We actively support proposals and welcome postdoctoral researchers under the prestigeous Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA PF), previously known as Individual Fellowships (MSCA IF). The grants are provided by the European Commission in the framework of the research programme Horizon Europe for 2021-2027.
- 2024 call is NOW OPEN!
- deadline for applications: 11 September 2024
Why MSCA PF at UCT Prague?
It is an outstanding opportunity for you to:
- advance your career in research, under the guidance of an internationally recognised UCT-based supervisor (check the list of UCT Prague departments and research groups to find the right match for you and do not hesitate to contact us)
- get qualified support with the preparation and implementation of your project, underpinned by our rich experience with EU-funded projects, including MSCA
- substantially increase your chances to implement the MSCA proposal thanks to national funding schemes for proposals with high evaluation scores (> 70%)
Thanks to additional sources of funding available in the Czech Republic, 64% of submitted UCT Prague proposals received funding in 2022 and 2023.
Success rates
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MSCA (Horizon) |
National funding (OP) |
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min. score for funding |
93 % |
70 % |
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% of proposals |
15 % |
80 % |
What is it about?
The MSCA PF is an individual research project, in any area of research, prepared by the postdoctoral researcher in cooperation with the supervisor based at the host institution.
The aim is to support creativity, innovativeness and new skills through advanced training and international, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral mobility.
Watch video about MSCA PF.
Applicants wishing to apply with UCT Prague as the host institution prepare a European PF, lasting 12-24 months.
Two types of fellowships and key features
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European PF |
in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country |
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postdocs of any nationality |
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12 – 24 months |
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Global PF |
from EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country to other (third) countries |
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only EU nationals or long-term residents |
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24 – 36 months followed by 12-month return phase in Europe |
Key features
- individual research projet
- free choice of research topic
- creativity and innovativeness
- training through research, incl. transferable skills
- guidance of experienced supervisor and a two-way exchange of knowledge
- international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary mobility
- focus on career perspectives, in or outside academia
- optional secondment in another institution and/or a non-academic placement
- employment contract with the host institution
- fixed budget per month (unit cost) covering salary (living, mobility and family allowance), research, training and networking cost and management cost for the host institution
Who can apply?
Researchers of any nationality meeting the below eligibility conditions may apply for the fellowship at UCT Prague:
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PhD degree |
obtained by 11 September 2024 (PhD thesis successfully defended) |
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Max. 8 years from PhD award |
PhD degree received after 11 September 2016 The period may be extended by periods of maternity or paternity leave, compulsory national service, long-term sick leave or work outside research, details in Guidelines and tool. |
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Mobility rule |
cannot have resided in the Czech Republic for more than 12 months since 11 September 2021 (= in the 36 month immediately prior to the call deadline) |
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Resubmisson rule |
proposals involving the same host organisation and individual researcher submitted for the MSCA PF 2023 call and having received a score of less than 70% must not be resubmitted in 2024 |
For detailed definition of the eligibility criteria, please see Work Programme (point 2.3) and Guide for Applicants (point 2).
- Documents proving the eligibility of candidates applying for incoming fellowship with UCT Prague must be provided by email to anna.konecka@vscht.cz by 17 May 2024 (see Supporting documents below)
Supporting documents
| Eligibility criterion |
Supporting documents |
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PhD degree
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PhD diploma (scan). Replaced by an official confirmation by the Faculty/University of the successful PhD thesis defence in case of a pending diploma award. |
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Maximum 8 years from PhD |
In case your (first) PhD degree was awarded before 11 September 2016, scans of evidence justifying the extension (translated in English), incl. exact dates (of e.g. maternity leave, compulsory national service, long-term sickness etc.). Postdoctoral Fellowships Self-assessment tool for the calculation of the 8-years research experience |
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Mobility rule |
Please provide a list of exact dates of the periods + countries in which you have legally resided and/or had your main activity (work, studies, etc) during the last 5 years up until 11 September 2024. Short stays (as defined in the Guide for Applicants) shall not be included. |
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Family allowance |
Scans of documents such as marriage or birth certificate, with translation in English if possible |
When to apply?
The deadline for applications is 11 September 2024.
For incoming fellowships, full support will be provided only to applicants complying with the below timetable.
Outgoing candidates need to follow instructions of their future host institution.
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Date |
Step |
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17 May (at the latest) |
Eligibility check Supervisor CV |
Provide supporting documents (by email) linked to all eligibility criteria Approval of the Supervisor to host you Provide CV, idealy in the template format |
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Online seminars for accepted UCT Prague candidates – 3 complementary sessions:
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Register by email to anna.konecka@vscht.cz; only accepted eligible candidates will be invited (supported documents and correct CV provided on time) |
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29 May |
Online seminar 1
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How to build a project proposal (research objectives, work packages, work plan) Tips on developing your CV to gain the evaluator |
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5 June |
Online seminar 2
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All you need to know to prepare a quality proposal with focus on Part B1: decoding template instructions, examples and tips< |
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19 June |
Online seminar 3
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All remaining parts of the project proposal explained; guidance on online Part A and submission technicalities |
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19 June |
Part B 1.1 + CV |
First draft of research objectives and CV |
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1 August |
Part B1 + B2 drafted |
Full draft of Part B provided for check and review by the Supervisor/Project Centre, tips on improvement (first come – first served) |
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23 August |
Part A completed |
Project proposal created on the Funding Portal, Part A completed for check by the Project Centre |
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9 September |
Proposal submission |
Submission via EU Portal (ahead for technical reasons; updates possible up until 11 September 17:00 CET) |
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11 September 17:00 CET |
CALL DEADLINE |
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February 2025 |
Notification of call results to applicants |
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March – May 2025 |
Grant agreement preparation for successful projects |
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Summer / Autumn 2025 |
Projects selected for funding by MSCA PF start |
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May 2025 |
Projects not selected for MSCA PF funding, but reaching required evaluation score (70 % tbc) apply for national funding scheme (OP JAK) |
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end 2025 / early 2026 |
Projects funded by national scheme (OP JAK) start |
Key documents
- MSCA PF application form (28 March 2024) – proposal template with instructions = KEY DOCUMENT, get familiar with its entire text is a MUST!
- CV template
- MSCA Work Programme 2023-2025 – p. 117-125, p. 122 (Award criteria)
- MSCA PF Guide for Applicants (19 April 2024) - eligibility, definitions
- Guidelines on the calculation of 8-years research experience
- Self-assessment tool for the calculation of the 8-years research experience
- MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships Handbook - information valid also for 2024 call
- MSCA Guidelines on Supervision
- MSCA PF Green Charter
Useful links
- Funding Portal of European Commission – 2024 call details
- MSCA website, video
- MSCA evaluation criteria - video by Technology Centre Prague
- CORDIS – database of previously supported projects
Support to your application
The UCT Prague Project Centre will assit you with:
- eligibility check
- guidance on call rules and proposal drafting
- proposal creation and submission via the Funding Portal
- administrative check of the proposal (Part A)
- proof-reading and feedback to draft proposal
The sooner you contact us, the more we can do for you!
Contact
Project Centre
Ms Anna Konecká
b Anna.Konecka@vscht.cz
e(00420) 220 444 403
Ms Karolína Friessová
e(00420) 220 443 210
PIC number
999867853 is the "Participant Identification Code" of UCT Prague at the EU Funding and Tenders Portal, to be inserted in your project proposal.