To do a PhD
Financing Doctoral Studies
Every doctoral student should attest that his/her personal income is at least equal to 1400 euro/month for the 3 years (at date 2010). Financial supports may come from:
- the host department,
- a salary from a company,
- a personal scholarship.
Telecom ParisTech departments target their financial supports to doctoral students based on program, merit, and availability of funds. When personal scholarship do not reach the demanded level, additional funding may be obtained from the department on similar criteria. Students are expected to study full‐time to facilitate timely completion of their degree programs. Financing graduate study through concurrent employment is extremely difficult. They are not allowed by the program, but for exceptional situations. Tuition fees for the doctoral program are 350 euro/year. They are due by all the students. Accommodation is only provided by Telecom ParisTech, for few cases handled by a priority list based on eligibility conditions (age, date of arrival in France, nationality, income, exchange programs …).
What is a doctoral thesis at Telecom ParisTech ?
A doctoral thesis is a personal Research experience over a 3 year full‐time period intended to push back the frontiers of knowledge in a given scientific domain. A doctoral thesis is made under the supervision of a Professor (the “Directeur de thèse”) in a research Lab (either one of the Telecom ParisTech labs or one of our partners). A doctoral student at Telecom ParisTech is a member of the doctoral school “ED 130: EDITE de Paris” and his/her curriculum is compliant with the academic requirements of EDITE de Paris (doctoral courses, mid‐term exam, and final defense).
Who may apply and when ?
Any student with a Master of Science diploma or with equivalent education may apply. When coming from the French educative system, the M2 level is the reference, but candidates with Engineering degree may also apply. A good appropriateness of the previous courses with the foreseen thesis subject is mandatory. Previous experience with Research is highly appreciated, as testified by publications or reports. Reference letters or contacts are welcome. A good knowledge of French language is definitively a major asset guaranteeing not only a high efficiency from the scientific environment, but also the most fruitful cultural benefit from the life in Paris. Students without practice of French should master fluently the English language and prepare themselves to intensive lectures and practice of French.
Positions for PhD candidates are open all along the year, but preferably from May to October. The starting date is depending on the administrative clearance.
How to apply ?
Applications are made by direct contacts with the professors. For students who cannot meet the professors, the most efficient contacts are made by e‐mail after having visited the department web site where open positions are posted. Note that only a small number of available positions are posted and candidates may benefit from taking the initiative of proposing their profile.
Determining the Research subject
The thesis subject is approved by the Directeur de thèse. Depending on the origin of the funding, this subject may have been jointly decided with the candidate or not.
Joint PhD
When strong scientific links exist between Telecom ParisTech and another University in a Foreign country, it is possible to build joint PhD programs based on symmetry principles.
