ECDC Fellowship Programme EU-Track 2027: Paid Two-Year EPIET and EUPHEM Public Health Training

Captured cycle: This page is retained for historical guidance. Confirm whether the program has reopened before planning an application.

ECDC Fellowship Programme EU-Track 2027: Paid Two-Year EPIET and EUPHEM Public Health Training

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has opened applications for its 2027 EU-track fellowship cohort. The programme gives experienced public health professionals two years of supervised, practical training in one of two fields: intervention epidemiology through EPIET, or public health microbiology through EUPHEM. Fellows work at recognised national or regional training sites in EU/EEA countries, contributing to infectious disease surveillance, outbreak response, applied research, laboratory investigation, training and public health communication.

This is a professional placement, not a tuition scholarship. ECDC states that successful fellows are employed by their training site. The host-site contract determines the employment conditions; the call does not state one common salary amount. It does confirm reimbursement of relocation to the training Member State at the start and end of the fellowship. The EU-track specifically trains a national of an EU/EEA country in a different Member State, so applicants must be willing to relocate and serve in a country other than their country or countries of citizenship.

The application deadline is 26 October 2026 at 24:00 Central European Time. Applicants must complete an online path-specific survey, submit the ECDC application form template as part of that submission, and then email the case ID generated by the survey. The programme is scheduled to start on 13 September 2027. Because the call is selective and the eligibility rules count work experience in a precise way, prospective fellows should check their degree documentation and dates before investing in the application.

Key details

What the fellowship provides

EPIET and EUPHEM are competency-based programmes built around practical work in communicable disease prevention and control. The EPIET path focuses on intervention epidemiology in surveillance and disease-control centres. The EUPHEM path focuses on laboratory-based public health microbiology, including laboratory investigation, quality management and biorisk management. Both put fellows in working public health environments instead of limiting the experience to classroom instruction.

During the two years, fellows take part in work that may include surveillance activities, outbreak investigations, applied research, teaching and training, public health management and communication. Their assignments depend on their path and training site. The ECDC programme manual describes a combination of an introductory course, specialised modules, field assignments and ongoing competency development. It also covers outbreak investigation, surveillance system design and evaluation, applied research and communication; EUPHEM includes laboratory quality and applied microbiology activities. Applicants should read the current call and manual to understand the programme’s expectations rather than assuming every site offers identical projects.

The fellowship has practical value for professionals who want to develop skills while contributing to real public health work. The experience is designed to strengthen the ability of EU/EEA systems to detect and respond to infectious disease threats, support shared approaches across borders and build professional connections among epidemiologists and microbiologists. Fellows are placed under the professional supervision of their training site. ECDC coordinates the overall programme, while the host site employs the fellow.

Choose between EPIET and EUPHEM

Applicants should select a path based on the work they are prepared to do every day, not just on which title sounds closer to their degree. EPIET is the field epidemiology path. It is suited to candidates with experience applying epidemiological methods in public health settings, interpreting surveillance or outbreak data, and translating findings into decisions. The call lists scientific background in epidemiology and basic biostatistics, including analysis and software skills, among the relevant selection strengths.

EUPHEM is the public health microbiology path. It is intended for people whose professional work and scientific preparation relate to microbiology in public health. The selection criteria point to the ability to conduct laboratory work independently and familiarity with microbiological techniques and software. The programme’s field activities can involve laboratory investigation, biorisk management and laboratory quality management as well as work with surveillance and outbreak response teams.

The cohort call permits application to the EPIET path, the EUPHEM path, or both, using the corresponding online surveys. Applying to both should be a genuine choice supported by the applicant’s education and experience, not a way to avoid deciding. Each application should make its fit clear: show why the chosen path follows from the applicant’s past work and what capabilities the person hopes to build. Review the application form and current programme manual before choosing, and contact the Fellowship Faculty Office if the path rules remain unclear.

Who is eligible

Both paths share three formal requirements. An applicant must be a national of an EU/EEA Member State, be entitled to full citizen rights, and have a thorough knowledge at minimum B2 level of at least two official EU/EEA languages, one of which must be English. The EU-track placement will be outside the applicant’s country or countries of citizenship. The candidate should therefore be prepared to train and work in another Member State and should consider practical relocation requirements early.

EPIET applicants need a master’s degree or equivalent in a listed or related discipline. Examples in the call include medicine, public health, epidemiology, veterinary medicine, nursing, biology, microbiology, pharmacology, biomedicine, bioinformatics, and other health or social sciences. They also need at least two years of public health or applied epidemiology work after obtaining the qualifying master’s degree or equivalent. A PhD period may count where the work is in applied public health or epidemiology, subject to the call’s rules.

