European Commission
Doctoral Networks
17:00 Brussels time
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MSCA Doctoral Networks fund consortia of universities, research institutes, businesses and other organisations to jointly run doctoral training programmes, including Industrial and Joint Doctorates with shared supervision. The call targets institutions recruiting and training doctoral candidates together across borders, rather than individual researchers applying directly. Funding runs for 3-4 years per network and the European Commission opens this call annually.
Details
| Funder | European Commission |
| Deadline | 24 November 2026 |
| Duration | 3-4 years |
| Consortium | Required — minimum 3 entities from 3 EU member states or Horizon Europe Associated Countries |
| Application | Single stage |
| Frequency | Annual |
Recently updated
catalog cleanup 2026-07-04: deadline added per REA WP 2026-27
Eligibility & scope
MSCA Doctoral Networks fund partnerships of universities, research institutions, businesses and other socio-economic actors to implement doctoral training programmes, including Industrial and Joint Doctorates with joint supervision arrangements. Open to organisations from EU, Associated and third countries.
Who Should Apply
- •Consortium coordinators at universities, research institutions or companies planning joint doctoral training
- •Partnerships spanning at least 3 entities from 3 EU member states or Associated Countries
- •Organisations interested in Industrial or Joint Doctorates with joint supervision arrangements
- •Third-country organisations joining as additional partners alongside the required EU/Associated core
- •Institutions with capacity to recruit and host doctoral candidates for multi-year placements
Key Dates
- •Deadline: 24 November 2026, 17:00 Brussels time
- •Single-stage application
- •Project duration: 3-4 years
- •Call runs annually under Horizon Europe
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Build the consortium early, the minimum of 3 entities from 3 EU member states or Associated Countries must be locked in well before submission, and partner-finding takes time.
- ✓If pursuing Industrial or Joint Doctorates, formalise joint supervision agreements with partner institutions before drafting the proposal, as reviewers check these arrangements are concrete.
- ✓Involve non-academic partners (businesses, socio-economic actors) meaningfully in the training plan, not just as named collaborators, this strengthens the intersectoral dimension reviewers assess.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026?
The deadline is 24 November 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.
How many partners are needed for an MSCA Doctoral Network?
A minimum of 3 entities from 3 different EU member states or Horizon Europe Associated Countries is required; organisations from other countries can also join.
How long does an MSCA Doctoral Network project last?
Projects run for 3 to 4 years.
Is the MSCA Doctoral Networks application single-stage or two-stage?
It is a single-stage application process.
Can businesses participate in MSCA Doctoral Networks?
Yes, consortia can include businesses and other socio-economic actors alongside universities and research institutions, including through Industrial Doctorates.
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Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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