TWAS set up the Associateship Scheme with UNESCO in 1994 so that researchers based in the developing world can keep working with well-equipped laboratories in the South. Close to 300 centres of excellence take part in the scheme.
An associate is appointed for three years and may visit the chosen host centre twice, for two to three months each time. The appointment can be renewed for a further three years if funds allow.
The researcher keeps the post at home. TWAS pays the travel, and the host centre takes care of the stay and the research facilities.
Benefits & funding
- Three-year appointment as a TWAS-UNESCO associate, renewable for another three years subject to funding.
- Two research visits to the host centre, each lasting two to three months.
- TWAS covers travel to and from the host centre.
- USD 300 per month towards incidental local expenses during a visit.
- The host centre provides accommodation, food and the research facilities.
Eligibility
- A PhD or equivalent degree.
- Nationals of developing countries in the South, working at a research institution at home — the head of that institution has to sign a supporting statement.
- A host centre from the TWAS-UNESCO list must agree to the collaboration and issue a recent invitation letter.
- No age limit is published, and the scheme is open to all genders; TWAS says women scientists are especially encouraged to apply.
- Scientists at isolated institutions in developing countries receive special consideration.
- One application per calendar year across the whole TWAS and OWSD portfolio.
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.
Eligible nationalities
Afghanistan · Algeria · Angola · Antigua and Barbuda · Argentina · Aruba · Azerbaijan · Bahamas · Bahrain · Bangladesh · Barbados · Belize
+ 126 more
Benin · Bhutan · Bolivia · Botswana · Brazil · Brunei · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cabo Verde · Cambodia · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Chad · Chile · China · Taiwan · Colombia · Comoros · Republic of the Congo · Costa Rica · Côte d'Ivoire · Cuba · DR Congo · Djibouti · Dominica · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · Egypt · El Salvador · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Fiji · Gabon · Gambia · Ghana · Grenada · Guadeloupe · Guatemala · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Guyana · Haiti · Honduras · India · Indonesia · Iran · Iraq · Jamaica · Jordan · Kazakhstan · Kenya · Kiribati · Kuwait · Kyrgyzstan · Laos · Lebanon · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Malaysia · Maldives · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Mexico · Micronesia · Mongolia · Morocco · Mozambique · Myanmar · Namibia · Nepal · Nicaragua · Niger · Nigeria · Oman · Pakistan · Palau · Panama · Papua New Guinea · Paraguay · Peru · Philippines · Qatar · Rwanda · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Samoa · São Tomé and Príncipe · Saudi Arabia · Senegal · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Solomon Islands · Somalia · South Africa · South Sudan · Sri Lanka · Palestine · Sudan · Suriname · Syria · Tajikistan · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Togo · Tonga · Trinidad and Tobago · Tunisia · Türkiye · Turkmenistan · Tuvalu · Uganda · UAE · Tanzania · Uruguay · Uzbekistan · Vanuatu · Venezuela · Vietnam · Yemen · Zambia · Zimbabwe
Education required
PhD
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Application process
- 1Choose a host centre from the lists of participating centres that TWAS publishes.
- 2Agree the research plan with the host and obtain a recent invitation letter on the centre’s letterhead.
- 3Assemble the documents: passport page carrying name and surname, supporting statement from the head of the home institution, a CV of at most four pages, the full publication list, the PhD certificate, and two recommendation letters — one of them from an expert based in another country.
- 4Submit everything through the TWAS online application form for the scheme.
- 5Wait for the merit-based selection; questions go to associateship@twas.org.
Program timeline
Deadline of the most recent call.
Dec 9, 2025
Next call
TWAS has not published a date; the scheme runs yearly and past calls have closed in early December.