ESA’s Research Fellowships in Space Science are postdoctoral appointments for independent research in heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics or fundamental physics. Fellows join the Directorate of Science at ESAC in Spain, ESTEC in the Netherlands or ESA’s office at STScI in the United States.
The initial appointment lasts two years and may be extended for a third. Fellows may devote up to 20% of their time to ESA science-support activities and have no teaching duties.
Benefits & funding
- A monthly salary, exempt from national income tax in ESA Member States, plus 2.5 days of paid leave per month.
- An initial two-year appointment, with the possibility of extension for a third year.
- Reimbursement of travel at the beginning and end of the appointment.
- Conditional expatriation or installation allowances and reimbursement of excess luggage costs.
- Membership in ESA’s social security and pension schemes.
Eligibility
- Applicants must have obtained a PhD in a relevant technical or scientific discipline before the fellowship begins.
- Applicants must be nationals of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland or the United Kingdom.
- Candidates who received their PhD within the past five years are preferred; this is a preference, not a hard eligibility limit.
- Good knowledge of English or French is required.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Austria · Belgium · Czechia · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Ireland · Italy
+ 19 more
Luxembourg · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · UK · Cyprus · Latvia · Lithuania · Slovakia · Canada · Bulgaria · Croatia · Malta
Education required
PhD Enrolled · PhD
Appears to have an age limit “up to 20”
confirm in the requirements
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Application process
- 1Review the research activity at ESAC, ESTEC and STScI and choose the preferred site.
- 2Create an ESA candidate profile and open the current vacancy’s application route.
- 3Prepare four separate documents: a motivation letter, CV, publication list and research proposal of no more than four pages.
- 4Indicate the preferred location and submit the application by 21 September 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST.
Program timeline
Vacancy posted.
24 August 2026
Application deadline.
21 September 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST
Within four weeks of the closing date
Candidates selected for interview are generally notified.
Date agreed with the recruiting manager
Fellowship starts.