How to do a PhD in France with a doctoral contract?

How to do a PhD in France with a doctoral contract? (Complete guide via ADUM.fr)

You want to pursue a PhD in France, but you don't know where to start?

Here is the official pathway to apply for a PhD with a doctoral contract, step by step 👇

1️⃣ Understand what a doctoral contract is

The doctoral contract is a fixed-term employment contract (3 years) offered by a university or public research organization.

It guarantees:

* Scientific supervision.

* Official registration in a doctoral school (École Doctorale).

It is not a scholarship, but an official university registration linked to public funding.

2️⃣ Find a PhD position

Funded PhD positions are advertised on several platforms, including:

* 🌐 [ADUM.fr](https://www.adum.fr) → the official platform for managing PhDs in France.

*[ABG.asso.fr](https://www.abg.asso.fr) (Association Bernard Gregory)

* [Euraxess.ec.europa.eu](https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs)

On ADUM, you can:

* Browse available PhD positions by field and institution.

* Create your candidate profile.

* Apply directly to open positions (often before June/July for an October start).

3️⃣ Find a supervisor and a host laboratory

Every PhD must be supervised by a thesis director affiliated with a doctoral school.

Tip: Check the "Research" or "Laboratories" pages of universities to identify researchers whose topics interest you. Contact them with your CV, your Master's thesis, and a subject proposal or understanding.

4️⃣ Prepare the application on ADUM

Once you have a subject and a potential supervisor:

1. The laboratory officially proposes you for PhD registration.

2. You complete your full profile on [ADUM.fr](https://www.adum.fr) (CV, academic background, project summary, supervision details, etc.).

3. The doctoral school validates your thesis project and your doctoral contract (if funding is secured).

5️⃣ Administrative registration at the university

After your application is validated on ADUM:

✅ You receive a favorable decision from the doctoral school.

 ✅ You complete your administrative registration at the university.

✅ You obtain your PhD registration certificate (useful for your visa or other administrative procedures).

6️⃣ Visa and arrival in France (for international students)

With your doctoral contract and your registration certificate, you can apply for the Talent Passport - Researcher" visa at the French consulate. This visa allows you to reside legally in France for the entire duration of your PhD.

🧠 In summary

Doing a PhD in France with a doctoral contract involves:

1. Finding a funded position (often via ADUM).

2. Identifying a thesis supervisor.

3. Creating your profile and submitting your application on [ADUM.fr](https://www.adum.fr)

4. Obtaining the approval of the doctoral school.

5. Finalizing your registration at the university.