The Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA) Visiting Fellowship brings early career researchers of every nationality except French to France for a 12-month research stay, with a €2,500 monthly allowance, a €500 settling-in allowance and health coverage. Applications close on 15 December 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full call so that the conditions, documents and selection steps are all in one place.
The Tenth MOPGA Call in Brief
🏛️ Funder: French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE)
🤝 In partnership with: Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space (MESRE)
🏢 Implemented by: Campus France
🔟 Edition: Tenth call for applications, MOPGA 2027
⏱️ Duration: 12 months, not renewable
📚 Who it is for: Researchers who hold a doctoral degree awarded less than five years before the deadline
📍 Where you work: A host research laboratory or institution in France
🗣️ Application language: English or French
Why France Runs the MOPGA Programme
Since 2018, the Make Our Planet Great Again initiative has continued to attract strong interest from the international scientific community, drawing a growing number of talented researchers who want to contribute to research on major environmental and climate challenges.
French research laboratories and institutions widely recognise MOPGA, and it has become a flagship programme for postdoctoral mobility in France. It is also one of the leading fellowship programmes of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
In line with its continued commitment to the Paris Agreement, and as a key actor in the fight against climate change, France is launching this new edition to strengthen scientific contributions to the issues addressed at the Conferences of the Parties (COPs). The call enables young international researchers to carry out a research project in France and fosters collaboration with leading French research institutions. If this type of funding is new to you, our guide explains what a fellowship is and how it differs from a scholarship.
The Five Research Areas Eligible in This Call
🌎 Earth system sciences
🌡️ Climate change and sustainability sciences
⚡ Energy transition
👥 Societal challenges related to environmental issues
🐾 Human, animal and environmental health, as defined under the One Health approach
All disciplines are eligible, including the humanities and social sciences, provided that the project falls within these research themes. The programme's dedicated research themes page gives further detail on each area.
The One Health Condition to Check Before You Apply
Only projects adopting an integrated One Health approach are eligible under the fifth area. This means the project must take into account the interactions between human health, animal health and ecosystems.
Projects focusing solely on medicine or human health, without a genuine environmental or animal health dimension, are not eligible.
Extra Consideration for Advanced Technologies
Innovative approaches involving advanced technologies in the five research areas will be given particular consideration during the selection process.
Who Can Apply for the Fellowship
📜 You hold a doctoral degree awarded less than five years before the application deadline, meaning you defended your PhD thesis between December 2021 and December 2026 inclusive
🛂 You are exclusively of foreign nationality: all nationalities are eligible except French nationality
✈️ You are applying for the purpose of undertaking international mobility to France
🏠 You are not residing and professionally active in France at the time of application
🚫 You have not previously received a MOPGA fellowship
When Your PhD Dates Need a Closer Look
If your doctoral degree certificate has not yet been issued, you may submit an official certificate confirming that your thesis defence has taken place, proof of thesis submission, or any other official document from your institution confirming the defence.
Defending your thesis after December 2026 makes you ineligible for this call.
If you obtained your PhD more than five years ago, an exception may be granted in the case of maternity leave. The eligibility period may be extended by 18 months per child, or by the actual duration of the maternity leave, upon submission of supporting documents. This information must be included in the application file under supporting documents.
What Each Fellowship Includes
Fellowships are awarded for a period of 12 months, and each one includes, exclusively:
💶 A monthly allowance of €2,500 for twelve months
🧳 A €500 settling-in allowance, paid during the first month of the research stay
🏥 Health coverage: health insurance, civil liability insurance and repatriation assistance, followed by supplementary health insurance once you are registered with the French social security system
Costs the Programme Does Not Cover
🛫 International travel to France is not covered, although your host laboratory may be able to provide support with these costs
🧪 Laboratory costs are not covered by the programme and should be discussed directly with the host institution
🔁 The fellowship cannot be renewed after the twelve months
────────────────────────────────────────
🌍 All opportunities in France →
────────────────────────────────────────
Your Status as a Fellow in France
The programme falls within the framework of the research stay scheme established under the French Research Programming Law 2021–2030 (LPR, Article 12) and incorporated into Article L.434-1 of the French Research Code. The MESRE circular of 4 May 2022 gives further information on the implementation of research stays.
🎖️ Successful applicants are granted the status of French Government Scholarship holders (BGF)
🏦 The fellowship is paid directly by Campus France
✍️ A research stay agreement must be signed between the host institution in France and the researcher
Funding You Cannot Combine With MOPGA
This French Government fellowship cannot be combined with a French employment contract, such as a research contract or postdoctoral contract. It also cannot be combined with any other individual funding awarded by a French government entity.
What Host Laboratories Commit To
By supporting an application, host laboratories undertake to provide an appropriate scientific environment for the successful completion of the project throughout the research stay.
