MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026: Rules, Eligibility, and Key Dates
The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 call is one of the largest individual researcher funding opportunities in Europe. Launched on 9 April 2026 with an indicative budget of EUR 399.05 million, the call targets postdoctoral researchers worldwide who want to advance their careers through international mobility and advanced training (MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 announcement). The deadline for submitting proposals is 9 September 2026, and the call is expected to fund nearly 1,600 projects across all scientific fields. Whether you are a researcher looking for your next step or a research administrator supporting a prospective fellow, understanding the call's structure, eligibility rules, and financial framework is essential before you invest time in a proposal.
Administered by the European Research Executive Agency (REA) under Horizon Europe's Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), these fellowships operate on a joint application model: the researcher and the host organisation submit together. This partnership approach means research administrators at prospective host institutions play an active role in shaping the proposal, well before submission.
What Are the Two Types of MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships in 2026?
The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 call offers two distinct fellowship types — European Postdoctoral Fellowships and Global Postdoctoral Fellowships — each designed for a different mobility scenario and with different eligibility rules for researchers. European Fellowships take place in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and are open to researchers of any nationality; Global Fellowships fund mobility to a non-associated third country followed by a mandatory return to Europe, and are open only to EU or associated country nationals or long-term residents (MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 call details).
The table below summarises the key differences between the two fellowship types.
| Feature | European Postdoctoral Fellowship | Global Postdoctoral Fellowship |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality eligibility | Any nationality | EU Member State or Associated Country nationals or long-term residents only |
| Where the fellowship takes place | EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country | Outgoing phase: non-associated third country; Return phase: EU Member State or Associated Country |
| Duration | 12–24 months | 12–24 months (outgoing) + mandatory 12 months (return) = 2–3 years total |
| Mobility rule applies to | Country of the host organisation | Country of the outgoing phase host organisation |
| Optional non-academic placement | Yes — up to 6 months at the end of the fellowship, in a non-academic organisation in Europe | Not applicable |
European Postdoctoral Fellowships
European Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to researchers of any nationality who wish to carry out a research and innovation project in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country. Researchers can either come to Europe from anywhere in the world or move between European countries. The standard duration is between 12 and 24 months (MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships overview). Host organisations can be universities, research institutions, companies, SMEs, hospitals, NGOs, government bodies, or any other legal entity based in an EU Member State or associated country.
An additional option available in the 2026 call is a six-month placement in a non-academic organisation in Europe at the end of the European Fellowship, giving researchers structured exposure to the private or public sector without requiring a separate application (MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 announcement).
Global Postdoctoral Fellowships
Global Postdoctoral Fellowships are open exclusively to nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Note that some exceptions and specific conditions apply for Global Fellowships, as flagged by the official MSCA source (MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 announcement). They fund an outgoing phase of between 12 and 24 months at a host organisation in a non-associated third country, followed by a mandatory 12-month return phase to an organisation based in an EU Member State or associated country. The total fellowship duration therefore ranges from 2 to 3 years.
The administrative complexity of managing two distinct host organisations across different jurisdictions — the outgoing host in a third country and the return host in Europe — is one of the most time-sensitive challenges in preparing a Global Fellowship application. Establishing both partnerships early is strongly advisable.
Who Is Eligible to Apply for the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026?
Eligibility for the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 is governed by three core conditions: the doctoral degree requirement, the research experience ceiling, and the mobility rule. All three must be met on the call closing date of 9 September 2026.
- PhD requirement: Applicants must hold a PhD degree by the closing date. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet received the formal degree certificate are also eligible to apply (MSCA six steps to prepare your application).
- Research experience ceiling: Applicants must have a maximum of eight years of research experience from the date of their PhD award. Career breaks and periods outside research are excluded from this count. Additionally, for nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries who wish to reintegrate to Europe, years of research experience gained in third countries are also excluded from the eight-year calculation (MSCA six steps to prepare your application).
- Mobility rule: Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, or equivalent) in the country of the host organisation for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline. For Global Fellowships, this rule applies to the outgoing phase host country (MSCA six steps to prepare your application).
