Studying in France

Paris School of Neuroscience (ENP) PhD Program - 7th call for applications

The Paris School of Neuroscience (ENP) is a network of outstanding neuroscience laboratories in the Paris area, within major universities and research institutes. The ENP aims to facilitate graduate training of selected students. It covers all areas of neuroscience and associated methodologies, from basic to clinical and from molecular to cognitive sciences.
• Pre-PhD and PhD programs are open to highly talented and motivated students who received their undergraduate training outside of France, irrespective of their original disciplines.
• Pre-PhD: up to a year of rotations in participating laboratories. It can include a Master’s degree
• PhD: a three year program with possible one-year extension.
• Courses in neuroscience and related topics - International conferences and seminars - French and/or English language courses - Individual supervision by a tutor and a thesis committee - Annual retreat with faculty members and guest scientists.
• Assistance for settling in Paris (visa, housing, social security, medical and/or other insurance) - Stipends from the ENP and other sources (pre-PhD 1200 €/month, PhD 1800 €/month) - Scholarships for attendance to international meetings - Support for periods of training in other laboratories.

Online applications
Deadline for applications: September 30, 2010
Contact: enp@paris-neuroscience.com Tem: + 33 1 43 31 13 15

The European Institutes for Advanced Study (EURIAS) Fellowship Programme

The European Institutes for Advanced Study (EURIAS) Fellowship Programme is an international researcher mobility programme offering 33 fellowships for the 2011/2012 academic year. It proposes 10-month residencies in one of the 14 participating Institutes: Berlin, Bologna, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Cambridge, Helsinki, Jerusalem, Lyons, Nantes, Paris, Uppsala, Vienna, Wassenaar. The Programme builds on the strong reputation of the Institutes for Advanced Study for promoting the concentrated, self-directed work of excellent researchers within the stimulating environment of a multidisciplinary and international group of fellows.

EURIAS Fellowships are mainly offered in the fields of the humanities and social sciences but may also be granted to scholars in natural and exact sciences, if their proposed research project does not require laboratory facilities. The diversity of the 14 participating IAS —which have agreed on a common selection procedure— offers a wide range of possible research contexts in Europe for worldwide scholars. Applicants select up to three IAS outside their country of nationality or residence as possible host institutions.

The Programme welcomes applications worldwide from promising scholars at an early stage of their careers as well as from established senior researchers.

Visit their website for further information concerning their 2010/11 call for applications.

Nanosciences Foundation Chairs of Excellence 2011

The Nanosciences Foundation is fostering research in Grenoble (France) focused on "Nanosciences at the frontiers of nanoelectronics" and supports a network of 32 laboratories gathering about 1000 scientists across the various research institutions based in Grenoble. The Foundation’s main goals are to foster a world-class Nanosciences Research in the network’s laboratories by encouraging collaborative and multidisciplinary projects.

The program Chairs of Excellence has been created to attract talented researchers to Grenoble to develop a research project in emerging fields of nanosciences in one of the network’s laboratories. The Chairs of Excellence are open to both junior and senior scientists, available for full time or part time position in Grenoble; the contract duration can vary from 9 months (which might be split over three years) to 3 years. The award package includes an internationally competitive salary, social security, travel expenses and research support for hiring a PhD student and a post-doc and additional fund for operating costs to reinforce the successful candidate’s research activities. The hosting period may start from January 2011. (read…)

Muséum National d’histoire naturelle Master’s Programme

Organized into six specializations, the “Evolution, Natural Heritage and Societies” Master’s programme offers multidisciplinary training combining the natural and human sciences, and drawing on collections and expertise of unique value. (read…)

Visit their website for further information.

Master of Science in Nuclear Energy

The revival of Nuclear Energy at the international level has led several academic institutions located in Paris and the nuclear industry to combine their efforts and create a unique Master of Science in Nuclear Energy.

The Master of Science in Nuclear Energy responds to the demand for strong industrial growth by training industrial professionals and highly specialized researchers and faculty members in the discipline. The projection on the job market is of around 1,000 positions per year in the next ten years. (read…)

Apply online

Sciences Po International Admissions

Sciences Po is a leading European university in social sciences which offers 23 Master’s degrees as well as 5 Ph.D. programmes, including a School of Journalism, a School of Communication, a School of Law, a Master of International Affairs and a Master in European Affairs. Sciences Po’s College offers undergraduate programmes with specialised courses in different geographical areas, located in 6 campus through France. Sciences Po also offers several dual degree programmes with prestigious international universities.

International admissions for Sciences Po are now open. For further information and for online applications please visit the admissions website

Sciences Po Toulouse Certificate in Political Studies with specialisation in Analysis of the Contemporary World

A pluridisciplinary long-distance training programme, offered by researchers and professors of the Institute of Political Science in Toulouse, France.

Objectives :

 To provide practising professionals the opportunity to undertake training in political sciences in order to equip them with the necessary skills to enable them to interpret current events, to enrich their personal and professional knowledge and to develop their professional competencies through the mastery of key concepts that they encounter in the exercise of their profession.
 A supplementary training programme for professionals from other disciplines. (read…)

International “HERMES” Fellowship Programme 2010/11 call for applications

The HERMES Programme aims at enabling young post-doctoral research scholars in humanities and social sciences from the above-mentioned countries to visit France for the purpose of conducting research there. (read…)

CIRAD 2010 Programme in Capacity Building for Livestock Management

The Teaching and Training Service Unit for Animal Production and Veterinary Medicine of the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) have announced their 2010 programme in “Capacity Building for Livestock Management”. (read…)

CampusFrance

CampusFrance is an agency that offers support and comprehensive information to international students who would like to study in France.

Are you looking for financial aid to support a period of study or research in France? Our grant search engine provides quick access to information about grants that match your profile. From the bachelor to the postdoctoral level, the directory provides concise information on aid available from local, regional, and national government sources in France, multilateral bodies, corporations, foundations, and institutions of higher education.

Learning French

The Alliance Française provides French language training at centres in South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho - teaching French from beginners to business level to over 5,000 students a year, by more than 100 teachers.

For more information visit the website of the Alliance Française in South Africa, please visit http://www.alliance.org.za/

Contact details of the various Alliance Française branches across Southern Africa.

Visa Applications

Prospective students will need to apply for a long-stay student’s visa at the Consulat of France, either in Cape Town or Johannesburg.

Applicants may be required to undergo medical tests before their departure for France. All applicants are required to take out medical insurance to cover the entire length of their stay in France.

Temporary passports are no longer accepted for the delivery of a Schengen visa. The applicant’s passport should be valid for no shorter than 3 months after the date of their return from France.

Please see the Student Visa Requirements form for further information.

Download the Student Visa Application Form

Download the photo guide for the required photo format.

Overview of the French educational system

The website of the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs offers an introduction to the French educational system. It presents administrative and practical information about how to study in France.

Useful Documents

Finding Accommodation in Paris