Career at the University of Vienna

Marie-Skłodowska Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Vienna

What is a MSCA-PF?

The Marie-Skłodowska Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) is a post-doctoral research and training programme in which the post-doc (fellow) gains additional skills and abilities working on a specific research project in a new environment, while also transferring their knowledge within their new institution. Open to all fields of research, the fellowship is a well-defined, 2-year-career stage.

For official information about the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (basic details, Guidelines, etc) please see Funding & tenders (europa.eu).

Why apply for a MSCA-PF @ the University of Vienna?

Experience: The University of Vienna provides extensive support to MSCA-PF candidates with the necessary profile to become world-class researchers at the top-rated University in Austria.

Success: Since the 2020 call, the number of successful applicants and the success rate in the MSCA Fellowship calls has continued to increase. The University is the most successful Austrian institution in the MSCA-PF program, and in the top ten of successful organizations across Europe. In the 2021 call, 23 fellowships were awarded to the University, the highest number ever awarded to the University in a single call. The success rate for University of Vienna applicants in the 2021 call was almost 30%, compared to the average of 13.8%. And in the 2022 call, compared to the EU success rate of 17.5%, the success rate for applicants with the University of Vienna was 35.3%. 
Further information about our success can be found here.

Advantages of applying for a MSCA-PF @ the University of Vienna

  • We are the largest teaching and research institution in Austria.
  • There are 15 faculties and 5 centres devoted to both basic and applied research.
  • We offer state-of-the-art facilities, extensive research infrastructure and the oldest library in the German speaking world.
  • Post-doc salaries are based on the Collective Bargaining Agreement for University Staff, paid 14 times per year and are significantly higher than the living allowance provided by the Fellowship.
  • The University offers flexible working hours (based on core hours), childcare and language learning facilities.
  • The University is ranked 95th in the Times Higher Education Ranking, the first time an Austrian University has placed in the top 100. In the ranking for most international universities in the world, the University is ranked 17th.  
  • Vienna is consistently rated as one of the best cities to live in and has topped various international rankings.
  • The University and Research Services Department have extensive experience with MSCA Fellowships as we host the highest number of Fellows in Austria. Successful applicants will receive support from the Research Services Department during proposal preparation including guidance documents, online workshops and in-depth proposal checks.
  • Since 2020, the University has been increasingly successful with MSCA PF applications. In 2022, 18 fellowships were awarded, and the success rate for the University (35.3%) was about 20% higher than the EU average.

Further Information / How to apply

  1. Confirm your eligibility – as a first step, you must confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria for Postdoctoral Fellowship applicants as set out by the European Commission. Please see the “Eligibility” information further on this page. If you have ANY questions about your eligibility, please get in touch with us first before you contact a supervisor.
  2. Find a supervisor – see the “Supervisor” information further down on the page. The supervisor list will be available in March.
  3. Prepare your documents – complete the CV and Project Description templates.
  4. Send your CV and project description to your potential supervisor by 18 May.

We expect to have confirmation about successful applicants by 3 June. If you have not heard back from your potential supervisor by this date, let us know (please do not email the supervisor again).

Successful applicants will receive an information email from us, including all the necessary details about preparing a proposal with the University of Vienna.

The University of Vienna is subdivided into 15 faculties and five Centres. Faculties are responsible for research and teaching, while Centres fulfil specific tasks for the University or predominantly serve either as research or as teaching bodies. You can identify a potential supervisor from the list below, via a Google search, our u:find page or our Current Research Information System u:cris. Please do not contact us about finding a supervisor, we cannot help with this.

Once you have identified a suitable supervisors, see the application instructions under “Expression of Interest”.

 

Only experienced researchers can apply and this means that:

  • Supported fellows must be postdoctoral researchers at the date of the call deadline, i.e. in a possession of a doctoral degree, defined as a successfully defended doctoral thesis, even if the doctoral degree has yet to be awarded.
  • At the call deadline, supported researchers must have a maximum of 8 years full-time equivalent experience in research, measured from the date that the researcher was in a possession of a doctoral degree and certified by appropriate documents. Years of experience outside research and career breaks (e.g. due to parental leave*), will not be taken into account.*


Mobility Rule

  • Between 10 September 2023 and 9 September 2026 you have not been in Austria for more than 12 months.

If you cannot demonstrate you met the eligibility criteria, your EoI application will not be considered.

* You can also calculate your eligibility through the "MSCA_PF: Self-assessment tool for the calculation of the 8-years research experience" (available once the call has opened). Please contact us if you have questions about your eligibility.


You should be able to satisfy most of the following requirements:

  • A good publication track record.
  • Have presented at well-established seminars, conferences.
  • Been involved in the organisation of workshops/conferences.
  • Been a member of a review panel or editorial board.
  • Hold academic/professional memberships.
  • Won prizes or other awards for research and/or other related achievements.
  • Have demonstrable leadership, teaching and/or supervisory experience.
  • Been involved in public engagement knowledge transfer activities.
  • Hold mobility/international experience.

Internal Deadlines

  • EoI applications submitted to potential supervisor: 18.05.2026
  • Feedback about whether EoI application was successful or not: 03.06.2026
  • Proposal writing masterclass for confirmed MSCA-PF applications: June 22., 23., & 29. (afternoons). More details will be sent to confirmed applicants.
  • Internal deadline - proposal check: 31.07.2026
  • Internal deadline - submission approval: 28.08.2026

External Deadlines

  • MSCA-PF 2025 Call opens: 09.04.2026 (expected)
  • Full MSCA-PF application to be submitted by 09. September 2026.

 

Submission Restrictions and Notices (*)

  • We are only inviting applications for European Fellowships as unfortunately we are not able to accept applications for Global Fellowships. Please note that "European" and "Global" does not refer to the nationality of the applicant but the destination country of the fellowship.

*Deadlines are subject to change, especially if the call specific information from the European Commission is delayed

For any questions please contact us:

Research Services and Career Development
Berggasse 7, 2. Stock
1090 Wien

T: +43-1-4277-18271 or
T: +43-1-4277-18257

New initiative to connect fellows across the University

MSCA-PF Network

Click here for more information