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The Marie Curie fellowship most researchers mean is the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship, run under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) of Horizon Europe. It funds researchers who already hold a PhD to work abroad on a project of their own, for 1 to 3 years depending on the type. This page is about that EU research programme, not the UK Marie Curie charity for end-of-life care. Everything below is as described on the official MSCA pages on 29 October 2026.
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Suggested question: “Is the Marie Curie fellowship the same as MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships?”
What it is and who runs it
The action is part of the European Commission’s MSCA programme, with the European Research Executive Agency (REA) as the implementing agency. Its stated purpose is to let researchers with a PhD work abroad, gain new skills and advance their careers. It covers all research disciplines, including the Euratom areas, which carry their own nationality and establishment requirements. The wider programme is covered in our Horizon Europe overview,.
European versus Global fellowships
There are two types, and choosing between them is the first decision. The table restates the official description.
| Feature | European Postdoctoral Fellowship | Global Postdoctoral Fellowship |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 1 to 2 years | 2 to 3 years |
| Where the work happens | An EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country | First 1 to 2 years in a non-associated third country, then a mandatory 1-year return phase at an organisation in an EU Member State or Associated Country |
| Who can apply by nationality | Any nationality | Only nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Associated Countries |
| Mobility rule applies to | The beneficiary’s country | The country of the host organisation for the outgoing phase |
Eligibility
The official page sets three tests that applicants most often misread.
The PhD requirement
You must hold a PhD by the call deadline. A researcher who has defended the thesis but whose degree has not yet been formally awarded is also considered.
The 8-year experience limit
Applicants may have a maximum of 8 years of research experience, counted from the date the PhD was awarded. The official page states that years spent outside research, career breaks, and research carried out in third countries by EU or associated-country nationals who are reintegrating do not count towards the 8 years. The MSCA site also offers an 8-year research experience guide and a self-assessment tool, which are the right place to settle a borderline case.
The mobility rule
You must not have resided or carried out your main activity for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline in the country of the beneficiary (European fellowships) or of the host organisation for the outgoing phase (Global fellowships).
What it funds
The official page lists these funding components: a living allowance, a mobility allowance, and, where applicable, family, long-term leave and special needs allowances, plus research, training and networking costs and management and indirect costs. Unit amounts are set in the MSCA Work Programme and the Guide for Applicants, so take figures from the current call documents rather than from a summary. Fellowships can also include optional short secondments and a non-academic placement of up to 6 months at the end.
How to apply
The MSCA how-to-apply page gives this sequence.
- Choose the fellowship type.
- Check your eligibility against the 8-year guide and self-assessment tool.
- Find a host organisation; the MSCA site points to EURAXESS for this.
- Prepare the application with your host; the host’s research office can help.
- Contact your National Contact Point (see Horizon Europe National Contact Points).
- Submit through the Electronic Submission Service of the Funding and Tenders Portal, as early as possible before the deadline. The host submits on the researcher’s behalf.
Calls carry identifiers of the form HORIZON-MSCA-2026-PF-01-01. The official key documents are the Guide for Applicants, the MSCA Work Programme and its annexes, the proposal templates, the Model Grant Agreements, the Horizon Online manual and the portal FAQs. For writing the proposal itself, see our guide to the Excellence, Impact and Implementation sections.
Typical timeline phases
The official pages describe the order of events but give no durations, so none are stated here. After the call deadline, REA checks eligibility, then external experts evaluate the eligible proposals. The applicant receives an acknowledgement-of-receipt email per submission, and an email when results are ready, which can then be viewed in the applicant’s “My area”. Successful applicants are invited to sign a grant agreement with the EU.
Scoring, Seal of Excellence and resubmission
A proposal scoring 85% or higher earns a Seal of Excellence when no budget is available to fund it. This quality label can open doors to national and regional schemes; see our Seal of Excellence guide. From 2026, resubmission restrictions apply to applications that scored below 80% the previous year, so a weak first attempt has a cost the next year.
Common mistakes
- Counting the 8 years from the wrong date. The clock runs from the PhD award, and the official exclusions apply (career breaks and time outside research are not counted).
- Treating the mobility rule as a nationality question. It concerns where you have lived and worked in the 36 months before the deadline.
- Applying for a Global fellowship without meeting the nationality or long-term residence condition.
- Leaving the portal submission to the last day. The official guidance says to submit as early as possible.
- Resubmitting after a score below 80% without checking the new restriction.
Related programs
| Programme | Level and scope |
|---|---|
| MSCA Doctoral Networks | EU, training for doctoral candidates; compared with the postdoctoral action in MSCA actions comparison |
| MSCA Staff Exchanges and COFUND | EU, other MSCA actions, also in the comparison above |
| DFG Walter Benjamin Programme | Germany, national |
| NWO Rubicon grant | Netherlands, national |
FAQ
Is the Marie Curie fellowship the same as MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships?
In common usage, yes. “Marie Curie” refers to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and the postdoctoral fellowship is the action most people mean by a Marie Curie fellowship.
Who submits the application?
The host organisation submits on the researcher’s behalf through the Funding and Tenders Portal.
Does the fellowship cover non-academic work?
Fellowships can include a non-academic placement of up to 6 months at the end, as described on the official page.
What happens if my proposal scores well but is not funded?
A score of 85% or higher earns a Seal of Excellence when no budget is available.
Can I apply if I finished my PhD more than 8 years ago?
Possibly, because career breaks and time outside research are not counted. Use the official self-assessment tool to check.
Sources
- MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships, European Commission (page last updated 30 September 2026; checked 29 October 2026).
- MSCA: how to apply, European Commission (checked 29 October 2026).
- Horizon Europe MSCA, European Research Executive Agency (checked 29 October 2026).
