Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) is a prestigious European Union funding program supporting researcher mobility, training, and career development. It aims to foster excellence in research across Europe by encouraging international, interdisciplinary, and inter-sectoral collaboration. MSCA funds a variety of projects including doctoral training, postdoctoral fellowships, staff exchanges, and science outreach. It promotes gender balance, diversity, and inclusiveness in science. The program supports researchers at all career stages, from PhD candidates to experienced researchers. MSCA also engages the public with science through activities like European Researchers’ Night. Overall, it strengthens Europe’s global leadership in research and innovation.
Benefits of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Provides funding for research salaries, training, and mobility costs
- Supports career development and international collaboration
- Encourages gender balance, diversity, and inclusion in research
- Promotes science engagement activities such as European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at Schools
- Enhances networking opportunities across sectors and borders
- Enables hosting institutions to participate in a prestigious European research framework
Financial Coverage
- Salary and living allowance for researchers
- Research, training, and networking costs
- Travel and mobility expenses
- Overhead and administrative costs for participating organizations
- Support for science engagement events and activities
Eligibility criteria for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Organizations must be based in EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries
- Individual researchers must meet mobility rules (typically no residence/work in host country for more than 12 months in last 3 years)
- Postdoctoral candidates require a PhD or equivalent research experience
- Research projects must fit the scope of the selected MSCA action
- Activities should promote gender balance and inclusiveness
Also check EMBO Short-Term Fellowships
Required Documents
- Completed proposal forms and templates from the Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal
- Detailed research project description and work plan
- CV(s) and track record of participating researcher(s)
- Letters of support or commitment from host organization(s) and partners
- Budget breakdown and justification
- Ethics self-assessment and gender equality plan (if applicable)
Application process for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Identify the most suitable MSCA funding scheme for your research or organisation.
- Find and connect with potential partners or host institutions using MSCA Matchmaking platforms or EURAXESS.
- Register your organization in the Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal and obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC).
- Review all official documents such as Guide for Applicants, Work Programme, templates, and FAQs.
- Draft your proposal collaboratively with partners, using the Electronic Submission Service for submission.
- Submit your proposal early before the deadline to avoid last-minute issues.
- After submission, proposals are checked for eligibility, then evaluated by external experts.
- Results are communicated via the Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal.
- Successful applicants enter into grant agreements with the EU to start their projects.
Application Deadline
The 2025 MSCA calls open on 17 June 2025 and close on 22 October 2025, 17:00 CEST.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Organizations from higher education, research institutions, museums, science communication companies, public authorities, and other socio-economic sectors in EU Member States and associated countries can apply.
You can find partners using the MSCA Matchmaking platform and the Partner Search function on the Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal.
Researchers must meet specific career stage and mobility rules defined by the call, typically requiring them to move to a different country than their current or previous residence.
Register your organization on the Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal to obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC), then submit your proposal electronically via the portal’s submission system.
MSCA National Contact Points provide guidance, and webinars, online manuals, and workshops are available through the Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal and Euraxess.
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For more scholarship opportunities please visit International Scholarships.
