The 2025 call for the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships is open as of 8 May 2025. The call will close on 10 September 2025 and is expected to fund nearly 1650 projects.
The grants aim to improve the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD, with a budget of €404.3 million. They will help researchers acquire new skills, develop their careers, and gain international, interdisciplinary, and inter-sectoral experience by working in another country.
These prestigious fellowships are also a stepping stone in researchers’ careers. They allow them to strengthen research cooperation with leading scientific teams and figures worldwide.
If you are considering applying for Postdoctoral Fellowships, here are some useful tips and guidance to start preparing your proposal.
Step 1: Get familiar with how funding works
Have a look at the Postdoctoral Fellowships page and key resources for an introduction to the scheme’s characteristics and opportunities.
Consult the MSCA Work Programme and annexes for all details about the call conditions.
Step 2: Make sure you can apply
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to postdoctoral researchers from all over the world that
hold a PhD degree on the closing date for applications. Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree are also eligible to apply
have a maximum of eight years of experience in research from the date of the award of the PhD degree – the following experience will not be counted towards this maximum
years of experience outside research and career breaks
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
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
Some exceptions and specific conditions apply.
Have a look at the following resources to verify your eligibility
The European Research Executive Agency (REA) publishes a series of essential resources for any applicant
The guide for Applicants is the best starting point for any researcher interested in the scheme
A specific guide will help you avoid the most common mistakes in Postdoctoral Fellowships proposals
To check your research experience, REA has prepared a Self-assessment tooland guidelines on the calculation of 8-years research experience in Postdoctoral Fellowships under Horizon Europe
Proposal templates, evaluation guidelines used by experts and many other resources
The RADIANCE project, run by MSCA National Contact Points, offers unofficial complementary resources to support applicants
Library (handbooks, and other guidance documents)
The Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal also offers a set of Frequently Asked Questions
If you are still uncertain about your eligibility, MSCA National Contact Points can help you go through the criteria and, in some cases, do a pre-submission check of your application.
Step 3: Find a host organisation and supervisor
Organisations from all socioeconomic sectors in any country can host an MSCA postdoctoral fellow – although conditions differ depending on the modality you are applying to. This includes
higher education institutions
research centres and infrastructures
private sector organisations, including industry, businesses, and small and medium-sized enterprises
public sector organisations, including national, regional, and local governments, agencies, and museums
certain international organisations, bodies and research institutions
other organisations such as NGOs, foundations, charities, etc.
Organisations based in third countries that are not associated to the Horizon Europe programme can host researchers for Global Fellowships and for short-term secondments (see specific conditions in the MSCA Work Programme). If you are not sure whether a country is associated to Horizon Europe, have a look at the list of participating countries to Horizon Europe.
As of January 2025, Switzerland benefits from transitional arrangements in place for countries in the process of associating to Horizon Europe. Swiss entities can therefore apply and be evaluated under this year’s call under the same conditions as other countries associated to Horizon Europe. Successful proposals will however no longer be treated as established in an associated country if the association agreement does not apply by the time of the signature of the grant agreement. Other countries currently benefiting from transitional arrangements include Morocco and Egypt.
If you do not yet have a host organisation in mind or are still looking for a secondment or a placement host, the following resources may help you find your match
Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal (see “Partner Search Announcements”)
If you are looking for a non-academic host or seeking advice for research-business collaboration, reach out to the European Enterprise Network’s contact points.
If you are applying for a standard European Fellowship with a host from a Widening Country, you will have the opportunity to opt in to the 2025 ERA Fellowships call when submitting your proposal. Around 45 ERA Fellowships should be awarded to excellent applicants who were not selected under the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships call, due to budget constraints.
Access the list of eligible host countries under ERA Fellowships
Step 4: Start drafting your application
To draft a successful application, you will need to work together with your supervisor in your future host organisation and stick to the award criteria.
Here are some useful resources for drafting your application and understand how it will be assessed
Award Criteria and budget structure (MSCA Work Programme, p.95)
Application form (coming soon on the Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 call page)
The Horizon Europe Programme Guide offers more guidance on specific aspects evaluated under the award criteria such as
Sustainability: in line with the green objectives of the European Union, projects are strongly encouraged to adopt sustainable practices in line with the MSCA Green Charter and report on their efforts in that direction. Read useful tips and guidance to increase the sustainability of projects.
You can also attend dedicated webinars, matchmaking events, bootcamps and hands-on workshops to help you prepare your application. MSCA National Contact Points and Euraxess organise webinars regularly. Contact them to find out the next sessions planned.
Your future host organisation may also have dedicated training.
Step 5: Check your application with the experts
Your supervisor and your host organisation are your first contact points, but if you want to receive feedback on your draft and get advice from former applicants and experts you can also reach out to
the MSCA National Contact Point in your future host country
the Marie Curie Alumni Association has an active network of former awardees ready to help you in the drafting of your proposal. The association also organises regular training for future applicants
some host organisations may also have resources to verify your application
Step 6: Submit your application
The Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 call for applications opened on 8 May 2025 and will close on 10 September 2025, 17.00, CEST.
During this period, you can prepare and submit your application and learn more about the submission process on the call page on the Funding and Tenders Opportunities Portal and through the portal’s online manual.
To avoid last-minute problems, submit your proposal as early as possible before the deadline expires . You can update, download, or withdraw your proposal up until the deadline.
The European Research Executive Agency’s website provides an overview of the evaluation process on.
The evaluation process takes approximately 5 months and the results should therefore be announced in the course of February 2026.