ITMO University Fellowship Program

Overview

The ITMO University Fellowship Program is a competitive research position for international PhD-holders who want to build an independent research career in St. Petersburg, Russia. This is not a student scholarship — it is a post-doctoral or faculty-level fellowship for people who already hold a PhD and have an established research record. Fellows receive a salary of 200,000 RUB per month pre-tax (after the standard 13% income tax deduction) plus an annual allowance of 200,000 RUB for equipment, materials, publication fees, and conference attendance.

ITMO provides visa support, medical insurance, relocation assistance, and housing assistance. The contract starts at one year and can be extended up to three years in total. Fellows are expected to relocate permanently to St. Petersburg — there is no remote work option. You must also build a research team of at least three members and meet annual performance targets that include publications in indexed journals, conference presentations, grant applications, and master's thesis supervision.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis six times per year, so there is no single annual deadline. Selected candidates are expected to start within six months of their selection announcement. The programme targets researchers with an h-index of 7 or higher and experience as an assistant or associate professor at a leading university, though these are listed as preferred rather than strictly mandatory criteria.

Key Facts at a Glance

Item	Detail
Funding Body	ITMO University
Host Country	Russia
Degree Levels	Post-doctoral / Faculty (requires PhD — not for current students)
Value	200,000 RUB/month pre-tax salary; 200,000 RUB/year equipment and conference allowance; visa support; medical insurance; relocation and housing assistance; up to 3-year contract
Deadline	Rolling; applications reviewed six times per year
Eligible Nationalities	Open internationally; requires relocation to St. Petersburg
Official Website	ITMO University Fellowship Program

Eligibility Criteria

Academic Requirements

A PhD or equivalent credential is required. An h-index of 7 or higher is listed as a preferred profile criterion. Experience as an assistant or associate professor at a leading university is preferred but not stated as strictly mandatory. You must have no prior employment at ITMO University.

Nationality Requirements

The fellowship is open to international researchers of all nationalities. ITMO provides visa support as part of the fellowship package.

Age & Other Requirements

You must permanently relocate to St. Petersburg — remote work is not permitted. You must build a research team of at least three members. You must meet annual performance expectations including publications, conference presentations, grant applications, and master's thesis supervision. You also must teach a short-term course (3 ECTS).

What the Scholarship Covers

• Monthly salary: 200,000 RUB pre-tax (13% income tax applies, so approximately 174,000 RUB net)
• Annual allowance: 200,000 RUB for equipment, materials, publication fees, and conference attendance
• Visa support and medical insurance
• Relocation assistance and housing assistance
• Initial one-year contract, extendable up to three years total

How to Apply

1. Review the fellowship requirements and performance expectations at fellowship.itmo.ru/fellowship before applying. Make sure you meet the key criteria: PhD credential, no prior ITMO employment, and willingness to permanently relocate to St. Petersburg.
2. Prepare your research profile documentation. This includes your CV, publication list, h-index documentation, and a research plan outlining how you would build your team and programme at ITMO.
3. Submit your application through the fellowship portal at fellowship.itmo.ru/fellowship. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis six times per year, so there is no specific submission deadline — but earlier submission means earlier review.
4. Participate in the review process. Selected candidates go through an evaluation process. You may be contacted for an interview or asked to provide additional materials about your research agenda.
5. If selected, prepare to start within 6 months. ITMO expects selected candidates to begin their fellowship within six months of the selection announcement. Factor visa processing and relocation timelines into your planning.

Required Documents

• CV with full publication list
• PhD certificate or equivalent credential
• Documentation of h-index and research metrics
• Research plan and outline of your intended team-building and research programme at ITMO
• Evidence of prior teaching or supervision experience (if applicable)
• Letters of recommendation or reference contacts (if required by the current application cycle)

Key Dates & Deadlines

The fellowship operates on a rolling admissions basis with no fixed annual deadline. Applications are reviewed six times per year. Submit your application through fellowship.itmo.ru/fellowship whenever you are ready. Selected candidates are expected to begin within six months of selection.

Tips for a Strong Application

What helps

• Demonstrate a clear and specific research plan. ITMO wants fellows who know what they will investigate and how they will build a team. Generic plans score poorly compared to well-scoped proposals tied to ITMO's existing research strengths.
• Document your h-index and publications clearly. The preferred profile lists h-index of 7 or higher, so present your citation and publication record in a way that makes this immediately legible.
• Show grant-writing experience or pending grant applications. ITMO expects fellows to submit at least one grant application per year of 1 million RUB or more — a track record of success with grant applications is a significant advantage.
• Research ITMO's existing labs and research groups in your field. Demonstrating alignment with and knowledge of ITMO's research environment signals genuine interest rather than a generic application.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without a PhD. The credential is required — the fellowship is not a doctoral scholarship for current students.
• Applying if you have previously worked at ITMO. Prior ITMO employment is an explicit exclusion criterion.
• Underestimating the performance requirements. The fellowship has specific annual targets for publications, grants, conferences, and supervision. Review these carefully and confirm you can realistically meet them before applying.
• Not accounting for the relocation requirement. There is no remote work option. You must physically move to St. Petersburg, which involves visa processing, housing, and a significant life change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ITMO University Fellowship Program?

It is a competitive post-doctoral research position for international PhD-holders at ITMO University in St. Petersburg, Russia, offering a salary of 200,000 RUB per month pre-tax, an annual equipment and conference allowance, and full relocation support.

Is the ITMO University Fellowship Program a student scholarship?

No. This is a post-doctoral or early-faculty position for researchers who already hold a PhD. It is not open to current students or those pursuing a doctoral degree.

What is the salary for the ITMO University Fellowship Program?

Fellows earn 200,000 RUB per month pre-tax. Russia's standard income tax rate of 13% applies, resulting in approximately 174,000 RUB per month net.

How long is the ITMO University Fellowship Program contract?

The initial contract is for one year. It can be extended for up to three years in total, subject to meeting the programme's performance expectations.

Does the ITMO University Fellowship Program allow remote work?

No. Fellows must permanently relocate to St. Petersburg. Remote work is not permitted under the fellowship terms.

What are the performance expectations for ITMO University fellows?

Fellows must publish a minimum of three papers per year in indexed journals (with ITMO as sole affiliation), achieve a cumulative SJR rating of at least 3, present at one international conference per year, submit at least one grant application per year (minimum 1 million RUB), supervise at least two master's theses with co-published results, and teach a short-term course (3 ECTS).

What is the application deadline for the ITMO University Fellowship Program?

There is no fixed annual deadline. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis six times per year. You can apply at any time through fellowship.itmo.ru/fellowship.

What h-index is expected for the ITMO University Fellowship Program?

An h-index of 7 or higher is listed as a preferred criterion. The programme description notes these are preferred characteristics rather than strictly mandatory requirements.

Does the ITMO University Fellowship include housing support?

Yes. The fellowship package includes relocation assistance and housing assistance to help you establish yourself in St. Petersburg.