The aim of the grant is that the research period abroad should have a positive effect on the applicant’s research, academic career and network building.
Who can apply?
The applicant must be employed as a PhD student, postdoc or researcher at the MN faculty. Priority will be given to PhD students and postdocs in internally funded positions.
Researchers eligible to apply for overseas research grants from other sources (e.g. RCN or EU), must document rejection of the proposal in order to receive a travel stipend from the faculty. For PhD students and postdocs employed at an RCN funded center, the research stay will be covered by the center’s basic funding.
The applicant cannot have lived, studied or worked in the country where the foreign host institution is located for more than 12 months during the previous three years. We can make exceptions from this requirement if the foreign host institution has equipment, facilities and expertise that are not available in other countries in which it is appropriate to carry out the stay abroad. Research stays in the country where you are from or at previous employers or place of study, will not be supported.
Requirements
The travel stipend presumes one or more research stays abroad with a minimum duration of 1 month per stay, and a maximum of 6 months in total. The first stay must start in 2027, and the last research stay must be completed at least 3 months before the end of the employment period.
The stay must be relevant for the applicant’s academic and scientific development. For PhD students, the research stay abroad should contribute to the completion of the doctoral project.
What does the travel stipend cover?
The grant covers associated extra costs incurred in connection with the research stay and it is also possible to apply for funding to cover travel costs. It does not cover participation in international conferences and courses, tuition fees, laboratory expenses, field work, and the like. The grant is disbursed as a travel advance and documented extra costs can be exempt from tax. Definition and examples of extra costs can be found here (in Norwegian only), section Forskningstermin / stipendreise.
Please also see Grant guidelines.
Rates
The value of the grant is 43 000 NOK maximum per month (family) and follows the RCN rates.
| Applicant: | 25 000 NOK |
| Spouse/partner: | 9 000 NOK |
| Children younger than 18: | 4 500 NOK (maximum 9 000 NOK) |
You can also apply for funding of one return trip per stay.
In order to receive the full amount, family members must reside together with the applicant for close to or the entire research stay abroad.
Application deadline
The application should be sent to your own department, please contact your department regarding the internal deadline. The department forwards the applications and priority lists to Bjørg Mikalsen at the Faculty Administration no later than 1 July 2026.
You can find the application form here (docx).
Internal deadlines at the departments:
Astrophysics: tbd
Chemistry: 12:00 pm June 19
Geo: June 21
IBV: June 15
IFI: June 15
ITS: tbd
Mathematics: May 29
Physics: June 19
Pharmacy: June 15
Decision
Applications will be reviewed by a committee at the faculty and the award decision will be made by the Deans. All applicants will be notified by email in October about the outcome.
How do I apply?
Fill in the application form (docx).
Read guidelines regarding travel stipends (pdf).
Partial financing of the same stay abroad from other sources (e.g. Fulbright stipend), must be accounted for in the application form.
Attachments:
In addition to the information in the application form, the following documents should be attached:
- Plan for the stay (1-2 pages). Please describe the purpose of the research stay, the research you plan to do, how the stay abroad will benefit your research project and future career, and why you have chosen this host institution.
- CV (max. 4 pages), including information about previous research stays. We suggest that you use RCN's CV template.
- Letter of recommendation from your supervisor or immediate superior indicating the positive effects a research period abroad will have for your academic career. The letter must be signed.
- Letter of invitation from the university or research institution you plan to visit. The invitation letter must include the period of the stay, the name of the applicant, and the purpose of the stay. The letter must be signed.
Please send the application to your department. The department will forward the application to the faculty.
Practical issues
Before departure
Candidates should in due time prior to departure (3-4 months) familiarize themselves with relevant rules and regulations pertaining to research stays abroad. Relevant regulations include taxation, the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme (folketrygden) and health care rights. More information can be found on the UiO webpage regarding stays abroad.
Please consult UiOs travel pages before you book your travel. Please be aware that as a clear main rule, bookings made through Airbnb will not be covered by the stipend.
Candidates should inform the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) of their stay abroad. You can find more information about social security membership here.
How to do this:
- Go to NAV’s website
- Choose the form Application for membership in the National Insurance Scheme
- A copy of NAV's decision must be submitted to your local personnel officer prior to departure.
If you have any questions in connection with taxation, the national insurance scheme or health care rights, please contact the International office for Staff Abroad (ISA).
Payment of travel funds
An application for a travel advance should be registered in the Self-Service Portal or the DFØ app and a cost estimate (budget plan) must be attached to the application. The travel advance can be disbursed at the earliest one month prior to your departure. You can apply for the full amount granted (80% is paid as an advance, the remaining 20% is paid at the settlement after the research stay).
You can find information from DFØ on how to register a travel request here: Register travel requests and advances (dfo.no)
Please use the "Register travel requests and advances" form.
In step 1 Itinerary, please select "Standard" under Cost allocation (the financial officer will correct the information upon delivery of the travel invoice). In step 4 Attachments, you should upload the grant letter and budget plan.
After the stay abroad
Notify the tax authorities (skatteetaten.no) and your local NAV office of your return to Norway.
At the latest one month after your return, you must fill in a travel expense claim form showing the actual costs of the stay abroad. You can do this by converting the travel advance application to a travel expense claim in the Self-Service Portal or the DFØ app. Click on "Register travel requests and advances" and select the correct travel advance. Then click "Convert to travel expense claim". You can find more information from DFØ here: Convert a travel request to a travel expense claim (dfo.no)
Please note that a research stay is not considered a business trip and you can therefore not apply for reimbursements (step 2). Expenses and documentation of the expenses are registered in step 4.
Who was Kristine Bonnevie?
Kristine Bonnevie (1872-1948) was Norway’s first female professor, and she worked at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. She defended her doctoral thesis in 1906 and was appointed professor of zoology in 1912.
Professor Bonnevie was a pioneer in the field of genetics and cell biology. She conducted research into hereditary tendencies in fingerprint patterns; how they are formed and the relationship between gene and trait.
The Kristine Bonnevie stipend was established in honour of Kristine Bonnevie and is awarded annually to excellent candidates at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.