About this opportunity
Make Our Planet Great Again, run by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and implemented by Campus France, brings researchers from around the world into French host laboratories for a year of work on the environmental and climate questions that come up at the COPs. For the 2027 cohort the call covers five themes: earth system sciences, climate change and sustainability sciences, energy transition, societal challenges linked to environmental issues, and human, animal and environmental health under the One Health approach. Projects that bring in advanced technologies get particular consideration.
The terms are clearly defined. A fellowship lasts 12 months and pays EUR 2,500 a month, with a EUR 500 settling-in allowance during the first month of the stay. Health coverage comes with it, covering health insurance, civil liability insurance and repatriation assistance, then supplementary health insurance once you are registered with the French social security system. Successful applicants hold French Government Scholarship status, and the fellowship is paid directly by Campus France. One thing to plan for: international travel costs to France are not covered.
Eligibility
is generous on nationality and strict on timing. You must be of a nationality other than French, you must not be residing or professionally active in France when you apply, and you must have defended your doctoral thesis between December 2021 and December 2026 inclusive. An exception extends that window by 18 months per child, or by the actual length of maternity leave, when you submit supporting documents. If you have already held a MOPGA fellowship, you cannot apply again.
You also need a host laboratory before you finish applying, because your file must carry a letter of support from your scientific supervisor at that laboratory, co-signed by the laboratory director or accompanied by the director's letter of commitment. Host laboratories receive no funding under the programme and commit only to providing the scientific environment your project needs. Applications may be written in English or French.
What you receive
- A 12 month research stay at a French host laboratory
- A monthly allowance of EUR 2,500
- A EUR 500 settling-in allowance during the first month of the stay
- Health coverage including health insurance, civil liability insurance and repatriation assistance
- Supplementary health insurance once you are registered with the French social security system
- Status of French Government Scholarship holder, with the fellowship paid directly by Campus France
- A signed research stay agreement between your host institution in France and you
Who can apply
- You hold a doctoral degree awarded less than five years before the application deadline, which for this call means you defended your thesis between December 2021 and December 2026 inclusive
- You are of foreign nationality. All nationalities are eligible except French nationality
- You are not residing and not professionally active in France at the time of application
- You have not previously received a MOPGA fellowship
- Your project falls within one of the five eligible research themes
- You have identified a French host laboratory and secured the required letters of support
Who should not apply
- Applicants of French nationality are not eligible
- Researchers residing or professionally active in France at the time of application cannot apply
- Previous MOPGA fellows are excluded
- The MOPGA fellowship cannot be combined with a French employment contract, such as a research contract or postdoctoral contract, or with any other individual funding awarded by a French government entity
- Projects focusing solely on medicine or human health, without a genuine environmental or animal health dimension, are not eligible under the One Health approach
- International travel costs to France are not funded
- Host laboratories receive no funding under the programme
Documents to prepare
- Curriculum vitae including a list of publications, 4 pages maximum
- Doctoral degree certificate or official proof of degree
- Curriculum vitae of your scientific supervisor at the host laboratory, 2 pages maximum
- Letter of support from your scientific supervisor, co-signed by the laboratory director or accompanied by a letter of commitment from the director, confirming the scientific environment and resources and that the project fits the laboratory's objectives
- Letters of recommendation, minimum 1 and maximum 3
- Copy of passport or national identity document
- Project fields: title, 6 keywords, research project summary, background and motivation and scientific objectives at 2,000 characters each, methodology and timeline at 4,500 characters, relevance to the MOPGA initiative at 2,000 characters, and international collaboration or expected impact for your country of residence or origin at 2,000 characters
- Supporting documents for a maternity leave extension, if you are claiming one
How to apply
- Confirm your eligibility on the official MOPGA 2027 page, including the nationality rule, the December 2021 to December 2026 thesis window and the five research themes
- Contact a French host laboratory in your field and agree the supervision arrangement, since your application must carry the supervisor and director letters
- Download and read the MOPGA application guide and the FAQ on the official Campus France page
- Register and submit your research project online through the official Campus France application portal at https://campusfrance.smapply.io/prog/mopga_2027/
- Write your application in English or French, keep to the character limits for each field and upload every required document
- Submit before the application deadline of 15 December 2026
Selection process
- Applications open on 15 September 2026 and close on 15 December 2026
- In the first stage, scientific experts appointed by the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space in the relevant fields assess the applications received
- In the second stage, a scientific committee makes the final selection of the MOPGA 2027 fellows
- Notification of results runs through May and June 2027
- Successful applicants arrive in France and begin their research stay at French host institutions between September and December 2027
Sources and verification
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Questions applicants ask
Can I apply if I defend my PhD thesis after December 2026?
No. To be eligible you must have defended your thesis between December 2021 and December 2026 inclusive. If your degree certificate has not yet been issued, you may submit official proof of degree.
Does the fellowship cover my flight to France?
No. International travel costs are not covered. The fellowship is intended solely to cover the invited researcher's living expenses during the 12 month stay.
Can I work with a French laboratory that has not agreed to host me yet?
Your application must include a letter of support from your scientific supervisor at the host laboratory, co-signed by the laboratory director or accompanied by a letter of commitment from the director. Agree the arrangement before you submit.
In what language can I apply?
Applications may be submitted in English or French.
Can I hold a French job or another French government scholarship at the same time?
No. The fellowship cannot be combined with a French employment contract, such as a research or postdoctoral contract, or with any other individual funding awarded by a French government entity.
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