Visiting fellowships
The ISPN financially supports two categories of visiting fellowships every year. One for training in an ISPN recognized international unit* and the other for training in a developing country’s unit.
*An international recognized unit is one with a minimum number of 250 pediatric surgeries a year, the head of the department is a member of ISPN, and should be involved with specialized education in pediatric neurosurgery.
Visiting Fellowship in an International Unit
This fellowship will support a trainee from a low lower-middle income country to spend a period of time in an internationally recognized unit to acquire unique experience/surgical technique.
The duration of the visiting fellowship has to be determined and confirmed in advance with the hosting institution; a duration of at least 3 months is suggested.
The visiting fellowship is not an otherwise salaried fellowship that already exists and is not already part of the training program of that unit. The maximum total support will be USD 5,000 with a maximum of 5 recipients per year.
Visiting Fellowship in a Developing Country’s Unit
This fellowship will support a trainee from a developed country to spend a period of time in a recognized developing country’s unit.
The objective of these visits is to provide education about the management of pediatric neurosurgery conditions not usually seen in developed countries.
The visiting fellowship is not an otherwise salaried fellowship that already exists and is not already part of the training program of that unit. The maximum total support will be USD 2,000 with a maximum of 5 recipients per year.
Who is eligible to receive this fellowship
To apply for the visiting fellowship you should fulfill the following criteria and complete the online submission application at the bottom of this page:
- You come from or will be going to a Low or Lower-Middle Income Country (according to World Bank Specification)
- Under 35 at the time of the fellowship
- No ISPN support received previously
- Professionally involved in pediatric neurosurgery
- You are a member of ISPN
- The head of the center you are visiting (your mentor) is a member of the ISPN
- Provide a confirmation letter from the visiting center confirming the fellowship
- Provide a written letter of recommendation (chief of department/ISPN member)
- You are required to provide a fellowship report within 8 weeks of completing the fellowship.
Selection process
The decision on visiting fellowships will be made annually during the ISPN Executive Board meeting at the Annual Meeting. Those applicants to receive the visiting fellowship will be informed on the decision thereafter.
Submission of your application
The application deadline for the 2025-2026 visiting fellowships is 1 September 2025.
Any visiting fellowship is to take place in the year following the submission (provided there are no extraordinary circumstances preventing the fellowship to take place). Any fellow should be committed fully to the visiting fellowship during the time of the Fellowship.
