The Novo Nordisk Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships at Uppsala University 2027 offer up to DKK 3.6 million over three years for early-career researchers with an established connection to Denmark’s education or research system. The programme supports interdisciplinary research in natural sciences, technical sciences, biomedicine, and biotechnology. Selected fellows will spend their first two years at Uppsala University in Sweden, followed by a final year at a Danish research institution. Funding can cover salary, research expenses, relocation, conference participation, and eligible living-abroad costs.
Applications are open until 29 January 2027 at 14:00 CET. Applicants must secure a host supervisor at Uppsala University and a Danish institution willing to employ them and administer the fellowship.
Novo Nordisk Foundation Uppsala Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027: Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Fellowship name | Postdoctoral Fellowships at Uppsala University 2027 |
| Funding organisation | Novo Nordisk Foundation |
| Research host | Uppsala University, Sweden |
| Administrative host | Eligible Danish research institution |
| Fellowship duration | 3 years |
| Maximum funding | DKK 3.6 million per fellowship |
| Annual funding | Approximately up to DKK 1.2 million |
| Research fields | Natural sciences, technical sciences, biomedicine, biotechnology |
| Application opens | 30 September 2026 |
| Application deadline | 29 January 2027, 14:00 CET |
| Results announced | June 2027 |
| Fellowship start window | 1 October 2027 to 30 September 2028 |
| Application language | English |
| Application platform | NORMA |
What does the Uppsala University postdoctoral fellowship support?
The programme supports interdisciplinary research projects that connect scientific disciplines and have potential applications in human health or sustainability.
Eligible research areas include natural and technical sciences, biomedicine, and biotechnology. Projects may range from fundamental scientific investigations to innovative applied research.
However, applicants must explain how their proposed work could contribute to human health or sustainability. Simply working in an eligible scientific field is not sufficient.
The fellowship follows a specific research mobility structure:
- Years 1–2: Conduct research at Uppsala University under the supervision of a host Principal Investigator (PI).
- Year 3: Return to a Danish university or eligible public or non-profit research institution to continue the project and strengthen research collaboration.
The programme is intended to help researchers develop scientific independence while maintaining connections between the Swedish and Danish research environments.
Researchers considering other independent research funding may also explore the Branco Weiss Fellowship 2027, which offers up to CHF 600,000 over five years for eligible postdoctoral researchers.
Funding and benefits: What does DKK 3.6 million cover?
The Novo Nordisk Foundation provides a maximum grant of DKK 3.6 million over three years, with an approximate annual allocation of DKK 1.2 million.
The DKK 3.6 million is a total research grant, not a personal salary or cash stipend. The budget must cover the eligible salary and project expenses.
The official guidelines allow applicants to request funding for the following:
| Funding category | Confirmed support |
|---|---|
| Researcher salary | Full-time salary and pension according to applicable institutional agreements |
| Research equipment | Up to 20% of the total budget |
| Research operations | Eligible consumables and project operating costs |
| Conferences | Up to DKK 50,000 per budget year |
| Relocation | Up to DKK 110,000 across the fellowship |
| Living abroad | Up to DKK 70,000 annually |
| Additional child-related expenses | Up to DKK 55,000 per year abroad for applicants with children |
| Publication costs | Eligible project-related publication expenses |
| Uppsala administrative expenses | DKK 25,000 per year spent at Uppsala University |
The additional child-related allowance is a fixed amount regardless of the number of children. All allowances must fit within the overall DKK 3.6 million funding ceiling.
The Danish host institution pays the fellow’s salary and administers the grant throughout the fellowship. According to the Foundation’s FAQ, salary payments are subject to Danish taxation rules.
Applicants should work with both host institutions to prepare a realistic budget, particularly when accounting for living expenses in Sweden, salary obligations, and the return period in Denmark.
Note: The fellowship does not advertise a fixed monthly stipend. The Danish host institution pays the fellow’s salary, which must comply with applicable salary agreements and institutional requirements. Salary and pension costs are included in the overall grant budget rather than paid in addition to the DKK 3.6 million ceiling.
Who is eligible for the Uppsala University fellowship?
Applicants must satisfy the academic, institutional, and research mobility requirements.
1. Academic qualifications
You must hold a PhD in natural sciences, technical sciences, biomedicine, or biotechnology.
