MOPGA Scholarship 2027 in France: €2,500 Monthly Fellowship
The French Government MOPGA Scholarship 2027 offers an opportunity for international researchers to undertake a 12-month research project in France. The programme supports scientific work addressing climate change, environmental sustainability, energy transition and other challenges affecting the planet.
MOPGA stands for Make Our Planet Great Again. The initiative is funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space, and implemented by Campus France.
The 2027 call is intended for early-career researchers who have already completed a doctoral degree and want to collaborate with a French research institution. It is not a general undergraduate or master's scholarship, and applicants must develop a research project that fits the programme's eligible themes.
Applications opened on 15 September 2026 and close on 15 December 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Central European Time. Successful candidates are expected to begin their research stays between September and December 2027.
What Is the MOPGA Scholarship?
MOPGA is a French government research fellowship designed to attract international scientific talent to France. Its purpose is to strengthen research and international collaboration on environmental and climate-related challenges.
For the 2027 edition, selected researchers will spend 12 months working on a research project with a host institution in France. The fellowship is intended to support the researcher’s living expenses during this period, while the host laboratory provides a suitable scientific environment for the proposed work.
Unlike scholarships designed for students pursuing a first degree, MOPGA is specifically intended for researchers who already hold a PhD or equivalent doctoral qualification.
MOPGA Scholarship 2027 Benefits
The fellowship provides financial support and health-related coverage for the research stay.
Monthly Allowance of €2,500
Each successful fellow receives a monthly allowance of €2,500 for 12 months. This is intended to help cover living expenses during the research stay in France.
Over the 12-month period, the monthly allowance amounts to €30,000.
Installation Allowance of €500
The programme also provides a one-time installation allowance of €500 to help with initial settling-in expenses.
Health Insurance and Related Coverage
The fellowship includes health insurance, civil liability insurance and repatriation assistance. Supplementary health coverage is provided after affiliation with the French social security system, according to the programme's stated arrangements.
Research Collaboration in France
Successful applicants will work with a French research institution that can provide an appropriate scientific environment for their proposed project.
Applicants must identify a suitable host laboratory and scientific contact as part of the preparation process. The host institution is expected to support the researcher's work, but MOPGA does not provide a separate grant to the laboratory through the individual fellowship.
Important Funding Limitation
The fellowship does not cover international travel to France. Applicants should discuss possible travel assistance directly with their prospective host laboratory.
The grant is also not cumulative with a French employment contract, such as a French research or postdoctoral employment contract, or with another individual funding award from a French state entity.
Who Can Apply for MOPGA 2027?
Applicants must meet all the main eligibility conditions.
1. Hold a doctoral degree
Applicants must have obtained their PhD less than five years before the application deadline. For this call, candidates must have defended their doctoral thesis between December 2021 and December 2026 inclusive.
If the final diploma has not yet been issued, official documentation confirming the thesis defence may be accepted under the programme's stated rules. Applicants who have not defended their thesis by December 2026 are not eligible for this call.
2. Be a foreign national
Applicants must be exclusively of foreign nationality. French nationals are not eligible, while other nationalities may apply if they meet the remaining requirements.
3. Undertake international mobility to France
The proposed research stay must involve international mobility to France. At the time of application, candidates must not be residing in France or professionally active there.
4. Have no previous MOPGA fellowship
Researchers who have already received a MOPGA fellowship are not eligible to apply again under the 2027 call.
5. Propose research that fits the programme
The proposed project must address at least one of the eligible MOPGA research themes. Holding a PhD alone is not sufficient if the project does not fit the call.
Eligible Research Areas
The 2027 programme identifies five broad research themes:
Earth system sciences: Research into the processes and interactions shaping the Earth's systems.
Climate change and sustainability science: Projects examining climate impacts, adaptation, mitigation and sustainable development.
Energy transition: Research contributing to the transition towards more sustainable energy systems.
Societal challenges of environmental issues: Work examining the social, economic, political or human dimensions of environmental challenges.
Human, animal and environmental health: Projects adopting an integrated One Health approach that considers interactions between people, animals and ecosystems.
Innovative approaches involving advanced technologies may receive particular consideration when they address the programme's research priorities.
For One Health projects, a proposal focused exclusively on human medicine or human health without a meaningful connection to animals or ecosystems is not eligible under that theme.
Researchers from different academic disciplines may qualify, including engineering, computer science, economics, law, social sciences and other fields, provided their proposed work aligns with the specified research themes.
Documents Required for the MOPGA Scholarship
Applicants should prepare the following documents and information before completing the online application.
1. Curriculum vitae: A CV, including a list of publications, limited to four pages.
2. Doctoral qualification: A copy of the PhD diploma or an accepted official certificate confirming the doctoral qualification or thesis defence.
