Long-Term Mobility Grants for PhD Students and Early Career Researchers

Call open 2 October – 4 November, 2026

SASUF is pleased to announce a call designed to support mobility of early career researchers and PhD students between the SASUF partner universities. The call is open to:

• Early career researchers and PhD students at a Swedish SASUF university who wish to spend 5 full months at a South African SASUF member universities

• Early career researchers and PhD students at a South African member universitiy who wish to spend 5 full months at a Swedish SASUF university.

The SASUF long-term mobility grant is an initiative that supports early career researchers and PhD students in building strong academic networks, fostering future scientific collaboration, and enhancing their ability to work in diverse environments.

Eligibility

• Eligible applicants must either be currently enrolled as doctoral students or have obtained their doctoral degrees in 2022 or later.
• Applicants must be employed by/or enrolled at their home university at the time of application and during the entire mobility.
• The stay must be a full 5 months. The mobility period must be continuous and cannot be divided into shorter stays.

During the mobility period, PhD students and researchers will pursue their individual research projects while being integrated into a research group at the host university. PhD students are not expected to interrupt their studies for this scheme, rather the mobility is expected be part of the PhD studies. Post-docs are expected to continue with their research and keep their position at their home university.

Why should you apply?

The SASUF long-term mobility scheme will help you by:

- Broadening and deepening your skills and research interest
- Facilitating mobility and sharing of ideas
- Building your network amongst researchers at SASUF partner universities
- Stimulating new research ideas

​Application procedure

Each applicant is expected to contact relevant supervisor/research groups individually to discuss the opportunities to undertake the long-term mobility period at that university. Please check the host university´s website to find potential hosts to establish contacts with research groups, before contacting the local SASUF contact person at the host university. Please see https://www.sasuf.org/partneruniversities for list of SASUF partner universities and https://www.sasuf.org/sasuf-coordinators for list of local contact persons.

​Application documents

• Invitation letter to a supervisor/research group at your planned host university.

• Completed application form

• Confirmation letter from your supervisor/mentor/PI/line manager. The letter should include confirmation that you have the permission to undertake the mobility alongside your research/studies.

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) and publication list (maximum 4 pages with font size in 12 or larger)

• Motivation letter describing your motivation and commitment to participate in the programme and how well the mobility is expected to develop your skills and research interests, and/or to stimulate new research ideas (maximum 1,5 A4 page. Font size in 12 or larger).

​Financing

For applicants in South Africa:

• For PhD students and early career researchers, the funding for the mobility is expected to cover additional costs during the mobility. This includes travel, accommodation, subsistence allowance and other costs, such as visas and insurance etc.

• Calculation of the stipend to Sweden:
  Monthly maintenance allowance of 30,000 SEK per full month (during all 5 months).
  Up to 15,000 SEK for travel expenses (including visa related travel and cost).

For applicants in Sweden:

• The funding for the mobility is expected to cover additional costs during the mobility. This includes travel, accommodation, subsistence allowance and other costs. The funding is not intended to cover salary as the applicants are expected to maintain their salary or other financial support from their home university, during the mobility period.

• Calculation of the stipend to South Africa:
  Monthly maintenance allowance of SEK 2,932 per month (the amount is updated two times a year by Arbetsgivarverket).
  Up to 15,000 SEK for travel expenses.

  Up to 10,000 SEK per month for housing

​Other conditions

• Any additional costs above the granted stipend should be covered by the candidate.

• The host university is not expected to charge anything for the mobility and should provide a workspace on their premises, access cards/keys.

• The candidates from Sweden will be covered by URA insurance. The candidates from South Africa will in most cases be covered by Kammarkollegiet´s Insurance for Foreign Visitors. https://www.kammarkollegiet.se/engelska/start/all-services/insurance/insurance-for-students-and-foreign-visitors/insurance-for-foreign-visitors/terms-and-conditions-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-2025.

• An interrupted stay entails a repayment obligation.

• The selected candidate is required to submit a report describing the outcomes of the mobility and how it has contributed to their research and professional development. The report must be submitted no later than February 28, 2028.

​Selection criteria

The selection will be based on the following criteria:

• Ranking by host university and home university.

• Motivation and commitment to participate in the programme.

• The potential of the mobility to develop the applicant’s skills and research interests, and/or stimulate new research ideas.

• Balanced distribution between the SASUF universities.

• Gender balance.

• Some priority will be given to candidates involved in current or past SASUF-funded projects.

Dates and deadlines

• The application is open 2 October - 4 November, 2026.

• Selection results will be communicated before 31 December 2026.

• The mobility should be completed by 31 December 2027 at the latest.

• The application with all documents should be submitted via email in one PDF. The title of the email should be “SASUF Long-term mobility for NAME. Completed applications should be submitted to sasuf@uu.se

The mobility scheme is financed by STINT, The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education.

After Your Mobility: Reporting and Financial Requirements

After completing the mobility, a financial statement detailing all expenses must be submitted. Any unspent funds must be repaid to SASUF.

In addition, all grantholders are required to submit a written report of at least one A4 page to SASUF, outlining the mobility activities, outcomes, and personal reflections. A report template will be available and shared by the SASUF secretariat when stipends are announced.

We look forward to recieving your application!