Fund your thesis
The PhD contracts, grants and other public and private thesis funding are listed below by country or by funding institution. You will also find addresses for mailing lists. For more information, links are available.
Note: many funding applications have to be submitted by the end of the calendar year for the following academic year (example: submission in December 2019 for the 2020-2021 academic year).
FRANCE
–Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation/ Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et de l’Innovation
http://www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/pid24749/tous-les-appels.html
– French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs / Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires Etrangères
http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/venir-en-france/etudier-en-france/financer-le-projet-bourses/
– University Agency for Francophonie /Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF)
http://www.auf.org/allocations/
– Network of French Research Institute Abroad /Unités mixtes des instituts français de recherche à l’étranger (UMIFRE)
Fellowships and calls
http://www.umifre.fr/appels/field_type_appel/appel-candidature-6
– National Center for Scientific Research / Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS)
CNRS job portal (including doctoral grants)
https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres.aspx
–Chancellerie des Universités de Paris
Scholarships
– CIFRE convention (Industrial contracts for training through research) /Association Nationale Recherche Technologie
The CIFRE convention (Industrial contracts for training through research) is a partnership between a French company, a laboratory and a PhD student. The proramme subsidises any company under French law which hires a doctoral student to involve him in a research collaboration with a public laboratory. The research will lead to the defense of a thesis in three years. The CIFRE are fully funded by the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, which has entrusted its implementation to the ANRT.
Information on procedures and offers:
http://www.anrt.asso.fr/fr/cifre-7843
– Paris Institute for Advanced Studies /Institut d’études avancées de Paris
The Paris Institute for Advanced Studies recruits high-level international researchers in the humanities and social sciences and related fields for periods of 5 or 9 months. The IEA offers around twenty researchers the opportunity to develop or continue a research project, within the framework of its white program or its thematic program around neuroscience, while benefiting from a leading scientific environment. The Institute supports the researchers in establishing scientific contacts with universities and research institutions in Paris and the Île-de-France region.
http://www.paris-iea.fr/fr/gestion-des-candidatures/gestionnaire-appels
– Legs Lassence
Lassence scholarships are addressed to young researchers who are preparing a doctoral thesis in the field of literature or the humanities. Applicants must have obtained a DEA or a Master’s degree and to be a French national. They must also be enrolled in a doctoral school in France.
The scholarships are awarded based on the financial resources of the student as well as on the grands he obtained during its DEA or Master’s degree. The thesis topic should also be of interest to the professors managing research works.
To apply or for more information, you can contact the CROUS or the social assistance office of your university.
http://www.reseauetudiant.com/savoir/bourses-d-etudes-1/legs-lassence-doctorat.htm
– Thiers Foundation / Fondation Thiers
The Thiers Foundation (Humanist Research Center) awards ten scholarships every year to doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences under 30 years old by September 1 of the current year and who have not defended the thesis at this date. The award recipients must hold a teacher training degree or to be paleographic archivists, heritage curators or library curators undertaking doctoral studies, leading to a thesis written in French.
The Foundation offers a one-year scholarship in the form of a monthly payment of €1800.
Information and contact: fondation.thiers@yahoo.fr
http://fondation-thiers.institut-de-france.fr/
– The French Academy / Académie Française
Zellidja scholarship
These scholarships are intended for students (up to 30 years old) who plan to stay abroad (5 months minimum – 12 months maximum) as additional training or as part of research. Each university can present two candidates.
http://www.academie-francaise.fr/les-prix-et-mecenats/bourses
–The National Library of France / Bibliothèque nationale de France
The National Library of France has launched the call for researchers’ program in 2003. Every year, 8 new associate researchers are welcomed within the institution as well as 2 visiting professors. Another grant awards research works concerning the history of books and libraries. Sponsors offer several research grants on specific topics each year.
http://actions-recherche.bnf.fr/BnF/anirw3.nsf/IX02/P2015000008_appel-a-chercheurs
– Rotary Foundation / Fondation Rotary
The Rotary Foundation scholarship program aims to create a climate of understanding and friendship between people of different nations. All of these scholarships allow their recipients to study or get practical training in a foreign country where Rotary Clubs are located.
– Vocation grant (Bourse de la vocation) – Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet Foundation / Fondation Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet
If you have a dream you cannot achieve for various reasons, The Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet Foundation helps you achieve it.
This scholarship is opened to French people aged 18-30 currently in France or abroad, as well as
young foreigners studying and living in France.
