Ecole pratique des hautes études (EPHE) - EPHE Doctoral Contracts

EPHE Doctoral Contracts

You will be offered a paid employment contract for at least 2,300 EUR gross per month for a period of 3 years, so that you can focus fully on writing your doctoral thesis. The contract will be concluded between you and the École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), which is part of PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres) in Paris. For 2026, there are a total of 9 such contracts across all departments.

Who can apply

• Degree: You must hold a Master’s degree or an equivalent qualification. You may apply before completing your degree, but you must have obtained your degree by September; otherwise, your contract will be terminated.
• Study phase: You will begin your first year of doctoral studies at the EPHE in the academic year 2026–2027.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.
• Age: No age limit.
• Supervisor: You have a supervisor at the EPHE who will support you. Each supervisor is permitted to supervise only one PhD student.

How to apply

Please email your application as a single PDF file to the Doctoral School by midnight Paris time on 4 May 2026. Please include a dissertation proposal of no more than 4 pages, your CV and a letter of recommendation from your supervisor. If you are shortlisted, you will be invited in June to an oral interview before the Doctoral School Council. If you live outside mainland France, video interviews are possible.

How realistic are your chances?

Only 9 contracts are available, and these are awarded following a selection interview; it is therefore a selective process. The decisive factors are the quality of your academic record and your dissertation, as well as having a supervisor at the EPHE who is willing to champion your application. If you have a compelling, clearly defined project and a supervisor who supports it, your chances are good, but you will need to stand out significantly from the other applicants to be successful.