The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships are among the European Union's flagship research funding programmes under the Horizon Europe framework. These prestigious fellowships support talented postdoctoral researchers from around the world by providing funding for international mobility, advanced research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and career development.

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships follow a bottom-up approach, meaning applicants from any scientific discipline can submit their own research proposal. Researchers work together with an eligible host institution to develop innovative projects while gaining valuable international experience and transferable skills.

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships are one of the European Union's most prestigious research fellowship programmes. Funded through the Horizon Europe Framework Programme, these fellowships are designed to support researchers like you—who have already completed their doctoral degree and wish to enhance their research careers through international mobility, interdisciplinary collaboration, and advanced scientific training.

Every year, thousands of researchers from across the globe compete for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships. The programme encourages researchers to work with leading universities, research institutes, industries, public organisations, and non-profit institutions across Europe and, in some cases, beyond Europe through Global Fellowships.

Unlike many funding programmes that focus on a specific subject or discipline, MSCA follows a bottom-up approach. This means you are free to propose research projects in virtually any academic field, provided the proposal demonstrates scientific excellence, innovation, and potential impact.

Besides funding outstanding research, the fellowship places strong emphasis on developing your transferable skills such as leadership, project management, communication, entrepreneurship, data management, open science, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This holistic approach helps you become highly competitive for future academic and non-academic careers.

This evergreen guide provides comprehensive information to help you understand the fellowship, including eligibility, fellowship types, benefits, funding, application process, mobility rules, selection process, required documents, country guidance, visa information, and frequently asked questions. Annual call details such as application deadlines, budgets, and official call documents should always be checked separately through the latest MSCA call announcement.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) are a flagship funding programme of the European Union dedicated to supporting researchers at different stages of their careers. Named after Nobel Prize-winning scientist Marie Skłodowska-Curie, the programme promotes international mobility, scientific excellence, interdisciplinary cooperation, and innovation across all research disciplines.

MSCA forms part of the European Union's Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme, which is one of the world's largest publicly funded research and innovation initiatives. The programme aims to strengthen Europe's research ecosystem while attracting talented researchers from around the world.

One of the defining characteristics of MSCA is that it is researcher-centred. Rather than prescribing specific research topics, the programme allows you to design your own research project in collaboration with a suitable host organisation. This flexibility enables researchers from diverse academic backgrounds to participate.

MSCA funding is available across a wide range of disciplines, including natural sciences, engineering, life sciences, medicine, agriculture, environmental sciences, computer science, social sciences, humanities, economics, arts, and interdisciplinary research areas.

Main MSCA Actions

Among these actions, the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are particularly popular because they help researchers gain international experience, establish new collaborations, and build independent research careers at world-class institutions.

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) are prestigious research fellowships funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme. They are specifically designed for researchers who have already completed a doctoral (PhD) degree and wish to broaden their scientific expertise through international research experience, advanced training, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Rather than funding a fixed research topic, MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships allow you to develop your own research proposal jointly with a host organisation. This researcher-driven approach enables innovative ideas across all scientific disciplines, from engineering and medicine to social sciences, arts, and humanities.

A successful fellowship combines an excellent researcher, a strong research proposal, and an experienced host institution capable of providing high-quality supervision, training, and career development opportunities. Throughout the fellowship, you will strengthen both your scientific expertise and transferable skills that are valuable in academia, industry, public organisations, and entrepreneurship.

Fellows normally become employees of the host organisation under national employment rules. The fellowship therefore provides both financial support and practical research experience within an internationally recognised research environment.

The primary objective of the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships is to strengthen the careers of postdoctoral researchers by providing opportunities to work in outstanding international research environments while developing new scientific and professional skills.

The programme also supports the European Research Area by encouraging knowledge exchange, international cooperation, and innovation between universities, research institutes, industries, and public organisations.

What You Gain as an MSCA Fellow

• Support to conduct outstanding research in your chosen scientific discipline.
• Opportunities for international, interdisciplinary, and inter-sectoral mobility.
• Encouragement to pursue excellent research and scientific innovation.
• Development of transferable skills such as leadership, communication, project management, entrepreneurship, and open science.
• Strengthened long-term career prospects in both academic and non-academic sectors.
• Increased collaboration between universities, research institutes, industry, and society.
• Promotion of responsible research practices and knowledge dissemination.
• Contribution to solving global scientific and societal challenges through high-quality research.

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are intended for researchers who have already completed a PhD and wish to expand their research careers through international experience. The fellowship is suitable for early-career and experienced postdoctoral researchers who want to acquire new knowledge, develop advanced research skills, and build international collaborations.

