How to Apply for INPhINIT 2027: The Form, the Letters and the Tracker

The application in six steps

1. 1
   Before the call opens

   Confirm your call

   Count your months in Spain or Portugal over the three years before the expected deadline. That decides Incoming or Retaining. You can apply to only one “la Caixa” programme per call.

2. 2
   Early

   Register on the application platform

   Click the activation link in the registration email (copy it into your browser if your mail client disables links). Old applications cannot be recovered; only your login is kept.

3. 3
   First thing after registering

   Fill “Studies to be pursued”

   Name the doctoral programme and host. This section must be completed before the platform will let you send reference requests.

4. 4
   Weeks before the deadline

   Request at least three reference letters

   The platform emails each referee a link to an online form. You can attach up to five. Letters must be in English and must arrive before the deadline.

5. 5
   Before the deadline

   Complete the CV, statement and uploads

   Transcripts, CV entries you can prove, the statement of purpose, English certificate or exemption.

6. 6
   By 2 pm mainland Spain time

   Submit

   Incomplete applications on the deadline are disregarded. Only the English certificate has a short extra window.

Everything is uploaded as PDF, written or translated into English. Translations can be your own. Each page of an original must be one page of the PDF.

• Transcripts for the degree that gives PhD access — bachelor’s compulsory, master’s if applicable — preferably as a Diploma Supplement. They must show your name, university, degree and every subject and mark year by year; finished degrees must also show credits awarded and total credits. If you are still studying, upload the record as it stands. An intranet printout is fine if it shows all of that.
• CV entered in the form. Only include what you can prove with original documents; the fellowship is withdrawn if you cannot.
• Statement of purpose on your motivation, project and choice of host.
• English certificate or an exemption.
• Three to five reference letters, requested through the platform only — no paper or emailed PDFs.
• Optional: transcripts for other degrees, audiovisual files or links (Retaining rules specifically mention portfolios for artistic disciplines).

Application tracker

Tick these off as you go. Nothing is saved; it resets when you reload.

The English-certificate window

You may submit without the English certificate and add it later through the platform. In 2026 the extra window ran to 11 February 2026 for Incoming and 4 March 2026 for Retaining, both at 23:59 mainland Spain time. The FAQ is firm that nothing arrives after that. Every other item — including reference letters — must be in by the main deadline.

Getting the reference letters in

Letters are worth 20% of the shortlisting score, judged on how specific they are about you and on the referee’s profile. The platform contacts referees the moment you save their details, so speak to them first. If a referee says they sent it but it shows as missing, they have probably finished the form without pressing submit. Referees must write in English; requests cannot be sent in another language.

After you submit

Ineligible applications receive an email giving the reason. You can appeal any rejection within 3 calendar days by emailing fellowships@contact.fundaciolacaixa.org; an appeal committee answers within 10 days but cannot reopen evaluators’ scientific judgement. Never contact evaluators about your application — that disqualifies you from this and future calls.