The 2022 call is now OPEN with a deadline on 14th September 2022.
Note that under the new EU programme for research and innovation, Horizon Europe, the MSCA Individual Fellowships (MSCA IF) is renamed to MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA PF).
The Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) contributes to excellent research, boosting jobs, growth and investment by equipping researchers with the new knowledge, skills and international and intersectoral exposure to fill the top positions of tomorrow and solve current and future societal challenges.
MSCA PF aims at supporting the international mobility of researchers within (European Fellowships) and beyond Europe (Global Fellowships) as well as helping to attract the best foreign researchers to work in the EU. The grant usually covers two years' salary, a mobility allowance, research costs and overheads for the host institution.
Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) are for experienced researchers to undertake their own research project at a host organisation in another country, thus gaining new skills through advanced training and possibly, intersectoral mobility.
European Fellowships and Global Fellowships (See Info flyers for Indian nationals in Attachments)
Postdoctoral Fellowships either can take place in Europe (i.e. in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country) or in a Third Country not associated to Horizon Europe:
European Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to researchers of any nationality who wish to engage in R&I projects by either coming to Europe from any country in the world or moving within Europe. The standard duration of these fellowships must be between 12 and 24 months.
Global Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to European nationals or long-term residents who wish to engage in R&I projects with organisations outside EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. These fellowships require an outgoing phase of minimum 12 and maximum 24 months in a non-associated Third Country, and a mandatory 12-month return phase to a host organisation based in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country.
Both types of Fellowship can also include a secondment period of up to 1/3 of the standard fellowship duration in another organisation worldwide. (Horizon Europe novelty).
An optional additional placement of up to 6 months in a non-academic host in Europe (member states or countries associated to Horizon Europe is now possible at the end of the fellowship (Horizon Europe novelty).
All research areas can be funded, from physics to linguistics, and from health sciences to mathematical modelling.
Who can apply?
Experienced researchers of any nationality, i.e. researchers holding a doctoral degree with no more than 8 years of experience after the completion of their PhD (Horizon Europe novelty).
Mobility rule: The researcher must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host organisation's country for more than twelve months in the three years immediately prior to the call deadline. Make sure you check all specific requirements in the guide for applicants.
Individual researchers submit proposals for funding written in liaison with their planned host organisation in Europe. Proposals are judged on their research quality, the researcher's future career prospects, and the support offered by the host organisation.
The beneficiary receiving EU funding needs to recruit the researcher for the total period of the fellowship.
The EU provides support for the recruited researcher in the form of:
a living allowance
a mobility allowance
if applicable, family, long-term leave and special needs allowances
In addition, funding is provided for:
research, training and networking activities
management and indirect costs
How to Apply
Applicants submit a research proposal, including their CV. The proposal is written jointly with the chosen host organisation(s).
Read the MSCA PF Guide for applicants and the MSCA PF Handbook. You can also check a step by step made by the EURAXESS Worldwide team on how to submit a proposal.
How do I find a host?
Search the EURAXESS Database of Hosting Offers.
Be proactive! Contact your network of European collaborators and ask for assistance from your local supervisor, research colleagues or International Relations Office to put you in touch with their European colleagues.
TIP: Start identifying a European host as early as possible!
Calls for Expressions of Interest inviting candidates to apply for an MSCA-PF with the support of their institution can be found on the EURAXESS portal.
Hosting offers available on the Euraxess Database