Erasmus+ Doctoral Student Mobility to EHU/UPV, Spain

Erasmus+ Doctoral Student Mobility to EHU/UPV, Spain

The Office of Global Engagement, IIT Madras, invites applications from eligible PhD scholars for an Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) opportunity at the Bilbao School of Engineering, University of the Basque Country (EHU/UPV), Spain.

The opportunity is available for one doctoral student in Mechanical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering to undertake research related to their doctoral thesis at EHU/UPV.

1. Mobility Opportunity

2. Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be a currently enrolled Ph.D. scholar at IIT Madras. 
• Be pursuing doctoral research in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a closely related field relevant to the proposed host group at EHU/UPV. 
• Have a research topic that can be meaningfully advanced through research collaboration at EHU/UPV. 
• Identify a suitable faculty member/research group/laboratory at EHU/UPV willing to host the proposed research. 
• Be available to undertake the mobility for up to 120 days between September 2026 and June 2027. 
• Obtain the necessary approval/recommendation from the relevant IIT Madras research supervisor/department. 

3. Identifying a Suitable Host Faculty / Research Group

The objective of this mobility is to identify the most suitable tutor/host at EHU/UPV based on the student's research interests, academic background and doctoral research topic.

Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to review the research profiles of the following research groups at the Bilbao School of Engineering / EHU/UPV and identify the group and potential faculty member whose expertise best matches their doctoral research:

COMPMECH

Computational Mechanics research group
COMPMECH – EHU/UPV

VISENS

Research group focusing on vision and sensing-related research
VISENS – EHU/UPV

ZIBIO – Group of Science and Engineering of Polymeric Biomaterials

The ZIBIO Group works on the synthesis, characterization and processing of bioresorbable polymers for biomedical applications. Its research includes areas such as tissue engineering, drug delivery and regenerative therapies, as well as nanostructured devices and nanocomposites and advanced polymeric systems. 

The group's profile also highlights research on polylactide (PLA), including modulation of mechanical properties, bioactivity, shape memory and piezoelectricity, as well as polymer composites and related biomedical applications. 

ZIBIO has facilities including polymer synthesis and polymerization, microscopy, physicochemical and structural characterization, thermoplastic processing including extrusion, injection, electrospinning and 3D printing, mechanical characterization and cell culture facilities. 

ZIBIO Group profile: Applicants may refer to the attached ZIBIO research profile while identifying a potential research match.

Applicants are encouraged to:

1. Review the research areas of the above groups. 
2. Identify the group whose research is most closely aligned with their Ph.D. work. 
3. Identify a potential faculty member/tutor within the group. 
4. Contact the potential host faculty member directly with a brief description of their doctoral research and proposed mobility. 
5. Discuss a suitable research work plan and expected outcomes with the prospective host. 
6. Obtain a Letter of Invitation/Acceptance from the proposed EHU/UPV host, wherever possible. 

The proposed host will ultimately be identified based on the student's academic/research background and the alignment of the proposed work with the expertise of the EHU/UPV research group/faculty member.

4. Documents Required

Applicants should keep the following documents ready:

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV) 
2. Copy of Passport 
3. Letter of Invitation/Acceptance from the proposed EHU/UPV host faculty member/research group/laboratory 
4. Research Work Plan, including: 
5. • Proposed activities 
   • Proposed dates and duration 
   • Research objectives 
   • Expected outcomes 
5. Any other documents required during the subsequent nomination process. 

5. Application Procedure – Mandatory IIT Madras Form

Interested students are required to complete the IIT Madras Erasmus+ Application Form available through the Office of Global Engagement:

IIT Madras Erasmus+ Application Form

Submit Application – IIT Madras Erasmus+ Form

Application Deadline: 30 September 2026

Applicants must complete and submit the online IIT Madras Erasmus+ application form on or before 22 September 2026.

Students are advised to begin discussions with prospective EHU/UPV hosts well in advance of the deadline so that their proposed research plan and host alignment can be clearly established.

6. Financial Support

The selected student will receive Erasmus+ financial support of:

• Individual support: €3,400 for 120 days 
• Travel support: €1,188 
• Total: €4,588 

The grant is intended to contribute towards expenses associated with the mobility. Students should make their own arrangements for accommodation, visa, insurance and other mobility-related requirements.

7. Selection Process

IIT Madras will review the applications received through the online form and identify the candidate for nomination.

The assessment will consider, among other factors:

• Academic and research background 
• Relevance and quality of the proposed research work plan 
• Alignment with the research expertise available at EHU/UPV 
• Suitability of the proposed host faculty/research group 
• Potential academic/research outcomes of the mobility 

The selected candidate will subsequently be nominated to EHU/UPV through the official Erasmus+ process.

Final selection and award of the Erasmus+ grant will be subject to EHU/UPV's evaluation and approval.

8. Important Points

• Only one student will be selected from IIT Madras. 
• The opportunity is specifically for doctoral students in Mechanical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering. 
• The mobility is for a maximum of 120 days / 4 months. 
• The mobility must take place between September 2026 and June 2027. 
• Applicants should identify a suitable EHU/UPV research group and potential host based on their research interests and academic background. 
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact potential hosts before submitting their application. 
• Submission of the IIT Madras Erasmus+ online application form by 22 September 2026 is mandatory. 
• IIT Madras nomination does not guarantee the final award of the Erasmus+ grant; the final decision rests with EHU/UPV. 

KEY DEADLINE

30 SEPTEMBER 2026

Apply through the IIT Madras Erasmus+ Application Form

IIT Madras Erasmus+ Application Form

Office of Global Engagement
Indian Institute of Technology Madras