Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Guide 2026–27
Horizon Europe research fellowships for doctoral candidates and postdocs. Doctoral Network vacancies live on EURAXESS; Postdoctoral Fellows apply with a host on the Funding & Tenders Portal. This is not Erasmus Mundus.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
4 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
Horizon Europe fellowships, not a Master’s scholarship
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) sit inside Horizon Europe. They fund research training and mobility for doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers, plus collaborative actions for organisations. The European Research Executive Agency (REA) runs the calls.
This guide is written for researchers. The two actions you can actually enter as a person are Doctoral Networks and Postdoctoral Fellowships. Staff Exchanges, COFUND, MSCA and Citizens, and Choose Europe for Science are organisation-led.
This is not Erasmus Mundus. MSCA does not award a taught Master’s place.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) is an Erasmus+ degree programme with a student scholarship. Doctoral Network fellows are recruited onto funded PhD vacancies. Postdoctoral fellows write a research proposal with a host and submit it on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
Which door do you use?
Pick the path that matches your degree. This is a planning guide, not an official Commission decision.
Apply to funded Doctoral Network vacancies on EURAXESS. Do not submit to the consortium call — that call is for universities, companies and other legal entities.
You apply together with a host on the Funding & Tenders Portal. The 2026 call closed on 9 September 2026, 17:00 CEST; results are expected in February 2027. The 2027 call has an indicative opening of 7 April 2027 and a deadline of 8 September 2027 (TBC).
Organisation proposals go through the Funding & Tenders Portal. Doctoral Networks 2026 is open until 24 November 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. This guide stays researcher-facing; use the official how-to-apply page for consortium steps.
Vacancies: EURAXESS job search. Proposals: Funding & Tenders Portal.
The step listing sites get backwards
People treat the Doctoral Networks deadline as a student application date. It is not. The 24 November 2026 date is for consortia. Doctoral candidates apply later, to vacancies that funded projects advertise on EURAXESS after grant signature.
- 1Decide
Doctoral Network vacancy vs Postdoctoral Fellowship proposal.
- 2Check the rules
The mobility rule and, for PF, the 8-year research-experience cap.
- 3Find your entry point
DN: watch EURAXESS. PF: find a host and write the proposal together.
- 4Submit on the right portal
Use the portal the official page names — never a third-party “MSCA form”.
Three things listing sites get wrong
Researchers do not apply to the DN call
The Doctoral Networks 2026 deadline is for consortia. Doctoral candidates apply to vacancies on EURAXESS after projects are funded.
MSCA is not Erasmus Mundus
EMJM funds a joint Master’s. MSCA funds doctoral training and postdoctoral research mobility under Horizon Europe. Different portal, different rules.
The monthly euro figures are in the Work Programme, not on the action pages
Official DN and PF pages list allowance types only. The Work Programme sets the gross unit rates: a living allowance of EUR 4,250 (DN) or EUR 6,350 (PF) a month before the country coefficient, plus EUR 710 mobility. DN vacancies must publish the gross salary.
Official facts for 2026–27
All dates →| Item | Official figure |
|---|---|
| Programme | Horizon Europe / MSCA |
| DN 2026 budget | EUR 628.03 million (raised 1 Oct 2026) |
| DN 2026 deadline | 24 November 2026, 17:00 CET |
| PF 2026 budget | EUR 434.05 million (raised 1 Oct 2026) |
| PF 2026 deadline | 9 September 2026 (closed); 21,627 applications; results February 2027 |
| PF 2025 success rate | 9.6% (1,610 of 16,836 eligible proposals) |
| PF 2027 call (TBC) | 7 April – 8 September 2027 · EUR 459.70m |
| DN 2027 call (TBC) | 26 May – 23 November 2027 · EUR 645.99m |
| Choose Europe 2026/27 | 8 December 2026 – 6 April 2027 |
| Seal of Excellence | ≥85% if unfunded on budget |
Official pages: Doctoral Networks (updated 29 September 2026), Postdoctoral Fellowships (updated 30 September 2026), 2026–27 call announcement, budget top-up, 1 October 2026, PF 2025 results, Work Programme PDF.
What this guide covers
Eleven pages. Start with the action that matches your career stage. Confirm every date on the official call page before you write.
Standard, Industrial, and Joint Doctorates. Researchers apply on EURAXESS, not to the consortium call.
European (1–2 years, any nationality) and Global (2–3 years, EU/Associated nationals or long-term residents).
No PhD at DN recruitment. PhD (or successful defence) at the PF deadline. Mobility rule. 8-year cap for PF.
EURAXESS for DN vacancies. Funding & Tenders Portal for PF proposals written with a host.
DN 2026: 24 Nov 2026. PF 2026 closed 9 Sep 2026. Choose Europe: 8 Dec 2026 – 6 Apr 2027.
Vacancy packs differ by project. PF uses the official Part A / Part B templates on the call page.
Living (EUR 4,250 DN / EUR 6,350 PF a month, gross, before the country coefficient) + EUR 710 mobility; family and other allowances if applicable.
Grant agreement, employment contract, Seal of Excellence at ≥85%, and EURAXESS practical support.
Resubmission below 80%, Global PF nationality, Industrial Doctorates, and why EMJM is a different scheme.
One planning tracker for both researcher paths. Not an official REA decision.
If this guide and europa.eu disagree, europa.eu wins. Rules, calls and results sit on the official MSCA site, the Funding & Tenders Portal and EURAXESS. This guide does not replace the Work Programme.
Start with the action, then the rule
Doctoral Network or Postdoctoral Fellowship first. Mobility, degree date, and the right portal second. Next: check your eligibility.