The MOPGA 2027 Visiting Fellowship Program for Early-Career Researchers offers international researchers an opportunity to undertake a 12-month research stay in France and contribute to research addressing some of the world’s most pressing climate change and environmental challenges.

The program, known as Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA), is part of France’s broader efforts to strengthen international scientific cooperation around climate change and environmental issues. The 2027 call is designed specifically for early-career researchers who have recently completed their doctoral studies and wish to pursue international research mobility in France.

Successful applicants will undertake their research projects in collaboration with French research institutions, creating opportunities for international scientific exchange and collaboration.

The application deadline for the MOPGA 2027 fellowship is December 15, 2026.

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What Is the MOPGA 2027 Visiting Fellowship Program?

The MOPGA 2027 Visiting Fellowship Program is a research fellowship initiative for early-career international researchers who want to conduct research in France on climate change and environmental topics.

The initiative is connected to France’s commitment to addressing climate change and supporting the objectives associated with the Paris Agreement. It seeks to strengthen scientific contributions to climate-related challenges discussed through the international climate process, including the Conferences of the Parties (COP).

Through the program, researchers from outside France can undertake a research stay at a French research institution, allowing them to develop their research while collaborating with researchers and institutions in France.

The 2027 fellowship will support successful researchers for a period of 12 months, with research stays scheduled to begin in September 2027.

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MOPGA 2027 Fellowship at a Glance

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What Does the MOPGA 2027 Fellowship Aim to Achieve?

Climate change requires scientific research that crosses national and disciplinary boundaries. The MOPGA program is intended to contribute to this international research effort by encouraging researchers from around the world to conduct research in France.

The program has several interconnected objectives.

1. Strengthening Climate Change Research

One of the central purposes of the fellowship is to support research addressing climate change and environmental challenges.

Researchers whose work contributes to understanding or addressing these issues can use the fellowship as an opportunity to pursue their research within the French research environment.

2. Promoting International Scientific Mobility

The program is specifically designed around international mobility.

Successful applicants will travel to France to undertake their research rather than simply conducting the project from their home country. This international mobility can facilitate interaction between researchers, institutions, laboratories, and academic networks.

3. Supporting Collaboration With French Research Institutions

MOPGA 2027 will allow successful researchers to develop their projects in collaboration with leading French research institutions.

This creates an environment in which international researchers can engage with French academic and scientific expertise while advancing their own research projects.

4. Contributing to International Climate Goals

The fellowship is linked to France’s role in international efforts to address climate change and its commitment to the spirit of the Paris Agreement.

The program therefore places scientific research within a broader international effort to understand and respond to environmental and climate challenges.

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Who Is Eligible for the MOPGA 2027 Fellowship?

The MOPGA 2027 program is specifically aimed at early-career international researchers.

Applicants must satisfy several eligibility requirements.

1. Applicants Must Hold a Doctoral Degree

Applicants must have a doctoral degree.

Importantly, the PhD must have been awarded less than five years before the application deadline.

For the 2027 call, applicants must therefore have defended their doctoral thesis between:

December 2021 and December 2026, inclusive.

This means the program is specifically targeted toward researchers who are relatively early in their postdoctoral careers.

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2. Applicants Must Be Foreign Nationals

The fellowship is intended for international researchers who are not French nationals.

The eligibility rules specify that applicants must be exclusively of foreign nationality.

The program is therefore open to researchers from different countries around the world, provided they meet the other eligibility requirements.

French nationals are not eligible.

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3. Applicants Must Undertake Research Mobility to France

Applicants must apply with the purpose of undertaking international research mobility in France.

The program is not designed simply to provide funding for researchers to remain in their home countries.

Successful candidates are expected to conduct their research stay in France and collaborate with French research institutions.

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4. Applicants Must Not Be Living and Professionally Active in France

At the time of application, candidates must not be residing and professionally active in France.

This requirement is important because the fellowship is intended to facilitate international mobility into the French research environment.

Researchers already living and professionally active in France at the time they apply do not meet this particular eligibility condition.

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5. Previous MOPGA Fellows Are Not Eligible

Applicants must not have previously received a MOPGA fellowship.

The program is therefore intended to support researchers who have not already benefited from this particular fellowship scheme.

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What Research Areas Does MOPGA 2027 Support?

The 2027 MOPGA call is focused on climate change and environmental topics.

This makes the fellowship particularly relevant to researchers whose doctoral or postdoctoral research relates to environmental and climate-related questions.

The program description emphasizes the importance of scientific contributions to the climate change issues raised through the international Conferences of the Parties.

Researchers should consult the official MOPGA 2027 call for the detailed list of eligible research topics and application requirements before preparing their proposal.

Read the official MOPGA 2027 call for applications

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How Long Is the MOPGA Fellowship?

Successful researchers will receive support for a 12-month research stay.

The fellowship period is scheduled to begin in:

September 2027

A full year of research in France can provide an opportunity for fellows to develop their research projects, collaborate with French institutions, and participate in the country’s scientific research environment.

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Why Is the MOPGA 2027 Fellowship Important for Early-Career Researchers?

For researchers who have recently completed their PhDs, establishing international research connections can be an important part of developing an academic or scientific career.

The MOPGA fellowship is structured around international mobility and research collaboration, making it relevant to researchers who want to expand their professional and academic networks beyond their home institutions.

