The SOCIAL Doctoral Network — Sociology of Authoritarian Law: Insights from Central Asia — recruited 17 doctoral candidates through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks programme. The official application deadline was 31 January 2026; recruitment is now closed and the doctoral programme was scheduled to begin in September 2026.
MSCA SOCIAL PhD Positions 2026: Current Status
| Programme | Sociology of Authoritarian Law: Insights from Central Asia (SOCIAL) |
|---|---|
| Funding framework | Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks |
| Coordinator | Lund University, Sweden |
| Recruitment | 17 doctoral candidate positions |
| Host network | 14 organisations across Europe and Canada |
| Official call published | 10 November 2025 |
| Application deadline | 31 January 2026 |
| Planned doctoral start | September 2026 |
| Project duration | 48 months |
| Current status | Applications closed |
| Last verified | 2 October 2026 |
What Is the SOCIAL Doctoral Network?
SOCIAL is an international doctoral training network focused on how law, governance and society interact under authoritarian political systems, with a strong empirical focus on Central Asia and Mongolia.
The official network identified three broad goals:
- develop new empirical and theoretical understanding of law–society–governance dynamics under authoritarianism;
- deliver interdisciplinary doctoral training across institutions, disciplines and countries; and
- translate research into policy-relevant outputs through workshops, publications and policy briefs.
The wider SOCIAL project is led by Lund University’s Sociology of Law Department and brings together expertise in law, sociology, political science, economics, anthropology, history and socio-legal studies.
The 17 Doctoral Projects
| DC | Host | Research Focus |
|---|---|---|
| DC1 | Södertörn University, Sweden | Authoritarian Legal Harmonisation |
| DC2 | University of Birmingham, UK | Myths vs Realities in Legal Reforms |
| DC3 | University of Toronto, Canada | Corporate Transparency & Corruption |
| DC4 | Turība University, Latvia | Politics of Anti-Corruption |
| DC5 | Marmara University, Turkey | Corruption in Public Procurement |
| DC6 | Lund University, Sweden | Executive By-Laws & Authoritarian Governance |
| DC7 | Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient, Germany | Traditional Courts & State Law |
| DC8 | University of the West of England, UK | Political Connections & Access to Economic Resources |
| DC9 | Malmö University, Sweden | Administrative Law & Regime Legitimacy |
| DC10 | Estonian Business School, Estonia | Anti-Money Laundering Compliance in Authoritarian States |
| DC11 | University of Birmingham, UK | Security Narratives & Legal Change |
| DC12 | Lund University, Sweden | “Outside the Law” Legal Mobilisation in Central Asia |
| DC13 | University of Groningen, Netherlands | Legal Pluralism & Anti-Corruption |
| DC14 | Charles University, Czechia | Legal Nihilism & Distrust |
| DC15 | Vilnius University, Lithuania | Legal Education Reform |
| DC16 | University of Zurich, Switzerland | Rural Governance in Central Asia |
| DC17 | University of Zurich, Switzerland | Governance in Mongolia |
The project themes collectively cover legal reform, corruption, public procurement, legal pluralism, governance, security narratives, political networks, legal education and local political transformation.
Eligibility Used for the 2026 SOCIAL Recruitment
The SOCIAL call required candidates to satisfy both project-level and MSCA Doctoral Network conditions.
| Requirement | 2026 SOCIAL Call |
|---|---|
| Degree | A degree formally entitling the candidate to begin doctoral study in the relevant system |
| Doctoral status | Candidate must not already hold a doctoral degree at recruitment |
| Research experience | The SOCIAL call stated no more than four years of full-time-equivalent research experience |
| Mobility | Normally no more than 12 months of residence/main activity in the recruiting country during the previous 36 months |
| Nationality | Open internationally, subject to the relevant vacancy requirements |
| Academic fit | Relevant backgrounds included law, political science, economics, development studies, sociology, human rights, anthropology and related fields |
| English | Strong English-language ability expected |
| Fieldwork | Readiness for research and mobility connected with Central Asia / Mongolia |
Funding and Employment Conditions
The SOCIAL call stated that doctoral candidates would receive full-time MSCA employment contracts, generally for 36 months, although exact employment duration could vary by host institution.
