Current calls and posts
You can receive help with the administrative and economical aspects of applications, grants, contracts and collaboration agreements as a researcher at the School of Communication and Culture.
News
RSO support for Horizon Europe’s Pillar II 2026 Work Programme
The RSO offers support for consortium building and concept development, leadership support for coordinators (incl. timeline and task planning), 1:1 advice on proposals, proposal feedback and budgeting support (actual cost and lump sum) as well as input and clarification regarding forms, eligibility and compliance.
- Please get in contact with us if you are planning on becoming a coordinator of a HEU Europe Pillar II project by sending an email as soon as possible to: HEUCollab.FSE@au.dk.
Changes to application rounds for Augustinus Fonden
In 2026 the foundation is changing their processes for applications to the Cultural Heritage instrument:
- The 2027 will be published on 1 September 2026, earlier than usual.
- Digital information meeting on the 2027 call on 16 September 2026.
- Application deadline for the 2027 call: 29 January 2027
Read more about the Cultural Heritage instrument (Link DK only)
Considering applying for one of the Carlsberg Foundation’s grants this autumn?
Remember that it is not possible to send in several applications in the same round of applications. This means that for the autumn round (deadline 1 September 2026) you can only send in one application – either for Monograph, Semper Ardens, Research Infrastructure, Digital Research Infrastructure or Field trips/Research stays over DKK 100,000.
Stricter notification deadlines and approval procedures for applications going forward
As of the spring of 2026 application, the registration deadlines set by research consultants apply definitively, which means that it is not possible to apply for and receive budget and application support if you register after this date. In addition, a new fixed deadline for the submission of application budgets will be introduced, which lies 10 days before the application deadline. This applies to all instruments. For instruments with an internal school process, this will be stated in this process. The stricter guidelines for notification deadlines and approval procedures have been adopted by theschool management team at CC.
- Read more about the decision in the memo (DK only).
Workshops, webinars and masterclasses
Online information meeting on the European Research Council (ERC)
The Research Support Office invites researchers from Aarhus University and hospitals in the Central Denmark Region, as well as advisors and members of management, who wish to learn more about the ERC, the grants that ERC offers and what it takes to write an ERC proposal to join in at an online meeting. This course is aimed at participants with little or no prior experience with the ERC, those with prior application experience are unlikely to gain significant new insights.
Time and place: 27 May 2026 from 14:00-15:30. Online. Sign up here.
Calls for applications
Overview of current calls
Note: From 2026, CC has introduced a new fixed deadline for budget applications, which is now 10 days before the application deadline. This applies to all calls.
Deadline | Call |
| 2 June 2026 |
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| 3 June 2026 |
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| 9 June 2026 |
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| 17 June 2026 |
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| 1 July 2026 | |
| 13 August 2026 |
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| 27 August 2026 |
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| 1 September 2026 |
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| 2 September 2026 |
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| 9 September 2026 |
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| 10 September 2026 |
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| 11 September 2026 |
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| 17 September 2026 |
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| 1 October 2026 |
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| 2 October 2026 |
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| 7 October 2026 |
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| 14 October 2026 |
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| 3 November 2026 | |
| 5 November 2026 |
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| 24 November 2026 |
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DFF Green research (priority 2026–2029)
Application deadline: 2 June 2026 at 12:00 noon
Budget: Up to 5 million DKK, excluding overhead
Theme-specific requirements: Interdisciplinarity, such that an applicant and Co-PI from two different main scientific fields as defined by the European Research Council (ERC) (namely Physical Sciences and Engineering, Life Sciences, and Social Sciences and Humanities); and capacity building, i.e., at least one PhD student or postdoc in the project
DFF Research on artificial intelligence (priority 2026–2029)
Application deadline: 3 June 2026 at 12:00 noon
Budget: Up to 5 million DKK, excluding overhead
Theme-specific requirements: Capacity building, i.e., at least one PhD student or postdoc on the project
DFF Research on elderly and ageing and dementia
Application deadline: 3 June 2026 at 12:00 noon
Budget: Up to 5 million DKK, excluding overhead
Theme-specific requirements: Multidisciplinary research, so an applicant and Co-PI from different research disciplines; and practice-oriented research is required
DFF Research on vulnerability and poor well-being
Application deadline: 3 June 2026 at 12:00 noon
Budget: Up to 5 million DKK, excluding overhead
Theme-specific requirements: Capacity building, i.e., at least one PhD student or postdoc on the project
DFF Research on learning and well-being in primary schools and in upper secondary and vocational education
Application deadline: 3 June 2026 at 12:00 noon
Budget: Up to 5 million DKK, excluding overhead
Theme-specific requirements: Practice-oriented research
DFF Research on antisemitism
Application deadline: 3 June 2026 at 12:00 noon
Budget: Up to approximately 6 million DKK, including overhead
Theme-specific requirements: Capacity building, i.e., at least one PhD student or postdoc in the project; and a requirement for collaboration between different academic disciplines and/or research institutions, i.e., the applicant and the Co-PI must come from different academic disciplines or research institutions
DFF Inge Lehmann
Application deadline: 17 June 2026 at 12:00 noon
See the school’s internal process
The Inge Lehmann Program aims to provide talented early-career researchers with the opportunity to develop their research ideas and skills as independent research leaders. In particular, efforts are being made to promote a more equitable gender balance in research communities, with a focus on the career stages where inequality begins to emerge.