To apply, you must connect to the Foundation’s website in order to submit a CV and a cover letter online, between January 1 and May 31 of each year.
http://www.fondationvocation.org/histoire-de-la-fondation
– National Audiovisual Institute / Institut national de l’audiovisuel (INA)
To encourage the development of scientific works from its collection, the National Audiovisual Institute created the INAtheque Awards. These prizes are awarded each year for research work conducted from radio and television sources available for consultation at INAtheque and / or conducted in professional media circles (radio / TV / web media). These annual awards are:
- Incentive award (€ 2,000): it rewards a thesis about on radio and / or television, written within the framework of a Research or a Professional Master’s Degree and defended in the calendar year of the award ceremony or the previous year.
- Inathèque Research prize (€ 4,000): this prize rewards a research work conducted from radio and / or television sources made available by the INAtheque or carried out in conjunction with media professional circles. It is open to any successful research (doctorate level or research by a senior researcher or a group) completed at most in the previous 18 months.
More information: http://www.inatheque.fr/publications-evenements/prix-inatheque.html
– Scholarships offered by French local government
Regional Councils and other local government authorities offer mobility scholarships to foreign students. For further information, please directly contact the General Council or Regional Council of the region where you want to pursue your studies.
–Centre Interuniversitaire d’Information Pédagogique (CUIP)
The CUIP considers projects contributing to the enrichment of teaching practices which constitute a contribution to the democratisation of education and training.
Application form: http://www.cuip.fr/Index.html
–Association Française des Femmes Graduées des Universités (AFFDU)
Applications must come from female students at the end of their thesis or in postdoctoral research, regardless of their nationality. The subsidy is attributed preferably to a study and research project involving a mobility period from or to abroad. The student may be French for a study project abroad, or a foreign student for a study project in France.
https://www.associationdesfemmesdiplomees.fr/nos-actions/les-bourses/
– Irène Joliot-Curie Prize
The Irène Joliot-Curie 2015 Prize has three categories:
- “Female scientist of the year” category rewards a woman who has brought a remarkable contribution in the field of public research by the openness of her research subject, the importance of her work and recognition in her scientific field both nationally and internationally.
Reward: €40,000.
- “Young Female Scientist” category highlights and encourages a talented young woman who has distinguished herself for a career and works in her field of research.
Reward: €15,000.
“Woman Business career path” category rewards a woman who has developed both scientific and technical excellence in a research & development position within a company, or who has helped to create an innovative company, in particular by transferring results from its research works.
Reward: €15,000.
http://www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/pid24580/prix-irene-joliot-curie.html
– World Bank
The Robert S. McNamara scholarship program supports young researchers working in higher education and research institutions from World Bank partner countries, and preparing a doctoral thesis. The research grant covers costs relating to research stays of 5 to 10 months in renowned universities or research centers. The aim is to allow the scholarship recipients to advance their research thanks to the resources available in their host institutions and to interact with peers.
http://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/scholarships#How
–Kenza Foundation, Institut de France
The Kenza Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation created in 2009 under the aegis of the Institut de France. It is the first foundation in France to support studies abroad for students of fine arts or history of art, from the Ecole du Louvre, the Sorbonne universities or the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris.
http://www.fondationkenza.org/bourses.php
–Quai Branly Museum
The Quai Branly Museum offers doctoral and postdoctoral scholarships each year to help doctoral students and young doctors to carry out original and innovative research projects. The disciplines involved are: anthropology, ethnomusicology, history of art, history, archeology (from the Neolithic period), sociology, performing arts. The preferred research areas are: Western and extra-Western arts, tangible and intangible heritage, museum institutions and their collections, religious rituals, technology and material culture.
– Marc de Montalembert Foundation
Offered by the Marc de Montalembert Foundation and the INHA, this prize takes the form of a grant of €8000 for a project contributing to knowledge of arts from the Mediterranean region and lasting six to nine months.
http://www.fondationmdm.com/la-bourse-a-projet-2-2/
– Prize for the study of the heritage – Treilles Foundation
The Treilles Foundation has created an award to encourage research on the architectural, landscape and artistic elements of its heritage.
http://www.les-treilles.com/?page_id=271
– Focillon scholarship – French Committee for History of Art /Comité français d’histoire de l’art
The CFHA awards annually a young researcher in art history (alternatively an academic and a curator).
http://www.cfha-web.org/prix_bourses/focillon_1.htm
– SACRe doctoral program
The Sciences, Arts, Creation, Research doctoral program (SACRe) is open to all applicants who have completed a Master’s or equivalent, artists, designers and / or theorists. The candidate can apply for a three-year doctoral contract or mention that she / he already has funding.
