European Court of Auditors Postgraduate Research Grant Programme

The European Court of Auditors and the European University Institute have set up a grant scheme for early career researchers in the field of European Union public finances and policies, at the Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU) in Florence, Italy.

Up to two research grants of €5000 each are made available each year to enable early career researchers to conduct research and have access to the HAEU, a unique resource for scholars of European integration.

The Archives, seated in the renaissance Villa Salviati in Florence, contain a wealth of primary documents deposited by the EU institutions. They also collect and preserve the private papers of individuals, movements and international organisations involved in European integration.

Objectives

The aim of the European Court of Auditors Postgraduate Research Grant Programme is to promote original research into the EU’s public finances, EU policies, and the development of the EU's accountability. It also seeks to nurture a community of researchers interested in these areas.

The grants facilitate access to and consultation of the sources deposited at the HAEU, to which the Court entrusts its own historical archives and those of the Audit Board (1958-1977).

The fellowship scheme began in 2007 and has since enabled original research into many areas of the EU's action and policies: the role of the EU institutions, the evolution of compliance, the development of audit methodology, shared management in policy implementation, multi-level governance, the EU regional policy, the emergence of institutional norms and values, the EU development policy, and more.

Admission

Postgraduate students (master’s and doctoral candidates), postdoctoral students, and early career academics who have completed their master's degree or doctorate within the past ten years and who currently hold an academic post are eligible to apply.

Applicants should be preparing a thesis, dissertation, or scholarly article relating to EU public finance or EU policy in any of the disciplines of human and social sciences (e.g. law, political science, economics, sociology, public administration and history). 

Research projects presented by postgraduate students or postdoctoral researchers should preferably be directly related to their master’s or doctoral field of research.

In view of the nature of the files concerned, candidates should have a sound knowledge of English and French. Knowledge of other EU languages would be an advantage.

Only individual applications will be considered for the programme.

Candidates may not submit an application with the same research subject on more than two occasions.

Candidates must be nationals of a Member State of the European Union. These eligibility criteria will be strictly applied.

Application procedure and deadline

The next call for applications will open in summer 2025.

Candidates must apply through the HAEU's online application form, once the call is open. 

Applications and all supporting documentation must be submitted in either English or French. The research itself and subsequent publications may be in any of the official languages of the European Union. 

Completed application files should include:

• CV with any previous publications (max 2 pages);
• Presentation of the research proposal, including a description of the research subject, its academic significance, the proposed research methodology and timetable, and plan for scholarly publication of the research results (max 5 pages);
• Bibliography of sources and studies related to the research (max 5 pages);
• Justification of the need to use primary archival sources at the HAEU in Florence (max 2 pages);
• Letter of recommendation from a university or university-level research institute providing an evaluation of the scholarly significance of the project and an assessment of the candidate’s qualifications, abilities and motivation to carry out the proposed research.

Grant awards

Successful applicants will receive a research grant of €5000 to cover all research expenses, including:

• one round trip between the grant holder’s permanent residence and Florence;
• accommodation in Florence for the duration of the grant holder's use of the archives.

The grant will be paid in two instalments:

• a first instalment of €2000 at the start of the research, as attested by the Director of the Historical Archives of the European Union;
• a second instalment of €3000 after an essay on the grant holder’s research subject has been submitted to the Selection Committee.

Selection and notification

The Selection Committee is composed of current or former officials of the European Court of Auditors, recognised experts in the field of EU public finance and policies and the former Director of the Historical Archives of the European Union. Decisions are based upon the quality of the application file, the significance and originality of the proposed research, the feasibility of the project, the candidate’s ability to carry out the research satisfactorily, and the importance of using the Archives in Florence.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application within one month of the deadline.

Publications and commitments

Grant holders will undertake to ensure that all subsequent publications or productions using in whole or in part the results obtained under the auspices of the research grant will appropriately acknowledge the Postgraduate Research Grant Programme. In addition, they will provide the Historical Archives of the European Union with a copy of any such publications or productions.

Upon completing their stay, grant holders will submit to the Selection Committee an essay on their research subject.

Secretariat

Queries may be sent to [email protected]
Tel: +39 055 4685 661

For more information about the institutional profile and activities of the European Court of Auditors, please consult the Court's website: www.eca.europa.eu.

ECA grant holders (2007-2023)