What if you could spend a year conducting climate and environmental research in France while receiving a €2,500 monthly fellowship?
The Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA) Fellowship 2027 is inviting early-career international researchers to undertake a 12-month research project at a French host institution. Funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in partnership with the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space, the program is implemented by Campus France.
The fellowship is designed for researchers working on major environmental, climate and sustainability challenges and offers financial support, health coverage and the opportunity to collaborate with French research institutions.
Applications are open until December 15, 2026.
Quick Facts
- Opportunity Type: Visiting Research Fellowship / Postdoctoral Fellowship
- Host Country: France
- Host Institution: A French research laboratory or institution
- Location: France
- Duration: 12 months
- Start Date: Between September and December 2027
- Mode: On-site research in France
- Nationality: All nationalities except French nationals
- Minimum Degree Required: Doctoral degree (PhD)
- Work Experience/Postdoc History: No separate work-experience requirement stated; PhD must have been defended between December 2021 and December 2026
- Age Limit: Not specified
- Stipend / Financial Support: €2,500 per month for 12 months + €500 settling-in allowance
- Health Coverage: Health insurance, civil liability insurance and repatriation assistance, followed by supplementary health insurance after registration with French social security
- Application Deadline: December 15, 2026, 23:59 CET
- Application Fee: No application fee stated
- International Travel: Not covered by MOPGA; the host laboratory may be able to provide support
What Is the MOPGA Fellowship?
The Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA) program supports international researchers whose work addresses climate change and environmental challenges.
For 2027, the program is offering 12-month visiting fellowships in France to early-career international researchers. Fellows will conduct their proposed research project in collaboration with a French host laboratory or research institution.
The 2027 program is the tenth MOPGA call and is funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), in partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space (MESRE), with Campus France responsible for implementation.
What Does the Fellowship Cover?
Selected researchers receive:
€2,500 Monthly Allowance
Each fellow receives a €2,500 monthly allowance for 12 months.
That represents €30,000 in fellowship payments over the year.
€500 Settling-In Allowance
A €500 settling-in allowance is provided during the first month of the research stay.
Health Coverage
The fellowship also includes health-related coverage, including:
- Health insurance
- Civil liability insurance
- Repatriation assistance
- Supplementary health insurance after registration with the French social security system
What Is NOT Covered?
This is an important point for applicants.
International travel to France is not covered by the MOPGA programme.
Campus France states that the host laboratory may be able to provide support toward these travel costs, but this is not guaranteed by the fellowship itself.
The program also states that host laboratories do not receive funding from MOPGA. Their role is to provide an appropriate scientific environment and the resources needed for the research project.
Who Can Apply?
The MOPGA Fellowship 2027 is specifically designed for early-career international researchers.
Applicants must:
- 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.
- Be a foreign national. French nationals are not eligible.
- Be applying for international research mobility to France.
- Not be residing and professionally active in France at the time of application.
- Not have previously received a MOPGA fellowship.
What If Your PhD Certificate Has Not Been Issued Yet?
Applicants whose doctoral degree certificate has not yet been issued may still be eligible if they can provide official documentation confirming that their thesis defence has taken place.
Campus France specifically allows supporting documentation such as an official certificate confirming the defence or another official document from the institution confirming that the defence has taken place.
What Research Areas Are Eligible?
Your research project must fall within one of five broad MOPGA research areas:
1. Earth System Sciences
Research examining the Earth’s interconnected natural systems and environmental processes.
2. Climate Change and Sustainability Sciences
Projects addressing climate change, sustainability and related environmental challenges.
3. Energy Transition
Research related to the transition toward more sustainable energy systems.
4. Societal Challenges Related to Environmental Issues
Projects examining social and societal dimensions of environmental challenges.
5. Human, Animal and Environmental Health — One Health
Projects using an integrated One Health approach that considers the interactions between human health, animal health and ecosystems.
Importantly, projects focusing only on human medicine or health without a genuine environmental or animal-health dimension are not eligible under this theme.
Campus France also notes that innovative approaches involving advanced technologies in these research areas will receive particular consideration.
Do You Need a Host Laboratory in France?
Yes.
Finding a French host laboratory or research unit is an integral part of the application process.
Your research project should be clearly defined before approaching potential hosts. Applicants can use research laboratory directories and the Campus France Research in France portal to identify potential institutions, or work through existing academic connections.
The application requires:
- The CV of the scientific supervisor at the host laboratory
- A letter of support from the scientific supervisor
- Co-signature by the laboratory director, or a separate commitment letter from the laboratory director
What Documents Are Required?
Applicants should prepare:
- CV including publications — maximum 4 pages
- Doctoral degree certificate or official proof of the degree
- CV of the scientific supervisor — maximum 2 pages
- Letter of support from the scientific supervisor
- Laboratory director’s commitment or co-signed support
- 1 to 3 recommendation letters
- Passport or national identity document
What Does the Research Proposal Include?
The application asks applicants to provide several components of their proposed research project, including:
- Project title
- Six keywords
- Research project summary
- Background and motivation
- Scientific objectives
- Methodology and timeline
- Relevance of the project to MOPGA
- International collaboration and/or expected impact for the applicant’s country of residence or origin
Applications may be submitted in English or French.
MOPGA Fellowship 2027 Timeline
- Applications open: September 15, 2026
- Application deadline: December 15, 2026
- Results: May–June 2027
- Research stay begins: Between September and December 2027
- Fellowship duration: 12 months
The official application portal confirms that applications close on December 15, 2026 at 23:59 CET.
Is There an Application Fee?
No application fee is stated by Campus France for the MOPGA 2027 application.
Applications are submitted online through the official Campus France application platform.
Applicants should be cautious of anyone asking for payment to submit or “guarantee” a MOPGA application.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online through the official Campus France application portal.
Before applying:
- Identify a suitable research topic within the MOPGA themes.
- Develop your research proposal.
- Find a suitable French host laboratory.
- Discuss your project with a potential scientific supervisor.
- Secure the required host-laboratory support.
- Prepare your CV, degree documentation and recommendation letters.
- Complete the online MOPGA application.
- Submit everything before December 15, 2026 at 23:59 CET.
Applications sent by email are not considered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Indian researchers apply for MOPGA 2027?
Yes. MOPGA 2027 is open to foreign researchers of all nationalities except French nationals, provided they meet the other eligibility requirements. Indian researchers can therefore apply.
Can PhD students apply?
No. MOPGA 2027 is not a PhD scholarship. Applicants must already have defended their doctoral thesis within the specified eligibility period.
Can Master’s students apply?
No. The 2027 MOPGA call is for researchers holding a doctoral degree. Campus France explicitly states that there is no MOPGA call for Master’s or PhD students.
Can I apply without a French host laboratory?
No. Finding a host laboratory is an integral part of the application process, and the application requires support from the scientific supervisor and host laboratory.
Is MOPGA renewable?
No. The fellowship lasts 12 months and is not renewable.
Does MOPGA pay for flights to France?
No. International travel costs are not covered by the programme. A host laboratory may potentially provide support.
When does the MOPGA 2027 fellowship begin?
Successful researchers will arrive in France and begin their research stay between September and December 2027.
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Official Application
Apply through the official Campus France MOPGA 2027 portal