She / he undertakes training within the PSL University (Paris Sciences et Lettres) in the affiliated institution (art school or ENS).
– Doctoral contracts for disabled students (contrats doctoraux handicap)
As part of its policy in the field of disability, the Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research offers twenty-five doctoral contracts for disabled students presenting a thesis project.
The campaign objectives: to encourage the emergence of a pool of disabled people with a doctorate to meet, on the one hand, the requirements of the labour market and, on the other hand, encourage students with disabilities to continue their studies at highest level of training.
– International doctoral contracts
As part of the support for international cooperation actions, the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation offers international doctoral contracts. This program can benefit any doctoral student whose research is part of the scientific programs in one of the five French Overseas Institutes (Écoles françaises à l’étranger).
GREAT BRITAIN
http://www.mfo.ac.uk/?q=fr/bourses/bourses-d-etudes
– The Henry Moore Foundation (Perry Green, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire / Leeds)
Many scholarships are offered to support research projects in the following fields: sculpture, drawing and etching. Projects from Great Britain may involve artists from all countries. Projects from other countries must have a link with Great Britain.
https://www.henry-moore.org/research
– The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art (London)
Scholarships in the field of British history of art and architecture are offered, as well as support for the dissemination through publications, exhibitions and educational initiatives. Projects relating to archeology, the performing arts, art and architecture as current practices are excluded.
http://www.paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk/11/
– The Warburg Institute (London)
Various scholarships on the interdisciplinary study of the classical tradition, including aspects of European thought, art and institutions from the ancient world, are offered.
https://warburg.sas.ac.uk/research ¨
USA
– Clark Fellowships (Williamstown)
Researchers can propose subjects related to the history, the practice, the theory or the interpretation of visual arts. Fellowships of one to ten months are offered; six to eight researchers can be hosted at the same time.
http://www.clarkart.edu/research/content.cfm?ID=43
– Fulbright Program
Scholarship grants for studies are offered by the Fulbright program. The programme enables the prize winners to carry out their project in France or in the USA.
http://fulbright-france.org/fr/qui-sommes-nous/presentation/programme-fulbright-france
– France-Berkeley Fund (Berkeley)
This research support program is funded by the University of California (Berkeley) and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is open to French academic candidates working in partnership with a Berkeley academic.
https://fbf.berkeley.edu/2019-application-overview
– The Dedalus Foundation (New York)
The Dedalus Foundation was founded in 1981 by the artist Robert Motherwell to support public understanding and appreciation of the principles of modern art and modernism.
Grants are attributed to individuals and institutions projects (museums, universities, art schools, educational institutions). The scholarship program of the Dedalus Foundation supports educational, exhibition and publication.
The foundation offers three kind of scholarships to individuals:
- doctoral scholarships in art history
- post-doctoral scholarships in art history and critical theory
- scholarships to complete a Master’s degree in visual arts in an American institution.
In addition, the Foundation awards the Robert Motherwell Book Award each year to a book manuscript about modernism in the arts.
– Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington D.C.)
Several scholarship programs for research in visual art and culture in the United States are offered. These scholarships include a residency obligation.
http://americanart.si.edu/research/opportunity/
– Walker Cowen Memorial Prize – University of Virginia (Charlottesville)
The prize is awarded to the author of a book manuscript or a book published recently which might be translated into English, dealing with the 18th Century. The work can cover Europe, the American continent and the Atlantic world, in the fields of history, literature, philosophy or arts.
http://www.upress.virginia.edu/
– Grant & Fellowship – Terra Foundation for American Art
The Terra Foundation for American Art Research Travel Grants support travel to the United States for research purposes. Foreign nationals enrolled in European universities whose research projects concern American art or transatlantic artistic relations prior to 1980 are eligible. Three predoctoral grants of $5,000 and three postdoctoral grants of $7,500 (for researchers who have been awarded their doctorate within the past ten years) are available.
QUEBEC
– Excellence scholarships for foreign students – Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT)
http://www.frqnt.gouv.qc.ca/fr/bourses-et-subventions/concours-anterieurs/bourse/bourses-d-excellence-pour-etudiant-etrangers-pbeee–8cxmbhqt1530794160169
– France-Quebec thesis prize
The Quebec Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the French Consulate in Quebec wish to encourage the mobility of doctoral students between France and Quebec. They offer a joint Thesis Prize rewarding the best theses produced within the framework of a Franco-Quebec joint supervision agreement.
