What is it for?

MSCA Doctoral Networks are multi-beneficiary projects providing training to Early Stage Researchers.  Doctoral Networks give Early-Stage Researchers experience of different working environments though secondments, as well as providing transferrable skills training to improve long-term employability.  All recruited researchers must be enrolled on a PhD programme.

Who can apply?

Many different types of organisation can apply, from universities to SMEs to large commercial companies.  At minimum, a consortium must consist of three independent organisations from three different EU Member States or Associated Countries, of which at least one must be established in a Member State.

Who can be recruited?

Doctoral Networks allow recruitment of researchers who do not yet hold a PhD (“Early-Stage Researchers”).

Researchers must comply with mobility rule: the researcher must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline.

Researchers of any nationality can be recruited.

Types of grants

‘Standard’ DNs – each beneficiary recruits at least one ESR who is largely based at that organisation throughout the project, with joint activities and secondments to maximise the training opportunities to each ESR.

Industrial Doctorates – Consortia are made up of a mixture of academic and non-academic organisations and ESRs spent at least 50% of their recruited period at a non-academic partner.  If you want to take part in an Industrial Doctorate application, please contact the EU Team as there are some additional conditions to consider prior to submission.

Joint Doctorates – Consortia award joint PhDs; Imperial does not participate in this scheme.

What does the funding cover?

Researcher – includes a Living Allowance, a Mobility Allowance (in recognition of the additional cost of living outside of the home country) and a Family Allowance (if married and/or with responsibility for dependent children).

Institution – includes Research Costs for all project-related activities (secondment and other project travel, purchase of consumables, software, subscriptions, etc.) and a contribution to the beneficiary for overheads.  A separate cost category for Management is available for running the consortium, part of which is usually used by the Coordinator to appoint a Project Manager. 

What activities are typically included?

ESRs follow a programme of doctoral training-through-research which contributes to an over-arching research project.  The overall project and the ESRs’ contributions to it, as well as joint activities such as summer schools, must be clearly defined in the proposal.  Secondments between partners (and potentially to other identified organisations) are expected in order to broaden the training available to the ESRs and to improve their long-term employability. Transferrable skills training should also be incorporated.

How to apply

A consortium is set up by researchers from several organisations, with one organisation designated the Coordinator which is responsible for submission of the application and overall management of the project if it is funded.

PIs should let their Department’s research manager or research facilitator and Faculty Research Services Manager know if they intend to participate.  Any Imperial PI who wishes to coordinate a Doctoral Network application must also get approval from their Faculty prior to submission.

Guidance and support material are available from Imperial’s EU Team and from other sources to help you draft your proposal.

Support and further information

• Annual presentation slides and FAQs document (Imperial login)
• European Commission Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks
• UK National Contact Point Marie Skłowdowska Curie Actions