Study at GS SMRE

Applying for a Doctorate

Applying for a doctorate requires some planning ahead

For future doctoral candidates, it begins in the final year of their master's degree. It is at this point that various submission steps should already be taken

Photo - Illustration - Chemistry lab

In order to apply, you must :

  • have a completed/soon to be completed master's degree, an engineering degree or any equivalent diploma
  • have chosen your research topic and a thesis project leader
  • Ensure that the project is financed for the 3 years of the thesis
  • First of all, identify the scientific field and the corresponding laboratory attached to the SMRE GS
  •     Contact the research unit to find a thesis supervisor
  •     Also consult the thesis offers proposed by the laboratory

The thesis supervisor must belong to a laboratory that is itself attached to the SMRE GS

Unsolicited applications to the GS are not possible, as each thesis project is the subject of a hearing/discussion between the candidate and his/her thesis supervisor

 

At the SMRE Graduate School, a PhD candidate cannot properly carry out their duties unless the funding arrangements for the three years of the PhD are clearly defined — both the candidate’s funding throughout the three-year program and the funding for the resources required to conduct their research.

The Doctoral School requires a minimum funding threshold*.

*The minimum monthly amount is set at €1200 for the 2022–2023 academic year and will increase by €100 each academic year to reach €1500 in 2025. In the case of a cotutelle (joint supervision), the candidate’s monthly funding must be at least equal to the minimum wage (SMIC or equivalent) of the partner country during the periods spent abroad

The approval of a thesis supervisor and the confirmation of funding are both mandatory conditions for authorization to enroll

Each applicant wishing to apply for a PhD must submit a doctoral application by completing a preliminary application file (including all required supporting documents)

In the case of a co-supervision with a researcher from another doctoral school, an industrial CIFRE agreement, or an international joint PhD (cotutelle), the relevant annex corresponding to the situation must be added to the file

Submit the complete file to the GS as a single PDF document

Rules for all doctoral thesis applications, regardless of funding

[Translate to English:] Règles pour toutes les candidatures en thèse de doctorat quel que soit le financement

Contact the Graduate School BEFORE signing an employment contract for a PhD application: the Doctoral School must give a favourable opinion on admission to the PhD programme.

PhD applications are examined according to the following criteria:

  • - Academic level: enrolment in a doctoral programme requires the prior award of a national master's degree, or another equivalent national or foreign degree conferring the grade of master.
    Excellent previous academic record (higher education transcripts, rankings) and aptitude for research must be demonstrated
  • - Suitability of the candidate's profile to the subject: The candidate's profile is suited to the subject via his/her research experience in an academic or industrial environment, and his/her training.
  • - Motivation: The letter of motivation must be focused and substantiated.

Funding must be for at least 36 months and must exceed €1,500 per month. In the case of joint supervision, funding must be at least equal to the minimum wage in the partner country during the periods spent abroad.

The thesis supervisor must hold an Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR) or benefit from a special dispensation and must be attached to the SMRE GS.

The number of simultaneous thesis directorships or co-directorships may not exceed 5, and a maximum of 3 may be started per academic year

Timetable and application procedures - 2025 Edition

The procedure for recruiting candidates and awarding doctoral funding is part of the general framework set out in the Order of 26 August 2022 on doctoral studies. It applies to all candidates who meet eligibility criteria on the date of submission
Every year, the school holds a session to review all applications, regardless of funding. This does not rule out the possibility of applying on an ad hoc basis

Doctorate Thesis Registration Steps (in French, PDF - 281 kB) (PDF - 281 Ko)

  • Documents to be provided :

Download the Doctoral Thesis Application form - French (Word - 689 Ko)
Download the Doctoral Thesis Application form - English (Word - 67 Ko)

Appendix to be added to the application form (if applicable) :

Applications must be submitted to the doctoral school by 19 May 2025

The meeting of the Admissions Committee to select applications is scheduled for: 2 June 2025

Ad Hoc Applications

For ad hoc applications (July N - April N+1), submitted forms will be assessed by the doctoral school's pedagogy committee following the same procedure as for the June session
Below are the scheduled meeting dates :

  • Monday 02 june 2025 - 9am
  • Wednesday 16 july - 2pm
  • Friday 19 September - 2pm
  • Friday 17 october - 10am
  • Monday 8 December - 2 pm

Complete applications must be sent to the school's Admin Office and to the Doctoral Studies director DED) no later than 15 days before the date of the committee meeting.
 This procedure also applies to for CIFRE Grant applications.

Download the Doctoral Thesis Application form - French (Word - 689 Ko)
Download the Doctoral Thesis Application form - English (Word - 67 Ko)

Appendix to be added to the application form (if applicable):

Important information to read before applying :

The position for which you are applying is likely to be located in a "restricted area" within the meaning of article R. 413-5-1 of the penal code. If this is the case, your appointment and/or assignment can only take place after access authorization has been issued by the head of the institution, in accordance with the provisions of article 20-4 of decree n°84-431 of June 6, 1984

 

For thesis supervisors: interview summary

Thesis Supervisor's Statement, including a summary of the candidate(s)' interview – (Word document – 17 KB)
This statement is not to be attached as an annex to each individual application file. It is a single summary document that must be submitted by the thesis supervisor to the Graduate School office prior to the meetings of the Graduate School's selection committee (whether for the June session or on a rolling basis)

 

How do I apply for CIFRE ?

[Translate to English:] visuel sur le dispositif cifre

Ask the school for a commitment letter to add to the Industrial Agreement for Training through Research (CIFRE).

The doctoral school can provide you with a commitment letter for your CIFRE agreement or any other agreement. To pursue a doctorate through the CIFRE agreement, you must demonstrate exceptional academic qualifications and research capabilities. For this reason, you must first complete the application form and the CIFRE appendix.

  • Please send your application and the CIFRE appendix to the school's Admin Office in a single PDF file.
  • The school will evaluate the application (taking into account the scientific level, the suitability of the training profile for the proposed research topic, and other relevant factors) and provide its opinion.
  • If the review is positive, the school's Admin Office will issue a letter in which the director will confirm their approval for your enrolment in the doctoral program, on the condition that you obtain the CIFRE Grant and meet all the necessary regulatory requirements at the time of enrolment.

For more information on the CIFRE:

Visual of country flag pins

How to Apply for Joint Supervision ?

See the page on International Joint Thesis Supervision