MSCA - Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF)

The MSCA – Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) is part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions program. 5 different types of grants are available in the MSCA program, aiming to set up different types of training networks or training programs. The goal of MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships is to enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD and who wish to acquire new skills through advanced training, international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility.

MSCA-Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025

What are Postdoctoral Fellowships?

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) are grants aimed to support researchers holding a PhD who wish to lead their own research project and develop their careers abroad. MSCA‑PF covers researchers in all scientific fields.

There are two fellowship types:

• European Fellowships, open to researchers of any nationality conducting research in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Fellowships are between 12 and 24 months.
• Global Fellowships, for European nationals or long‑term residents working outside the EU in a non‑associated Third Country for 12–24 months, followed by a mandatory 12‑month return phase to an eligible European host organisation.

MSCA-PF overview

Grant amount: Varies depending on location and project duration

Total budget in 2025: €274.63 million

Funding rate: 100%

Call opens: April 9th, 2025

Call deadline: September 10th, 2025

Project duration: up to three years

More information about MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships.

What is the goal of MSCA-PF?

The goal of MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships is to enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD and who wish to acquire new skills through advanced training, international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility. Through the MSCA-PF funding researchers gain experience abroad, in different sectors and disciplines, both academic and non-academic sectors.

Who can apply to MSCA-PF?

Researchers interested in applying for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (PFs) must do so in collaboration with a host organisation, which can be a university, research centre, business, SME, or other type of institution based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to all disciplines, including those within the scope of the Euratom Research and Training Programme.

To be eligible, applicants:

• Must hold a PhD by the application deadline. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet been formally awarded the degree are also eligible.
• Should have no more than eight years of research experience from the date of their PhD award. This excludes: Career breaks and time spent outside research and research conducted in non-associated third countries for nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Associated Countries wishing to reintegrate into Europe.

Must comply with MSCA mobility rules: For European Postdoctoral Fellowships, candidates must not have lived or conducted their main activities (work, study, etc.) in the host country for more than 12 months within the 36 months prior to the call deadline. The same rule applies to the host country of the outgoing phase for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships.

What does MSCA-PF funding cover?

The MSCA-PF funding covers:

• Living allowance
• Mobility allowance
• Additional allowances (e.g. family, long-term leave, or special needs) where applicable
• Research, training, and networking activities
• Management and indirect costs

Expected Impact

Proposals under this Action should contribute to the following expected impacts:

• Enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD and wishing to diversify their individual competences and skills through advanced training, international, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral mobility while implementing excellent research projects across all sectors of research;
• Strengthen Europe’s human capital base in R&I with better trained, innovative and entrepreneurial researchers;
• Enhance the quality of R&I contributing to Europe’s competitiveness and growth;
• Contribute to Europe’s attractiveness as a leading destination for R&I and for good working conditions of researchers;
• Facilitate knowledge transfer and brain circulation across the ERA;Foster the culture of open science, innovation and entrepreneurship.

How to apply

The European Commission provides a guide to prepare for your application.

More information on the application process.

More about this call: HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF-01-01

About MSCA

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Programme offers five different types of grants aiming to strengthen Europe’s research activities and innovation capacity by investing in researchers’ long-term careers. The programme, part of Horizon Europe, aims to set up different types of training networks (MSCA-DN) or training programmes (MSCA-COFUND), while other grants fund fellowships (MSCA-PF) and events (MSCA-NIGHT) to increase the popularity of science in society.

More MSCA grants or visit the website

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