Eligibility
Scholarships and research grants in biosciences are available to doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers who are active and employed at a Swedish higher education institution or another public research principal. Among researchers, priority is given to those who have obtained their doctorate within the past seven years, taking into account deductible time for parental leave, etc.
Allocation and Amounts
Research grants of 250,000 Swedish kronor and above may be awarded and disbursed to the grant administrator (higher education institution or other research principal), with a maximum of 25 percent of the awarded grant permitted for covering overhead costs. Scholarships of up to 250,000 Swedish kronor may be awarded and paid directly to the applicant. The application must specify whether it concerns a scholarship or a research grant.
Funding may be sought for purposes such as project operating costs, expenses for international stays, or conference travel where own research results are presented.
Funding will not be granted for purposes that have already been completed at the time of the decision, which is made approximately three months after the end of the application period.
Available funding 2025 will be announced in May.
Available funding includes among other things:
- funding specifically intended for research on Asteraceae, particularly biological field studies of Hieracium (‘hieraciology’).
- funding specifically intended for travel grants for researchers studying the occurrence of mosses and lichens in Sweden; preferentially in the counties of Västmanland, Värmland and Dalarna.
- funding specifically intended for zoological, preferably entomological, research in countries outside Europe. The scholarships are intended to support research in regions that are as yet unknown and are not open for applications for trips to or stays at existing zoological stations. Applicants must have Swedish citizenship.
- funding specifically intended for young students for travel within Sweden for the purpose of studying lower invertebrates, either as fossils or as live specimens.
- funding specifically intended for travel grants for ornithologists for studies of Swedish avifauna.
- funding specifically intended for travel grants for phytogeographical surveys in Sweden.
- funding specifically intended for Studies in the field of botany, especially hieraciology and plant biology.
- funding specifically intended for Promotion of zoological research; writing dissertations, examining Sweden’s and neighboring countries’ animal world (sea, freshwater) and travel. Applicants must be Swedish citizen.
- funding specifically intended for trips of at least three months to Brazil or another intertropical country for the following botanical purpose: partly, in Brazil or a neighboring country, or in a country with closely-related vegetation, to study the vegetation and vegetation conditions; partly to collect plants or plant objects, which should then be processed in a scholarly manner; and partly to undertake surveys that promote knowledge of tropical plant life and its forms in all respects, expanding the field of botanical knowledge.
- funding specifically intended to support zoological studies. Applicants born in Kronoberg County are given priority. Applicants must also be Swedish citizen.
- funding specifically intended for travel scholarships for outstanding young researchers to conduct scientific research trips both within Sweden and abroad, promoting natural history research, particularly in the biological sciences. Primarily intended for botanical research, but also for advancing natural history research, with a strong emphasis on entomology.
Application
The application must include a certificate from the Head of Department (or equivalent) confirming that the applicant is or will be employed at the department, that the proposed research can be conducted at the institution if the application is granted, and that the conditions for overhead deductions from the research grant are accepted. Doctoral students must also attach a certificate from their supervisor.
Additional documents that may strengthen the application, such as an invitation letter or a letter of recommendation, may also be attached. All documents must be submitted in PDF format.
Application period 2025 will be announced in May.
A link to the application system is provided below. When the application period opens, create an account, provide personal and application information, and upload the necessary documents in PDF format.
The announcement is called “Biosciences” in the application system.
Supplementary material submitted separately, incomplete applications and/or emailed applications will not be taken in consideration. Application documents will not be returned.
Allocation
All applicants will be notified by email if their application has been approved or rejected approximately three months after the application deadline. The information will also be available on the applicant’s web account.
More information
FAQ, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences’ scholarships
Contact: scholarship@kva.se