Discover the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 funding opportunity from the European Commission, including the €593 million indicative budget, 24 November 2026 deadline, international PhD training, research opportunities, doctoral vacancies and expected 2027 project start.
The MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call offers major European Commission support for international doctoral training, research collaboration and the development of highly skilled researchers.
Under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), universities, research institutions, research infrastructures, businesses and other organisations can form international partnerships to establish doctoral programmes across Europe and beyond.
The 2026 call is particularly relevant to organisations developing collaborative PhD programmes and to prospective doctoral researchers who want to pursue internationally oriented research careers through future MSCA-funded doctoral positions.
According to the official European Commission MSCA page, the call is currently open, with an indicative budget of EUR 593.034 million. The deadline for organisations to submit proposals is 24 November 2026 at 17:00 CET.
MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 at a Glance
| Opportunity | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme | Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions |
| Call | MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 |
| Reference | HORIZON-MSCA-2026-DN-01 |
| Opening date | 28 May 2026 |
| Deadline | 24 November 2026, 17:00 CET |
| Indicative budget | EUR 593.034 million |
| Expected results notification | April 2027 |
| Expected grant agreement signing | July 2027 |
| Expected first project start | August 2027 |
| Focus | Doctoral training, research and international collaboration |
| Programme | Horizon Europe |
Important: MSCA Doctoral Networks is primarily a funding call for organisations establishing doctoral programmes. Individual PhD candidates do not submit applications directly to this European Commission call. Once projects are funded, doctoral vacancies are advertised internationally, including through EURAXESS.
What Are MSCA Doctoral Networks?
MSCA Doctoral Networks are collaborative doctoral programmes established by partnerships involving organisations from different countries.
The partnerships can include:
- Universities
- Research institutions
- Research infrastructures
- Businesses
- Small and medium-sized enterprises
- Other socio-economic organisations
- Organisations from countries outside the EU
The objective is to provide doctoral researchers with high-quality research training while exposing them to different academic and professional environments.
The European Commission states that these programmes are intended to address clearly identified research and innovation needs while developing both research-related and transferable skills relevant to innovation and long-term employability.
Who Can Participate in MSCA Doctoral Networks?
One of the distinctive features of MSCA Doctoral Networks is their international and cross-sector structure.
Participating partnerships can bring together universities and research organisations with businesses and other socio-economic actors. Organisations from third countries can also participate, helping develop strategic international partnerships for researcher training and exchange.
This structure means that doctoral researchers may gain exposure beyond traditional university-based research.
For example, a doctoral programme can involve academic research alongside collaboration with industry, research infrastructure or other non-academic organisations.
What Training Do Doctoral Researchers Receive?
MSCA Doctoral Networks are designed to provide more than traditional academic research training.
According to the European Commission, researchers can receive training in areas including:
- Research methodologies
- Transferable professional skills
- Entrepreneurship
- Commercialisation of research results
- Intellectual Property Rights
- Communication
- Innovation
- Academic and non-academic career development
This combination is designed to help doctoral candidates build skills that remain relevant after completing their PhD.
The programmes can also expose researchers to both academic and non-academic sectors, potentially broadening their understanding of different career pathways.
Industrial and Joint Doctorates
MSCA Doctoral Networks are encouraged to lead to Industrial Doctorates or Joint Doctorates.
An Industrial Doctorate can provide doctoral researchers with strong exposure to industry alongside academic research.
Joint Doctorates can involve collaborative doctoral training between participating institutions and may provide an internationally integrated doctoral experience.
These structures are particularly relevant to applicants interested in building careers that combine advanced research with industry, innovation or applied science.
How Does the 2026 Funding Call Work?
The 2026 call is different from a conventional scholarship application.
Universities, research organisations and other eligible participating organisations first develop a doctoral network proposal.
The organisations then submit their proposal under the HORIZON-MSCA-2026-DN-01 call.
If the proposal is selected for funding, the resulting doctoral network can subsequently advertise vacancies for doctoral researchers.
The European Commission specifies that recruitment must be open, transparent and merit-based, in accordance with the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. Vacancy announcements must be widely advertised internationally, including through EURAXESS.
MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 Deadline
The official call information gives the following key dates:
- 28 May 2026: Call opening
- 24 November 2026: Proposal submission deadline
- April 2027: Expected notification of call results
- July 2027: Expected grant agreement signature
- August 2027: Expected start of the first EU-funded projects
The official page currently lists the 24 November 2026, 17:00 CET deadline.
Applicants and participating organisations should nevertheless check the official call documents before submitting because the European Commission labels some elements of the indicative timeline as subject to confirmation.
MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 Funding
The indicative budget for the 2026 call is:
EUR 593.034 million
This represents a substantial European investment in international doctoral training and researcher development.
The funding is intended to support the establishment and operation of doctoral networks rather than function as a single scholarship awarded directly to every individual who is interested in pursuing a PhD.
