MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026: European Commission Funding for International PhD Training, Research and Doctoral Careers
The MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call provides funding for international consortia to establish structured doctoral training programmes and recruit researchers globally under Horizon Europe.
Overview
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks 2026 call offers an important funding opportunity for universities, research institutions, businesses, public organisations, NGOs, and other eligible entities. Funded through Horizon Europe, the programme aims to develop the next generation of researchers by combining international, interdisciplinary, and inter-sectoral research and training. The initiative focuses on research excellence, transferable skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, career development, international mobility, and collaboration between academic and non-academic sectors.
Rather than functioning as a conventional individual PhD scholarship where a student applies directly to the European Commission, the Doctoral Networks call is primarily submitted by international consortia that propose structured training programmes. Successful networks subsequently recruit doctoral candidates through open and merit-based vacancies. The 2026 call features three main models: Standard Doctoral Networks, Industrial Doctoral Networks, and Joint Doctoral Networks.
Eligibility
Organisations and prospective doctoral candidates must meet specific criteria to participate in the programme:
- Consortium Requirements: Consortia must include at least three independent legal entities established in different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, with at least one organisation located in an EU Member State.
- Joint Doctorates: At least three independent legal entities must be entitled to award doctoral degrees, with at least one institution conferring the joint, double, or multiple degree established in an EU Member State or Associated Country.
- Doctoral Candidates: Candidates can be of any nationality, must not already hold a doctoral degree at the recruitment date, must be enrolled in a PhD programme in an eligible country, and must comply with the MSCA mobility rule (not having resided or carried out main activities in the recruiting organisation's country for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to recruitment).
- Industrial Doctorates: Recruited researchers must spend at least 50% of their working time outside academia.
Benefits
The programme offers comprehensive academic, professional, and financial advantages to participating researchers, including:
- International research experience and exposure to diverse professional environments.
- Interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral training, with optional exposure to industry, business, and non-academic sectors.
- Development of advanced research competencies alongside transferable skills such as project management, entrepreneurship, and communication.
- Structured supervision, mentoring, and a dedicated career development plan.
- Employment contracts typically lasting between 3 and 36 months (or up to 48 months for Joint Doctorates).
How to Apply
Organisations preparing a proposal must follow the European Commission's six-key-step process, which includes understanding the funding rules, confirming consortium eligibility, finding partners, drafting the proposal, seeking peer review, and submitting the final application through the online portal.
Prospective doctoral candidates should look for individual researcher vacancies advertised by successful networks via the EURAXESS Jobs Portal and other communication channels.
Deadline
The application deadline for the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call is 24 November 2026 at 17:00 CET. The call officially opens on 28 May 2026.