Universities of the Coimbra Group offer short-term visits (generally 1 to maximum 3 months) to young African researchers from higher education institutions from Sub-Saharan Africa. The main aim of this scholarship programme is to enable scholars to undertake research in which they are engaged in their home institution and to help them to establish academic and research contacts. The scholarships are financially supported by the Coimbra Group member universities participating in this programme, while the Coimbra Group Office is in charge of the administrative management of the applications.

The following Coimbra Group universities are participating in the 2021 edition of the scheme:

• University of Barcelona (Spain)
• University of Coimbra (Portugal)
• University of Cologne (Germany)
• Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary)
• University of Granada (Spain)
• University of Graz (Austria)
• University of Groningen (The Netherlands)
• Jagiellonian University Krakow (Poland)
• KU Leuven (Belgium)
• University of Montpellier 3 Paul-Valéry (France)
• University of Padova (Italy)
• University of Pavia (Italy)
• University of Poitiers (France)
• University of Salamanca (Spain)
• University of Siena (Italy)

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should be:

• born on or after 1 January 1976
• nationals of and current residents in a country in Sub-Saharan Africa
• current staff members of a university or an equivalent higher education institution in Sub-Saharan Africa
• preferably of doctoral/postdoctoral or equivalent status.

In most universities the language of instruction is that of the country itself, but in many universities it is possible to use English as the working language.

Candidates will be able to select one university only. Multiple applications will not be considered valid.

Applicants should identify a research supervisor in the host university (through the website of the university of your choice or by contacting the contact at the university of your choice – see table below). You should provide his/her contact details in the application form. Applicants are expected to take contact with their research supervisor at the university of their choice and submit a letter/e-mail of acceptance together with their application form which proves that the candidate has been accepted to carry out research under his/her supervision.

Applications which do not fulfil this requirement will not be considered. The Coimbra Group Office is unable to help you with finding a supervisor.

Information should be submitted in English. The Coimbra Group Office will individually acknowledge each application received. Within two weeks of submitting the online application, you should receive an email from the Coimbra Group Office confirming whether your application has been validated or not. This will be your only acknowledgement of receipt. If you do not receive the confirmation message it means that your application was not submitted correctly or there was a technical problem. In that case, please contact info@coimbra-group.eu, no later than 30 April 2021.

Female candidates are encouraged to apply and will be prioritised.

The administrative check of applications will be undertaken by the Coimbra Group Office in order to select candidates who meet the eligibility criteria. The selection of candidates will be undertaken by the host universities. When selection has been agreed upon, the host university may send a letter of invitation directly to the successful candidate. The Coimbra Group Office will contact all candidates and inform them about the result of their application by the end of June 2021. Successful candidates currently employed by a University are responsible for ensuring that their home institution will grant them leave of absence to undertake the proposed visit.

Application Deadline: April 16th, 2021.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Website of the Coimbra Group Short Stay Scholarship Programme 2021/2022