European Commission Call for Applications: Marie Sklodowska–Curie Actions- Doctoral Network [MSCA-DN] – 2026

The European Commission invites you to apply for the Marie Sklodowska–Curie Actions: Doctoral Network [MSCA-DN] 2026. The call aims to 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. 

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.

Eligibility: 

• 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.

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.

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. 

Submission deadline, 24 November 2026 at 17:00h CET.