Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions
EU flagship mobility and training program for researchers at all career stages, offering fellowships, doctoral networks, staff exchanges, and co-funding of regional programs.
Overview
Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) is the European Union's primary programme for supporting researchers at all career stages through mobility, training, and knowledge exchange. Part of Horizon Europe with a budget of over EUR 6.6 billion for 2021-2027, MSCA funds four key schemes: Postdoctoral Fellowships (individual mobility grants for postdoctoral researchers), Doctoral Networks (structured doctoral training programs co-organised by research and innovation organisations), Staff Exchanges (short-term secondments between organisations), and COFUND (co-funding of regional/national fellowship and doctoral programs). MSCA supports both European and non-European researchers with a strong mobility requirement.
What You Can Find Here
- MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - individual grants for postdocs to move to a new country for 12-24 months
- MSCA Doctoral Networks - funded positions in structured PhD programs across European and international partners
- MSCA Staff Exchanges - short-term secondments (1-12 months) between academic and non-academic organizations
- COFUND - co-funding of national/regional fellowship programs applying MSCA principles
- MSCA and Citizens - science education and public engagement activities
Who Should Use This
- Postdoctoral researchers wanting to move to a new country for career development (Postdoctoral Fellowships)
- Researchers looking for PhD positions with funding across European networks (Doctoral Networks)
- Academic and non-academic organisations wanting to offer staff mobility and exchange (Staff Exchanges)
- Universities, research institutes, and companies seeking to build international training networks
How to Get Started
- Step 1: Visit ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions or the MSCA section on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal
- Step 2: For Postdoctoral Fellowships: find a host supervisor in Europe (European Fellowships) or internationally (Global Fellowships) and develop a joint research proposal
- Step 3: For Doctoral Networks: search for open PhD positions in existing MSCA Doctoral Networks through the EURAXESS portal
- Step 4: For Staff Exchanges: your organisation applies as part of a consortium proposing secondment activities
- Step 5: Submit applications through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal (ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders)
Things to Check Before Applying
- MSCA has a strict trans-national mobility rule - researchers cannot apply to go to a country where they have spent more than 12 months in the last 3 years
- Postdoctoral Fellowships are highly competitive (success rate around 10-15%) - a strong research proposal and experienced supervisor are essential
- Doctoral Network positions are advertised individually - search EURAXESS for available positions rather than applying to the network as a whole
- MSCA support rates and allowances include living and mobility allowances plus a family allowance for researchers with dependants
Frequently Asked Questions
Can non-European researchers apply for MSCA?
Yes. MSCA is open to researchers of any nationality. Non-European researchers can apply for European Fellowships (hosted in Europe) or Global Fellowships (outgoing phase abroad, return phase in Europe).
What is the difference between a European Fellowship and a Global Fellowship?
European Fellowships are hosted entirely at a European institution for 12-24 months. Global Fellowships have an outgoing phase (12-24 months) at a non-EU institution followed by a mandatory return phase (12 months) at a European host.
How do I find a supervisor for an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship?
Browse university faculty pages, EURAXESS, and ResearchGate. Many universities have MSCA mentoring schemes. Contacting potential supervisors directly and proposing a collaboration is the most effective approach.
What funding does MSCA provide?
MSCA living allowance is around EUR 4,320/month (country-adjusted). There is also a mobility allowance, and for those with families a family allowance. The host institution also receives a research and training allowance and an institutional allowance.
When is the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship call deadline?
The annual MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship call typically opens in April and closes in September each year under Horizon Europe.
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