The Research Executive Agency has confirmed the eligibility of the UK concerning the Global Fellowships under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 call.
As previously advised by UKRO, UK organisations can apply as a beneficiary (host organisation during the return phase) of a Global Fellowship, as if the UK was already an associated country following the transitional arrangements set out in the EC Q&A. UK host organisations cannot host the outgoing phase, which takes place in third country.
As per the transitional arrangement, if the UK does not associate by the time of the planned signature of the grant agreement, the proposals will have to be declared ineligible. The Horizon Europe Guarantee has recently been extended and will cover successful applicants to the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 call. This includes those who apply for a Global Fellowship with a UK beneficiary.
In addition, UK nationals and long-term residents can apply for a Global Fellowship as if the UK was a country already associated to Horizon Europe, as per the transitional arrangements. Researchers can apply with a UK beneficiary, a beneficiary located in a EU Member State or a beneficiary in another Associated Country. However, if the UK does not associate in time to sign the grant agreement, the eligibility of the researcher may be different depending on the scenario.
| Researchers’ national and long-term residence status | Proposal Eligibility | UK non-association at time of grant agreement signature |
| UK national and long-term resident in the UK when it was a member state, or another Member State/Associated Country | Yes | Eligible |
| Long-term resident in the UK when it was a Member State | Yes | Eligible |
| UK national but not long-term resident in the UK when it was a Member State, or another Member State or Associated Country | Yes | Ineligible |
As a reminder, the mobility rule applies to the country of the outgoing phase and researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organisation for the outgoing phase of the Global Fellowships for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline (13 September 2023). More information on the eligibility conditions can be found in the MSCA Work Programme 2023-2024.