Specific eligibility conditions also apply for Euratom research areas covered by the Euratom Research and Training Programme 2026–2027. Researchers intending to work in those fields should consult the MSCA six steps to prepare your application and check the relevant annexes of the MSCA Work Programme 2026–2027 for specific provisions.
The scheme is also explicitly open to researchers wishing to reintegrate in Europe, to those displaced by conflict, and to researchers seeking to restart their careers in research — reflecting the European Commission's broader ambition to attract and retain international talent under its Choose Europe initiative.
How Is the Fellowship Funded and What Financial Conditions Apply?
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships use a unit cost funding model — a fixed-rate system in which the grant amount is calculated from pre-set daily rates multiplied by country-specific correction coefficients, rather than from reimbursement of actual salary costs. The financial framework is set by the Horizon Europe authorising decision and administered through the Funding & Tenders Portal.
For calls with an opening date as of 30 July 2024 onwards — which includes the 2026 call — the base daily rate for personnel unit costs is EUR 8,745.40 / 18 days (i.e. EUR 485.86 per day), multiplied by the country-specific correction coefficient for the country where the beneficiary is established (HE AGA, Article 1.1, p.66). The correction coefficients are published in the Horizon Europe Work Programme under the MSCA section in force at the time of the call. This means the actual monthly living allowance a fellow receives depends on the host country, and researchers comparing offers across different European countries should factor in these coefficients when evaluating financial attractiveness.
A practical implication: if your institution is established in a country with a lower correction coefficient, your fellowship budget will be lower in absolute terms than an equivalent fellowship hosted in a higher-coefficient country, even though the underlying rate structure is identical. This is by design — the correction coefficients are intended to reflect purchasing power differences across Europe.
The 2026 call's total indicative budget of EUR 399.05 million and the expected approximately 1,600 funded projects together imply an average grant value in the range of approximately EUR 249,000 per project — this is an approximate editorial calculation derived by dividing the total budget by the expected project count, and is not an official figure. Actual amounts vary significantly by fellowship type, duration, and host country coefficient (MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 announcement). All financial details for the 2026 call are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal call page.
In addition to the living allowance daily rate, the total fellowship budget also includes a mobility allowance and, where applicable, a family allowance — both calculated as separate unit cost components. Host organisations and researchers estimating total fellowship costs should consult the unit cost tables in the MSCA Work Programme 2026–2027 for the applicable rates for all three components.
Are fellowship costs for non-employees eligible as personnel costs?
Host organisations sometimes ask whether a fellowship arrangement — where the researcher does not hold a standard employment contract — can be charged as personnel costs under the grant. The Horizon Europe Annotated Grant Agreement clarifies that costs for persons under fellowships, scholarships, or stipend agreements can be accepted as personnel costs, provided the agreement is work-oriented (not training-oriented), the assignment of tasks and remuneration comply with applicable national law, and the recipient has the necessary qualifications (HE AGA, Article 6.2.A.3, p.61). Host institutions should verify their national employment and tax law requirements before deciding on the contractual structure for the incoming fellow.
What Researcher Rights and Recruitment Standards Must Host Organisations Meet?
Host organisations accepting an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellow take on binding obligations under the Grant Agreement relating to recruitment, working conditions, and career development. These obligations are not merely aspirational — the granting authority verifies compliance during monitoring, checks, reviews, audits, and investigations (HE AGA, Article 44, p.346).
Specifically, beneficiaries must take all measures to implement the principles set out in Annex II to the Council Recommendation C/2023/1640 of 18 December 2023 on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe — commonly referred to as the European Charter for Researchers (HE AGA, Article 44, p.346). This is a best-effort obligation: institutions must be proactive and document the steps they take.