An Inge Lehmann grant can be up to 2,550,000 DKK, excluding overhead costs. There will be approximately 22-23 grants awarded in 2026.
The Bevica Foundation: Research in Universal Design
Deadline: 1 July 2026
The Bevica Foundation is now accepting applications for new PhD research projects aimed at developing knowledge about universal design as a means for creating a more inclusive and equitable society, with a scope of 10.5 million DKK.
We all have different and changing functional abilities throughout life. Nevertheless, our shared environments are often designed for a standardized and fully functioning body. Universal Design is a value-based concept which can be used to ensure equitable inclusion of people with functional variations in the design of our society.
Who can apply?
- Applicants must hold a master’s degree (or equivalent) by the application deadline. Applications are accepted for all PhD models: 5+3, 4+4, and 3+5.
- It is considered an advantage if either the applicant or the primary supervisor has participated in the Bevica Scholarship Programme. Otherwise, qualifications in universal design must be documented.
Got questions? Please contact Project Developer René Sørensen Overby at rene@bevica.dk
VELUX FOUNDATION HUMpraxis 2027 (link DK only)
Deadline for expressions of interest: 13 August 2026 at 14:00
See the school’s internal process
HUMpraxis is for projects in which practitioners and university researchers from the humanities and closely related (see applicant requirements) social science disciplines in Denmark, Greenland, or the Faroe Islands engage in close, equal, and interactive collaboration. This collaboration should focus on creating and testing new sustainable solutions in practice and gaining new fundamental scientific insights and theoretical developments.
ERC Advanced Grant (AdG)
RSO deadline: 2 March 2026
Deadline: 27 August 2026
Are you an established, leading principal investigator who wants long-term funding to pursue a ground-breaking, ambitious project? The ERC Advanced Grant could be for you.
- Read the full call (pdf)
Innovation Fund Denmark: Grand Solutions, Defense Technology and Innovation
Deadline: 1 September 2026 at 12:00 noon
The aim of this call is to support strategic research and innovation within single-use defense and dual-use critical technologies, which will strengthen Denmark’s and the EU’s technological capabilities with particular emphasis on technologies that contribute to defense capability, national resilience, and security of supply.
The project must include a minimum of two partners of which one is not a university. Investment per project: DKK 5-30 million.
- Innovation Fund Denmark will host a webinar on the call on 7 May from 11:00-11:30.
- Contact the RSO to sign up at IFD.FSE@au.dk as soon as possible. Both AU applicants coordinating an application (startup meetings, formalities, budget, review of the proposal, etc.) and applying as partners in an application with their part of the budget, as well as application-related formalities, can apply RSO support.
- If you have any further questions and inquiries, please feel free to reach out to the RSO.
- Read the full call here (pdf).
Novo Nordisk Foundation: Project Grants Supporting Societal Learning for the Green Transition
Notification deadline: 10 June 2026
Deadline: 1 September 2026 at 12:00
The Novo Nordisk Foundation wishes to support societal learning to help accelerate the green transition of society. The purpose of this call is to support projects and initiatives that will innovate, implement and/or scale up more sustainable behaviour and practices among individuals, communities, and organisations in Denmark.
