When is the ERC Starting Grant 2027 deadline?

The ERC-2027-StG call opened on 22 July 2026 and closes on 14 October 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Always confirm the exact time on the call page of the EU Funding & Tenders Portal before submitting.

Who is eligible for the 2027 Starting Grant call?

Researchers whose PhD was defended no more than 10 years before 1 January 2027, hosted by a public or private research organisation in an EU Member State or associated country. The window can be extended for documented reasons such as parental leave, long-term illness, national service or clinical training.

How much funding can I request?

Up to €1.5 million for five years, with possible additional funding for eligible start-up costs, major equipment, access to large facilities and relocation to the EU or an associated country. Check the ceilings in the ERC Work Programme 2027.

Is three weeks enough to write an ERC Starting Grant?

It is enough to submit, rarely enough to compete. If the idea is not already clear and tested with colleagues, a stronger strategy is to prepare properly for the next call rather than spend a submission on an unfinished synopsis.

What happens after the deadline?

Step one is a panel evaluation of B1, with results usually a few months after the deadline. Applicants who pass move to step two: remote specialist review of B2 plus an interview with the panel.

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Open call · ERC-2027-StG

ERC Starting Grant 2027: what to do in the weeks that are left

The call closes on 14 October 2026. Below: the rules that decide admissibility, a week-by-week plan, the mistakes that sink strong scientists, and every official document you need — in one page.

25 days until the deadline

The call at a glance

Call identifier: ERC-2027-StG
Call opened: 22 July 2026
Submission deadline: 14 October 2026, 17:00 Brussels time
Grant: Up to €1.5 million for five years
Additional funding: Possible top-ups for start-up costs, major equipment and relocation
Eligibility: PhD defended no more than 10 years before 1 January 2027
Where you apply: EU Funding & Tenders Portal

Figures follow the ERC Work Programme 2027 and the call page. The work programme is the binding source — confirm dates and ceilings there before you rely on them.

What the application actually consists of

Part A — administrative data, submitted through the Portal forms.
B1 — the extended synopsis plus CV and track record. The panel reads this at step one, and this is where most applications end.
B2 — the full scientific proposal, read at step two by specialist referees. It is submitted with B1, so it cannot be written later.
Host institution support letter and any eligibility-extension evidence.

Our detailed walkthrough of the synopsis is here: writing the ERC B1 extended synopsis, and the scheme comparison is in ERC grants explained.

A realistic plan for the remaining weeks

Four weeks out

Confirm eligibility in writing: certified PhD defence date, plus documentation for any extension.
Lock the panel. Read the descriptors and check recently funded projects in the panel you plan to choose.
Freeze the central idea. One sentence, understandable to a neighbouring field. Stop changing it after this point.
Confirm the host institution support letter is in progress — institutions are slow in October.

Three weeks out

Complete a full B1 draft including the track record section, not just the synopsis.
Send B1 to two readers: one specialist, one outside your subfield.
Draft the risk and alternatives section explicitly. Name the failure points.
Start Part A on the Portal so administrative data does not surprise you later.

Two weeks out

Complete B2 and make it consistent with B1: same objectives, same wording, same order.
Rewrite the first page of B1 after the feedback. It is the page that decides step one.
Check ethics questions and prepare the ethics self-assessment honestly.
Collect the supporting documents your host requires.

Final week

No new content. Consistency, clarity and formatting only.
Check page limits, font and margin requirements against the call template.
Upload a complete version to the Portal early — you can replace it until the deadline.
Submit at least 24 hours before the cut-off. The system does not accept late proposals, for any reason.

Why strong scientists lose this call

An excellent scientist with an ineligible date. Check the PhD defence date and extensions first, not last.
A synopsis that reads as the natural continuation of the PhD or postdoc rather than a step change.
Ambition asserted with adjectives instead of demonstrated against a stated current limit.
No visible risk, which reads as either incremental or unexamined.
A track record that lists outputs without showing independence from the former supervisor.
A panel chosen by habit, so the first readers do not recognise the importance of the question.
B1 and B2 that disagree on objectives, numbers or timeline.
Submitting in the last hours, when the Portal is busiest.

Official resources for this call

More links, grouped by programme, in our Horizon Europe resource library.

Tools you can use today

Call readiness scorecard

Ten questions that tell you whether to submit in October or aim for the next call.

Proposal checklist and self-assessment

Twelve checks evaluators apply, with a score and a downloadable PDF.

Frequently asked questions

When is the ERC Starting Grant 2027 deadline?: The ERC-2027-StG call opened on 22 July 2026 and closes on 14 October 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Always confirm the exact time on the call page of the EU Funding & Tenders Portal before submitting.
Who is eligible for the 2027 Starting Grant call?: Researchers whose PhD was defended no more than 10 years before 1 January 2027, hosted by a public or private research organisation in an EU Member State or associated country. The window can be extended for documented reasons such as parental leave, long-term illness, national service or clinical training.
How much funding can I request?: Up to €1.5 million for five years, with possible additional funding for eligible start-up costs, major equipment, access to large facilities and relocation to the EU or an associated country. Check the ceilings in the ERC Work Programme 2027.
Is three weeks enough to write an ERC Starting Grant?: It is enough to submit, rarely enough to compete. If the idea is not already clear and tested with colleagues, a stronger strategy is to prepare properly for the next call rather than spend a submission on an unfinished synopsis.
What happens after the deadline?: Step one is a panel evaluation of B1, with results usually a few months after the deadline. Applicants who pass move to step two: remote specialist review of B2 plus an interview with the panel.

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