17 Fully-Funded PhD Positions in MSCA DN SOCIAL Project29 Views

If you are searching for fully funded PhD positions in the MSCA DN SOCIAL project, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know. These positions combine rigorous academic training with real-world fieldwork in Central Asia and across a network of European and Canadian universities.

An overview of the programme, key benefits, eligibility rules, funding details, a practical application roadmap, and expert tips for competitive candidates, including those applying from India and other regions outside Europe. The SOCIAL Doctoral Network (Sociology of Authoritarian Law: Insights from Central Asia) offers 17 prestigious PhD positions funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks scheme. 

Overview of the MSCA DN SOCIAL Project

The MSCA DN SOCIAL project is formally titled “Sociology of Authoritarian Law: Insights from Central Asia (SOCIAL)”. It is funded through Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks and coordinated by Lund University, Sweden.

Key programme facts:

• • Number of positions: 17 fully funded PhD posts
  • Project duration: 48 months
  • Planned start for doctoral candidates: September 2026
  • Application deadline: 31 January 2026
  • Consortium: 14 partner universities and institutes across Europe and Canada

SOCIAL-DN trains doctoral candidates to study how law operates under authoritarian regimes,

with a regional focus on Central Asia. The network’s goals include empirical and theoretical innovation, sustainable interdisciplinary training, and policy outreach through workshops, publications and policy briefs.

Why These 17 Fully-Funded PhD Positions Matter

Unique focus on authoritarian law and Central Asia

Most PhD programmes in law and political science concentrate on liberal democracies. SOCIAL-DN turns that lens around. It examines law, governance, corruption and accountability under authoritarian rule, with sustained fieldwork in Central Asian states and Mongolia.

Because many global challenges—from security cooperation to energy and migration—run through this region, graduates trained through this network will be well positioned for academic, policy and NGO careers that require deep regional expertise and strong socio-legal skills.

Benefits for international early-career researchers

As an MSCA Doctoral Network, SOCIAL offers several advantages:

• • Cross-country supervision and joint training across multiple universities
  • Strong exposure to both academic and non-academic sectors
  • Emphasis on transferable skills such as communication, impact, open science and project management

For motivated candidates from India, Africa, Asia or Latin America, this is a route into the European Research Area with structured training and a clear, funded pathway to a PhD.

Eligibility: Who Should Apply?

Academic background and

research profile

According to the official call, suitable applicants should:

• • Hold a Master’s degree that entitles them to enrol in a PhD programme (law, political science, economics, sociology, development studies, human rights, anthropology, or closely related fields).
  • Demonstrate strong research skills and solid English-language proficiency.
  • Show clear motivation to work on authoritarian law, Central Asia, and socio-legal methods.

Experience with fieldwork, qualitative methods, quantitative analysis or regional languages is a plus, but not always mandatory.

MSCA mobility and experience rules

In addition, all candidates must satisfy MSCA Doctoral Network eligibility rules:

• • You must not already hold a PhD at the time of recruitment.
  • You must have no more than four years of full-time research experience after your master’s-level degree.
  • You must not have lived or had your main activity (work or study) in the host country for more than 12 months in the 36 months before recruitment.

These rules favour international mobility. Therefore, applicants from outside Europe often find themselves in a strong position if they can demonstrate academic excellence and a convincing project fit.

Key Features, Funding and Training

Consortium and host universities

The 17 fully funded PhD positions are distributed across 14 partner institutions, including: Lund University (Sweden), Södertörn

University (Sweden), University of Birmingham (UK), University of Toronto (Canada), Marmara University (Turkey), Estonian Business School (Estonia), University of Groningen (Netherlands), Charles University Prague (Czechia), Vilnius University (Lithuania), Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (Germany), University of the West of England (UK), Malmö University (Sweden), and University of Zurich (Switzerland).

Each institution recruits one or more doctoral candidates and provides local supervision and employment, while the network jointly delivers training, secondments and annual events.

Employment conditions and financial support

The call states that each doctoral candidate receives a 36-month full-time MSCA employment contract (the exact duration may vary by host).

The financial package follows MSCA Doctoral Network standards and typically includes:

• • A competitive living allowance as salary
  • A dedicated mobility allowance to support relocation
  • A family allowance for candidates who meet MSCA criteria
  • Additional contributions to research, training and networking costs handled by the host institution

Fieldwork, secondments and training

Fieldwork and secondments are central to SOCIAL-DN:

• • Every doctoral candidate must undertake fieldwork and at least two secondments abroad, one academic and one non-academic, lasting two to six months each.
  • Training covers research methods, ethics, open science, communication, policy engagement and transferable skills.

This structure ensures that PhD graduates are not only subject experts but

also adaptable professionals able to work in international, interdisciplinary teams.

The 17 PhD Projects at a Glance

The network offers a wide range of project themes. A few examples illustrate the breadth:

• • Authoritarian Legal Harmonisation (DC1, Södertörn University) – how regional organisations such as the SCO or Eurasian Economic Union shape legal convergence outside liberal frameworks.
  • Myths vs Realities in Legal Reforms (DC2, University of Birmingham) – comparison between official narratives and actual impact of legal reforms in Central Asia.
  • Corporate Transparency and Corruption (DC3, University of Toronto) – links between disclosure rules, corporate governance and grand corruption.
  • Politics of Anti-Corruption (DC4, Turiba University) – local meanings and uses of international anti-corruption standards.
  • Rural Governance in Central Asia (DC16) and Governance in Mongolia (DC17, both University of Zurich) – bottom-up perspectives on local democracy and political change.

