From €1,704 to €2,055 per month, travel covered in both directions, accommodation support, and full insurance – with one central requirement: stay in Ukraine before and after the placement. The Institut français d’Ukraine, in partnership with the French Embassy and the Conference of Directors of French Engineering Schools (CDEFI), has opened applications for the NADIYA 2026 scholarship programme.
The programme has run since 2023 – 2026 is its fourth cycle. It was designed specifically for researchers who chose to stay in Ukraine through the war and continue their scientific work. NADIYA funds short-term research stays at French laboratories and research centres, from two weeks to three months, running September–December 2026.
The programme is open to PhD holders and doctoral students in eight engineering fields. The application deadline is 7 June 2026.
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What NADIYA is and who runs it
NADIYA is a short-term scientific mobility scholarship programme built specifically for researchers who have stayed in Ukraine. It launched in 2023 and opens again each year – 2026 is the fourth cycle.
The organising partners are the Institut français d’Ukraine and the French Embassy in Ukraine, in coordination with CDEFI – the Conférence des Directeurs des Écoles Françaises d’Ingénieurs (Conference of Directors of French Engineering Schools). CDEFI provides access to France’s leading Grandes Écoles as host institutions.
The programme is bilateral: it supports Ukrainian researchers who need access to equipment and partners, while building long-term connections between French and Ukrainian scientific institutions. Prospects for further cooperation through ERASMUS+ or Horizon Europe are one of the selection criteria.
Eight scientific fields for 2026
The programme covers eight engineering disciplines, each with specific sub-themes.
Materials science and materials engineering. Properties of materials and surfaces, nanotechnologies, advanced composite materials.
Biotechnologies and bioengineering. Applications in healthcare, agri-food, environmental sciences, bioengineering, and bioprocesses.
Geosciences and environment. Soil and mineral resource management, decontamination technologies, ecological restoration.
Sustainable energy and energy transition. Renewable energy, energy storage systems, energy consumption optimisation.
Agronomy and veterinary sciences. Sustainable agriculture, agri-food resource management, animal health, environmental impacts on agricultural ecosystems.
Innovative technologies and advanced civil engineering – with particular focus on aeronautics.
Cybersecurity and civilian nuclear research.
Construction and civil engineering.
What a selected researcher receives
The programme covers all main costs associated with the mobility.
Monthly stipend. Two levels based on academic status: €1,704 for young researchers and doctoral (PhD) students; €2,055 for confirmed (senior) researchers. At three months, this amounts to €5,112 or €6,165 respectively.
Accommodation. The programme provides support with organising housing in France. The specific form of support is confirmed at the time of selection.
Travel. Round-trip transport costs are covered – Ukraine to France and back.
Insurance. Medical and travel insurance for the duration of the stay.
Who can apply
Four mandatory conditions for applicants:
Citizenship and residence. Ukrainian citizens who currently reside in Ukraine and intend to return after completing the mobility. This is the programme’s defining condition – it exists to support those who stayed and kept working.
Academic degree. A PhD degree or current enrolment in a doctoral programme.
Institutional affiliation. Active research activity in one of the specified fields within a Ukrainian academic or research institution.
Language. Sufficient proficiency in English and/or French. Knowledge of French is an advantage but is not mandatory.
What the selection panel looks for
The programme explicitly names four factors that strengthen an application.
Group applications. Applications from teams of 2–4 researchers are “particularly encouraged” – a direct quote from the official description. Coordinated or group mobility has an advantage over individual applications.
Impact on Ukraine’s resilience and reconstruction. The selection panel expects a compelling rationale for how the mobility and its results will contribute to Ukraine’s economic, social, or environmental resilience and reconstruction.
Prospects for further cooperation. A plan to continue collaboration through ERASMUS+, Horizon Europe, or other programmes should be included in the application. Short-term mobility is meant to evolve into long-term partnership.
Dissemination in Ukraine. Plans for communicating and disseminating research results within the Ukrainian scientific community. The French Embassy or CDEFI may support such activities.
How to apply
The application involves two steps.
Step 1. Complete the online application form: Google Forms →
Step 2. Send documents to cooperation@ifu.kyiv.ua with the subject line: “NADIYA candidate 2026”
Confirmed required documents from the official page: scan of foreign passport; CV in English or French; description of the research project and expected results; invitation letter or email (if available) from the French host laboratory or institution, specifying the exact dates of the mobility.
The full document list and selection details are on the official page and in the PDF version of the programme: Programme Nadiya 2026.pdf →
Summary table: NADIYA 2026
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisers | Institut français d’Ukraine, French Embassy in Ukraine, CDEFI |
| Type | Short-term scientific mobility in France |
| Duration | 2 weeks – 3 months (September–December 2026) |
| Stipend | €1,704/month (PhD / young researchers) | €2,055/month (confirmed) |
| Also covered | Accommodation, round-trip travel, medical and travel insurance |
| Eligible | Ukrainian citizens currently in Ukraine; PhD or doctoral students; intend to return |
| Language | English and/or French (French is an advantage) |
| Research fields | 8 fields: materials, biotech, geosciences, energy, agronomy, technologies/aeronautics, cybersecurity/nuclear, construction |
| Deadline | 7 June 2026 |
| How to apply | Google Forms + documents to cooperation@ifu.kyiv.ua (subject: “NADIYA candidate 2026”) |
| Official page | institutfrancais-ukraine.com/etudier/bourses/nadiya → |
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