If you plan to study in Austria with financial support, the Vienna International Postdoctoral Program is one of the best opportunities for international students. This scholarship provides fully funded programs across a wide range of fields. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about the Vienna International Postdoctoral Program, including its benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a detailed step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
The Vienna International Postdoctoral Program 2026-2027 is a fully funded scholarship for international students. The postdoctoral fellowship will provide a yearly gross salary of 87,220 EUR, full health insurance, and additional support for each child, ranging from 130 to 200 EUR per month.
VIP2 is a three-year postdoctoral fellowship program at the Vienna BioCenter (VBC) that is open to candidates with backgrounds in biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, engineering, computer science, and bioinformatics. The program operates under a two-mentor scheme whereby fellows select a main research group and academic mentor according to their specific projects and are supported by a second mentor that can be chosen from the VBC research institutes, the VBC biotech sector, our alumni network, and beyond.
The Vienna International Postdoctoral Program selects people whose projects have the potential to develop into distinct research lines and thus serves as a stepping stone toward an independent career path. We highly encourage interdisciplinary and inter-lab projects.
Beyond offering an outstanding research environment, the Vienna International Postdoctoral Program provides a structured training and career development program under the principle “Inform, Inspire, Innovate.”
A research culture that fosters scientific excellence and independence
- Effective mentoring and career planning through a two-mentor scheme
- Coaching and mentoring by the VIP2 Advisory Board (VAB)
- A broad training program on research-related and transferable skills
- Introduction of a secondment scheme in the postdoctoral training
- Introduction to a diverse network of renowned professionals
Scholarship Summary
- Level of Study: Postdoctoral
- Institution(s): Vienna BioCenter
- Study Destination: Austria
- Opportunity Focus Areas: Click here to find all the available postdoctoral positions.
- Program Period: Three years
The Vienna International Postdoctoral Program Application Deadline
The application deadline for the Vienna International Postdoctoral Program is 31 May 2026.
Scholarship Coverage
The Vienna International Postdoctoral Program provides the recipient with the following benefits:
- Salary: Each fellow receives a yearly gross salary of 87,220 EUR paid in 14 installments (12 months plus one Christmas and one holiday bonus, according to Austrian law)
- All VIP employment contracts come with a comprehensive health insurance plan, which can also cover children and unemployed partners.
- Social security includes fully paid maternity leave (eight weeks before birth and eight weeks thereafter), the possibility of paid parental leave (up to 24 months), pension contribution, and accident insurance.
- Families receive additional support for each child (“Familienbeihilfe”) that ranges from 130 to 200 EUR per month per child, depending on the age of the child and the number of kids in the family.
- Tax deductions apply to single-income families.
For more information, see here.
Eligibility Criteria for the Vienna International Postdoctoral Program
To qualify for the Vienna International Postdoctoral Program, a candidate must fulfill all of the following requirements:
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- Required Language: English.
- Eligible Countries: All countries in the world
- Hold a PhD degree by the application deadline (15 August 2026) in an area that is relevant to the research carried out at the VBC
- The proposed scientific project must be interdisciplinary by combining the expertise of two VBC research groups participating in the current VIP3 call.
- Applicants must have at least one (co-)first-author original research publication or preprint posted on one of the public servers.
- By the time of the call deadline, applicants must fulfill the MSCA “mobility rule”; that is, they should not have resided in or carried out their main activity (work or studies) in Austria for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the call deadline.
For more information, see here.
How to Apply for the Vienna International Postdoctoral Program?
Please follow the application instructions below to apply for the Vienna International Postdoctoral Program:
- All application material must be submitted by email to vip-3[at]vbc.ac.at. Please refer to the “Guide for Applicants” for more details and specific instructions. Applications will only be considered if they include all necessary information and documents.
- Personal information: name, contact details, current place of education/employment
- CV (up to 2 pages): education (transcripts, degree certificates), scientific training
- 5 keywords for the areas of the research proposal
- Description of major past achievements and impact (½ page)
- Statement of research motivation and interests (½ page)
- Abstract of the research proposal (max. ½ page)
- Research proposal bridging at least two of the research groups participating in the current call (max. 3 pages including reference list)
- Statement on the expected broader impact beyond the scientific output to the public (½ page)
- Contact details of two referees
- List of reviewers to be excluded (if applicable)
- Download the application form.
- Please combine all the documents, including the filled application form, in a single PDF file (ideally no more than 20 pages) using the file name “VIP3 2025 LASTNAME.pdf.”
For more information about the selection phase, click here.
Website
To know more about the Vienna International Postdoctoral Program, please visit the official website: