Programme guide, checked 4 October 2026. The Bank for International Settlements offers a PhD Fellowship Programme combining research experience with salary, health insurance and travel and relocation assistance, including accommodation. This article explains the programme; a specific open vacancy has not been confirmed.
Research experience and benefits
Placements in the Monetary and Economic Department last three to eleven months. Fellows gain experience supporting central-bank work and contributing to meetings and publications. Research interests can include monetary policy, financial intermediation, innovation, fiscal policy and international finance.
Who can apply?
Candidates must be enrolled in a PhD in economics, finance or a related field. The BIS looks for knowledge of financial and monetary economics, relevant research experience and the ability to use economic-analysis tools. Applicants of all nationalities are welcome.
How to find an application
PhD fellowship vacancies are advertised through BIS careers when available, typically in summer and autumn. Follow the particular vacancy’s deadline and document instructions. Do not use the email application procedure for a different BIS research fellowship.
Read the official PhD fellowship guidance and current-vacancy link.
Preparing your research pitch
Choose a research question that you can explain in a few sentences. Separate its policy relevance from the technical method: why does the question matter, and what would your approach help establish? State clearly where the evidence remains uncertain.
Prepare an honest account of your progress. Distinguish completed analysis from proposed work, and describe your contribution to any co-authored project. A realistic research plan should explain the data needed and the steps still to be completed without promising findings in advance.
Discuss possible timing with your academic supervisor before making commitments. Keep a current CV and a suitable research sample ready, but submit only what the vacancy asks for. These are editorial preparation suggestions, not additional BIS requirements.
Summary
Duration: three to eleven months. Support: salary and specified practical benefits. Status: programme guide; check individual vacancies.
Topics: BIS PhD Fellowship, economics research, finance research careers.