You may come from universities, research institutes, hospitals, government laboratories, industry, or other research environments, provided you meet the programme's eligibility and mobility requirements.

This Fellowship Is Particularly Suitable If You Want To:

• Conduct independent, high-quality research.
• Work with internationally recognised supervisors.
• Gain experience in another country.
• Develop interdisciplinary research expertise.
• Collaborate with industry or non-academic organisations.
• Improve your academic publication records.
• Expand your international professional networks.
• Increase your competitiveness for future faculty or research positions.
• Develop leadership and project management skills.
• Explore innovation and technology transfer opportunities.

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are recognised internationally as one of the leading funding schemes for postdoctoral researchers. Beyond financial support, the fellowship offers structured career development, exposure to world-class research infrastructure, and opportunities to collaborate with leading experts across Europe and beyond.

You benefit from a personalised training programme that combines scientific research with transferable skills, helping you become more competitive for positions in academia, industry, public organisations, and entrepreneurship.

What You Get as an MSCA Fellow

For many researchers, an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship serves as an important stepping stone towards securing independent research grants, faculty appointments, senior research positions, or leadership roles in industry and innovation.

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships are divided into two main categories: European Postdoctoral Fellowships (European PF) and Global Postdoctoral Fellowships (Global PF). Although both fellowship types share the same objective of supporting excellent postdoctoral researchers, they differ in terms of eligibility, host location, mobility requirements, and fellowship structure.

You should carefully choose the fellowship type that best matches your nationality, residency status, career goals, and intended host institution. Understanding these differences before preparing a proposal can help you identify the most suitable funding opportunity.

European Postdoctoral Fellowships are intended for researchers who wish to conduct research in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country. Researchers of any nationality may apply, provided they satisfy the official eligibility requirements, including the mobility rule and postdoctoral research experience limit.

These fellowships are particularly suitable for researchers seeking to establish new international collaborations, access advanced research infrastructure, or strengthen their academic profile within the European Research Area.

Main Features

• Open to researchers of any nationality.
• Research is conducted in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.
• Typical fellowship duration is 12 to 24 months.
• Supports interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral research.
• May include secondments with other eligible organisations.
• Encourages long-term career development and international networking.

Global Postdoctoral Fellowships are designed for researchers who are European nationals or long-term residents and wish to undertake research outside Europe before returning to an eligible host institution in Europe.

A Global Fellowship consists of two phases:

1. Outgoing Phase: The researcher carries out research at a host organisation in a non-associated third country.
2. Mandatory Return Phase: The researcher returns to an eligible host institution in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country to complete the fellowship.

This structure enables researchers to gain international experience outside Europe while ensuring knowledge transfer back to the European research ecosystem.

Main Features

• Available only to European nationals or long-term residents.
• Research begins outside Europe.
• Includes a compulsory return phase in Europe.
• Total duration generally ranges from 24 to 36 months.
• Supports global collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Choosing the right fellowship depends on your nationality, residency status, research objectives, and preferred host institution.

• Choose a European Postdoctoral Fellowship if you wish to conduct research at an eligible institution within Europe and you satisfy the mobility rule.
• Choose a Global Postdoctoral Fellowship only if you are a European national or long-term resident planning to undertake research outside Europe before returning to a European host institution.

Before preparing an application, you should carefully review the official eligibility requirements for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships. Every proposal submitted under the programme must satisfy the conditions specified in the relevant call documentation. Applications that do not meet the mandatory eligibility criteria are not considered for funding.

The eligibility rules are designed to ensure that the programme supports researchers at an appropriate career stage while promoting international mobility and knowledge exchange. Although the programme is open to all research disciplines, every applicant must satisfy the requirements relating to their doctoral qualification, postdoctoral research experience, mobility, and host institution.

Summary of Eligibility Requirements

You must hold a doctoral degree (PhD or an equivalent doctoral qualification) before the official application deadline of the relevant MSCA call.

If you have successfully defended your doctoral thesis before the application deadline, you are generally considered eligible, even if the formal degree certificate has not yet been issued, provided this is accepted under the applicable call rules and can be appropriately documented.

If you are still enrolled in a doctoral programme and have not successfully completed your PhD by the deadline, you are generally not eligible to apply for an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship.

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are intended for researchers who are still at a relatively early stage of their independent research careers. Therefore, you must normally have no more than eight years of full-time equivalent research experience after obtaining your doctoral degree by the application deadline.

This experience is calculated from the date on which you became eligible to receive the doctoral degree, rather than from the date the certificate was physically issued.

