2026 ICFO Student Research Fellowships – Institute of Photonic Sciences, Spain

Location: Spain

Program: Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees (Masters, PhD and Postdoctoral)

Eligibility: Domestic and International Students

Duration: Flexible – up to 12 months

Deadline: Not Specified

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The 2026 ICFO Student Research Fellowships are competitive, fully funded awards offered by ICFO — The Institute of Photonic Sciences — to support outstanding undergraduate and Master’s students from top universities around the world who wish to undertake a research project, complete their Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis, or carry out a research stay with one of ICFO’s world-renowned research groups. Established under Spain’s prestigious “Severo Ochoa Centres of Excellence” accreditation granted by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, the programme is specifically designed to give the next generation of scientists early hands-on exposure to frontier research in photonics and its interdisciplinary applications. A limited number of fellowships are available per call, making these competitive and highly selective awards. Two calls are launched each academic year — one in February and one in October — and a separate dedicated summer fellowship programme runs for three months between June and September.

Benefits of the Scholarship

This fellowship will provide the following to its recipients:

Monthly stipend of €600 (gross) for full-time dedication for students residing outside Catalonia (international students and those from other Spanish regions)
Monthly stipend of €300 (gross) for full-time dedication for students already residing in Catalonia
Coverage of eligible travel expenses to and from Barcelona for non-local fellows
Access to ICFO’s world-class laboratories, equipment, and research infrastructure
Mentorship and direct supervision by an ICFO Group Leader across the duration of the fellowship
Flexible start date and duration of up to 12 months, tailored to the student’s research project or thesis schedule
Participation in ICFO’s training programme covering the basics and applications of the institute’s active research fields
Other benefits

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Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this fellowship, applicants must meet the following:

Must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or Master’s degree programme at the time of the fellowship at ICFO
Must be studying in an eligible field — including but not limited to Physics, Engineering, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology
Must have a high working knowledge of English (the working language at ICFO)
Must not hold another full fellowship concurrently during the ICFO stay (compatible with Erasmus only)
Open to applicants of all nationalities worldwide — no restrictions based on citizenship, gender, or disability status
Must be able to commit to the agreed research stay period on a full-time basis

Note: Kindly check the official webpage for full and detailed requirements

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Selection Criteria

Candidates for the 2026 ICFO Student Research Fellowships are assessed exclusively on merit and potential, based entirely on submitted application materials — with no restrictions or preferences based on nationality, gender, or disability. The selection process involves an initial administrative review of eligibility, followed by evaluation and ranking by ICFO’s Selection Committee on the basis of academic records and personal achievements, demonstrated proactive attitude and capacity for teamwork, and alignment of the applicant’s research interests with the work of ICFO’s active research groups. Shortlisted candidates proceed to a matching stage involving direct discussions with ICFO Group Leaders, including an in-person or online interview, to confirm mutual interest and research suitability before an official fellowship offer is made.