Fund your PhD

Public-sector doctoral contract

A public-sector doctoral contract (contrat doctoral de droit public) is a three-year PhD employment contract in the French public system. It is open to PhD students enrolled in their first year at the time the contract takes effect. In certain cases, it may be extended by one additional year. These doctoral contracts include a salary, with a minimum amount set by the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space (ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et de l'Espace).

The University of Strasbourg, the Région Grand Est and national research organisations such as the CNRS and Inserm fund doctoral contracts. As part of its disability inclusion policy, the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space also runs an annual call for doctoral contracts reserved for PhD students with disabilities.

Each call for applications is published as a news item.

The COFRA programme

The COFRA programme (Conventions de formation par la recherche en administration) combines doctoral research with training for careers in the French civil service (fonction publique).

It is both:

A research-based training pathway that prepares PhD students for potential careers in the French civil service
A collaborative doctoral research project, jointly developed between a PhD student, an academic research laboratory and a government department (administration de l'État)

Two types of employment contracts apply to PhD students:

A project-based contract with a government department, lasting three years and renewable under certain conditions (Decree No. 2020-172 of 27 February 2020). The salary is at least equivalent to that of PhD students employed under private-sector contracts
A public-sector doctoral contract, lasting three years with the university or research institution hosting the academic research laboratory, and renewable under certain conditions (Decree No. 2020-172 of 27 February 2020)

Find more information on the COFRA programme on the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space website

Private-sector doctoral contract

A private-sector doctoral contract (contrat doctoral de droit privé) allows PhD students to carry out their research within a company in the private sector. A collaboration agreement is signed between the employer, the PhD student and the higher education institution where the student is enrolled.

This type of contract is the primary funding arrangement under the Cifre (Convention industrielle de formation par la recherche), a scheme that supports PhD research carried out in partnership with companies.

The Cifre scheme

Like a doctoral contract, the Convention industrielle de formation par la recherche (Cifre) lasts three years. PhD students work on their dissertation within a company, in collaboration with a research team outside the company that is based at their home university.

Funding: provided by the employer and by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, through the National Association of Research and Technology (Association nationale recherche technologie – ANRT)
Salary: minimum salary set by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research
Eligibility: students holding a Master’s degree (or equivalent) and enrolled in a PhD for less than nine months at the time of application submission
Application: Go to the Cifre website

PhD students in social sciences and humanities can also explore the ANRT 1,000 doctoral students platform, which connects local authorities with PhD students interested in carrying out research within public-sector services.

Go to the National Association of Research and Technology website

Funding for international PhD students

The France Excellence Eiffel scholarship (bourse France Excellence Eiffel) helps international PhD students finance their doctoral studies.

Coming to the University of Strasbourg as part of an international mobility programme? Find advice on funding your stay on our International Welcome Platform.

Other funding opportunities

Calls for projects at the University of Strasbourg

To continue promoting and supporting excellence in research and innovation, the University of Strasbourg launches a range of calls for proposals each year and supports project leaders in securing funding.

Go to the "Fund and develop your research project" web page

Scholarships and financial support

PhD students can access dedicated funding for their research, as well as grants and financial support available to all students, depending on eligibility criteria.

Go to the "Social and financial support" web page

Additional paid activities during your PhD

Take on additional paid roles

PhD students can dedicate part of their working time to additional paid roles that provide both income and professional experience. There are four types of roles for PhD students:

Teaching
Promoting research results
Sharing scientific and technical information
Providing expertise

These roles may account for up to 32 days per year, or 64 hours of teaching, corresponding to roughly one-sixth of a PhD student’s working time.

Take on teaching or administrative work

PhD students without a doctoral contract can take on up to 96 hours of paid teaching or administrative work within a school, faculty or institute of the university.

The host entity is responsible for recruitment. Depending on the circumstances, PhD students may need approval to combine income from multiple paid activities.

Apply for a Temporary Teaching and Research Assistant contract

A Temporary Teaching and Research Assistant contract (Attaché temporaire d’enseignement et de recherche – ATER) is aimed at students nearing the end of their PhD and recent PhD graduates. Governed by Decree No. 88-654 of 7 May 1988, the ATER contract lasts for one year and can be renewed once. It includes 192 teaching hours per year.

The university’s Human Resources Office is responsible for the call for applications for ATER contracts.

Find more information on the "Become a temporary teaching and research assistant" web page

Financial support for mobility

The Doctoral College and doctoral schools provide additional financial support, particularly for travel and accommodation costs. This support helps PhD students access resources that are only available at another university or in another country, or collect data in a research centre in France or abroad.

Contact the International Office at the Doctoral College or the doctoral school administrator (gestionnaire de l’école doctorale) for more information.