MOPGA Fellowship

The MOPGA Fellowship 2027 in France, officially known as the Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA) Visiting Fellowship Program for Early Career Researchers, offers international researchers an opportunity to conduct a 12-month research project at a French research institution.

Funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), in partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space (MESRE), and implemented by Campus France, the fellowship supports research addressing climate change, environmental challenges, sustainability and related global issues.

The programme is designed for early-career researchers who have recently completed a PhD and want to collaborate with French research laboratories. Selected fellows receive a monthly allowance of €2,500, a €500 settling-in allowance and health insurance coverage.

Applications for the 2027 fellowship opened on September 15, 2026, and the deadline is December 15, 2026. Successful candidates are expected to begin their research stays in France between September and December 2027.

Successful MOPGA fellows receive financial and professional support to conduct research in France.

The fellowship package includes:

• €2,500 monthly allowance for 12 months

• €500 settling-in allowance during the first month

• Health insurance coverage

• Civil liability insurance

• Repatriation assistance

• An opportunity to conduct research at a French research institution

• Collaboration with French researchers and laboratories

• Opportunities to develop international research partnerships

• Access to a scientific environment relevant to the proposed research project

The fellowship is paid directly by Campus France. The host laboratory must provide an appropriate scientific environment and the resources needed to conduct the approved project.

International travel to France is not covered by the programme. Applicants should budget separately for flights and any other costs not included in the official fellowship package.

The MOPGA Fellowship is a paid research fellowship rather than a fully funded degree scholarship.

It provides a €2,500 monthly allowance for 12 months, a €500 settling-in allowance and health-related coverage. However, it does not pay international travel expenses, and applicants should not assume that every personal or research-related expense will be covered.

The programme is intended to support an existing early-career researcher during a temporary research stay in France, not to finance an entire university degree.

The MOPGA Fellowship 2027 is available for:

• Postdoctoral research

• Visiting research fellowships

• Research stays for early-career PhD holders

This is not a scholarship for starting a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree. Applicants must already have completed their doctoral thesis defence within the eligible period and propose a research project to be conducted at a French host institution.

The fellowship lasts 12 months and is not renewable.

The MOPGA Fellowship 2027 supports research addressing environmental and climate-related challenges. The official call identifies five broad research themes.

1. Earth System Sciences

Research examining the Earth's natural systems and the interactions between the atmosphere, oceans, land and ecosystems.

2. Climate Change and Sustainability Sciences

Projects focused on climate change, sustainability, environmental resilience and solutions that support long-term ecological stability.

3. Energy Transition

Research related to renewable energy, energy systems, decarbonisation, sustainable technologies and the transition to lower-carbon economies.

4. Societal Challenges Related to Environmental Issues

Projects investigating the social, economic, political and cultural dimensions of environmental challenges, including how societies respond to climate change.

5. Human, Animal and Environmental Health — One Health

Research examining the connections between human health, animal health and ecosystems.

For this theme, the programme requires a genuine integrated One Health approach. Projects focusing exclusively on human medicine or human health without a meaningful environmental or animal-health dimension are not eligible.

Innovative approaches using advanced technologies in these research areas may receive particular consideration.

The MOPGA Fellowship is open to researchers of all nationalities except French nationality.

Applicants must be foreign nationals applying for international research mobility to France. They must also satisfy the programme's requirements concerning doctoral completion, residence, professional activity and previous participation in MOPGA.

Researchers from countries including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, Indonesia and other countries may apply if they meet the eligibility conditions.

Applicants for the MOPGA Fellowship 2027 must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a doctoral degree.

• Have defended their PhD thesis between December 2021 and December 2026, inclusive.

• Be exclusively of foreign nationality; French nationality is excluded.

• Apply for an international research stay in France.

• Not be residing in France at the time of application.

• Not be professionally active in France at the time of application.

• Not have previously received a MOPGA fellowship.

• Propose a research project aligned with the programme's eligible themes.

• Identify a suitable French host research institution.

• Obtain the required support from the host scientist and laboratory.

• Submit the application and supporting documents through the official online system before the deadline.

