Call for Applications

ICTP's Sandwich Training Educational Programme (STEP), coordinated jointly with its UN partner the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has opened a call for applications; the deadline is 15 April 2024.

Applications are welcome from students in developing countries who are enrolled in a PhD course at their home university. Physics and mathematics students from a wide range of fields are encouraged to apply.

The programme aims to enrich the doctoral studies of students by providing access to advising, conferences, and research support. With a STEP fellowship, PhD students study at their home universities but have the financial support to visit ICTP or a collaborating institute for a three- to six-month stay each year for three successive years.

STEP's goal is to strengthen the scientific capability of young scientists and researchers from developing countries to better contribute and serve the scientific, technical, and economic development of their home countries. STEP fellowships enrich their doctoral studies by giving students access to the international community and world-class research and training facilities of ICTP and the IAEA.

NEW: Arab Fund fellowships: ICTP and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development have launched a support programme for advancing the capabilities of Arab researchers and students in science and technology. The ICTP-Arab Fund Programme  supports 10 new STEP fellowships for PhD students from Arab-Fund countries to visit ICTP for a total of 11 months in the period of 2024 to 2026. The fields of research are those listed above for ICTP fellowships. Training takes place at ICTP. For more details and to apply, click here.

Fellowships are awarded on the merit of a thesis project proposed by students and their home country advisors. The STEP fellow is assigned to an appropriate host institute with a designated co-advisor.

For more information and to apply online please visit the STEP webpage.

PhD students who are supervised by an ICTP Associate are encouraged to apply.