Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 (€399 Million Funding for Researchers Worldwide)
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 are now open for applications, offering €399.05 million in funding to support postdoctoral researchers from around the world. This prestigious European fellowship programme aims to help researchers enhance their careers through advanced training, international mobility, and interdisciplinary research opportunities.
Funded under Horizon Europe, the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 allow PhD holders to work with leading universities, research institutes, companies, and public organizations in Europe and beyond. The programme supports researchers in acquiring new skills, expanding professional networks, and strengthening international research cooperation.
The 2026 call is expected to fund nearly 1,600 projects, making it one of the largest and most competitive postdoctoral funding programmes in Europe.
Degree Level
The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 are available for postdoctoral-level researchers who already hold a PhD degree.
Available Subjects
The fellowship is open to all academic disciplines, including:
- Natural Sciences
- Engineering
- Social Sciences
- Humanities
- Life Sciences
- Information Technology
- Environmental Sciences
- Euratom Research
- Interdisciplinary Research
Researchers from any scientific field may apply.
Benefits
Selected researchers will receive:
- Full salary funding
- Mobility allowance
- Family allowance (if applicable)
- Research, training, and networking support
- Opportunity for international mobility
- Access to leading research institutions and supervisors
- Optional 6-month placement in a non-academic organisation
- Professional development through interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral training
This fellowship offers researchers the chance to build international experience while advancing their academic and professional careers.
Fellowship Types
The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships include two funding options:
European Postdoctoral Fellowships
These fellowships are open to researchers of any nationality who wish to carry out a research project in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe associated country for up to 24 months.
Global Postdoctoral Fellowships
These fellowships are for EU nationals or long-term residents who wish to work in a third country for 12 to 24 months, followed by a 12-month return phase to Europe.
Eligible Nationalities
The European Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to researchers of any nationality.
The Global Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to EU Member State nationals or long-term residents of Horizon Europe associated countries.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026, applicants must:
- Hold a PhD degree by the application deadline
- Have a maximum of 8 years of research experience after completing the PhD
- Meet the mobility rule, meaning they must not have lived or worked in the host country for more than 12 months in the previous 36 months
- Submit the application jointly with a host organisation and supervisor
- Meet any additional conditions for Global Fellowships or Euratom projects
The programme also supports:
- Researchers returning to Europe
- Researchers displaced by conflict
- Researchers restarting their careers
Eligible Host Organisations
Applicants must apply together with a host institution such as:
- A university
- A research institute
- A company or SME
- A government institution
- A museum
- A hospital
- An NGO
- Any eligible research organisation
Host organisations must be based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country.
Application Procedure
To apply for the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026, follow these steps:
- Identify an eligible host institution and supervisor
- Develop a joint research proposal
- Choose between European or Global Fellowship
- Prepare all required application documents
- Submit the proposal through the Horizon Europe funding portal
- Wait for evaluation and results notification
Applicants are encouraged to begin preparation early due to the competitive nature of the programme.
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 is:
9 September 2026
Results Timeline
The expected timeline for the 2026 fellowship cycle is:
- February 2027: Notification of results
- February to May 2027: Grant agreement signature
- May 2027: First funded projects begin
