Application process

Eligibility criteria for MSCA-PF applicants

• Researchers of any nationality;
• Applicants need to have obtained a doctoral degree by the deadline of the MSCA-PF call 2026 (9 September 2026), and have a maximum of eight years full-time equivalent experience in research, measured from the date that the researcher defended the doctoral degree and certified by appropriate documents;
• For European Fellowships: Applicants may not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host institution for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before the call deadline.
• For Global Fellowships: Applicants may not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organisation for the outgoing phase

Important dates

• 1 May 2026: deadline for contacting your supervisor to begin proposal preparations.
• 9 April 2026: launch of the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship call.
• 17 August 2026: the latest deadline for contacting the Grant Office if you need assistance with the Gantt chart, proofreading, etc.
• 9 September 2026 – deadline for submitting proposals
• April 2027 – grant agreement signature for successful project

Should any questions arise while preparing the proposal, please contact your supervisor and/or the MSCA contact at the University of Tartu Grant Office, Laura Tomson ([email protected]).

Guidelines for this process can be found in the MSCA-PF Handbook