3. Host scientist's CV: The CV of the scientific contact at the French host laboratory, limited to two pages.
4. Letter of support from the host scientist: This must be co-signed by the laboratory director or accompanied by a commitment letter from the director. It should confirm that the necessary scientific environment and resources will be available and explain how the project fits the laboratory's work.
5. Recommendation letter: At least one and no more than three recommendation letters.
6. Identification: A copy of the applicant's passport or national identity document.
Applicants must also prepare the research project details required by the online application platform.
How to Prepare the Research Proposal
The research proposal is central to the application. It should demonstrate a clear scientific purpose and explain how the project contributes to one or more of MOPGA's priorities.
The application requests the following sections:
Project title and six keywords.
Research project summary, up to 2,000 characters.
Context and motivation, up to 2,000 characters.
Scientific objectives, up to 2,000 characters.
Methodology and timetable, up to 4,500 characters.
Explanation of how the project aligns with MOPGA, up to 2,000 characters.
International collaboration and potential benefits for the applicant's country of residence or origin, up to 2,000 characters.
The proposal may be submitted in English or French.
Applicants should define their project before contacting a prospective host laboratory. They should identify researchers whose expertise matches the project and explain what the collaboration would contribute to the proposed research.
A proposal should not simply describe climate change as a general problem. It should identify a specific research question, explain the methods to be used, establish achievable objectives and show how the expected findings could contribute to the eligible research area.
How to Find a French Host Laboratory
Finding a suitable host laboratory is an essential part of the preparation process.
Start by identifying French universities and research institutions working in the area relevant to your project. Review their research groups, recent publications and available facilities. Then identify a researcher whose expertise is closely related to the proposed work.
Contact the researcher with a concise explanation of the project, your academic background and the reasons their laboratory would be a suitable host.
The application requires support from the scientific contact and the laboratory director, so applicants should allow sufficient time to establish this collaboration and obtain the necessary documents.
How to Apply for the French Government MOPGA Scholarship 2027
Applications must be submitted online through the official Campus France application platform. Applications sent by email are not accepted.
Follow these steps:
Read the official MOPGA 2027 call and eligibility requirements.
Confirm that your doctoral qualification and nationality meet the criteria.
Select an eligible research theme and develop your proposal.
Identify a suitable French host laboratory and obtain the required support.
Prepare your CV, doctoral documents, recommendation letters and identification.
Complete the online application, including the research proposal sections.
Submit the application before the deadline and retain a record of your submission.
MOPGA Scholarship 2027 Deadline and Timeline
The official schedule is as follows:
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 15 September 2026 |
| Application deadline | 15 December 2026 |
| Expected results | May to June 2027 |
| Expected research-stay arrival | September to December 2027 |
| Fellowship duration | 12 months |
These dates are published by Campus France for the 2027 call.
Applicants should submit early enough to resolve any issues with their documents or host-laboratory arrangements. The deadline is stated in Central European Time, so candidates applying from other time zones should account for the time difference.
Can Nigerians Apply for MOPGA 2027?
Yes. Nigerian researchers may apply because the programme is open to eligible foreign nationals, with French nationality being the stated exclusion.
However, applicants from Nigeria must still hold a qualifying doctoral degree, meet the doctoral defence date requirement, be outside France and not professionally active there at the time of application, and propose research that fits MOPGA's eligible themes.
The fellowship is not available to Nigerian undergraduate or master's students because it is specifically designed for researchers who have completed a PhD.
Is MOPGA a Fully Funded Scholarship?
MOPGA provides a substantial funding package for the 12-month research stay: a €2,500 monthly allowance, a €500 installation allowance and specified insurance coverage.
However, it is important to understand the limits. International travel is not covered, and the fellowship does not provide a separate laboratory grant. Applicants should therefore confirm their travel arrangements and discuss any possible additional support with the host institution.
It is most accurately described as a funded postdoctoral research fellowship, rather than a general scholarship covering every possible expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can master's students apply?
No. The MOPGA 2027 call is for researchers who have completed a doctoral degree within the specified period.
Is the monthly allowance €2,500?
Yes. The published allowance is €2,500 per month for 12 months, plus a one-time €500 installation allowance.
Does MOPGA pay for flights?
No. International travel to France is not covered by the fellowship. A host laboratory may be able to provide assistance, but this must be discussed directly with the institution.
Can applicants submit a proposal in English?
Yes. The application dossier may be written in English or French.
When will the results be announced?
Campus France expects to notify applicants of the results in May or June 2027.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is 15 December 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Central European Time. <
Conclusion
The French Government MOPGA Scholarship 2027 offers an opportunity for international early-career researchers to conduct climate and environmental research in France for 12 months.
Eligible applicants must hold a PhD defended between December 2021 and December 2026, meet the nationality and mobility requirements, and develop a research proposal aligned with the programme's priorities. The financial package includes €2,500 per month, a €500 installation allowance and specified insurance coverage.
The application deadline is 15 December 2026. Prospective applicants should start preparing their research proposal and securing support from a French host laboratory well before the closing date.
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