TrygFonden (DK only)
Notification deadline: 10 June 2026
Deadline: 1 September 2026 at 12:00
TrygFonden supports national and regional projects that aim to improve peace of mind and safety in Denmark. Read more about Trygfondens research support here. (DK only)
Carlsberg Foundation calls for autumn 2026
Notification deadline: 10 June 2026
Deadline: 1 September 2026 at 16:00
- Science Communication: Grants for professional communication of topics within the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to non-scientific target groups.
- Carlsberg Mindelegat: Grants for researchers communicating their own research to non-scientific target groups.
- Semper Ardens Accelerate: Three- to five-year grants for newly appointed tenured associate professors to consolidate an independent research group or research environment.
- Semper Ardens Advance: Five-year grants for internationally recognised professors as well as research groups to support visionary research projects at the highest international level aiming at scientific breakthroughs.
- Monograph Fellowships: One-year full-time fellowships for leading, visionary researchers within the humanities or social sciences, or within interdisciplinary fields that may branch into the natural sciences, with a project aimed at publishing a ground-breaking monograph.
- Reintegration Fellowships:Two-year postdoctoral fellowships at Danish research institutions for postdoctoral fellows returning from research stays abroad.
- Research Infrastructure: Grants for equipment or apparatus.
- Digital Research Infrastructure: Grants for the procurement of register data, access to databases, or the establishment of databases or text corpora.
See the school’s internal process.
DFF Arctic research
Application deadline: 2 September 2026 at 12:00 noon
Budget: Up to 5 million DKK, excluding overhead
Theme-specific requirements: Capacity building, i.e., at least one PhD student or postdoc in the project; and collaboration between different research communities within the Danish Realm (at least two of the three countries), including that the applicant or Co-PI is affiliated with an institution in a country within the Realm; and that the local population or indigenous peoples in Arctic communities within the Realm must be involved.
DFF Research in the Danish Realm
Application deadline: 2 September 2026 at 12:00 noon
Budget: Up to 5 million DKK, excluding overhead
Theme-specific requirements: Capacity building, i.e., at least one PhD student or postdoctoral fellow on the project; and a requirement for collaboration among various stakeholders across the Realm, such that at least two of the three countries in the Realm are represented (e.g., researchers, institutions, government agencies, or NGOs, etc.)
Innovation Fund Denmark: Grand Solutions Programme 2026
RSO support deadline: as soon as possible
Deadline phase 1 (letter of interest): 3 March 2026 at 12:00 noon
Deadline phase 2 (full application): 10 September 2026 at 12:00 noon
The Innovation Fund Denmark just announced their calls for the Grand Solutions Programme 2026 and the central Research Support Office offers support for the entire application process. The programme invests in innovative collaboration projects that create new knowledge and develop solutions with a clear societal or economic impact in Denmark. A project must include a minimum of two partners of which one is not a university (except quantum).
Budget: Investment per project from 5-30 mio DKK (life science and quantum 40 mio DKK). Total investment rate: 75% (quantum 90%). Duration: 1-5 years
- Please sign up for RSO support to IFD.FSE@AU.dk as soon as possible. We support AU coordinators with all aspects of the application (startup meetings, formalities, budget, review of the proposal, etc.) and AU partners with budget preparations and application-related formalities, while their coordinator oversees the application.
- Have any questions? Contact the Grand Solutions team by phone +45 61 90 50 00 or by email store.projekter@innofond.dk. Phone are open Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00-12:00.
DFF: Journals (Humanities)
Notification deadline: 10 August 2026 at 23:59
Deadline: 9 September 2026 at 12:00
Supports the dissemination of humanities research through scientific journals published digitally and Open Access.
AUFF NOVA
Notification deadline: 10 August 2026 at 23:59
Deadline: 10 September 2026 at 12:00
The aim of AUFF NOVA is to stimulate courageous and innovative research projects of high quality – projects, which may have difficulties obtaining alternative funding. NOVA includes two types of grants for small projects (up to DKK 600,000 + 20% overhead, duration 1-2 years) or large projects (up to DKK 2,500,000 + 20% overhead, duration 3-4 years).
Danmarks Grundforskningsfond: Centers of Excellence 2026
Deadline for expressions of interest: 11 September 2026
Centers of Excellence (CoE) are long‑term, ambitious research environments designed to strengthen Danish fundamental research at the highest international level. CoEs provide top researchers with large, flexible grants and optimal working conditions to pursue original, creative, and potentially groundbreaking ideas. The full call will be announced on 27 February, 2026.
