual contributions to medical insurance.
Funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), this program is administered in partnership with host institutes across developing countries.
The primary goal of the fellowship is to nurture a new generation of women leaders in science and technology, promoting their role in the scientific and technological advancement of their home countries.
Fellowship Objectives:
- Improve access to education and training for women in science and technology from STLCs.
- Increase the scientific productivity of women scientists in STLCs.
- Empower women scientists to assume leadership roles in their fields.
- Encourage their contributions to sustainable development.
- Facilitate collaboration and networking among women scientists regionally and globally.
Fellowship Options:
- Full-Time Fellowship: Research is conducted entirely at a host institute in another developing country (maximum 4 years of funding).
- Sandwich Fellowship: Candidates remain enrolled in their home country’s PhD programme but spend part of their study at a host institute abroad, with 1 to 3 research visits over a period of up to 20 months.
OWSD encourages the sandwich option, allowing scholars to complete their PhD in their home country while accessing specialised resources and expertise abroad.
Fellowship Summary
- Level of Study: PhD
- Institution: Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)
- Study Location: Developing countries
- Programme Duration: Up to 4 years (full-time) or 20 months (sandwich)
- Deadline: Applications for 2024 are closed due to funding issues.
Eligible Study Fields
- Agricultural Sciences
- Astronomy, Space and Earth Sciences
- Biological Sciences
- Chemical Sciences
- Computing and IT
- Engineering
- Mathematical Sciences
- Medical and Health Sciences
- Neurosciences
- Physics
- Structural, Cell, and Molecular Biology
Fellowship Benefits
The OWSD PhD Fellowship covers:
- Monthly allowance for basic living expenses, such as accommodation and meals.
- Travel allowance for international conferences during the fellowship.
- Round-trip airfare between the home country and the host institute.
- Visa expenses.
- Annual medical insurance contribution.
- Access to regional science communication workshops.
- Tuition and registration fees (covered by the host institute).
The fellowship does not cover:
- Bench fees or consumables.
- Language training.
- Shipment of research samples.
- Personal computer or software costs.
- Family support.
- Additional return flights for personal reasons.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the OWSD PhD Fellowship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Languages: Proficient in English.
- Eligible Countries: Applicants must be from an eligible science- and technology-lagging country (STLC). (Check the list here.).
- Education: Minimum qualification is a master’s degree in one of the eligible study fields.
- Host Institute: Must be located in a developing country other than the applicant’s home country.
- Return Commitment: Candidates must commit to returning to their home country after completing their PhD.
How to Apply for OWSD PhD Fellowships
Follow these steps to apply for the OWSD PhD Fellowship:
- Start the Application: Complete the online application form on the OWSD portal.
- Upload Required Documents:
- PhD research proposal.
- Degree certificates and transcripts.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Preliminary acceptance letter from at least one host institute.
- Letter of commitment from the host university.
- Two reference letters.
- Passport copy (personal details page).
For those applying for the sandwich study scheme, you will also need:
- No objection certificate from the home institution.
- Supporting statement from the home supervisor.
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