An ERC application is more than the scientific PDF. The current application includes online administrative forms, the scientific proposal, CV and Track Record, institutional documentation and any relevant supporting evidence.
Use the official call documents as the final authority. This page is a working checklist to help you organise the application early enough that administrative details do not compete with the scientific writing in the final week.
Quick checklist
For a typical ERC Starting Grant application, prepare or coordinate:
- Part A online forms;
- detailed budget and Resources section;
- Part B1: Part I of the Scientific Proposal;
- CV and Track Record;
- Part B2: Part II of the Scientific Proposal;
- Funding ID;
- Host Institution support letter / commitment;
- PhD certificate and defence-date evidence;
- eligibility-extension documentation if relevant;
- ethics self-assessment and related information where relevant;
- security self-assessment where relevant;
- any other call-specific supporting document listed in the current submission system.
Part A - online administrative information
Part A is completed in the EU submission system rather than written as a conventional narrative document.
The information includes proposal and participant details, budget/resources and other required declarations.
Treat it as part of the proposal architecture. The budget, time commitment and institutional information should remain consistent with Part I and Part II.
Budget and Resources
The ERC has clarified that the justification for the requested budget and resources belongs in the Resources section of Part A. Part II can provide additional explanation when needed to describe methodology or work plan, but should not contradict the Resources section.
Prepare the budget early enough to test whether the team and equipment structure are realistic.
Read: ERC Starting Grant budget guide ->
Part B1
The current B1 package includes:
Part I of the Scientific Proposal
Maximum five pages for Starting Grants under the current structure.
This is the scientific case used at Step 1: state of knowledge, major open question, objectives and overall research strategy.
CV and Track Record
Use this to demonstrate contribution, trajectory, scientific independence and the capacity to lead the programme.
Read: CV and Track Record guide ->
Part B2
The current B2 package includes:
Part II of the Scientific Proposal
Maximum seven pages for Starting Grants under the current structure.
This develops methodology, work plan, risk assessment and mitigating measures.
Funding ID
List relevant current and pending funding as required by the current template.
Do not wait until submission day to reconstruct the PI's funding history.
Host Institution support
The Host Institution must provide the required commitment to support the PI and, if funded, provide suitable conditions for independent leadership of the project.
The PI does not need to already be employed by the Host Institution at submission.
Read: Do you need a permanent position? ->
Read: Host Institution guide ->
PhD certificate and defence-date evidence
Under the current Starting Grant rules, eligibility is referenced to the successful PhD defence date.
Make sure your documentation supports the relevant date. If your institution did not organise a conventional defence/viva, check the current ERC instructions for the evidence required.
Eligibility-extension evidence
If you rely on an extension to the eligibility window, collect the supporting documentation early.
Do not assume a circumstance is eligible because it feels comparable to another accepted reason. Use the current Work Programme and Information for Applicants.
Ethics information
The online application includes an Ethics Issues Table and, where relevant, an ethics self-assessment.
A clear ethics section can prevent avoidable clarification later. Identify issues honestly and explain how they will be handled.
The ERC notes that proposals selected for funding undergo an ethics review.
Security self-assessment
Where relevant, the application includes security-related declarations concerning protected information, misuse potential or national-security restrictions.
Use the current submission form and official guidance rather than reusing an old response.
A document timeline
8-12 weeks before deadline
- confirm eligibility;
- identify the Host Institution;
- download/read current call documents;
- begin Part I and CV/Track Record;
- clarify internal institutional deadlines.
6-8 weeks before deadline
- develop Part II;
- build the budget/resources model;
- identify ethics/security issues;
- confirm supporting documents.
3-4 weeks before deadline
- complete a full proposal consistency review;
- check Host Institution documents;
- verify Part A against B1/B2;
- resolve missing eligibility evidence.
Final week
- perform compliance and formatting checks;
- upload early;
- verify the submitted version;
- avoid introducing last-minute scientific changes unless necessary.
Where to download the current materials
Use the official ERC Starting Grant page and the ERC document library.
For a guided overview, see ERC Starting Grant templates and official materials.