HomeโบScholarshipsโบEuropean Union (Multiple Member States and Associated Countries)
๐ช๐บ
Marie Skลodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
by European Commission ยท Any recognized university, research institution, or private company in the EU or Horizon Europe Associated Countries
๐ Fully Funded๐ด Active / Annual Call Cycle๐ Doctoral (DN), Postdoctoral (PF), and Staff Exchange (SE)๐ European Union (Multiple Member States and Associated Countries)๐ Fellowship / Research Grant
Doctoral (DN), Postdoctoral (PF), and Staff Exchange (SE)
Acceptance
13% to 14% for Postdoctoral Fellowships
Difficulty
Very High
โจ Should I Apply for Marie Skลodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
75%
Eligibility Match
16%
Win Probability
9/10
Difficulty
10/10
Reward Score
60โ80 hrs
Time Required
Approximately 11% - 15% depending on the specific call and year
Competition
๐ Overview
๐ฐ
Award Amount
Varies by country; includes a base living allowance (~โฌ3,400 for PhD, ~โฌ5,080 for Postdoc) adjusted by country correction coefficients, plus mobility and family allowances.
Approximately 8,000 to 10,000 researchers are funded annually across all MSCA actions
๐
Study Country
European Union (Multiple Member States and Associated Countries)
๐๏ธ
Provider
European Commission
๐
Acceptance
13% to 14% for Postdoctoral Fellowships
The Marie Skลodowska-Curie Actions are the European Union's flagship funding program for doctoral education and postdoctoral training of researchers. It promotes international, interdisciplinary, and inter-sectoral mobility to enhance research careers and strengthen European research capacity.
๐ฅ Who Should Apply
Open to all nationalities. Doctoral candidates must not have a PhD; Postdoctoral candidates must have a PhD and max 8 years full-time research experience.
๐๏ธ Host University
Any recognized university, research institution, or private company in the EU or Horizon Europe Associated Countries
๐ค Sponsor
European Research Executive Agency (REA) under the European Commission
๐ฌ Fields of Study
All research fields (Bottom-up approach including Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Humanities, and Social Sciences)
โจ Key Benefits
Provides a highly competitive salary, mobility allowance, and family allowance (if applicable), alongside funding for research expenses and institutional overhead.
๐ฏ Target Students
International Researchers, Doctoral Students, and Postdoctoral Scholars
Approximately 8,000+ for Postdoctoral Fellowships; 1,000+ consortia for Doctoral Networks
Applicants Last Year
Approximately 1,200 for Postdoctoral Fellowships per year
Winners
13% to 14% for Postdoctoral Fellowships
Acceptance Rate
Approximately 11% - 15% depending on the specific call and year
Competition Level
Win Probability
16%
Match Score
75%
Competition
50%
๐ธ Funding Breakdown
Tuition
Yes (Training and networking costs for the researcher are covered by the grant)
Living Stipend
Yes (Monthly living allowance provided to the researcher)
Total Award
Varies by country; includes
โ๏ธ Travel: Yes (Mobility allowance of approximately โฌ600 per month is provided)๐ Accommodation: No (Expected to be covered by the mobility and living allowances)๐ Health Insurance: Yes (Social security and health insurance are mandatory components of the employment contract)๐ Renewable: No๐ณ App Fee: Free
๐ Tuition Coverage
Yes (Training and networking costs for the researcher are covered by the grant)
๐ Living Stipend
Yes (Monthly living allowance provided to the researcher)
๐ก Accommodation
No (Expected to be covered by the mobility and living allowances)
โ๏ธ Travel Allowance
Yes (Mobility allowance of approximately โฌ600 per month is provided)
๐ Health Insurance
Yes (Social security and health insurance are mandatory components of the employment contract)
๐ Other Benefits
Family allowance, long-term leave allowance, special needs allowance, and institutional research/training/networking costs.
๐ Renewable
No
๐ Renewal Conditions
Not applicable; fixed-term contracts based on the grant agreement
โ Eligibility Requirements
๐ Eligible Nationalities
Researchers of any nationality; must comply with the mobility rule (must not have lived/worked in the host country for more than 12 months in the last 36 months).
๐ Academic Level
Doctoral (DN), Postdoctoral (PF), and Staff Exchange (SE)
๐ Minimum GPA
Varies (Emphasis is placed on research excellence and publication record rather than undergraduate GPA)
๐ฃ๏ธ English Requirement
High proficiency required (C1/C2 equivalent); specific test scores depend on the host institution's requirements
๐ผ Work Experience
Doctoral (None required); Postdoctoral (Maximum 8 years of research experience after PhD award)
๐ Leadership
Required for Postdoctoral Fellowships (demonstrated through research independence or project management)
๐ฐ Financial Need
No
๐ฏ Target Students
International Researchers, Doctoral Students, and Postdoctoral Scholars
๐ Application Requirements
Essay / SOP
Yes (Extensive Research Proposal including Excellence, Impact, and Implementation sections)
Rec Letters
Yes (Usually 2-3 letters are required during the host institution's recruitment phase)
Interview
Yes (Standard for Doctoral Networks and host-level selection for Postdocs)
Application Fee
Free
Documents Required
Academic Transcripts
Passport / National ID
Yes (Usually 2-3 letters are required during the host institution's recruitment phase) Recommendation Letters
CV / Resume
Personal Statement / Essays
High proficiency required (C1/C2 equivalent); specific test scores depend on the host institution's requirements
Interview: Yes (Standard for Doctoral Networks and host-level selection for Postdocs)
Min GPA: Varies (Emphasis is placed on research excellence and publication record rather than undergraduate GPA)
๐ Application Process
Align the proposal with the European Commission's policy goals. Focus heavily on 'Impact' and 'Transfer of Knowledge' between the fellow and the host.
๐ก Insider Tip: Choose a host supervisor with a strong track record. Ensure the mobility rule is strictly followed to avoid automatic disqualification.
๐บ๏ธ Application Roadmap
1
Research eligibility and gather requirements
Start Early
2
Collect all required documents
Start Early
3
Request recommendation letters early
4
Write compelling essays and personal statement
โ High Risk Stage
5
Submit complete application before deadline
6
Await shortlisting and attend interview if required
โ High Risk Stage
๐ Key Dates & Timeline
๐ Opens
Varies by action; generally opens 4-5 months before the deadline
Open to all nationalities. Doctoral candidates must not have a PhD; Postdoctoral candidates must have a PhD and max 8 years full-time research experience.
This scholarship covers: Provides a highly competitive salary, mobility allowance, and family allowance (if applicable), alongside funding for research expenses and institutional overhead.. It is a fully funded scholarship.
The deadline is Varies: Postdoctoral Fellowships (typically Sept), Doctoral Networks (typically Nov), Staff Exchanges (typically Feb). Always verify with the official website as dates may change annually.
Competition level: Approximately 11% - 15% depending on the specific call and year. Acceptance rate: 13% to 14% for Postdoctoral Fellowships. Strong academic record and clear motivation are essential.
No
Typically required: academic transcripts, passport, High proficiency required (C1/C2 equivalent); specific test scores depend on the host institution's requirements, Yes (Usually 2-3 letters are required during the host institution's recruitment phase) recommendation letters, CV, personal statement/motivation letter. Check official website for the complete list.