The European Commission has launched the 2026 call for proposals under the MarieSkłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). Application period: 9 April – 9 September 2026. Call budget: EUR 399.05 million.
To be eligible for a fellowship, applicants must hold a doctoral degree by the call deadline, i.e. 9 September 2026. The programme primarily targets researchers at the postdoctoral stage of their careers. Applicants should therefore have no more than 8 years of research experience after obtaining their PhD.
One of the key eligibility requirements is the mobility rule. Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work or studies) in the country of the host institution for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately before the call deadline.
Two types of fellowships are available:
European Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to researchers of any nationality who wish to carry out their project in an EU Member State or a country associated with Horizon Europe. Projects may last between 12 and 24 months.
Global Postdoctoral Fellowships are available to nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. The fellowship includes an outgoing phase of 12–24 months outside Europe, followed by a mandatory 12-month return phase at a European institution.
Research projects can be carried out not only at universities and research institutes but also in companies, NGOs, hospitals, museums and other organisations involved in research and innovation activities.
The application process begins with identifying a suitable host institution, which may be a university, research institute, company, NGO or another organisation conducting research. The applicant then prepares the research proposal jointly with a future scientific supervisor, who will support the implementation of the project.