AUSTRALIA
– Scientific Mobility grant – French Embassy in Australia
The French Embassy in Australia offers a mobility aid program for young researchers (PhD students, post-doctoral students, young researchers) between France and Australia. This program aims to facilitate and help develop research collaborations between the two countries. Only air tickets are supported.
https://au.ambafrance.org/Bourses-et-financements
NETHERLANDS
– Eole excellence scholarships – Franco-Dutch Network
The Franco-Dutch Network offers mobility grants for Master students and doctoral students, in any scientific discipline, for a study or research period or an internship in the Netherlands. These scholarships are awarded on the basis of a strict selection of the best projects.
The Eole excellence scholarships are intended in particular for doctoral students who are required to make a short research stay in the Netherlands as part of their doctoral training. Master students who undertake a research, training or internship are also eligible. The winners receive a grant ranging from €500 to 1000€.
Information and application form: http://nlfr.eu/
ITALY
– Scholarships – French Academy in Rome (Académie de France à Rome, Villa Médicis)
Scholarship for 6, 12, 18 or 24 months.
Conditions of admission:
- being Francophone
- over the age of 20 and under the age of 45 by December 31 of the current year.
The monthly grant for a resident amounts to on average €3,300.
The grant is subject to residence at Villa Medici.
https://www.villamedici.it/fr/les-residences/
– Grants – French School of Rome (Ecole Française de Rome)
Monthly grants are offered each year by the French School of Rome to doctoral students and young researchers whose work requires a stay in Italy.
Eligibility criteria:
- be registered either in a French university
- or in a co-supervised PhD thesis with a French university
- or in a French higher education and research institution (École normale supérieure, École nationale des chartes, École Pratique des Hautes Etudes, École des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Institut d’Études politiques, etc.)
- or to come from partner countries of the French School of Rome (Maghreb: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia; Balkans: Albania, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia)
- or to hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) and to have a validated thesis topic
Calendar: Semi-annual selection
http://www.efrome.it/fr/candidater/devenir-boursier.html
– Grants – Istituto Italiano Per Gli Studi Storici (Naples)
Several “borse di studio” are offered to Italian and foreign Masters and PhD holders.
https://www.iiss.it/concorso-a-borse-di-studio-2019-2020/
– Doctoral Scholarship Program – European University Institute (Institut Universitaire Européen)
The European University Institute (EUI) opens its call for applications for its doctoral scholarship program in many disciplines in humanities and social sciences.
This 3-4 year program is a full doctoral program with a European vocation accessible after a Master’s degree and taking place on the Italian campus of the EUI in Tuscany in the Florence region.
http://www.eui.eu/ServicesAndAdmin/AcademicService /DoctoralProgramme/Index.aspx
SPAIN
– Grants – Casa de Velázquez (Madrid)
Monthly grants are awarded to young artists and young researchers, whose work requires a stay in the Iberian Peninsula.
Application requirements:
- to be from a EU member State or, exceptionally, from another country;
- to be under 40 by the application deadline.
http://www.casadevelazquez.org/accueil/candidatures/boursiers-artistiques/
https://www.casadevelazquez.org/accueil/candidatures/membres-scientifiques/
PORTUGAL
– Pessoa France-Portugal Programme of joint supervision thesis
https://www.campusfrance.org/fr/CotutellesPessoa
LATIN AMERICA
– Calls for projects – COFECUB and ECOS South / ECOS North Programs
Calls for joint research projects with an international partner (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Uruguay) and to integrate a doctoral training.
http://www.univ-paris13.fr/cofecub-ecos/
BRAZIL
– COFECUB CAPES
http://www.campusfrance.org/fr/capes-cofecub
GERMANY
– Deutsches Forum für Kunstgeschichte/Centre allemand d’histoire de l’art (Paris)
Grants for young researchers
To offer support for young researchers (Master’s students, doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows and lecturers) from around the world is one of the central missions of the German Center for the History of Art. The aid programs (short-term grants, longer-term grants for doctoral theses, internships, research visits, trainings, workshops) are funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research.
https://dfk-paris.org/fr/page/jeunes-chercheurs-8.html
– Center Marc Bloch – Franco-German Research Center for Social Sciences (Berlin)
A wide variety of doctoral research grants are offered.
Note: the website lists a large number of scholarships in social sciences offered in Europe.
– Center for interdisciplinary studies and researches on Germany – CIERA
CIERA provides mobility aids for research stays in Germany or in German-speaking countries. The research topic must relate to Germany or German-speaking countries and must be carried out in a German-speaking institution or company. Researchers of all countries can apply.
