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European Research Council
ERC Starting Grant
Amount
Up to €2.5M
Over 5 years
Deadline
Rolling
Odds
~10–15% success rate
Effort
Several weeks before
Can you get this?
✓0–10 years post-PhD experience required
✓Researchers of any nationality may apply
✓Research must be at EU or associated country institution
✓Eligibility window extended for parental leave or illness
✓Any field of research is eligible
Your real odds
Success rates sit in the low single digits to around 10–15% depending on the year, making this one of the most competitive research grants in Europe.
The ERC runs annual calls across all scientific fields with no predetermined thematic priorities, so you are competing globally against researchers in every discipline. A strong track record of supervised research and a compelling independent research vision are both things the panel weighs.
What it takes
Identify host institution and contact your National Contact Point (NCP) for guidanceSeveral weeks before the call opens
Write your research proposal (administrative forms, research plan, supplementary documents)2–4 months
Get peer review and feedback on your draft, then submit via the EU Funding & Tenders PortalAllow at least 2–4 weeks for review before deadline
Await eligibility check, expert evaluation, and ethics review if selectedSeveral months post-deadline
Worth knowing
You do not need to be employed by the host institution at submission, only a mutual agreement and commitment if the proposal succeeds, so you can apply before formally relocating.
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