Call for applications for research stays abroad scholarships

Who Can Apply

PhD candidates who are employed and enrolled in a doctoral program at OsloMet, and postdoctoral researchers employed at OsloMet. Scholarships are not available for other employee groups.

The applicant must ensure that there are no other funding opportunities for the stay and that the international stay is not double-funded. Funds from these sources will be deducted.

You cannot apply for the international scholarship if:

• You have received the scholarship previously.
• You qualify to apply for an international scholarship from the Research Council of Norway. In this case, you should use their scheme. If you do not qualify for an international scholarship from the Research Council, you may apply for a scholarship at OsloMet.
• You are not employed by OsloMet.

Application Deadlines

There are two application deadlines for applying for the international scholarship:

• 30 September for those planning an international stay starting in the period January-June of the following year.
• 31 March for those planning an international stay starting in the period July-December of the same year.

For example, if you wish to travel for an international stay in March 2025, the application deadline is 30 September 2024. If you wish to travel for an international stay in October 2025-January 2026, the application deadline is 31 March 2025.

Purpose of the International Scholarship

The purpose of the international scholarship is to help establish and further develop cooperation with international research environments, which will be of value to the candidate and OsloMet. The international stay is expected to involve one or more of the following activities: supervision, publication collaboration, courses, seminars, and other relevant academic activities at the host institution that are pertinent to the applicant's ongoing research work at OsloMet.

Selection of Host Institution

The host institution and relevant research environment should be chosen in consultation with the supervisor. The applicant should also involve the faculty/centre administration early on so they can assist in investigating whether there are any cooperation agreements between OsloMet and the host institution. In many cases, tuition fees may be waived if there is an exchange agreement. Such an agreement can also make it easier for the traveller to secure housing for the stay.

Duration of Stay

The international stay can be a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 6 months. Extra support is provided for stays with family (spouse/partner/children) provided the international stay is at least 3 months and the family accompanies for the entire stay or a minimum of 1 continuous month.

The international stay must be completed at least 6 months before the PhD/postdoctoral period expires. No international scholarship is awarded for stays during any potential completion grant period.

Funding and Covered Expenses

You can apply for up to 200,000 NOK for individuals travelling alone and up to 250,000 NOK for those travelling with family. You can only receive support for one stay through this scheme.

The support is intended to cover expenses such as:

• Travel (cheapest travel option)
• Establishment and additional expenses according to the Research Council`s rates for research stays abroad. In 2025, these are 24,000/41,000 NOK per month without/with family.

The scholarship is to cover the additional costs of the international stay, meaning expenses incurred from travelling that you would not normally have and should cover costs you pay yourself and bills sent directly to OsloMet (e.g., travel agency bills). For food, the applicable rates from the Tax Administration are used. These rates are based on covering additional costs only. No extra subsidy is provided for food if the family accompanies.

It is also possible to apply for coverage of visa costs and documented tuition fees, as long as the total requested amount does not exceed 200,000 NOK for individuals and 250,000 NOK for those travelling with family. If applying for tuition fee coverage, the amount must be clearly stated in the invitation letter from the host institution.

Applicants are encouraged to thoroughly read the document "INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP – Information Sheet" available on the website International Scholarship: Payment and Travel Settlement to understand documentation requirements, which expenses can be covered, and any deductions. Any overpaid scholarship must be repaid through salary deductions. If anything is unclear, applicants are encouraged to clarify this with the local finance department at their faculty/centre.

Expenses do not need to be specified in the application but must be documented in the travel settlement afterward.

Examples of expenses and activities not covered:

• Teaching activities conducted by the scholarship recipient
• Mandatory participation in doctoral education
• Activities related to data collection
• Support for activities such as courses/conferences outside the host institution
• Academic activities not directly related to the applicant's ongoing research project
• The scheme cannot be used as partial funding in projects where faculties and centres have assumed funding obligations

How to Apply

Applicants must contact the faculty/centre administration for assistance with submitting their application. This should be done at least 14 days before the application deadline.

Content of the Application

The application must follow this template. In addition, the following should be attached:

• Invitation letter from the host institution (including information on resources provided, any requirements/conditions such as tuition fees, and academic arrangements)
• Signed recommendation letter from the applicant’s line manager at OsloMet (this may also include any plans for continued collaboration with the host environment)

Submission of the Application

The faculty/centre administration should upload the application documents in P360 under case number 24/23483, and send them by email to Kim Henrik Ruud, kiru@oslomet.no, in the Department for Research and Development.

Application Processing

Applications are processed administratively as soon as possible after the application deadline, and we aim to provide a response within 3 weeks after the deadline. If there are more applications than available funds, those applications that meet all formal requirements (all points in the template are clearly and satisfactorily answered and all attachments included) will be prioritised first. A draw will be conducted if necessary. The response to the application will be sent to the faculty/centre administration, which will inform the applicant of the outcome.

Information for Recipients of the International Scholarship

Payment and Travel Settlement

There are specific guidelines and forms for the payment of the international scholarship and travel settlement. The awarded scholarship according to the budget in the application can be paid as an advance before the international stay. Note that after completing the stay, you must document the expenses for travel and establishment and additional costs to the faculty/centre administration, and any excess scholarship funds must be repaid through salary deductions.

Reporting

No later than two months after the end of the international stay, the scholarship recipient must complete a reporting form on the benefits of the stay and send it by email to Kim Henrik Ruud, kiru@oslomet.no, in the Department for Research and Development.

Practical Implementation

On the web pages about researcher mobility and career development, you will find advice on the practical implementation of your international stay.

Questions?

For practical questions regarding the submission of the application or the implementation of the international stay, the faculty/centre administration should be contacted.