Application Guide
How to Apply for Fellowship Programme
at European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
🏢 About European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is the EU agency responsible for strengthening Europe's defences against infectious diseases. It provides independent scientific advice, coordinates surveillance networks, and supports preparedness and response across all EU/EEA member states. Working there means contributing directly to cross-border health security and shaping evidence-based public health policy at a European level.
About This Role
This two-year fellowship offers immersive, applied training in either field epidemiology (EPIET) or public health microbiology (EUPHEM), placing you at a national surveillance centre or public health laboratory in an EU/EEA country. Fellows learn by doing—investigating outbreaks, analysing surveillance data, and supporting response activities—while completing a structured training curriculum. It is a launchpad for a career in European public health, with a direct impact on infectious disease control across the continent.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve analysing surveillance data for an emerging disease, participating in a teleconference with ECDC and other member states, or conducting a field investigation at a local site. You could also attend training modules, work on your fellowship project, and collaborate with mentors and fellow epidemiologists or microbiologists. The balance between applied work and structured learning is central to the fellowship experience.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Is Looking For
- Holds a Master's degree in medicine, public health, epidemiology, biology, microbiology, or a related health science, with a strong academic record.
- For EPIET: at least two years of experience in public health or applied epidemiology, ideally involving surveillance, outbreak investigation, or data analysis.
- For EUPHEM: at least three years of microbiology experience or a PhD in a relevant field, with hands-on laboratory and diagnostic expertise.
- Is an EU/EEA citizen fluent in English and at least one other official EU/EEA language (minimum B2), and is fully committed to the two-year fellowship starting September 2027.
📝 Tips for Applying to European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
Explicitly state your EU/EEA citizenship and language proficiency (with levels) in your CV and cover letter—this is a hard eligibility requirement, and missing it could disqualify you immediately.
Choose your track (EPIET or EUPHEM) early and tailor your application entirely to it; highlight the specific number of years and type of experience required for that track.
Use concrete examples from your public health or microbiology work that demonstrate applied skills, such as outbreak investigations, surveillance system management, or laboratory diagnostics.
Align your motivation with ECDC's mission and the fellowship's goal of strengthening EU/EEA-wide surveillance; mention how you intend to apply the training in your home country or region.
Submit your application well before the 26 October 2026 deadline, as the selection process may involve multiple stages and document verification that takes time.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
Emphasize your eligibility (EU/EEA citizenship, language skills, degree, and exact years of relevant experience). Explain why you are pursuing the EPIET or EUPHEM track specifically and how it fits your career goals in European public health. Show that you understand ECDC's role and the fellowship's structure, and give examples of how you have already contributed to infectious disease surveillance or control. Finally, express your commitment to completing the two-year programme and to working in cross-border public health.
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read ECDC's latest annual epidemiological reports and disease-specific surveillance reports to understand current priorities and data systems.
- → Explore the EPIET and EUPHEM programme pages on the ECDC website, including the curriculum, past fellow projects, and hosting site list.
- → Familiarise yourself with the EU Decision 1082/2013 on serious cross-border threats to health and ECDC's mandate to see how the fellowship fits into the broader EU health security framework.
- → Look up recent ECDC publications or outbreak response reports that relate to your track (e.g., antimicrobial resistance, vaccine-preventable diseases, or emerging zoonoses).
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying without verifying that you meet all eligibility criteria, especially citizenship, language proficiency, and exact years of experience—these are non-negotiable.
- Submitting a generic application that does not distinguish between EPIET and EUPHEM or explain why you are suited to one track specifically.
- Underestimating the importance of the motivational statement: failing to connect your background to ECDC's mission and the fellowship's learning objectives can make you look unprepared.
📅 Application Timeline
⏰ Deadline: October 26, 2026
We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)!