PhD Students
Before you can enrol in a PhD in France, you must find a thesis supervisor and a topic. What are the steps?
Also in this article:
How to set up a cosupervision (cotutelle) agreement
Guide: Research in France
Doctorate in natural or technological sciences
Note: in this case, there is no point in preparing a research project and then trying to find a researcher in a French laboratory who may become your thesis supervisor, as in natural and technological sciences this operates the other way round in France.
1) Apply for thesis topics that have been published by French researchers.
You will find these topics on https://doctorat.campusfrance.org/en/phd/dschools/main
There are two types of subjects: subjects already funded by the host establishment (choose "Type: Contract"), and subjects for which you must have your own funding (choose "Type: Grant").
2) Contact the researcher or Doctoral School that published the subject.
Doctorate in the social sciences or humanities
1) Check the Campus France research catalogue.
You can also consult ADUM, the national portal for thesis topics (website only available in French but English opportunities are also published here).
2) Contact the researcher or Doctoral School that published the subject.
If you can't find anything suitable, you will have to prepare a research project that you can then send to a researcher.
How to find a researcher to be a thesis supervisor?
First of all, remember that you must not propose a research project for every researcher in the field that interests you. For example, if your research project is in economics, don't send your proposal to every economist! They already receive an enormous number of requests like that and can't go through them all.
You must target specific people (this is also the rule in marketing). That means the theme of your research project must correspond to the speciality of the researcher.
After you've sent the proposal to the right person, you'll have to engage with the researcher in order to refine your thesis topic. To maximize your chances, you need to be flexible and ready to move away from your initial proposal.
And if you are able to obtain funding, say so at the start of your message.
CONGRATULATIONS, YOU'VE FOUND A THESIS SUPERVISOR WHO ACCEPTS YOU
Now the Doctoral School has to approve it so you can enrol in a Doctorate. If funding is required by the Doctoral School, it must be approved before you can enrol.
The annual registration fee for a Doctorate is 391€. Even if you have a doctoral fellowship, you will have to pay the registration fee.
Remember you still need to go through the Campus France South Africa application. Once you've received the confirmation e-mail from Campus France South Africa, you can download your EEF certificate and proceed to the next step for your student visa application (CAPAGO).
Cotutelle?
Do your PhD at two universities under a cosupervision agreement (cotutelle)!
What does this include?
- Enrolment in two universities
- Degree from both universities (joint degree)
- Unique agreement between the two universities, just for you & your PhD!
How do you set up a cotutelle?
- Apply to a university in South Africa
- Identify a French supervisor/ institution
- Request & attain agreement for co-supervision from the French supervisor
- Contact the International Relations (Study Abroad) department of your SA university to draw up the cotutelle agreement for you whilst you focus on your research!
