What is the idea behind MSCA?

The essence of the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) is to support young researchers' all-round professional and career development.

The basis of an application is a high-quality research proposal and the development of the postdoc’s professional skills under the guidance of an experienced supervisor, whose role is significant in writing the proposal and in implementing the project.

Postdocs submit their proposals in collaboration with a host organization (academic or non-academic) under the guidance of a supervisor. The grant recipient is the host organization, which uses the funding to cover the salary and research expenses of the researcher.

What are the types of postdoctoral felllowships?

European Postdoctoral Fellowship

EPF are open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world to pursue their research career. These fellowships take place in a European member state or associated countries and can last between 1 and 2 years.

Global Postdoctoral Fellowship

GPF funds the mobility of researchers outside Europe. The fellowship lasts between 2 and 3 years. The first 1 to 2 years will be spent in a non-associated country, followed by a mandatory return phase of 1 year to an organization based in an EU MS or AC. Only nationals or long-term residents of the European member states or associated countries can apply.

Triple chance to get funded

What are the chances of getting a fellowship?

The MSCA-PF is a highly competitive competition. But there is a triple chance of funding in the Czech Republic. You can either qualify for the direct support from the MSCA-PF programme or there are two more “sub-competitions” that you can enter which provide the same level of support:

• ERA Fellowship (formerly Widening Fellowship) – for postdocs in selected countries, including the Czech Republic, additional support is being allocated to accommodate a more significant number of applicants. The required score is approximately 91%.
• OP JAC (Johannes Amos Comenius Programme) – a programme announced by the Czech Ministry of Education for applicants who have not been awarded MSCA-PF, but whose proposal has been assessed as of high quality (so far the rating is 70% or more, which is surpassed by approximately 80% of applicants.

The level of the evaluation depends on the quality of the research proposal and career plan, and the quality of the applicant and supervisor. Nonetheless, approximately 90% of applications at MUNI have been evaluated above 75% in recent years. Therefore these applications are eligible to apply for support from the OP JAC.

What support do you get from the project office?

1. You get full support in writing the project proposal

• MSCA-PF Training Day for Candidates – you will learn the essentials of MSCA-PF, its benefits, and how to structure a competitive proposal. The training covers key sections (Excellence, Impact, Implementation) and proposal writing tips.
• MSCA-PF Workshop – a hands-on session for serious candidates with a draft proposal or a prepared project canvas. The focus is on elaborating specific sections, refining structure, writing style, overall coherence, and presentation. You will leave with plenty of notes, refined content, and sketches. The workshop will kick-start your proposal writing.
• MSCA-PF Individual consultations – one-on-one tailored guidance on proposal development, text review, and strengthening and refining key sections.
• Our MSCA-PF support events will take place throughout spring 2025, with exact dates to be announced. Tentatively, we expect the MSCA-PF Training day in April and the MSCA-PF Workshop in May. If there is high demand, additional sessions may be organized.

2. Relocation package

• Foreign employees who come to work at Masaryk University get support and help from the Welcome Office (WO) which is a part of the MU Centre of International Cooperation (CIC).

3. Looking for a supervisor?

• If you are looking for a supervisor, our experienced supervisors from the Faculty of Arts are interested in working with talented researchers. Read more about our researchers and depatments and get in touch with them or contact our Project Support Office.