UNU-WIDER 2025 Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme

Our Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme gives registered doctoral students the opportunity to utilize the resources and facilities at UNU-WIDER for their PhD dissertation or thesis research on developing economies, and to work with our researchers in areas of mutual interest. 

Visiting PhD fellows typically spend three consecutive months at UNU-WIDER before returning to their home institution. During the programme, fellows prepare one or more research papers and present a seminar on their research findings. 

• Table of Content
• About United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)
• Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme
• Aim and Benefits of Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme
• Requirements for Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)

The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research provides economic analysis and policy advice with the aim of promoting sustainable and equitable development for all. The Institute began operations over 30 years ago in Helsinki, Finland, as the first research centre of the United Nations University. Today it is a unique blend of think tank, research institute, and UN agency – providing a range of services from policy advice to governments as well as freely available original research. Over the period 2019–23 UNU-WIDER research will fo... continue reading

Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme

Application Deadline	31 Mar 2025
Type	Fellowship
Sponsor	United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)
Gender	Men and Women

Aim and Benefits of Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme

When the fellowship is undertaken in Helsinki, UNU-WIDER provides a travel grant to cover the costs of travel to and from the location of your PhD granting institution or country of residence, medical insurance (for medical and hospital services resulting from sickness and accident during your stay at UNU-WIDER), and a monthly stipend of EUR 2,050 to cover living expenses in Helsinki during the period of their fellowship. The programme does not cover expenses related to dependents.

Requirements for Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme Qualification

• 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.

 

Application Deadline

March 31, 2025

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) on www2.wider.unu.edu to apply

UNU-WIDER only receives online applications for the Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme twice each year. Deadlines for submission of applications are 31 March and 30 September 23:59 UTC+3 each year. When applying in September, you would be visiting UNU-WIDER for three months in the period of March-June of the following year and when applying in March, you would be visiting UNU-WIDER for three months during September-November of the same year. 

For more details, visit UNU-WIDER Fellowship webpage