The Programme

MSCA Eligibility 2026–27: Who Can Enter as a Researcher

Two researcher doors. Doctoral Network fellows have no PhD yet; postdoctoral fellows already do. The mobility rule applies to both.

ScholarshipUnion Editorial 3 min read Updated Oct 6, 2026

Quick eligibility checker

Choose a researcher path. Yes means you pass that published rule. This is a planning tool, not an official REA decision.

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1
You will not hold a doctoral degree on the recruitment date?
2
You will be enrolled in a doctoral programme during the project?
3
You have not lived or worked in the recruiting country more than 12 of the 36 months before recruitment?

1
PhD awarded, or thesis successfully defended, by the call deadline?
2
No more than eight years of research experience since the PhD (after official exceptions)?
3
Mobility rule met for the host country (European) or outgoing-phase country (Global)?
4
If Global PF: you are an EU/Associated national or long-term resident? (European PF: answer Yes)
5
You are not blocked by the resubmission rule introduced in 2026 (previous comparable score was not below 80%)?

Result

You meet these published cutoffs

Confirm the current wording on the official action page, then open how to apply.

Result

You may not be eligible on these rules

One or more official conditions may fail. Read the action pages and the Work Programme before you write a proposal.

Planning tool only. REA and external experts apply the full call text.

Doctoral Network fellow vs Postdoctoral fellow

Nationality is not a hard bar for Doctoral Networks or for European Postdoctoral Fellowships. Global Postdoctoral Fellowships are the exception. The mobility rule is the filter most people miss.

Doctoral Networks (researcher)

No doctoral degree at the date of recruitment
Any nationality
Enrolled in a doctoral programme during the project
Mobility: not more than 12 months in the recruiting country in the 36 months before recruitment
Industrial Doctorates: at least 50% of time outside academia

Source: official Doctoral Networks page, updated 29 September 2026.

Postdoctoral Fellowships

PhD at the deadline, or successful defence without the diploma yet
Maximum eight years of research experience from the PhD award date
Years outside research, career breaks, and (for reintegration) research in third countries do not count toward that cap
Mobility: not more than 12 months in the host country (European) or outgoing-phase country (Global) in the 36 months before the deadline
From 2026: resubmission restriction if the previous comparable score was below 80%

Source: official Postdoctoral Fellowships page, updated 30 September 2026.

The mobility rule in one sentence

You must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, and similar) in the relevant country for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the reference date.

The reference date is recruitment for Doctoral Networks and the call deadline for Postdoctoral Fellowships. The country is the recruiting organisation’s country (DN and European PF) or the outgoing-phase host country (Global PF). Short stays such as holidays, compulsory national service, and time spent in a refugee or EU temporary-protection procedure are not counted. For PF, applicants who hold refugee status or EU temporary protection at the deadline are exempt from the rule (Work Programme 2026–2027). Count months carefully and keep evidence.

Who this is not for

Students looking for an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master — that is Erasmus+, not MSCA
Doctoral candidates applying to the DN consortium call instead of a vacancy
PF applicants without a host organisation in an EU Member State or Associated Country
Global PF applicants who are not EU/Associated nationals or long-term residents

Use REA’s 8-year self-assessment tools for Postdoctoral Fellowships. Confirm associated-country status on the Horizon Europe participating-countries list, not on a blog.