Eligibility and selection criteria

As part of the MSCA programme, all recruited NeXED researchers must comply with the Horizon Europe MSCA eligibility criteria:

• To be eligible as a Doctoral Candidate, applicants cannot already be in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.
• Mobility rule: Applicants can be of any nationality, but must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting host organisation for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date*. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.
• Applicants must be eligible to enrol in a PhD programme at the host organization (or at a designated university in case the host organization is a non-academic organization).

For more information about your rights and obligations as a MSCA fellow in a Doctoral Network, you can consult the information package of the European Research Executive Agency.

* For the UK-based Doctoral Candidate only, we may consider relaxing this rule for exceptional UK national candidates.

• You must hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent, see specific job descriptions for more information if applicable) in a relevant field for the corresponding vacancy or you will have obtained it by the date of recruitment.
• You can demonstrate excellent study results.
• You have a relevant scientific background, with the necessary academic skills and relevant prior research experience.
• You have strong English language skills, both verbally and in writing.
• You have the motivation to successfully obtain a doctoral degree through an individual research project.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
• You are highly motivated to share your research findings at international research events through engaging poster and oral presentations, as well as publish high-quality papers in international (peer-reviewed) journals.
• You are willing to participate in international meetings, trainings and secondments, as international mobility is a key concept for MSCA Doctoral Networks fellows.
• Additional institutional selection criteria may apply. If applicable, these can be found in the specific job descriptions.