If you hold a PhD and want to take your research career international with generous EU funding, the Marie Skลodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships are among the most prestigious research fellowships in Europe. The 2026 call (HORIZON-MSCA-2026-PF) is open, and the deadline is 9 September 2026. Youth Works Hub has broken down the two fellowship types, the funding, the eligibility rules and how to apply below.
About MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships support researchers who hold a doctorate to develop their skills and careers through advanced training and international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral mobility. It is a mono-beneficiary action: you apply together with a host organisation. The 2026 call opened on 9 April 2026, with an indicative total budget of around โฌ399 million.
The Two Types of Fellowship
๐ช๐บ European Postdoctoral Fellowships โ 12 to 24 months, carried out in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country. Open to researchers of any nationality.
๐ Global Postdoctoral Fellowships โ 24 to 36 months in total: a 12โ24 month outgoing phase in a non-associated Third Country plus a mandatory 12-month return phase in an EU Member State or Associated Country. Open to nationals or long-term residents of Member States/Associated Countries.
What's Funded (per person-month)
๐ถ A living allowance of โฌ6,350/month (adjusted by a country correction coefficient)
โ๏ธ A mobility allowance of โฌ710/month
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐ง A family allowance of โฌ660/month where applicable
โฟ Long-term leave and special-needs allowances where applicable
In addition, the host receives a research, training and networking contribution (โฌ1,000/month) and a management and indirect-cost contribution (โฌ650/month).
Who Can Apply
๐ You must hold a PhD by the call deadline (or have defended your thesis unconditionally before it)
โณ A maximum of 8 years of full-time-equivalent research experience after your PhD (with extensions for parental leave, military service, long illness, time outside research, and, for reintegrating researchers, time spent doing research in a third country)
๐ Mobility rule: you must not have resided or carried out your main activity in the host country for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the deadline (short stays, military service and refugee/temporary-protection procedures do not count)
๐ European Fellowships are open to any nationality; Global Fellowships require Member State/Associated Country nationality or long-term residence. There is no age limit, and refugees are exempt from the mobility rule.
๐ Note: Horizon Europe Associated Countries are eligible as hosts and for applicants, alongside EU Member States.
๐ฌ Interested in another postdoctoral research route? Take a look at the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship in ๐ฌ๐ง the United Kingdom โ https://youthworkshub.org/21045
Evaluation and Selection
๐ Proposals are scored on Excellence (50%), Impact (30%) and Quality and efficiency of the implementation (20%), with a 70% threshold. There is no interview; evaluation is remote, with 3โ5 experts per proposal, across 8 scientific panels (CHE, SOC, ECO, ENG, ENV, LIF, MAT, PHY). Proposals scoring 85% or above but not funded receive a Seal of Excellence.
ERA Fellowships (Widening Opt-in)
๐ฑ High-scoring but unfunded European proposals hosted in Widening countries can be taken up for extra funding through ERA Fellowships. You opt in by selecting "YES" in Part A of the application; if you don't, you're not considered.
Secondments and Placements
๐ An optional secondment (up to half the project duration, or half the outgoing phase for Global) in any country and sector, with no extra budget; and an optional non-academic placement of up to 6 months at the end, in a Member State/Associated Country, with extra budget.
How to Apply
๐ Applications are submitted jointly by the researcher and a host organisation through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, one proposal per person per call. Part B-1 has a strict 10-page limit (Excellence, Impact, Implementation). The host employs the researcher and provides supervision and training, the quality of which is assessed.
Frequently Asked Questions
โ Can I apply without a host? No, a host organisation is mandatory and you apply together.
โ What if I have more than 8 years' experience? As a rule you're not eligible, but the limit can be extended for parental leave, military service, long illness, time outside research and third-country research.
โ Is there an age limit? No.
โ Is there an interview? No, evaluation is remote.
โ Can researchers based in Associated Countries apply? Yes, Associated Countries are eligible alongside Member States.
Deadline
โณ 09 September 2026 (expected 17:00 CET; verify the exact time on the official portal)
Links
๐ Call page: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/node/1495
๐ REA MSCA-PF: https://rea.ec.europa.eu/funding-and-grants/horizon-europe-marie-sklodowska-curie-actions/msca-postdoctoral-fellowships_en
๐ Apply via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (topic HORIZON-MSCA-2026-PF)
More fully funded research opportunities like this are gathered, in plain language, on Youth Works Hub.
โ ๏ธ Important Notice
Youth Works Hub is not the organiser, partner, or representative of the listed projects. This listing is shared for information only, based on details from the source. Deadlines, eligible countries, dates, and other details may change or be withdrawn at any time, and all funding, reimbursements, and allowances are set by the project coordinator or National Agency. Applications go directly to the coordinator or hosting organisation through the official link. Listings may include third-party links (ESC Portal, infopacks, forms) that Youth Works Hub does not control. Always verify the details on the official project page before applying.
