Funding for international research sabbatical 2026

The Faculty of Medicine Research Board (FON) announces a call enabling teachers and researchers to carry out a 3–12 month long sabbatical (continuous period) at an international university. The call aims to strengthen the research and/or doctoral studies at the Faculty of Medicine. A teacher can undertake sabbaticals lasting up to a maximum of twelve months within a five-year period.

Who can apply?

To be eligible to apply, the applicant must have a permanent position as an actively researching professor or associate professor (universitetslektor) at the Faculty of Medicine. The application is made after the approval of the head of the applicant’s department, and where applicable, by the head of division at the Region concerned (verksamhetschef). The head of department must state in the cover letter that a discussion about the upcoming URA agreement has been carried out.

If a teacher already has received basic funding for a research sabbatical, they should in the new application clearly describe the purpose of the previous sabbatical and its benefits for the faculty.

Granting process

The Faculty of Medicine Research Board (FON) grants funding for a sabbatical only:

1. if the application includes a research plan of high quality (the research plan should focus on the research that is to be done during the sabbatical) as well as information regarding when in time the stay will take place;
2. if the planned project clearly benefits from the long-term stay at the university;
3. if the application includes a distinct description of how the researcher and research and/or doctoral education at the Faculty of Medicine, Umeå university, benefit from the sabbatical; and
4. if there is a justification for the stay and its length.

The department's role

The department receives a research resource from the faculty's research grant (forskningsanslag) to fund full-time research for the teacher concerned during his/her sabbatical. This releases a teaching resource (GU) that the department can use to fund a replacement within the teaching assignment for the period that the teacher concerned is doing full-time research. The remaining part of the salary cost during the sabbatical is financed the department’s allocated teacher salary funds for the teacher concerned.

The department is also allocated funds to cover the travel costs for one (1) return trip to the intended higher education institution. The granted funds are transferred to the department corresponding to the actual costs for salary and a return trip and include overhead costs at the standard university and faculty levels.

The department concerned is responsible for establishing a URA agreement for the applicant who receives a research resource for the sabbatical. The HR specialists at the Faculty Office can assist with any questions. Financing of other costs for the sabbatical, including overhead costs at the departmental level, beyond what is granted by FON, is done through the applicant’s project grants (research funds) and/or by the department, after the decision of the head of department.

Teachers with combined employment

Please note that university teachers with employments combined with clinical employments (förenade anställningar) have the opportunity to apply for retaining their clinical remuneration (kliniska arvode) during the sabbatical, after the approval of the head of division at the Region concerned (verksamhetschef). The application is sent to the ALF committee (FouKansli@regionvasterbotten.se) or to the TUA committee (to the secretary) after FON has granted the applicant a research resource to carry out a sabbatical. If the application is approved, the ALF committee/TUA committee will also reimburse the relevant clinic’s cost of employing a substitute for the clinic time when the applicant is absent.

How to apply

The application must include the following:

1.  A cover letter signed by the applicant including
   a)  the purpose of the sabbatical
   b)  expected benefits to the applicant and the faculty through the sabbatical
   a)  information about the applicant’s employment at the department, including possible employment combined with clinical employment (förenad anställning)
   b)  a budget regarding salary and travel expenses, including university and faculty overhead
   c)  approval from the head of the department where he/she states that a discussion on the upcoming URA agreement has been held. If applicable, the relevant head of division at the Region (verksamhetschef) should also approve the application.
2. Research plan, not exceeding four pages.
3. A short CV, consisting of no more than two pages.
4. A list of ten selected publications, include the number of citations for the publications, and the Impact Factor for the journal during the year of the publication. Motivate why these publications have been chosen.
5. An invitation letter from the host university, confirming that the applicant has a place of office and access to the necessary resources needed to carry out the research plan.

The application should be written in English.

A signed and scanned original must be sent digitally to research.med@umu.se, please label the email, in the subject: International research sabbatical and FS 2.1.6-101-26.

Last application day

Please note that applications must be submitted to FON no later than 18 May 2026.

For this call, applications will not be assessed until after 18 May.

Review process

FON will review the applications and then make the final decision. The board prioritises first-time applications over those from teachers who have previously been granted funding for a sabbatical.

After completion of the sabbatical, a scientific report should be sent to research.med@umu.se. For teachers with employments combined with clinical employments, the report should be sent to the ALF committee/TUA committee as well.

Teachers who have received funding for sabbaticals are expected to share their experiences within the Faculty of Medicine in various ways.

Do you have any questions?

If you have any questions, please contact FON’s chair Ronnie Berntsson, ronnie.berntsson@umu.se, and/or the ALF committee/TUA committee.