Doctorate

A Ph.D. is a universally recognized degree that provides specialized training in a specific field of research and opens the door to international academic and industrial careers. The Ph.D. program is open to students who hold a master’s degree and to international students with an equivalent degree.

• This is the highest degree awarded by the University and requires in-depth research culminating in the writing of a dissertation and a defense before a committee.
• The doctoral program demands diligence, consistency, and a significant long-term commitment. The degree attests to the doctoral student’s very high level of expertise.
• Under the supervision of a thesis advisor, doctoral students participate in the scientific activities of the University’s research units.
• During the program, which lasts approximately 36 months depending on funding arrangements, doctoral students have the opportunity to work on their thesis topic by meeting with researchers, faculty members, entrepreneurs, and anyone else whose research interests align with theirs and who may help facilitate their future integration into the workforce—whether at a university, a private company, a local government agency, or a nonprofit organization.

The “Life and Health Sciences” Doctoral School is affiliated with 82 research teams based in host laboratories affiliated with public scientific and technological institutions. Students at the ECOSEAS laboratory, which is part of the LIFE Graduate School, are affiliated with the STIC Doctoral School.

   

Funding Your Life Sciences Thesis with a Doctoral Fellowship

Pursuing a thesis is a significant commitment, and EUR LIFE (Graduate School of Life Sciences) strives to support its doctoral students by offering various funding opportunities. One of the main avenues is to apply for the various doctoral fellowships available within our EUR. This fellowship provides doctoral students with a dual professional identity as both university employees and PhD students. Here at LIFE, all doctoral students receive a fellowship, ensuring consistent financial support to carry out their research.

How to find a doctoral fellowship?

Within EUR LIFE, doctoral students have the opportunity to apply for several types of fellowships, tailored to their aspirations and research projects. EUR LIFE and ED 85 issue a call for applications each year between April and June, offering funding in the form of a salary over a three-year period. Two calls for proposals are issued each year:

• Ministerial Scholarship (ED85): Offered by the Doctoral School, this scholarship is designed to support students in their thesis projects.
• LIFE Graduate School (EUR LIFE)/Academy 4 Scholarship: Focused on transdisciplinary projects, these scholarships are funded by IdEX and provides financial support for innovative research on interdisciplinary topics (in collaboration with two laboratories).

In addition to the calls for proposals from our graduate and doctoral schools, other funding sources are available:

• CIFRE Fellowship: As part of partnerships with companies, the CIFRE fellowship enables doctoral students to conduct research projects in collaboration with the private sector. Through this CIFRE program (Industrial Agreements for Training through Research), companies can receive financial assistance to recruit doctoral students whose research projects, conducted in collaboration with an external laboratory, will lead to the defense of a thesis.
• IdEx PSI Thesis Grants: PSI thesis fellowships are three-year doctoral grants, fully funded by the University of Côte d’Azur’s programs of excellence, enabling students to join high-level research teams in molecular and cellular biology (or in ion transport and cellular excitability for ION Channels) starting in October 2026