ERC Consolidator Grant 2026

The ERC Consolidator Grant is a prestigious research funding programme of the European Research Council (ERC), part of the European Union's research funding system. It is designed for researchers who are at the stage of consolidating their own independent research team or programme, typically after establishing a promising track record of significant research achievements.

Rather than being a standard direct-to-student scholarship, the ERC Consolidator Grant primarily funds a principal investigator-led research project hosted by an eligible institution, usually in Europe or a country associated with the relevant EU research framework. As shown in current postings, ERC Consolidator Grant projects can support fully funded PhD positions and postdoctoral research roles at universities and research institutes in countries such as Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway.

The grant is known for supporting frontier research across all disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, law, physics, materials science, engineering, climate governance, astronomy, and interdisciplinary fields. Depending on the host project, funded positions may include salary or stipend support, research costs, and sometimes additional project budgets for fieldwork, travel, or international research stays.

Eligibility for the grant itself is aimed at researchers with a strong scientific track record who wish to lead an ambitious research project. For students and postdoctoral applicants, eligibility depends on the individual vacancy created under a funded ERC project. Reference postings show that PhD roles commonly require a relevant master's degree, while postdoctoral roles usually require a PhD in an appropriate field and project-specific research skills.

Applications are generally made in two different ways: established researchers apply directly to the ERC during the annual grant call, while students and postdoctoral researchers apply to specific university vacancies funded by an ERC Consolidator Grant. Because terms, benefits, deadlines, and required documents vary by host institution and project, applicants should always consult the relevant project or university advertisement carefully.