EURAXESS jobs is a free portal where universities and research centres in Europe post jobs for researchers. The official portal lists thousands of job opportunities from more than 43 countries and other regions. You can search by country and field, then apply directly to the employer. This guide explains how it works, who can use it, and what a Pakistani applicant should check before applying.
EURAXESS is the European Commission’s researcher portal at euraxess.ec.europa.eu. Employers post research jobs, funding and hosting offers for free. Researchers search the job offers and apply to the employer, not to EURAXESS. EURAXESS does not give a visa. The country’s own authorities decide that.
What Is EURAXESS?
EURAXESS is a European Research Area project. It gives European and non-European researchers information and support for research careers in Europe, and helps research organisations find talent.
The portal has more than one part. Many people mix them up.
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| EURAXESS Jobs | Lists jobs, funding and hosting offers |
| EURAXESS Services | Service Centres that help with moving, housing and family needs |
| EURAXESS Rights | Explains the European Charter for Researchers |
| EURAXESS Worldwide | Connects with representatives outside Europe |
The number of Service Centres differs between sources. Older pages say more than 200 or more than 500 centres, and a newer guide says more than 600. So treat it as “hundreds of centres” and check the portal for the current number.
Is EURAXESS Free?
Yes, it is free for both sides. Institutions can post vacancies on EURAXESS for free. You should never pay anyone to see or apply for a job on this portal. If a person asks for money in the name of EURAXESS, be careful. This is general safety advice, not an official EURAXESS statement.
Who Can Use EURAXESS Jobs?
The portal is for people who do research. This includes PhD students, postdocs, lab staff and senior researchers. Researchers of all nationalities can search for job offers and funding, free of charge. So Pakistani researchers can use it.
Each job has its own rules. Check the degree, field, language and start date in every offer.
Researcher Levels: R1 to R4
Many offers show a researcher profile from R1 to R4. This is the European Framework for Research Careers.
- R1 First Stage Researcher: works under supervision, up to the PhD
- R2 Recognised Researcher: has a PhD or equal level but is not fully independent
- R3 Established Researcher: works independently
- R4 Leading Researcher: leads a research area
These levels come from a 2011 European Commission statement. Pick the level that matches your real experience.
How to Search and Apply
- Open the EURAXESS jobs page and click Search for jobs.
- Choose a research field, such as computer science or biology.
- Choose a country or leave it open.
- Open an offer and read the eligibility and the deadline.
- Find the How to Apply section. Job forms include this field.
- Send your CV and documents the way the employer asks. This is often email or the university’s own system.
- Keep a copy of everything you send.
Creating a free account helps you save searches and build a researcher profile. The offer forms also let employers say if the job is funded by an EU research programme.
Hosting Offers
Not every opportunity is a job. EURAXESS also lets institutions host researchers who are fully funded by the EU, at no cost to the institution. If you have your own fellowship, a hosting offer may help you find a host.
Country Programmes for Foreign Researchers
The official page also points to national programmes. For example:
- Austria has support for postgraduates and postdocs from non-European countries.
- Croatia offers funding for research projects, independent careers and new doctoral students.
- Luxembourg attracts established researchers in strategic areas.
Open the official page for the current calls, because deadlines change.
Visa and Work Permit Basics
This part matters most for applicants from Pakistan.
- The EU Directive 2016/801 covers entry and stay for researchers from outside the EU who plan to stay more than three months.
- It does not give an automatic right to work. A researcher who finds a job must apply for a work and residence permit.
- A hosting agreement is signed between the research organisation and the researcher. The organisation can sign it only if funds are available and it is happy with the researcher’s skills.
- Ireland and Denmark have opted out of this directive.
Rules differ by country, so check the embassy or immigration website of the country you want.
Does EURAXESS Have a Pakistan Office?
I could not verify one. The official worldwide teams listed on the page I checked cover ASEAN, Brazil, China, India, Japan and North America. Pakistan is not named there. This may change, so check the EURAXESS Worldwide page before you plan around it.
Latest Update and Current Status
The portal is active and open for searching. I could not confirm today’s exact number of live jobs. One university page reported 10,820 offers as of 31 October 2023, but that figure is old. Open the portal to see the live count. iyte
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying to EURAXESS instead of the employer
- Not reading the required degree and research field
- Sending one CV to every job without changes
- Missing the deadline in the offer
- Ignoring visa time. A permit can take weeks or months
- Trusting social media posts that promise guaranteed jobs or visas
Tip: Look for the HR Excellence Logo
Employers with the HR Excellence in Research logo have put a plan in place for fair and open recruitment and career development. It is a good sign, but still check the offer yourself.
FAQs
What is EURAXESS jobs?
It is a free job portal for researchers in Europe. Universities, institutes and companies post jobs, funding and hosting offers there.
Can Pakistani researchers apply through EURAXESS?
Yes, they can search and apply. Researchers of all nationalities can use the job search. Each employer sets its own conditions.
Does EURAXESS give a visa?
No. It is a portal. The country’s authorities issue the visa and work permit.
Do I need to pay to apply?
No. EURAXESS is free. Do not pay anyone who offers to get you a job on it.
Is a PhD compulsory?
Not always. R1 jobs are for researchers up to the PhD level, such as PhD positions. Always read the offer.
How do I apply for a job on EURAXESS?
Open the job, read the How to Apply section, and send your documents to the employer in the way it asks.
What are R1, R2, R3 and R4?
They are four career levels for researchers, from first stage to leading researcher.
Is EURAXESS the same as EURES?
No. EURES is a separate European job network for general employment. EURAXESS is for research careers.
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