JYU Visiting Fellow Programme 2026

The JYU Visiting Fellow Programme is intended for researchers with a doctoral degree awarded before the start of the visit, who are based outside Finland and will be hosted by one or more researchers in one or more faculties, departments or independent institutes at JYU. The applicant should have an excellent track record in conducting and publishing scientific research and establishing international networks and be able to work fluently in English.

The applicant is expected to contact a potential host at one of the units of JYU before submitting the application for both to commit to collaboration and define joint research themes. A Visiting Fellow may be invited by a researcher with a permanent or a fixed-term contract as well as a grant researcher who works at JYU during the whole stay of the Visiting Fellow. A JYU researcher cannot invite or host more than one Visiting Fellow in 2026.

An invitation letter from the JYU host is required for the application. Without this, the application will not be considered. Both the applicant and the host must be committed to the schedule and objectives of the planned visit and shall inform the host unit of the visit and its schedule. By committing to hosting the Visiting Fellow, the JYU host also commits to preparing a brief report of the outcomes and impact of the visit together with the Visiting Fellow. The report is to be sent to the Research Council within 3 months after the end of the visit.

The collaboration may be, for example

• Research in the context of a joint project, including the preparation of research articles and papers
• Research conducted at a laboratory, in the field or utilizing research data or other infrastructure of the host at JYU
• Preparation of future research plans and funding applications
   

See also FAQs below.

The funding is paid as a grant, not as a salary. Therefore, the Visiting Fellows will not be employed by the University of Jyväskylä.

A Visiting Fellow is paid a grant for a period of one (30 days) to three months (90 days) in 2026. If necessary, the visit may be split into two periods. The amount of the grant depends on the career stage of the Visiting Fellow:

• 3 000 €/month for Postdoctoral Researchers
• 4 500 €/month for Associate Professors (or equivalent)
• 5 500 €/month for Professors (or equivalent)

The grant is intended to cover costs related to the visit at the JYU such as travel expenses to and from Jyväskylä and accommodation expenses in the University’s guest apartments or in a flat from the open housing market. Thus, travel and accommodation costs are not reimbursed separately. We kindly ask the Visiting Fellows to make travel and accommodation arrangements by themselves.

We plan to organise a seminar for Visiting Fellows to introduce their research conducted during the visit to the university community at some time during the year. As the visit may not coincidence with this seminar, we encourage the hosts and their Visiting Fellows to explore other opportunities to present their research at JYU.

A Visiting Fellow will be part of our international and multidisciplinary university community focusing on high-level teaching, learning, research, and innovation. JYU has a lively academic community, consisting of over 1 600 researchers, and a versatile research infrastructure. To find more information about the University, the City of Jyväskylä and living in Finland, please see our research website, and the Handbook for international staff and visitors.

Before applying, contact directly a JYU researcher, who will act as a host during your stay at JYU. Please note that we do not facilitate finding a suitable host. To apply, please fill in the online application form and submit it along with the attachments by 15 September 2025 at 23.59 (Finnish time).

Obligatory attachments

• Curriculum Vitae, including personal ORCID id and affiliation information (home organisation, country), composed according to good scientific practice and, where possible, considering the template for researcher´s curriculum vitae by the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity. Name the attachment file as follows: yoursurname_cv.pdf.
• Free-form invitation letter from your JYU host. The invitation letter may be an e-mail exchange or written on the template. Name the attachment file as follows: yoursurname_LOI.pdf. The invitation letter should include the following information:
  • the name, title and home organisation (organisation, country) of the person invited,
  • the JYU host’s name and unit,
  • planned dates and objectives of the visit as well as commitment for hosting.
• Brief research plan (2 to 3 pages) clarifying the objectives of the visit, including a description of the potential benefits to the host unit. If an applicant has received a JYU Visiting Fellowship in a previous call, she/he should describe the added significance of the new research visit and its possible connection to the completed visit or the differences between the visits. Name the attachment file as follows: yoursurname_researchplan.pdf.
• List of publications indicating up to the 5 most relevant publications for the research plan. Name the attachment file as follows: yoursurname_publ.pdf.

See also FAQs below.

The Research Council of JYU evaluates the applications. The Vice Rector responsible for research makes the funding decision taking into account the views of the Research Council and the resources available. Decision-making follows the principles of responsible assessment of research and researchers (see for more information).

Applications will be evaluated based on the following selection criteria:

• Scientific quality and feasibility of the research plan and its connection to the research interests of the host unit.
• Priority will be given to applications from applicants who have not previously been awarded a JYU visiting grant.
• If an applicant has previously been awarded a JYU visiting grant, the added significance of the new research visit and its possible connection to the completed visit or the differences between the visits must be clear.
• Applicant’s merits
• Potential benefits of the research visit and the impact of the research outputs for the host unit and in general.

Applications from researchers already conducting research at JYU will not be considered.

JYU is obligated to comply with sanction and export control legislation.

Visiting Fellows are committed to follow the ethical principles and other principles of JYU.

JYU reserves the right to cancel the grant if the Visiting Fellow is found to have committed a violation of the JYUs Code of Conduct or other principles.

The decisions of the Visiting Fellow Programme will be announced by the end of October 2025. Applicants will receive an email notification after the funding decision has been made.

