MSCA Doctoral Networks for Researchers
Partnerships train doctoral candidates. You apply to a funded vacancy, not to HORIZON-MSCA-2026-DN-01 — that call is for organisations.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
3 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
Doctoral Network researcher checker
For people seeking a funded PhD post — not for consortium coordinators. Planning tool only.
- 1You will not hold a PhD on the recruitment date?
- 2You will enrol in a doctoral programme during the project?
- 3Mobility: not more than 12 months in the recruiting country in the prior 36?
- 4You will apply to a EURAXESS vacancy, not to the consortium call?
What Doctoral Networks fund
Doctoral Networks implement doctoral programmes through partnerships of universities, research infrastructures, businesses including SMEs, and other socio-economic actors across Europe and beyond. The aim is to train highly skilled doctoral candidates, raise creativity and innovation capacity, and improve long-term employability.
All research areas may be funded. Each beneficiary must recruit at least one doctoral candidate and may organise secondments anywhere in the world. The official Doctoral Networks page was last updated on 29 September 2026.
Three types
Doctoral programmes run by international, inter-sectoral partnerships. Training covers research skills and transferable skills for innovation and employability.
For candidates who want skills outside academia. Joint academic and non-academic supervision. Fellows should spend at least 50% of their time outside academia.
Highly integrated programmes leading to a joint or multiple doctoral degree. Candidates enrol in a joint programme and are jointly supervised. Fellowships may last 3–48 months; the network may last up to 5 years.
Who applies to what
Researchers apply to funded project vacancies on EURAXESS (updated daily). Do not submit to the consortium call.
To find posts, start from the official MSCA jobs page, which points to MSCA-funded PhD and postdoc vacancies on EURAXESS. Each network sets its own closing date and selection steps, so check every notice. The notice must state the gross salary. In the Work Programme, the EU living allowance for a doctoral candidate is EUR 4,250 a month before the country coefficient, plus a EUR 710 mobility allowance (see funding).
Organisations apply as international consortia of at least three independent legal entities, each established in a different EU Member State or Associated Country, with at least one in an EU Member State. Other organisations from any country can join above that minimum. Specific extra conditions apply to Industrial and Joint Doctorates.
Resubmission restrictions apply from 2022 for applications that scored below 80% the previous year.
The consortium call is competitive. In the 2025 round, 141 of 1,616 proposals were funded (about 9%), and those networks will train around 2,115 doctoral candidates (MSCA, 25 March 2026). The odds for a single PhD vacancy are not published.
Duration and 2026–27 money
Deadlines →- Fellowship: 3–36 months (3–48 months for Joint Doctorates)
- Network: up to 4 years (5 years for Joint Doctorates)
- DN 2026: opened 28 May 2026, deadline 24 November 2026, 17:00 CET, indicative budget EUR 628.03 million after the 1 October 2026 top-up (the call page still shows EUR 593.03 million). Indicative results April 2027, grant agreements July 2027, first projects August 2027.
- DN 2027 (HORIZON-MSCA-2027-DN-01-01): opening 26 May 2027, deadline 23 November 2027, all marked TBC on the official call page. The amended Work Programme budgets it at EUR 645.99 million (the call page still shows EUR 574.62 million); MSCA estimates it could support over 2,000 doctoral candidates. Indicative results April 2028, first projects August 2028.
Sources: Doctoral Networks, DN 2026 call, DN 2027 call, budget top-up news, Work Programme PDF, EURAXESS jobs.