PROGRAMME SUMMARY
AFR is one of the FNR’s longest-running funding schemes and now provides funding for the training of doctoral candidates only. Grants are awarded in the form of an employment contract with the host institution, rather than in the form of a scholarship.
The AFR PhD grant scheme is divided into two sub-categories:
- AFR PhD in Luxembourg (AFR Incoming): Candidates from any nationality may apply for a doctoral position in an eligible Luxembourg host institution. Candidates will have to spend >50% in Luxembourg under an employment contract with the host institution;
- AFR PhD abroad (AFR Outgoing): Luxembourg nationals, or residents in Luxembourg for more than 5 consecutive years, may apply for a doctoral position in a public higher education institution abroad. The rule for this type of AFR grants is an employment contract with the institution abroad, but in exceptional cases, grants without a work contract can be awarded.
AFR Bilateral
AFR NASA AMES research center – deadline 23 March 2022
AFR Bilateral (RIKEN IMS | Singapore | Quebec) – deadline 30 March 2022
DURATION
AFR PhD grants are funded for a maximum of 4 years.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
- The AFR PhD programme currently has 1 Call per year. The next deadline is Wednesday, 9 March 2022, 14:00 CET.
- Applications must be submitted jointly by the AFR candidate and the host institution (having signed the ‘joint declaration’ to be uploaded in the system before proposal submission).
- All applications must be submitted via the FNR Online Grant Management System
- Funding decisions for the 2022 AFR Call will be communicated by July 2022.
See also..

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Overview AFR funded projects 2008-15