Application

Prepare a secondment application

Describe the research, training and networking activities of your secondment in a plan. Avoid jargon, acronyms and overly technical phrases. The text should be at least 300 words long, proportionate to the length of the secondment. See an example of a plan. Address each point in the following order:

  • Explain how one task aligns with your contribution during the secondment. 
  • Outline your plan for achieving this contribution, describing the topic, theory, data and expected outcome. 
  • List the scientific outputs related to the secondment, indicating the working title and the (tentative) publication outlet.
  • Justify your choice of host institution and the contact with whom you intend to cooperate.
  • List the courses, seminars, training sessions and knowledge exchange activities in which you intend to participate at the host institution.

Determine the duration 

Specify the exact start and end dates of the secondment. A secondment must be at least one month (30 days) and no more than twelve (12) months long. A researcher can be seconded several times, provided that the total length of all secondments does not exceed the maximum.

For example, John could be seconded for six months to one partner institution in 2021 and then for another six months to a different partner institution in 2022. However, Jane cannot be seconded to a partner institution for fifteen days in June and then again for fifteen days in December.

We recommend setting the start date of your secondment at least six months after the application deadline. Several administrative procedures, such as obtaining a visa and an invitation letter, can take 90 days or more.

Obtain an invitation letter

This letter will be written by a scientific contact or authorised representative from the host institution, inviting you to undertake a secondment. This letter should be signed on the institution's letterhead. It should at least mention your name and the tentative start and end dates of your secondment.

The letter should also state the source of funding: 'This secondment is part of a project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 101265385.' 

The host institution may include conditions for the invitation, such as access to the library, an office or an email address. The letter can be in PDF format. The applicant submits the invitation letter with the application.

Provide proof of affiliation or employment

Staff member. Provide a copy of your full-time employment contract. For example, working for four months at 25%, followed by a full-time contract during the secondment period, would be sufficient. During the secondment, you must be employed full-time (1.00 FTE) by your home institution. This means that you cannot undertake any additional work. You cannot also accumulate funding from a European Commission project during the secondment for expenses such as salary, travel and research activities. 

PhD student. Provide a letter from the registrar confirming your registration on a full-time PhD programme. You must remain registered as a full-time PhD student for the entire duration of the secondment. You will no longer be eligible if you complete your dissertation and cease to be a student.