What is an Intra-European Fellowship?
The Intra-European Fellowship (IEF) aims to help experienced researchers (i.e. in possession of PhD
or with at least 4 years of research experience full time) develop their career by providing financial
support for an individual project that will get funded for a period of 12 to 24 months. The goal is to
support researchers in attaining a leading independent position, e.g. principal investigator, professor
or other senior position in education or enterprise. The IEF may also assist researchers to resume a
career in research after a break. Like the other Marie Curie Actions, the rule of mobility is mandatory
in an IEF: applicants can be of any nationality, but they must move from one EU Member State or
Associated Country to another. The IEF follows a bottom-up approach, e.g., the research topic is
freely chosen by the researcher in any scientific or humanities research field.
Why should you go for an IEF?

Income yearly gross living allowance of € 58’500 (+ mobility allowance) for an experienced
researcher

Prestige IEF is highly competitive and obtaining one adds distinction to your CV

Independence the fellow researcher (applicant) strongly influences the fellowship topic and
destination

Mobility from and to an EU Member State or Associated Country
What is funded in an IEF?
The financial support for an IEF takes the form of a grant covering up to 100% of the budget. It
includes in particular a yearly gross living allowance for an experienced researcher of €58’500 +
generous allowances. An “experienced researcher”: is in possession of a PhD or has at least 4 years
of research experience.
When is the IEF Call 2011?
The IEF Call is open on March 16, 2011 with a deadline on August 11, 2011. Its indicative budget is
about €110 million. Find more details in the Work Programme 2011
What is the life cycle of an IEF?
How long does it take from the moment you write your proposal until the moment your project can
finally start (in case you get funded by the European Commission)? Count roughly 10-12 months:
• Stage 1: After the Call for an IEF has been published, the researcher and the host
organization have 3 months to prepare and submit a proposal until the deadline.
• Stage 2 : A panel of experts will evaluate the proposals (3 months)
• Stage 3: Applicants whose proposals have been successfully evaluated in Stage 2 will be
invited by the EC to negotiate (2-3 months)
• Stage 4 : If the negotiation with the EC has been successful, it will take another 2-3 months
to prepare the contract
• Stage 5: Start of the project, funded for a period of 12 to 24 months.
What is the success rate?
In the 2009 call, the success rate was 24%.
Tips for a successful proposal
The IEF is very popular! And you have only one attempt per Call. Therefore :
• Demonstrate in as many ways as possible that the participants and goals of your project
are the very best in Europe.
• Explain the contribution that your project is expected to make. Your project must be
innovative and original.
• Outline the benefit that will be gained from undertaking the project at the Community
level and how it will contribute to enhance the European scientific excellence.
• Demonstrate the expertise of the host institution as well as the expertise of the scientific
in charge in the field of research you want to explore
• Describe how this project will contribute to your own career
• Respect the maximum length of the proposal
• Do not miss the Call deadline!
Frequently Asked Questions – FP7 People Programme – Update
Q: Where can the host institutions be located?
A: Typically in one of the EU 27 Member States or Associated States. The EU-27 are: Austria,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The Associated Countries are:
Albania, Croatia, Macedonia, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland
and Turkey. Other states may become associated countries, check the latest news here:
http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/participate_en.html
Q: What if I want to go to (or return from) a country outside EU-27 (eg the USA, Australia, etc)?
A: There are similar programmes called Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF)or the
Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship (IIF) – see accompanying leaflets.
Q: What type of organisations can take part?
A: Many different types of host organisation can take part in IEF assuming they are ideal to boost the
researchers’ career:
• National Governmental or public organisations (e.g. universities, research centres etc)
• Commercial enterprises, especially those of small and medium size (SMEs)
• NGOs
• International European Interest Organisations (e.g. CERN, EMBL, etc.)
• The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission
Q: Can I have a stay away from the host institution?
A: Yes, but usually for no more than 30% of the project duration.
Q: What are the Evaluation Criteria?
A: Scientific and Technological Quality (25%), Training (15%), Researcher (25%), Implementation
(15%) and Impact (20%).
Q: Can I send my application by post?
A: No, you have to submit your application electronically on the EPSS (Electronic Proposal
Submission Service).
Q: Who is the Coordinator?
A: The Coordinator is the researcher who takes the lead in the preparation of the proposal. The
coordinator is the single contact point with the European Commission.
Before the Call deadline: The fellow researcher is considered as the coordinator.
After the Call deadline: The scientific -in- charge at the host institute will be the coordinator. The
fellow researcher and the scientific in charge can not be the same person.
Q: A woman wishing to apply for an Intra-European fellowship would like to know whether she
would still be an eligible applicant even though she would have lived in the host country for more
than 12 months by the date of the deadline as she would be on maternity leave for 4 months at
that time.
A: Maternity leave will not be taken into account. The rule is very simple in this respect: if the
applicant has been residing (living) in the host country for more than 12 months (in the 3 years
before the submission date), then he/she is ineligible.
Q: If this is not for me but I am still interested in international fellowships, where else can I look
for funding?
A: There are a number of other sources including The Irish Research Council for Science Engineering
and Technology www.ircset.ie
Where can I find out more about applying?
Check out Cordis, the FP7 web site of the European Union
