Describes the typical recent cycle; last reviewed 2026-08-07. The official call is the authority on current dates and amounts.
About the program
The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship funds researcher mobility: you, a host institution in another country, and a project-plus-training plan you write together with a named supervisor. European Fellowships bring you to (or move you within) Europe for 1–2 years; Global Fellowships send you out of Europe for up to two years with a mandatory one-year return phase.
Scoring weights excellence, impact — on your career, explicitly — and implementation. The distinctive feature is the two-way fit argument: why this host and supervisor for this project, and what transferable skills the fellowship builds. Generic projects parachuted onto a host score poorly; co-written ones win.
Who can apply
PhD in hand at the deadline, and at most 8 years of research experience after it (extensions for career breaks are codified).
Mobility rule: you may not have lived or worked in the host country more than 12 of the 36 months before the deadline.
Any nationality for European Fellowships; Global Fellowships require EU/associated-country nationality or long-term residence.
Writing a competitive application
Recruit the supervisor early and write together — the host’s letter and the training plan are scored substance, not paperwork.
Address career impact concretely: name the skills, networks and independence markers the two years buy you.
Reuse rejected-but-well-scored proposals: many fellows are funded on a revised second submission, and evaluation reports tell you exactly what to fix.
Mind the mobility arithmetic before investing — the 12-in-36-months rule disqualifies quietly.
Frequently asked questions
When is the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship deadline?
Once a year; recent calls have opened in spring and closed in September. The exact date is in each year’s call on the EU Funding & Tenders portal.
How much does an MSCA fellowship pay?
Salaries are set by EU unit costs: a living allowance adjusted by a country coefficient, plus mobility and (if applicable) family allowances. Gross amounts therefore differ by host country — the current work programme lists the exact figures.
What is the difference between European and Global Fellowships?
European Fellowships fund 1–2 years at a host in the EU or an associated country. Global Fellowships fund an outgoing phase (1–2 years) at a host anywhere in the world, followed by a mandatory 12-month return phase in Europe — and carry a nationality/residence requirement.