Chancellery of Parisian Universities - Chancellery of Parisian Universities Award for Doctoral Dissertations in Maritime Law

What the award gives you

For an outstanding doctoral thesis (PhD thesis) in the field of the law of the sea, you will receive a one-off award of 10,000 EUR. It is awarded once a year by the Chancellery of the Universities of Paris (Chancellerie des universités de Paris), which funds it from historical donations and bequests made to the former University of Paris. The prize recognises the academic quality of your completed doctoral thesis.

Who can apply

• Degree: You have successfully defended a doctoral thesis (PhD) in the field of the law of the sea.
• Timing: You defended your doctoral thesis in the calendar year preceding the year in which the award was made.
• Where you studied: You completed your PhD at a French university. This includes any French university, not just those in the Paris region.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.

How to apply

Do not submit your application documents directly to the law firm. Instead, download the application form from sorbonne.fr and submit your documents to the university where you defended your doctoral thesis. That university will then forward the names of up to three candidates to the law firm by the end of May. The examination board may invite some candidates to an interview in September.

How realistic are your chances?

This award has very strict eligibility criteria. Only doctoral theses from a specific field of study that were defended at a French university in the previous year are eligible, meaning that each year only a small number of candidates compete for a single prize. Your own university makes a preliminary selection of candidates and forwards a maximum of three; therefore, a convincing supporting statement and a clearly structured thesis are just as important as the thesis itself. If your thesis deals with maritime law and stands out from the rest, your prospects are realistic.