Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MSCA COFUND
Co-funding for regional, national, or international doctoral and postdoctoral fellowship programmes.
About the MSCA COFUND
MSCA COFUND co-finances new or existing fellowship programmes run by national, regional, or international organisations. Unlike individual MSCA fellowships (Postdoctoral Fellowships) or networks (Doctoral Networks), COFUND supports the programme itself — for example, a university's own postdoctoral fellowship scheme, a national research council's doctoral programme, or an international joint programme. The EU co-funds up to 55% of eligible costs; the host organisation provides the remainder. This leverages the EU contribution substantially: a €10M COFUND programme delivers €22M+ of fellowships. Programmes must be open, transparent, merit-based in recruitment, and mobile (researchers must come from outside the recruiting country). COFUND is particularly attractive for institutions building a branded doctoral/postdoctoral programme with international prestige.
Key facts
- Type
- Doctoral or postdoctoral fellowship programme
- EU co-funding
- Up to 55% of costs
- Max EU contribution
- €10M
- Programme duration
- 5 years
- Success rate
- ~15–20%
Who is eligible?
- •Applicant is a legal entity (university, research institution, regional/national funding agency) in an EU Member State or associated country
- •Programme must be new or expanded, with open and merit-based recruitment
- •Fellows recruited must satisfy MSCA mobility rule
- •Programme covers doctoral (3+ year PhD training) or postdoctoral (1-3 year) fellowships
Frequently asked questions
+Who applies for MSCA COFUND — the institution or the researcher?
The institution or funding agency applies. Individual researchers apply later to the specific programme once it's funded. COFUND is aimed at organisations that already run or want to launch a branded fellowship programme.
+Can we use COFUND to extend an existing programme?
Yes — but the programme must be significantly expanded or new, not business-as-usual continuation funding. The EU value-add must be clear: more fellows, higher standards, more mobility, wider international opening.
+Are fellows employed by our institution or by MSCA?
Fellows are employed by your institution (or a partner). MSCA covers up to 55% of the costs; you provide the rest (salary top-up, research budget, facilities, administration).
+Is MSCA COFUND appropriate for a research group?
No. COFUND is at the institutional/programme level, not for individual research groups. Individual postdocs should apply for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships instead.
Looking for proposal-writing advice?
Read the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions writing guide →Related programmes
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship
Monthly stipend of €5,080+ for 12–36 months of international mobility for postdoctoral researchers.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MSCA Doctoral Networks
Multi-partner consortia training cohorts of PhD researchers in joint doctoral programmes across Europe.
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