The University of Jyväskylä will request a report on the results and impact of the research conducted during the visit. The JYU host must submit a report to the Research Council within 3 months of the end of the visit.

JYU HOST & INVITATION LETTER

Who can act as a host?

A researcher with a permanent or a fixed-term contract as well as a grant researcher who works at JYU during the whole stay of the Visiting Fellow. A host can be at any of the research career stages I-IV. A JYU researcher cannot invite or host more than one Visiting Fellow in 2026.

How do I find a host?

Please note that we do not facilitate finding a suitable host, for example, by providing a list of potential hosts.

Please see websites of our units where you find information about research projects and researchers. You can also search for a host in our research information system, where you can search researchers based on the field of science. Visit also website of research. Contact a JYU researcher with whom you wish to collaborate during the fellowship to discuss a possibility of a research visit. Once you have agreed on the collaboration and its content, ask the host to write an invitation letter to be attached to your application.

What information should the invitation letter contain?

The invitation letter may be an e-mail exchange or written on the template. The invitation letter should contain at least the following information:

• Name, title and home organisation (organisation, country) of the person invited
• Name and unit of a host at JYU (inviting person)
• Planned dates of the visit
• Objectives of the visit
• Commitment for hosting

ELIGIBILITY

Am I eligible to apply in the present call if I have previously received a grant from the JYU Visiting Research Fellow Programme?

Yes, you are eligible to apply for the JYU Visiting Fellowship 2026. Describe the added significance of the new research visit and its possible connection to the completed visit or the differences between the visits in your research plan. Priority will be given to applications from applicants who have not previously been awarded a JYU visiting grant.

Am I eligible to apply in the present call if I have not graduated before the application deadline?

Yes, you are. However, you need to have a doctoral degree before the start of the visiting period. The grant can be awarded conditionally and is confirmed when you have graduated.

Am I eligible to apply if I am a researcher but not employed by an institute?

Yes, you are. Please note that the funding is paid as a grant, not as a salary. Thus, the Visiting Fellows will not be employees of the University of Jyväskylä.

Am I eligible to apply? I am Finnish citizen, but based outside Finland.

Yes, you are. Applicants can be of any nationality.

APPLICATION

Can I apply for the grant for a virtual research visit?

No. JYU Visiting Fellow grants are awarded only for physical visits to JYU. The grant is intended to cover costs related to the visit at JYU such as travel expenses to and from Jyväskylä and accommodation expenses.

How is the duration of the visiting period calculated?

The duration of the visiting period refers to the calendar days, including both working days and weekends.

Do you accept applications submitted after the deadline?

We will not consider an application that has not been submitted by deadline.

How many Visiting Fellowships will be awarded?

The number of Visiting Fellowships JYU can award depends on the length of the visits and the career stage of the Visiting Fellows. For example, in the 2025 call, we received 185 applications, of which 75 were awarded the grant.

USE OF GRANT AND TAXATION

Can I use the Visiting Fellow grant in 2027?

No, you cannot. The Visiting Fellow grant must be used during the year 2026 and it cannot be postponed to subsequent years. The visiting period may start earliest in January 2026 and should end latest on December 31, 2026. 

Is the grant exempt from tax?

Whether the grant is tax-exempt income or not depends on the total amount of grant income you receive for the year. However, even if no tax is collected from the grant in Finland, it might be taxable in the grantee's country of taxation.  More information on the taxation of grants at the websites of the Finnish Tax Administration. See also "After-arrival arrangements" in JYU's Handbook for international staff and visitors.

SUPPORT SERVICES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ

Where can I find an accommodation in Jyväskylä?

Once you have been awarded a JYU Visiting Grant, HR Services will provide you information on travelling, accommodation, and grant payment and support you with your visit. Please see also "Pre-arrival arrangements" in the Handbook for international staff and visitors.

Does the University provide support services with the matters related to relocation?

HR Services will send you instructions on applying a visa (if you need to obtain visa) and prepare an invitation letter needed for the visa application. See more information on a visa at website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland. See also "Pre-arrival arrangements" in the Handbook for international staff and visitors.

FAMILY MATTERS

Does the University have a children’s day-care services?

The University does not have day-care services. In Finland, day-care is run by the municipality. Please see information about the day-care services in Jyväskylä and contact the City of Jyväskylä for further information. See also "Pre-arrival arrangements" in the Handbook for international staff and visitors.

REPORTING

Do I or my host have to submit a report on my visit?

The JYU host will prepare a brief report, in collaboration with the Visiting Fellow, of the outcomes and impact of the visit. The report is to be sent to the Research Council within 3 months after the end of the visit.

• Senior Specialist Anne Lyytinen, research-council@jyu.fi, Tel. +358 40 805 3906
• Senior Specialist Timo Taskinen, research-council@jyu.fi, Tel. +358 400 648504

You find useful information for your visit at the Handbook for international staff and visitors. The Handbook includes information on pre-arrival, leaving, and visiting, as well as family matters.

Once you have awarded the grant, HR Services will support you with the visit. The University's Assistant team will provide you information on travelling, accommodation, and grant payment. The International Staff Services will support you with official paperwork and arrangements necessary for your relocation to Jyväskylä, e.g., providing information on immigration and taxation.

If you have general questions about your visiting period or do not know who to contact, please contact Anne Lyytinen or Timo Taskinen (research-council@jyu.fi).