Horizon Europe – Marie Skłodowska-Curie ActionsMSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships
The goal of MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships is to enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD and who wish to acquire new skills through advanced training, international, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral mobility. Postdoctoral Fellowships either can take place in Europe, i.e. in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country, (European Postdoctoral Felllowship) or in a Third Country not associated to Horizon Europe (Global Postdoctoral Fellowship).
Dates & Events
Table
| What? | When? |
|---|
| What? | When? | |
|---|---|---|
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 | 9 April 2025 to 10 September 2025 |
European Fellowships (EF)
Postdoctoral Fellowships in an EU Member State (MS) or Horizon Europe Associated Country (AC).
- Eligibility: Researchers holding a PhD, with a maximum of 8 years from the date of the award of their PhD.
- Duration: 12 to 24 months; proposals may include an additional period of up to 6 months ("placement period") at a non-academic sector organisation established in an MS or AC.
- Funding conditions: All areas of research may be funded. For the postdoctoral researcher a living allowance, a mobility allowance and, if applicable, family, long-term leave and special needs allowances are provided. In addition, the EU provides funding for research, training and networking activities as well as management and indirect costs. During the fellowship, short-term secondments of the researcher anywhere in the world are possible.
- Mobility rules: The researcher must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the recruiting institution for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.
Global Fellowships (GF)
Postdoctoral Fellowships in a non-associated Third Country with a return phase in MS / AC.
- Eligibility: See European Fellowships above. In addition, researchers must be nationals or long-term residents of MS or AC.
- Duration: Outgoing phase of 12 to 24 months in a non-associated Third Country; mandatory 12-month return phase in MS / AC; proposals may include an additional period of up to 6 months ("placement period") at a non-academic sector organisation established in an MS or AC.
- Funding conditions: See European Fellowships above. However, secondments cannot take place during the return phase of a Global Postdoctoral Fellowship.
- Mobility rules: See European Fellowships above.
Information & Counselling
Research Support
The Heidelberg Research Service team is happy to advise and assist you in the application process for an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship.
KoWi (European Liaison Office of the German Research Organisations) and the German NCP MSC (National Contact Point regarding MSCA) also offer information and advice on the Marie-Skłodowska-Curie-Actions within Horizon Europe..
Information on Heidelberg University relevant for application
To apply for an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship, certain general information on Heidelberg University is required. You can access this via the following link.
Find Hosting
At EURAXESS you will find hosting offers (expressions of Interest) from research institutions interested in supporting your application to the MSCA Individual Fellowships Calls, as well as offers from institutions which dispose of research infrastructures and wish/are able to make them available to researchers.