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For many students with monetary barriers, earning scholarships or fellowships has proven to be very helpful for them to get far in their studies. Now, while the two types of awards are different from one another, they provide great assistance for needy students to achieve their dreams.
And, that’s what exactly Marie Curie Scholarship and Fellowship aims for. Especially targeted at women, the programme strives to help increase their number in the nuclear field and, eventually, inspire and encourage them to enter the workforce. Even better, it is available for international female students!
So, to shed more light on Marie Curie Scholarship and Fellowship, we have rounded up several frequently asked questions and attempted to answer them. Keep reading to know more.
List of FAQs on Marie Curie Scholarship and Fellowship
Below, we present thorough answers to some of the most frequently asked questions on Marie Curie Scholarship and Fellowship. Let’s dive right into it now.
What is a Marie Curie Scholarship and Fellowship?
The Marie Curie Scholarship and Fellowship, also known as Marie Curie PhD Grant, is offered by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), a research support group created by the European Union (EU).
The grant offers well-remunerated scholarship and fellowship opportunities at top research facilities across Europe. Also, it provides excellent exposure to working in both academic and non-academic sectors.
Besides funding, the programme encourages communication, dissemination, and public engagement to facilitate independent thinking and leadership qualities. Every researcher goes through a series of training, seminars and workshops directed towards widening their research competencies.
At its core, the Marie Curie Scholarship and Fellowship aims to provide the following:
- Allow researchers to have exposure to both academic and non-academic areas
- Develop research experience and employable skills transferable across industries and sectors
- Empower researchers to respond to current and future challenges in their field
- Take multidisciplinary approaches to individual research and innovation
- Translate theoretical knowledge into tangible products and services
Ultimately, the mission is to have researchers move from being academically centred to being better prepared for employability in the public and private sectors.
What are the types of Marie Curie Scholarship and Fellowship?
There are 2 types of awards:
- European Postdoctoral Fellowships: They are open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world to pursue their research careers. These fellowships take place in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and can last between 1 and 2 years. Researchers of any nationality can apply.
- Global Postdoctoral Fellowships: They fund the mobility of researchers outside Europe. The fellowship lasts between 2 to 3 years, of which the first 1 to 2 years will be spent in a non-associated Third Country, followed by a mandatory return phase of 1 year to an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Only nationals or long-term residents of the EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply.
Both types of fellowships may also include short-term secondments anywhere in the world during the fellowship (except during the return phase of a Global Fellowship).
To build bridges between the academic and non-academic sectors, researchers can receive additional support to carry out the placement of up to 6 months in a non-academic organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. This placement needs to take place at the end of their fellowship.
For Postdoctoral Fellowships in research areas covered by the Euratom Research and Training Programme, researchers need to be nationals or long-term residents of an EU Member State or a Euratom Associated Country. The beneficiary organisation recruiting the researcher also needs to be established in an EU Member State or Euratom Associated Country.
How much does it pay?
The EU provides support for the recruited researcher in the form of:
- A living allowance
- A mobility allowance
- If applicable, family, long-term leave and special needs allowances
In addition, funding is provided for:
- Research, training and networking activities
- Management and indirect costs
Successful candidates will receive 5,150 euros per month gross (depending on the host country) plus 600 euros of mobility allowance and (if applicable) 600 euros of family allowance. On the other hand, host institutions will also receive funds for research, training, networking, management and indirect costs.
Aside from receiving financial aid, successful candidates will also earn several helpful benefits, including:
- Career development programmes.
- Networking chances.
- Public engagement opportunities.
Who can apply for the award?
Interested researchers submit an application together with a host organisation, which can be a university, research institution, business, SME or other organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.
In fact, all disciplines are eligible for the fellowship. Researchers interested in the fellowship must:
- Have a PhD degree at the time of the deadline for applications. Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be considered eligible to apply.
- Have a maximum of eight years of experience in research, from the date of the award of their PhD degree, years of experience outside research and career breaks will not count towards the above maximum, nor will years of experience in research in third countries, for nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries who wish to reintegrate to Europe.
- Comply with mobility rules. They must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the beneficiary (for European Postdoctoral Fellowships), or the host organisation for the outgoing phase (for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline.
You’ll need to submit the following documents to apply:
- Certificate of language proficiency, if required by the particular discipline.
- Cover letter explaining why your candidature is the best fit for that project.
- CV showcasing previous work experience and publications.
- Letter of recommendation or two contact references.
- Relevant master degree or an equivalent qualification that demonstrates your suitability to undertake a doctoral degree.
- Transcript of grades.
Why should I apply for it?
The Marie Curie Scholarship and Fellowship allows you to promote your work in front of the public, raising awareness about the research you have done. This not only gets the word out but also allows people to understand the impact of your research on society.
Through its public engagement forums, you can publicise your work. Public engagement forums can take the form of conferences, presentations at schools and universities and participation in research festivals.
One such noteworthy event is the European Researchers’ Night (NIGHT) which is held in September all across Europe. The event is organised to encourage young minds to take an interest in academia and pursue a successful career in it.
How competitive is the Marie Curie Scholarship and Fellowship?
The success rate of the MSCA fellowships is 11% to 18%, although this varies according to panels. We’ll get to the part on how you can increase your odds later.
How do I apply for the programme?
If you are an experienced researcher interested in carrying out a research project, you can apply for this. You will need to develop an application jointly with your chosen host organisation and submit it to an open funding call.
Below you will find the basic steps you should follow throughout the process:
- Find out which type of award is suitable for your project.
- Check carefully the requirements to make sure you are eligible to apply.
- Find a host organisation.
- Get familiar with the application process and the required documents and forms.
- Get further guidance on participation through the National Contact Point in your country.
How can I get the award?
To receive the funding, you can either:
- Apply as an organisation: you can submit a proposal to an open funding call on behalf of your organisation or a consortium.
- Apply as an individual: you can develop and submit a proposal to an open funding call jointly with your host organisation.
