Main partners
The doctorate brings together a diverse range of stakeholders and partners, starting with the doctoral candidates themselves, the researchers and academic researchers who supervise them, the laboratories that host them and their parent institutions, the doctoral schools that organise their training and the institutions where they are enrolled.
However, many other stakeholders are also involved and fulfil specific roles, such as the international promotion of the French doctorate, the development of collaborative research, supporting doctoral graduates in their job search, and so on.
The page below lists the partners on which the State relies by entrusting them with specific missions or by supporting their actions, for example through dedicated grants.
This list is not exhaustive; please feel free to contact us using the link below to add to or amend it.
A non-exhaustive list of doctoral stakeholders and partners
All institutions accredited to award doctoral degrees and their doctoral schools
Doctoral training is organised within doctoral schools made up of research laboratories that host doctoral candidates, recognised following a national evaluation process and affiliated to higher education institutions accredited by the State.
Bibliographic Agency for Higher Education (ABES) Opens a new window
ABES is the national operator for the referencing and dissemination of doctoral theses on the national portal theses.fr.
It provides French institutions accredited to award doctoral degrees with an information system to support the documentary management of doctoral theses, from the submission of a thesis topic by the doctoral candidate at the time of first enrolment to the legal deposit of the thesis as validated by the examination board.
Campus France Opens a new window
Campus France is a public institution under the joint supervision of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. It is responsible for promoting French higher education abroad and welcoming international students and researchers to France. It encourages international mobility, manages scholarship programmes, and coordinates the Alumni network.
France Universités Opens a new window
France Universités is a non-profit association under the 1901 Law, recognised as being of public utility and listed in the Education Code. It brings together the presidents of universities and public institutions of Higher Education and Research, representing their voice and values in society.
National Association for Research and Technology (ANRT) Opens a new window
Founded in 1953, the ANRT is a longstanding player in the doctoral landscape, acting in particular to foster partnerships between the academic research world and the socio-economic sphere, and deploying, on behalf of the State, the Cifre scheme and the Cofra programme.
Association for the Employment of Executives (APEC) Opens a new window
APEC's mission is to support executives and recent higher education graduates in their job search and career development, and to assist organisations in recruiting executives. It carries out a range of actions specifically dedicated to doctoral graduates, in particular the annual Cap Docteur event and the APEC Hub Docteurs community.
Association Contact (ADUM) Opens a new window
The Contact association develops ADUM and aims to create and coordinate an exchange network between doctoral candidates, doctoral graduates, and the various stakeholders working towards the management and promotion of the doctorate in France, in order to enhance the status of the doctorate, animate doctoral life, and carry out actions in support of doctoral career development.
National Network of Doctoral Colleges (RNCD) Opens a new window
The National Network of Doctoral Colleges (RNCD, France PhD) is the principal academic association for French doctoral studies: doctoral colleges bring together a set of doctoral schools and doctoral services within integrated structures.
Bernard Gregory Association (ABG) Opens a new window
The Bernard Gregory Association (ABG) was founded in 1980 and specialises in the professional development and recruitment of doctoral candidates and doctoral graduates.
National Association of Doctoral Graduates (ANDès) Opens a new window
ANDès has three main missions: promoting the doctorate, putting the talents of doctoral graduates at the service of society, and creating and bringing together doctoral graduate networks.
National Network of Doctoral Schools in Engineering Sciences (REDOC SPI) Opens a new window
Redoc SPI has the following missions: strengthening the attractiveness of the doctorate in Engineering Sciences (SPI) in France and internationally, bringing together and promoting the Community of Doctoral Candidates & Doctoral Graduates in SPI, supporting innovative training initiatives, and sharing best practices among member Doctoral Schools.
