Official launch of the call and information session will be held on October 6, 2022, from 11.00 to 12.30 CEST. This interactive session will provide practical information on eligibility criteria, how to prepare an application, how to find a host institution, and more. Registration.
About the Programme
As part of the EU’s response to the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, a new dedicated fellowship scheme – MSCA4Ukraine – will provide support to displaced researchers from Ukraine. This support will enable displaced doctoral and postdoctoral researchers to continue their work at academic and non-academic organisations in EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries, while maintaining their connections to research and innovation communities in Ukraine.
Call Information
Call open: From 24/10/2022.
First three preliminary cut-off dates: 11/11/2022, 09/12/2022, 09/01/2023. At each cut-off date, all eligible applications will enter the evaluation and selection process.
Application process: Applications must be submitted by the prospective host organisation on behalf of the researcher via the MSCA4Ukraine online application portal. The link to the portal will be available on the MSCA4Ukraine website: www.sareurope.eu/msca4ukraine. Once the portal opens, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all available funds are committed. Therefore, it is advisable to submit your application as soon as possible.
Call budget: €25 million. The maximum amount to be granted to each host organisation is €2 million (covering the recruitment of several researchers). The final number of fellowships will depend on the duration of fellowships awarded and the final distribution of fellowships across EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. A minimum of 120 fellowships is expected.
Fellowships rates: Fellowship rates will be in line with MSCA Doctoral Networks and MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (p. 75 and p. 83 of MSCA Work Programme). A country correction coefficient (applicable to the country of the primary host organisation) will be applied to the monthly living allowance (p. 105 of MSCA Work Programme, for Lithuania – 72,8%). Host organisations will receive the same monthly contribution towards institutional management and research costs regardless of whether they host doctoral or postdoctoral candidates.
Duration of fellowships: From 6 to 24 months.
Disciplines: All domains of research and innovation.
Eligible researchers:
(a) Are (1) Ukrainian nationals, or (2) stateless persons, or nationals from third countries other than Ukraine, with their primary residence in Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
(b) Either (1) have been displaced on or after 24 February 2022, or (2) are ready to relocate from Ukraine.
(c) Are postdoctoral researchers (i.e. in possession of a doctoral degree by the time the fellowship is set to begin), or doctoral candidates (i.e. enrolled in a doctoral programme at a higher education institution in Ukraine, leading to the award of a doctoral degree).
(d) Have the language skills required to successfully conduct their research activities at the envisaged host organisation, as confirmed by the host organisation in the application.
Eligible host institutions: Academic or non-academic organisations established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries are eligible to apply. Primary host organisation must be outside Ukraine. However, organisations within Ukraine can host researchers for a secondment in order to facilitate return to Ukraine if safe conditions for are met.
Secondments: A secondment is an optional component of the application and can be up to 1/3 of the fellowship duration. Secondments can be proposed at the time of application, but they can also be planned after the fellowship is underway. Secondments can be undertaken in another EU country, Horizon Europe Associated Country, including within Ukraine, or in third countries. Proposals for secondment arrangements must be submitted by the primary host organisation no later than 60 days before the envisaged start date of the secondment.
Career development plan: Within the first two months of the fellowship a career development plan should be prepared jointly by the academic mentor and the researcher. The plan should outline the researcher’s training and career needs, including, for example, training on transferable skills, teaching, planning for publications and participation in conferences and events.
Application is composed of (detailed information on the content of each part of the application is provided on p. 8-10 of Terms of Reference for applicants):
(a) A completed online application form (including contact details of the candidate, mentors, host institution, researcher’s current location and date of displacement from Ukraine, if displaced, duration of the fellowship, information on prior collaboration with the host, etc.);
(b) Documents regarding the profile of the candidate, to be uploaded in PDF (including list of publications, copies of diplomas, etc.);
(c) A signed host statement on institutional letterhead outlining in no more than 1.500 words the support to be provided to the candidate (including the role of the researcher in the host institution, profile of the mentor, details of training activities, measures to prepare for future reintegration into Ukraine, information on secondments);
(d) A research proposal of max. 2.500 words developed by the candidate (including current state of research, objectives, activities, methodology, originality and significance of the research, etc.);
(e) A confidential (i.e. not shared with the candidate) statement by the academic mentor, of no more than 1.200 words (including confirmation of matching academic specializations and research interests, assessment of the academic profile of the candidate and the quality of the research proposal);
(f) Financing plan, downloadable from the online portal;
(g) Ethical self-assessment, downloadable from the online portal. The form will contain the same questions as the MSCA ethics self-assessment form (p. 17-19 of MSCA application form) and will ask for details of the contact person for ethics in relation to the host organisation’s application. If ethics issues are identified in the form, the applicant host organisation must then complete a more detailed assessment together with the candidate, in order to identify which formal ethics approvals might be needed. For example, a written confirmation of compliance with relevant national regulations issued by a relevant internal or national body may be needed. Full formal ethics approval is not needed at the application stage.
Evaluation criteria: Separate evaluation criteria for postdoctoral and doctoral fellowships are provided on p. 12-14 of Terms of Reference for applicants.
Important Documents and Useful Links
– Information for potential MSCA4Ukraine applicants, general overview of the scheme and the evaluation and selection processes can be found in Terms of Reference (we strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with this document in detail).
– If you are seeking to connect with a researcher from Ukraine in order to apply for an MSCA4Ukraine fellowship together, please add your details to the form for host institutions & mentors
– To stay up to date with the next steps join the MSCA4Ukraine mailing list
More information on the MSCA4Ukraine website
Contact for information at VU Research Projects Office:
Ana Raišienė, phone: +370 5 268 7165, email: ana.raisiene@cr.vu.lt
Contacts for consultations on financial matters at VU Development Department:
Giedrė Svecevičiūtė, phone: +370 5 236 6028, email: giedre.sveceviciute@cr.vu.lt
Rūta Norvaišaitė, phone +370 5 268 7186, email: ruta.norvaisaite@cr.vu.lt