MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027 under Horizon Europe. Apply for fully funded scholarships here. The Horizon Europe programme represents the European Union research framework designed to drive research innovation and scientific breakthroughs across continents. Administered through the European Commission and executed by the European Research Executive Agency, it establishes formal grant agreement terms for host institutions. Within this framework, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions operate as the flagship initiative for academic mobility, offering high-value grants to exceptional talent.
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
| University / Host Institution | All European Universities, Research Institutes, and Non-Academic Enterprises |
| Degree Level | Postdoctoral Research / Fellowships (PhD holders) |
| Scholarship Coverage | Fully Funded (Living, Mobility, Family, and Research Unit Allowances) |
| Eligible Nationality | All Nationalities (European Track) / EU Nationals & Long-term Residents (Global Track) |
| Award Country | EU Member States, Horizon Europe Associated Countries, and Global Partner Countries |
| Last Date | September 9, 2026 |
Horizon Europe Funding Framework Overview
Securing an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027 position grants researchers immediate access to world-class research infrastructure and scientific collaboration networks. This competitive funding framework fosters strong ties within the European research area while encouraging global partnerships with top-tier universities. The scheme also supports special domains like the EURATOM programme and offers backup routes like ERA Fellowships for excellent proposals.
Through structured international fellowship schemes, every beneficiary organisation works closely with researchers to expand European integration. Participating as a host or researcher under this official research funding agency model strengthens your career profile immensely. A successful international student admissions or academic research journey often relies on joining such prestigious initiatives that fund high-impact discoveries.
Coca-Cola Scholarship in USA (Funded)
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027 Architecture
├── European Postdoctoral Fellowships (12-24 Months in EU/Associated Country)
├── Global Postdoctoral Fellowships (12-24 Months Third Country + 12 Months EU Return)
└── Optional Non-Academic Placement (Up to 6 Additional Months in Industry/SME)
MSCA European Fellowships Track
The European Postdoctoral Fellowships track focuses on enhancing intra-European mobility by allowing scholars to work at premier institutions across Europe. This track offers a standard 12 to 24 months’ duration for research projects hosted in EU Member States or Associated Countries. It welcomes researchers of any nationality who plan to advance their scientific trajectory within a European host organisation.
Both the academic sector and non-academic placement entities can act as primary hosts for these grants. Special evaluation panels exist for researchers seeking a career restart or a reintegration panel route back into European science. Working under a designated scientific host ensures that you receive tailored research training and acquire essential multidisciplinary skills.
Every host university or European host must demonstrate its capacity to generate significant innovation impact. The signing of the grant agreement establishes formal academic mentoring and pairs the fellow with an experienced research supervisor. Enrolling in a PhD programme or completing postdoctoral research under this scheme opens unprecedented global pathways.
University of Minho Research Fellowship in Portugal (€1,090 Stipend)
MSCA Global Fellowships Track
The Global Postdoctoral Fellowships option targets researchers who want to gain international experience in non-associated third countries. This fellowship includes an initial outgoing phase lasting 12 to 24 months, followed by a mandatory return phase. The mandatory return lasts for 12 months, returning to an institutional host located within Europe.
This specific fellowship track is reserved for EU nationals and long-term residents committed to driving global scientific mobility. Researchers partner with an approved third country host while remaining attached to a primary European beneficiary. This setup builds long-term international research experience and ensures mutual host commitment across institutions.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| GLOBAL FELLOWSHIP MOBILITY TIMELINE |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Phase 1: Outgoing Phase (12 - 24 Months) |
| Location: Non-Associated Third Country (e.g., USA, Japan, Australia) |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
│
▼
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Phase 2: Mandatory Return Phase (12 Months) |
| Location: EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
The dual structure encourages efficient research transfer and seamless knowledge transfer across border lines. It elevates global collaboration and relies on guidance from an outgoing host supervisor during the foreign stage. Through dual hosting, candidates secure accelerated global career development while enjoying a fully supported international research fellowship.
American University Global Leader Scholarship in USA (Fully Funded)
Eligibility Criteria and 8-Year PhD Rule
To qualify for funding, candidates must possess a formal PhD degree or have successfully passed their doctoral defence before the application cutoff. Applicants must have no more than 8 years of full-time equivalent research experience measured from the date of their doctoral award. However, formal deductions are granted for documented career breaks, including maternity leave, paternity leave, long-term sick leave, or mandatory military service.
Time spent in non-research employment is automatically excluded from the 8-year calculation. Additionally, researchers taking the third country research exclusion route can deduct research years spent in non-associated third countries if they are European nationals reintegrating into Europe. All eligibility conditions are calculated strictly against the official call deadline set for 8 September 2027.
PhD Award Date ───► [ Max 8 Years Research Experience ] ───► Call Deadline (8 Sep 2027)
│
├── DEDUCT: Maternity / Paternity Leave
├── DEDUCT: Long-term Sick Leave / Military Service
└── DEDUCT: Non-Research Roles & Third-Country Work (Reintegration)
Every applicant acts as a principal investigator on their proposed project and must present clear researcher qualification evidence. Providing a copy of your formal degree certificate or proof of doctoral qualification date is required during submission. Those applying under the career restart panel undergo specialised eligibility verification. Note that proposals scoring under the 80 per cent resubmission rule threshold in previous calls face strict submission limits.
Strategic Mobility Rule and Country Restrictions
A fundamental pillar of MSCA funding is the strict mobility rule, requiring candidates not to have resided in the host country for more than 12 months in 36 months prior to the deadline. This calculation accounts for both host country residency and the candidate’s primary main activity during that period. The restriction applies directly to the country of the primary country of the beneficiary or foreign outgoing host.
Exceeding the main residence threshold in the target nation results in immediate disqualification. Evaluators closely examine your work or study location records to verify full compliance with this international mobility condition. Financial allowances are further adjusted using a specific country coefficient to match local living expenses.
Understanding this location adjustment helps candidates choose suitable destinations while managing their immigration status. Prior study abroad experience or short visits generally do not breach rules if they remain under threshold limits. Ensuring full compliance with every host country restriction relies on accurate residency verification and strict adherence to compliance rules. This maintains fairness for all international researchers operating inside the mobility window across any host institution eligibility category, whether in an associated country status territory or a third-country rules zone.
Oregon State University Scholarship in USA | Fully Funded
Financial Package and Living Allowances Breakdown
The financial support provided under the MSCA programme is among the most competitive in global higher education funding. It features a substantial living allowance combined with a mandatory mobility allowance to cover relocation costs. Fellows with dependents receive an additional family allowance, alongside potential coverage for long-term leave allowance or a special needs allowance.
| Allowance Category | Recipient | Coverage / Purpose |
| Living Allowance | Fellow | Base monthly gross salary (adjusted by country coefficient) |
| Mobility Allowance | Fellow | Travel, accommodation, and personal relocation expenses |
| Family Allowance | Fellow (if eligible) | Support for married fellows or those with dependent children |
| Research & Training Costs | Host Institution | Lab fees, conference travel, open-access publishing, training |
| Management & Overhead | Host Institution | Indirect administrative costs and institutional support |
The basic monthly gross salary is multiplied by the designated country correction coefficient of the host country. Institutional funding also covers research management and training costs, ensuring complete financial backing for lab work and field studies. Host institutions receive dedicated funding for institutional costs and general indirect costs to support administration.
The overall project budget forms part of the total grant allocation managed via standardised unit costs. Every fellow signs an official employment contract that includes full social security contributions and comprehensive health insurance. This structure guarantees a secure net monthly allowance and covers all research overheads, creating a fully funded fellowship that covers institutional overhead.
Non-Academic Placement and Career Secondments
To bridge the gap between academic research and industry, fellows can opt for an additional non-academic sector placement. This extension provides up to a 6-month placement period at the end of the standard fellowship duration. During this time, researchers complete an industry secondment within a commercial firm, startup, or multinational corporation.
Eligible hosting entities include a commercial enterprise, innovative SMEs, university spin-off companies, or organisations in civil society. Engaging with non-governmental organisations promotes inter-sectoral mobility and expands real-world exposure. Taking advantage of an end-of-fellowship placement significantly enhances career diversification.
Standard Fellowship (12–24 Months) ──► Optional Non-Academic Placement (Up to 6 Months)
[ Academic / Fundamental Research ] [ Industry / SME / Applied Secondment ]
Fellows develop valuable transferable skills while fostering long-term industry collaboration and driving technology transfer. Working directly on applied research projects alongside an enterprise host or an experienced non-academic mentor provides rich industry immersion. This dual exposure elevates practical research application and expands future career prospects in both academia and the private sector.
Oxford Pershing Square Graduate Scholarship in UK (Fully Funded)
Application Submission Process and Proposal Writing
All applications must be prepared jointly by the researcher and host, then submitted through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. The proposal structure consists of administrative forms in proposal part A, followed by detailed narrative descriptions in proposal part B1 and proposal part B2. Submissions are evaluated against three core criteria: the excellence criterion, impact criterion, and implementation criterion.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| MSCA PROPOSAL SUBMISSION STRUCTURE |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| PART A: Administrative Forms & Host Information (EU Portal) |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| PART B1: Core Narrative (Max 10 Pages) |
| ├── 1. Excellence (50% Weight) |
| ├── 2. Impact (30% Weight) |
| └── 3. Quality & Efficiency of Implementation (20% Weight) |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| PART B2: Researcher CV, Host Capacity, & Security/Ethics Document |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
To secure funding, proposals must exceed a high evaluation threshold on the official scoring rubric. Submissions must be finalised before the strict submission deadline using the portal’s electronic submission service. Establishing a formal host agreement early with your primary project supervisor is critical for success.
Every proposal must complete a detailed ethics self-assessment and demonstrate alignment with the host’s gender equality plan. Adhering to the EU open science policy is mandatory throughout the peer review evaluation process. Mark your calendar for the official call opening date on 7 April 2027, and ensure your host registers their valid participant identification code PIC well ahead of time.
Frequently Asked Questions (Latest Google People Also Ask)
What is the maximum research experience allowed for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027?
Applicants must have a maximum of eight years of full-time research experience after receiving their PhD degree. Deductions are granted for career breaks, maternity or paternity leave, long-term illness, and time spent outside research or working in third countries for European reintegration.
How does the MSCA mobility rule work for European Fellowships?
You cannot have lived, worked, or studied in the host country for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding the September 8, 2027, application deadline. Short trips or scientific conferences do not breach this requirement.
What is the total budget and duration for Global Fellowships under Horizon Europe?
Global Fellowships fund projects lasting between 24 and 36 months, which includes an outgoing phase of 12 to 24 months in a non-associated third country and a mandatory 12-month return phase in Europe. The overall 2027 call budget is approximately €388.57 million.
Can non-academic organisations like businesses or SMEs host an MSCA fellow?
Yes, non-academic entities such as private companies, SMEs, government bodies, and non-profit research organisations can act as primary hosts or offer optional 6-month career secondment placements at the end of the fellowship.
Conclusion
Securing an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027 grant under Horizon Europe is a transformative milestone for any ambitious researcher. By leveraging fully funded scholarship options, flexible international mobility pathways, and valuable industry placements, scholars can advance ground-breaking research while developing diverse, high-impact careers. Start building your partnership with a European host university today to prepare a winning application ahead of the 8 September 2027 deadline.
Official Scholarship & University Resources
Official MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027 Portal: European Commission MSCA Call Page (Deadline: September 8, 2027 – Currently Open / Pre-announced)
Official EU Funding & Tenders Portal Application System: EU Funding & Tenders Portal (Opening Date: April 7, 2027 | Deadline: September 8, 2027)
Official Horizon Europe Work Programme & Guidelines: Horizon Europe Reference Documents (Ongoing Resource Portal)