Rubicon Fellowship 2026-3: Apply by 1 December

Rubicon 2026-3: Current Application Status

What Is the NWO Rubicon Programme?

Rubicon is an early-career mobility grant designed to help highly promising researchers who have recently completed a PhD develop further as independent researchers. The programme gives awardees the opportunity to spend time in a new research environment, build an independent research line and expand their international scientific network.

The scheme is open across scientific disciplines and is divided across four assessment domains:

• Science (ENW);
• Applied and Engineering Sciences (TTW/AES);
• Social Sciences and Humanities (SGW/SSH); and
• Health Research and Medical Sciences (ZonMw).

Who Can Apply?

For Rubicon 2026-3, the main eligibility framework includes the following:

• the applicant must have been awarded a PhD no more than one year before the 1 December 2026 deadline, or be completing the PhD;
• an applicant who has not yet formally obtained the PhD may apply only with a written statement from the supervisor confirming approval of the thesis and the expectation that the PhD will be completed before the project starts;
• before the project starts, the applicant must have obtained a PhD from an eligible research organisation listed in the NWO Grant Rules / Rubicon call;
• applications are submitted by individual researchers, not teams;
• an applicant may submit a Rubicon application only once in their career; and
• the project must meet the host-institute and duration requirements in the call.

Eligible Dutch Research Connection

The 2026 call lists eligible organisations including Dutch universities, university medical centres, KNAW and NWO institutes and several specified national research organisations. For joint PhDs, the call contains specific rules for determining whether the Dutch research connection requirement is satisfied.

Extension of the One-Year Eligibility Window

NWO can extend the career-dependent eligibility period in specified circumstances, including longer-term illness, pregnancy, parental or care leave, care responsibilities and certain clinical-specialist training. Applicants who need an extension must contact NWO before submission.

Host Institute and Mobility Conditions

Rubicon is principally designed for a research stay at a research organisation outside the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The call contains several important host rules:

• the project is normally carried out at one foreign host research organisation;
• multiple host institutes cannot be combined;
• fieldwork or data collection elsewhere may be possible where scientifically justified;
• the applicant may apply for a stay in the country where they obtained their Master’s degree, but not at the same organisation where that degree was obtained;
• for a joint PhD, specific restrictions apply to returning to the non-Dutch PhD institution;
• on the application deadline, the applicant may generally have spent no more than the equivalent of six months full-time in a post-PhD position at the proposed host institute, subject to the extension rules; and
• the host institute must sign the appropriate acceptance form.

Research in the Kingdom of the Netherlands

A limited exception allows research within the Kingdom of the Netherlands where the subject is specifically connected to the Kingdom, such as its languages, cultures or local law. This route is narrower than the standard international-mobility route and has its own conditions.

Rubicon Funding and Eligible Costs

Rubicon is a mobility grant rather than a fixed universal stipend. The maximum grant depends on the host country, duration and FTE.

NWO explicitly notes that the maximum grant is a contribution toward the stay and research and may not cover every cost. Applicants should discuss salary arrangements with the intended employing research organisation early.

Duration and FTE

A standard Rubicon project runs for at least 12 months and no more than 24 months full-time. The 2026 call also permits an eligible part-time appointment of at least 0.75 FTE, with a maximum project duration of 32 months.

Application Documents

The current 2026 call requires the application to be prepared in English and includes:

• a research proposal of no more than six A4 pages and 2,000 words, excluding references;
• a narrative CV with an academic profile of 400–700 words and up to 10 key outputs;
• the appropriate signed acceptance form from the intended host institute; and
• for applicants who have not yet formally obtained the PhD, a thesis/manuscript approval statement from the supervisor.

How to Apply for Rubicon 2026-3

1. Confirm eligibility. Check the one-year post-PhD window, eligible PhD institution and any applicable extension rule.
2. Select the host institute. Confirm that the destination and host comply with the Rubicon mobility conditions.
3. Choose the correct assessment desk. Select ENW/TTW, SGW or ZonMw according to the scientific scope of the proposal.
4. Secure host acceptance. Obtain the correct signed acceptance form for the intended employment or secondment structure.
5. Prepare the English application. Complete the six-page research proposal, narrative CV and required annexes.
6. Use the correct digital system. Submit through ISAAC for NWO domains or MijnZonMw for the ZonMw domain.
7. Submit before the deadline. The 2026-3 deadline is 1 December 2026 before 14:00 CET.

How Rubicon Applications Are Assessed

Rubicon proposals are assessed by multidisciplinary committees. The 2026 call uses four weighted criteria:

The assessment therefore extends well beyond publication count. NWO looks at the applicant’s evidence-based profile and outputs, the originality and feasibility of the proposed research, the scientific environment and fit of the host, and the proposed impact strategy.

Rubicon 2026-3 Timeline

CareerAidHub Applicant Guidance

The following is CareerAidHub guidance, not additional NWO eligibility criteria.

• Check the institutional eligibility before writing: the Dutch scientific-connection requirement is a central eligibility gate.
• Choose the host for scientific fit, not prestige alone: 30% of the score concerns the quality and fit of the host environment.
• Use the narrative CV strategically: explain the significance and impact of your strongest outputs rather than presenting a conventional publication dump.
• Make the mobility case explicit: show why the new research environment will enable intellectual independence, new methods, collaborations or a distinct research line.
• Keep the proposal accessible: committees are multidisciplinary, so specialist content should remain understandable outside a narrow subfield.
• Plan the budget with the host early: the NWO amount is formula-based and may not cover every employment or living cost in a high-cost destination.
• Do not wait until 1 December: institutional registration and the digital submission systems can create avoidable last-day risk.