Travel and research abroad

The ViDSS supports doctoral candidates in travelling abroad for research visits, field work, conferences or summer/winter schools.

Doctoral candidates need to discuss the possibility and the necessity of a research stay or fieldwork abroad as well as the participation in conferences or summer/winter schools with their supervisor/s. Plans for travel and research abroad during the doctoral studies should be mentioned in the doctoral thesis agreement or, if the agreement has already been concluded, the next annual process report. We recommend that doctoral candidates start to plan travel well ahead of time.
If you are looking for training on a specific method, you may find our list of summer and winter schools in the social sciences useful.
We have recently started compiling a list of doctoral programmes in the social sciences that are open for research visits. The list is complemented on a regular basis. Please contact us if you have suggestions!

ViDSS students can apply for ViDSS Research Funds, a non-competitive needs-based grant that can be used for research-related costs such as expenses related to field work, travel expenses or fees for summer or winter schools. Doctoral candidates can apply for a maximum amount of € 750 per year for three years as of the semester in which the public presentation at the Faculty (FÖP) has been passed successfully.
ViDSS students who are not eligible for the ViDSS Research Funds anymore and plan to submit their thesis in the year 2024 can apply once for the ViDSS Final Year Fund.
Female academic staff can apply for the University’s Mobility & Care Fund to cover additional childcare costs incurred as a result of a mobility stay.
For information on further grants for travel and research abroad please visit our overview of external funding programmes. The ViDSS Newsletter provides information on current deadlines.

It is not necessary (and not possible) to apply for a leave of absence from the doctoral programme for the purpose of a research stay elsewhere.
Doctoral candidates who are employed with the University of Vienna have to apply for a leave of absence from work. For information on the application of a leave of absence please get in touch with the administration team of your department and visit the intranet for employees.
The ViDSS supports doctoral candidates who are employed with the University of Vienna and plan to apply for a paid leave of absence for research visits or field work for more than one month through providing letters of support. The Doctoral School issues letters of support after consultation with the doctoral candidates’ supervisors at the ViDSS. The candidates submit the letters to the rectorate via their departments together with the application documents. Please contact us for further information.

The ViDSS regularily holds brownbag sessions on international mobility during the doctoral studies. We invite doctoral candidates who have already conducted research stays abroad to provide insights into their experiences and we introduce different funding opportunities for doctoral candidates.
Check out the ViDSS Blog to learn more about the experiences of ViDSS students abroad.
Podcast recommendation: Listen to Doctor it! Episode 5 and find out how doctoral candidates can organise, realise and make the most of a research stay abroad.
If you have questions about travel and research abroad, please feel free to contact us.