In line with its continued commitment to the Paris Agreement, and as a key actor in the fight against climate change, France is launching a new edition of the MOPGA programme to strengthen scientific contributions to the issues addressed at the Conferences of the Parties (COPs).

This tenth call for applications, 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, will enable young international researchers to carry out a research project in France, thereby fostering collaboration with leading French research institutions.

RESEARCH THEMES

Five broad research areas are eligible:

• Earth system sciences;
• Climate change and sustainability sciences;
• Energy transition;
• Societal challenges related to environmental issues;
• Human, animal and environmental health, as defined under the One Health approach.*

Innovative approaches involving advanced technologies in the research areas listed above will be given particular consideration during the selection process.

*Please note: only projects adopting an integrated “One Health” approach, i.e. taking into account the interactions between human health, animal health and ecosystems, are eligible. Projects focusing solely on medicine or human health without a genuine environmental or animal health dimension are not eligible.

For further information, please consult the MOPGA research themes page.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must:

• Hold a doctoral degree awarded less than five years before the application deadline, i.e. have defended their PhD thesis between December 2021 and December 2026 inclusive;
• Be exclusively of foreign nationality (all nationalities are eligible except French nationality);
• Apply for the purpose of undertaking international mobility to France;
• Not be residing and professionally active in France at the time of application;
• Not have previously received a MOPGA fellowship.

FELLOWSHIP TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Fellowships are awarded for a period of 12 months.

Each fellowship includes, exclusively:

• A monthly allowance of €2,500;
• A €500 settling-in allowance;
• Health coverage: health insurance, civil liability insurance and repatriation assistance, followed by supplementary health insurance once the fellow has been registered with the French social security system.

This programme falls within the framework of the research stay scheme established under the French Research Programming Law 2021–2030 (LPR, Article 12) and incorporated into Article L.434-1 of the French Research Code. Successful applicants are granted the status of French Government Scholarship holders (BGF). The fellowship is paid directly by Campus France. A research stay agreement must be signed between the host institution in France and the researcher.

By supporting an application, host laboratories undertake to provide an appropriate scientific environment for the successful completion of the project throughout the research stay. Host laboratories do not receive any funding under the programme; the fellowship is intended solely to cover the invited researcher’s living expenses.

For further information, please consult the MESRE circular of 4 May 2022 on the implementation of research stays.

This French Government fellowship cannot be combined with a French employment contract, such as a research contract or postdoctoral contract, or with any other individual funding awarded by a French government entity.

SELECTION PROCESS

In accordance with the objectives and requirements of the call for applications, the selection process will take place in two stages.

First, scientific experts appointed by the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space in the relevant fields will assess the applications received. In the second stage, a scientific committee will make the final selection of the MOPGA 2027 fellows.

RESEARCH PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Applicants will be asked to provide:

• Project title;
• Keywords (6);
• Research project summary (max. 2,000 characters);
• Background and motivation (max. 2,000 characters);
• Scientific objectives (max. 2,000 characters);
• Methodology and timeline (max. 4,500 characters);
• Relevance of the project to the MOPGA initiative (max. 2,000 characters);
• International collaboration and/or expected impact for the applicant’s country of residence or country of origin (max. 2,000 characters).

Applications may be submitted in English or French.

REQUIRED APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

• CV including a list of publications (4 pages max.);
• Doctoral degree certificate (or official proof of degree);
• CV of the scientific supervisor at the host laboratory (2 pages max.);
• Letter of support from the scientific supervisor, co-signed by the laboratory director or accompanied by a letter of commitment from the laboratory director, confirming that the scientific environment and resources required to carry out the research project will be made available and that the project is consistent with the laboratory’s objectives;
• Letter(s) of recommendation (minimum 1 – maximum 3);
• Copy of passport or national identity document.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants must submit their research project online via the following link:

https://campusfrance.smapply.io/prog/mopga_2027/

Please make sure to consult the FAQ below and download the application guide. 

TIMELINE

• 15 September 2026: Applications open
• 15 December 2026: Application deadline
• May–June 2027: Notification of results
• Between September and December 2027: Successful applicants arrive in France and begin their research stay at French host institutions