COFUND: In COFUND Doctoral Programmes, is it a requirement for a doctoral candidate to have obtained a master’s degree by the deadline of the co-funded programme call?

As indicated in the MSCA Work Program, for COFUND Doctoral Programmes, researchers must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the cofunded programme's call. Researchers must be enrolled in a doctoral programme leading to the award of a doctoral degree in at least one EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.” Moreover, to be eligible, at the deadline of the co-funded programme call candidates must be in possession of a diploma allowing access to doctoral studies in the country of their application.