http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/people/home_en.html
For further information, please contact:
Sharone O’Loughlin,
Research Support Services
University of Limerick
Limerick, Ireland
Phone: + 353-61-202160
E-mail: sharone.oloughlin@ul.ie
What is an IOF?
The International Outgoing Fellowship (IOF) aims to reinforce
the international dimension of the career of European
experienced researchers by giving them the opportunity to
be trained and acquire new knowledge in a third country high
level research organisation. Subsequently, these researchers
will return with the acquired knowledge and experience to a
European organisation, in a Member State or an Associated
Country. Researchers must be nationals of a Member State or
an Associated Country.
The IOF consists of a financial support to 2-phases mobility
projects:
• The 1st phase has duration of about 24 months in a
partner organisation in a third country.
• The 2nd phase of the project is to be spent in a return
host organisation in a Member State or an Associated
Country. This phase of reintegration has duration of
12 months and is mandatory.
As the other Marie Curie Actions, the IOF follows a bottom-up
approach, e.g. the research topic is freely chosen by the
researcher in collaboration with the return host organisation
with a view to completing his/her expertise. The IOF is crosscutting,
e.g. any scientific field can be funded.
What is a “third country”?
A third country is a country which is neither an EU Member
State nor an Associated Country to FP7, e.g.: Argentina,
Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, Japan, South Africa, Venezuela
USA, etc.
What is funded in an IOF?
The financial support for an IOF takes the form of a grant
covering up to 100% of the budget. It includes in particular a
yearly gross living allowance for an experienced researcher
of € 58’500 and a mobility allowance. Experienced
researcher: either in possession of a PhD or with at least 4
years of research experience fulltime.
When is the IOF Call in 2011?
The IOF Call is open on March 16, 2011 with a deadline on
August 11, 2011. Its indicative budget is about €40 mio. Find
more details in the Work Programme 2011
What is the life cycle of an IOF?
How long does it take from the moment you write your
proposal until the moment your project can finally start (in
case you get funded by the European Commission)?
Count roughly 10-12 months before starting your project:
• Stage 1: After the Call for an IOF has been
published, the researcher and the return host
organisation have 3 months to prepare and submit
a proposal until the deadline.
• Stage 2 : A panel of experts will evaluate the
proposals (2-3 months)
• Stage 3: Applicants whose proposals have been
successfully evaluated in Stage 2 will be invited by
the EC to negotiate (2-3 months)
• Stage 4 : If the negotiation with the EC has been
successful, it will take another 2-3 months to
prepare the contract
• Stage 5: 1st phase of the project at the partner
institution of a duration of 24 months
• Stage 6: 2nd phase of the project at the return host
institution for a period of 12 months.
Tips for a successful proposal
The IOF is popular! And you have only one attempt per Call.
Therefore :
• Demonstrate in as many ways as possible that you are the
best and promising European researcher in your area.
• Explain the contribution that your project is expected to
make. Your project must be innovative and original.
• Outline the benefit that will be gained from undertaking
the project at the Community level and how it will
contribute to enhance the European scientific excellence.
• Demonstrate the expertise of the partner organisation
and the return host institution as well as the expertise of
the scientific in charge in the field of research you want to
explore
• Describe how this project will contribute to your own
career
• Respect the maximum length of the proposal
• Do not miss the Call deadline!
Information Sheet – FP7 People Programme – Update 05.10.2010
FAQ
Q: Where can the return host institutions be located?
A: Typically in one of the EU 27 Member States (MS) or
Associated Countries (AC). The EU-27 are: Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and
the United Kingdom. The Associated Countries are:
Albania, Croatia, Macedonia, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein,
Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and Turkey. Other
states may become associated countries, check the latest
news here: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/participate_en.html
Q: What if I want to go to (or return from) a country
outside EU-27 or Associated Countries?
A: The 2nd phase of the project in a return host institution in
an MS or an AC is mandatory!
Q: Are holders of medical doctorates eligible for IOF?
A: Typically, no. In the context of Marie Curie actions
Medical doctorates are not equivalent to a Ph.D. In such a
case, you may still be eligible if you have at least 4 years of
research experience after your diploma/degree.
Q: What type of organisations can take part?
A: Many different types of host organisation can take part
in IOF assuming they are ideal to boost the researchers’
career:
• National Governmental or public organisations (e.g.
universities, research centres etc)
• Commercial enterprises, especially those of small and
medium size (SMEs)
• NGOs
• International European Interest Organisations (e.g. CERN,
EMBL, etc.)
• The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission
Q: What are the Evaluation Criteria?
A: Scientific and Technological Quality (25%), Training
(15%), Researcher (25%), Implementation (15%) and Impact
(20%).
Q: Can I send my application by post?
A: No, you have to submit your application electronically on
the EPSS (Electronic Proposal Submission Service).
Q: Who is the Coordinator?
A: The Coordinator is the researcher who takes the lead in
the preparation of the proposal. The coordinator is the
single contact point with the European Commission. Before
the Call deadline: the fellow researcher is considered as the
coordinator. But after the Call deadline, the scientific in
charge will be the coordinator. The fellow researcher and
the scientific in charge can not be the same person.
Where can I find out more about
applying?
Check out Cordis, the FP7 web site of the European Union :
http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/calls/
For further information, please contact:
Sharone O’Loughlin,
Research Support Services
University of Limerick
Limerick, Ireland
Phone: + 353-61-202160
E-mail: sharone.oloughlin@ul.ie