Funding for Research Stays Abroad for PhD candidates at HSL-faculty

The Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education invites PhD candidates admitted to the PhD programme in Humanities and Social Sciences, to apply for scholarships for research stays abroad at a host institution in 2025.

Application deadline November 20, 2025.

Purpose

The objective of the scheme is to increase the number of researchers who conduct a research stay abroad. International experience is important in building a career as a researcher. It helps to strengthen UiT’s research by increasing expertise and bringing new knowledge to projects and expands networks and thereby provides the researcher with greater opportunity to access the international research front. The stay abroad should be conducted after the data collection/fieldwork has been completed, and during the period when research data is to be analyzed and the text for the thesis is to be written. 

Who is eligible to apply?

Doctoral fellows employed at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education and PhD candidates who are funded by sources that do not provide support for research stays abroad may apply to the faculty for financial support for stay at a host institution abroad in 2025. Research fellows funded by the Research Council of Norway cannot apply for a scholarship at the faculty but must submit such an application to the Research Council. If you are in doubt about the funding for your position, please contact Senior Adviser Mayvi B. Johansen by email: mayvi.johansen@uit.no

Application requirements

The application must be justified and related to the doctoral project, where the period of the stay and the progress plan should reflect the stay abroad and its purpose.

As a rule, the stay should be between 2-6 months. Exceptionally, the faculty may extend the scholarship for up to 10 months.

The applicant cannot have lived, studied or worked in the country where the international host institution is located for more than 12 months during the previous five years. We may make exceptions to this requirement if the international host institution has equipment, facilities and expertise that are not available in Norway or other countries in which it is appropriate to carry out the stay abroad.

Funding for research stays abroad may not be used to spend all or part of the fellowship period on Svalbard.

The following must be stated in the application:

• Duration and purpose of the stay abroad
• Relevance to the PhD project
• Budget for your trip and stay
• Information about other sources of funding (annuum, external sources, etc.)
• If you are travelling alone og with your partner or family (spouse, cohabitant or registered partner, and any children)
• Recommendation from supervisor ('supervisor’s declaration')
• Invitation from the host institution where you will be a guest PhD researcher. The invitation must contain information about the period of stay at the host institution and possible tuition fee. It is recommended that the invitation letter also includes information about what the institution can offer you, such as participation in workshops, seminars, courses, supervision, access to library services, and the use of an office/workplace.

The scholarship’s monthly rates

The rates are for the scholarships are:

• Stays abroad alone – up to NOK 23 000 per month.
• Stays abroad with family – up to NOK 39 000 per month.

In addition to the grant, you can apply for travel support. More information about what the scholarships and travel support cover is stated in the application form.

Criteria for ranking the applicants

1. University PhD research fellows employed at HSL-faculty are given priority.
2. The stay abroad must be carried out in the third, fourth or fifth semester.
3. Supervisor's assessment of academic relevance and significance for the PhD project.
4. Submitted progress reports during the admission period.
5. Good progression in the doctoral work.
6. Plan for cooperation with the host institution.

Application:

The application must be completed on a separate form. See Appendix. The supervisor’s declaration/recommendation and invitation from the host institution must accompany the application at the time the application is submitted.

A completed application should be sent to HSL-faculty on email to mayvi.johansen@uit.no by November 20, 2024.