The next ERC Starting Grant call is expected to have a deadline in mid-October 2026, and details will be available via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal in July. Due to the level of interest from candidates wishing to be based at the University of Oxford, an internal selection process is required, and expressions of interest are therefore invited from suitably qualified candidates who wish to be based in the Faculty of Philosophy. The internal deadline is 17th April 2026.
There are various eligibility rules and you are encouraged to review the scheme's guidance notes before submitting an expression of interest. More information is available here. Note that from 2027, eligibility is being extended so that "researchers will be eligible to apply for a Starting Grant immediately after successfully defending their PhD, and at any time within the following 10-year period".
How to apply
Candidates should first contact a permanent postholder in the Faculty of Philosophy to ask if they are willing to act as supervisor for the duration of the Fellowship. All expressions of interest must have the agreement and confirmed support of a Philosophy postholder.
Candidates should submit the following materials to adminofficer@philosophy.ox.ac.uk by midday on Friday 17th April 2026:
- a maximum three-page Expression of Interest form (linked below). You should bear in mind that your materials will be reviewed by Faculty staff who may not share your specialism;
- and a maximum two-page CV.
You must ask your proposed supervisor to send an email to the same address by the same date confirming their support and availability over the summer to provide input and feedback on your application.
What happens next
Once the Faculty has considered the expressions and forwarded its recommendation to the Humanities Division, successful candidates will be supported by a Divisional Research Facilitator in completing the full application.
