The International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) Neuroscience Training Grants help PhD students and early career postdocs pay to attend a neuroscience training course or school, covering registration fees, travel and local expenses. This round is for courses starting between 1 January and 31 August 2027, and applications close on 31 October 2026.
Specialist teaching and hands-on training can make a real difference early in a research career, whether that is a methods course, a summer school in neuroimaging or computational modelling, or an advanced workshop in a new technique. The grants are there to remove the financial barrier, and form part of IBRO’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in neuroscience.
The scheme is international and open to applicants in the UK and Europe. Recent awardees include researchers at UK universities, and several funded courses have been held in the UK, including cognitive neuroimaging training in Cambridge.
Who can apply?
- PhD students.
- Early career postdocs within five years of starting their first postdoctoral position.
- Applicants must be planning to attend a neuroscience training course starting between 1 January and 31 August 2027.
Applications to attend an IBRO-supported school are not considered under this scheme; apply directly to the school instead. The grants do not cover conferences (see the IBRO Travel Grants) or research stays in another lab (see the IBRO Exchange Fellowships, or the FENS/IBRO-PERC Exchange Fellowships for Europe).
How much can you apply for?
The maximum depends on your region of residence, set by the relevant IBRO Regional Committee. Check IBRO’s country classification if you are unsure which region you fall in.
- Africa: USD 5,000
- Pan-Europe (including the UK): USD 4,500
- US/Canada: USD 4,000
- Asia-Pacific: USD 3,000
- Latin America: USD 3,000
Eligible costs are course registration fees, travel to the course and local expenses. Costs linked to conferences or exchange stays are not eligible.
Priority goes to applicants from under-represented or under-resourced backgrounds, with a strong emphasis on gender and regional diversity. Preference may also be given where IBRO money can act as matching funds alongside support from your institution or another source.
What to include in your application
- Applicant details: your academic background and current research focus.
- Course description: full details of the course and its relevance to your research and career. It must be a structured programme of education and skills development in a field closely related to neuroscience.
- Impact statement: how attending will benefit your research or career.
- References: at least one letter of reference, which must come from your current supervisor.
- Budget: a detailed breakdown of fees, travel and local costs, plus details of any co-funding.
Payment and reporting
Awards are conditional on sending IBRO your course acceptance letter within a set period. Payment is split 80:20, with 80% two months before the course starts and the remaining 20% once you submit your certificate of attendance and a grant report. Funds can be paid to you, your institution or your supervisor.
How to apply
Apply through the IBRO Grants Portal. First-time users will need to create an account. For questions about the scheme, contact the IBRO programmes team.
IBRO runs this scheme twice a year. The next round is expected to open in April 2027, for courses starting between 1 July and 31 December 2027.
Visit funding web page
(https://ibro.org/grant/neuroscience-training-grants/)
