Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Doctoral Networks (MSCA DN)

The Doctoral Networks Action is aimed at organisations, such as universities, research centres, companies or other socio-economic actors, that propose a research training network.

The partnership must consist of at least 3 participants (e.g. universities, research centres, companies/SMEs) from 3 different Member States and/or countries associated with the European Union; at least one beneficiary shall reside in a Member State and at least one beneficiary or associated partner shall be eligible to award the degree of PhD. Researchers are hired for a minimum period of 3 and a maximum of 36 months full-time (maximum 48 months in the case of a JD). The EU contribution covers a total of 540 person-months.

Specific rules apply to the following types of consortia:

Industrial Doctorates: the minimum partnership consists of 3 participants, located in 3 different Member States and/or EU Associated Countries; at least one beneficiary shall reside in a Member State and at least one beneficiary or associated partner shall be eligible to award the degree of PhD. Researchers must spend at least 50% of their time with the non-academic partner.

Joint Doctorates: the partnership must include at least 3 participants, located in 3 different Member States and/or EU Associated Countries and authorized to award the PhD degree. At least one participant awarding a joint, double or multiple PhD degree must be located in a Member State or Associated Country. Researchers must obtain a double, multiple or joint PhD.

The aim of Action DN is to offer PhD students the opportunity to gain experience in different fields and to develop their transversal skills. The funding covers:

• the recruitment and training of each PhD for a maximum of 3 years (4 years in the case of a Joint Doctorate)
• a monthly fee paid to each PhD to cover mobility expenses and, if applicable, family expenses, long-term leave or special needs 
• the costs of research, managed by the Host Institution, also for the organization of common activities and conferences;
• the general and management costs assigned to the Host Institution.

The maximum duration of an MSCA-DN project is 4 years (5 years in the case of a Joint Doctorate project).

For further information on the call: 
https://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/actions/doctoral-networks

For information on the support provided by the Padova University, you can contact the International Research Office at the following address: individual.grants@unipd.it