Applicants whose doctoral diploma has not yet been issued may be able to provide an official certificate confirming that the thesis defence has taken place, proof of thesis submission or another accepted document from their institution.

An exception to the five-year PhD eligibility period may be available in cases involving maternity leave, subject to the programme's rules and supporting documentation.

Research Host Institution Requirement

Applicants must arrange a suitable research host in France.

The host institution provides the scientific environment, supervision and resources required for the approved project. The host laboratory is expected to support the applicant's research plan and confirm that the proposed work aligns with its research activities.

Applicants should identify a laboratory and researcher whose expertise closely matches their project. They should contact the potential host scientist early and obtain the required support letter and other host documentation.

The host institution does not receive funding under the MOPGA fellowship. The financial award is intended to support the invited researcher.

Applicants should prepare the documents requested by the official MOPGA 2027 application system. These include:

• Curriculum vitae, including a list of publications, limited to four pages

• PhD diploma or an accepted certificate confirming doctoral completion

• CV of the scientific contact at the French host laboratory, limited to two pages

• Letter of support from the host scientist

• Co-signature from the laboratory director or a separate commitment letter from the director

• One to three recommendation letters

• Copy of passport or national identity document

• Research project description

• Other information requested by the online application form

The host support documentation should confirm that the laboratory can provide the scientific environment and resources needed for the research project and that the project fits the laboratory's research objectives.

Applicants should check the official application guide for the exact format and submission requirements.

Applications for the MOPGA Fellowship 2027 are submitted online through the official Campus France application platform.

Step 1: Check Eligibility

Confirm that your doctoral thesis defence falls within the eligible period and that you meet the nationality, residence and previous-fellowship conditions.

Step 2: Select a Research Topic

Prepare a research project related to one of the five eligible themes, with clear objectives and a credible research plan.

Step 3: Identify a French Host Laboratory

Search for a French laboratory or research institution with expertise relevant to your proposed project.

Step 4: Contact the Host Scientist

Explain your research interests and request support for the proposed research stay. Arrange the required support letter and laboratory commitment documentation.

Step 5: Prepare the Application Documents

Compile your CV, publications, doctoral certificate, host scientist's CV, recommendation letters, identification document and research proposal.

Step 6: Complete the Online Application

Submit your application through the official MOPGA 2027 platform. Applications may be submitted in English or French.

Step 7: Submit Before the Deadline

Review the application carefully and submit all required information before December 15, 2026.

Step 8: Await the Selection Decision

Applications are assessed by scientific experts and a final selection committee. Successful applicants are expected to receive the results in May–June 2027.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for the MOPGA Fellowship 2027 is December 15, 2026.

The current application timeline is:

• Applications opened: September 15, 2026

• Application deadline: December 15, 2026

• Results announced: May–June 2027

• Research stays begin: September–December 2027

• Fellowship duration: 12 months

Applicants should submit their applications well before the deadline to allow time to obtain host-laboratory support and recommendation letters.

Important Points

• The MOPGA Fellowship supports early-career researchers who already hold a PhD.

• It is a 12-month research fellowship in France.

• The monthly allowance is €2,500.

• A €500 settling-in allowance is provided.

• Health insurance, civil liability insurance and repatriation assistance are included under the programme conditions.

• International travel expenses are not covered.

• Applicants must have defended their PhD between December 2021 and December 2026, inclusive.

• French nationals are not eligible.

• Applicants must not be living or professionally active in France at the time of application.

• Previous MOPGA fellows cannot apply again.

• A suitable French host laboratory and support documentation are required.

• Applications can be submitted in English or French.

• The application deadline is December 15, 2026.

• The fellowship does not fund a new Master's or PhD degree.

• The fellowship is not renewable.

The MOPGA Fellowship uses a two-stage scientific selection process.

First, scientific experts appointed by the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space assess the applications in their relevant research fields.

A scientific committee then makes the final selection of MOPGA 2027 fellows.

The assessment focuses on the quality and relevance of the research proposal, its contribution to climate and environmental challenges, the suitability of the host laboratory, and the applicant's ability to carry out the proposed work.

Applicants should demonstrate how their project can contribute to scientific understanding, environmental solutions, sustainability or international research collaboration.