MOPGA Fellowship 2027: Research Opportunity in France

YBB – Applications are open for the 10th edition of the Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA) Visiting Fellowship Program 2027, an international research fellowship funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), in partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space (MESRE), and implemented by Campus France.

The programme supports early-career international researchers who wish to conduct research in France on climate change and environmental challenges. Successful applicants will receive a 12-month research fellowship, including a monthly allowance of €2,500, a €500 settling-in allowance, and health coverage.

Program Overview

• Programme: Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA) 2027
• Host Country: France
• Implementing Organization: Campus France
• Funding Partners: Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) and Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space (MESRE)
• Eligible Applicants: International researchers
• Research Level: Early-career researchers holding a doctoral degree
• Duration: 12 months
• Monthly Allowance: €2,500
• Settling-in Allowance: €500
• Application Deadline: December 15, 2026

About the Fellowship

The Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA) initiative was launched to strengthen international scientific contributions to climate change and environmental challenges.

The 2027 edition is the programme’s tenth call for applications. It aims to welcome international researchers who want to undertake research projects in France and collaborate with French research institutions.

The fellowship supports research addressing environmental and climate challenges connected to the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the issues discussed at the Conferences of the Parties (COPs).

Successful applicants will conduct a 12-month research stay at a French host institution.

Also read: MCW Global Young Leaders Fellowship 2027–2028 in the United States

Research Areas

Applicants must propose a research project related to one of the five research themes identified by the MOPGA programme:

1. Earth System Sciences: Research addressing the Earth’s systems and related environmental processes.
2. Climate Change and Sustainability Sciences: Research focusing on climate change and sustainability challenges.
3. Energy Transition: Research related to the transition toward sustainable energy systems.
4. Societal Challenges Related to Environmental Issues: Research examining the social challenges associated with environmental problems.
5. Human, Animal and Environmental Health (One Health): Research addressing the interactions between human health, animal health, and ecosystems.

Note: For the One Health theme, projects must adopt an integrated approach that considers the relationship between human health, animal health, and ecosystems. Projects focusing exclusively on medicine or human health without a genuine environmental or animal health dimension are not eligible.

Fellowship Benefits

The MOPGA Visiting Fellowship provides the following support for a 12-month research stay:

1. Selected researchers will receive a monthly allowance of €2,500 throughout the 12-month fellowship.
2. A one-time settling-in allowance of €500 will be provided during the first month of the research stay.
3. The fellowship includes health insurance, civil liability insurance, and repatriation assistance. Supplementary health insurance will be provided once the fellow has been registered with the French social security system.

Important: International travel costs to France are not covered by the programme. 

Eligibility Requirements

The MOPGA Visiting Fellowship 2027 is open to international researchers who meet the following requirements:

• Hold a doctoral degree awarded less than five years before the application deadline.
• Have defended their PhD thesis between December 2021 and December 2026, inclusive.
• Hold exclusively foreign nationality. Applicants of all nationalities are eligible except French nationals.
• Apply to undertake international research mobility in France.
• Not be residing and professionally active in France at the time of application.
• Have not previously received a MOPGA fellowship.

Required Application Documents

Applicants must prepare the following documents for their MOPGA 2027 application:

1. Updated CV: Including a list of publications, with a maximum length of four pages.
2. Doctoral Degree Certificate: Or official proof of the doctoral degree.
3. Scientific Supervisor’s CV: CV of the supervisor at the French host laboratory, with a maximum length of two pages.
4. Letter of Support: A letter from the scientific supervisor, co-signed by the laboratory director or accompanied by a letter of commitment from the director.
5. Recommendation Letters: A minimum of one and a maximum of three letters.
6. Identity Document: A copy of the applicant’s passport or national identity document.

Research Project Description

Applicants must submit a research project as part of their application. The project description must include the following sections:

• Project Title
• Keywords: Six keywords.
• Research Project Summary: Maximum 2,000 characters.
• Background and Motivation: Maximum 2,000 characters.
• Scientific Objectives: Maximum 2,000 characters.
• Methodology and Timeline: Maximum 4,500 characters.
• Relevance to the MOPGA Initiative: Maximum 2,000 characters.
• International Collaboration and Expected Impact: Maximum 2,000 characters, explaining the expected impact for the applicant’s country of residence or country of origin.

Applications may be submitted in English or French.

Important Dates

Applicants should take note of the following MOPGA 2027 application timeline:

• September 15, 2026: Applications open.
• December 15, 2026: Application deadline.
• May–June 2027: Notification of results.
• September–December 2027: Successful applicants arrive in France and begin their research stays.

How to Apply 

Applicants must submit their research projects online through the official Campus France application platform.

Follow these steps:

1. Visit the official MOPGA 2027 application page.
2. Review the official call for applications, eligibility requirements, and research themes.
3. Identify a suitable French host laboratory and scientific supervisor for the proposed research project.
4. Prepare the research project description according to the specified sections and character limits.
5. Prepare the required documents, including the CV, doctoral degree certificate, supervisor’s CV, letter of support, recommendation letters, and identity document.
6. Complete and submit the online application through the Campus France SMApply portal.
7. Submit the application before December 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM Central European Time (CET).

Also read: Lingnan University Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027–2028

Conclusion

The MOPGA Visiting Fellowship 2027 offers international early-career researchers an opportunity to conduct a 12-month research project in France on climate change and environmental challenges.

The programme supports researchers undertaking international research mobility. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree awarded within the specified eligibility period and propose a research project aligned with one of the programme’s five research themes.

Researchers interested in applying should identify a suitable French host laboratory, prepare their research proposals and supporting documents, and submit their applications through Campus France before December 15, 2026.