The Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) in Barcelona, Spain, has opened its International PhD Programme Fellowships 2027 in translational cancer research. Selected fellows get a four-year work contract with a salary, health and occupational insurance and Spanish social security cover. The call is open to candidates of any nationality, so life sciences and medical graduates from Nigeria and the rest of Africa can apply.
Deadline: 15 December 2026. The official page does not state a closing time, so treat it as Barcelona time (CET, UTC+1) and submit well before midnight. Your two reference letters must also be in by the deadline, or your application will not be considered.
Key Details
- Host: Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
- Field: precision medicine and translational oncology
- Number of places: the call page mentions seven fully funded fellowships (confirm with VHIO Academy, as more labs are listed)
- Contract: four-year employment contract with a competitive salary under Spanish rules
- Call opened: 3 November 2026
- Deadline: 15 December 2026
- Interviews: in person at VHIO on 16, 17 and 18 February 2027
- Results: late February 2027; contracts start September–December 2027
Benefits
- A salaried four-year PhD contract rather than a stipend, with full health and occupational insurance and Spanish social security
- Training through an integrated programme with specialised courses, career development activities and access to advanced core facilities
- Research in a centre that links laboratory work directly to clinical cancer care
- A doctoral degree in a European research hub with an international team
Eligibility
- Open to all nationalities
- A university degree and a master’s in biomedical or medical sciences from the European Higher Education Area (at least 300 ECTS combined), or an equivalent degree that allows PhD admission in Spain. You can apply if you expect to finish by September 2027
- An excellent academic record, previous research experience and a strong commitment to research
- High working knowledge of English
- Not eligible: people previously invited to a VHIO PhD interview, students doing their master’s at VHIO, and anyone who has worked at VHIO for more than three months before the deadline
How to Apply
- Read the official VHIO International PhD Fellowships 2027 page, the full call text (PDF) and the FAQs (PDF).
- Choose up to two labs from the list of supervisors and research projects.
- Prepare your education history, coursework, honours, research experience and statement of scientific interests. Transcripts not in English, Spanish, Catalan, French or Italian need a translation.
- Enter the details of two referees; the system will email them automatically to request letters.
- Submit the online application on VHIO’s SlideRoom portal before 15 December 2026. You will get an automatic acknowledgement email.
Applications are pre-screened remotely in December 2026, and complete files are reviewed within a week after the deadline. Questions can go to [email protected].
Tips for African Applicants
- Check the degree rule carefully. Most Nigerian programmes do not use ECTS, so confirm with VHIO Academy that your bachelor’s plus master’s (or MBBS/PharmD with a master’s) counts as equivalent before investing time.
- Submit early so your referees have time; an application is incomplete until both letters arrive.
- Tailor your scientific interest statement to the two labs you choose and mention techniques you already know, such as PCR, cell culture or bioinformatics.
- Plan ahead for a Schengen visa in case you are invited to the February interviews in Barcelona.
- Keep certified translations and transcripts ready, as transcript processing at some African universities takes weeks.
