Yes, you can end the abroad phase early, so you can start with the return phase. If it is already evident that continuing the abroad phase at a later date will not lead to the desired results or is impractical, there is the possibility to reallocate a maximum of up to three months of the abroad phase to the return phase for the purpose of extending the project. The additional costs incurred by increasing to a contract of employment are covered by the FWF. We would ask you to send us a free-form request that includes an explanation for ending the project early as well as the date of the premature end of the abroad phase and the planned start date of the return phase. In addition, please include the signed affirmation of the Austrian research institution if you are planning on reallocating the abroad phase to the return phase (https://www.fwf.ac.at/fileadmin/files/Dokumente/Antragstellung/Schroedinger-Programm/j_cover_supplement_application.pdf (pdf, 600KB)). Please send your request via email to your project officer and inform the return-phase research institution about this.