The FRONTIERS Science Journalism in Residency Programme, funded by the European Research Council (ERC), is now accepting applications for its fourth and final round. Open to journalists across all career levels, the call will close on May 25, 2026, at 17:00 CEST.
Eligible applicants include science journalists at all levels of professional experience — early-career (up to 5 years), mid-career (6 to 9 years), and established (10 or more years) — who wish to carry out a residency of three to five months at a research institution in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe associated country. Residency projects must engage with frontier science topics in close collaboration with researchers.
With up to ten fellowships available in this round, FRONTIERS continues its mission to support independent, in-depth science journalism at a time when the profession faces mounting pressures: precarious employment, shrinking newsrooms, and limited time and resources for thorough coverage. Results are expected to be announced in the summer of 2026, with residencies set to begin in the autumn.
Since its launch, the programme has supported 24 fellows across three rounds, all of whom have conducted residencies at European research institutions. As the final call of the FRONTIERS programme, this fourth round particularly welcomes proposals covering underrepresented or complex areas of science, beyond well-established themes, as well as applications involving host institutions from a broad geographical spread of countries.
Application process
Science journalists who have identified a host institution are invited to apply via the form on the FRONTIERS website. Applications must include a journalistic proposal focusing on ongoing frontier research projects and commitment letters from both the applicant and the host institution, and can include up to three recommendation letters.
Applicants can find more details on eligibility criteria and financial support for the FRONTIERS fellowships, tips on how to write a successful FRONTIERS project proposal, frequently asked questions, and more information on the FRONTIERS website.
Research institutions willing to host science journalists are encouraged to express their interest in being listed in the FRONTIERS database, which is available to prospective applicants on the project’s website.