For recruitment, the Charter principles require that host organisations:
- Advertise all research vacancies publicly, including on the EURAXESS Jobs Portal, and publish vacancy announcements in English
- Include clear job descriptions, requirements, and selection criteria in vacancy announcements
- Allow an appropriate time period between publication and application deadline
- Establish clear rules for the composition of selection panels, including gender balance
- Provide adequate feedback to unsuccessful applicants and maintain a complaint mechanism
- Ensure selection criteria value mobility, qualifications, and experience obtained in non-standard ways (HE AGA, Article 44, p.346)
These principles apply even to selection procedures that do not result in a formal employment relationship — meaning the MSCA fellowship award process itself must comply (HE AGA, Article 44, p.346). Institutions pursuing the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) award are well-positioned to demonstrate systematic compliance, though HRS4R certification is not a formal requirement for hosting MSCA fellows.
Beyond recruitment, host organisations must ensure researchers have adequate working conditions, research freedom, appropriate social security coverage, and access to career development. The Charter covers postdoctoral appointments explicitly (HE AGA, Article 44, p.346), and record-keeping of compliance steps is strongly advised under Article 20.
How Are MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship Proposals Evaluated?
Proposals submitted under the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 call are assessed against the three standard Horizon Europe award criteria: Excellence, Impact, and Quality and efficiency of the implementation. These criteria apply to all Horizon Europe calls, including MSCA actions, as set out in the Horizon Europe framework. Applicants should consult General Annex D of the Horizon Europe Work Programme and the Guide for Applicants for the specific aspects evaluated under each criterion for the Postdoctoral Fellowships action.
Understanding how proposals are scored against these three criteria is essential for competitive preparation. A strong proposal must not only demonstrate scientific excellence but also articulate a credible impact pathway and show that the implementation plan — including the fellow's training, supervision, and dissemination activities — is coherent and achievable within the proposed timeline and budget.
What Is the 2026 Call Timeline and How Should You Prepare?
The indicative timeline for the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 call is as follows (MSCA 2026 call page):
| Milestone | Indicative Date |
|---|---|
| Call launch | 9 April 2026 |
| Proposal submission deadline | 9 September 2026 |
| Notification of results to applicants | February 2027 |
| Grant agreement signature | April 2027 |
| First EU-funded projects start | May 2027 |
The five-month window between call launch and submission deadline sounds generous, but in practice it is tight. Researchers and host organisations must jointly develop the research plan, secure supervisor commitment, complete institutional registration in the Funding & Tenders Portal, and finalise the proposal's scientific, financial, and ethics components before the 9 September deadline. Many applicants find that the actual drafting window shrinks significantly once host organisation approvals, legal representative sign-offs, and ethics self-assessments are factored in.
The REA publishes a Guide for Applicants (available via the REA MSCA How to Apply page) which is the single most important reference document for proposal preparation. The Guide for Applicants covers the proposal template structure, the specific sections of the application form (Part B), and the evaluation thresholds applicable to the 2026 call. Applicants should download and read the Guide for Applicants for the 2026 call — not the 2025 version — as unit cost tables, evaluation thresholds, and template requirements can change between calls.
What Should Host Organisations Do Before the September 2026 Deadline?
If your institution is supporting an incoming MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship applicant for the 2026 call, the following steps are the most operationally critical before the 9 September 2026 deadline.
Verify institutional registration and PIC number
Your organisation must be registered in the Funding & Tenders Portal and hold a valid Participant Identification Code (PIC). If your institution has never participated in a Horizon Europe action, begin the registration process as early as possible — the legal entity validation process through the Central Validation Service can take longer than expected, particularly for non-academic organisations or first-time applicants from non-EU countries acting as outgoing hosts for Global Fellowships.
Check your country correction coefficient before the researcher commits
Before a researcher formally selects your institution as host, share the applicable country correction coefficient from the MSCA Work Programme 2026–2027. A researcher moving from a high-coefficient country to a lower-coefficient host should make this decision with full financial transparency. For Global Fellowships involving a third-country outgoing phase, confirm that the third country organisation is eligible and willing to act as outgoing host — outgoing host organisations in non-associated third countries do not receive direct EU grant payments under the standard Global Fellowship structure (MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 call details).
