Overview
ERC Starting Grants support promising researchers with 0–10 years of experience since their PhD to establish independent frontier-research programmes in Europe.
Complete grant details
The 2027 Starting Grant call is open in all fields. A grant may provide up to €1.5 million for five years, with up to €1 million in justified additional eligible costs; principal investigators relocating from a non-associated third country to the EU or an associated country may request up to €2 million in additional funding. ERC grants can cover up to 100% of eligible direct costs plus a 25% contribution toward eligible indirect costs.
Eligibility requirements
Researchers of any nationality with 0–10 years of experience since successful PhD defence can apply, subject to permitted extensions. The project must be hosted by an eligible public or private research organisation in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country, and the host must enable the principal investigator to lead the research independently.
Tips for this grant
Practical Job and Scholarship guidance. These tips do not replace official rules or create new eligibility requirements.
- Confirm your PhD-defence eligibility window and secure a host institution in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.
- Check eligibility, funding coverage, study/project level and every required document before investing time in the application.
- Prepare transcripts, references, language tests, proposal/motivation statement and proof documents early.
- Separate the scholarship deadline from any university/program admission deadline; they may be different.
- Treat “fully funded” as a source fact only when the official provider explicitly confirms the covered costs.
Verification notes
Verified on the ERC official Starting Grant page on 2 Sep 2026. The official page lists the 2027 call as open from 22 Jul 2026 with a 14 Oct 2026 deadline.
Job and Scholarship is the discovery and verification layer. Confirm eligibility, dates, salary/funding and application instructions on the original source before submitting anything.
European Research Council ↗Browse current Job and Scholarship listings from European Research Council →
