MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027
Write the proposal with a host. The 2026 call closed on 9 September 2026; the 2027 call is pencilled in for 7 April – 8 September 2027. Scores below 80% restrict resubmission; Seal of Excellence from 85%.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
3 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
Postdoctoral Fellowship checker
For researchers writing a proposal with a host. The 2026 call is closed, so use this to plan for the 2027 call. Planning tool only.
- 1PhD awarded or successfully defended by the call deadline?
- 2Eight-year research-experience cap respected after official exceptions?
- 3Mobility rule met for European host or Global outgoing country?
- 4If Global PF: EU/Associated national or long-term resident? (European PF: Yes)
- 5Not blocked by the resubmission rule introduced in 2026 (prior score was not below 80%)?
European vs Global
Postdoctoral Fellowships support researchers who already hold a PhD and want to carry out research abroad, gain new skills, and move between countries, disciplines, and sectors. The official Postdoctoral Fellowships page was last updated on 30 September 2026.
Move within Europe or come to Europe from anywhere. Host in an EU Member State or Associated Country. Duration 12–24 months (the action page also says 1–2 years). Any nationality.
Outgoing phase of 12–24 months in a non-associated third country, then a mandatory 12-month return to an organisation in an EU Member State or Associated Country. Total 2–3 years. Only EU/Associated nationals or long-term residents.
Secondments, placements, Euratom
Both types may include short-term secondments anywhere in the world during the fellowship, except during the Global return phase. Researchers can also receive support for a placement of up to six months in a non-academic organisation in an EU Member State or Associated Country, at the end of the fellowship.
For research areas covered by the Euratom Research and Training Programme, researchers and the recruiting beneficiary must be established in an EU Member State or Euratom Associated Country, and the researcher must be a national or long-term resident of one of those countries.
2026 call status and the 2027 window
Deadlines →PF 2026 opened 9 April 2026 and closed 9 September 2026, 17:00 CEST. It drew a record 21,627 applications (20,131 European, 1,496 Global), up 26.7% on 2025. The budget was raised on 1 October 2026 from EUR 399.05 million to EUR 434.05 million. Results are expected in mid-February 2027, grant agreements in April–May 2027 and first projects from April 2027.
How competitive is it? In the 2025 call, 1,610 of 16,836 eligible proposals were funded, a 9.6% success rate. Our rough estimate for 2026 is about 8%, because applications rose faster than the budget. This is an estimate, not an official figure.
The official PF 2027 call page (HORIZON-MSCA-2027-PF-01) lists an opening on 7 April 2027, a deadline on 8 September 2027 and a budget of EUR 388.57 million (raised to EUR 459.70 million in the amended Work Programme), with results in February 2028, grant agreements in April 2028 and first projects in May 2028. Every one of those dates is still marked TBC — confirm on the call page before you treat them as final. MSCA says it could support more than 1,800 postdoctoral researchers. It is part of the last MSCA funding opportunities under Horizon Europe 2021–27.
From 2026, resubmission restrictions apply if the previous application scored below 80%. Seals of Excellence are awarded at a total score of 85% or more when budget, not quality, blocks funding.
How you actually apply
Develop the proposal with a host (university, research organisation, business, SME, or other eligible organisation) in an EU Member State or Associated Country. The host submits on the Funding & Tenders Portal. Find hosts via your network, EURAXESS hosting offers, and Partner Search. Use REA’s 8-year guidelines and self-assessment tool. Official walkthrough: 6 steps to prepare your application.