National Observatory of Student Life - National Competition

Prix de l'OVE (National Competition)

You will receive 3,000 EUR for research projects on student life that have already been completed. There are two separate prizes, each worth 3,000 EUR: one for the best Master’s thesis and one for the best doctoral thesis (a comprehensive research project written to obtain a doctoral degree). The Observatoire national de la vie étudiante (OVE) awards the prize once a year. The OVE is a public body established by the French Ministry of Education and has been organising this competition since 1990. It recognises work on the living and studying conditions of students in higher education.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are a Master’s student (M1 or M2) or a PhD student.
• Completed work: You have successfully defended a research dissertation or a doctoral thesis within the last three years.
• Topic: Your work focuses on students’ living and studying conditions, such as their housing situation, health, access to higher education, poverty or discrimination.
• Field of study: Any discipline is permitted, regardless of the approach chosen.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.

How to apply

Please complete the OVE application form and email it to the OVE. Please attach your final thesis, a short summary, your supervisor’s assessment or the examination board’s report, and the mark you achieved. The application deadline is 31 January. A panel of experts on student life will make its decision in March, and the prizes will be awarded in June at a public ceremony.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is very specific. You must have recently completed a research project specifically on students’ living conditions, which means that the pool of eligible projects is small compared to open scholarships. As only two awards are presented each year, competition within this group is fierce. However, if your work clearly fits the theme and you have achieved a very good mark, your chances are good.