The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is accepting applications for its 2027 EPIET and EUPHEM fellowship paths. The two-year programme begins in September 2027, with applications closing on 26 October 2026.
Background & Fellowship Description
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is inviting applications for its 2027 Fellowship Programme, offering two specialised training paths in public health.
The two-year programme combines structured training with practical experience at recognised training sites across Europe. It aims to strengthen infectious disease prevention, public health surveillance, outbreak investigation and response capabilities.
Candidates can apply for either the European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET) or the European Public Health Microbiology Training Programme (EUPHEM).
Applications close on 26 October 2026 at 24:00 Central European Time (CET), and the programme is scheduled to begin on 13 September 2027.
Programme Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) |
| Programme | ECDC Fellowship Programme, Cohort 2027 |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Training paths | EPIET and EUPHEM |
| Location | Recognised training sites across Europe |
| Start date | 13 September 2027 |
| Application deadline | 26 October 2026 at 24:00 CET |
| Salary or stipend | Not specified in the supplied information |
| Enquiries | ecdc.epietfellow@ecdc.europa.eu |
Tasks and Fellowship Benefits
The ECDC Fellowship Programme aims to strengthen the capacity of public health professionals to prevent, monitor and respond to infectious diseases and other cross-border health threats.
Fellows receive practical training through one of two paths.
1. EPIET: Field Epidemiology
The field epidemiology path focuses on intervention epidemiology at national and regional centres responsible for surveillance and control of communicable diseases.
Its emphasis is on developing the skills needed for field investigations, disease surveillance and public health response.
2. EUPHEM: Public Health Microbiology
The public health microbiology path provides training in laboratories with public health functions or at training sites involving a consortium of laboratories across Europe.
It focuses on building the laboratory and microbiology expertise needed to support public health surveillance and infectious disease control.
Both paths contribute to knowledge transfer, collaboration and capacity building across European public health systems.
Qualifications and Eligibility
Applicants for both paths must meet the following general requirements:
- Be a national of an EU/EEA Member State.
- Have full rights as a citizen.
- Have at least B2-level knowledge of two official EU/EEA languages, one of which must be English.
Candidates must also meet the specific academic and professional experience criteria for their chosen path.
EPIET Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must have a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline, such as medicine, public health, epidemiology, veterinary medicine, nursing, biology, microbiology, pharmacology, biomedicine, bioinformatics or other health and social sciences.
They must also have at least two years of work experience in public health or applied epidemiology after completing the master’s degree or equivalent qualification.
EUPHEM Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must have a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline, including medicine, biology, microbiology, veterinary medicine, nursing, pharmacology, bioinformatics or biomedicine.
They must meet one of the following experience or qualification conditions:
- At least three years of microbiology work experience after completing the master’s degree or equivalent; or
- A PhD in microbiology or an equivalent discipline, including relevant clinical or veterinary microbiology specialisations.
Important Qualification Recognition Rules
Only diplomas and certificates awarded in EU/EEA Member States, or equivalent certificates issued by authorities in an EU Member State, will be considered under the stated rules.
UK degrees awarded before 31 January 2020 are accepted. For later UK degrees and qualifications awarded in non-EU/EEA countries, candidates must provide an EU equivalence certificate.
Applicants should consult the official call for applications for the complete rules on eligible qualifications and relevant professional experience.
Additional Information
The application deadline is 26 October 2026 at 24:00 CET.
The selection timeline provided by ECDC includes:
| Stage | Scheduled date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 8 September 2026 |
| Application deadline | 26 October 2026 |
| Shortlisting decisions | 1–10 December 2026 |
| First-round results communicated | End of December 2026 |
| EUPHEM interviews | 19–21 January 2027 |
| EPIET interviews | 25–29 January 2027 |
| Training-site market interviews | Tentatively 22–26 February 2027 |
| Placement notifications | End of March 2027 |
| Fellowship begins | 13 September 2027 |
ECDC notes that some interview dates are tentative and subject to change.
How to apply: Access the official ECDC Fellowship Programme 2027 call for applications through the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control website. Review the eligibility rules for your chosen path and submit your application before the deadline.
For training-programme enquiries, contact ecdc.epietfellow@ecdc.europa.eu.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the ECDC Fellowship Programme 2027?
It is a two-year public health training programme offering specialised paths in field epidemiology and public health microbiology.
2. What is the difference between EPIET and EUPHEM?
EPIET focuses on field epidemiology and intervention-based disease surveillance. EUPHEM focuses on public health microbiology training in laboratories with public health functions.
3. Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must be nationals of EU/EEA Member States, have full citizenship rights, and demonstrate at least B2 proficiency in two official EU/EEA languages, including English. Specific academic and work experience requirements apply to each path.
4. What degree is required for EPIET?
A master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant health, epidemiology, biological, veterinary or related discipline is required, alongside at least two years of relevant post-master’s work experience.
5. What degree is required for EUPHEM?
A relevant master’s degree or equivalent is required, alongside at least three years of microbiology work experience after the degree, or a qualifying PhD in microbiology or an equivalent discipline.
6. Can applicants from outside the EU/EEA apply?
The general eligibility rules require candidates to be nationals of an EU/EEA Member State. Applicants should read the official call for any further details relating to citizenship and qualification recognition.
7. When does the fellowship start?
The programme is scheduled to start on 13 September 2027.
8. What is the application deadline?
Applications close on 26 October 2026 at 24:00 CET.
9. Where can I ask questions about the programme?
Contact the ECDC Fellowship Faculty Office at ecdc.epietfellow@ecdc.europa.eu.
10. Is a salary or stipend provided?
The supplied programme description does not state a salary or stipend amount. Candidates should consult the official call and applicable training-site information.
Opportunities Feed Assessment
The ECDC Fellowship Programme may suit experienced public health professionals and microbiology specialists seeking advanced, practical training in infectious disease surveillance, outbreak response and laboratory-based public health. However, the programme has specific citizenship, language, degree and professional experience requirements, so candidates should verify their eligibility before applying.
Disclaimer: Opportunities Feed shares fellowship and education opportunities for informational purposes. It is not affiliated with ECDC and does not make selection decisions. Applicants should confirm all requirements and dates through the official ECDC call for applications.
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