MOPGA 2027 Fellowship: €2,500/Month & December Deadline

MOPGA 2027 at a Glance

Make Our Planet Great Again is a French Government international research-mobility initiative supporting early-career researchers working on major climate, environmental and sustainability challenges.

The 2027 edition is the tenth MOPGA call. It is funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space and implemented by Campus France.

Who Can Apply for MOPGA 2027?

Applicants must meet all of the current Campus France eligibility requirements.

• PhD date: the thesis must have been defended between December 2021 and December 2026 inclusive.
• Nationality: applicants must be exclusively of foreign nationality. French nationals are not eligible.
• International mobility: the application must involve mobility to France for the proposed research stay.
• France residence/work status: applicants must not be residing and professionally active in France at the time of application.
• Previous MOPGA award: previous MOPGA fellows cannot apply again.

Maternity-leave exception

Campus France allows an extension to the normal five-year PhD window in cases of maternity leave. The eligibility period may be extended by 18 months per child or by the actual duration of maternity leave when supporting documentation is provided.

If the final PhD diploma has not yet been issued

Applicants may submit official evidence confirming that the thesis defence has taken place, such as a defence certificate or another official document from the awarding institution.

Eligible MOPGA 2027 Research Themes

The 2027 call covers five broad areas:

1. Earth system sciences
2. Climate change and sustainability sciences
3. Energy transition
4. Societal challenges related to environmental issues
5. Human, animal and environmental health under the One Health approach

All disciplines can potentially qualify

Campus France confirms that humanities and social sciences are eligible when the proposed research genuinely falls within one of the MOPGA themes.

One Health projects

One Health proposals must integrate interactions among human health, animal health and ecosystems.

Innovative approaches involving advanced technologies within the five eligible research areas receive particular consideration during selection.

MOPGA 2027 Funding and Conditions

Successful fellows receive exclusively:

• €2,500 per month for 12 months;
• a one-time €500 settling-in allowance;
• health insurance;
• civil-liability insurance;
• repatriation assistance; and
• supplementary health coverage after registration with the French social-security system.

Successful applicants receive French Government Scholarship-holder status. The fellowship is paid directly by Campus France.

What is not covered?

• International travel to France is not funded by MOPGA.
• Host laboratories do not receive research-project funding from MOPGA.
• The fellowship is intended primarily to cover the invited researcher’s living expenses.

Funding cannot be combined with certain French support

The MOPGA fellowship cannot be combined with a French employment contract such as a research or postdoctoral contract, or with another individual funding award from a French government entity.

Finding a French Host Laboratory

Securing an appropriate host laboratory is an integral part of the MOPGA application process.

Campus France recommends identifying and defining the research project before contacting laboratories.

Applicants can search through:

• French research-laboratory directories;
• the Campus France Research in France portal;
• professional networks;
• existing collaborations of the applicant’s home institution; and
• direct searches of French universities, national laboratories and research organisations.

What must the host confirm?

The scientific supervisor and laboratory director must confirm that:

• the scientific environment required for the project will be available;
• the necessary research resources can be provided; and
• the proposed project is consistent with the host laboratory’s objectives.

Research Project Information Required

The online application requires the following project sections:

Character limits include spaces. Applications can be prepared in English or French.

Documents Required for MOPGA 2027

How to Apply for MOPGA 2027

1. Confirm your eligibility. Check your PhD defence date, nationality, mobility status, France residence/work status and previous MOPGA history.
2. Select the relevant MOPGA theme. Make sure the scientific question directly fits one of the five official themes.
3. Find a suitable host laboratory in France. Discuss your project, resources and supervision requirements before finalizing the application.
4. Secure host support. Obtain the scientific supervisor’s support and the laboratory director’s required endorsement.
5. Prepare the research-project sections. Respect every official character limit.
6. Collect the required documents. Prepare CVs, degree evidence, recommendations and identity documentation.
7. Submit through the official Campus France SMApply portal. Applications sent by email are not accepted.
8. Submit by 15 December 2026 at 23:59 CET.

How MOPGA Applications Are Selected

MOPGA uses a two-stage scientific selection process.

1. Scientific experts appointed by the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space assess eligible applications in the relevant fields.
2. A scientific committee then makes the final selection of MOPGA fellows.

Applicants should therefore focus on scientific quality, feasibility, host-laboratory fit, relevance to the MOPGA research themes and credible international or societal impact.

CareerAidHub Applicant Guidance

Secure the host before polishing the full application

The host documentation is mandatory. Begin with scientific fit and laboratory capacity rather than writing a complete proposal without host engagement.

Separate researcher living costs from research-project costs

The €2,500 monthly fellowship supports the researcher. It does not provide a research budget to the host laboratory. Clarify experimental, equipment, fieldwork, sample, computing and travel costs with the host before submission.

Use the impact section strategically

Explain how the 12-month stay can strengthen international collaboration or produce tangible benefits for your country of residence or origin.

Do not describe a purely medical project as One Health

One Health proposals need meaningful integration of human, animal and ecosystem dimensions.

Researchers can also explore CareerAidHub’s postdoctoral fellowships, research opportunities and Postdoctoral Fellowships.