You can multiply your career options
You are sure to enjoy a rich and exciting career in France or abroad
You can ply your trade in all sorts of companies
You can ply your trade in nearly every sector of activity
PhD
The PhD is the highest university qualification and is focused on carrying out reRechercher
and on scientific and technological development. As per its definition of 1984 and subsequent integration into the so-called BMD European higher education system, the PhD is prepared within the framework of doctoral schools (DS) which come under universities.
The qualification required to put forward a candidature is a master’s degree obtained after 5 years of higher education.
An exemption to the master’s degree may be granted to candidates with a recognised equivalent qualification. This would be structured training guided by a professional reRechercher team within a company or University (universities, reRechercher centres).
The PhD must be salaried. To this end, the contributions paid to the retirement fund will enter into the calculation of future rights.
The academic vision given to this highest of university qualifications is far from what it actually represents. In fact, amongst other things, the PhD is of direct use in economic, industrial and social activity. Furthermore, it is recognised throughout the world and represents the opportunity to achieve very rich and varied careers.
Doctors are real driving forces and players within the field of innovation.
Lastly, a Doctor of Chemistry may ply his/her trade in both the private and public sectors, or even as a free-marketeer.
The PhD is a unique university course!
The only studies during which the student is paid like an employee
An enriching and lively experience
Access to an international environment
Go even further with the Post-Doctoral Fellowship!
Doctors of Chemistry have the unique opportunity of enjoying an exciting career !
You are sure to carry out a range of duties
The PhD candidate must benefit from a work contract attached to the funding of his/her thesis subject. The usual duration is 36 months (3 years). In France there has been a special legal form for this since 2009: the higher education establishment doctoral contract, setting a minimum of approximately EUR 1,700 gross per month. It should be noted that there are other levels of remuneration.
This level of remuneration may increase with related tasks entrusted to the PhD candidate such as teaching (introduction to higher education) or special assignments (works for another organisation or company, within a limit of 64 hours per year).
TAll these salaried activities will therefore be counted in the career of the Doctor of science. This BAC+8 qualification (equivalent to 8 years of university level education) therefore takes place during full-time employed activity. Furthermore, there are several funding sources.
Thesis supervisor
With whom the PhD candidate wishes to work, is the core of this mechanism.
He/she supervises the PhD candidate’s education within the university’s doctoral school.
A thesis charter describing the educational objectives and the commitments of each party is signed by all involved: PhD candidate, thesis supervisor, reRechercher unit manager, principal of the doctoral school.
After the PhD
The DS monitors the future of doctors for at least 5 years following the thesis being accepted. This follow-up encompasses monitoring their professional integration, producing statistics and even setting up a directory of graduates.
The ministry of reRechercher and higher education compiles data every year that it analyses and distributes in detail.
"I would like to thank the Maison de la Chimie and the network of doctoral schools for allowing me, via the mobility grant, to attend the 8th edition of the ISOP (International Symposium On Photochromism) held in Shanghai from 4 to 7 November 2017".
Etienne Barrez
DOCTORAL STUDENT AT ENS CACHAN
"The 252nd American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition which took place from August 21 - 25, 2016, Philadelphia, USA was an invaluable opportunity for me, even though, due to its enormity, I was still far from having seen all that it had to offer".
Luisa Lempenauer
Doctoral student at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis
The PhD is a very enriching and lively experience
Work on a subject you have chosen
Work in a team
Benefit from international openings during the Thesis
Advisory Assignments can be carried out: “PhD candidate Council”
You can teach during the thesis
Preparation of a thesis is an unequalled enriching personal life experience.
The PhD candidate progressively takes on his/her subject and becomes an expert therein. Every day, he/she tackles the Rechercher for new, imaginative and creative ideas that he/she also learns to verify and validate.
Carried out within a company, his/her reRechercher often allows for a “break” to be identified, which will become a determining factor in creating a strong competitive advantage. The methods used and the “reflexes” developed over this process are an incomparable asset throughout your professional career.
Access to an international environment
Work on the thesis is carried out in a spirit of international competition yet it is true that scientific reRechercher, just like many artistic, sporting, commercial activities, etc., knows no borders.
Before becoming a co-author of publications describing his/her own work, the PhD candidate immerses him/herself into the bibliography for the subject and acquaints him/herself with the results obtained by teams the world over working on related issues.
Within the Institute, he/she will meet young reRechercherers (trainees, PhD candidates or post-doctoral fellows) and confirmed reRechercherers on a sabbatical from various foreign countries.
Beyond the minimalist aspects covered above, the PhD candidate’s participation in international actions or events will vary, depending on the international policy of the Doctoral School and/or the laboratory and on the thesis subject. It will also depend on the PhD candidate’s motivation.
The most frequent operations during the thesis are :
- Presentation of a paper at a conference with an international audience
- A stay of several weeks or months in a research team that is a partner of the thesis laboratory, within the framework of a bilateral cooperation programme, a European network, etc, encouraging mobility.
The most successful forms are the thesis in co-management with a foreign partner or even international co-supervision. The scientific and cultural benefit gained during the thesis from international exchanges may be extended during a post-doctoral trip.
Creating a thesis abroad thanks to international thesis co-supervision
Why not create your thesis in two different countries with, in the end, a PhD qualification from each of the Universities?
That is the full stake of the so-called “co-supervision” theses, which allow PhD candidates to gain international experience through reRechercher collaboration between two higher education establishments: one French, one foreign.
The objectives are to develop scientific cooperation between French and foreign reRechercher teams and encourage the mobility of the PhD candidate