IHEDN-Institut des Hautes Études de Défense Nationale - IHEDN Scientific Awards

IHEDN Scientific Awards

You will receive a one-off cash prize for an outstanding undergraduate or Master’s thesis on the topics of defence, security, international relations or foreign policy. The main prize, awarded for the doctoral thesis, is worth 3,500 EUR. There is also a prize for a Master’s thesis worth 1,500 EUR (which may be split so that two winners each receive 1,500 EUR) and a special prize worth 1,000 EUR. The Institut des hautes études de défense nationale (IHEDN) in Paris, France’s national institute for defence studies, awards these prizes every year and has been doing so since 1998. This is a prize for completed theses, not a monthly scholarship.

Who can apply

• Level: You are a PhD student who has defended your thesis during the current academic year, or a student on a research Master’s programme (Master 2 recherche) who has defended your dissertation this year.
• Topic: Your work relates to the fields of defence, security, international relations, foreign policy or the defence industry.
• Field of study: Any subject within the social sciences or humanities, for example political science, economics, law, history, geography, sociology, anthropology or philosophy.
• Where you study: You are enrolled at a public French university or higher education institution, regardless of the region.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.

How to apply

Please submit your application by post or via the method specified in the annual call for applications. A jury of academics and experts, appointed by the Director of IHEDN, reviews the submitted entries and selects the winners. The winners are honoured at an official ceremony. The deadlines are approximately mid-November and early January; please therefore check the current call for entries before applying.

How realistic are your chances?

The field is narrow: entrants must have completed a thesis or dissertation on the subject of defence and security at a French institution, meaning that only a small number of people meet the criteria. However, as only a handful of prizes are awarded each year, competition amongst eligible candidates is fierce. A well-structured, defence-focused research paper that is clearly submitted to the correct award category stands a genuine chance of success.