It can be costly to go abroad for a postdoc, with travel, visas, accommodation deposits, and the first month’s expenses all coming out of your pocket. Also, many researchers will lose income during this time.
Timing
There are two major awards currently closed for this round. These are the Marie Skłodowska-Curie and Human Frontier Science Program fellowships. There are two open awards with upcoming deadlines. These are EMBO and JSPS (Japan). Lastly, there is Humboldt (Germany), but its deadlines are conflicting.
These dates were checked in November 2026. All dates should be double-checked on the official website.
What Is Fully Funded?
As there are no tuition fees for postdocs, fully funded generally refers to a salary being paid to you to work abroad.
- Monthly stipend / living allowance.
- Travel allowance. Sometimes a one-off settlement allowance.
- Some include family allowances, e.g., child allowance/childcare allowance.
- Research costs are sometimes included. Sometimes your host lab will pay.
Some awards include only a stipend. Hosts may need to pay for lab costs. This should be checked.
Almost all of these require you to move countries.
Deadlines
EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships: 22nd January 2027 (Planned). Life Sciences only. Must move countries.
JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (Standard): 23rd April 2027 at 5 p.m. Japan Time. The host in Japan applies.
Humboldt Research Fellowship: Conflicting dates. Please check the official page.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships: Closed on 9th September 2026. The next call is likely in Spring 2027 (Unofficial).
Human Frontier Science Program Postdoctoral Fellowships: Closed in 2026. The next call is likely in Spring 2027 (Unofficial).
Currently Open / Opening Soon
1. EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships
Award for postdoctoral researchers working in Life Sciences. Apply for research in a different country from where you completed your PhD.
Deadline: The next call is planned for 22nd January 2027. You can apply anytime throughout the year, but only applications submitted by the cut-off date will be considered. This is a strict deadline. Please check the official page for exact times, as the times vary between sources.
Funding: Stipend, Child Allowance, Childcare Allowance, and Travel Allowance. Up to two years of funding, with a minimum of one year. Funding depends on the country where you are hosted.
Notes: You need more than just a login to apply for this. You will need a host lab abroad. Please check the guidelines for how recently your PhD must have been completed.
2. JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (Standard)
Award for early-career researchers with a PhD who want to work in Japan. Funding is available for 12–24 months.
Deadline: 23rd April 2027 at 5 p.m. Japan Time. This is when your host in Japan must apply to JSPS. The first round closed on 28th August 2026.
Funding: Guide pages show funding of ¥362,000 per month, return airfare, and a ¥200,000 Settlement Allowance. Please check the official page for exact amounts.
Notes: You cannot apply on your own. The application must be submitted by a host institution in Japan. Host institutions will have stricter deadlines. Previous recipients of JSPS Standard or Pathway cannot apply. You cannot be living in Japan on a resident card at the deadline. The online system opens roughly two months prior. Start applying in January.
3. Humboldt Research Fellowship
Award for postdoctoral researchers and experienced researchers who want to work at a host institution in Germany. For postdocs, guide pages state that your doctorate must be less than four years old.
Deadline: Conflicting dates. Please check the official page. Some guide pages state 31st January 2027. Others state that the current round has reached its limit and closed. The next call opens on 15th November 2026. A third guide page shows that it opened on 15th July 2026. The exact date cannot be confirmed.
Funding: Recent guide pages show £3,000 per month for postdocs. Older sources show £2,670. Please check the official page. Funding can range from 6–24 months, depending on the source.
Notes: Each call has a maximum of 800 applications. This award can close early. Do not wait until the last week to apply. You will need a host in Germany who agrees to work with you. Guide pages state that German applicants are excluded. Please check the rules that apply to you.
Closed in 2026 – Plan for Next Year
4. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships
Award for researchers with a PhD and up to eight years of research experience. Available to any nationality.
Deadline: Closed on 9th September 2026. Results are expected in February 2027. Projects start around May 2027 (To Be Confirmed). The next call is likely to open in Spring 2027 and close in September 2027 (Likely). The 2026 call opened on 9th April.
Funding: Salary-style funding for research abroad. 12–24 months for European fellowships and 1–36 months for global fellowships. Funding depends on the type, duration, and host country. The 2026 call had a total budget of €399.05 million for around 1,600 projects.
Notes: You cannot have lived in the host country for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to the deadline. Global awards are only available to EU / Associated Country Nationals and Long-Term Residents. If you scored below 80% in 2025, you cannot apply in 2026. Please check the official page for 2027 rules. The proposal must be written with a host supervisor. Start early.
5. Human Frontier Science Program Postdoctoral Fellowships
Award for Life Sciences researchers. You must have a research topic different from your PhD and previous postdoc.
Deadline: The first stage (Letter of Intent) closed in May 2026. The exact date conflicts between sources: 12th May or 13th May. Please check the official page. The second stage (Invitation to Apply) closed on 24th September 2026. The next call for the Letter of Intent should open in March 2027 (Likely). Previous rounds follow the same pattern.
Funding: Living Allowance, Research and Travel Allowance. Three years of funding. Some fellows receive a relocation allowance, child allowance, and parental leave allowance.
Notes: There are two stages of application. Only those who pass Stage 1 will be able to submit a full application. Only one application can be made per year. The fellowship can only be held once. Your PhD must be recent. For the 2027 cycle, it must have been conferred within the three years prior to the full proposal deadline.
How to Choose the Right Scholarship
Choose Based on Your Profile
First, look at the field you work in. EMBO and HFSP are only for Life Sciences. MSCA, JSPS, and Humboldt are open to any field.
Look at how long it has been since your PhD. Humboldt postdoc requires four years. MSCA requires eight years of experience. HFSP requires three years.
Choose an award for which you already know a potential host.
Based on Your Country
MSCA Global awards are only for EU / Associated Country Nationals and Long-Term Residents.
Both EMBO and MSCA have mobility rules.
Please check the nationality and residency requirements on the official page.
Be Wary of Last-Minute Applications
You will need your host to agree to work with you, which can take weeks.
JSPS hosts will have earlier deadlines. Ask what they are at the beginning.
Humboldt can close early if it receives 800 applications.
Top 3 Mistakes
1. Incorrect Dates
Dates can be incorrect on guide pages. Please check the funder’s page and note down the deadline.
2. Applying Without a Host
Most awards require you to have a host who agrees to work with you. Email potential hosts months in advance.
3. Missing the Little Details
Mobility rules, PhD age requirements, and previous award restrictions can stop your application from going through on the first day. Please check the rules before starting to write your proposal.
Conclusion
The soonest date you can be certain of is EMBO, with a deadline of 22nd January 2027 (Planned). Next is JSPS, with a deadline of 23rd April 2027. Humboldt dates are unclear, so please check the official page now. MSCA and HFSP are closed. The next calls are likely in Spring 2027.
Email one potential host tomorrow with a one-page summary of your project.