EUPHEM applicants need a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field such as medicine, biology, microbiology, veterinary medicine, nursing, pharmacology, bioinformatics or biomedicine. They must also have either at least three years of microbiology work after the master’s degree or a PhD in microbiology or an equivalent discipline. The call gives examples of equivalent specialisations, including clinical microbiology and veterinary medicine specialisations.

Degree recognition deserves particular attention. The call says that only diplomas and certificates awarded in EU/EEA Member States, or equivalent certificates issued by an authority in an EU Member State, will be considered. UK degrees awarded before 31 January 2020 are accepted. For later UK degrees and degrees from outside the EU/EEA, an EU equivalence certificate is required. If your credential falls into one of these categories, establish how to document equivalence before submitting. The call also says that time spent earning a master’s degree does not count as work experience.

What makes a competitive application

Meeting the formal conditions makes an application eligible for consideration; it does not guarantee selection. ECDC says the selection process considers professional skills and experience, personal and interpersonal qualities, and the possibility that the candidate will benefit from the programme. Relevant strengths differ by path. EPIET candidates should be able to describe applied public health or epidemiology experience and their use of analytical methods. EUPHEM candidates should explain their microbiology background and, where applicable, independent laboratory experience. Scientific writing and oral communication in English are named for both.

The call also identifies commitment to field epidemiology or public health microbiology, organisation, the ability to manage competing responsibilities, teamwork across disciplines, independent work, and logical, analytical and innovative thinking as relevant qualities. International activity, multicultural awareness and an understanding of public health regulation in Member States are listed as advantageous. These criteria suggest that a strong application will give evidence, not just adjectives. Explain what the applicant actually did, their role, the methods used, what was learned, and how the work affected a public health decision or capability.

For example, when describing an outbreak or surveillance assignment, distinguish your contribution from the team’s overall result. State the data or laboratory context, the question you addressed, the analysis or method you used, and how findings were reported or acted on. When describing collaboration, identify the disciplines involved and the coordination challenge. Applicants should keep descriptions accurate and proportionate; a concise account of a specific piece of work is more useful than a long list of broad responsibilities.

How to apply

The application has two required steps, and both must be completed for the application to be valid.

1. Choose the path or paths and complete the relevant online application survey: EPIET EU-track survey or EUPHEM EU-track survey. If applying to both, follow the instructions for each path.
2. Complete the official ECDC Fellowship Application Form and submit it through the online survey at the time of application. ECDC says other application formats will not be accepted. The form is available from the official cohort 2027 call page.
3. After submitting the online form, note the Case ID generated by the system.
4. Email the Case ID to [email protected]. The subject line must indicate the path and surname, for example, “EPIET Smith”; include the Case ID in the email text. The call gives this as a separate second step, so do not treat survey submission alone as completion.
5. the captured-cycle instructions asked applicants to submit before 26 October 2026 at 24:00 CET. Keep copies of the final form, submission confirmation and Case ID email for your records.

Applications must be in English. ECDC may later request original documentary evidence supporting application statements, and candidates shortlisted at a later stage will need to provide proof of their master’s degree. Do not attach unrelated or extra material unless the survey or application instructions request it. Use the official template and follow its prompts closely.

Plan around the selection timeline

The application window opened on 8 September 2026. Applications close at midnight CET on 26 October. The call says selection committees are expected to decide on interview shortlists between 1 and 10 December 2026, with first-round results communicated by the end of December. Training sites for cohort 2027 are identified in December. EUPHEM interviews are scheduled for 19–21 January 2027 and EPIET interviews for 25–29 January 2027. Training-site market interviews are tentatively planned for 22–26 February 2027; successful candidates should be notified of placement by the end of March.

The timeline then anticipates training-site agreements and employment contracts from May through August 2027, with the fellowship beginning on 13 September 2027. The call notes that some interview dates are subject to change. Applicants should monitor their email and the official call page during the selection period, especially after submission, and remain reachable if they are placed on a waiting list. ECDC says a waiting list may be used if a post becomes available, and candidates in that situation may have only a short time to accept or decline an offer.

