OeAW | DOC

Application requirements

The fellowships are intended to allow young researchers to dedicate themselves to working in focused fashion to complete their doctoral thesis within a clear timeframe.

Highly qualified young scientists from all areas of basic research who meet the following requirements are invited to apply for a DOC fellowship of the OeAW:

1. Doctoral/PhD studies at a university in Austria

• The application must be submitted before or within the first year after the start of the doctoral/PhD program (cut-off date = date of enrolment; reference date is 1 July of the year of submission).
• If the application is made before the start of the doctoral/PhD program, it must be proven that the admission requirements of the respective university are met.
• ATTENTION: Applications are not possible if an artistic doctoral program (Dr. art. or PhD in the Arts) is being pursued.

 2. Completion of the Master's degree no more than two years before the application

• The Master's degree must be completed in full at the time of application and no more than two years before the application, i.e. the degree certificate must be submitted with the application documents (cut-off date = date of Master's degree certificate; reference date is Juli 1st of the year of submission).
• If the certificate is not yet available, proof must be submitted with the application documents that the Master's thesis has been assessed and graded and that the final examination has been successfully completed.

3. Subject-specific minimum requirements

The aim of the DOC program is to support young scientists on their way to an academic career; the focus is on students whose CVs clearly demonstrate their interest in science and research. Therefore, at least two of the following three criteria must be met when applying:

• Proof of at least one scientific contribution that has already been published or accepted for publication
• Academic mobility
• Scientific engagement

Examples for the fulfilment of the criteria above can be found on the website of the OeAW.

Grant duration and sum

• 24, 30 or 36 months (If there is proof of (child) care obligations or (chronic) illness or disability, the fellowship can be claimed as a part-time fellowship. In this case, the funding period can be extended by a maximum of half of the approved time)
• The amount of the fellowship depends on the  OeAW's Fellowship Rates. In 2026, it amounts to 52,080 (gross/gross). PLEASE NOTE: The amounts will not be increased during the funding period; this is also true for fellowships that run for several years.

Application

The deadline for application is 15 September 2026.

For more information, please see the OeAW's website.