The FEBS Fellowships programme began in 1979, and became a highly competitive and respected programme for early-stage researchers thanks to rigorous selection methods and the packages offered. Most of its schemes over the years have supported graduate students and early-career researchers in the molecular life sciences in the FEBS area to move to and carry out a period of research in a lab in a different FEBS country, thus broadening their experience and training, giving access to additional research techniques and expertise, and facilitating international collaboration.