FENS and IBRO-PERC fund short lab exchanges that strengthen neuroscience research and training in Europe. Master’s and PhD students and early postdoctoral fellows visit a lab in another European country to learn methods unavailable at home.
Awards support visits lasting 4 weeks to 4 months. The current round closes 15 October 2026 at 23:59 Brussels time.
Benefits & funding
- Up to EUR 4,000 covers economy travel, local public transport and accommodation.
- FENS pays 60% at least two weeks before the visit and 40% after completion and submission of the grant report.
- Insurance, equipment, groceries and personal items are not covered.
- The visit must finish within one year of the award; the final report is due within two months after completion.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be neuroscience Master’s or PhD students, or early postdoctoral fellows within five years of starting their postdoc, currently based in Europe.
- They must belong to a FENS member society, be an individual FENS member, or belong to an eligible IBRO Pan-Europe organisation that is not a FENS member.
- Home and host laboratories must both be in Europe and in different countries.
- Host-lab acceptance and a home-lab recommendation are required.
- Only one application for one fellowship at one host laboratory is allowed per round.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Residence required
Albania · Andorra · Armenia · Austria · Azerbaijan · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Czechia
+ 39 more
Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Israel · Italy · Kosovo · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands · North Macedonia · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Türkiye · Ukraine · UK · Vatican City
Education required
Master Enrolled · PhD Enrolled · PhD
Experience required
≤ 5 yrs
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Application process
- 1Secure a host laboratory in another European country and obtain its acceptance plus a recommendation from your home laboratory.
- 2Prepare a research and training proposal, expected outcomes and a budget addressing the published evaluation criteria.
- 3Log in or register on the FENS site and submit one application by 15 October 2026 at 23:59 Brussels time.
Program timeline
Application deadline
15 October 2026, 23:59 Brussels time