Paid PhD in France: Contrat Doctoral Salary & How to Apply
Do a paid PhD in France with a 3 year doctoral contract (contrat doctoral). Minimum salary €2,300 gross per month, eligibility, CIFRE and how to find funded positions.
Graduates Corner Team
Editorial standardsPaid PhD in France: quick answer
Yes, you can do a PhD in France with a monthly salary. The most common way is the doctoral contract (contrat doctoral), a three year employment contract between a PhD student and a university or research institution.
Salary: at least €2,300 gross per month since 1 January 2026 (for research activity only)
Duration: 3 years, which can be extended in specific cases
Status: you are an employee, not a scholarship holder, so you get social security and other employee rights
Requirement: usually a Master's degree or equivalent
Who can apply: French and international candidates, including students from Pakistan, India, Africa and beyond, if they meet the requirements
Where to search: the Campus France doctorate portal (doctorat.campusfrance.org) and the job pages of French universities and doctoral schools
⚠️ Important: not every PhD admission in France comes with funding. Before you apply, always check whether the position is funded.
What is a doctoral contract (contrat doctoral)?
A contrat doctoral is a fixed term work contract made specifically for PhD students in France. Under this contract, you work at the university or research institution as a researcher in training, and you receive a salary every month.
This is different from a normal scholarship:
A scholarship is a grant. It may not include social security or employee rights.
A doctoral contract is a real job contract. You pay social contributions and receive the benefits of an employee, such as health insurance cover through social security and paid leave.
The doctoral contract can be signed with:
Public employers, such as universities and public research organisations (public law contract)
Private employers, such as companies and foundations (private law contract, introduced by France's Research Programming Law of December 2020)
How much does a PhD student earn in France?
The French government has increased the minimum salary for doctoral contracts step by step:
€1,866 gross per month for contracts signed from 1 September 2021
€1,975 gross per month for contracts signed from 1 September 2022
€2,100 gross per month from 1 January 2024
€2,300 gross per month from 1 January 2026 (current minimum)
This minimum is for research activity only. If you take on additional missions, such as teaching, research valorisation or scientific outreach, you receive extra pay.
Net salary: after social contributions, take home pay is lower than the gross amount, roughly around €1,800 per month before income tax. The exact amount depends on your employer and situation.
💡 Many institutions pay more than the minimum. Always check the salary written in the job offer.
How long is a doctoral contract?
The initial duration is 3 years.
It can be extended by amendment, up to two times, for one year each, in specific situations allowed by the rules.
Most PhD students in France aim to finish their thesis within the three years of funding.
Who can apply for a funded PhD in France?
Typical requirements:
A Master's degree (or an equivalent qualification) in a relevant field
A research project or position that matches your background
Acceptance by a supervisor (directeur de thèse) and a doctoral school (école doctorale)
Language skills required by the position. Many science and engineering PhDs in France are in English, while some fields require French
International students are welcome. Candidates from Pakistan and other countries can apply if they meet the academic and administrative requirements.
Other ways to get a paid PhD in France
The doctoral contract is the most common option, but there are others:
CIFRE (industrial PhD): you are employed by a company while completing your doctorate with a French research laboratory. For 2026, ANRT states a minimum gross salary of €27,600 per year under a three-year fixed-term contract or a permanent contract. Check the current eligibility rules before applying.
European Industrial Doctorates (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions): you spend 50% of your time with a private partner.
Research organisations: large public research bodies, such as CNRS, fund PhD projects in their labs.
Regions, foundations and associations: French regions and private foundations also fund PhD contracts.
How to find a PhD position in France (step by step)
Step 1: Choose your research field. Decide your discipline and the topics you want to work on, such as computer science, physics, chemistry, biology or social sciences.
Step 2: Search for PhD offers. Start with the Campus France doctorate portal (doctorat.campusfrance.org). It lists French doctoral schools by discipline and region, with sections for PhD offers, Master's internships and postdoc positions. You can also check:
University and doctoral school websites
Research lab websites
Step 3: Check the funding. Read the offer carefully. Look for words like "contrat doctoral", "financement" (funding) or "funded position". If funding is not mentioned, ask the supervisor before applying.
Step 4: Contact the supervisor. In many cases, you need to contact a potential supervisor first. Send a short, personal email with your CV, your Master's results and why you are interested in their research.
Step 5: Apply to the doctoral school. Submit your application with your CV, transcripts, motivation letter, research interests and reference letters. Some doctoral schools hold a selection interview or competition for doctoral contracts.
Step 6: Sign your contract and prepare your visa. If selected, you sign your doctoral contract and start the visa process for France.
Tips to get a funded PhD in France
Apply early. Many funded positions for autumn are advertised in spring.
Target funded offers. Focus on positions that clearly state a doctoral contract or salary.
Write to supervisors professionally. Mention a specific paper or project of theirs.
Prepare your documents in advance, including translated transcripts if needed.
Check the language requirements of the position and the lab.
Key takeaways
A doctoral contract gives you a salaried PhD in France for 3 years.
The minimum salary is €2,300 gross per month from January 2026, plus extra pay for teaching or other missions.
You get employee rights, including social security.
International students, including Pakistani candidates, can apply.
Not every PhD in France is funded, so always confirm before you apply.
Official source and application check
Always confirm salary rules and contract conditions on the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research website (enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr) and in the official job offer. Search for doctoral schools and offers on the Campus France doctorate portal. This guide was checked on 15 October 2026.
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📚 Next in this series: CNRS, France's largest research organisation, and how to find PhD and research positions there.
Frequently asked questions
Do PhD students get paid in France?
Yes, if the PhD is funded. With a doctoral contract, PhD students receive a monthly salary of at least €2,300 gross (from January 2026).
What is a contrat doctoral?
A contrat doctoral is a three year employment contract for PhD students in France. You work as a researcher and receive a salary with employee rights, including social security.
Can international students get a doctoral contract in France?
Yes. International students, including candidates from Pakistan, can apply if they meet the academic and administrative requirements.
Do I need to speak French to do a PhD in France?
Not always. Many PhD positions in science and engineering use English. Some fields and labs require French, so check each offer.
Is every PhD in France funded?
No. Admission to a PhD does not automatically include funding. Check whether the position offers a doctoral contract or other funding before you apply.
What is the difference between a doctoral contract and CIFRE?
A doctoral contract is usually signed with a university or research institution. CIFRE is an industrial PhD where a company employs you, with a minimum gross salary of €23,484 per year.
Where can I find PhD positions in France?
Use the Campus France doctorate portal (doctorat.campusfrance.org), university and doctoral school websites, and the PhD positions page on Graduates Corner.
