Journée doc et post-doc
CampusFrance
2
PhD and postdoc opportunities
in and with France
Doctoral studies
in France
27th March 2012
KU Leuven
The French national Agency for the promotion of higher education,
international student services and international mobility
Doctoral studies in France
3
A high-level research
 Research in France, supported by the French government,
is particularly dynamic
• Research and Development expenditure: 42.7 billion € (2009)
• 5th place in OECD countries (2009)
• 6th in the world in number of scientific publications
• 4th in the world in number of patents
 International awards for French researchers
• 55 French Nobel laureates
• 11 winners of the Fields Medal of 52 (2 in 2010)
• 2nd in the world for its performance in Mathematics
 41% of Phd students registered in France are international students
The French national Agency for the promotion of higher education,
international student services and international mobility
Doctoral studies in France
4
France Doctoral Departments / Bologna process

Doctoral Departments (since 1990) - today 285 Ecoles doctorales
accredited by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research

PhD students within the Doctoral Department are under the scientific responsibility:
o either a supervisor of the Ecole Doctorale
o or two directors of thesis

Doctoral Department supports PhD students:
o to insert the Doctors in the academic institutions
o to integrate the socio-economic, administrative, industrial world

Bologna Process 1999 / Berlin 2003 / Bergen 2005
o
Integration of doctoral studies between the European higher education area and the
European research mobility
o
Increased cooperation in doctoral and postdoctoral
o
Recognition of joint degrees, including Doctoral level
Joint Doctorates / Cotutelles internationales de thèse
The French national Agency for the promotion of higher education,
international student services and international mobility
Doctoral studies in France
5
Organization of the research / position of the Doctoral Departement
PRES cluster
University
Doctoral departement
Links between Teaching
and Research within
institutions of higher
education
Laboratory
Director
2300 PhD
PhDstudents
student
The French national Agency for the promotion of higher education,
international student services and international mobility
Doctoral studies in France
6
Key figures Ecoles Doctorales
The French national Agency for the promotion of higher education,
international student services and international mobility
Doctorate / LMD system
ECTS and National Diplomas
7
Applying for admission
Doctoral studies in France
 Level required:
•
•
A degree equivalent to a European
Master (5 years of Higher
Education)
A diploma proving the ability to do
research
 Knowledge of French language
is not required:
•
•
English is the working language of
many laboratories
The thesis may be written in
English (with French summary)
 Funding required
•
About 1000 euros per month
minimum
The French national Agency for the promotion of higher education,
international student services and international mobility
Joint Doctorates / Cotutelles internationale de thèse
The French national Agency for the promotion of higher education,
international student services and international mobility
8
Doctoral studies in France
9
Scientifc fields
FIELDS
Domains / Specialities
Agriculture and ecological
sciences
Agri-food biotechnology, Food science; Biology of organisms; animal, plant and microbial
biotechnologies; Environmental Biology, population, ecology
Biology, Medicine and Health
Biomolecules, Pharmacoly, therapeutics; Clinical researh, technological innovation, public
healh; Life and health sciences; Molecular and cellular aspects of biology; Physioloy, biology
of organisms, population, interactions
Chemistry
Materials chemistry; Materials engineering; Organic, mineral, industrial chemistry
Engineering science
Electrical engineering, power electronics ; Fluid mechanics, thermics, combustion,
acoustics, biomechanics, bioengineering; Process ingineering, cold plamas; Solid state,
material and surface mechanics
Human sciences and
Humanities
Educational sciences; Information and communication sciences; Psychology; Sciences and
technics of physical activities; Languages and Literatures; Philosophy and Arts
Mathematical sciences
Mathemactics and their interactions
Physics
Dense media, materials and composites; Diluted media and fundamental optics; Elementary
constituents and theorotical physics; Hot plasmas
Sciences and technologies of
information and
communication
Automation, signal treatment; Electronnics, photonics; Informatics and applications
Sciences of the earth and the
universe, space
Astronomy, astrophysics; Earth, fluid envelopes; Solid earth and deep layers; Solid earth and
Surfaces envelopes
Sciences of society
Economical and Management sciences; Legal and political sciences; Social sciences
The French national Agency for the promotion of higher education,
international student services and international mobility
Doctoral studies in France
10
Research profiles collection
The French national Agency for the promotion of higher education,
international student services and international mobility
Doctoral studies in France
11
The French national Agency for the promotion of higher education,
international student services and international mobility
Doctoral studies in France
12
The directory level D Campus France
3 ways to search for the students
Keywords
Regions
Scientific domains
The French national Agency for the promotion of higher education,
international student services and international mobility
Campus Bourses: grant search engine
Find financial assistance for study and research in France
www.campusfrance.org>Finance your program
The French national Agency for the promotion of higher education,
international student services and international mobility
13
Doctoral studies in France
14
Doctoral Departement registration
 PhD registration file:
 Detailed CV (résumé) of the PhD candidate
 List of diplomas (grade, disctintion, honours)
and marks
 Certificate of funding or financial aid
 Motivation letter and topic thesis
 Letter of appreciation by Master supervisor
 Detailed topic thesis signed by the director
The French national Agency for the promotion of higher education,
international student services and international mobility
Doctoral studies in France
15
Living in France
The French national Agency for the promotion of higher education,
international student services and international mobility
Doctoral studies in France
16
• System of doctoral contracts
-
All doctoral
degree students
- Contractual status
-
Professional
training
True employment
agreements
3 years
1,625 € <
/monthly
Employment
Research
- Awarded and
administered by
Doctoral
Departements
- CIFRE agreements
-International joint
supervision of
dissertation research
- Partnership with
industry
The French national Agency for the promotion of higher education,
international student services and international mobility
Doctoral studiens in France
PhD international students support
17
EURAXESS
Researchers in Motion








Registration
PRES cluster
Network of more than 200 Service
Hosting
Collège doctoral
Centres located in 40 European
countries.
Daily life
University
Scientific Visa: fast-track
Integration
International Relations office
to European research careers for
Tutoring
non-European Union/third
Public healh
country nationals
Doctoral Department
Bank
Practical information about
Ecole Doctorale
administrative and legal issues
French
language
Foundation Alfred Kastler
EURAXESS France regions
- individual assistance
 Cultural
Cité internationale
universitaire de Paris
events
- to facilitate foreign researchers’
reception and stay in and around
…
cities in France
- hospitality and support for foreign
- “convention d’accueil”
researchers in France
(hosting agreement)
- to maintain contact with them following
their return home
The French national Agency for the promotion of higher education,
international student services and international mobility
Doctoral studies in Europe
18
Promodoc consortium coordination by Campus France
The French national Agency for the promotion of higher education,
international student services and international mobility

Dr Jean-Luc Ito-Pagès
Higher Education Programs Adviser
jl.ito-pages@campusfrance.org
Ph.: +33 1 40 40 57 14