Apply for an ERC Grant

The European Research Council (ERC) supports groundbreaking research across all scientific disciplines. At the Faculty of Sciences, we welcome external researchers to apply for ERC grants, including Starting, Consolidator, and Advanced Grants.

ERC at Ghent University

Ghent University offers an attractive incentive policy for ERC grantees, providing a strong foundation for long-term academic careers. If your ERC proposal is successful, you will be awarded a professorship for the duration of 10 years. This appointment consists of a 10% professorship combined with a 90% postdoctoral contract, granting you the same rights as a regular professor and the freedom to conduct independent research, apply for research funding in Flanders, and access Ghent University's basic research funding.

Your temporary professorship may evolve into a permanent, full-time professorship based on a positive evaluation and alignment with the faculty’s strategic research and personnel plans.

For more senior candidates, an immediate permanent professorship may be possible in exceptional cases, particularly when your expertise aligns with the faculty’s priority research domains. We encourage you to contact your department chair to discuss your eligibility..

How to Apply

Because we always offer a (temporary) professorial position to ERC grantees, the faculty requires candidates to undergo an internal approval process before being allowed to submit their ERC proposal. This pre-selection ensures alignment with the faculty’s research strategy and long-term academic vision.

1. Initial Contact

External researchers interested in applying for an ERC grant within the faculty should first reach out to the chair of the relevant department (you can find a list of all chairs here). During this initial discussion, you will explore how your research domain, expertise, and career trajectory fit within the faculty’s priorities. The department chair will assess the potential for integration.

2. Departmental and Faculty Approval

If there is mutual interest, you will be invited to complete this applicant form. Your department will review the application and submit it to the Faculty Council for final approval.

3. Support During Submission

Once approved, the university’s EU team will provide expert guidance on preparing your ERC application. They offer in-depth feedback to strengthen your proposal and ensure it meets ERC standards.

For more detailed information about this pre-selection process, please contact the faculty coordinator for ERC or visit our internal webpage (accessible only to staff).