The ESMO Clinical Unit Visit Fellowship, supported by the International Cancer Foundation (ICF), is an 8-week training award enabling young oncologists to gain experience at a leading cancer center in Europe. This short-term fellowship provides €6,000 to cover travel and living expenses for the visiting period, with an additional €1,000 granted to the host institution . The goal is to enhance clinical research skills and knowledge of best practices in oncology care by immersing the fellow in a high-quality oncology unit, fostering international exchange and collaboration.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants should be early-career oncologists (generally physicians in oncology training or recently qualified oncologists) who are ESMO members. Typically, candidates are under age 40 (or within 5 years of completing oncology specialty training).
- The applicant must secure acceptance from a European host institute of recognized excellence in oncology. ESMO provides a list of possible host centers, or candidates may propose a center (subject to approval).
- The home country of the applicant is often a resource-limited or developing country, or otherwise a place where exposure to certain research/clinical techniques is limited – in line with ICF’s mission to build global oncology capacity . However, all ESMO-member oncologists in need of such experience are eligible to apply, regardless of citizenship (no specific nationality restrictions are stated).
- Proficiency in English (or the host country’s primary language) is expected to ensure a fruitful training experience. A support letter from the applicant’s home institution may be required, confirming the candidate’s status and the potential benefit of the fellowship.
Funding Details:
- Award Amount: €6,000 for the fellow’s 8-week stay, plus €1,000 awarded directly to the host institution in recognition of training support .
- The fellowship grant covers airfare, accommodation, meals, and incidental expenses during the visit. Fellows are expected to devote full time to the observership/research activities at the host site.
- The host institute is encouraged to involve the fellow in clinical observations, multidisciplinary meetings, and possibly a small research or audit project. At the end of the fellowship, the fellow must provide a report to ESMO/ICF summarizing the experience and learnings.
- Fellows benefit from mentorship by senior oncologists at the host center and gain exposure to advanced techniques or patient management strategies that they can implement in their home setting.
Deadline:
- Application Deadline: January 25, 2026.
- Applicants are typically notified of the outcome within 2–3 months. Fellowships are scheduled individually, but the 8-week visit should usually be completed within the same calendar year as the award (by end of 2026).
Where to go for further information:
- Program details.