Funding
Several funding options are offered by Public organizations, private foundations or charity organizations (non-exhaustive list).
Doctoral contracts and grants allocated after presentation of the research project and approval by the Doctoral School
- Competition for Ministry doctoral contracts
- Disability doctoral contracts
- Idex Université Paris Cité doctoral contracts
- Specific doctoral contracts: (Ecole Polytechnique, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique): The doctoral contract is issued by the university to which the doctoral student’s research unit is attached. The contract generally takes effect on 1st September.
- Doctoral contracts financed by the Ile-de-France Region: (https://www.iledefrance.fr/aides-services)
- The Ile-de-France Regional Council allocates doctoral grants through calls for projects. These grants last 3 years and are compatible with the doctoral contract. They lead to an agreement between the Regional Council and the University. The Regional Council then transfers the amount of the grant to the University, which issues the doctoral contract.
- Doctoral contracts financed by an association or a foundation: Various associations and foundations dedicate a portion of their resources to financing PhD students’ research. These funds, if they meet the specific conditions of the doctoral contract (duration and remuneration in particular), lead to the establishment of an agreement between the organization and the university. The organization then transfers the funds to the university, which prepares the doctoral contract.
- Specific doctoral grants for Chinese students: China Scholarship Council (CSC)
- Other financing options (some are exclusively limited to medical doctors and pharmacists)
- Medical Research Foundation (FRM)
- Cancer Research Association (ARC)
- INSERM : INSERM hosts researcher positions for interns
- National League against Cancer
- Industrial Convention for Training by Research CIFRE
- Grants for Doctors-Engineers BDI offered by CNRS.
- National Association of Doctors ANDès offers a guide to funding for the thesis.
Read More
2026 Doctorat Handicap campaign
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