ERC Consolidator Grant 2027: up to EUR 2 million over 5 years for researchers 7 to 12 years after their PhD, deadline 12 January 2027

The European Research Council has published the ERC Consolidator Grant 2027 call (ERC-2027-COG) to support mid-career researchers who are consolidating their independent research teams. The grant operates on a completely bottom-up basis, meaning proposals are welcomed from any field of research without predetermined scientific priorities.

Grants provide standard funding of up to EUR 2,000,000 over a five-year period, with provisions for additional support under specific operational conditions. The submission deadline for this call is 12 January 2027.

What is funded

The grant funds frontier research projects across all scientific domains. Financing covers up to 100% of total eligible direct research costs, along with a flat-rate contribution of 25% of eligible costs to cover indirect research costs. The standard maximum grant is EUR 2,000,000 for a duration of five years, adjusted pro rata for shorter project timelines.

Applicants may request up to an additional EUR 1,000,000 to cover justified major costs necessary for the project, such as relocation, equipment acquisition, or access to large facilities. For Principal Investigators who are relocating to an EU Member State or an Associated Country from a non-associated third country, the maximum additional funding can reach up to EUR 2,000,000.

Who can apply

The call is aimed at individual researchers of any nationality who demonstrate an excellent research proposal and a promising scientific track record. Applicants must have completed their PhD between 7 and 12 years prior to 1 January 2027, based on the certified date of their successful PhD defence.

Applications must be submitted by a single Principal Investigator in conjunction with a Host Institution. The Host Institution must be a public or private research organisation, such as a higher education institution or research centre, legally established in an EU Member State or an associated country. The Principal Investigator does not need to be employed by the Host Institution at the time of submission.

Conditions and requirements

Eligibility windows can be formally extended for documented personal circumstances. Permitted reasons include maternity, paternity, or parental leave, long-term illness, national service, clinical training, natural disasters, asylum, or instances where the applicant was a victim of violence.

The Host Institution must guarantee that the Principal Investigator has the necessary conditions to independently direct the research and manage project funds. Principal Investigators can hire team members of any nationality, and team members may be based either in Europe or in non-European countries.

How to apply

Applications must be prepared and submitted electronically in response to the official call for proposals before the deadline on 12 January 2027. A complete proposal package includes standard administrative forms, the detailed research proposal, and mandatory supporting documentation from the chosen Host Institution.

Practical tip. Verify your PhD defence date documentation well in advance, as the ERC calculates eligibility strictly from the certified date of the successful defence rather than the administrative diploma issuance date. If your awarding institution did not organise a formal defence or viva, secure an official institutional letter confirming the exact date of PhD approval prior to preparing your administrative submission.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: erc.europa.eu.