Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) PhD Fellowship in Basic Biomedical Research

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds is an independent non-profit foundation that funds basic research in biomedicine, and its PhD fellowships are among the most respected doctoral awards in the life sciences. They support outstanding junior scientists pursuing ambitious experimental projects in internationally leading laboratories. Applications run in three rounds a year, closing on 1 February, 1 June and 1 October, with the online system opening one month before each date.

For international students the eligibility structure is worth reading carefully, because it is more open than it first appears. European citizens may hold the fellowship in Europe or overseas. Non-European citizens are eligible provided they carry out their PhD project at a European institution. That makes this a genuine route for applicants from Asia, Africa and Latin America who can secure a place in a European lab, which is not true of many European foundation awards.

The funding is strong: around 3,400 euros a month, plus roughly 150 euros monthly for minor research costs, a travel allowance for one conference a year, and spouse and child allowances where applicable. It runs for two years initially and can be extended once for up to a further 1.5 years. Fellows join a worldwide network with tailored seminars and ongoing support. One important limitation: the fellowship covers living expenses only. Tuition, bench fees and institutional overheads are explicitly excluded, so those need to be funded separately by you or your host lab.

Three rules eliminate most applicants and should be checked before anything else. First, at the deadline your first university entrance qualification, meaning your school leaving certificate rather than your degree, must not be more than eight years old. People routinely misread this as dating from graduation. Second, you cannot have been working on the PhD project for more than six months when you submit, so this funds a project you are starting, not one already in progress. Third, the project must be experimental and in basic biomedical research aimed at elucidating basic biological phenomena, which excludes a great deal of applied and clinical work. Selection is by peer review of both your record and the scientific quality of the project and host laboratory, and fewer than 10 percent of applicants succeed.

• European citizens may hold the fellowship in Europe or overseas. Non-European citizens are eligible provided they carry out the PhD project at a European institution.
• The PhD project must be experimental and in the field of basic biomedical research, aimed at elucidating basic biological phenomena of human life. In silico projects are included.
• At the application deadline, your first university entrance qualification, meaning your secondary school leaving certificate or equivalent, must not have been achieved more than eight years, or 96 months, ago.
• Natural scientists must have been awarded their last university degree, such as a BSc, MSc, diploma or equivalent, before starting the PhD.
• Physicians, veterinary surgeons and pharmacists must have passed their state examinations.
• You cannot have been working on the PhD project for more than six months at the point of submission, so this is funding to begin a project rather than to rescue one already underway.
• You must notify BIF if you apply to any other research-sponsoring institution, and taking up another award before BIF decides means your application is treated as withdrawn. Fellowships covering tuition fees only are excepted.
• The process is highly competitive, with fewer than 10 percent of applicants receiving a fellowship.

• A monthly stipend of around EUR 3,400, which is generous by European doctoral standards and intended to cover living expenses fully.
• About EUR 150 per month toward minor research-related costs.
• A travel allowance to attend one scientific conference each year.
• Spouse and child allowances where applicable, which many doctoral schemes do not offer.
• Initially awarded for two years and extendable once for up to a further 1.5 years, giving up to 3.5 years of support.
• Tailor-made seminars for BIF fellows and alumni, plus membership of an active worldwide network with individual advice and support.
• Selection by peer review assessing both your own achievements and the scientific quality of the project and host laboratory, which means the award signals lab quality as well as personal merit.
• Note what it does not cover: tuition fees, bench fees and institutional overheads are excluded, so you or your lab must account for those separately.

• Online application through the BIF application system, which opens one month before each deadline.
• Detailed research proposal for an experimental project in basic biomedical research.
• Confirmation from the host laboratory and supervisor at the European institution where the PhD will be carried out.
• University degree certificates, including your last degree awarded before starting the PhD.
• Your first university entrance qualification, such as a secondary school leaving certificate, with its date, since the eight-year rule is assessed against it.
• Full academic transcripts.
• Curriculum vitae covering research experience and any publications.
• Letters of reference as specified in the current application requirements.

• Check the eight-year rule first, measured from your secondary school leaving certificate rather than your degree. This is unusual and it disqualifies people who assume the clock starts at graduation.
• Check the six-month rule second. If you have already been working on the project for longer than six months at submission, you are not eligible.
• Secure your host laboratory in Europe before applying. Non-European citizens must carry out the PhD in Europe, and the quality of the host lab is explicitly part of the peer-review assessment.
• Choose your deadline. BIF runs three rounds a year, closing on 1 February, 1 June and 1 October, so a near miss means a four-month wait rather than a year.
• The online application opens one month before each deadline, so prepare the proposal in advance rather than waiting for the portal.
• Write the proposal for scientific peer reviewers, since the project's scientific quality is assessed alongside your record.
• Notify BIF if you have applied elsewhere, and do not accept another award before BIF decides, or your application is considered withdrawn.
• Budget separately for tuition and bench fees, since the fellowship deliberately excludes them and covers living expenses only.