Guidelines for PhD fellowships

The purpose of the research funds is to help ensure research activity in the healthcare institutions and to increase the productivity, quality, and impact for the health services. A significant share of the funds will go towards researcher training and the building of research competence.

Assessment of Applications

Applications are assessed based on scientific quality and impact for 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.

Who Can Apply – Requirements at the Time of Application

PhD fellowships can only be applied for by the fellow and cannot be transferred to others. Applicants must have completed a master's degree or equivalent, (cf. requirement for transcripts that are to be attached with the application). The applicant cannot submit multiple applications in the same application category.

Either the research fellow, the main supervisor, or the project leader must be employed (at least 20%) at a health trust in the region or a private, non-profit institution in the region that has an aggrement with Helse Vest. The employment must be evident in the CV of the applicant, main supervisor, and/or project leader.

If the employment requirements are not met: individuals employed at the University of Bergen, University of Stavanger, and Western Norway University of Applied Sciences can still apply if there is an Agreement of Support with a health trust or a private non-profit institution. See Who Can Apply for Helse Vest Research Funds.

The names of the supervisors, principal investigator and others are to be mentioned in the partnership section on the application form. At least one of the supervisors must be employed by a university or university college in the region. The main supervisor must hold a primary position at an institution in Norway, generally within the region.

What Can Be Applied For

PhD fellowships are awarded according to rates that are regulated yearly based on the estimated price increase in the national budget. The rate is to be used for salary with social expenses and running costs in the project.

Rates for PhD fellowships

Rate for 2026: 1 138 000 NOK

Running costs beyond what is included in the fellowships rate, must be met from other sources. Fellowships for the completion of a doctoral degree cannot be applied for.

If Funds Are Awarded

Positions financed by Helse Vest research funds must be employed by the applicant institution (health trust or private, non-profit institutions). The doctoral candidate must have their permanent workplace in the region, and is expected to activly partcipate in the research enviroment they will part of.

If research funds are awarded, the candidate must be admitted into a PhD program, as a general rule at a university in the region. Confirmation of admission must be sent within 3 months after project start.

PhD fellowships are granted for up to three years (100% position). The fellowship can be granted as either a 50 % or 100 % position and payment will be adjusted accordingly. If other implementation schemes are needed, this must be specifically applied for after the award letter is received.

Please note: Applicants for PhD fellowships must be able to start the fellowship at the latest on the 1st of July in the year for which the funds are awarded.

It should be possible for the research fellow to change employers during the fellowship, providing this involves moving to another health trust or private, non-profit institution in the region. However, the applicant institution has the final say on whether the responsible institution for the doctoral candidate's project should also be changed. Conditions for any such potential change must be clarified by agreements between the institutions in question.

Researchers receiving Helse Vest's research funds must complete a course in user participation. Employees in healthcare institutions will receive a certificate if they complete the course through the "Læringsportalen".

Project description and other attachments

Two attachments must be uploaded with the application:

A general template for project description has been prepared, which is to be used when submitting applications for research funds. The template gives information about which elements to include in the project description. The project description is to be uploaded as an attachment to the application (PDF document).

The attachments must be compiled into one attachment in the order that is outlined below. Upload the attachment as one PDF-document under "other attachments" in the application form.

1. The applicant's CV (see template suggestion) and list of publications from the last five years
2. CV and list of publications from the last five years for the main supervisor
3. Declaration from supervisor, including assessment of feasibility
4. Diploma and transcripts from master’s degree or equivalent

If applicable

5. Agreement of support, (refer to the information about who can apply )

6. Applicants with international master’s degree must document how this compares to an equivalent Norwegian degree. See requirements for admission on the University of Bergen's website

Page updated: May 2025