Periods That May Not Count Towards the Eight-Year Limit

• Documented career breaks.
• Periods spent outside research activities.
• Parental leave or comparable family-related leave where recognised under the programme rules.
• Long-term sick leave where applicable.
• Other exclusions specifically permitted in the official MSCA Work Programme.

If you are approaching the eight-year limit, carefully review the latest European Commission guidance and, where necessary, discuss your individual circumstances with your proposed host institution before submitting an application.

Nationality requirements depend on the type of MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship you select.

If you are from a country outside Europe, including India and many other non-EU countries, you are eligible to apply for a European Postdoctoral Fellowship, provided you meet the programme's mobility rule and all other eligibility conditions.

The mobility rule is one of the most important eligibility requirements for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships. The programme is specifically designed to promote international mobility and encourage researchers to gain experience in a new research environment. Consequently, you must satisfy the mobility rule for the host country where you intend to carry out your fellowship.

In general, you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host country for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately before the application deadline. This rule applies regardless of nationality and is assessed for the specific host country where the fellowship will be undertaken.

Purpose of the Mobility Rule

• Encourage international researcher mobility.
• Promote knowledge transfer between countries.
• Strengthen collaboration between research institutions.
• Provide researchers with new scientific environments.
• Increase interdisciplinary and international cooperation.

The following examples are provided to help you understand how the mobility rule is generally applied. These examples are illustrative only and do not replace the official eligibility provisions published by the European Commission.

Every MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship application must involve an eligible host organisation. The host institution provides the research environment, supervision, infrastructure, training opportunities, and administrative support necessary for the successful implementation of the fellowship.

Host organisations must be established in a country that is eligible under the relevant MSCA call and should have the capacity to supervise and support high-quality research.

Examples of Eligible Host Organisations

• Universities and Higher Education Institutions.
• Public Research Institutes.
• Government Research Organisations.
• Hospitals and Medical Research Centres.
• Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
• Large Industrial Research Centres.
• International Organisations (where eligible).
• Non-profit Research Organisations.
• Innovation and Technology Centres.

Every MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship proposal is prepared jointly by the applicant and a supervisor at the host organisation. The supervisor plays an important role throughout the fellowship by providing scientific guidance, mentoring, career advice, and institutional support.

A Host Supervisor Typically Helps You With:

• Developing the research proposal.
• Preparing the project implementation plan.
• Designing the training programme.
• Providing access to research facilities.
• Monitoring scientific progress.
• Supporting publications and dissemination activities.
• Helping with networking and career development.

You are encouraged to identify supervisors whose research interests closely align with your proposed project. A strong collaboration between you and your supervisor significantly strengthens the overall quality of the application.

The duration of an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship depends on the type of fellowship you select. The programme provides sufficient time for you to complete a high-quality research project, participate in advanced training, establish international collaborations, and develop transferable skills that contribute to long-term career development.

One of the defining characteristics of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions is its bottom-up approach. Unlike programmes that restrict funding to specific research topics, MSCA allows you to propose projects in virtually any academic discipline, provided the proposal demonstrates scientific excellence, innovation, feasibility, and potential impact.

This flexibility enables you—whether from universities, research institutes, hospitals, industry, or other research organisations—to pursue innovative ideas across a wide range of scientific domains.

Examples of Eligible Research Areas

• Life Sciences
• Medicine and Health Sciences
• Biotechnology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Data Science
• Environmental Sciences
• Earth and Climate Sciences
• Agricultural Sciences
• Engineering and Technology
• Energy Research
• Materials Science
• Economics
• Business and Management
• Social Sciences
• Education
• Law
• Humanities
• Arts and Cultural Studies
• Interdisciplinary Research

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are recognised globally because they combine financial support, research excellence, international mobility, and structured career development within a single fellowship programme.

Beyond financial support, the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are designed to help you build a successful long-term career. You receive opportunities to conduct internationally recognised research while acquiring valuable scientific, professional, and transferable skills.

What You Gain

• Opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research in internationally recognised institutions.
• Access to world-class laboratories, libraries, databases, and research infrastructure.
• Advanced scientific and technical training.
• Professional mentoring from experienced supervisors.
• International networking with researchers and research organisations.
• Career development planning and transferable skills training.
• Improved academic publication opportunities.
• Exposure to interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral research.
• Possibility of secondments with industry or other research organisations.
• Greater competitiveness for future academic, industrial, and public-sector careers.

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships are fully funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme. Funding is provided through fixed unit costs defined by the European Commission and is paid to the host organisation, which employs you in accordance with national employment laws and institutional policies.

Rather than offering a single scholarship amount, the programme provides several funding components. The actual salary you receive depends on factors such as the host country's taxation, social security contributions, employment regulations, and applicable correction coefficients.

