The NATO Science for Peace and Security Fellowship is listed on many scholarship sites, including ours, but it does not work like a normal scholarship. You do not apply for a seat in a degree and receive a stipend. NATO's Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme gives grants to joint research teams and events that tackle civil security problems. The money goes to a project led by two co-directors, and students and early stage researchers benefit through that project.
That difference decides whether this is worth your time. If you are a Master's student hunting for a funded degree, this is probably not the route. If you are a PhD holder, a postdoc, or a faculty member at a university or government research body, it can be a serious source of research money. You can read the full scholarship details on our listing, and the rest of this guide explains how the programme really works.
What the SPS Programme is and who it suits
The SPS Programme, run by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), promotes dialogue and practical cooperation between NATO member states and partner countries through scientific research, technological innovation and knowledge exchange. It provides funding, expert advice and support for civil security-relevant activities that respond to NATO's strategic objectives. It is also a non-military channel that connects scientists in regions where dialogue is otherwise hard to establish.
Every funded activity falls into one of four formats: Multi-Year Projects (MYP), Advanced Research Workshops (ARW), Advanced Study Institutes (ASI) and Advanced Training Courses (ATC). Each one must address at least one of the Allied-approved SPS Key Priorities.
It suits researchers working in counter-terrorism, cyber defence, advanced technologies, energy and environmental security, and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) hazards. Quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and autonomy, data science and sensor-fusion systems are also listed as eligible fields. If your work has no clear link to security, skip it.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), SPS Programme |
| Funding | Listed as fully funded; grants range from EUR 30,000 (workshops) to EUR 400,000 (multi-year projects) |
| Levels | Post-doctoral, PhD, Master's, professional |
| Deadline | Varies, confirm on the official site |
| Country | Belgium (applies internationally across NATO member and partner countries) |
| Official site | NATO SPS Programme |
The four grant formats and what each one pays
The amounts depend entirely on which format you choose. Here is how they compare.
| Format | Length | Participants | Typical budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-Year Project (MYP) | 24 to 36 months | Research team from NATO and partner nations | EUR 250,000 to 400,000 over the whole project |
| Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) | 2 to 5 working days | 20 to 50 participants | EUR 30,000 to 40,000 |
| Advanced Study Institute (ASI) | 7 to 10 working days | 60 to 80 pre- and post-doctoral scientists | EUR 60,000 on average |
| Advanced Training Course (ATC) | 5 to 7 working days | 20 to 50 trainees, mainly from partner nations | EUR 60,000 on average |
Multi-Year Projects
These are applied research and development projects with practical uses in security and defence, plus capacity building. The grant covers project-specific costs, scientific equipment, computers, software and training of project personnel. It also pays stipends for early stage researchers who take part. For a PhD student or fresh postdoc, joining an MYP team is the most realistic way to get paid through SPS.
Workshops, institutes and training courses
The three event formats cover travel and living expenses for key speakers, lecturers and eligible trainees or students, along with the direct organisational costs of the event. An ASI is a high-level tutorial course, so pre- and post-doctoral scientists may attend one as participants even if they are not organising it.
Keep in mind that "fully funded" here means the approved activity is funded. It does not mean a personal tuition waiver or a monthly allowance for a degree in Belgium.
Why you need a co-director in another country
This is the rule that stops most individual applicants. An application must be developed jointly by a NATO country Project Director (NPD) and a Partner country Project Director (PPD). You cannot apply alone.
- The NPD must be resident and employed in a NATO member country.
- The PPD must be resident and employed in a NATO partner nation.
- All participating individuals must be nationals of a NATO member country or a NATO partner country.
- Co-directors must be affiliated with a government, academic or other non-profit institution. For-profit private companies are not eligible.
- The project must contribute to NATO Strategic Objectives and have a clear link to security.
- The proposal must address at least one SPS Key Priority.
- Any other ongoing SPS activity a prospective co-director leads must be formally closed before they apply.