Your PhD must have been obtained within five years of the fellowship’s start date. Documented periods of leave of absence are excluded from this calculation.
Current PhD students may also apply if their supervisor provides a statement confirming that they are expected to complete their degree before the fellowship begins.
2. Connection to Denmark
Applicants must demonstrate a genuine association with Denmark’s educational or research environment.
Examples include graduating from a Danish university, holding Danish citizenship, or having several years of research experience at a Danish institution.
The Foundation’s FAQ clarifies that applicants must have spent time in Denmark beyond an ordinary vacation and have relevant experience with its education or research system.
International researchers are not automatically excluded, but applicants without an established Danish connection should not assume that securing a Danish supervisor alone satisfies this requirement.
3. Research supervisors and host institutions
Applicants must arrange two institutional connections:
- Uppsala University: A host PI who agrees to serve as the primary research mentor during the period in Sweden.
- Denmark: An eligible research institution and host PI who agree to employ the fellow, administer the entire grant, and host the final research period.
The Danish host must be a university or another eligible public or non-profit research institution.
4. Previous research experience at Uppsala University
Applicants must not have spent more than one year working as a postdoctoral researcher at Uppsala University at the time of application.
Researchers who have already started a postdoctoral stay there may still be eligible if they remain within this limit.
Applicants may have only one active application at a time across the Foundation’s postdoctoral fellowship grants. They must receive a decision before submitting another application.
If you do not meet the Danish research connection requirement, the MATERIALIZE Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027 in Poland may be worth exploring, particularly for researchers in chemistry and advanced materials. It has a different set of eligibility and mobility requirements.
Required application documents
The application is submitted in English through the Foundation’s NORMA system.
Applicants should prepare the following information and supporting materials.
| Application component | Official requirement |
|---|---|
| Applicant CV | Maximum 4,000 characters |
| Publication list | Maximum 5,000 characters; up to 10 relevant publications |
| Previous research summary | Maximum 2,000 characters |
| Brief project description | Maximum 2,000 characters |
| Detailed research proposal | Maximum 20,000 characters |
| Lay project description | Maximum 1,000 characters |
| Literature references | Maximum 8,000 characters |
| Danish PI support letter | Required |
| Uppsala PI support letter | Required, using the official Uppsala template |
| Danish institution host letter | Required |
| Danish PI CV | Required |
| Recommendation letter | One letter required |
| PhD completion letter | Required if the PhD is unfinished |
The detailed proposal should explain the research objectives, methodology, interdisciplinary approach, collaboration arrangements, expected significance, and planned activities in Sweden and Denmark.
Applicants must also provide a project timetable and a budget covering the full fellowship period.
The official FAQ confirms that a recommendation letter may come from a current advisor, even though the application guidelines refer to a former advisor.
For help organizing your objectives, research methods, and timeline, read our step-by-step research proposal writing guide. Although the examples focus on PhD applications, the planning principles are also useful for postdoctoral proposals.
How to apply for the Uppsala University Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027
Applications must be submitted through the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s official NORMA application platform.
Step 1: Identify a suitable Uppsala University PI. Find a researcher whose expertise matches your proposed project and discuss the scientific objectives, interdisciplinary collaboration, and budget.
Uppsala University Faculty and Staff contact for Host supervisor (PI)
If you are contacting a potential research supervisor for the first time, our guide on how to email a professor for research opportunities explains how to introduce your research background and write a focused introductory email.
Step 2: Secure a Danish host institution. Confirm that the institution can employ you throughout the fellowship, administer the grant, and support your return phase.
Step 3: Request the Uppsala support letter template. Contact the university’s research support office at researchsupport-teknat@uu.se. The official template is mandatory.
Step 4: Prepare the research proposal and budget. Work with your supervisors to establish the research plan, timetable, eligible costs, and responsibilities of both institutions.
Step 5: Register or sign in to NORMA. Create an applicant profile using your work email address and select the relevant fellowship call.
Apply Here for Postdoctoral Fellowships at Uppsala University – 2027
Step 6: Complete the application and upload supporting documents. Follow the character limits and upload the mandatory appendices in PDF format.
Step 7: Submit before 29 January 2027 at 14:00 CET. Review the completed application carefully before final submission.
The Foundation warns that registering a new administering institution in NORMA can take up to five working days. Applications cannot be submitted until the institution has been registered.
