Are you a woman from an IAEA Member State who is already accepted by, or enrolled in, a nuclear-related master’s programme? The IAEA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme is open until 31 October 2026 and can provide up to €20,000 for tuition plus up to €20,000 for living costs. The leadership decision is personal but clear: confirm programme eligibility, secure the mandatory referee submission and complete the English-language evidence package before investing in the application.
Status: Open. Deadline: 31 October 2026. The public IAEA information page confirms the date; the application portal currently displays 3:59 PM but does not identify the time zone publicly. Submit at least one day early or confirm the portal time shown in your account. Maximum support: €20,000 for tuition and €20,000 for living costs.
What the fellowship supports
The International Atomic Energy Agency created the MSCFP to help more women enter and advance in nuclear fields. Selected students receive support for an accredited master’s programme in a nuclear-related subject, and a limited number may later access competitively selected internship placements facilitated by the IAEA.
Relevant fields include nuclear engineering, nuclear physics and chemistry, nuclear medicine, isotopic techniques, radiation biology, nuclear safety, nuclear security, non-proliferation and nuclear law. The course must be demonstrably connected to the IAEA’s mandate for the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology.
Who can apply
- Female candidates from an IAEA Member State.
- Applicants accepted by or already enrolled in an accredited university master’s programme in a nuclear-related field.
- Candidates able to submit the complete application and supporting documents in English.
The IAEA gives preference to applicants with above-average academic credentials, described in the official guidance as approximately 75% or above, or a GPA greater than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Selection also considers educational background, prior achievements, motivation, career impact, commitment to public service, and geographic, linguistic and field-of-study diversity.
Funding and award obligations
- Tuition: up to €20,000.
- Living costs: up to €20,000 for the master’s programme.
- Other scholarships: applicants must disclose overlapping support; the IAEA may reduce its contribution accordingly.
- Acceptance: selected applicants must normally accept the fellowship offer within one week.
- Completion: recipients are expected to complete the master’s programme. Failure to graduate or meet award conditions may trigger termination and repayment obligations.
Required documents
- Completed online application form.
- Copy of passport or national identification document.
- Official university acceptance or admission letter stating the nuclear-related field and programme duration.
- Statement or confirmation of tuition costs.
- Documents for any other scholarship supporting the same master’s programme, where applicable.
- At least one completed IAEA reference template sent directly by the referee to MSCFP@iaea.org by the deadline; a second reference is preferred.
All application documents must be submitted in English. A document issued in another language must be accompanied by an official English translation. The IAEA states that incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application route and official sources
Apply through the official IAEA MSCFP portal. Review the current information for applicants and the programme overview before submitting.
How to strengthen the application
- Connect the chosen master’s programme to a specific nuclear-sector problem, career direction and public-service contribution.
- Use concrete academic, research or professional evidence instead of broad claims about motivation.
- Confirm that the admission letter identifies both the nuclear-related subject and the programme duration.
- Give referees the official template and enough time to submit it directly; the application is not complete without the mandatory reference.
- Disclose other scholarship funding transparently and keep the tuition evidence consistent with every amount stated in the form.
Before you submit: protect the application from a missed dependency
Use the Application Timeline Builder to work backward from 31 October, assign the admission, translation and reference tasks, and avoid losing eligibility because one third-party document arrives late.
Need an independent final review?
If you have the admission, tuition and reference evidence but want a final check of eligibility, narrative consistency and submission risk, ask Africads about a focused application review.
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Frequently asked questions
Must the applicant already have university admission?
Yes. The applicant must be accepted by or enrolled in an accredited university master’s programme in a nuclear-related field and provide the official acceptance or admission letter.
How much can the IAEA award?
The award may cover up to €20,000 in tuition costs and up to €20,000 in living costs for the master’s programme.
Can someone with another scholarship apply?
Yes, but all other scholarship support must be declared and documented. The IAEA may reduce its contribution where costs are already covered.
Is a referee optional?
No. One completed IAEA reference template sent directly by the referee is mandatory; a second reference is preferred.
Are internship placements guaranteed?
No. The IAEA describes a limited number of internship placements, available through a separate competitive process.
Conclusion
The fellowship is a strong fit for academically competitive women from IAEA Member States who already hold admission to a relevant master’s programme and can show how the degree supports a credible nuclear-sector career and public-service contribution. The main risks are an ineligible field, incomplete English documentation, an unsupported tuition figure and a late referee submission. Confirm those dependencies now and complete the official application by 31 October 2026.
Last verified: 2 October 2026 against the IAEA programme overview, information-for-applicants page and application portal. The official sources confirm 31 October 2026, but the public portal does not label the time zone for its displayed closing time; verify the portal clock and submit early.
