Svenska Sällskapet för Medicinsk Forskning offers travel stipends for doctoral students who are carrying out preclinical and clinical medical research in Sweden. The stipend is for a maximum of SEK 50,000, and is awarded a maximum of three times.
Doctoral students registered at a Swedish university, with at least one peer-reviewed original research article to their name, are eligible to apply for the travel grant. The research article must have been published after registration as a doctoral student or in connection with their doctoral studies, and in such cases, no more than one year prior to PhD registration—for example, during their master’s program. Stipends are not awarded to researchers who have already defended their PhD thesis or to unregistered doctoral students.
The stipends are intended to cover additional personal expenses, such as tickets and housing, in connection with travel to another research institution or clinic for studies that are significant for the doctoral student’s own research project. Stipends are awarded, for example, for travel for the purpose of learning new methodology, collecting research data or other similar purposes. A personal invitation from the host institution, as well as a certificate from the chief supervisor must be attached.
The travel grant is not awarded for courses, travel to conferences or congresses, for materials, printing or other operating costs. Subsistence allowance or reimbursement for food costs during the period will not be approved.
The SSMF Travel Grant is a tax-free, personal stipend that is paid directly to the recipient.
Submitting your application
Applications are submitted electronically, and the stipend can be applied for on four occasions per year; 15 February – 1 March, 15 May – 1 June, 15 August – 1 September and 15 – November – 1 December. The application system closes at 23.59 on the last day of application for each call and it is not possible to register a new application, submit or make changes to an existing application after that.
The following documents (PDF) must be attached to the application:
The trip may begin no earlier than one month after the application deadline and may last up to six months.
You can find the link to the application at the bottom of this page.
Report and payment
The stipends awarded are paid out in arrears. After the travel is completed, the stipend holder must submit a travel expenses claim accompanied by original receipts, as well as a scientific report on the project. The reporting consists of two parts and is done in SBS Manager. After the report has been approved, the stipend will be paid out to the account specified on the travel expenses claim form. Note that the funds granted must be collected no later than one year after the decision date shown on the contract.
Starting Grant:
For early independent researchers (postdoc to junior PI stage)
Offers salary (~1 M SEK/year) + operations (~1 M SEK/year) for 4 years; part-time combined with clinical duties is permitted
Two-stage application: LOI (≤ 2 pages) + Full Proposal (≤ 8 pages), then interview for top candidates
Postdoctoral Grant:
Mobility focus (particularly abroad)
Research proposal (≤ 6 pages), publication list, thesis certificate, and host institution confirmation
Project Grants & Travel Stipends:
Apply via Tekla portal; ensure institutional backing and compliant budget
Projects are evaluated on:
Innovation, scientific quality, applicant skill, and project feasibility
Mobility and independence are specifically emphasized in postdoc applications
For Starting Grants, criteria include:
Innovation, science quality, applicant competence, feasibility (rated 1–5)
Full proposals evaluated by four reviewers; top candidates invited to interviews
Must include a signed certificate from your host institution (head of dept) confirming workplace access and necessary resources—required for both postdoc and starting grants .
Heads must also electronically sign the LOI and full proposal in SBS Manager, followed by your signature via BankID
LOI limited to 2 pages (A4, Arial 11, 1 spacing); Full Proposal limited to 8 pages; publications list max 5 pages
Attach PhD diploma or thesis protocol. For part-time clinical applicants, include a certificate verifying 50% clinical time
Ensure correct files are attached; any omissions or formatting errors lead to exclusion .
Only one application per call is allowed.
Meet the deadlines—calls typically open mid-March and close mid-April (e.g., 15 April)
Follow portal instructions (do not use browser back/forward buttons) to maintain data integrity .
Only selected candidates proceed to an interview: Starting Grant interviews held ~September in Stockholm
Prepare to discuss innovation, feasibility, research plan, and independence.
✅ Summary Table
Success Factor | Action Steps |
---|---|
Grant Alignment & Eligibility | Choose Starting, Postdoc, Project, or Travel; confirm within target career stage |
Innovation & Feasibility | Develop clear, high-impact, methodologically sound proposals |
Institutional Endorsement | Obtain signed host confirmation and resource support |
Compliance with Guidelines | Strictly follow page limits, format, and documentation rules |
Budget Clarity | Align budget to scheme (salary + operations for Starting; project costs for others) |
Single & Timely Submission | Submit one application per round, early, via SBS/Tekla |
Interview Preparation | Be ready to present your work confidently at interview stage |
🛠 Pro Tips to Maximize Your Chances
Start LOI early—ensure departmental signatures and BankID setup.
Craft concise and high-impact LOI (≤ 2 pages) that clearly answers SSMF criteria.
Build a feasible, innovative model with detailed methodology and timeline.
Gather all required documentation: thesis diploma, host certification, clinical time certificate if needed.
Budget rigorously—Starting Grant = salary + operations; others = project-specific costs.
Practice for the interview—focus on innovation, independence, and feasibility.
Submit ahead of deadlines, avoiding portal issues, and confirm one submission only.
Applicants must be doctoral students registered at swedish university with at least one peer-reviewed publication.
Eligible Countries:
Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Svenska Sällskapet för Medicinsk Forskning (SSMF)
Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit
Address: Box 44 007, 100 73 Stockholm
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Sep 01, 2025
Sep 01, 2025
$5,229
Affiliation: Svenska Sällskapet för Medicinsk Forskning (SSMF)
Address: Box 44 007, 100 73 Stockholm
Website URL: https://www.ssmf.se/for-scientists/travel-stipend/
Disclaimer:It is mandatory that all applicants carry workplace liability insurance, e.g., https://www.protrip-world-liability.com (Erasmus students use this package and typically costs around 5 € per month - please check) in addition to health insurance when you join any of the onsite Trialect partnered fellowships.