Open Call for Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs)
For missions undertaken between January 2026 and November 2026

Written by Dr Carolin Gluchowski (carolin.gluchowski@uni-hamburg.de)
Last updated: 15 January 2026

Important Information

• Mission period: 10 January 2026 – 30 November 2026. Please allow ~1 month between submission and the planned start date.
• Call closes: 15 October 2026 (or until the WBP-allocated STSM budget is spent, whichever comes first).
• Notification of results: within 20 working days of receiving a complete application.
• Maximum amount: 4.000 €

About PRAYTICIPATE

PRAYTICIPATE (CA23143) investigates how people participated through prayer in the late medieval and early modern world (c. 1300–1800). We explore liturgical access and authority, devotional communities, ritual labour and care, embodied practices and vocal participation, and the material/spatial infrastructures of prayer across Europe and beyond. STSMs should clearly contribute to the Action’s scientific objectives and enable knowledge exchange, access to sources, data, methods, and skills that are not available at the home institution. (See the Action MoU on the COST website for scope and objectives).

What is an STSM?

Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) are research visits that support mobility, strengthen collaboration, and contribute directly to the Action’s scientific aims. Examples include: archival work; access to unique collections or tools; developing or learning methods; annotating or harmonising data; co-designing resources; and writing joint outputs.

• Duration: from 3 calendar days to 3 months (longer durations encouraged where feasible).
• Grant amount: up to 4.000 € per STSM (the MC/Core Group may award a lower amount than requested).
• Payment: grants are normally paid after successful completion. Applicants from ITC countries may request an advance of up to 50%, subject to GH funds and host confirmation that the mission has started.

Eligibility Rules

To apply for an STSM, all the following must be met (standard COST rules):

• You are a participant in COST Action CA23143 with an e-COST profile.
• You are based at a research institution in a legal entity within a COST Full/Cooperating Member, Near Neighbour Country (NNC), or European RTD.
• You are enrolled in a PhD programme, a postdoctoral fellow, or employed/affiliated with an organisation clearly engaged in research.
• The host country is different from your country of affiliation.
• You apply before the call deadline and the mission finishes within the mission period (before the end date above).
• Minimum duration: 3 calendar days.

Financial Rules

• Maximum grant: 4.000 €.
• Eligible costs: travel, accommodation, subsistence, and mission-critical expenses.
• Salaries are not eligible.
• ITC pre-payment: up to 50% advance may be granted to ITC-affiliated applicants (subject to GH funds and host confirmation).
• The MC/Core Group may award less than requested depending on budget and value for money.

Evaluation & Awarding

Applications are evaluated by the Grant Awarding Coordinator and Core Group on behalf of the MC.

• Fit to PRAYTICIPATE objectives and WG tasks (consult the MoU).
• Scientific quality and feasibility of the work plan and expected outcomes.
• Applicant profile (skills/experience/CV; for PhD students, supervisor statement).
• Suitability of the host environment and complementarity.
• Budget suitability and value for money.
• COST policies: gender balance, YRIs (under 40), and geographical inclusiveness.

Scoring (example, aligned with template):
Relevance to PRAYTICIPATE aims (max 20; min 15 required), Scientific quality (20), Applicant profile (15), Host environment (15), Budget suitability (15), Relevance to COST policies (15). An overall threshold of 75 is required to be eligible for funding.

• Notification within 20 working days. Resubmission may be invited with clarifications or a revised budget.

How to Apply (via e-COST)

1. Create/update your e-COST profile and upload your CV and bank details: https://e-services.cost.eu/
2. Go to COST Actions → Grant Applications or directly: https://e-services.cost.eu/activity/grants/add and search “CA23143”.
3. Click Apply for a Grant → select Short-Term Scientific Mission → fill in:
   – Title (≤128 characters), start/end dates (within mission period), budget requested, host institution/contact.
   – Save draft (do not submit yet).
4. Under Options → Upload documents, add:
   • Letter of support from the host confirming feasibility and dates.
   • CV (with publications, where relevant).For PhD students: supervisor’s letter on relevance and suitability.Application form (COST template) including:
   • Goals (≤200 words) • Working plan (≤500 words) • Expected outcomes and contribution to PRAYTICIPATE MoU objectives and deliverables (≤500 words).
   • Budget plan (up to €4,000), e.g., Travel, Accommodation, Subsistence, Consumables/Other costs essential to your STSM.
5. Submit in e-COST before the deadline.

For screenshots and a step-by-step guide, see the Grant Awarding User Guide in “Documents for running a COST Action.”

After Completing the STSM

Within 30 days of the end date, submit your Scientific Report in e-COST (template provided), detailing the work carried out, main achievements, and follow-up plans, and upload the host institution’s acceptance letter. Failure to submit the report within 30 days will cancel the grant.

Questions

We’re happy to help as you prepare your application.
Contact: carolin.gluchowski@uni-hamburg.de
CC: youri.desplenter@ugent.be; a.dlabacova@hum.leidenuniv.nl

Acknowledgement

COST Action CA23143 – PRAYTICIPATE and its STSMs are funded by COST – European Cooperation in Science and Technology. COST funds research and innovation networks that connect initiatives across Europe, helping researchers grow ideas through peer exchange—boosting research, careers, and innovation. www.cost.eu