The new call for the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA PF) HORIZON-MSCA-2026-PF-01 will be launched by the European Commission on 9 April 2026, with a submission deadline of 9 September 2026.
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships support researchers wishing to enhance their careers through international mobility, advanced training and excellent research opportunities across Europe and beyond.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for MSCA PF, applicants must:
- Hold a PhD degree at the time of the call deadline (candidates who have successfully defended their thesis but have not yet formally received the degree are also eligible);
- Have a maximum of 8 years of research experience from the date of the award of their PhD degree;
- Comply with the mobility rule: for European Postdoctoral Fellowships, applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host country for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline.
Below you can find several initiatives and events designed to support potential MSCA PF applicants.
MSCA MaRaThoN@University of Padua
The 10th edition of MSCA MaRaThoN – Master your Research and Training Needs will take place from 20–22 May 2026.
This interactive training programme is designed for top researchers planning to submit an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship proposal with the University of Padua as their host institution. The course focuses on practical guidance for writing a competitive proposal.
- Application deadline: 9 March 2026, 1:00 p.m. CET (16:00 Yerevan time)
- Selected participants will have travel and accommodation costs covered.
More information:
https://www.unipd.it/en/msca-marathon26
Researchers who obtain a Seal of Excellence (≥85/100) but are not funded may apply for alternative funding under the MSCA Seal of Excellence@University of Padua scheme:
http://www.unipd.it/en/msca-seal-excellence
For inquiries: mariecurie.marathon@unipd.it
RADIANCE Project Online Info Session
On 27 April 2026, the RADIANCE Project will organise a 90-minute online event for potential MSCA PF applicants, with a special focus on opportunities in Widening Countries.
The session will include:
- A short overview of MSCA PF and ERA Fellowships;
- Presentations on national Seal of Excellence schemes;
- Insights into research landscapes in Malta, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Bulgaria.
🔗 Registration link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfoL0oaTXZeqnRpwqP9CabyfiSGX8nYQ995QAGlnfy3l0u_DA/viewform
(The meeting link will be shared with registered participants.)
MSCA Support at the University of Jaén
The University of Jaén welcomes postdoctoral researchers intending to apply for the 2026 MSCA PF call with UJA as their host institution.
MSCA PF fellows benefit from:
- A full-time contract,
- Highly competitive salary,
- Advanced research and training opportunities.
Further information for interested applicants:
https://www.ujaen.es/servicios/ofipi/faqs/how-can-i-find-marie-sklodowska-curie-postdoctoral-fellowship-proposal-supervisor-university
MSCA Master Class at UCLouvain
UCLouvain (Belgium) invites postdoctoral researchers worldwide to apply for MSCA European Postdoctoral Fellowships with UCLouvain as their future host institution.
UCLouvain is organising an online Master Class on 21–22 May 2026, aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of MSCA-PF proposals.
To register for the Master Class 2026 please e-mail your CV and the name of your (future) UCLouvain supervisor to sara.wilmet@uclouvain.be by the 17 April 2026. Your eligibility for the MSCA-PF project will be verified after which you will receive an email confirming your registration. You will receive more detailed information after registering for the Master Class. Please find the enclosed complete list of foreseen research institutes, supervisors and/or referents, and e-mail addresses. The referents listed in the table will help you to find the supervisor best suited to your profile.
Before contacting a referent, please check your eligibility for an MSCA-PF action with Mrs Sara Wilmet Sara.wilmet@uclouvain.be
For all questions related to these opportunities, you may contact the MSCA National Contact Point in Armenia, Anahit Khachikyan, at: anip@sci.am.
