MSCA Doctoral Networks

MSCA Doctoral Networks aim to implement doctoral programmes by partnerships of organisations from different sectors across Europe and beyond to train highly skilled doctoral candidates, stimulate their creativity, enhance their innovation capacities and boost their employability in the long-term.

Link to the call

Doctoral Networks are open to international consortia of universities, research institutions, businesses, SMEs and other non-academic organisations. 

They should include at least three independent legal entities, each established in a different EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and with at least one of them established in an EU Member State. 

All areas of research may be funded and Doctoral Networks can last for up to 4 years (up to 5 years in the case of Joint Doctorate projects).

The duration of each fellowship is between 3 and 36 months (between 3 and 48 months in the case of Joint Doctorate fellowships).

Each beneficiary must recruit at least one doctoral candidate and can also organise secondments for them anywhere in the world. The EU provides support for each recruited researcher in the form of

  • a living allowance
  • a mobility allowance
  • if applicable, family, long-term leave and special needs allowances
  • In addition, funding is provided for
  • research, training and networking activities
  • management and indirect costs
Published Aug. 31, 2026 12:30 PM - Last modified Aug. 31, 2026 12:30 PM