Doctoral mobility aids can be awarded a maximum of 2 times during the thesis.
Information and contact: http://www.ciera.fr/
– German Federal Ministry of Education and Research / Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
https://www.stipendiumplus.de/en/dein-plus/stipendiumplus-who-we-are.html
– German Academic Exchange Service / Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD)
Long-term research grants.
Duration: 7 to 10 months. In certain justified cases, an extension of the grant is possible.
Amount: €1,000 per month. If necessary, additional benefits can be provided (travel costs, accommodation, social security coverage).
http://paris.daad.de/bourses_et_subventions.html
– Study Foundation of the Berlin House of Representatives/ Studienstiftung des Abgeordnetenhauses von Berlin
The Foundation offers grants for doctoral students from France, Great Britain, the United States and Russia.
Condition: to work in Berlin and to carry out research on German and international questions.
https://www.parlament-berlin.de/de/Startseite
– French Institute of History in Germany / Institut Français d’Histoire en Allemagne
Several fellowships are offered.
– Franco-Bavarian University Cooperation Center / Centre de Coopération Universitaire Franco–Bavarois (CCUFB)
Mobility grants for doctoral students
This program is intended for all French and Bavarian doctoral students wishing to carry out a research stay in the partner country.
The maximum amount allocated is €250 per month over a period of up to 10 months.
http://www.bayern-france.org/fr/
ROMANIA
– “Eugen Ionescu” doctoral and post-doctoral research grants
https://www.auf.org/nouvelles/appels-a-candidatures/
GREECE
– Athens French School / École française d’Athènes
Around sixty scholarships are awarded each year, for a period of one to two months, exceptionally for a longer period. It is possible to benefit from a scholarship for two consecutive years.
https://www.efa.gr/index.php/fr/formation-a-la-recherche/bourses
ISRAEL
– French Research Center in Jerusalem / Centre de Recherche Français à Jérusalem
The French Research Center in Jerusalem offers mobility aids for doctoral and post-doctoral, for a period of 3 to 9 months (renewable once).
The aid consists of a monthly allowance of €1220 and the reimbursement of an air ticket between the student’s administrative residence and Israel.
RUSSIA
– Vernadski doctoral scholarships
As part of its mobility program for young researchers, the French Embassy in the Russian Federation awards doctoral scholarships in joint supervision of theses.
This funding covers 4 calendar years (3 university years) and alternates stays in France and Russia.
Vernadski co-supervision doctoral theses are offered in all scientific disciplines taught in France.
http://www.ambafrance-ru.org/Bourses-doctorales-Vernadski
– French-Russian Research Center for Social Sciences /Centre franco-russe de recherches en sciences humaines et sociales (Moscow)
Mobility aids for PhD students.
https://cefr-moscou.cnrs.fr/fr/bourses/doctorants
JAPAN
– Canon Foundation
The aim of the Canon Foundation is to promote science, culture, know-how between Europe and Japan. To this end, the foundation offers 15 research grants to Europeans going to Japan, as well as to Japanese people going to Europe.
https://www.canonfoundation.org/
EUROPE
– Curie Institute
Various research and doctoral grants are offered.
https://enseignement.curie.fr/article/faire-son-doctorat
– CNRS – French National Scientific Research Centre /Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- International exchanges of researchers
The CNRS can finance missions and hosting of researchers lasting between 1 week and 6 months within the framework of research projects submitted jointly.
The selection is mainly based on the quality and novelty of the project. Applications from young researchers are favored.
http://www.cnrs.fr/derci/spip.php?article50
- Doctoral training program
As part of its training mission to and through research, the CNRS welcomes doctoral students who wish to prepare a thesis.
Condition:
• be enrolled in a doctoral school for less than 6 months;
• have a research project;
• possibly, have a partner committing to co-finance recruitment (company, region, other organisations, etc.). The research subjects are then chosen in consultation with the CNRS, a company and a given region. A contract is established between the partner and the CNRS specifying the participation of the two parties, the progress of research work, publications, industrial property.
Recruitment process:
• an assignment with a CNRS research laboratory,
• a 3-year employment contract,
• a fixed monthly gross remuneration of € 1,757.
http://www.cnrs.fr/fr/travailler/formation_recherche.htm
Other websites where funding opportunities are listed:
http://www.dgdr.cnrs.fr/liensutiles/bourses.htm
https://www.stiftungen.org/en/home/association/about-us.html
http://www.campusfrance.org/fria/bourse/index.html#