Your project is defined : What's next?
The steps everyone needs to take
Once your doctoral project is in place, with a thesis topic, a PhD supervisor, a host laboratory and a doctoral school, four steps apply to every applicant, no exceptions:
- Validation by your supervisor : they confirm your application and project.
- Validation by the research laboratory : confirming you're welcome to carry out your research there.
- Admission by the doctoral school : confirming that you have been admitted to register as a doctoral student.
- Registration as a doctoral student : through your registering institution.
The steps that depend on your situation
Admission and registration usually come with extra requirements. These aren't the same for everyone. They depend on:
- Your profile (a residence permit application, for instance)
- Your thesis topic (ethical review, for example)
- Your PhD project's framework (a funding application)
- Your laboratory (specific procedures apply to laboratories classified as sensitive)
- Your doctoral school or registering institution
Most of these run in parallel with steps 2 to 4 — not after them.
Securing funding for your PhD
If your doctoral school allocates the funding, this happens as part of the admission process. Otherwise, the steps depend on the type of funding involved.
Learn more about PhD funding
Setting up your doctoral contract
The doctoral contract is the main framework for doctoral research in France, though others exist too (scholarships, professional contracts, etc.).
Learn more about the framework for research work in the lab →
Visit the Euraxess France website Opens a new window
You will find here all the necessary information for international researchers (procedures, social security, legal issues etc.) and assistance with the support of Euraxess network of services centres.
Setting up a research hosting agreement
Non-European candidates receiving a scholarship awarded on scientific merit may be eligible for a research stay agreement, and, if the scholarship meets the threshold, a "talent researcher" residence permit.
Learn more about the hosting agreement →
Setting up an international joint PhD supervision
Your doctoral project can be carried out through international cooperation, leading to a doctorate awarded by two institutions, one in France, one in a partner country.
Learn more about joint supervision and other paths to internationalization →
Finding accommodation Opens a new window
As a PhD candidate, you're both a researcher and a student, which means you can access student housing.
Visit "My Student Accommodation" →
The residence card "research talent" Opens a new window
France offers a multi-year "research talent" residence permit, designed to simplify settlement for foreign researchers and their family: doctoral candidates included, whether on a doctoral contract (public or private) or a research hosting agreement.
Learn more about this residence card →
Authorization to access the research laboratory Opens a new window
Some laboratories have restricted access to protect France's scientific and technical assets or due to specific risks (like ionizing radiation for instance). In this case, you may need to apply for access. The request is made through the host research laboratory.
Ethical review of your research project Opens a new window
Some PhD topics require an ethical review by a Research Ethics Committee (CPP) before you can begin, particularly clinical research, animal testing, or studies involving human participants (especially minors).
