Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme on Developing Economies

Deadline: 30-Sep-2026

The Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme at UNU-WIDER offers registered doctoral students an opportunity to conduct dissertation or thesis research on developing economies while working from the institute’s facilities in Helsinki. The fellowship provides access to UNU-WIDER’s research resources and facilities and allows fellows to collaborate with researchers at the institute in areas of mutual interest. Financial support includes a monthly stipend of EUR 2,100, a travel grant, and medical insurance for the duration of the fellowship stay. The programme is particularly aimed at doctoral researchers in the later stages of their PhD and encourages applications from early-career researchers, female researchers, and researchers from developing countries.

About the Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme

The Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme is designed for registered PhD students whose doctoral research focuses on developing economies. The programme provides fellows with the opportunity to conduct research in an international research environment and benefit from UNU-WIDER’s academic resources in Helsinki. During their fellowship, researchers can also collaborate with UNU-WIDER researchers working in areas related to their own research interests. Research Focus The programme is focused on dissertation and thesis research related to developing economies. While UNU-WIDER has a strong economics focus, the programme is not limited exclusively to economics students. Candidates from other social science disciplines may also apply if their research is relevant to developing economies and meets the programme’s requirements. What Fellows Receive Selected fellows receive several forms of financial and research support.

The programme provides:

- A monthly stipend of EUR 2,100 to cover living expenses in Helsinki. - A travel grant covering travel costs to and from the fellow’s PhD-granting institution or country of residence. - Medical insurance for the duration of the stay. - Access to UNU-WIDER resources and facilities in Helsinki. - Opportunities to collaborate with UNU-WIDER researchers in areas of mutual interest. The financial support is intended to help fellows manage the costs associated with undertaking their research stay in Helsinki. EUR 2,100 Monthly Stipend The fellowship provides a monthly stipend of EUR 2,100. The stipend is intended to cover living expenses during the fellow’s stay in Helsinki. Applicants should note that the programme does not cover expenses related to dependents. Travel Grant Fellows receive a travel grant covering the costs of travel to and from their PhD-granting institution or country of residence. This travel support helps fellows travel to Helsinki for the research period and return after completing their fellowship stay. Medical Insurance Medical insurance is provided for the duration of the fellowship stay. This provides fellows with medical coverage while they are undertaking their research at UNU-WIDER in Helsinki. Access to UNU-WIDER Resources One of the key benefits of the programme is access to UNU-WIDER’s resources and facilities in Helsinki. This gives doctoral researchers an opportunity to work within an established research environment while developing their dissertation or thesis research. Collaboration with UNU-WIDER Researchers Fellows also have opportunities to collaborate with UNU-WIDER researchers. This collaboration is based on areas of mutual research interest and can provide doctoral students with exposure to an international research community. The fellowship therefore combines individual dissertation research with opportunities for academic interaction and collaboration. Who Can Apply? Applicants must meet several core eligibility requirements.

Candidates must:

- Be enrolled in a PhD programme. - Be conducting dissertation or thesis research on developing economies. - Demonstrate the ability to conduct research on developing economies. - Have proficiency in English. - Have strong quantitative and/or qualitative analytical skills. The programme is particularly suitable for researchers who are already well advanced in their doctoral studies. Applicants From Social Sciences Although the programme is economics-focused, applicants do not necessarily have to be studying economics. Candidates from other social science disciplines may apply when their doctoral research focuses on developing economies. This makes the programme relevant to researchers whose work intersects with economics, development, policy, society, institutions, and other areas of the social sciences. Who Is Particularly Encouraged to Apply? The programme particularly encourages applications from: - Early-career researchers. - Female researchers. - Researchers from developing countries. - Doctoral students in the later stages of their PhD. The fellowship is especially aimed at researchers who are approaching the later stages of their doctoral research and would benefit from an extended research period in an international academic environment. Later-Stage PhD Researchers The programme is especially intended for doctoral students in the later stages of their PhD. Applicants at this stage should be able to demonstrate a clear research focus and the capacity to conduct dissertation or thesis research related to developing economies. The fellowship can provide an opportunity to advance doctoral research while benefiting from UNU-WIDER’s research environment and academic resources. Research Skills Required Strong research skills are an important part of the eligibility requirements. Applicants must demonstrate strong quantitative and/or qualitative analytical skills. Depending on the research topic, candidates should be able to apply appropriate analytical approaches to their doctoral research on developing economies. English Language Requirement Proficiency in English is required. Applicants should be able to communicate effectively in English and conduct their academic rese