Funding Opportunities

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships – SALC welcomes outline applications by 29 May

The School of Arts, Languages and Cultures (SALC) is looking to encourage applications to host Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (part of Horizon Europe). This EU scheme enables a postdoctoral researcher from overseas to spend two years on a ‘training through research’ programme at a host institution (such as Manchester) with a named supervisor (a member of SALC, ideally Senior Lecturer or above). A good ‘fit’ between the research of the Marie Curie fellow and the supervisor/host institution is key. As these fellowships are a form of training grant, a well-considered programme of career and skills development is also very important.

Potential applicants should contact their proposed supervisors in the first instance. In consultation with the applicant, the proposed supervisor will then submit the applicant’s expression of interest for the University’s internal sift. The expression of interest should include:

  • the candidate’s CV;
  • a 2-page outline of the proposed project. This should cover the:
    • research topic;
    • its methodological approach;
    • the potential for the two-way exchange of knowledge between the fellow and UoM;
    • a clear statement on the originality and innovative aspects of the project.
    • The outline should also clearly state whether the candidate applying for a European Postdoctoral Fellowship or a Global Postdoctoral Fellowship.

These documents should be submitted to the SALC Research Office (salc.research@manchester.ac.uk) no later than Friday, 29 May. Queries around the eligibility and suitability of candidates should be directed in the first instance to Guilherme Fians, Research Development Officer (guilherme.fians@manchester.ac.uk).

Candidates, supervisors, and their department’s research coordinators will be notified as soon as possible as to whether candidates will be put forward.

Key points on the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme 2026 (full details can be found on the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions website):

  • Scheme deadline: Wednesday, 9 September
  • Candidates should look to submit by Wednesday, 2 September to allow adequate time for approvals and to avoid any issues with the Funding & Tenders Opportunities Portal.

Eligibility

  • Candidates should have a PhD degree at the time of the application deadline.
  • Candidates should not have carried out their main activity (work, studies etc.) in the country of their host organisation (i.e. UK) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the deadline.
  • This call is open to researchers either coming to or moving within Europe, in line with the two strands of the scheme (European Postdoctoral Fellowships and Global Postdoctoral Fellowships).
  • Researchers should be in possession of a doctoral degree, with a maximum of 8 years full-time equivalent research experience. Past applications suggest that very recent PhDs stand less chance of success.

Applications must propose a well-defined research project, academic and non-academic engagement activities, and a robust plan to both develop the fellow’s research skills and transfer their existing knowledge to the host organisation. Applications are submitted through the host institution.

ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowships: Call for Expressions of Interest

The ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (PDF) Scheme is aimed at providing a career development opportunity for those in the immediately postdoctoral stage of their career, to provide the opportunity to consolidate their PhD through developing publications, their networks, and their research and professional skills. The ESRC has awarded funding to the North West Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) to support Postdoctoral Fellowships hosted at one of the NWSSDTP institutions.

The allocation of Postdoctoral Fellowships is a two stage process:

Firstly, candidates are asked to submit an Expression of Interest form and Equal Opportunities form to nwssdtp@liverpool.ac.uk by Monday, 20 April 2026:

Secondly, candidates whose EOI is shortlisted will be invited to submit a full application by Monday 1 June 2026:

Please note that it is permissible to submit an Expression of Interest to more than one ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership but ultimately only one Full Application may be submitted to a single DTP. If an applicant is shortlisted at the EOI stage by more than one DTP, they must choose which opportunity to pursue. If an applicant submits a Full Application to more than one DTP, all of their applications will be withdrawn from further consideration.

Additional information is available here.