The IMU Breakout Graduate Fellowships offers a limited number of grants for excellent students from developing countries.

Thanks to a generous donation by the following winners of the Breakthrough Prizes in Mathematics – Ian Agol, Jean Bourgain, Simon Donaldson, Alex Eskin, Dennis Gaitsgory, Christopher Hacon, Martin Hairer, Maxim Kontsevich, Vincent Lafforgue, Jacob Lurie, James McKernan, Takuro Mochizuki, Daniel A. Spielman, Terence Tao, and Richard Taylor – the International Mathematical Union, with the assistance of FIMU, maintains a fellowship program to support postgraduate studies, in a developing country, leading to a PhD degree in the mathematical sciences.

Professional mathematicians are invited to nominate highly motivated and mathematically talented students from developing countries who plan to complete a doctoral degree in a developing country, including their own home country. Nominees must have a consistently good academic record and must be seriously interested in pursuing a career of research and teaching in mathematics.

It is the hope of the donors, the IMU and FIMU that the fellowship helps educate the next generation of mathematicians and hopefully results in extended benefits to the home countries of those chosen for the fellowships.

Eligibility Criteria

Requirements for Nominators

Nominators must meet the following criteria:

• Be a university professor in mathematics with a PhD, based at a university or research center
• Be currently supervising mathematics Master’s or PhD students.
• Individual PhD candidates cannot apply themselves for the fellowship.
• It is advisable that the nominator has mentored the nominee previously

Requirements for Student Nominees

Students nominated under this program must:

• Be undertaking their PhD in either a recognized university or a research institution in one of the developing countries as defined by the IMU. 
• Demonstrate an outstanding academic track record in mathematical sciences and aspire to a career in mathematical teaching and research
• Be a citizen of and resident in one of the developing countries as defined by the IMU
• Have already been accepted (or pre-accepted) into a recognized doctoral program
• Have a thesis advisor and a research project

Note: Students who are part of a joint graduate program involving institutions in countries outside of IMU’s definition of developing countries are not eligible for nomination. 

Application

The following documents must be uploaded as part of the application by the application deadline: 

Letters of Nominations and Recommendations

• Letter of Nomination
• Letters of Recommendation (2)

Student Documents

• Proposed Research Project
• Letter of Motivation and Future Plans
• CV of Student Nominee
• Official letter of (pre-)acceptance in the PhD program
• Transcripts of coursework (certified copies)
  • A) BSc degree or equivalent
  • B) MSc degree or equivalent

PhD Supervisor Documents

• PhD Supervisor CV

Note: All documents must be submitted in English. Only PDF documents can be uploaded.

Find out more and apply by May 30, 2026.