European Commission Call for Applications: Doctoral Networks [MSCA-DN] 2025

The European Commission (EC) is calling for applications to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks 2025.

All Doctoral Networks aim to train creative, entrepreneurial, innovative and resilient doctoral candidates, able to face current and future challenges and to convert knowledge and ideas into products and services for economic and social benefit. The MSCA Doctoral Networks will raise the attractiveness and excellence of doctoral training in Europe. They will equip researchers with the right combination of research-related and transferable competences and provide them with enhanced career perspectives in both the academic and non-academic sectors through international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility combined with an innovation-oriented mind-set.

There are three different modalities:

  1. Regular Doctoral Networks (DN):Doctoral programmes, by partnerships of universities, research institutions and research infrastructures, businesses including SMEs, and other socio-economic actors from different countries across Europe and beyond. MSCA Doctoral Networks are open to the participation of organisations from third countries, in view of fostering strategic international partnerships for the training and exchange of researchers.
  2. Industrial Doctorates (DN-ID):Industrial Doctorates aim to meet the objectives of DN but go further by requiring the mandatory involvement of the non-academic sector in the doctoral training so that the skills acquired better match public and private sector needs. Doctoral candidates will step outside academia and develop skills in industry and business by being jointly supervised by academic and non-academic organisations, both of which can be established in the same EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.
  3. Joint Doctorates (DN-JD):Joint Doctorates also aim to meet the objectives of DN but go further by proposing the creation of joint doctoral programmes, leading to the delivery of joint, double or multiple doctoral degrees recognised in at least two EU Member States (MS) or Horizon Europe Associated Countries (AC).Joint Doctorates represent a highly integrated type of international, inter-sectoral and multi/interdisciplinary collaboration in doctoral training. They lead to the delivery of joint, double or multiple doctoral degrees recognised in at least two EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries.

There are no pre-defined priority areas. Research fields are chosen freely by the applicants.

Recruitment:

  • Researchers may be of any nationality.
  • The duration of the action must not exceed 48 months from the starting date set out in the grant agreement (including the time needed to recruit and select the doctoral candidates), except in the case of joint doctorates where this maximum duration is 60 months.
  • The duration of each fellowship (on the basis of full-time employment) is minimum 3 and maximum 36 months, except in the case of joint doctorates, where this maximum duration is 48 months.
  • The overall EU contribution for MSCA Doctoral Networks actions is limited to a maximum of 540 person-months.

Composition of the Network:

Doctoral Networks (DN)

  • The consortium must be of at least 3 independent legal entities, each established in a different EU member state o Horizon Europe associated country and with at least one of them established in a EU Member state.
  • Recommended size of 6-10 beneficiaries.
  • Participation of the non-academic sector is expected and highly recommended.

Industrial Doctorates (DN-ID)

  • The consortium must be of at least 3 independent legal entities, each established in a different EU member state o Horizon Europe associated country and with at least one of them established in a EU Member state.
  • Recommended size of 3 beneficiaries.
  • The doctoral candidates must spend at least 50% of their time in the non-academic sector.

Joint Doctorate (DN-JD)

  • The consortium must be of at least 3 independent legal entities, each established in a different EU member state o Horizon Europe associated country and with at least one of them established in a EU Member state.
  • Recommended size of 4-8 beneficiaries.
  • Entities from the non-academic sector may also participate.

Restrictions

  • Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.
  • All beneficiary entities must recruit and host at least 1 researcher.
  • No more than 40% of the total EU financial contribution may be allocated for the benefit of organisations within one country.

Funding

  • It will be automatically calculated based on the number of person-months to be recruited. It is limited to a maximum 540 person-months and will be adjusted according to a country correction coefficient.
  • Costs will be awarded for both researchers (living, family and mobility allowances) and for hosting institutions (management overhead, training, fees etc.).
  •  Each researcher will be supported for a minimum of 3 months and up to 36 months.

Read more here. 

Application deadline November 24, 2025 at 17:00 CET.

SHARE

Upcoming opportunities