- There will be an information meeting at AU on 9 March 2026, from 14:00-15:30. More information will follow.
- If you have any questions about the call, the internal procedures or the application support process, please do not hesitate to contact us at dnrf.fse@au.dk.
AUFF International Mobility
Notification deadline: 10 August 2026 at 23:59
Deadline: 17 September 2026 at 12:00
AUFF wishes to support inbound and outbound mobility at Aarhus University. Partly by supporting visits at AU from foreign researchers and by supporting AU researchers' stay at foreign universities. You can apply for one consecutive researcher visit of 1-3 months (Visiting Researcher Stipend) or one consecutive stay of 3-9 months (Sabbatical Stipend).
Permanent researchers (associate professors / senior researchers or professors) at Aarhus University can apply for both instruments.
Norlys: Vækstpulje (DK only)
Deadline: 1 October 2026 at 12:00 noon
Vækstpuljen supports local and national projects that bring people together, strengthen communities and facilitate increasing digitalisation and green initiatives, therefore one can apply for funds for research- and science communication projects that focus on innovation and entrepreneurship within electrification, digitalistion and sustainability.
- Do you have questions? Contact vaekstpulje@norlys.dk.
VELUX Foundation: Democratic Sustainability (DK only)
Deadline for expression of interest: 1 May 2026 at 14:00
Application deadline: 2 October 2026
See the school’s internal process
Do you have a project that can bring together environmental, social and cultural sustainability while also strengthening and advancing democracy? Funding is now available for collective research or research-practice projects that aim to create a new knowledge base to enable informed responses and concrete actions that contribute to shaping a vision of democratic sustainability.
Sapere Aude: DFF-Research Leader
Notification deadline: 10 August 2026 at 23:59
Deadline: 7 October 2026 at 12:00
DFF-Research Leader is aimed at providing excellent younger researchers, i.e., researchers who have carried out top class research in their field, with the opportunity to develop and strengthen their research ideas as well as their competencies as independent research leaders of other researchers. The funding instrument also aims at promoting careers, international as well as national mobility among research environments, and to strengthen networks.
DFF-Research Project2
Notification deadline: 10 August 2026 at 23:59
Deadline: 7 October 2026 at 12:00
To advance the quality of, and develop collaboration, within Danish research, DFF offers funding for research projects carried out by multiple researchers (e.g. postdoctoral candidates and PhD students). A DFF-Research Project2 is often characterised by a coordinated and mutually binding collaboration on a well-defined, joint research question; however, it may also be a project formulated by a single researcher, which is to be carried out in their research team, when it can be argued that the project is particularly ambitious and resource-demanding.
ERC Starting Grant (StG)
Notification deadline: 1 June 2026
Expected deadlines: 14 October 2026
The Starting Grant is for researchers with less than ten years of experience since completing their PhD. Applications can be made in any field of research and applicants may be awarded up to € 1.5 million for a period of 5 years.
- To sign up for support from an RSO ERC advisor, send an email to ERC.FSE@au.dk by 1 June 2026.
NordForsk: Global interdisciplinary funding initiative on Disruptive Technologies
Deadline: 3 November 2026
This call supports international, interdisciplinary and transformative research projects that harness disruptive technologies to address major global societal challenges and accelerate progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Projects must directly address at least one SDG or another recognized global challenge and involve co-development with stakeholders for long-term impact.
Available Budget: The Nordic partners of a project proposal can apply for a maximum of DKK 10,9 million in total.
- NordForsk hosted a webinar on the call, watch the recording here.
- Sign-up for RSO support: Nordforsk.FSE@au.dk
DFF-International Postdoctoral Grant
Notification deadline: 10 August 2026 at 23:59
Deadline: 5 November 2026 at 12:00
The grant aims to strengthen the international mobility of younger talented researchers, and to develop the competencies of researchers in the beginning of their research career.
MSCA Doctoral Networks
RSO deadline: 15 June 2026
Deadline: 24 November 2026
The call for MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 will be published 28 May 2026, but already now researchers planning to coordinate a MSCA Doctoral Network should begin the proposal preparation.
- RSO invites potential applicants to attend an information webinar on 23 April at 13:00-14:00. If you wish to attend, register before 20 April.
- If you wish to sign up for RSO coordinator support, please do so by e-mail to MSCA.FSE@au.dk before 15 June.