Across the 17 projects, themes range from public procurement, anti-money-laundering, legal nihilism and legal education reform to security narratives and extra-institutional mobilisation.

For prospective applicants, the variety means you can align your expertise—whether in law, political science, sociology, economics or area studies—with a tailored doctoral project.

How to Apply: Step-by-Step

1. Choose your project and host institution

Start by reading the full project descriptions on the official SOCIAL-DN call page, then follow the link for the specific DC position that matches your interests and background. Each position is advertised on the host university’s own recruitment portal or on EURAXESS.

Make a short list of one or two positions where your profile is a close fit; you should normally submit separate applications to each host that interests you.

2. Prepare your application package

Although each institution has its own portal, the call outlines a common set of documents you should expect to provide:

• • Cover letter explaining your motivation and fit for the specific DC project
  • 2–3 page research proposal aligned with the advertised topic
  • Curriculum Vitae (with publications, if any)
  • Degree certificates and transcripts
  • Contact details for two academic referees
  • A writing sample (for example, your master’s thesis chapter or article)

Plan time to adapt your cover letter and proposal to each position. Generic applications tend to perform poorly in MSCA-level competitions.

3. Check eligibility and mobility rules

Before submitting, verify that you:

• • Do not already hold a PhD
  • Have less than four years of full-time research experience
  • Meet the mobility requirement for the host country

If your profile is unusual—for example, you have industry research experience or multiple master’s degrees—explain this briefly in your cover letter.

4. Submit via the host’s recruitment portal

Applications must be submitted online via the host institution’s link before the deadline (31 January 2026). Late submissions are normally not accepted, so avoid last-minute uploads that could be affected by technical glitches.

Tips, Common Mistakes and Expert Advice

1. 1. Read beyond the vacancy text.
      Study the host supervisor’s publications, the MOCCA project pages, and broader MSCA Doctoral Network guidelines. This shows that you understand both the scientific and structural context.
   2. Anchor your proposal in Central Asia.
      Every DC project involves fieldwork or empirical material related to Central Asia or Mongolia. Make sure your research idea reflects this regional focus and that you are willing to undertake extended fieldwork.
   3. Balance ambition with feasibility.
      Reviewers appreciate clear, focused research questions, realistic methods and a sensible timeline over three years. Overly ambitious multi-country designs without a clear plan can weaken your case.
   4. Highlight methods and language skills.
      Explain your experience with qualitative interviews, ethnography, surveys or legal analysis. If you know relevant languages (Russian, Kazakh, Uzbek, Mongolian, etc.), emphasise this; if not, show how you will work with interpreters or local partners.
   5. Avoid generic statements.
      Many candidates say they are “passionate” about human rights or governance. Instead, point to specific experiences—coursework, thesis research, internships, NGO work—that prove your interest and capability.
   6. Plan your referees early.
      Inform your academic referees about the project and send them your draft proposal. Strong, detailed reference letters can make a difference in competitive MSCA selections.

Programme Summary Table

Feature	Details
Program Name	Sociology of Authoritarian Law: Insights from Central Asia (SOCIAL) – MSCA Doctoral Network
Host Country	Multiple: Sweden, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Turkey, Estonia, Lithuania, Czechia, Switzerland, Canada (for host institutions)
Funded By	Horizon Europe – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks (European Commission)
Duration	Project: 48 months; individual employment typically 36 months
Study Mode	Full-time, on-site PhD enrolment with international fieldwork and secondments
Eligibility	Master’s in relevant field; no PhD; ≤4 years research experience; MSCA mobility rule; strong research and English skills
Financial Support	MSCA salary (living allowance), mobility allowance, possible family allowance; research, training and networking costs covered by hosts
Fields of Study	Sociology of law, political science, economics, development studies, human rights, anthropology and related disciplines focused on authoritarian law and Central Asia
Deadline	31/01/2026 (for the current call)
Official Website	Click here

Conclusion: Should You Apply to the MSCA DN SOCIAL PhD Positions?

The 17 fully funded PhD positions in the MSCA DN SOCIAL project offer an exceptional pathway for early-career researchers interested in law, governance and society under authoritarian regimes. With generous MSCA funding, structured training, mandatory fieldwork and a strong policy orientation, the programme stands out among international PhD opportunities in socio-legal studies and political science.

If you hold a relevant master’s degree, meet the mobility rules and are ready to conduct demanding fieldwork in Central Asia or Mongolia, this network deserves serious consideration. Start by exploring the detailed project descriptions, short-listing the DC positions that match your profile, and drafting a focused research proposal.

To stay updated on any clarifications or additional information, regularly check the official SOCIAL-DN call page and the host universities’ recruitment portals. Consider bookmarking this guide and sharing it with colleagues who may also benefit from these unique opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)