COFUND: Which researchers are eligible to be recruited through MSCA Choose Europe for Science Programmes?

Researchers must be PhD holders at the time of the vacancy notice deadline. They must not be permanently employed at the recruiting institution but can already be temporarily employed. Researchers must comply with the MSCA mobility rule which specifies that researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the vacancy notice deadline of the selected project. Researchers can be of any nationality, there should be no limitations placed on this. Researchers can have any scientific age post-PhD. Therefore, if the applicant decides to limit the scientific age of the PhD researchers, they need to justify it in their proposal and the reasons will be assessed as part of the evaluation.

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.

DN: Would a doctoral candidate who has done their Master’s studies remotely be eligible for a doctoral position in the country in which the organization which awarded the Master’s degree is based?

Under Horizon Europe, beneficiaries need to exclude both the country of residence and the country of the main activity (if different). The fact that the candidate registered in country B for their studies, but resided in country A, means that they would be ineligible in both countries.

COFUND: Does the eligibility of chosen candidates in a COFUND Programme have to be proven with a document?

It is the obligation of the beneficiary/ recruiting organisation in MSCA to request and keep proof that the selected candidates were eligible. Usually for auditors, self-declaration is not sufficient proof.