Consequently, prospective researchers should monitor funded doctoral networks and their individual vacancy announcements rather than attempting to submit a personal application to the network funding call itself.
Who Should Look for MSCA Doctoral Network PhD Positions?
The programme can be particularly relevant to people interested in:
- Fully international doctoral training environments
- European PhD opportunities
- Research careers
- Academic-industry collaboration
- Cross-border research
- Innovation and technology
- Scientific research
- Research and development careers
- Industrial Doctorates
- Joint Doctorates
- International researcher mobility
However, specific eligibility requirements for doctoral vacancies will depend on the individual funded network and position. The source provided does not establish a single set of candidate eligibility requirements applicable to every future doctoral vacancy.
Therefore, prospective applicants should carefully read each vacancy announcement when positions become available.
How Will Doctoral Vacancies Be Advertised?
A particularly important point for prospective PhD applicants is the recruitment process.
The European Commission requires doctoral candidate selection to be open, transparent and merit-based.
Vacancy notices are expected to be advertised internationally, including through EURAXESS, making the platform an important resource for researchers searching for future MSCA Doctoral Network positions.
Search research and PhD opportunities on EURAXESS
Applicants should also monitor the websites of universities, research institutions and organisations participating in funded MSCA Doctoral Networks.
How to Prepare for Future MSCA Doctoral Network Vacancies
Although individual doctoral vacancies will be advertised later, prospective candidates can begin preparing now.
Update Your Academic CV
Prepare a concise academic CV covering your:
- University education
- Research experience
- Dissertation or thesis work
- Publications
- Conferences
- Technical skills
- Research methods
- Relevant employment
- Academic achievements
Identify Your Research Interests
MSCA Doctoral Networks cover different research and innovation areas.
Having a clear understanding of your preferred research field can make it easier to identify relevant doctoral vacancies once funded projects begin advertising positions.
Monitor EURAXESS
Because MSCA Doctoral Network vacancies are expected to be advertised internationally through EURAXESS, prospective applicants should regularly check the platform for new PhD positions.
Follow Participating Universities
Universities and research institutions participating in MSCA projects may announce doctoral vacancies on their own websites.
Prepare Supporting Documents
Depending on the eventual vacancy, candidates may need documents such as academic transcripts, CVs, motivation statements, references and evidence of research experience.
The exact requirements should always be taken from the individual vacancy announcement.
MSCA Doctoral Networks and International Research Careers
One of the major strengths of the programme is its focus on researcher development rather than simply providing a conventional doctoral qualification.
Researchers can gain exposure to international research environments and, where relevant, non-academic organisations.
The programme also emphasises transferable competencies such as entrepreneurship, communication, intellectual property and commercialisation.
These skills can be useful for researchers considering careers in:
- Universities
- Research institutes
- Technology companies
- Engineering organisations
- Pharmaceutical and life sciences companies
- Government research institutions
- Startups
- Innovation organisations
- Research and development departments
Why the 2026 Call Matters
The MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call represents a significant opportunity to strengthen international doctoral training across Europe and partner countries.
With an indicative budget of more than €593 million, the call is designed to support partnerships that can create structured doctoral programmes addressing research and innovation needs.
For prospective PhD candidates, the most important opportunity will come later: the doctoral positions created by successful projects.
This makes the current period particularly useful for preparation. Rather than waiting until vacancies appear, prospective researchers can update their CVs, identify suitable research areas, prepare application documents and monitor EURAXESS and participating institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 a scholarship?
MSCA Doctoral Networks is primarily a European Commission funding call for organisations establishing doctoral programmes, rather than a scholarship application submitted directly by individual students.
Successful networks subsequently recruit doctoral researchers through advertised vacancies.
Can international students apply?
MSCA Doctoral Networks are designed around international partnerships, and participating organisations can include organisations from countries outside Europe. However, eligibility for individual doctoral positions depends on the specific vacancy.
What is the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 deadline?
The official deadline is 24 November 2026 at 17:00 CET.
How much funding is available?
The indicative budget for the 2026 call is EUR 593.034 million.
When will the funded doctoral projects begin?
The indicative timeline states that the first EU-funded projects are expected to start in August 2027, subject to the relevant funding and grant processes.
Where will MSCA Doctoral Network PhD vacancies be advertised?
The European Commission states that vacancy notices will be widely advertised internationally, including on EURAXESS.
Final Thoughts
The MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call is an important European Commission investment in international doctoral education, research collaboration and researcher career development.
The call has an indicative €593.034 million budget and a 24 November 2026 proposal deadline. Successful projects are expected to begin from 2027, creating opportunities for doctoral researchers through internationally advertised vacancies.
For prospective PhD candidates, the key takeaway is that you do not apply directly to the MSCA Doctoral Networks funding call. Instead, monitor the doctoral vacancies created by successful networks and apply to individual positions that match your academic background and research interests.
The best place to begin is the official MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call page, alongside EURAXESS and the websites of participating research organisations.
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