What are MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships?
MSCA PF are included in the EU’s Horizon Europe framework programme. The grant funding is aimed at early-career researchers who want to conduct a research project together with a supervisor to develop their skills and to strengthen their careers.
The grant is valid for up to two years (three years for global projects), and there are two types:
- European Fellowships – for research within Europe.
- Global Fellowships – for research outside Europe, with a return phase at a European host organisation.
For potential applicants
You can apply for MSCA PF if you
- have completed your doctorate no later than the close of the call;
- have a maximum of eight years of research experience after completing your doctoral dissertation; and
- meet the mobility rule: you may not have lived or been active in the host country (i.e. Sweden if you want to apply with Umeå University as the host organisation) for more than 12 of the last 36 months before the application deadline.
Getting started:
- Find a supervisor at the host department where you want to conduct the project.
- Design the project idea together with your supervisor.
- Use the European Commission’s application guide:
Postdoctoral Fellowships call: 6 steps to prepare your application (marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu) - Explore MSCA-NET for access to guides, templates and other resources that can help your application along (msca-net.eu)
If you would like to serve as a supervisor
As a supervisor, you can help an international postdoctoral fellow conduct their project at Umeå University. This is a way to both strengthen the research environment and build new collaborations.
Getting started:
- Inform international postdoctoral researchers (or doctoral students close to graduation) that you are in contact with about the opportunity.
- Use MSCA’s matchmaking platform to find interested candidates and discuss project ideas.
- Read MSCA’s guidelines on supervision, with recommendations for both individual supervisors and departments.
- Start early – you and your candidate complete the application together.
Do you need support in the application process?
Help is available with everything from planning to structuring your application at the Research Support and Collaboration Office. They offer
- seminars on the call’s requirements and tips for writing a successful application (held each spring);
- templates, handbooks and other resources to help you prepare; and
- individual feedback on the draft application.
Contact the Research Support and Collaboration Office at rso@umu.se.
