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. 

Candidates are also eligible if they have successfully completed the curriculum (e.g master studies) allowing them to be enrolled in a doctoral programme at the deadline of the cofunded programme’s call.