17,058 applications for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships: "highest number ever" (European Commission)

The fifth Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships call closed on 10/09/2025 with a record 17,058 proposals submitted, up 64.6% from 2024, marking the highest number ever in 40 years of EU framework programmes, announces the European Commission on 11/09/2025.

With approximately €404.3 M earmarked for the initiative, around 1,650 top proposals will secure funding:

• European Fellowships: 15,820 proposals,
• Global Fellowships: 1,238 proposals.

The winners will be notified around mid-February 2026, and the first projects will begin in April of the same year.

47.8% of applications for Global Fellowships come from the United States, 14.5% from Canada and 9.4% from Australia. In EU Member States and countries associated with Horizon Europe, 21% of applications come from the United Kingdom, followed by Spain (11.5%) and Italy (9.5%).

"Submissions came from organisations across Europe and associated countries, plus researchers planning stints at top global institutions. The impressive response underlines the global reach of the programme and Europe’s standing as a leading…