PhD Admissions Requirements

Before registering for a doctoral program, doctoral candidates must receive approval from a dissertation supervisor authorized to direct research and be hosted by a research team/unit within a doctoral school accredited or jointly accredited by PSL.

Admissions criteria are determined by each doctoral school. The director of the doctoral school confirms that the applicant meets the scientific, material, and financial conditions required for the research to be successful.

“Enrollment in the first year of a doctoral program is decided by the head of the institution based on a recommendation by the director of the doctoral school, who has been advised by the dissertation supervisor and the director of the research team or unit on the quality of the project and conditions for carrying it out. Enrolled students are admitted to the courses offered by the doctoral school.
To be enrolled in a doctoral program, applicants must hold a French national Master’s degree or another Master’s-level diploma, conferred upon completion of a degree program or professional experience establishing their research aptitude.”

Article 11 of the decree of May 25, 2016 establishing a national framework in France for the education and conditions leading to a French PhD diploma

How to Enroll

Enrollment for the first year generally takes place between September 1 and mid-December of the current year. Exemptions may be granted according to the rules in effect within dissertation preparation institutions.

Students must re-enroll each year.

“Enrollment is renewed at the start of each academic year by the head of the institution, based on a recommendation by the director of the doctoral school advised by the dissertation supervisor and, starting with the third enrollment, by the doctoral candidate’s individual jury.”

Article 11 of the decree of May 25, 2016 establishing a national framework in France for the education and conditions leading to a French PhD diploma

After you are admitted to a doctoral program, enrollment is a two-step process. Your points of contact are:

  • The doctoral school of your research team/unit for your academic registration
  • The service in charge of academics for doctoral candidates at the dissertation preparation institution for your enrollment

The registration is online using the ADUM (PhD Connect) platform, and the documents related to enrollment/re-enrollment procedures are available in the resources section.

For the 2022/2023 academic year, the amounts of registration fees are frozen and are therefore identical to those of the 2019/2020 academic year set by Arrêté du 19 avril 2019 (2021/2022 registration fees):

Student Life and Campus Contribution – Contribution Vie Etudiante et de Campus (CVEC)

You have to pay the Contribution Vie Etudiante et de Campus (CVEC) at the beginning of each academic year before your enrollment in your thesis preparation institution. Its amount for the year 2022/2023 is set at 95€.

For more information and conditions of exemption, consult the FAQ of the website dedicated to CVEC payment !

Consult also: