一、申请路径与模板Submission Paths and Templates

1、 Q：登录国家自然科学基金委员会科学基金网络信息系统（Grants系统）后，找不到外国学者研究基金项目的申请路径怎么办？

After logging into the NSFC’s Grants system (http://grants.nsfc.gov.cn), I can’t find the application path for the Research Fund for International Scientists (RFIS). What should I do?

A：请联系依托单位科研管理部门为您添加“Applicant for RFIS, ICFCRT”角色，选择该角色后即可看到这类项目。

Please contact the office of scientific research management at your host institution to add the role of “Applicant for RFIS, ICFCRT” to your account. Once this role is selected, you will gain access to the application portal.

2、 Q：如何获取外国学者研究基金项目的申请书模版？

How to obtain the RFIS application templates?

A：请登录Grants系统获取或联系依托单位科研管理部门获取。

Please log into the Grants system or contact the office of scientific research management at your host institution for the templates.

3、 Q：在申请外国学者项目时，项目申报材料上的申请人签名有什么要求？

When applying for the RFIS, is there any specific requirement for the applicant’s signature on the application documents?

A：项目申报材料、计划书等材料上的签名要与Grants系统、护照等身份信息证明中的名字保持一致。

The signature on the application documents and research plan must match the name as it appears in the Grants system, passport, and other identification documents.

二、资助强度Funding Amount

1、 Q：外国学者研究基金项目指南中，资助直接费用“20万元/年/项”是上限还是定额?

In the Call Guidelines for Research Fund for International Scientists, does the "200,000 yuan/year/project" for direct costs refer to the maximum amount or a fixed amount?

A：上限。

It is the maximum amount.

三、申请人条件Eligibility of Applicants

1、 Q：如何界定外国优秀青年学者研究基金项目、外国资深学者研究基金项目的申请人须具有“高级专业技术职务（职称）”？

What does “holding a senior academic title” mean for applicants for Research Fund for International Excellent Young Scientists (RFIS-II) and Research Fund for International Senior Scientists (RFIS-III)?

A：指具有中国职称体系中的副高、正高级专业技术职务（职称）。若属内聘职称情况，需符合《2026年度国家自然科学基金项目指南》中关于内聘职称的规定。

在申请阶段，以申请人与依托单位签署的申报协议中的专业技术职务（职称）为准；在项目批准阶段，以申请人与依托单位签订的正式聘用合同中聘任的专业技术职务（职称）为准。

A senior academic title means associate professor (or equivalent qualification) or higher level in the Chinese academic title system. If it is an internally appointed academic title by the host institution, it must comply with the regulations concerning internally appointed academic titles as stipulated in the NSFC Guide to Programs 2026.

During the application stage, the recognition of the applicant’s academic title is based on the Agreement signed between the applicant and the host institution. Upon project approval, it is determined by the academic title of the applicant stated in the employment contract signed with the host institution.

2、 Q：如何界定外国优秀青年学者研究基金项目的申请人须“具有作为项目负责人承担基础研究课题的经历”？

What are the specific requirements for “experience of conducting basic research projects as Principal Investigator (PI)” for the applicants of RFIS-II?

A：外国优秀青年学者研究基金项目对毕业15年内的博士开放申请，相比于外国青年学者研究基金项目，外国优秀青年学者研究基金项目的申请人要有一定的学术积累，有主持承担基础研究课题的经历，但对所主持课题的等级没有要求。

RFIS-II is open to applicants who obtained their doctoral degree within the past 15 years. They should demonstrate relatively good academic achievements and experience as PIs of research projects. However, there is no specific requirement regarding the level of these projects.

3、 Q：对申报外国学者研究基金项目的申请人是否有年龄限制？

Is there any age requirement for applicants applying for RFIS program?

A：对申报外国学者研究基金项目的申请人没有年龄要求，但需符合指南中获得博士学位年限等其他规定。

For the RFIS program, there is no age restrictions for applicants. However, he/she shall meet other requirements specified in the Call Guidelines for Research Fund for International Scientists, e.g., the year of doctoral degree obtained.

4、 Q：已在国内单位工作的外籍学者，可以申请外国学者研究基金项目吗？

Is a foreign scholar who is already employed by a domestic institution eligible to apply for the RFIS program?

A：可以申请，但须符合指南中的其他规定。

Yes, he/she is eligible to apply given that he/she meets other requirements specified in the Call Guidelines for Research Fund for International Scientists.

5、 Q：在站博士后可以申请外国学者研究基金项目吗？

Is a postdoctoral fellow eligible to apply for the RFIS program?

A：一般可以申请外国青年学者研究基金项目，但须符合指南中的其他规定。

Yes, generally he/she is eligible to apply for RFIS-I given that he/she meets other requirements specified in the Call Guidelines for Research Fund for International Scientists.

四、限项申请规定Application Limits

1、 Q：外国学者研究基金项目的申请人同年能否申请青年科学基金项目（C类）[原青年科学基金项目]或青年科学基金项目（B类）[原优秀青年科学基金项目]或青年科学基金项目（A类）[原国家杰出青年科学基金项目]或创新研究群体项目？

Can an applicant for the RFIS also apply for the Young Scientists Fund-Type C, or the Young Scientists Fund-Type B, or the Young Scientists Fund-Type A, or the Science Fund for Creative Research Groups (SFCRG) in the same year?

A：同年不能申请这四类项目中的任何一类。

No, the applicant for the RFIS cannot apply for any of these four programs in the same year.

2、 Q：外国学者研究基金项目的申请人同年能否申请面上项目或地区科学基金项目？

Can an applicant for the RFIS also apply for the General Program or the Fund for Less Developed Regions in the same year?

A：不影响申请面上项目和地区科学基金项目。

He/she is eligible to apply for the General Program or the Fund for Less Developed Regions given that the applicant meets other eligibility requirements specified in the NSFC Guide to Programs 2026.

3、 Q：外国青年学者研究基金项目结题当年能否申请外国优秀青年学者研究基金项目？

Can an applicant apply for the RFIS-II in the same year that he/she completes his/her Research Fund for International Young Scientists (RFIS-I) project?

A：结题当年不能申请，结题后可以申请。

He/she cannot apply for the RFIS-II until the RFIS-I project is completed.

4、 Q：获得过外国青年学者研究基金项目的负责人，能否申请青年科学基金项目（C类）？

Can the PI of the RFIS-I also apply for the Young Scientists Fund-Type C?

A：不影响申请青年科学基金项目（C类）。但外国学者研究基金项目申请人申请当年不得作为申请人申请青年科学基金项目（C类）。

He/she is eligible to apply for the Young Scientists Fund-Type C given that the he/she meets other eligibility requirements specified in the NSFC Guide to Programs 2026. However, if the applicant has submitted an application for any of the sub-types of the RFIS, he/she shall not apply for the Young Scientists Fund-Type C in the same year.

五、其他注意事项Additional notes

1、 Q：外国学者研究基金项目可以变更依托单位吗？

Could the host institution of an RFIS project be changed?

A：可以根据负责人实际情况发起依托单位变更申请，变更需要符合相关管理规定并按流程办理。

Yes. The change of host institution should comply with relevant management regulations and follow the official procedures.

2、 Q：外国学者研究基金三个层次的项目是否可以有合作申请人/参与者？

Could there be any co-applicants/participants in an RFIS project?

A：外国学者研究基金项目申请书中不出现合作申请人/参与者。

No co-applicant/participant could be added in the proposal of the RFIS projects.

以上内容仅供申请人参考，如有与科学基金年度指南冲突之处，请以指南为准。

The above information is for the applicant’s reference only. If there is any discrepancy between the FAQs and the NSFC Guide to Programs 2026, the NSFC Guide to Programs 2026 shall prevail.