MSCA Doctoral Networks (HORIZON-MSCA-DN)
Funds European doctoral networks enabling multi-country training in life and engineering sciences.
Eligibility · EU member states
The 2026 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks call (HORIZON-MSCA-2026-DN) funds structured multinational doctoral training programmes across all research domains under Horizon Europe Pillar I. Administered by the Research Executive Agency (REA), the call carries a total indicative budget of €593.03 million — one of the largest single MSCA calls in the programme's history. The call opened 28 May 2026 following an information day on 3 June 2026, with the submission deadline set for 24 November 2026 via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal (SEDIA). Three network formats are available: Standard Doctoral Networks (DN), Industrial Doctorates (DN-ID, requiring a non-academic co-supervisor for each recruited fellow), and Joint Doctorates (DN-JD, leading to a jointly awarded doctoral degree from at least two academic institutions). Evaluation results are expected in April 2027, with grant agreement signatures in July 2027 and project starts in September 2027.
A qualifying consortium must include at least three independent organisations from at least three different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, with at least one partner based in an EU Member State. Additional partners from non-associated third countries may participate at their own expense. The PhD fellows recruited may be of any nationality but must satisfy the MSCA mobility rule: they cannot have resided or worked in the recruiting country for more than 12 months in the 36 months preceding recruitment. Standard DN projects run for up to four years; Joint Doctorates run for up to five years. Individual fellowships range from 3 to 36 months (up to 48 months for DN-JD).
Applications are evaluated on scientific excellence, quality and efficiency of implementation, and impact. The MSCA Doctoral Networks scheme is sector-agnostic and has historically funded consortia across life sciences, engineering, digital technologies, climate, and social sciences. Winning consortia typically demonstrate strong complementarity between partners, a coherent training programme with secondment plans, and genuine integration of non-academic partners. Applicants submit a single-stage proposal; there is no pre-proposal stage. Horizon Europe's total 2021–2027 budget is €93.5 billion, of which MSCA collectively receives several billion euros per work programme cycle.
Multi-country doctoral training consortia across all research and innovation domains, encompassing Standard Doctoral Networks, Industrial Doctorates, and Joint Doctorates, open to academic and non-academic partners from EU Member States and Associated Countries.
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