Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA DN)
TheDoctoral Networks (DN) promote transnational doctoral programs with different institutions or facilities from the academic and non-academic sector. The aim is to improve the career prospects of early career researchers through international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral mobility and to strengthen the transfer of knowledge between the participating institutions. This is intended to increase the sustainability, quality and relevance of doctoral programs.
Next deadline: 25 November 2025
Types of Doctoral Networks
Doctoral Networks implement doctoral programmes, by partnerships of universities, research institutions and infrastructures, businesses including SMEs, and other socio-economic actors from different countries across Europe and beyond. These doctoral programmes will respond to well-identified needs in various research and innovation areas, expose the researchers to the academic and non-academic sectors, and offer research training, as well as transferable skills and competences relevant for innovation and long-term employability.
Besides standard Doctoral Networks, incentives have been introduced to promote two specific types of doctorates as well.
- Industrial Doctorates. They train PhD candidates who wish develop their skills and step outside academia, in particular in industry and business. Individual participants must be enrolled in a doctoral programme and spend at least 50% of their fellowship with the non-academic partner.
- Joint Doctorates. They provide a highly integrated type of international collaboration in doctoral training leading to a joint doctoral degree or multiple doctoral degrees awarded by the participating institutions. PhD candidates must be enrolled in a joint programme and be jointly supervised.
Who can apply?
Doctoral Networks are open to international consortia of universities, research institutions, businesses, SMEs and other non-academic organisations. They should include
- at least three independent legal entities, each established in a different EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and with at least one of them established in an EU Member State
- on top of this minimum, other organisations from any country in the world can also join
- specific conditions apply to Industrial and Joint Doctorates
Established researchers who would like to form a consortium and apply should contact the Research & Grants Office.