The IMU Breakout Graduate Fellowship Program provides fully-funded support to outstanding PhD students in mathematical sciences. The fellowship brings together talented graduate researchers to pursue doctoral studies. This program is also offered to candidates in developing regions. The deadline is 31st May, 2026.
About the IMU Breakout Graduate Fellowship Program
The International Mathematical Union (IMU), with assistance from Friends of the IMU (FIMU), administers this Program. Nominees must show their zeal to pursue research in mathematics.
Professional mathematicians are invited to nominate candidates, as students cannot apply directly. The fellowship seeks to offer research opportunities and develop local institutions by training future mathematicians who contribute to the academic community.
Funding Size
- Typical grant amount: $10,000
- Maximum award: $40,000
- Project duration supported: Four years of doctoral study
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Who Can Apply for the IMU Breakout Graduate Fellowship Program
Eligible Organisation Types
- Universities and research institutions located in developing countries
- Recognised doctoral programmes in mathematical sciences
- Institutions capable of hosting PhD candidates in accordance with IMU standards
Registration or Legal Documents
- Valid nomination form completed by a professional mathematician
- A letter of nomination from the nominator
- Two letters of recommendation supporting the nominee
- PhD programme acceptance letter
- Certified academic transcripts
Project Focus Requirements
- Research must focus on mathematical sciences relevant to doctoral study
- Proposed research should demonstrate academic merit and clarity of objectives
- Nominees must be seriously interested in a career in research and teaching in mathematics
- Projects should align with the goal of strengthening mathematics in developing regions
- Nominees must have an identified thesis advisor and research project
Sector or Thematic Focus
- Pure mathematics research areas
- Applied mathematics and computational mathematics
- Theoretical or foundational mathematical sciences
- Interdisciplinary work with strong mathematical foundations
- Research that contributes to academic capacity in home regions
Geographic Eligibility
- Nominee must be a citizen of a developing country as defined by IMU
- Nominee must be a resident in a developing country at the time of nomination
- The study must take place at a recognised institution in a developing country
- Nominees whose programmes involve institutions outside the developing country definitions are not eligible
- Nomination must cover the country of citizenship, residency, and study institution within the IMU developing country list
Application Process
- A professional mathematician nominates the candidate through the official IMU platform.
- The nominator submits the nomination form, recommendation letters, and supporting materials
- Student documents, including motivation statements, research proposals, and transcripts, are uploaded by the nominator.
- All materials must be submitted in PDF format.
- Selection committee reviewers evaluate nominations
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Required Materials
- Nomination letter from a professional mathematician
- Two additional letters of recommendation
- Student’s detailed research proposal
- Letter of motivation and future career plans
- Student nominee’s CV
- Certified academic transcripts
- PhD programme acceptance or pre-acceptance letter
- CV of the PhD supervisor and thesis advisor
Key Dates
- Nomination Opens: 1 February 2026
- Nomination Deadline: 31 May 2026
- Selection Period: June to July 2026
- Fellowship Start: Fall/Winter 2026 term
Selection Notes
- The Breakout Graduate Fellowship is highly competitive
- Selection prioritises strong academic merit, potential for research feasibility, and alignment with mathematics research
- Individual candidates cannot apply directly, and students whose study plans involve institutions outside the developing country definitions are excluded.
Official Source of the IMU Breakout Graduate Fellowship Program
Application Page: https://grants.mathunion.org/