FAQ

  • Applicants should not have resided in Belgium for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the call deadline (i.e., 8 January 2027). Please note that time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention or EU temporary protection, compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account for calculating the 12 months.

  • Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be considered as postdoctoral researchers and will be eligible to apply. The successful defense must be unconditional (no further requirements/corrections that need to be addressed) and take place before the call deadline. Supporting documentation will be requested. Please note that, in case your project is approved for funding, you will need to have your PhD degree awarded before you can start your InterACT contract at VUB. If you are unsure, please contact us at contact@interact-programme.be.

  • No. The deadline of the application is 8 January 2027, 17:00 CET. The online application system will automatically be closed at this time.

  • No. You should use the online application page, which you can find here: https://interact-programme.be/apply. Applications sent via email will not be processed.

  • Yes. One of the criteria of the InterACT programme is that the selected postdoctoral fellows reside in Belgium. You have to work and live in Belgium for the period of the fellowship (36 months).

  • You can expect the results in the first half of May 2027.

  • No. VUB supervisors are not allowed to assist applicants with drafting or writing their research proposal.

  • Yes, provided that the use of AI complies with the guidelines of the European Commission. Please consult the Guide for Applicants available on our call page: https://www.interact-programme.be/call. Please note that the use of hidden prompts will make the application inadmissible and it will therefore not be evaluated.

  • Yes. All applications must include a letter of commitment from a VUB supervisor. This is a mandatory application requirement. If you have not yet identified a suitable supervisor, you can consult our list of eligible VUB supervisors here: www.interact-programme.be/vub-supervisor

  • Yes.

  • Yes. Please choose the panel that best matches your research topic. Please note that the panel that you select will determine who evaluates your proposal.

  • No, only one application per candidate can be submitted. In case of multiple applications from the same candidate, only the first submitted application will be considered.

  • No. InterACT does not impose any career-age restrictions or a maximum number of years since obtaining a PhD. Researchers who obtained their doctorate several years ago remain eligible to apply, provided they meet all other eligibility requirements.

  • No. Identifying and securing the support of a suitable supervisor is the responsibility of the applicant as part of the application process. InterACT does not provide a matchmaking service between applicants and VUB supervisors. Applicants are encouraged to identify potential VUB supervisors whose expertise aligns with their proposed research project and to contact them directly. A commitment from a VUB supervisor is a required component of the application. You can find the list of potential VUB supervisors here: https://interact-programme.be/vub-supervisor Please note that other VUB supervisors who are not listed here might be interested in supervising your project. Check the VUB website to look for supervisors in your research area.

  • Yes. An international NGO may host the non-academic secondment, provided that the organisation has a legal presence in Belgium, such as an office or branch in Belgium. The NGO's headquarters can be located in another country. The secondment needs to be carried out at the organisation's Belgian premises.