Document your recruitment process from the outset
Even before the grant agreement is signed, begin keeping records of how the fellowship position was advertised, how the candidate was selected, and what feedback mechanisms exist. The European Charter for Researchers obligation is a best-effort requirement but it is verifiable (HE AGA, Article 44, p.346). If an audit or review occurs during the project, the institution must be able to demonstrate proactive steps — not just point to a policy document. Posting the vacancy on EURAXESS, documenting the selection panel composition, and recording that feedback was offered to any competing applicants are all concrete, low-cost steps that satisfy this obligation.
Plan the six-month non-academic placement if relevant
If the researcher intends to use the optional six-month non-academic placement at the end of a European Fellowship, the prospective placement organisation must be identified and described in the proposal. Leaving this as a vague intention in the application significantly weakens the proposal's Impact section. The Guide for Applicants (available via the REA MSCA How to Apply page) sets out what information about the placement organisation must be included in the application form; coordinators should encourage early identification of a concrete non-academic partner and confirm their commitment before submission.
Conclusion
The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 call represents a EUR 399.05 million investment in individual researcher mobility, with an expected 1,600 fellowships funded across all scientific fields (MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 announcement). The call runs from 9 April to 9 September 2026, with results expected in February 2027 and first projects starting from May 2027. Proposals are evaluated against the Horizon Europe award criteria of Excellence, Impact, and Quality and efficiency of the implementation. Both researchers and host organisations carry distinct responsibilities: researchers must satisfy the PhD, experience ceiling, and mobility eligibility rules, while host organisations must meet Charter for Researchers obligations on recruitment transparency, working conditions, and career development — obligations that are binding under the Horizon Europe Grant Agreement and subject to audit (HE AGA, Article 44, p.346).
Between submission in September 2026 and grant agreement signature in April 2027, REA evaluators will assess proposals against the three award criteria, ranked proposals will be communicated to applicants in February 2027, and successful consortia will need to complete grant preparation steps before agreements are signed. The MSCA six-step application guide and the REA's Guide for Applicants remain the authoritative practical references for navigating the 2026 call from first enquiry to proposal submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the deadline for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026?
The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 call opened on 9 April 2026, and the submission deadline is 9 September 2026. Results are expected to be communicated to applicants in February 2027, with grant agreements anticipated in April 2027 and the first projects starting from May 2027, according to the MSCA 2026 call page (marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/node/1495).
What is the maximum research experience allowed for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship applicants?
Applicants must have a maximum of eight years of research experience from the date of their PhD award on the call closing date. Career breaks and years outside research are excluded from this eight-year calculation. For nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries who wish to reintegrate to Europe, years of research experience in third countries are also excluded, per the MSCA six steps to prepare your application (marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/postdoctoral-fellowships/6-steps-to-prepare-your-application-postdoctoral-fellowships-call).
What is the difference between a European and a Global MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship?
European Postdoctoral Fellowships last 12–24 months and take place in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country — open to researchers of any nationality. Global Postdoctoral Fellowships last 2–3 years total: 12–24 months at a non-associated third-country host, followed by a mandatory 12-month return phase to Europe, and are only open to EU or associated country nationals or long-term residents. Note that some exceptions and specific conditions apply for Global Fellowships, as indicated by the official MSCA 2026 call announcement.
What is the total budget for the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 call?
The indicative budget for the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 call is EUR 399.05 million, according to the official MSCA 2026 call announcement published on 9 April 2026 (marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/node/1575). The call is expected to fund approximately 1,600 projects across all scientific fields, including Euratom research areas.
Do host organisations have legal obligations under an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship grant?
Yes. Host organisations (beneficiaries) must implement the principles of the European Charter for Researchers under the Horizon Europe Grant Agreement, covering transparent and merit-based recruitment, adequate working conditions, and career development support. This is a best-effort but verifiable obligation — the granting authority checks compliance during monitoring, reviews, and audits, and institutions should keep documentation of the steps taken, as required by HE AGA Article 44 (p.346).
