French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER) - IFREMER Doctoral Scholarships

What IFREMER doctoral funding gives you

You will be offered a paid 3-year PhD contract with a salary of around 1,700 EUR per month to carry out marine research at IFREMER, the French Institute for Marine Science and Technology. The contract covers the full three years of your PhD and begins in October. In addition to your salary, you will become part of a network of around 145 PhD students. You will also have access to an in-house training programme recognised by doctoral schools, as well as regular events where you can present your research findings. Every year, IFREMER accepts around 50 new PhD students at 24 sites on the French mainland and along the coasts of its overseas territories.

Who can apply

• Degree: You hold a French Master’s degree 2 (a completed two-year Master’s programme) or an equivalent qualification, such as an engineering degree.
• Field of study: Your work falls within the field of marine research, including biology, environmental and earth sciences, chemistry, engineering and social sciences relating to the sea.
• Nationality: Open to all nationalities. If you are from a country outside the EU, you will need a visa to be employed.
• Where you go: Your place of work will be one of the IFREMER sites in France or in the French overseas territories.

How to apply

Select a topic for your PhD thesis from the IFREMER PhD opportunities portal. Submit your CV, cover letter, letter of recommendation and academic transcripts as two PDF files. The application deadline is 29 November. Please contact the person responsible for your chosen topic as early as possible, before the deadline expires.

How realistic are your chances?

With around 50 new places available each year, open to applicants of all nationalities, the programme attracts applicants from all over the world, meaning competition is fierce. Your chances depend more on whether you are a good fit for a particular PhD topic and its supervisor than on your general profile. Getting in touch with the supervisor at an early stage, well before the application deadline, is the surest way to strengthen a well-tailored application.