IOFs are for researchers from EU Member States and Associated Countries. To apply, you must have either a doctoral degree or at least 4 years’ full-time equivalent research experience, after obtaining a degree permitting you to embark on a doctorate. But more experience is welcomed, it will not affect your chances of obtaining an IOF.

IOF proposals are welcomed from all areas of scientific and technological research that are of interest to the EU. But there is one exception: research areas covered by the EURATOM Treaty cannot be funded.

IOFs fund advanced training. In particular, they include a salary for the researcher and a contribution to research-related costs. Financial support can be given for up to 3 years in all. This includes an initial outgoing phase of 1-2 years in a Third Country. But there is also a mandatory reintegration phase. In other words, you will be committing yourself to return to an EU Member State or an Associated Country.

Your host organisation should be a university, research centre or enterprise established and located in a Third Country (for the outgoing phase) and in an EU or Associated Country (for the return phase).

The main activities will be based on a research project which you should prepare in coordination with the organisation that will host you when you return to Europe. You should also agree on a personal career development plan with your supervisor in the return host organisation.

An IOF should significantly develop and widen your competences. In particular, it should strengthen your multi- or interdisciplinary expertise, inter-sectoral experience and complementary skills.

The fellowships may include:

• Training-through-research under supervision, through an individual personalised project
• Hands-on training to develop your scientific skills (new techniques or instruments, etc.) and your complementary skills (proposal preparation to request funding, patent applications, project management, tasks coordination, technical staff supervision, etc.)
• Inter-sectoral or interdisciplinary knowledge transfer
• Building Collaborations
• Active scientific and financial management of your research project
• Developing organisational skills through organisation of training or dissemination events.

IOF proposals are selected in an open competition. Selection is through transparent, independent peer review, based on excellence using a series of predetermined criteria.

Proposals are submitted in reply to a call for proposals. Calls can be found and proposals submitted through the Participant portal. You can find a list of open Marie Curie Actions calls and useful advice under "Apply now" section of this website.

• People Work programme 2013 (346 KB)  English (en)
• Guide for applicants (common part)(99 KB)  English (en)
• Guide for applicants - IOF(2 MB)  English (en)