Rules, Application and Renewal

The ESC supports applications from all healthcare professionals (cardiologists, MD, PhD, nurses, allied professionals) in all fields.

Applications for 2023 are now closed. We thank all candidates for their applications.

You may start preparing your documents to apply to become a FESC in 2024. Applications will be open from 15 June to 30 September 2023.

ESC Fellowship criteria

Applicants have the choice of several tracks to become a FESC. Please note that the required supporting documentation depends on the application track. All supporting documents must be provided in English.

Scientific Excellence

• Copy of academic diploma (MD., PhD., nursing or clinical allied professional diploma or equivalent). If not originally in English, translation is mandatory
• Short list of publications (no more than 20)
  • Minimum 10 publications at least 5 with the applicant as first or last author
  • On cardiovascular topic
  • Original articles (excluding editorials, reviews, case reports)
  • In peer-reviewed journals
    • Privilege International scientific journals in your short-list
• Two supporting letters:
  
  • One supporting letter from an ESC Board member or President of an ESC National Cardiac Society, an ESC Affiliated National Cardiac Society, or the National Cardiac Society from where the candidate is living/working or a current leader (President or Chair, Immediate-Past President or Immediate-Past Chair, President-Elect) of an ESC Association, ESC Working Group or ESC Council.
    The letter should be on official Institution or Society letterhead and signed by hand
  • One supporting letter from a Fellow of the ESC
• Short CV

Clinical Excellence

• Copy of national cardiology diploma(s) - MD., PhD., nursing or clinical allied professional diploma or equivalent. If not originally in English, translation is mandatory
• Short list of publications (no more than 6)
  • Minimum 3 publications at least 1 with the applicant as first or last author
  • On cardiovascular topic
  • Original articles (excluding editorials, reviews, case reports)
  • In peer-reviewed journals
    • Privilege International scientific journals in your short-list
• Two supporting letters:
  • One supporting letter from an ESC Board member or President of an ESC National Cardiac Society, an ESC Affiliated National Cardiac Society, or the National Cardiac Society from where the candidate is living/working or a current leader (President or Chair, Immediate-Past President or Immediate-Past Chair, President-Elect) of an ESC Association, ESC Working Group or ESC Council.
    The letter should be on official Institution or Society letterhead and signed by hand
  • One supporting letter from a Fellow of the ESC
• At least three years of practice as a board-certified cardiologist
• Short CV
• Must be a current ESC Professional Member at the time of application for ESC Fellowship - or have held this status in the last 12 months.

Excellence in contributing to the ESC mission

Application Procedure

When applying for the ESC Fellowship online, please follow the procedures below:

1. Select your application category (Scientific, Clinical)
2. Browse the documentation requested, depending on the category, and upload (all documentation has to be translated into English)
3. Submit the application before the deadline of 30 September

Applications should be made via the online submission system (no paper submissions will be accepted). The application must contain all above specified documents.

The application deadline is 30 September, year N for ESC Fellowship to be awarded during the ESC Congress in year N+1. The newly elected FESC will be informed in November, year N of acceptance/rejection of the application.

The newly elected ESC Fellow should pay the Fellowship fee before 30 December, year N. Thus, all FESC benefits, privileges and duties formally begin on 1 January, year N+1. 

The Election Process

Applications submitted after the annual deadline will not be considered by the FESC Task Force. The FESC Task Force reviews complete applications only and the candidate is informed by email of acceptance/rejection of the application.

Annual Fellowship Fee Rules

The yearly Fellowship fee is €450  and covers the period from 1 January to 31 December. Newly elected FESC receive the request for payment in November. The request for payment is mailed and the payment must be received before 30 December to ensure the delivery of the selected Journal early January (year N + 1). Payment should be preferably made online.

The payment of the yearly Fellowship fee generates the Fellows Privileges. On 1 January, all advantages for Fellows will be cancelled if the Fellowship fee remains unpaid.

After two years of non-payment of fees, consecutively or not, the Fellow will be informed of his/her exclusion from the ESC Fellowship, unless payment is received within three months. An excluded Fellow will remain a Member of the ESC if he/she is a Member of an ESC Constituent Body, and his/her reintegration in the ESC Fellowship register will be accepted upon payment of all due fees.

A "pay in order" principle applies: the Fellowship fee is due every year and one may only pay the Fellowship fee of the given year, upon payment of the fee of the previous year.

Exemption of Payment Rules

In the case where a Fellow is unable to pay his/her Fellowship fee, he/she must contact the Membership Services Department before November, giving the full reason for his/her inability to send the payment. The reason should be unexpected (e.g. sudden significant illness or similar). Differences in economic standards of various countries will not be accepted a reason for exemption, as far as this was known to the candidate before he/she applied for the ESC Fellowship.

The FESC Task Force will then take a decision. Exemption will be possible only for specific reasons and the evaluation will be made on a case by case basis. The exemption is valid only for one year and cannot be repeated.

A Fellow exempted from payment will retain Fellowship but cannot claim "Fellows privileges" such as subscription to the ESC Journal or complimentary registration to attend the ESC Congress.

Emeritus Fellow - EFESC

The status of Emeritus Fellow is conferred by the FESC Task Force upon written request of the Fellow when he/she reaches minimum age of 60 years, and retires from full-time work. Proof of retirement must be provided to the Fellowship Department.

An Emeritus Fellow retains the title of Fellow but is no longer required to pay the annual Fellowship fee.

He/she is entitled to attend the ESC Congress at a reduced registration fee.

The status of Emeritus Fellows of the European Society of Cardiology will not be offered to Fellows with outstanding fees unpaid to the ESC.

Renewal

FESC fees are due every year. Payments should be made by credit card, in euros only through your My ESC account.

FESC Support Team

If you have any queries regarding the Fellowship of the ESC, we invite you to review the Fellowship FAQ or access the Contact Us and select the category “Fellowship of the ESC”. Our dedicated FESC team is at your entire disposal and will be happy to help on any matters related to Fellowship of the ESC.