New study confirms strong added value of MSCA Doctoral Networks

A new study by the European Research Executive Agency (REA) provides the first large-scale evidence of the added value of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks, long regarded as a benchmark for doctoral training in Europe.

The report, 'The Added Value of MSCA Doctorates: A Mixed-Methods Study', shows that more than 9 in 10 surveyed participants consider MSCA Doctoral Networks to offer clear added value compared with other doctoral programmes.

The findings point to strong career outcomes. A high share of MSCA researchers are employed within one year of completing their doctorate, and graduates are three times more likely than non-MSCA peers to secure jobs in business or other non-academic sectors.

According to the study, these results are linked to the programme’s cross-border, cross-sector and interdisciplinary approach. Seven in ten MSCA PhD researchers took part in interdisciplinary mobility, helping them build international networks, gain practical experience and develop skills valued both inside and outside academia.

The report also highlights better training and working conditions, including team-based supervision and stronger financial support. In addition, 8 in 10 supervisors said their research project would not have been possible without MSCA doctoral funding.

Based on responses from around 6,800 doctoral candidates and supervisors worldwide, the study concludes that MSCA Doctoral Networks are not just prestigious, but a highly effective structural tool for doctoral education and research capacity in Europe.

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