A note for Pakistani applicants
Eligibility depends on being a national of a NATO member or a NATO partner country, and on residence and employment in one. The programme information we have does not name the partner countries. Before you spend any effort, check on the official SPS website whether Pakistan is currently a designated NATO partner nation for SPS purposes. If it is not, you could not act as a PPD from Pakistan, and you should not plan around this grant.
The two documents that carry your application
The paperwork list is short, but each item is heavy.
- Project proposal documentation prepared in line with the SPS Handbooks.
- A realistic project plan and budget.
There are separate SPS Handbooks for Multi-Year Projects and for Events. Download the most recent version and follow it closely, because an older handbook can lead you to the wrong template or budget rules. The budget needs to look believable for the format you pick. Asking for top-end MYP money for a small team with thin equipment needs reads badly to reviewers.
Since there is no transcript or language test on the list, this is unlike a typical degree scholarship. If you later travel for an SPS event or project, our documents checklist for international scholarships can help with the personal paperwork side.
How a proposal moves from idea to submission
- Read the eligibility rules and requirements in the SPS management handbooks.
- Find a co-director from a NATO member country or a partner country (whichever side you are not on) to build the application with you.
- Choose the format, MYP, ARW, ASI or ATC, that addresses at least one SPS Key Priority.
- Prepare a joint project plan and a detailed budget that match SPS guidelines.
- Submit the proposal directly to the SPS Programme in response to an advertised call for proposals on the official website.
Step 2 takes the longest. A partnership built in a few weeks before a deadline usually shows in the proposal. Researchers who already co-author or co-supervise with someone across the NATO and partner divide are in a much stronger position.
When calls open and how proposals are judged
There is no fixed annual date. Calls for proposals are advertised on the SPS hub page, and open calls depend on current programme funding cycles. Confirm the exact timing and deadline on the official portal rather than relying on dates from past years.
After the submission deadline, proposals go through evaluation and peer review. That review involves NATO experts, independent scientists and the Partnerships and Cooperative Security Committee. Expect a scientific assessment and a judgement on how well the work fits NATO's security priorities.
Where applicants go wrong
The most common mistake is treating this as a personal fellowship. Students email asking how to "apply for the NATO scholarship" for a Master's in Belgium. That application does not exist. If you are a student, your entry point is a supervisor or senior researcher who leads, or is willing to lead, an SPS project.
The second is a weak security link. A good energy or data science project can still fail if it does not tie its objectives directly to a named SPS Key Priority with an explicit security focus. Say which priority you address and why, in plain terms.
Other things to get right:
- Make sure the co-director pair truly spans at least one eligible NATO member country and one approved partner country.
- Check that both institutions are academic, governmental or non-profit. A private for-profit lab or company cannot receive funding.
- Close out any earlier SPS activity you direct before submitting a new one.
- Bring end-user advisors into the project plan from the start, so reviewers can see how the results will be used in practice.
If you are comparing this with other European options, see all Belgium scholarships in our hub.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Master's student apply on their own?
No. Applications must come jointly from a NATO country Project Director and a Partner country Project Director. Master's and PhD students usually benefit by joining a funded project or attending an event as an eligible trainee or student.
Can Pakistani researchers take part?
Only if Pakistan qualifies as a NATO partner country under the programme's rules, since all participants must be nationals of a NATO member or partner country. Check the current list on the official SPS website before applying.
How much funding does a Multi-Year Project get?
Multi-Year Projects typically receive between EUR 250,000 and 400,000 over 24 to 36 months, covering project costs, equipment, software, training and stipends for early stage researchers.
Can a private company apply?
No. For-profit private companies are not eligible for SPS funding. Co-directors must work at government, academic or other non-profit institutions.
Is there a fixed deadline every year?
No. Calls are advertised on the SPS hub page and depend on funding cycles, so the deadline varies. Confirm it on the official site.
For current calls, handbooks and deadlines, go to the NATO SPS official website, and keep the NATO Science for Peace and Security Fellowship page handy for a quick summary.