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Admission

Please read this page carefully before applying or nominating a candidate. 

Open Call Nomination Form for January - May 2026 GRÓ GEST Fellowship

Organizations are invited to submit nominations for candidates to attend the 30 ETCS postgraduate programme. GRÓ GEST will then contact the qualified nominees and invite them to fill out a more elaborate application form.

The programme offers two distinct tracks for admissions: the Project Track and the Research Track. These tracks cater to different goals and needs of fellows, as described below.

The nomination form is made available during the nomination period each year. The last day for submitting nominations for the spring term 2026 is 8 March 2025.

See the timeline for the admission process here.

Separate calls are made in GEST's partner universities through the EU Erasmus+ programme for which deadlines for applications vary (see further details below).

Target group

The target group for the GRÓ GEST postgraduate programme consists of young professionals from low and middle-income countries and conflict/post-conflict societies working on gender issues for government ministries and agencies, civil society organizations, and educational institutes.

In alignment with the GRÓ Theory of Change and priorities for partner country institutions, the selection process focuses on three key regions: Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East (with Africa designated as a UNESCO priority region). Applications from other regions will only be considered if they come with identified funding (e.g. ERASMUS+) and target specific communities (e.g. Indigenous groups in the Arctic, LGBTQI+ populations in the Balkans, etc.)

GRÓ GEST is committed to fostering and strengthening a critical mass of gender equality experts within partner countries, with a particular focus on advancing development efforts in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Palestine, and Lebanon. By building local expertise, GRÓ GEST aims to empower professionals to drive meaningful and sustainable progress in gender equality at both national and regional levels.

Prerequisites for both Project and Research Tracks

Applicants to both tracks must:

  • Have at least one university degree at BA/BS/BEd level, equivalent to University of Iceland bachelor’s degree according to Enic/Naric Iceland recognition office.
  • Be fluent in both spoken and written English.
  • Have at least two years of professional experience relevant to the advancement of gender equality.
  • Be junior professionals or young researchers (priority is given to individuals younger than 35 years old).
  • Demonstrate leadership skills and the potential to be agents of change.
  • Be committed to advancing gender equality.
  • Be nationals and residents of low or middle-income countries, or from conflict/post-conflict societies. Priority is given to candidates from least developed and lower middle-income countries as defined on the DAC list. As infrastructure and institutional support for gender equality in these countries can vary, each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
  • Candidates who are residents and/or nationals of countries not on the DAC list are ineligible to participate in the GRÓ GEST programme.

Admissions Tracks

Starting in 2025, the GRÓ GEST programme introduces two distinct tracks for admissions:

1. Project Track

The Project Track is for applicants who plan to develop practical projects as their final assignment (see more details about the final assignment below). This track emphasizes applied outputs that address real-world issues through actionable components. While projects may (and often do) involve research, the primary focus is on practical implementation. Fellows on this track are required to create project plans that will be implemented in their home country with the support of their home organization. Projects without the backing and funding of the applicant’s home organization are not eligible.

Key Features of the Project Track:

  • Focus on practical outputs, often addressing pressing gender equality challenges.
  • Projects are implemented with full backing from the fellow’s home organization.
  • Fellows develop actionable project plans incorporating theories, methods, and skills studied during the programme.

2. Research Track

The Research Track is intended for applicants whose final assignments will be purely research-based, aiming to produce scholarly work suitable for publication in academic journals. This track is for individuals with a strong academic background and a demonstrated ability to conduct high-level research.

Additional Prerequisites for the Research Track:

Applicants to the Research track must:

  • Demonstrate very good to excellent grade averages from their recent academic institutions.
  • Hold a bachelor's degree with a minimum first-class grade equivalent to 7.25 on the Icelandic grading scale.
  • Provide evidence that their research has a high chance of publication in a respected academic journal.

Key Features of the Research Track:

  • Focus on producing rigorous, publishable academic research.
  • Fellows work closely with expert supervisors to refine and complete their research projects.
  • Research outputs must meet academic standards for journal submission.

 

The Final Assignment

The final assignment is the cornerstone of the GRÓ GEST programme and a critical element of the admissions process. Applicants must propose a solid and realistic idea for their final assignment as part of their application. Without a strong and feasible final assignment plan, candidates cannot be admitted to the programme.

Fellows work on their final assignment throughout their time in Iceland, under the guidance of expert supervisors. The assignment’s format depends on the selected admissions track:

  • Project Track: Fellows develop a project proposal that outlines a detailed plan of action, including steps and activities needed to address and solve a specific problem. These projects are designed to be implemented in the fellow’s home country with the backing of their home organization.
  • Research Track: Fellows undertake a research project aimed at producing publishable academic work. This requires rigorous analysis and adherence to scholarly standards.

Fellows begin the programme with their proposed final assignment topic, which cannot be changed after admission. The purpose of the final assignment is to reflect on the theories, methods, and skills studied during the programme and apply them in a practical or research context. At the end of the semester, fellows present their work at an open seminar organized by GRÓ GEST.

Selection Process

Once nominations have been reviewed, qualified nominees are invited to submit comprehensive applications. Based on the nominations submitted by organizations and the individual applications, a limited number of candidates are shortlisted for interviews. During the interviews, candidates need to:

  • Explain their work and their role in their organization.
  • Outline how the GRÓ GEST programme will benefit their organization and the population it serves.
  • Demonstrate that their proposed project or research is feasible, implementable, and impactful (and in case of research: publishable).
  • Show an in-depth understanding of their professional work/field of research and its relation to gender equality.

Financing of Candidates and Programme Costs

Programme participation is based on scholarships that are either:

  1. Funded directly by the GRÓ GEST programme through its core funding provided by the Government of Iceland.
  2. Funded (in part or in whole) by agencies such as development agencies, embassies, and governments.
  3. Co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme and GRÓ GEST (applicable for currently enrolled MA students in GEST’s partner universities).

Candidates employed by UN agencies (with the exception of UNRWA) must be fully funded by their organizations.

The scholarships cover travel costs for fellows, housing on campus, and per-diem during the five-month course, in addition to educational facilities, learning material, and lessons.

Open Call Nomination Form for January - May 2026 GRÓ GEST Fellowship

Erasmus+ Scholarships

GRÓ GEST collaborates with various universities through the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme. This programme enables GRÓ GEST to invite master's students in gender studies or related disciplines to enroll in the programme. Such scholarships are announced separately by GEST’s partner universities. Nominations are screened by GEST, followed by interviews. The process is equivalent to the open call applications process.

Prerequisites for Erasmus+ Candidates:

  • Be enrolled in an MA programme at GEST’s partner university throughout the duration of the GRÓ GEST programme.
  • Be enrolled in a subject relevant to the advancement of gender equality.
  • Be fluent in both spoken and written English.
  • Be junior professionals or young researchers (priority is given to individuals younger than 35 years old).
  • Demonstrate leadership skills and the potential to be agents of change.
  • Be committed to enhancing gender equality.
  • Be nationals and residents of low or middle-income countries, or from conflict/post-conflict societies.
  • Receive credit transfer (ECTS) for the GRÓ GEST programme to their home university.

 

For all candidates: Here you can find Tips and tricks on how to write a good application and prepare for screening interviews, and here you may find answers to some frequently asked questions about the programme and living in Iceland.