The "disability" doctoral contracts programme

Who can apply?

The administrative eligibility criteria for applications are as follows:

• Candidates must be enrolled at a public higher education institution under the authority of the Ministry for Higher Education, Research and Space. The institution is the employer of the doctoral candidate and signs the doctoral contract, which remains a standard employment contract. Candidates must therefore be supported by their institution.
• The doctoral contract must take effect within the year following the first enrolment for the doctorate. Failing this, the candidate's Master's degree must have been awarded by the time the contract is granted. In this case, when submitting their application, candidates must provide their marks for the first 3 semesters of their Master's, which will allow their application to be assessed even without the semester 4 results. This campaign therefore does not apply to doctoral candidates who have already started their thesis and are, for example, already enrolled in their second year.
• Candidates must submit the decision notice granting Recognition of Disabled Worker Status from the local disability support office (MDPH). For applications still being processed, the MDPH acknowledgement of receipt (full file), confirming that the application is admissible and under review, is required.

How to apply

Interested candidates should contact the doctoral school directly, with which they will prepare their application.

It is the responsibility of doctoral schools to:

• select applications,
• ensure the eligibility of selected applications,
• carry out the necessary checks, including eligibility conditions.

Applications must be submitted via the ministry's online platform by the doctoral schools' departments or the department responsible for coordinating applications

Application file

First, the application package must include:

• Notification of the decision to grant Recognition of Status as a Person with a Disability (RQTH) from the Departmental Office for People with Disabilities (MDPH) 
• or the MDPH acknowledgement of receipt (full file). In this case, it will state that the application is admissible and under review. 

This notification will be used solely by the Department to verify the eligibility of the candidate's application.

In addition, a PDF file will be uploaded to the Siredo application and then forwarded to the scientific advisors. It must include the following elements, arranged in the order specified below:

• the review file
• a curriculum vitae enabling assessment of the link between the candidate's training and the thesis project
• the thesis project (4 pages maximum, excluding bibliography) with the projected three-year timetable – relevance and feasibility – statement of motivation
• a copy of the degree certificate (Master's or equivalent) enabling enrolment at a doctoral school
• a copy of the corresponding transcripts of results.

How are applications reviewed?

Applications are reviewed by the "Doctorat Handicap" Scientific Committee, made up of scientific advisers attached to the Directorate General for Higher Education and Employability. Requests for funding of additional months are reviewed using the same procedures as initial applications.

The Scientific Committee firstly assesses the quality and suitability of projects and their supervisory arrangements, as well as the candidate's preparation and motivation. The reasoned opinions of the doctoral school director, the thesis supervisor(s) and the research unit are important factors in the assessment.

In addition, the Scientific Committee ensures a balance over the years between contracts funded by the MESRE and those funded by an institution. Where scientific quality is equivalent, the balance between different disciplines may also be taken into account.