MSIF's McDonald Fellowships (Up to 55,000 EUR)

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About MSIF's McDonald Fellowships

MSIF's McDonald Fellowships fund 2-year research placements for early career researchers from low- and middle-income countries.

Applications for the 2026 McDonald Fellowships will open on 1 July 2025. 

The McDonald Fellowship enables early career multiple sclerosis researchers from low- and middle-income countries to work in a research institution outside of their own country. During the visit, participants either gain expertise or carry out parts of joint research projects.

Following the award, we expect applicants will 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.

Those who previously have held a Du Pré grant are eligible to subsequently apply for a McDonald Fellowship, but not the other way round.

Candidates are expected to return to their own countries at the end of the study period where they will contribute to advancing care and research in MS.

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.

If successful, candidates and Host supervisors will be required to read and sign the Terms and Conditions of the award.

The McDonald Fellowship should start within 12 months of being awarded the funding.

• Sponsor Organisation: MS International Federation (MSIF)

Benefits of MSIF's McDonald Fellowships

The fellowship payment is a two-year grant, consisting of 55,000 EUR per year, paid to the host institution and then used to pay the fellow.  

 

MSIF's McDonald Fellowships Requirements

All candidates must:

• Be educated to post graduate level (at least MSc, preferably PhD/MD) in an area relevant to multiple sclerosis.
• 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)
• Focus their research in an area relevant to multiple sclerosis.

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.
• Studying in another country on a Du Pré grant project supported MSIF.

Application Date and Process

Please note 

• This is a joint application from the applicant and host. Before applying, candidates need to have identified a suitable project and host supervisor at an institution outside of their own country.
• A project host must be agreed before commencing the application.

The application deadline, including the online application form, reference letters, and supporting statement from the host, is 1 December 2025.

You must submit your application with sufficient time for the proposed host to read through your application and provide a supporting statement. It is advised to give at least two weeks for your host to complete this. Equally, you must ask your referees to send a reference letter to [email protected] before the deadline. Applications will be rejected if host statement and references are not received before the deadline.

• Deadline of application: 1 December 2025
• Deadline of Host Supporting Statement: 1 December 2025
• Deadline of References: 1 December 2025

Applicants will be informed whether they were successful after all applications have been reviewed.

Apply through the application website.

• Identify your project and field of interest.
• Contact and agree the project proposal with your host (project supervisor in a lab or clinic).
• Applicant completes all sections of the online application form.
• After Applicant submits, the Host is contacted to submit a supporting statement* using the same application form.
• Applicant asks the three referees to send their reference letters to [email protected]  before the deadline.
• Applicants must read the Terms and Conditions of the Award to understand requirements around reporting and payments.
• Applicants should pay close attention to the lay summary of the application. Advice on how to write a lay summary can be found at the bottom of this page.

Application Deadline

01 December, 2025

Scholarship Application Portal

View details of MSIF's McDonald Fellowships

Apply for MSIF's McDonald Fellowships