# Appel à Projets Access Erc Starting Grants 2026

**Funder:** ANR
**Duration:** 2 years (24 months)
**Consortium:** No
**Frequency:** Annual
**Eligible countries:** FR
**Official call:** https://anr.fr/fr/detail/call/appel-a-projets-access-erc-starting-grants-2026/
**Last verified:** 20 June 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Post-doctoral contract (24 months, July 2026–Aug 2028) for researchers in humanities and social sciences (SHS only), hosted at a French institution, aimed at preparing a competitive ERC Starting Grant 2028 application (submission October 2027). Call is now closed.

## Summary

The ANR Appel à Projets Access ERC Starting Grants 2026 offers a 24-month postdoctoral contract for humanities and social sciences researchers to prepare a competitive ERC Starting Grant application. Hosted at a French institution, the fellowship runs from July 2026 to August 2028 and targets researchers ready to submit an ERC proposal in October 2027. This call has closed; ANR runs this programme annually.

## Who should apply

- Postdoctoral researchers in humanities and social sciences (SHS)
- Researchers hosted at a French academic or research institution
- Candidates planning to submit an ERC Starting Grant application in October 2027
- Early-career scholars with ambition for European-scale research funding

## Key dates

- Application deadline has passed (call closed 2026)
- Fellowship runs 24 months: July 2026 to August 2028
- ERC Starting Grant submission target: October 2027

## Tips for applicants

- This fellowship is explicitly a stepping-stone to ERC: structure your postdoctoral work and publications to strengthen your ERC proposal narrative.
- ANR runs this call annually; if you missed this round, watch for the 2027 call and align your timeline accordingly.
- Use the fellowship period to build European collaborations and establish independence from your PhD supervisor, both are scored in ERC evaluation.

## Frequently asked questions

### How long is the ANR Access ERC Starting Grants postdoctoral fellowship?

24 months, from July 2026 to August 2028.

### Who is eligible for the ANR Access ERC Starting Grants?

Postdoctoral researchers in humanities and social sciences hosted at a French institution.

### What is the purpose of the ANR Access ERC Starting Grants?

The fellowship is designed to prepare researchers to submit a competitive ERC Starting Grant application, with the target submission date in October 2027.

### Is the ANR Access ERC Starting Grants call recurring?

Yes, ANR runs this programme annually.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/anr-appel-projets-access-erc-starting-grants-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.