Prepare your evidence before the deadline

Start with an eligibility worksheet. Record nationality and citizenship rights, the languages you can document at B2 or higher, your degree title and award date, the institution and country, and each relevant paid professional activity with dates and weekly hours. ECDC counts professional experience from the date the minimum qualifying education was acquired. Only documented paid work that is relevant to fellowship activities counts; part-time experience is prorated, any period is counted once, and experience exceeding 100% full-time equivalent is not counted. Completed PhD studies count as experience up to a maximum of three years. These rules can change a borderline calculation, so use the official call rather than a casual calendar estimate.

Next, prepare a short evidence bank for the path you plan to apply to. For EPIET, examples might cover applied epidemiology, outbreak response, surveillance, analysis or communication of findings. For EUPHEM, organise examples around public health microbiology, laboratory methods, quality processes, biorisk and collaboration with epidemiology or clinical teams. These examples are preparation notes; the form itself governs what to submit. Make sure every claim can be substantiated if ECDC asks for evidence later.

Read the call and programme manual before drafting. The manual describes the learning environment and expected competency development, giving applicants a clearer basis for explaining why they want this particular training. It is also sensible to look at acknowledged sites to understand the programme’s geographic range, while remembering that the call says the cohort’s updated site list will be provided before selection interviews. Contact current fellows, supervisors or the alumni network as ECDC recommends, but do not assume a preferred placement is guaranteed.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Sending only the online survey. The call requires a second email with the generated Case ID. Complete both steps.
• Using a different application document. ECDC says the official Fellowship Application Form must be submitted with the survey and other formats will not be accepted.
• Counting study time as experience. Time spent toward a master’s degree does not count. Experience begins after the qualifying education date, and part-time work is prorated.
• Counting unpaid or unrelated work. The call specifies documented paid professional activities relevant to fellowship activities.
• Overstating overlapping work. One time period counts once; hours beyond 100% FTE do not create extra eligible experience.
• Ignoring degree equivalence. Degrees from outside the EU/EEA may require an equivalence certificate from an EU Member State authority. Resolve documentation questions early.
• Choosing a path based only on degree title. Explain concrete preparation and experience for EPIET or EUPHEM, using the selection criteria for that path.
• Leaving the Case ID email to the last moment. Confirm that the ID is correct, use the requested subject convention and keep proof of sending.
• Assuming the salary or host conditions are uniform. The call confirms employment by the training site but does not publish one pay figure. Ask the relevant site about its employment terms when placements are being discussed.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a scholarship or a job?

It is a two-year professional fellowship with practical training. ECDC states that fellows are employed by their training site. It is not presented as a tuition scholarship. Salary and other contract conditions are not listed as a single programme-wide amount in the call.

Can applicants from outside the EU/EEA apply?

Not to this EU-track call. Candidates must be nationals of an EU/EEA Member State and have full citizen rights. The page concerns the EU-track and does not determine eligibility for other programme tracks.

Can I apply to both paths?

The call offers separate EPIET and EUPHEM online surveys and allows applications for the relevant path or paths. Each path has distinct academic and experience requirements. Review both carefully and submit the required form and Case ID process for each application you make.

Does my degree from a non-EU country count?

The call says certificates from outside the EU/EEA need an equivalence certificate issued by an authority in an EU Member State. UK degrees awarded before 31 January 2020 are accepted under the stated rule; later UK degrees require equivalence documentation. Check the call and seek clarification if your case is not straightforward.

Is a specific salary guaranteed?

The call confirms employment by the training site and reimbursement of relocation to and from the host Member State. It does not state a common salary amount. Ask the training site about contract conditions rather than relying on an estimate from another country or cohort.

Where will fellows be placed?

Fellows are placed at acknowledged EPIET or EUPHEM training sites in a Member State outside their country or countries of citizenship. The updated site list for the cohort is to be shared with candidates before selection interviews; placement is not something applicants should assume they can choose unilaterally.

When does the fellowship start?

The call specifies 13 September 2027. It says no later start is foreseen and applications cannot be carried over to later years.

Official links and next steps

Review the official call and eligibility page, download the cohort 2027 call document, and access the application form and manual. ECDC also recommends that candidates consult its Fellowship Programme information and speak with current fellows or training sites. Questions about the programme can be directed to the Fellowship Faculty Office at [email protected].

Before applying, verify that you meet the path-specific experience threshold, that your degree meets the call’s recognition rules, and that your language and citizenship evidence is in order. Complete the correct survey and the official template well before the closing time, then send the Case ID email. This cohort is a fit for public health professionals who want a structured, supervised move into European field epidemiology or public health microbiology and can commit to a two-year placement abroad.