How many partners for MSCA Doctoral Networks?

Doctoral Networks typically sit between a compact training network and a mid-sized collaborative consortium.

This page focuses on MSCA Doctoral Networks. The calculator below is pre-set to this action type — paste a call identifier to enrich the curated range with medians from funded CORDIS projects on GRANTIBASE. Figures are indicative, not official Commission advice.

Doctoral Networks require a consortium of beneficiaries across countries with rules on academic/non-academic balance — follow the MSCA Work Programme.

Typical consortium size

Usually 6–12 partners

Common range: 4–15

Doctoral Networks typically sit between a compact training network and a mid-sized collaborative consortium.

Eligibility note: Doctoral Networks require a consortium of beneficiaries across countries with rules on academic/non-academic balance — follow the MSCA Work Programme.
Typical coordinator: Usually a university or research organisation that hosts doctoral training and consortium coordination.

Larger consortia when

Industrial Doctorates needing many non-academic hosts
Joint Doctorates spanning many degree-awarding institutions

Smaller consortia when

Focused training programmes with a few strong hosts
Budget / ESR count that does not support a large network

Indicative guidance based on typical Horizon Europe patterns — not official Commission advice. Always read the specific call conditions.

Explore matching opportunities Find consortium partners Match programmes Open consortium builder

Other action types

Compare typical consortium sizes across Horizon Europe, EIC, MSCA, and ERC actions.

Consortium size calculator hub