Guidelines for Research Fellowships

Who Can Apply – Requirements at the Time of Application

The fellow must be the applicant and should preferably be at an early stage of their research career. The fellowship is personal and cannot be transferred to others. A research fellowship position cannot commence until the doctoral defence has been completed and approved; however, it is possible to apply earlier. In such cases, a statement from the main supervisor describing the project progress and expected submission date must be attached to the application.

The applicant must be employed (at a minimum of 20%) at a health trust in the region or a private, non-profit institution that has an agreement with Helse Vest at the time of application. This employment percentage must be documented in the applicant’s CV.

If the employment requirements are not met, individuals employed at the University of Bergen, the University of Stavanger, or the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (minimum 20% position) may still apply, provided that an affiliation agreement with a health trust or a private, non-profit institution is in place (see “Who can apply for research funding”).

An applicant may not submit more than one application within the same application category. A Helse Vest research fellowship may be awarded to the same c

andidate a maximum of two times. If the applicant has previously held a postdoctoral fellowship, the research fellowship may be awarded to the candidate only once.

What Can Be Applied For

Research Fellowships may be awarded for up to three years in a 100% position or six years in a 50% position. If the fellowship is carried out as a 50% position, it must be combined with a clinical or paraclinical position. The project must have a minimum duration of 2 years in a 100% position or 4 years in a 50% position.

The fellowship is awarded according to rates that are adjusted annually based on the estimated price increase in the national budget. The rate is intended to cover salary, including social costs, and project operating expenses (see fellowship rates).

If the project involves particularly high operating costs, additional funding for operating expenses of up to NOK 500,000 over three years, or NOK 330,000 over two years, may be applied for. The need must be justified in the application. If the assessment committee finds that additional operating funds are not necessary for project completion, it may recommend awarding only the position fellowship.

Evaluation of Applications

Applications are assessed based on scientific quality and impact on the health services. The two criteria are equal in the sense that quality or impact alone is not sufficient for the allocation of funds. Read more in Aims and Criteria.

If Funds Are Awarded

The research fellow must be employed and have their permanent workplace at the health trust from which the application originates (“applicant institution”) and must actively participate in the professional and/or research environment throughout the project period.

Applicants for research fellowships must be able to start the fellowship no later than 1 July in the year of allocation. This applies regardless of ongoing or planned leave.

Changing employer during the fellowship period to another health trust or a private, non-profit institution in the region may be possible. Any such change must be clarified through dialogue with the applicant institution and Helse Vest and must be documented through agreements between the relevant institutions.

Researchers who receive Helse Vest's research funds must complete a course in user involvement. Employees in the health enterprises receive a course certificate if they complete the course through the learning portal ("Læringsportalen"). 

Project Description and Other Attachments

Two attachments must be uploaded with the application. No attachments other than those listed below shall be included.