How to Write a Winning MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship Application

With success rates hovering around 10%, writing a winning application demands an impeccably crafted proposal that not only showcases groundbreaking research but also aligns perfectly with the European Commission's strategic objectives. 

In fact, depending on the panel applicants typically need to score 92 to 94% to secure funding. This means your proposal must be excellent, leaving no room for error. A single subpar section can jeopardise your application, even if other sections score perfectly. 

Critically, MSCA applicants must also bear in mind that they are not writing a "science project." While scientific excellence is paramount, the programme's core tenets extend far beyond the laboratory. 

The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship is fundamentally about training and career development. This broader perspective must permeate every section of your proposal. To help you refine your MSCA proposal, we’ve developed ReviewIQ, a powerful AI tool designed to assist researchers in creating standout MSCA funding proposals.

ReviewIQ is powered by a machine-learning model trained on hundreds of successful funding proposals, expert evaluation reports, and decades of accumulated human insight. It provides tailored feedback based on this knowledge base, helping researchers meet the exacting standards demanded by MSCA reviewers.

In Q3 2025, 23 plan to release ReviewIQ for Doctoral Fellowships - a specialised agent designed to craft compelling, competitive proposals.

Discover ReviewIQ

Deconstructing the Proposal: A Section-by-Section Guide

The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship proposal (Part B1) is a 10-page document evaluated across three main sections: Excellence (50% of the mark), Impact (30%), and Implementation (20%). 

Adhering to the page allocations is vital, with an ideal distribution being approximately 6 to 6.5 pages for Excellence, 2 pages for Impact, and 1 to 1.5 pages for Implementation. 

Section 1: Excellence

This is the intellectual core of your proposal, demanding meticulous attention to detail.

1.1 Quality and Pertinence of Objectives & Beyond State-of-the-Art:

Introduction: Begin by framing your research within a broader societal or industrial challenge, substantiated with relevant statistics.

Clear Objectives: This is perhaps the most critical element. Objectives must be clear, demonstrable, and tangible outputs of your project at its conclusion. Think of them as concrete achievements rather than investigative processes. Aim for 3-5 objectives, ideally linking each to a corresponding work package.

State-of-the-Art: Clearly define the current cutting-edge research in your field and, crucially, articulate how your proposed project goes beyond it. A table format can be effective here, comparing existing innovations with your project's advancements.

1.2 Soundness of the Methodology and Work Plan:

Work Packages: Break down your project into individual work packages, ideally aligning them with your objectives from Section 1.1.

Technical & Non-Technical: Include 3-4 technical work packages (research and innovation) and 2-3 non-technical ones (training, project management, dissemination, communication, secondments). Remember the training and career development aspect.

1.3 Quality of the Supervision, Training, and Knowledge Transfer:

This is a common pitfall for applicants. Justify your choice of supervisor and host institution rigorously. Highlight their world-leading expertise and how they perfectly complement your research.

Two-Way Knowledge Transfer: Clearly articulate what value you will gain from the host (technical training, soft skills, access to networks, flagship grants) and what expertise you, as the researcher, bring to the host (e.g., leveraging international contacts, new methodologies). Provide specific examples of how you will absorb and contribute knowledge.

1.4 Appropriateness of the Research and Professional Experience, Competencies, and Skills:

This section serves as a high-level overview of your past achievements, track record, and qualifications, looking back at your expertise and main accomplishments to date.

Section 2: Impact

This section focuses on the broader implications of your project and its transformative effect on your career.

2.1 Enhancing the Career Development and Employability of the Researcher:

Project how this fellowship will profoundly transform your career trajectory. Avoid generalities; provide specific examples of how your knowledge, skills, and networks will be enhanced, positioning you as a sector-leading expert or enabling you to forge new disciplines. Don’t be afraid to think big and be ambitious.

2.2 Dissemination, Exploitation, and Communication (DEC):

This is another area where applicants often fall short due to a lack of precision.

Dissemination (Targeted Outreach): Provide specialist targets like lectures, keynotes, industry and academic articles, and publications. You’ll need to be specific to score high.

Communication (Broad Outreach): Demonstrate how you’ll deliver societal engagement through social media, websites, public engagement events (e.g., school visits, science fairs etc). 

Exploitation (IP & Practical Use): Detail who will use the IP and knowledge generated. This involves creating an IP plan, showcasing results to industry or policymakers, potential secondments, and even considerations for setting up an SME or spin-out.

Metrics and KPIs: Crucially, provide concrete metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for all DEC activities. Quantify your goals (e.g., number of publications, tech transfer events, social media reach) and make sure they are achievable.

2.3 Magnitude and Importance of the Project's Contribution to Expected Scientific, Societal, and Economic Impacts:

Connect your project to broader European Research Area objectives, such as the Green Deal. Envision the long-term impact of your project beyond the fellowship, considering how it will address significant societal and industrial challenges.

Section 3: Implementation

This section focuses on the practicalities of project management.

3.1 Quality and Effectiveness of the Work Plan, Assessment of Risks, and Appropriateness of Effort:

Work Plan: Detail your work packages, ensuring they directly link back to your project objectives from Section 1.1.

Gantt Chart: Include a Gantt chart to visualise the flow of work over the fellowship period (typically 12-24 months).

Risk Mitigation: Openly identify potential risks to your project (all projects have them) and, critically, outline clear mitigation strategies. Failing to acknowledge risks will result in deductions.

3.2 Appropriateness of the Management Structure and Procedures:

Briefly describe the host organisation's capacity to integrate you into the team. Highlight their experience in hosting MSCA fellows, their welcoming policies, and the technical arrangements in place to support your project.

Essential Tips for Success

• Start Early: While the proposal is only 10 pages, it requires 6-8 weeks of dedicated work to polish and perfect.
• Review Key Documents: Familiarise yourself with the work programme, European Charter for Researchers, MSCA-specific evaluation documents, and the MSCA Green Charter. AI tools can provide quick summaries of these policy-advisory documents.
• Eligibility: Ensure you meet all eligibility criteria, including a PhD degree, maximum experience (typically 3 years from PhD award), and mobility rules.
• Learn from Success: Researchers should work with their host and existing networks to study previously successful bids.

Utilise Crowdhelix Resources:

• Find Host Organisation on the Crowdhelix Platform: Identify and speak with potential host organisations by responding to or publishing an opportunity post on the Crowdhelix platform. 
• Discover non-academic partners on the Crowdhelix Platform: Leverage Crowdhelix’s global network to find potential industry partners for secondments.
• Review IQ: Use Crowdhelix's AI-powered proposal writing assistant to get instant feedback on specific sections of your proposal, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
• Watch our MSCA training session: Watch our step-by-step training session: “Excellence in Research and Innovation: MSCA Post-Doctoral Fellowships” to understand what makes a competitive MSCA proposal.

The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship is a highly competitive, yet incredibly rewarding, opportunity. By understanding its underlying philosophy, meticulously addressing each section of the proposal, and leveraging available resources, aspiring researchers can significantly enhance their chances of securing this transformative funding and making a lasting impact on their careers and beyond.