Every summer, IIASA — the international systems-analysis institute in Laxenburg, Austria — hosts up to 50 PhD students from around the world for three months of funded, full-time research. You work on a project tied to your own PhD thesis and IIASA's research agenda, mentored by IIASA scientists, with the goal of producing a publishable paper — and most participants' stays are funded through dedicated stipends.
Why it is notable: a multilateral institute's flagship PhD summer program where the research proposal is the application — and contacting the IIASA research group BEFORE you apply (to discuss the idea and find a mentor) is the step the official guide stresses and most applicants skip.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Funded 3-month research stay (1 June – 31 August 2027) at IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria
Dedicated stipend for the entire period (via NMO grants or YSSP fellowships — amount varies by source)
Personal mentorship by IIASA senior scientists
Full integration into the institute's research programmes, seminars and networks
Named fellowships for eligible researchers (e.g. Jyoti and Kirit Parikh Fellowship for India/developing countries; Roger Levien Fellowship)
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
Masters/MPhilfor PhD
This scholarship is offered for PhD programs.
Who can apply
PhD students around the world (all nationalities; funding routes run through IIASA's National Member Organizations and dedicated fellowships, with specific support such as the Parikh Fellowship for India/developing-country researchers)
Experience
must be an enrolled PhD student able to formulate research questions and work independently with mentor guidance; interest in interdisciplinary research required
Language Certificate
sufficient proficiency in English to conduct research, discuss the work and participate fully — no specific test named on the official application page
Other Certificates
CV, motivation letter and list of publications uploaded as ONE single PDF; personal and PhD details (thesis title, keywords, start/expected completion dates, master's background up to 2,500 characters) entered in the form
Age Limit
No Age Limit
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
all nationalities welcome; funding is channelled through IIASA National Member Organizations (each NMO funds its own nationals or foreign students studying in…
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Qualification
enrolled PhD student, ideally within 1–2 years of completing the degree
02
Research fit
proposal must connect with IIASA's research areas and the chosen research group's work; achievable in 3 months; may feed directly into the PhD (e.g. a thesis chapter or paper)
03
Language
sufficient English to research, discuss and participate fully
04
Documents
research proposal (7 sections, 2,500 chars each) + single PDF (CV, motivation letter, publications) + two referees — all submitted in one Onlyfy session (no saving)
05
Availability
full-time, in person, 1 June – 31 August 2027 — no exceptions
04Personal & PhD details in the form (thesis title, 5 keywords, PhD start/expected completion dates, master's background up to 2,500 characters, English level)
Application fee
No fee — completely free
Visa, kept concise: Visa type: Austria — non-EU participants typically need a national visa D / residence permit for the 3-month research stay; EU/EEA nationals need none.
Application Procedure
10 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Check you meet the criteria (enrolled PhD
ideally 1–2 years from completion, English proficiency, full-time availability).
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02
Check your topic is compatible with ongoing
IIASA research.
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03
Read the official funding page.
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06
Prepare ONE single PDF
CV + motivation letter + list of publications.
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05
Write the YSSP Research Proposal —
the most important part: title, abstract (2,500 chars), research questions & objectives (2,500), methods & approach (2,500), data status/requirements (2,500), innovative aspects (2,500), expected results & risks (2,500).
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04
Contact the relevant IIASA research group —
share your outline proposal ideas, learn about the group's current work, and identify a potential mentor (official step 9 — do this before writing).
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07
Get two referees' details ready (name
email, position/title, institution).
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08
Submit everything in ONE session via the
Onlyfy portal (progress cannot be saved) by the deadline.
I'm a master's student — can I apply? A: No — YSSP is for enrolled PhD students (the Summer School for Systems Modeling, opening February 2027, is the route for master's/PhD/postdoc training).Can I participate remotely or do fieldwork during the YSSP? A: No — you must be present at the institute full-time for the whole period; no fieldwork or remote work.Can I do the YSSP twice? A: Participation is possible for one summer only — but you may apply in several years.Is the stay really funded? A: IIASA states funding is available for the entire period as a dedicated stipend; most participants are funded via their country's NMO or dedicated YSSP fellowships (slots What makes a strong proposal? A: Per IIASA: a clearly defined 3-month project compatible with IIASA's research and the chosen group's work, developed (ideally) in discussion with the group contact — sDo I need to contact a research group before applying? A: The official step-by-step lists it as step 9 — share outline ideas and find out about the group's current work before you write the proposal.When are the info webinars? A: November 3 (North/South America), November 4 (Europe/Africa), November 10 (Asia/Oceania) 2026 — or watch last year's webinar recording.Can I save my application and finish later? A: No — Onlyfy does not allow saving; collate everything and submit in one session.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
Austria · International Institute for Applied Systems…