The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

MSCA objectives for doctoral training

The MSCA aim to train a new generation of innovative researchers, capable of working in international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral environments. For doctoral training, the focus is on:

• Mobility between countries and sectors (public/private).
• Collaboration between universities, businesses and laboratories.
• Scientific excellence and innovation.

Two actions are aimed specifically at doctoral training: doctoral training networks - MSCA Doctoral Networks - and co-funded doctoral programmes - MSCA Cofund.

The MSCA COFUND action - 30 to 50 doctoral contracts per programme

This action co-funds doctoral programmes with the aim of developing good practice in research-based training at international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary level, as well as the international and intersectoral mobility of researchers. Only universities and other bodies offering or funding doctoral programmes may submit an application.

The doctoral programmes proposed must lead to the award of a doctoral degree in at least one European Union Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Training activities must be based on the European Union's principles for innovative doctoral training, and the programme must ensure the quality of doctoral supervision and the application of the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.

All research topics are eligible.

The programme is co-funded equally by the European Commission and by the beneficiary and project partners. Co-funding amounts to a maximum of €10 million per project.

Doctoral candidates must be recruited and supervised at the premises of the grant recipient or project partners (“implementing partners”).

The program lasts a minimum of 36 months and a maximum of 60 months

MSCA Doctoral Networks - 15 doctoral contracts per network

Principle

MSCA Doctoral Networks fund doctoral training networks involving at least 3 partners from different countries. Each doctoral candidate benefits from a personalised pathway, including periods of mobility and research-based training. Duration of the network: 3 years (renewable subject to conditions).

All scientific disciplines are eligible: exact sciences, life sciences, social sciences, engineering, information technology, etc. Certain themes are given priority (aligned with the challenges of Horizon Europe).

For a consortium to be eligible, the network must bring together at least three independent legal entities (university, research organisation, large company, SME, etc.) based in three different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries (at least one of which must be based in a Member State), each recruiting at least one doctoral candidate.

Three types of doctoral training networks are offered

• Doctoral Networks – Standard (DN): doctoral candidates must be enrolled in a doctoral programme in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.
• Doctoral Networks – Joint Doctorates (DN-JD): the project adds an international mobility component, recruiting doctoral candidates under an international joint doctoral supervision (cotutelle) arrangement between two different network partners, at least one of which is in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country, with a view to obtaining a joint doctoral degree.
• Doctoral Networks – Industrial Doctorates (DN-ID): the project adds an intersectoral component, recruiting doctoral candidates who must be enrolled in a doctoral programme in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and spend at least 50% of their working time in the non-academic sector (for example: companies, local authorities, museums, hospitals).

Funding

Network funding covers:

• the gross salary costs of doctoral candidates for the entire duration of their employment,
• research, training and networking costs,
• management fees and indirect costs.

The European Commission funds up to 540 person-months per Doctoral Network, equivalent to 15 doctoral contracts of 36 months. 

How to apply

Calls for proposals are published annually on the (Opens a new window) Horizon Europe portal. The next call for Doctoral Networks is expected to open at the end of 2025.

Selection criteria

• Quality of the consortium
• Scientific excellence of the project.
• Quality of the training and supervision.
• Expected impact on the training of young researchers and on innovation.