Scholarship Description:
The International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) Fellowships are open for international students. The fellowship offers opportunities for candidates pursuing Fellowship-level programs in the field of Ophthalmology, taught by the International Council of Ophthalmology. The deadline for the scholarship is March/September annually.
The ICO Fellowship Program by the International Council of Ophthalmology aims to support promising young ophthalmologists from low-resource countries. The program enhances their practical skills and expands their perspectives on ophthalmology. Fellows are expected to bring back their acquired knowledge and skills to their home countries, actively participating in programs to preserve eye health and prevent vision impairment. The ICO expresses gratitude for grants, gifts, and pledges contributing to the ICO Fellowship Program.
Degree Level:
International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) Fellowships are available to undertake Fellowship-level programs.
Available Subjects:
The scholarship supports programs in the field of Ophthalmology.
Scholarship Benefits:
Award:
Partial funding of up to US$50,000 to assist in covering living expenses and return travel.
Eligible Nationalities:
This fellowship is open to international students of all nationalities.
Eligibility Criteria:
To apply for an ICO Fellowship, candidates must meet the following requirements:
Have completed their residency training before submitting their application.
Successfully passed the specialist exam in ophthalmology.
Unless specified differently for a particular type of Fellowship, candidates must be permanently based in and working in one of the eligible countries. They should not apply for ICO Fellowships in their home country.
Must have a reasonable level of fluency in English or the language of the country where the ICO Fellowship host institution is located.
Should not apply for an ICO Fellowship award to support any ongoing fellowship, extend an existing fellowship, or combine it with any other ICO or donor fellowship award. The ICO Fellowship should commence after the date of issuance of the ICO Fellowship Award Letter.
Must not apply if they have previously received an ICO Fellowship award.
Agree to return to their home country after completing the training program, resume their previous positions, and apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the ICO Fellowship.
Application Procedure:
To begin, create an ICO Account if you don’t already have one.
Choose a Fellowship by indicating your country, and the available ICO Fellowship(s) that match your eligibility will be displayed.
Undergo an Eligibility Check, providing information to determine your suitability for the chosen ICO Fellowship.
The ICO will conduct an Eligibility Review based on the information you’ve submitted. You will be promptly informed of the decision, either with an invitation to proceed with the application or notification of ineligibility.
If eligible, proceed to select and apply to a Host Training Center. Keep in mind that you can only apply to one host at a time.
Your application to the chosen host will be assessed by the host institution you’ve selected. If accepted, confirm the details agreed upon between you and the host. If declined, you can select another host.
Once your application is complete and all necessary steps are finalized, you will be notified that your application is now under review by the appropriate ICO Fellowship Committee.
Application Deadlines:
For applications submitted by the March 31 deadline, fellowships are awarded, and notices are sent out by May, with the exception of the ICO-World Glaucoma Association Fellowship, which has an early notification date.
For applications submitted by the September 30 deadline, fellowships are awarded, and notices are sent out in January. The earliest start date is April 1 of the same year.
To access additional information about the scholarship, please visit the official website by clicking on the provided link below.
