Apply for 15 fully funded HARPNET MSCA doctoral positions across seven European countries. Check projects, eligibility, mobility rules, required documents and the 1 October 2026 deadline.
Who can apply?
Candidates of any nationality may apply, provided they:
•Do not already hold a doctoral degree at the proposed recruitment date;
•Meet the academic requirements for doctoral enrolment at the relevant institution;
•Satisfy the MSCA mobility rule for the country hosting their selected project;
•Meet the academic and technical requirements of the selected project;
•Have sufficient English proficiency;
•Are willing to participate in international secondments and network activities.
Applicants must read the individual project descriptions because qualifications differ significantly between projects.
Benefits
Selected doctoral candidates are expected to receive:
•A fully funded doctoral position;
•A living allowance;
•A mobility allowance;
•Applicable family, long-term-leave or special-needs allowances under MSCA rules;
•Doctoral enrolment and research training;
•Academic, clinical and industrial supervision;
•International and intersectoral secondments;
•Access to specialist technologies and drug-discovery platforms;
•Training in communication, entrepreneurship, intellectual property, regulatory science and research leadership;
•Participation in training schools, workshops, consortium meetings and an international conference.
Salary warning
HARPNET does not publish one salary applicable to all 15 positions. Salary, deductions, taxation, social-security treatment and additional employment benefits depend on the recruiting institution and country.
Candidates should obtain the applicable employment package directly from the relevant host or supervisor.
General eligibility
Applicants must:
1.Be doctoral candidates who do not already hold a PhD;
2.Possess the qualifications needed for doctoral enrolment;
3.Meet the specific degree and subject requirements of their chosen projects;
4.Satisfy the MSCA mobility rule;
5.Have sufficient English proficiency;
6.Submit all mandatory documents before the deadline.
Some project pages specify further requirements, such as an appropriate master’s degree, relevant research experience or particular laboratory or computational skills.
MSCA mobility rule
In general, an applicant must not have lived or carried out their main activity—such as employment or study—in the recruiting country for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately before recruitment.
Holidays and compulsory national service are normally excluded.
This assessment is country-specific. An applicant might be ineligible for a German-hosted position but eligible for a position in Norway, France or another participating country.
Required documents and information
The central application requests:
•Curriculum vitae;
•Academic qualifications and transcripts;
•Motivation statement for the first-choice project;
•Statement explaining why the applicant wants to join HARPNET;
•Up to three preferred doctoral projects, ranked in order;
•Summary of relevant research, technical or professional experience;
•Referee contact details;
•Residence, work and study history needed for the mobility-rule assessment;
•Any additional documents requested by the host institution.
Application steps
1.Review all 15 HARPNET projects.
2.Check the host country and project-specific qualifications.
3.Calculate mobility-rule eligibility separately for every proposed host country.
4.Select and rank up to three suitable projects.
5.Tailor the primary motivation statement to the first-choice project.
6.Prepare the CV, transcripts, experience summary and referee information.
7.Complete the central application.
8.Submit before 1 October 2026.
9.Retain the submission confirmation and a copy of the application.
Selection process
•Administrative eligibility and mobility check;
•Scientific assessment and shortlisting;
•Virtual consortium interview;
•Final in-person interview in London;
•Conditional offer;
•Host-institution admission and employment checks.
Virtual interviews are scheduled indicatively between 19 October and 14 November 2026. In-person London interviews are scheduled between 19 November and 12 December 2026.
Important warnings
•Any nationality does not mean automatic eligibility.
•Applicants must check the mobility rule separately for every selected country.
•The project-specific degree requirements are not identical.
•Missing or late documents may make an application ineligible.
•Applicants should not publish or rely on one universal salary.
•Visa or immigration sponsorship is not confirmed on the recruitment page.
•Application fees are not addressed; I cannot confirm that applying is free.
•Travel, visa and accommodation funding for the final London interview is not confirmed.
•Formal English-language evidence may be required by an individual institution after shortlisting.
•Do not use unofficial agents. Apply through HARPNET’s official portal.
