DN/ COFUND: Is it possible to check if a candidate has already been selected for or employed within another MSCA call (MSCA Doctoral Networks or MSCA COFUND) before proceeding with recruitment? Is there a platform under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme to check this information?

It is not possible to check if a candidate has already been selected for or employed within another MSCA call before proceeding with recruitment. There is no such platform.

All actions: Are Russian researchers eligible to apply for MSCA?

Under the framework of Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, Russian natural persons who are subject to EU restrictive measures may not participate in EU grants.

However, even if natural persons are not subject to EU restrictive measures, natural persons (whatever their nationality) who have their habitual residence in Russia, Belarus or non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine cannot receive financial support.

This restriction is not targeting natural persons of Russian or Belarusian nationality if they do not have their habitual residence in one of these areas. Therefore, Russian individuals who are not attached to a Russian entity (private or public) and do not have their habitual residence in one of the areas mentioned, will in principle remain eligible, after a thorough screening against the EU sanctions list.

Applicants can check this FAQ on the Funding and Tenders Opportunities Portal as well.

DN: Is it possible to terminate a Doctoral Candidate’s contract in case the background of the researcher does not match the beneficiary’s needs?

There have been cases where the technical skills of the Doctoral Candidate do not match those described in the candidate’s CV. In most countries, employment contracts may include a probation period (3-6 months) in accordance with national labour legislation and the researcher’s contract can be terminated.

If the recruitment process was not implemented satisfactorily, another beneficiary can accept this Doctoral Candidate for their individual project. If that is not possible, the Doctoral Candidate should be replaced with a candidate from the reserve list.

 

All actions: If an MSCA beneficiary offers to all its employees a mandatory complementary health insurance, would it have to be funded with the Living allowance?

If it is taken directly from the employees’ salary, then it should be deducted from the Living allowance. Moreover, all health insurance and social security contributions, including all benefits arising from the collective bargaining agreement, should be covered within the Living allowance.

DN: Is there a template for a declaration for respecting the mobility rule from Doctoral Candidates that will be recruited by a DN beneficiary?

There is no official declaration for respecting the mobility rule. Beneficiaries could include in their application forms a section where candidates confirm they meet the mobility rule, indicating their places of residence, study, and employment during the relevant 36-month period. In addition, beneficiaries could ask for extra documentation in order to double-check their mobility status (residence registration certificates or another official proof of address, as well as entry / exit records).

DN: How will RAISE projects be managed?

These projects will be managed by REA and the budget will be based on unit costs.

DN: Will fellows under RAISE be labelled as MSCA Fellows?

Fellows will not be called MSCA fellows but RAISE DN fellows because this is a second chance for projects that would not be funded otherwise (similarly to the ERA Fellows).

DN: Some institutions enroll PhD candidates in doctoral programmes only once a year (in October) but job contracts based on the Doctoral Networks Grant Agreement can start earlier. Can beneficiaries apply for funding of person-months before October if the fellow is involved in project activities and has signed a job contract?

Projects decide when they should enroll the doctoral candidates (usually around M6 but they have some flexibility between M1 and M12 of the project). 

The months from the start of the job contract become eligible as soon as the doctoral candidate is registered as a PhD.

All Actions: Is it possible to edit the already submitted critical risks statements, or should the coordinator delete and replace them in the tab if changes are needed?

The risks have been already indicated at the Grant Agreement Preparation phase and, therefore, are automatically displayed in this tab. No more risks can be added at this stage of the flow.

However, in the continuous reporting module, the coordinator should update the risk section (materialisation / mitigation). If a new risk has occurred, they would need to add an Unforeseen risk.

All Actions: If there is a deviation during the implementation period that has resulted in an amendment, should this be reported as a deviation in the periodic report as well?

If an amendment took place, it is no longer considered as a deviation.

DN: Is it possible to use the Management and Indirect contribution before the starting date of the employment of the relevant doctoral candidate?

Yes, it is possible. Those costs can be spent from day one of the project and even be used to cover costs retroactively (if they occurred before the official start). In many cases, a project manager is hired on day one of the project and is being paid by these amounts.

DN: Is it allowed to use the Research, Training and Networking contribution to cover the travel costs of a supervisor-to-be to go to the central interiewing session?

Yes, it is possible. Research, Training and Networking costs can be spent for anything related to the Doctoral Network project. Travel costs of the supervisors are always paid via the institutional unit costs, be it Research, Training and Networking contribution or Management and Indirect contributions.

DN: Is there an option to put part-time sick leave in the Doctoral Candidate’s Mobility Declaration?

“Long-term Leave Allowance” applies to situations of full-time absence due to medical reasons. Part-time work is calculated based on the sum of all parts of person-months worked during the period concerned. The Project Officer should be consulted for specific cases.