FWO (Research Foundation Flanders) 2026

Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) is a major public research funder in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium. It supports high-quality, fundamental and strategic scientific research through a range of grants, fellowships, and research mandates.

For students and early-career researchers, FWO is best known for its PhD and postdoctoral fellowships. These awards are usually hosted by eligible universities and research institutions in Flanders and are designed to help outstanding researchers carry out full-time research leading to a doctorate or advancing a postdoctoral research career. The programme is not a single scholarship in the traditional sense, but a family of competitive funding schemes under the FWO umbrella.

FWO funding typically supports research across a very broad range of academic disciplines, from sciences and engineering to social sciences and humanities, depending on the specific call. Support often includes a salary or stipend component and may also be linked to research-related costs through the host institution or project framework.

Applicants generally need a strong academic record, an eligible supervisor and host institution in Flanders, and a well-developed research proposal. Eligibility rules can vary by fellowship type, career stage, and mobility conditions, so candidates should carefully check the specific call guidance on the official FWO website. International applicants may be eligible for some schemes, especially where a Flemish host institution is involved.

Applications are usually submitted through FWO's official electronic application system, often with input from the host supervisor and institution. Because funding rules, deadlines, and document requirements differ by programme, students should review the relevant fellowship page before applying.