Please note that PhD students enrolled on a doctoral programme at Sorbonne University are still classified as students. However, when they are awarded a doctoral contract, this also gives them researcher status. Information on the specific procedures and resources that apply in this case can be found under the “student” profile.
Admission to a doctoral programme
Initial enrollment and re-enrollment in the PhD program are essential steps to formalize your academic path and continue your research at Sorbonne University. This page guides you through the administrative procedures, required documents, and deadlines to help streamline your enrollment process and allow you to fully focus on your doctoral project.
Doctoral studies in France
In France, a PhD holder is awarded the title of Doctor after successfully defending a thesis.
To be eligible for a doctorate, you must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent, and have demonstrated an aptitude for research through your studies.
A doctorate consists of individual research work carried out within a research unit (also known as a laboratory) and a doctoral school. You will need to publicly defend your thesis.
The doctoral schools at Sorbonne University come under the Doctoral College which defines the general organisational policy for doctoral studies across the institution.
The doctoral schools are responsible for recruiting, supporting, training and supervising PhD candidates.
These schools’ processes and operations are defined by internal regulations, which cover governance, admissions, funding allocation conditions, supervision, and organisation of PhD programmes.
Doctoral studies and the conditions for awarding a PhD degree are governed by the Decree of 26 August 2022, which sets out the national regulatory framework and the main legal reference text for doctorates.
Different types of doctorate
There are various types of doctoral programmes:
- The “single” doctorate
This is the most common form of doctorate in France and is completed over 3 to 6 years within the same research unit, under the supervision of a single thesis supervisor. Enrolment, thesis defence and award of the degree take place at a single institution.
- International joint doctorate programmes
International joint doctorate programmes involve dual supervision by two institutions and lead to the award of two PhD degrees, issued by the two partner universities (or sometimes a joint PhD).
The organisation of the doctorate, conditions for thesis defence, payment terms for enrolment fees and mobility arrangements are set out in a bilateral agreement between the institutions concerned.
Each year, the PhD student enrols at both universities, but only pays enrolment fees at one of them.
- National or international joint doctorate programme
Under this system, there are two research supervisors, one at the institution where you are enrolled and the other at another institution, in France or abroad.
The thesis defence and award of the doctorate take place at the university of the principal supervisor.
- Doctorate at a company (CIFRE)
Under the CIFRE (Conventions industrielles de formation par la recherches) scheme, students complete their thesis at a company, in partnership with a public university. PhD students enter into an employment contract and are supervised by a university research supervisor and a company mentor. This pathway helps students to directly integrate the socio-economic world.
- The joint European Doctorate
Set up by the Horizon Europe programme and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the joint European Doctorate enables students to complete a three-year PhD programme at three institutions in three different European countries. It promotes international student mobility with a strong focus on gaining scientific experience in Europe.
Applying for a doctorate
To apply for a doctorate, you must meet the following criteria:
- Hold a Master’s degree, an engineering degree or equivalent qualification.
- Obtain the agreement of a research supervisor to oversee your work.
- Obtain the agreement of the director of the host research unit to which your requested supervisor is attached.
The doctoral school director submits the application for admission to the university President, who makes the final decision.
Once admitted, you are required to complete your enrolment. Please refer to the “Register or re-register for a doctoral programme” section of the Welcome Desk.
To enrol on a doctoral programme, you will often need to find funding, although this is not mandatory for all subject areas.
Depending on your situation, your research project may be funded by your host institution (e.g. Sorbonne University), your home country, a company or the European Union.
At Sorbonne University, you need funding to enrol on a programme in the so-called “exact” sciences (physics, chemistry, mathematics, etc.). For programmes in humanities and social sciences, you can enrol without funding.
If you have been selected for a doctoral contrat, you must have completed your enrollment at Sorbonne University in order to sign it.
