The program aims at creating an integrated knowledge-based region consisting of Sweden and the other program countries. An estimated 45 scholarships will be offered for the academic year 2013/2014.

Countries

The program is targeted at candidates from the following countries: Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. Its main objective is to strengthen cooperation and network building between those countries and Sweden in the fields of higher education and research.

The program provides PhD students and postdoctoral researchers with an opportunity to conduct research at Swedish universities within all fields of study.

· PhD studies – two different models of applying. The first model consists of PhD students/candidates applying for one long-term visit (either 6, 9 or 12 months) as part of their PhD studies. The second model consists of candidates applying for a scholarship according to the sandwich model (several shorter visits). The scholarship period for candidates on a sandwich set-up is a maximum 12 months over three years, divided into a maximum of two research visits per year.

· Postdoctoral research — individuals applying for a postdoctoral research long-term visit (6, 9 or 12 months) must be holders of a PhD degree, preferably from 2008 or later.

· Senior scientists – holders of a PhD degree but who do not fit into the category of postdoctoral researchers, above, invited to Sweden for research (6 months maximum).

The scholarship amounts to SEK 15,000 per month for PhD students and SEK 18,000 per month for postdoctoral researchers and senior scientists. The scholarship cannot be prolonged or extended.

For PhD students, priority will be given to candidates enrolled in ongoing PhD studies at their home university.

For the academic year 2013/2014 priority will be given to research projects addressing needs and opportunities emphasized in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, the EU Eastern Partnership or in the EU Partnership with the Russian Federation. The application should clearly state how your research project can contribute to development in the Baltic Sea Region in line with the above-mentioned strategies.

The scholarship application call for the academic year 2013/2014 is now open. Application deadline is 24:00 CET, Thursday, January 31, 2013.

More information:  http://www.studyinsweden.se/Scholarships/SI-scholarships/Visby-Program/PhD-and-post-doctoral-studies/