Host laboratories do not receive any funding under the programme. The fellowship is intended solely to cover the invited researcher's living expenses.
How to Find a Host Laboratory in France
Finding a laboratory or research unit is an integral part of the application process, so your research project should be clearly defined before you contact one.
🗂️ Consult the research laboratory directories
🔎 Use the Campus France Research in France Portal
🧭 Contact your supervisors at your home institution, who may already have links with French laboratories
Institutions that would like to host a MOPGA candidate can publish postdoctoral opportunities on the Research in France Portal by creating an institutional account.
What Your Research Project Description Must Contain
Each section of the application form has a maximum number of characters, including spaces:
🏷️ Project title
🔑 Keywords (6)
🗒️ Research project summary (max. 2,000 characters)
💡 Background and motivation (max. 2,000 characters)
🎯 Scientific objectives (max. 2,000 characters)
🗓️ Methodology and timeline (max. 4,500 characters)
🌐 Relevance of the project to the MOPGA initiative (max. 2,000 characters)
🌏 International collaboration and/or expected impact for your country of residence or country of origin (max. 2,000 characters)
Documents to Prepare for Your Application
📄 CV including a list of publications (4 pages max.)
🎓 Doctoral degree certificate or official proof of degree
📑 CV of the scientific supervisor at the host laboratory (2 pages max.)
📨 Letter of support from the scientific supervisor, co-signed by the laboratory director or accompanied by a letter of commitment from the laboratory director, confirming that the scientific environment and resources required for the project will be made available and that the project is consistent with the laboratory's objectives
🖊️ Letter(s) of recommendation (minimum 1, maximum 3)
🪪 Copy of your passport or national identity document
How to Apply
Applicants must submit their research project online through the Campus France SMApply platform during the official application period. Applications sent by email will not be considered. Before you start, consult the FAQ on the official call and download the application guide. Applications may be written in English or French.
How Candidates Are Selected
In accordance with the objectives and requirements of the call, selection takes place in two stages:
1️⃣ Scientific experts appointed by the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space in the relevant fields assess the applications received
2️⃣ A scientific committee makes the final selection of the MOPGA 2027 fellows
The MOPGA 2027 Timeline
🟢 15 September 2026: Applications open
🔴 15 December 2026: Application deadline
📬 May–June 2027: Notification of results
🛬 Between September and December 2027: Successful applicants arrive in France and begin their research stay at French host institutions
Options for Master's and PhD Students
There is no MOPGA call for Master's or PhD students. The France Excellence Eiffel programme, as well as other funding opportunities listed on Campus Bourses, the Research in France Portal and doctorat.gouv.fr, offer funding at these levels of study.
For researchers who are looking beyond this call, you can browse more fellowships on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the MOPGA 2027 Visiting Fellowship?
Researchers of any nationality except French who defended their PhD thesis between December 2021 and December 2026 inclusive can apply. They must be applying for international mobility to France, must not be residing and professionally active in France at the time of application, and must not have received a MOPGA fellowship before.
How much does the MOPGA fellowship pay?
Fellows receive a monthly allowance of €2,500 for twelve months, plus a €500 settling-in allowance during the first month of the research stay. Each fellowship also includes health coverage, and the money is paid directly by Campus France.
Does MOPGA cover travel to France?
No, international travel costs are not covered by the programme. Your host laboratory may, however, be able to provide support with these costs.
Can I apply if I defend my PhD after December 2026?
No, the thesis defence must take place between December 2021 and December 2026 inclusive. If your degree certificate has not yet been issued, an official certificate confirming the defence, proof of thesis submission or another official document from your institution is accepted.
Is there an exception to the five-year limit after the PhD?
An exception may be granted in the case of maternity leave. The eligibility period may be extended by 18 months per child, or by the actual duration of the leave, and the supporting documents must be included in the application file.
Do I need a host laboratory before applying to MOPGA?
Yes, finding a laboratory or research unit is an integral part of the application. The file must include a CV of your scientific supervisor at the host laboratory and a letter of support, so your project should be clearly defined before you make contact.
Are the humanities and social sciences eligible for MOPGA?
Yes, all disciplines are eligible, provided that the project falls within the MOPGA research themes. These themes include societal challenges related to environmental issues.
Can the MOPGA fellowship be renewed or combined with a French contract?
No, the funding lasts twelve months and is not renewable. It also cannot be combined with a French employment contract or with any other individual funding awarded by a French government entity.
Can I send my MOPGA application by email?
No, applications must be submitted through the Campus France SMApply platform during the official application period. Applications sent by email will not be considered.
Deadline
⏳ 15 December 2026
Links
📝 Apply: https://campusfrance.smapply.io/prog/mopga_2027/
ℹ️ Official call: https://www.campusfrance.org/en/mopga-2027
📧 Contact for questions: mopga@campusfrance.org