Potential areas of value include:

• Conducting research in France for 12 months
• Developing international research experience
• Collaborating with French research institutions
• Building connections with researchers in France
• Advancing a research project related to climate change or environmental issues
• Participating in international scientific collaboration
• Developing experience in a new academic and research environment
• Connecting research with broader international climate-change priorities

The precise financial provisions and conditions of the fellowship should be reviewed in the official 2027 call before applicants make plans based on the funding.

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France as a Destination for International Research

France has an extensive higher education and research ecosystem, including universities, laboratories, research institutes, and other scientific institutions.

The MOPGA program uses this research environment to encourage international researchers to collaborate with French institutions.

For early-career researchers, spending a year conducting research in another country’s academic environment can also provide exposure to different research networks, methodologies, institutional practices, and potential future collaborations.

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Who Can Benefit From Applying?

The fellowship is particularly relevant to researchers who:

• Have recently completed a PhD
• Are working on climate change research
• Conduct research related to environmental issues
• Want to undertake research in France
• Are seeking international research experience
• Want to collaborate with French research institutions
• Are interested in international scientific cooperation
• Have not previously received a MOPGA fellowship
• Are currently outside France and not professionally active there
• Meet the nationality and doctoral-degree requirements

Applicants should carefully compare their research profile with the official call before beginning the application.

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Important Eligibility Conditions to Check Before Applying

Because the MOPGA 2027 fellowship has specific eligibility requirements, prospective applicants should verify each of the following points:

Academic eligibility

You must hold a doctoral degree, and your thesis must have been defended between December 2021 and December 2026.

Nationality

You must be a foreign national. French nationality is excluded.

Mobility

Your application must involve research mobility to France.

Current location and employment

You must not be residing and professionally active in France at the time you apply.

Previous participation

You must not have previously received a MOPGA fellowship.

Research area

Your proposed research must fall within the climate change and environmental focus of the call.

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MOPGA 2027 Application Deadline

The application deadline for the MOPGA 2027 Visiting Fellowship Program is:

December 15, 2026

Applicants should not wait until the final day to begin preparing their applications. Research fellowship applications can require time to develop a research proposal, identify an appropriate host institution or research environment, gather academic documents, and complete the required application materials.

Applicants should also carefully check the official call for any additional requirements concerning the research project, host institution, documentation, or submission procedure.

Learn more HERE

How to Apply for the MOPGA 2027 Fellowship

Researchers interested in applying should begin by reviewing the official MOPGA 2027 call published through Campus France.

The official call provides information about:

• Eligibility requirements
• Research topics
• Application procedures
• Fellowship conditions
• Research mobility requirements
• Relevant application information

Step-by-step approach

1. Review the eligibility criteria

Confirm that your doctoral degree, nationality, current professional location, previous fellowship history, and research area meet the requirements.

2. Examine the research themes

Make sure your proposed project fits within the climate change and environmental topics supported by the 2027 call.

3. Consider the French research environment

Identify French research institutions or researchers whose work is relevant to your proposed research and consider how the research stay could support your project.

4. Prepare your research proposal and supporting materials

Follow the official application requirements carefully and ensure that all requested documents are prepared.

5. Submit before the deadline

Applications must be submitted by December 15, 2026.

Applicants should rely on the official Campus France call for the definitive application instructions rather than third-party summaries.

MOPGA 2027 official application information — Campus France

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Organizations Behind the MOPGA 2027 Program

The MOPGA 2027 program is funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), in partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space (MESRE).

The program is implemented by Campus France.

This institutional partnership places the fellowship within France’s broader framework for international academic and scientific cooperation.

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Frequently Asked Questions About MOPGA 2027

What does MOPGA stand for?

MOPGA stands for Make Our Planet Great Again.

What is the MOPGA 2027 program?

It is a visiting research fellowship program for early-career international researchers who want to conduct research in France on climate change and environmental topics.

How long is the fellowship?

The fellowship lasts 12 months.

When does the fellowship begin?

The 2027 research stays are scheduled to begin in September 2027.

What is the application deadline?

The deadline is December 15, 2026.

Can French nationals apply?

No. The eligibility requirements specify that applicants must be exclusively of foreign nationality, meaning French nationals are not eligible.

Can applicants from any country apply?

The program states that all nationalities are eligible except French nationality, provided applicants satisfy the other eligibility requirements.

How old can my PhD be?

Your doctoral degree must have been awarded less than five years before the application deadline. For this call, you must have defended your thesis between December 2021 and December 2026, inclusive.

Can someone already living and working in France apply?

The eligibility criteria state that applicants must not be residing and professionally active in France at the time of application.

Can previous MOPGA fellows apply again?

No. Applicants who have previously received a MOPGA fellowship are not eligible for this call.

What subjects are eligible?

The fellowship supports research focused on climate change and environmental topics. Applicants should consult the detailed 2027 call for the specific research topics and requirements.

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Final Thoughts

The MOPGA 2027 Visiting Fellowship Program provides an international research opportunity for early-career researchers who have recently completed their PhDs and are working on climate change or environmental issues.

The 12-month research stay in France is designed to promote international scientific mobility and collaboration with French research institutions. The program is open to researchers of foreign nationality, with applicants required to meet specific conditions concerning their doctoral degree, current professional location, previous MOPGA participation, and proposed research.

For eligible researchers, the December 15, 2026 deadline is the key date to keep in mind. Anyone considering an application should carefully review the official MOPGA 2027 call through Campus France to confirm the detailed research areas, application requirements, and fellowship conditions before submitting an application.

for more opportunities HERE