AFFDU (French Association of University Women) - AFFDU Grants (Archaelogy, History-Literature, Physics-Chemistry)

What the AFFDU field grants give you

You will receive a one-off payment of 1,000 to 1,500 EUR to fund a research or study placement abroad. The payment will be made as a lump sum, not on a monthly basis, and is intended to supplement a budget you have already put together from other sources. The funding comes from the Association Française des Femmes Diplômées des Universités (AFFDU), a charitable organisation founded in 1920 that supports women in higher education. Each scholarship is linked to a specific subject area: archaeology, history and literature, or physics and chemistry. You must specify which subject area you are applying for, and your research topic must be relevant to that area.

Who can apply

• Women only: These grants are aimed at female students and researchers.
• Study phase: You are about to complete your PhD or are currently working as a postdoctoral researcher (conducting research after completing your PhD). Second-year PhD students may also apply, but will not be given priority.
• Field of study: Your field of research lies within the areas of archaeology, history and literature, or physics and chemistry, and thus corresponds to the scholarship title you have chosen.
• Going abroad: The scholarship is intended to fund a research stay abroad. You may be a French national going abroad, or you may be from another country coming to France to carry out research.
• Nationality: Open to all nationalities.
• Age: You are under 40.
• Membership: You must be a member of the AFFDU. If you are from abroad, membership of the GWI’s partner organisation in your country is also valid.
• Career stage: Preference will be given to applicants who do not yet have a permanent position.
• No double award: If you have already received an AFFDU grant, you cannot apply for it again. You can combine this grant with other funding.

How to apply

Please send your application documents by post to the AFFDU Funding Committee in Paris. The deadline for applications is 31 May each year, and you will receive a response by the end of June.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding is very narrowly defined. You must be a woman who is currently completing her PhD or is at the postdoctoral stage, is based at 40, works in a specific field, is planning a period of study abroad, and is already a member of AFFDU. This keeps the pool of applicants small. If you clearly meet these criteria and have a well-documented research plan and a budget, your chances are good. Bear in mind that the grant merely supplements a larger budget; you will therefore also need other sources of funding.