Government of France-Government of Peru - Support for Jointly Supervised Doctoral Dissertations

Benefit

You will receive a full scholarship of about 830 EUR per month for 36 months (three years) to undertake a jointly supervised PhD in the life sciences. This monthly grant covers the costs of accommodation, meals and local transport. In addition to the funding, you will be granted exemption from enrolment fees at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), a return economy-class flight to France, French health and social security cover, a French language course, access to student accommodation, and free processing of your visa for your year abroad. Your studies are divided into three phases: the 1 year at UPCH in Lima, the 2 year as a research placement at a partner university in France, and the 3 year back at UPCH. You will be supervised by one supervisor in Peru and one in France (a ‘cotutelle’, i.e. your PhD will be supervised jointly by both countries), and you can obtain a dual PhD from both countries. The programme is run by the UPCH in collaboration with the French Embassy in Peru, the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) and CONCYTEC.

Eligibility

• Nationality: You are a Peruvian citizen.
• Degree: You hold a Master’s degree from a higher education institution recognised by SUNEDU in Peru. If your degree has not yet been awarded, proof that the process is underway will be accepted.
• Age: At the time the application deadline closes, you will be at 40.
• Field of study: Your field of research lies within the life sciences, for example biology, biodiversity, ecology, genetics, microbiology, immunology, physiology, climate research or environmental chemistry.
• Supervisors: At the time of your application, you must already have written confirmation from both a Peruvian and a French co-supervisor.

How to apply

You must apply online via the UPCH portal by 13 November. Your application documents must already include the signed letters of commitment from both supervisors, as well as your dissertation proposal. An IRD committee reviews the applications, and the University Council decides who will receive funding.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding scheme is very narrowly defined. Only Peruvian nationals under the age of 40 with a Master’s degree in the life sciences and two confirmed supervisors (one in Peru, one in France) are eligible to apply, and the programme has funded only a few dozen PhDs since 2012. This small, specialised pool of applicants works in your favour if you fit the profile. The real challenge lies in finding a French co-supervisor and developing a solid dissertation proposal at an early stage; you should therefore start making contact well before the application deadline.