ERC 2027 Work Programme: What’s Changing for Applicants
The European Research Council has confirmed changes to eligibility and application rules under its 2027 Work Programme, affecting the Starting, Consolidator and Synergy Grant schemes. The changes apply from 2027 onward and sit alongside the ERC’s existing programme structure, described in full on our ERC funding programme page.
Wider eligibility windows for Starting and Consolidator Grants
From 2027, the PhD-based eligibility windows for two of the ERC’s core schemes are expanding:
- Starting Grant: PhD defended no more than 10 years before 1 January 2027 (current calls use a 2–7 year window)
- Consolidator Grant: PhD defended 5–15 years before 1 January 2027 (current calls use a 7–12 year window)
This creates a five-year overlap between the two schemes. Researchers 5–10 years post-PhD will be able to choose whichever grant matches their career stage, rather than being assigned to one scheme by default.
One proposal per applicant under the 2027 Work Programme
Applicants may have only one ERC proposal under evaluation at a time, and only one proposal submitted under the 2027 Work Programme. A second submission is possible only if the first was declared ineligible.
For institutions supporting multiple candidates, this makes early decisions on who applies, when, and to which scheme more consequential than under previous programmes.
Synergy Grants: full-team eligibility now required throughout evaluation
Under current rules, a Synergy Grant team can continue in the evaluation process if one Principal Investigator becomes ineligible. From 2027, this changes: every PI in a Synergy team must remain eligible for the full evaluation period. If one PI becomes ineligible, the entire proposal is disqualified.
Confirmed current deadlines
- 27 August 2026 — Advanced Grant
- 2 September 2026 — ERC Plus Grant
- 17 September 2026 — Proof of Concept Grant