UNU-WIDER Visiting PhD Fellowship 2027 in Finland

The UNU-WIDER Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme is designed for doctoral researchers who want to advance an unfinished part of their PhD dissertation while working in an international development-economics research environment.

UNU-WIDER is part of the United Nations University system and is based in Helsinki, Finland. Visiting PhD fellows use the institute's research resources and interact with UNU-WIDER researchers in areas of mutual interest. The programme particularly welcomes research connected to developing economies and UNU-WIDER's current research programme.

Fellows normally spend three consecutive months at UNU-WIDER. During the visit, they work on one or more research papers and present a seminar on their research findings. Their work may also be considered for publication in the WIDER Working Paper Series.

Successful applicants are assigned a suitable mentor from UNU-WIDER's resident research staff. Applicants may indicate preferred mentors in the application, although the institute does not guarantee allocation to a particular researcher. For the current September 2026 application round, the live application form asks candidates to confirm availability for three consecutive months from April to June 2027.

• Applicants must currently be enrolled in a PhD programme; the current application form specifies an accredited university.
• Applicants must still be working towards their PhD during the UNU-WIDER fellowship; those who have already submitted or completed their PhD are not eligible.
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to conduct research on developing economies.
• Candidates should be fluent in oral and written English.
• Applicants should possess good quantitative and/or qualitative analytical skills.
• Economics-focused research is particularly relevant, but candidates working in other social sciences may also apply.
• The programme is open to PhD candidates regardless of whether they live or work in a developing country.
• Suitably qualified early-career, female and developing-country researchers are particularly encouraged to apply.
• The programme is especially aimed at researchers in the later stages of their PhD.
• Applicants for the September 2026 round should be available for three consecutive months in April–June 2027.
• The research proposed for the fellowship must form an unfinished part of the applicant's dissertation.

• EUR 2,100 monthly stipend to help cover living expenses in Helsinki during the fellowship.
• Travel grant covering travel to and from the location of the applicant's PhD-granting institution or country of residence.
• Medical insurance for medical and hospital services resulting from sickness or accident during the stay at UNU-WIDER.
• Three months of research time at UNU-WIDER in Helsinki.
• Access to UNU-WIDER's research environment, resources and facilities.
• Opportunity to work with UNU-WIDER researchers.
• A suitable UNU-WIDER research mentor is assigned to successful candidates.
• Opportunity to present research findings in a seminar.
• Potential opportunity for research to be published in the WIDER Working Paper Series.
• Visa-process support from the WIDER-HR team where a Schengen visa is required.

Applicants are required to provide:

• Research proposal in PDF format.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) in PDF format.
• List of principal publications in the CV, if applicable, including co-authors, year, title and publisher.
• Letter of reference from the applicant's direct PhD supervisor, sent by the supervisor directly to UNU-WIDER at the address specified on the official programme page. The reference also serves to certify the applicant's PhD enrolment.

The research proposal should address:

• Research title.
• General description of the proposed research.
• Main research questions or hypotheses.
• Research methods or approaches.
• Main data and information sources.
• Relationship between the proposed research and the applicant's PhD thesis/dissertation.
• How the UNU-WIDER fellowship would contribute to the research.

UNU-WIDER's published criteria include:

• Current enrolment in a PhD programme.
• Demonstrated ability to undertake research on developing economies.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Good quantitative and/or qualitative analytical skills.
• Relevance of the proposed research to the applicant's PhD dissertation.
• Research connected to UNU-WIDER's work programme is particularly welcomed.
• Researchers in later stages of their PhD are especially targeted.
• Applications from suitably qualified early-career researchers are encouraged.
• Applications from female researchers are particularly encouraged.
• Applications from developing-country researchers are particularly encouraged.

• Focused dissertation progress: Spend three dedicated months developing an unfinished component of your PhD.
• UN research environment: Work within the United Nations University research system in Helsinki.
• Expert interaction: Engage with researchers working on development economics and related topics.
• Research mentoring: Successful fellows are matched with a UNU-WIDER resident researcher.
• Academic presentation: Present your findings through a research seminar.
• Publication exposure: Research may be considered for the WIDER Working Paper Series.
• International network: Connect with researchers working on development issues across countries and disciplines.