MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships

Overview

Postdoctoral Fellowships are part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions under Horizon Europe’s Pillar 1: Excellent Science. They help researchers gain new skills, experience and exposure in other countries, disciplines and sectors.

They support researchers in developing their own research projects in any discipline and can take place in a wide range of academic or non-academic organisations, including universities, research institutions, businesses, SMEs, public bodies and other organisations.

Researchers apply together with a host organisation.

Who this is for

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are for postdoctoral researchers who:

hold a PhD by the application deadline
have up to 8 years’ research experience after their PhD; some exceptions apply
want to move country to develop their research career
comply with the mobility rule: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the beneficiary (for European Postdoctoral Fellowships), or the host organisation for the outgoing phase (for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline
researchers of any nationality can apply for European Postdoctoral Fellowships. Global Postdoctoral Fellowships are for nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries

What this could help you do

An MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship could help you:

improve researchers’ employability and career prospects
gain international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral experience
build new research, transferable and professional skills
work in a new academic or non-academic environment
strengthen your independence as a researcher
build links with partners, users or sectors beyond your current network

Types of Postdoctoral Fellowships

There are 2 types of MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships.

European Postdoctoral Fellowships are for researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world. They take place in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country and can last between 1 and 2 years. Researchers of any nationality can apply.
Global Postdoctoral Fellowships support researchers who want to spend time outside Europe. They include an outgoing phase of 1 to 2 years in a non-associated third country, followed by a mandatory 1-year return phase to an organisation in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Only nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply.

What you can get

Funding can support each recruited researcher with:

a living allowance
a mobility allowance
if applicable, family, long-term leave and special needs allowances.

In addition, dedicated funding is provided for:

research, training and networking costs (e.g. secondments, workshops and network events)
management and indirect costs.

The exact funding rules and unit contributions are set out in the latest MSCA Work Programme document and call documents (PDF).

What proposals are eligible

Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to all research disciplines. The researcher must apply with a host organisation. The host can be a university, research institution, business, SME, public body or another eligible organisation.

Applicants must meet the mobility rule. This usually means they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the beneficiary (for European Postdoctoral Fellowships), or the host organisation for the outgoing phase (for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline.

Resubmission restrictions apply to applications that received a score below 80% the previous year.

Secondments and non-academic placements

Fellowships can include short-term secondments anywhere in the world, where they add value to the project.

Researchers may also be able to add a placement of up to 6 months in a non-academic organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country. This placement takes place at the end of the fellowship.

Funding in practice

Understanding how Arctic landscapes respond to climate change

The CryArctic project received an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship to investigate interactions between ice, water and underlying geology in the Arctic as the climate changes. Hosted by Stockholm University, the two-year project received around €207,000 in EU funding and enables the researcher to undertake an individual research project while developing their research experience and skills.

View the CryArctic project on their website

Next steps

Read about on the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions website — policy, strategy, how to apply and work programmes.
Find out if you are eligible to apply, read about the types of Postdoctoral Fellowships and what the funding covers by visiting the Postdoctoral Fellowships — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions website.
Read the Postdoctoral Fellowships application guidance for more information on how to plan and prepare your proposal in 6 steps.
Find out more about the latest and previous calls on the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships call page.
For further guidance and support with your application contact your NCP for MSCA.

Find current MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships calls

This call is now closed. The deadline to submit proposals was 9 September 2026.

Find and apply for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships calls on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal

To apply for funding through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, you need an EU Login account. If you do not already have one, register for an EU Login account on the EU Funding and Tenders portal.

Your organisation also needs a Participant Identification Code (PIC) to be included as a participant in a funding application and to manage the grant if the application is successful. If your organisation does not yet have one, find out how to register your organisation and get a PIC on the EU Funding and Tenders portal.

Last updated: 29 October 2026