The UNU-WIDER Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme provides an opportunity for registered doctoral students to utilize the resources and facilities at UNU-WIDER for their own research work. It also allows the students to work with researchers sharing the same field of interest.UNU-WIDER receives online applications twice each year and selected candidates get to spend three consecutive months at UNU-WIDER, and during their stay there, they will prepare one or more research papers, that they will present in the seminar allotted to discuss their research findings.

Candidates working in any field of social sciences, other than economics may also apply here, given that, they should keep in mind about UNU-WIDER being an economics-focused institute. Visiting PhD fellows typically spend three consecutive months at UNU-WIDER before returning to their home institution. During their time in Helsinki, fellows prepare one or more research papers and present a seminar on their research findings. They may also have the opportunity to publish their research in the WIDER Working Paper Series.

Benefits

UNU-WIDER provides a travel grant to cover the costs of travel to and from the location of your PhD granting institution, medical insurance (for medical and hospital services resulting from sickness and accident during your stay at UNU-WIDER), and a monthly stipend of EUR 1,600 to cover living expenses in Helsinki during the period of their fellowship. The programme does not cover expenses related to dependents.

Selection Criteria

Applicants must be enrolled in a PhD programme and have shown ability to conduct research on developing economies. Candidates working in other social sciences may apply but should keep in mind that UNU-WIDER is an economics-focused institute. Candidates should be fluent in oral and written English and possess good quantitative and/or qualitative analytical skills. Applications from suitably qualified early-career, female, and developing country researchers are particularly encouraged. The programme is especially addressed at researchers at later stages of their PhD.

The Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme is highly competitive and only a limited number of fellows can be accepted. In recent years, one percent of all applications have been successful.