The IAEA Marie Curie Fellowship, officially the IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP), funds women to study a master’s degree in a nuclear-related field anywhere in the world. Selected fellows can receive up to €20,000 for tuition and up to €20,000 for living costs, which is up to €40,000 in total, and may get an internship facilitated by the International Atomic Energy Agency afterwards. The 2027 call closes on 31 October 2026, so if you are a woman who has been accepted to, or is already enrolled in, a nuclear-related master’s programme, you have about three weeks to apply.
IAEA Marie Curie Fellowship at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Awarding body | International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) |
| Programme name | IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP) |
| Who can apply | Female students from IAEA Member States |
| Level | Master’s degree in a nuclear-related field |
| Funding | Up to €20,000 tuition plus up to €20,000 living costs (up to €40,000) |
| Extra | Internship opportunity facilitated by the IAEA after graduation (limited) |
| Language | All documents in English |
| Deadline | 31 October 2026 |
Table of Contents
What Is the IAEA Marie Curie Fellowship?
The programme exists to increase the number of women working in the nuclear field and to build a more balanced workforce. It is named after Marie Sklodowska-Curie, the two-time Nobel laureate, and was launched in 2020. According to figures reported by the Italian mission in Vienna in 2025, around 760 students from 129 Member States had benefited by then.
It is a master’s-level funding programme, not a PhD fellowship and not a job. You must already have an offer of admission to, or be enrolled in, a master’s degree at an accredited university. The fellowship then helps pay for it.
What the Fellowship Covers
| Support | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | Up to €20,000 | For the master’s programme |
| Living costs | Up to €20,000 | For the master’s programme |
| Internship | Limited places | Facilitated by the IAEA after graduation, for up to 12 months in earlier calls |
Two things to understand before you plan your budget:
- ‘Up to’ means up to. The amount you receive depends on your actual costs and the terms of your award. It is not a guaranteed €40,000.
- Declare other scholarships. The application asks about any other funding you have for the same master’s. If another award already covers part of your costs, the IAEA support can be adjusted, so be honest and complete.
The internship is a bonus rather than the core of the offer. Places are limited, and earlier IAEA reports described a monthly stipend of up to €1,000 for internships of up to 12 months. Check the current terms on the official page.
Which Fields of Study Qualify?
The programme backs master’s degrees that relate to the IAEA’s work on the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear science and technology. Examples named in IAEA material include:
- Nuclear engineering
- Nuclear physics and chemistry
- Nuclear medicine
- Isotopic techniques
- Radiation biology
- Nuclear safety
- Nuclear security and non-proliferation
If your programme is close to one of these but not an exact match, check the IAEA’s list of related fields before you apply. The acceptance letter you submit must state the nuclear-related field of study.
Eligibility Checklist
You can apply to the IAEA Marie Curie Fellowship if you meet both entry requirements:
- You are a female candidate from an IAEA Member State. Most countries are members, including Pakistan, India and Nigeria, but confirm yours on the IAEA website.
- You are accepted by or enrolled in an accredited university’s master’s programme in a nuclear-related field.
Selection looks at more than the entry rules. The IAEA Technical Selection Committee assesses your educational background and prior achievements, your motivation, the impact the fellowship would have on your career goals, and your commitment to public service. Earlier calls also said preference goes to applicants with above-average grades, for example 75% or above, or a GPA over 3.0 out of 4.0. Check whether that still applies this year.
Documents You Need
- The completed online application form
- An official acceptance or admission letter from your university, showing the nuclear-related field and the length of the programme
- Documents about any other scholarships you hold for the same master’s, if applicable
- Reference forms completed by your referees and sent directly to the MSCFP by the deadline
All documents must be in English. Note that you do not upload the reference forms yourself. Your referees send them straight to the programme, so ask them early. Earlier calls required two referees, and recent guidance describes one as mandatory and a second as preferred. Plan for two to be safe.
How to Apply
- Confirm your country is an IAEA Member State and your programme counts as nuclear-related.
- Secure your university acceptance letter, because you cannot apply without it.
- Ask your referees now and give them the official reference form.
- Open the online application on the official IAEA MSCFP page and complete every section.
- Upload your documents, including details of any other scholarships.
- Submit before 31 October 2026. The time zone is not stated in every listing (earlier calls closed at 23:59 CEST), so aim to finish a day early.
Selected applicants receive an offer and are asked to confirm acceptance within one week, so watch your email after the deadline.
Tips for a Stronger Application
These are our suggestions, not official rules:
- Tie your motivation to a specific goal, such as nuclear medicine in your home country or reactor safety regulation, instead of general interest in science.
- Show public service. The selection criteria mention it directly, so describe how you plan to use your training for your community or country.
- Choose referees who can speak to your academic work and send the forms early.
- Apply even if you have partial funding elsewhere. Just declare it clearly.
- Check the official page one last time for any changes to the amount, deadline or documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the IAEA Marie Curie Fellowship fully funded? It can cover up to €20,000 in tuition and up to €20,000 in living costs, so up to €40,000 in total. The exact amount depends on your costs and your award terms, so it may not cover everything.
Who can apply? Women from IAEA Member States who are accepted by or enrolled in an accredited master’s programme in a nuclear-related field.
Can I apply before I have a university offer? No. An official acceptance or admission letter showing your nuclear-related field and programme length is a required document.
Is it only for nuclear engineering? No. Eligible fields include nuclear physics and chemistry, nuclear medicine, isotopic techniques, radiation biology, nuclear safety and nuclear security. Check the IAEA’s related-fields list if you are unsure.
Does the fellowship include an internship? The programme offers a limited number of internship opportunities after graduation, facilitated by the IAEA or its partners. It is not guaranteed.
What is the deadline? The 2027 call closes on 31 October 2026. Confirm the exact closing time on the official IAEA page.
How many references do I need? Referees send the reference forms directly to the programme. Earlier calls required two referees, and recent guidance describes one as mandatory and a second as preferred.
Can I hold another scholarship at the same time? You can apply, but you must declare other funding. The IAEA may adjust its support, for example covering tuition only, if your living costs are already funded.
Apply Before 31 October
The IAEA Marie Curie Fellowship is one of the few global master’s awards aimed specifically at women in nuclear science, and the 2027 call closes on 31 October 2026. Start with your acceptance letter and your referees, then apply on the official IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme page.
Looking for more? See our list of scholarships for women in STEM, browse fully funded scholarships in 2026, and check the Europe scholarship hub for other awards closing this autumn.