Applications will be reviewed on the following criteria:

1. concrete objectives for the proposed observership visit. The applicant must give a rationale for doing an observership that can be verified by his/her head of department in the letter of support. The reason must include an explanation of how the techniques learnt will be shared with their colleagues or incorporated within their home institution
2. rationale for choosing the particular ECC based on the expertise offered there
3. main professional interests and how the ECC is relevant to these
4. the curriculum vitae which must include contact information, educational qualifications, work experience, and publications/presentations. The applicant must be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme or hold a postgraduate degree and be working in clinical microbiology, infectious diseases or related fields.
5. the letter of support which is a signed letter from his/her head of department certifying his/her employment as given on the CV and verification of the objective (see point 1 above)

Intra-European observership visits

• Observer visits an ECC within Europe*
• ESCMID subsidizes travel costs and subsistence for out-of-country visits to a maximum of EUR 1,200 as follows:
• EUR 500 maximum for travel expenses (air ticket, train ticket, car expenses at EUR 0.3 per km)
• EUR 70 per diem up to a maximum of 10 days.

Intercontinental observership visits

• Observer from outside Europe visits an ECC in Europe*
• Observer from Europe visits an ECC outside Europe
• ESCMID subsidizes travel costs and subsistence for visits to a maximum of EUR 2,000 as follows:
• EUR 1,300 maximum (air ticket, train ticket, via expenses, car expenses at EUR 0.3 per km)
• EUR 70 per diem up to a maximum of 10 days.

* A list of countries and respective geographic regions can be viewed here