# European Society of Cardiology Distinguished Fellow designation
The [European Society of Cardiology](https://www.edgepedia.org/european-society-of-cardiology) (ESC) honors outstanding cardiovascular professionals with the post-nominal title Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC), an honorary fellowship introduced in 1988.[1](https://www.escardio.org/membership/fellowships/application-criteria-and-renewal/) This article explains what the title is, who qualifies, how it is conferred, what it costs and what it brings, and where the publicly available evidence stops.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Title conferred | Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC), an honorary title introduced in 1988[1](https://www.escardio.org/membership/fellowships/application-criteria-and-renewal/) |
| Size of community | 248 founding Fellows in 1988; over 4,300 today from about 120 countries[2](https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf246) |
| Application window | 15 June to 30 September each year; decisions notified in December; awarded at the following year's ESC Congress[1](https://www.escardio.org/membership/fellowships/application-criteria-and-renewal/) • [2](https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf246) |
| Annual fee | €550 standard or €350 reduced; exclusion from the register after two years of non-payment[1](https://www.escardio.org/membership/fellowships/application-criteria-and-renewal/) |
| Retirement stage | Emeritus Fellow (EFESC) from age 60 on retirement[1](https://www.escardio.org/membership/fellowships/application-criteria-and-renewal/) |
| Gender balance | 21% of FESCs are women, according to the ESC Gender Equity Report[3](https://www.escardio.org/news/news-room/why-arent-more-women-seeking-recognition-for-excellence/) |
## What the designations are
The ESC introduced the status (title) "Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology" in 1988 as an honorary recognition offered to its most prominent members.[1](https://www.escardio.org/membership/fellowships/application-criteria-and-renewal/)
The fellowship community has grown from 248 founding members to over 4,300 individuals from about 120 countries, and includes cardiologists, vascular medicine specialists, cardiovascular surgeons, scientists, nurses, and allied professionals.[2](https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf246) The status of Emeritus Fellow is conferred by the FESC Task Force upon written request of the Fellow when he/she reaches a minimum age of 60 years and retires from full-time work.[1](https://www.escardio.org/membership/fellowships/application-criteria-and-renewal/)
## Eligibility and criteria
**Scientific Excellence** requires a minimum of 10 original cardiovascular publications, at least 5 with the applicant as first or last author.[1](https://www.escardio.org/membership/fellowships/application-criteria-and-renewal/)
**Clinical Excellence** requires at least three years of practice as a board-certified cardiologist, nurse, or allied professional.[1](https://www.escardio.org/membership/fellowships/application-criteria-and-renewal/)
## How conferral works
The application window opens annually from 15 June to 30 September.[2](https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf246)
Applications are reviewed by the FESC Task Force, whose evaluation of candidates' clinical and scientific contributions is described as rigorous.[2](https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf246) The deadline of 30 September in year N applies to fellowship awarded at the ESC Congress in year N+1, and newly elected Fellows are informed in December of year N whether their application was accepted or rejected.[1](https://www.escardio.org/membership/fellowships/application-criteria-and-renewal/)
There is also a Presidential Nomination route: a Cardiac Society President can attest that a candidate meets the ESC Fellowship criteria in full, electing that person directly as FESC; the Swedish Society of Medicine's FAQ documents this route for the 2027 cohort.[4](https://forening.sls.se/media/yxdjparh/fesc-faq-2026-presidential-nomination.pdf)
Newly elected Fellows are formally recognized at the ESC Congress itself, in a session held on 29 August 2025, at which Professor T. Luescher (London) was listed.[5](https://esc365.escardio.org/presentation/313392)
## What fellows gain
Fellows can be mentored by other FESC peers and also serve as mentors for early-stage career trainees.[2](https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf246)
## By the numbers
Growth has been substantial: 248 Fellows at the 1988 founding, over 4,300 today, drawn from roughly 120 countries.[2](https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf246) The community remains predominantly male, with the ESC's own Gender Equity Report showing that only 21% of FESCs are women.[3](https://www.escardio.org/news/news-room/why-arent-more-women-seeking-recognition-for-excellence/) The annual fee is €550 standard or €350 reduced, and the fellowship lapses after two years of non-payment.[1](https://www.escardio.org/membership/fellowships/application-criteria-and-renewal/)
## Renewal, fees and Emeritus status
The yearly Fellowship fee covers 1 January to 31 December.[1](https://www.escardio.org/membership/fellowships/application-criteria-and-renewal/) After two years of non-payment, whether consecutive or not, the Fellow is informed of exclusion from the ESC Fellowship unless payment is received within three months.[1](https://www.escardio.org/membership/fellowships/application-criteria-and-renewal/)
The title requires fee payment to remain on the register.[1](https://www.escardio.org/membership/fellowships/application-criteria-and-renewal/) At the end of a career, the status of Emeritus Fellow (EFESC) is conferred by the FESC Task Force on the Fellow's written request, when the Fellow has reached a minimum age of 60 years and retires from full-time work.[1](https://www.escardio.org/membership/fellowships/application-criteria-and-renewal/)
## References
1. [Application criteria and renewal – ESC Fellowship](https://www.escardio.org/membership/fellowships/application-criteria-and-renewal/)
2. [Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology: recognizing excellence in cardiology (European Heart Journal, 2025)](https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf246)
3. [Why aren't more women seeking recognition for excellence? – ESC News](https://www.escardio.org/news/news-room/why-arent-more-women-seeking-recognition-for-excellence/)
4. [ESC Fellowship Presidential Nomination FAQ (Swedish Society of Medicine)](https://forening.sls.se/media/yxdjparh/fesc-faq-2026-presidential-nomination.pdf)
5. [ESC 365 – Newly elected Fellows of the ESC (FESC)](https://esc365.escardio.org/presentation/313392)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Life and health › Human health and medicine › Human structure and function › Cardiovascular and lymphatic systems › Cardiovascular professions, studies, and infrastructure › Societies, institutes, and journals › Cardiovascular awards and honors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license