Applications are now open for the Volvo Research and Educational Foundations Study Visit Grants 2025

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Closing Date: 31 October 2025

Applications are now open for the Volvo Research and Educational Foundations Study Visit Grants 2025

Overview

VREF invites Next Generation Scholars to apply for grants for short-term study visits at other (non-home) universities. The invitation is open on an ongoing basis until 31 October 2025, and the study visit should be carried out before 31 December 2025. VREF wishes to have a broad distribution of grants among universities, thus in the first half of 2025 (up to 30 June 2025), a maximum of one (1) grant will be awarded to the same home university.

Background

The Volvo Research and Educational Foundations (VREF) supports research and educational activities at universities and research institutes of academic standing that contribute to achieving its overall mission:

To support the development of new knowledge on ideas, approaches and solutions that can contribute to equitable access and sustainable urban mobility;
To support educational and outreach programs within the area of urban transport and mobility, broadly defined;
To contribute to the dissemination and uptake of research results among university researchers, practitioners, decision makers and other relevant stakeholders;
To support research, demonstration projects and other initiatives that can contribute to processes of change within urban transport.

At present VREF’s initiatives include the following programs, centers and platforms:

Mobility & Access in African Cities (MAC)
Walking as a Mode of Transport (WALKING)
Informal and Shared Mobility in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (ISM)
Center of Excellence Bus Rapid Transport+ (BRT+)
Center of Excellence MetroFreight
Center of Excellence Sustainable Urban Freight Systems (SUFS)
Gothenburg Urban Freight Platform (UFP)

General Objectives of VREF Next Gen Study Visit Grants

The general objectives of VREF’s Next Gen Study Visit Grants are:

To strengthen VREF-funded research projects and programs and more generally strengthen research, educational activities and the exchange of research approaches or results within VREF’s community of researchers and students;
To support professional development and provide opportunities for Next Generation Scholars within VREF’s programs, projects or centers to strengthen their research skills and academic capacity through collaborations with researchers at other universities within the VREF community.;
To provide opportunities for NextGen scholars at Swedish universities or research institutes of academic standing to strengthen their scientific work through collaborations with researchers within VREFs programs, centers or platforms;

What types of work can be funded by a VREF Next Gen Study Visit Grant?

A VREF Next Gen Study Visit Grant (SVG) should primarily be used for carrying out comparative field work or other locally situated work which can contribute to ongoing VREF-funded research. In addition, an SVG can also be used for the following types of activities as part of the study visit; the grant cannot, however, be used solely or primarily for such activities:

Locally situated work and collaboration with researchers at the host university that contributes to the applicant’s ongoing studies, including thesis work.
To participate in short courses or other educational offerings at another university;
To plan and carry out seminars/seminar series, short courses or other educational activities in cooperation with researchers at another university;
To build or further develop academic collaboration and networks between research teams or environments within VREF’s programs, centers or platforms (e.g. through co-authorships, planning of future research projects, institutional exchanges, or other forms of scientific cooperation);
To participate in a conference or workshop organised within the VREF’s network.

Eligibility

This invitation is open to:

NextGen scholars (advanced master students, Ph.D. candidates, early career researchers within five years of Ph.D. degree) who are based in research teams or environments that are funded (or otherwise actively engaged in) VREF’s programs, projects or centers as indicated above;
Ph.D. candidates and early career researchers who are based at a Swedish university or research institute who wish to visit research teams or environments within a program, project or center supported by VREF;
Recipients of the Lee Schipper Memorial Scholarship or participants in the SLOCAT-VREF Young Leaders in Sustainable Transport program.