Application Deadline: March 31st, 2025

All applications must meet the regulations and requirements and be submitted by the due date to be considered.

VERY IMPORTANT: The application for this scholarship takes place during abstract submission.

IFSO Scholarship Guidelines 2025

One of the main activities of IFSO is the creation of an annual IFSO World Congress, which provides a forum to exchange knowledge on surgical and non-surgical treatment of severely obese patients, present new techniques, research and concepts, and to meet the experts in the field. The Congress also promotes the specialty of Bariatric Surgery around the world and provides the opportunity for fellowship and collegiality amongst the members from each chapter.

In support of this aim, IFSO offers 10 Scholarships to young IFSO members from countries whose Bariatric Surgery Societies are members of IFSO. The applicants for the scholarships must show strong interests, initial accomplishments and /or the potential for future career growth in bariatric surgery and/or other obesity related specialties. One Scholarship will usually be awarded to an applicant from each of the IFSO chapters.

The principal purpose of the Scholarship is to support attendance at the IFSO World Congress.

Each Scholarship offers a stipend of: $US 2,500 + free registration at the IFSO World Congress with public recognition of their achievement and presence + 1 ticket to the Gala Dinner.

Regulations

▪ Applicants must be IFSO Members in good standing, graduates of schools of medicine and/or other associated disciplines.

▪ Applicants must not be over 45 years (at the time of the application)

▪ Applicants must be practicing in or planning to practice in bariatric surgery or other bariatric surgery related specialties practice (including fellowships/other scholarships).

▪ Applicants must have at least one abstract of their own work accepted for presentation at the IFSO Annual World Congress (oral presentation or abstract).

▪ Applicants must be in their training period, or, at the date of the application be no more than 5 years out from finishing their training period.

▪ Applicants whose careers are in the developing stage are deemed more suitable than those who are serving in senior academic appointments.

▪ Applicants may only be awarded this prize once.

Successful applicants must provide a written report to IFSO within 2 months of the completion of the World Congress.

The Presidents of the member societies are kindly requested to inform their members about the availability of these Scholarships and the regulations and requirements for applications. Applications received by the deadline will be graded by the “Scholarship Committee”, according to an objective system which will award the Scholarships after first informing the Executive Board. The Committee will ordinarily be composed of: President, President Elect, Editor-in-Chief of the official journal, Chair and Vice-Chair of the Scientific Committee.

The Secretariat will inform all applicants of the result in a timely way by email and will request their bank details for the bank transfer.

Requirements for Application

Applying for a Scholarship takes place during abstract submission.

All applications must be supported by the following 4 documents: