The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships target researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. PFs help researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines, and non-academic sectors.

There are two types of Postdoctoral Fellowship

  1. European Postdoctoral Fellowships. They are open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world to pursue their research career. These fellowships take place in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and can last between 1 and 2 years. Researchers of any nationality can apply.
  2. Global Postdoctoral Fellowships. They fund the mobility of researchers outside Europe. The fellowship lasts between 2 to 3 years, of which the first 1 to 2 years will be spent in a non-associated Third Country, followed by a mandatory return phase of 1 year to an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Only nationals or long-term residents of the EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply.

Both types of fellowships may also include short-term secondments anywhere in the world and could also include an optional 6-month placement in a non-academic organisation at the end of the standard fellowship.

Who can apply?

Researchers who:

  • Have completed a PhD or will complete it at the date of the call deadline (11th September 2024)
  • Must have a maximum of eight years’ experience in research, from the date of the award of their PhD degree, years of experience outside research and career breaks will not count towards the above maximum, nor will years of experience in research in third countries, for nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries who wish to reintegrate to Europe.
  • should comply with mobility rules: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the beneficiary (for European Postdoctoral Fellowships), or the host organisation for the outgoing phase (for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline.

What is funded?

The EU provides support for the recruited researcher in the form of

  • a living allowance.
  • a mobility allowance.
  • if applicable, family, long-term leave, and special needs allowances

In addition, funding is provided for,

  • research, training and networking activities.
  • management and indirect costs

University of support timeline

The following timeline will be implemented for all MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships applications to allow the University and Bid Support to allocate the required resources to support applications to this scheme.

Please note that applications to this scheme require considerable time commitment from the UoB supervisors, fellow applicants, and Bid Support.

Anything outside of these timescales cannot be supported.

  • Tuesday 10th April 2023: Planned call opening date.
  • Tuesday 7th May 20224: Confirmation of University of Brighton (UoB) supervisor and external MSCA Fellow applicant.
    • Email bid support to confirm your intention to develop a MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships application.
    • Bid support will start the UoB bid submission and UoB supervisor will be requested to complete an Intention to Develop form.
    • Meeting will be arranged with approved UoB supervisor and external MSCA Fellow applicant to discuss the application and provide support.
  • Week beginning Monday 1st July 2024: University of Brighton Peer review will take place.
    • Bid support will require a draft completed application form, exact dates will be confirmed with applicant and UoB supervisor.
  • Wednesday 4th September 2024 13.00 UK time: University of Brighton Internal approval deadline. Bid support will require a final version of the application.
  • Wednesday 11th September 2024 17.00 Brussels time/16.00 UK time: HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01-01 submission call deadline

More info on the Horizon Europe MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship programme can be found here. 

The call information can be found here

UKRO is the UK National Contact Point for the all Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions calls and provides information and advice relating to participation in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). They will be hosting a series of MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) more information can be found here and here