Marie Curie - Individual Fellowships (IF)

* Update 29 June 2021*

• There are no calls left that can be applied for under the Horizon 2020 programme.
• The next EU calls that can be applied for is under the next EU framework programme Horizon Europe (2021-2027).
• The MSCA Individual Fellowships scheme under Horizon 2020 is now called MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships under Horizon Europe.
• The 2021-2022 MSCA Work Programme is now published. The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 Call is now open with a deadline of 12 October 2021.
• EC has confirmed that the UK will be able to take part in the first Horizon Europe calls, before UK association is signed. This includes the MSCA calls.
• For further information on the next EU framework programme and UK participation, please consult our Horizon Europe page.

**

Individual Fellowships (IFs) are fellowships for experienced researchers (ERs).

ERs are researchers who at the IF call deadline either have a PhD or 4 years’ research experience.
Research experience is counted from the date the ER obtained the degree that would let them start work on a doctorate (eg master’s degree).

The aims of IFs are to:

• enhance the creative and innovative potential of ERs
• add to/diversify the knowledge and skills of ERs
• provide ERs with a period of international mobility
• provide both research and transferable skills training
• facilitate a two-way exchange of knowledge between the ER and their host organisation(s).

The application can be based on any area of research apart from some atomic energy research that is covered by the EUROTOM Treaty.

There are two types of MSCA IF that can be applied for:

• European Fellowship
• Global Fellowship

The next and final IF call deadline is 9 September 2020. The call is now open.

Please note that the terms of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement allow continued UK participation in Horizon 2020 including the Marie Curie IF call (as if a Member State) until the end of the programme (2020). For more information please consult our Brexit: Impact on EU Research Funding.

This page also provides information on:

• How to apply
• Reimbursement rates (budget)
• Evaluation, threshold and success rates
• Why you should apply to Marie Curie IF
• Support Available

European Fellowship (EF)

EFs last for between 12 and 24 months (up to 36 months for Career Restart). They are hosted by a research organisation in an EU Member State or Associated Country. The host organisation provides the ER with a contract of employment for the duration of the project and a supervisor.

There are three types of panels under EF that can be applied for with the University of Leeds as a host institution. Click the drop-down links below to find out which panel you or your potential candidate (e.g. if you are a potential supervisor) can apply for:

Global Fellowship (GF)

GFs have an outgoing phase in a Third Country. A Third Country is any country that is not an EU Member State or Associated Country. The outgoing phase lasts between 12 and 24 months.

The outgoing phase is followed by a mandatory 12 month return phase in an EU Member State or Associated Country. The return phase hosts provide the ER with a contract of employment for the duration of the project. The return host supervisor has overall responsibility for the project. A supervisor is also required at the outgoing host organisation.

• ERs must be a national of an EU Member State or Associated Country or have been a long-term resident of an EU Member State or Associated Country. (A long-term resident is a researcher who has spent a period of at least five consecutive years in one or more EU Member States or Associated Countries).
• The ER must move, or have moved from, any country to a Third Country.
• At the call deadline the ER cannot have spent more than 12 months in the previous three years in the country that will host the outgoing phase of the fellowship.

How to apply?

For more information on how to apply, please consult the MSCA IF Guide for Applicants for the 2020 call as well as the call documents available on the MSCA IF 2020 call page.

For more information on the programme, please consult the Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions Work Programme.

Reimbursement

All IF budgets are calculated using unit costs based on the number of researcher months applied for.

The living allowance is adjusted dependent on the country coefficient (see p.94-95) of the host organisation(s) involved. The UK country coefficient is 139.8% (2018 coefficient). Family allowance is dependent on the personal circumstances of the fellow.

Evaluation, thresholds and success rates

Proposals are evaluated on three main criteria: the Excellence (50%), Impact (30%) and Implementation (20%)of the research, knowledge transfer and career development programme. The quality of the fellow relative to their career stage is also taking into consideration.

A score of 90% or above is usually required for an application to be successful.

The success rates for the 2019 IF MSCA calls were:

• IF - Overall Scheme:  15.2%
• IF - European Fellowships:  15.7%
• IF - Global fellowships: 16.2%

Leeds IF success rate was 24.5% in 2019.

Why you should apply to Marie Curie IF

The University has an impressive track record of success for IF schemes.

• During the seven years of FP7 calls, 47 individual fellowships have been awarded to the University.
• Under Horizon 2020 (between 2014 and 2019), 85 fellowships have been awarded to the University.

Support Available

If you wish to apply or have any queries related to MSCA IF, please contact the pre-award team. For more information on the support you can receive from our team, please consult our EU Funding brochure and Preparing an EU proposal page.

Links to the webinars dedicated to the MSCA IF call, organised either by UKRO or the EU Team, are available on our Past Events page.

For advice about transferable skills training available at Leeds, contact the Organisational Development and Professional Learning Team (OD&PL)

To obtain Faculty approval for an application and to enter the application on the Kristal system, contact your Faculty Research & Innovation Office.