Funding Components

A successful MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship application requires careful preparation. Although the Funding & Tenders Portal provides the official application forms, you should begin collecting the necessary documents well before the submission deadline.

Commonly Required Documents

• Completed online application form.
• Your Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Your research proposal prepared jointly with the host organisation.
• Information about your host institution and supervising researcher.
• Evidence that you hold a doctoral (PhD) degree by the application deadline.
• Ethics self-assessment (where applicable).
• Administrative forms required by the Funding & Tenders Portal.
• Additional declarations or supporting information requested in the official call documentation.

Applications are submitted electronically through the European Commission's Funding & Tenders Portal. You prepare the proposal together with your proposed host organisation, which submits the application on behalf of the consortium.

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Identify a Suitable Host Institution
   Search for universities, research institutes, hospitals, companies, or other eligible organisations whose research interests closely match your proposed project.
2. Contact a Potential Supervisor
   Discuss your research idea, identify common interests, and confirm the institution's willingness to host your fellowship.
3. Develop Your Research Proposal
   Prepare a high-quality proposal describing your research objectives, methodology, expected impact, implementation plan, and training activities.
4. Prepare the Required Documentation
   Complete all administrative forms and gather supporting documents required for your application.
5. Complete the Online Application
   Fill in the required information through the European Commission Funding & Tenders Portal.
6. Internal Review
   Many host institutions review proposals internally before submission. You should allow sufficient time for this process.
7. Submit Before the Deadline
   Ensure that your complete proposal is submitted before the official call deadline.

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship proposals undergo an independent peer-review evaluation conducted by expert evaluators appointed under the Horizon Europe programme. Each proposal is assessed according to the official evaluation criteria published in the relevant call documentation.

The evaluation process is highly competitive and focuses on the overall quality of your proposal, your research potential, and the suitability of the host organisation to support your proposed project.

Main Evaluation Criteria

Only proposals that successfully pass the scientific evaluation and achieve the required quality threshold are considered for funding. Depending on the available budget, some high-quality proposals that cannot be funded may receive a Seal of Excellence, recognising their quality and potentially helping you seek alternative funding opportunities.

Selecting an appropriate host country is one of the most important decisions when preparing an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship proposal. While the fellowship supports research excellence across Europe, you should consider several factors beyond university rankings, including research infrastructure, supervisor expertise, funding environment, career opportunities, language, living expenses, and immigration requirements.

The best destination varies depending on your research field and long-term career goals. Institutions with internationally recognised research groups, strong publication records, and collaborative international projects often provide excellent environments for MSCA fellows.

Living expenses differ significantly across Europe. Although MSCA fellowships provide financial support, you should understand the approximate cost of accommodation, transportation, food, insurance, and other daily expenses before selecting a host country.

Major Living Expenses

• Accommodation and rent.
• Food and groceries.
• Public transportation.
• Utilities and internet.
• Health insurance where applicable.
• Personal expenses.
• Research-related travel not covered by the project.

If you are travelling to another country to undertake an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship, you may require a research visa, residence permit, or work authorisation, depending on your nationality and the host country's immigration regulations.

Visa procedures are governed by national laws rather than the MSCA programme itself. After receiving confirmation from the host institution, you should follow the immigration requirements of the destination country.

Documents Commonly Required for Visa Applications

• Valid passport.
• Employment contract or hosting agreement.
• Proof of funding or employment.
• Health insurance documentation.
• Residence permit application forms (where applicable).
• Passport-size photographs.
• Supporting documents requested by the destination country's immigration authority.

The European Commission publishes statistics after each completed MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship call. These statistics generally include the number of submitted proposals, eligible applications, successful projects, funding awarded, and participating countries.

Because these figures change every year, you should consult the latest official results for the most up-to-date information. Historical statistics can be useful for understanding the competitiveness of the programme and the scale of international participation.

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are highly competitive. The success rate varies from one call to another depending on the number of eligible applications, proposal quality, and the available budget.

You should not rely solely on historical acceptance rates when assessing your chances of success. A well-prepared proposal, a strong host institution, excellent supervision, and a carefully planned research project are generally more important than historical statistics for your success.

Preparing a competitive MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship proposal requires several months of planning. You are encouraged to begin searching for potential supervisors and host institutions well before the official call opens. Early preparation allows sufficient time to develop a strong research proposal, obtain institutional feedback, and complete all required documentation before the application deadline.

You should always rely on the official European Commission resources for the latest call documents, eligibility rules, application forms, deadlines, and programme guidance.

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA):
  https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/
• EU Funding & Tenders Portal:
  https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/
• Horizon Europe Programme:
  Horizon Europe – Research & Innovation