The package followed the MSCA Doctoral Networks model and included:
- a living allowance provided through the employment arrangement;
- a mobility allowance;
- a family allowance where applicable under MSCA conditions;
- research, training and networking support managed by the host; and
- joint supervision and inter-sectoral training.
Fieldwork, Secondments and Training
Mobility was central to the programme. The official call required doctoral candidates to undertake fieldwork and secondments connected to the SOCIAL research programme.
- fieldwork formed an integral part of the doctoral research;
- each candidate was expected to complete two international secondments;
- one secondment was academic and one non-academic;
- secondments were planned for approximately two to six months each; and
- network training covered methods, ethics, open science, communication, policy engagement and transferable skills.
This structure reflects the MSCA Doctoral Networks objective of combining doctoral education with international, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral training.
How the 2026 Application Process Worked
Recruitment was decentralised. Applicants selected a specific doctoral-candidate project and applied through the corresponding host institution’s recruitment system.
Common Application Materials
The SOCIAL call advised applicants to be prepared for materials such as:
- cover letter tailored to the specific doctoral project;
- research proposal, typically around 2–3 pages where requested;
- curriculum vitae;
- degree certificates and academic transcripts;
- contact details for two academic referees; and
- a writing sample.
CareerAidHub Guidance for Future MSCA Doctoral Network Applicants
Although SOCIAL recruitment is closed, the application model is useful for future MSCA Doctoral Network vacancies.
- Apply to a specific doctoral project: MSCA Doctoral Network candidates normally apply to individual funded vacancies rather than to a generic central programme.
- Check the mobility rule early: eligibility depends on where you have lived or carried out your main activity before recruitment.
- Do not reuse old eligibility wording: each new Doctoral Network vacancy should be checked against the current MSCA rules and host-specific requirements.
- Tailor the proposal: connect methods, prior training and regional or thematic expertise directly to the advertised doctoral project.
- Prepare for mobility: international secondments, network training and interdisciplinary collaboration are common features of MSCA Doctoral Networks.
- Use EURAXESS and official project pages: these are the appropriate places to locate current MSCA-funded doctoral vacancies.
Strong Profile Signals for Similar Calls
| Research fit | Clear match to the advertised doctoral topic |
|---|---|
| Methods | Evidence of appropriate qualitative, quantitative, legal or mixed-method skills |
| Writing | Strong thesis, paper or research-writing sample |
| Mobility | Eligibility checked before applying |
| Regional expertise | Language, fieldwork or area knowledge where relevant |
| Motivation | Specific interest in the project rather than generic interest in a funded PhD |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the 17 MSCA SOCIAL PhD positions still open?
No. The official application deadline was 31 January 2026 and recruitment is closed.
What was the SOCIAL Doctoral Network about?
SOCIAL focuses on the sociology of authoritarian law, governance and society, particularly in Central Asia and Mongolia, through 17 doctoral research projects.
Who funded the SOCIAL PhD positions?
The doctoral network is funded through Horizon Europe under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks framework, with additional Swiss support for the wider project.
Could applicants of any nationality apply?
MSCA Doctoral Network positions can recruit candidates of any nationality, subject to the mobility rule and the specific host vacancy requirements.
What is the MSCA mobility rule?
In general, a researcher must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the recruiting organisation’s country for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately before recruitment.
Did SOCIAL include fieldwork and secondments?
Yes. The call required fieldwork connected with Central Asia and two international secondments: one academic and one non-academic.
How can I find current MSCA Doctoral Network PhD vacancies?
Use current MSCA project pages and the EURAXESS research-jobs portal, then verify the exact eligibility and application instructions of each live vacancy.
Official Sources
| Current status | APPLICATIONS CLOSED |
|---|---|
| Official deadline | 31 January 2026 |
| Doctoral positions | 17 |
| Host organisations | 14 |
| Planned start | September 2026 |
| Coordinator | Lund University |
| Funding framework | Horizon Europe / MSCA Doctoral Networks |
| Last verified | 2 October 2026 |
CareerAidHub verified the 17-position structure, project themes, eligibility wording, mobility requirements, funding model and 31 January 2026 deadline against official Lund/NORCA and European Commission sources on 2 October 2026.
