ESO Studentship Programme — April 2027 round
The European Southern Observatory Studentship Programme lets enrolled PhD students in astronomy and related fields spend six months to two years of their doctorate at ESO in Garching or Santiago under joint supervision.
| Amount / funding | Studentship at ESO (stipend details on the ESO recruitment portal — not stated in the official programme pages fetched) |
|---|---|
| Deadline | Two rounds per year: 20 April and 20 October; next round 20 April 2027 (October 2026 round closed 20 October 2026) |
| Start date | Studentships from the April round typically begin between August of the same year and March of the following year |
| Level | PhD |
| Funding type | stipend-only |
| Field | 05 Natural Sciences |
About this scholarship
The European Southern Observatory Studentship Programme lets enrolled PhD students in astronomy and related fields spend six months to two years of their doctorate at ESO in Garching or Santiago under joint supervision.
Minimum requirements
Enrolled in a PhD programme in astronomy or a related field; research project coordinated with an ESO supervisor and the home institute supervisor well in advance; 6 months to 2 years at Garching (Germany) or Santiago (Chile)
Application checklist
- Enrolment in a PhD programme in astronomy or a related field
- Research project coordinated with an ESO supervisor and the home institute supervisor, well in advance
- Application via the ESO recruitment portal
Application tips
- Contact a prospective ESO supervisor well before the deadline — coordination with both supervisors is required
- Choose between Garching (Germany, 1-2 years) and Santiago (Chile, 6 months-2 years)
- Note the October 2026 round closed 20 October 2026; the next round is April 2027
- Use the current official deadline of 20 April: an older 2023 factsheet's 30 April date is superseded
Always verify deadline, amount and eligibility on the official page before applying. Values marked ESTIMATE are based on a previous cycle and are not confirmed for the current round.
Tags: astronomy, astrophysics