Review the Novo Nordisk Foundation Uppsala Postdoctoral Fellowship Application Guidelines 2027
Careers Help Desk Counter Angle: Your host arrangements matter as much as your research idea
The most important practical consideration is that this fellowship is not a standard postdoctoral vacancy where you submit a CV and wait for an interview.
You are applying with a research project that requires the involvement of two institutions in different countries.
The Foundation evaluates the creativity and novelty of the proposal, the applicant’s scientific record, the suitability of the Uppsala research group, and the supporting institutional letters.
Its selection process also involves two stages. The Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Committee on Interdisciplinary Research evaluates applications first, and up to five proposals are selected for further evaluation by a committee at Uppsala University.
This makes early supervisor engagement especially important.
Before investing substantial time in writing the application, confirm that the Danish institution can provide employment and grant administration for all three years. Then work with the Uppsala PI to develop a project that genuinely benefits from the host group’s expertise.
Your research proposal should also explain what happens during the final year in Denmark. A vague return plan could weaken the case for a programme specifically designed to support research mobility and knowledge transfer.
Finally, write for an interdisciplinary evaluation committee. Explain technical concepts clearly and show why combining the chosen disciplines is necessary for the research question.
For a different research mobility model, see the TIES2 Fellowship Finland 2027, which supports three years of postdoctoral research and requires collaboration with an organisation outside academia.
Common application mistakes to avoid
Several requirements deserve particular attention:
- Treating the grant as a personal stipend: The funding ceiling includes salary, research costs, and other approved expenses.
- Contacting only the Uppsala supervisor: A confirmed Danish host and institutional commitment are also mandatory.
- Using an ordinary support letter: Uppsala University requires its standardised support letter template.
- Overlooking the Denmark connection: Academic qualifications alone do not establish eligibility.
- Submitting an incomplete application: Missing mandatory appendices can result in administrative rejection.
- Ignoring budget restrictions: Equipment, relocation, conference costs, and living expenses must comply with the official limits.
The Foundation does not provide individual feedback when applications are declined, making a complete and carefully reviewed submission particularly important.
Ready to Apply for Fellowships in Sweden
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships at Uppsala University 2027 provide an opportunity for early-career researchers with established Danish academic connections to undertake interdisciplinary research in Sweden while maintaining a longer-term research base in Denmark. Applicants should prioritise securing both host institutions, preparing a clear interdisciplinary research proposal, and developing a realistic three-year budget. Applications are open until 29 January 2027 at 14:00 CET.
Official Source: Postdoctoral Fellowships at Uppsala University – 2027 Call for Applications
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
1. Can international researchers apply for the Uppsala University Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027?
Yes. International researchers may apply if they meet the academic requirements and can demonstrate the required association with Denmark’s educational or research environment. They must also secure the necessary Danish and Uppsala host arrangements.
2. Can I apply without previous research or education experience in Denmark?
Applicants must demonstrate an established connection to Denmark’s educational or research environment. The Foundation’s FAQ states that applicants must have spent time in Denmark beyond an ordinary vacation and have relevant experience with its education or research system. If your connection is uncertain, contact the Foundation before preparing a full application.
3. Is the Novo Nordisk Foundation fellowship fully funded?
The fellowship provides up to DKK 3.6 million over three years to cover eligible salary and research-related expenses. It also supports specified relocation and living-abroad costs. However, the amount is a maximum grant budget, not a fixed personal stipend.
4. Can final-year PhD students apply?
Yes. Applicants who have not yet completed their PhD can apply if their supervisor confirms that they are expected to graduate before the fellowship starts.
5. Is IELTS or TOEFL required?
The official guidelines require applications and supporting materials to be submitted in English. They do not specify a mandatory IELTS or TOEFL score.
6. Can applicants bring their families to Sweden?
Yes. The funding guidelines allow eligible living-abroad expenses for the fellow and family, including an additional budget allowance of up to DKK 55,000 per year abroad for applicants with children. These expenses must remain within the overall grant ceiling.
7. What is the deadline for the Uppsala University Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027?
The application deadline is 29 January 2027 at 14:00 CET (Copenhagen time). Applicants are expected to receive the results in June 2027, with fellowships starting between 1 October 2027 and 30 September 2028.
Stay connected with Careers Help Desk for the latest international fellowships, scholarships, research opportunities and jobs abroad to empower your future!
0 Comments