TWAS-CNPq Postgraduate Fellowship Programme 2025

TWAS-CNPq Postgraduate Fellowship Programme 2025 is a combined initiative programme for researchers from developing countries (except Brazil), by The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development - CNPq and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). TWAS is a programme unit whose administration and financial operation is carried out by UNESCO, in accordance with an agreement signed between the two organisations. Selected awardees will be awarded monthly fees of BRL 3,100 with other benefits.

Source: The World Academy of Sciences

This scholarship is being offered by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development and The World Academy of Sciences.

To be eligible, an applicant must:-

• be a citizen of a developing country including India
• hold a master’s degree in a natural science field
• must be fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, or English
• we'll need some assurance that you plan to return to your home country after the fellowship
• during the fellowship, we ask that you focus solely on your research and not take on any other commitments

The selected candidates will receive the benefits in following manner:-

Note:- Once the application is approved and all the paperwork is finalised, it might take up to 50 days for the first fellowship payment to be processed. Applicants must make sure to have enough funds to cover the expenses during this initial period after arrival.

Eligible candidates can apply by following these steps:-
Step 1: Click on the 'Apply Now' button.
Step 2: Click the 'Register' button and fill in the required registration details. (Note:- If already registered, log in using Gmail/Mobile number/Email Id)
Step 3: Navigate to ‘Submitting Your Application’, read all the information carefully, and follow the steps to create the CV and submit the application.

Note:- Applicants must be aware that CNPq and TWAS will not accept applications submitted by any other means except via the CNPq online application system (e.g. by email, fax or post).

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Valid Visa/Passport
• Certificate of language proficiency (Portuguese, Spanish, or English)
• A detailed research plan agreed upon by the applicant’s host supervisor

Note:-

• The proposal must include an attached file with a maximum of 15 pages (in Times New Roman font, size 12, line spacing 1.5).
• Guidelines for CV are available on the scholarship website.
• For more information, please refer to the ‘Scholarship Guideline’ document.

The students will be selected based on the information provided and the eligibility criteria fulfilled.

Application Start: 8 October 2024
Application Deadline: 21st February 2025
Trial Period: March 2025
Announcement of Candidates: May 2025

Question: Who's the perfect fit for this fellowship?
Answer: Applicants with bright minds from developing countries (not Brazil) who have a Master's degree (or something similar) in a natural science field are eligible candidates. One will also need to provide a certificate and be comfortable communicating in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.

Question: I already have a PhD. Am I eligible?
Answer: The programme is designed only for those who want to start their PhD journey, i.e. a fresher. So applicants already holding a Ph.D. are ineligible. There's a different TWAS-CNPq Postdoctoral Fellowship for PhD degree holders.

Question: Can Indian students residing outside of India apply?
Answer: Students can apply as long as they are citizens of a developing country, i.e., not citizens or residents of a first-world country.

Question: Which fields of Science are covered?
Answer: The fellowship covers natural sciences. To check the specific details, applicants should visit the call for applications containing all the details on exactly which fields are eligible.

Question: Do I need to have a university offer letter in Brazil before I apply?
Answer: Applicants are required to have an offer/acceptance letter before applying for the scholarship.

• A total of 50 scholarships are available for the academic year 2025-26.
• Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Applicants should submit the Acceptance Letter from a CAPES-listed institution to CNPq when applying. Without preliminary acceptance, the application will not be considered for selection.
• Queries concerning the submission of applications via the online application platform of CNPq should be directed to ‘twas.ascin@cnpq.br’.
• Applicants should be aware that they can apply for only one fellowship per year. With the exception of the Visiting Scientists programme, all other fellowship programmes offered by TWAS and OWSD are mutually exclusive.