MSIF McDonald Fellowship 2026 (Fully Funded)

Applications are now open for the MSIF McDonald Fellowship 2026 — a fully funded 2-year international program. It supports early-career researchers (MSc, PhD, or MD) from low- or middle-income countries to work on research related to multiple sclerosis (MS) at a top institution abroad (any leading University or Institute in the world). Fellows will either build expertise or collaborate on joint research, expanding their skills and global research networks. Following the award, applicants must be able to use the newly developed expertise and networks, continuing to undertake MS research and/or patient care in low- and middle-income countries.

Eligibility

• Education: Be educated to postgraduate level (at least MSc, preferably PhD/MD) in an area relevant to multiple sclerosis.
• Citizenship: Be citizens of a low- or middle-income country (all countries with a low, lower-middle, or upper-middle income as defined by the World Bank).

Candidates must also be in one of the following situations:

• Working or studying in a low- or middle-income country (all countries with a low, lower middle or upper middle income as defined by the World Bank) at the time of application.
• Working or studying in another country on a project which started within the six months prior to application.

NOTE: The McDonald fellowship may also be used to part fund a PhD programme, where the candidate has already been accepted for the PhD programme in a recognised institute (within the six months prior to application) but who doesn’t have enough funding to cover the total cost.

Program Date/Place

• Application Deadline: December 1, 2025
• Duration of Program: 2 years
• Program Start: The Fellowship should start within 12 months of being awarded the funding.
• Host Country: Any Country (common Host Countries include the UK, Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand)

Program Benefit

• 55,000 per year (paid to the host institution to cover your living costs and research).
• One return flight to the host country.

Application Process

Apply through the application website.

• Find a host institution and supervisor outside your country.
• Agree on the project proposal with your host supervisor.
• Complete all sections of the online application form.
• After you submit all your sections of the application, your host supervisor will be contacted to submit a supporting statement using the same application form.
• You ask three referees to send their reference letters to research@msif.org before the deadline.
• Write a clear and simple lay summary (500 words) explaining your project for non-experts (you will find advice on how to write a lay summary on the official website of the fellowship)

NOTE: This is a joint application from the applicant and host. Before applying, candidates need to have identified a suitable project and a host supervisor at an institution outside of their own country.

More details: https://www.msif.org/research/awards-grants-and-fellowships/mcdonald-fellowships/