THE DOCTORAL PROGRAM
The doctorate program is a professional research experience. Upon completing a thesis defense, the candidate is awarded a doctoral title. The doctoral candidate, mentored by a doctoral supervisor, assures that the project runs smoothly; he or she will work on a research team, public or private, to produce and enhance new knowledge and tools.
During a doctoral program, innovative research must be carried out in a limited time frame (3 years, full-time). The program concludes with a dissertation and defense, a synthetic summary of the research work conducted, and approved by the scientific community.
Access the presentation page of the Doctoral School 227 Muséum and Sorbonne Université (SU)
The Doctoral Charter of the Museum and the ED227
Doctoral Charter
The Doctorate Decree
Arrêté du doctorat
The ANDès and CJC doctoral guide
Guide du doctorat fr
Guide to a Doctorate in France en
Muséum’s IT charter
IT Charter
ADMISSION QUALIFICATIONS
To complete a doctoral research project at the doctoral school of Natural and Human Sciences: Evolution and Ecology, you must meet the following conditions:
1. Hold a master’s degree or another diploma conferring the level of master;
2. Be supervised by a (non-emeritus) doctoral supervisor authorized to supervise research within a research unit affiliated with the ED227;
3. Have a doctoral funding plan including a minimum remuneration (set by the decree of 11 October 2021) for a single research activity of 3 years, of 2200 euros gross per month in 2025, certain exceptions apply.
ADMISSION PROCEDURE
The online application must be submitted after approval from your future HDR doctoral supervisor.
> He or she will have to submit an online opinion about your application before it is examined by the doctoral school directors.
THREE ADMISSION PROCEDURES
Spontaneous Application
You must meet the qualifications for admission to the ED227 (see above) to submit a spontaneous application.
Admissions are open from June 10, 2025 to March 13, 2026, for the 2025-2026 academic year.
The doctoral school will examine applications within one month of receiving the opinion of your future doctoral supervisor.
ADMISSION PLATFORM/SPONTANEOUS APPLICATION
DOCUMENTS TO JOIN
Contact : doctorat[a]mnhn.fr
Application for Projects Submitted to the ED227 Concours Selection Process:
How to create an account on the ADUM application platform :
In order to apply to the doctorate school, you must create an account on ADUM.
→ Go directly to the account creation page or log in to the application portal
→ follow the link "access to My ADUM account”
You will be able to submit several applications (several doctoral schools, several subjects) with the same account.
If you are selected, your account will continue to be used throughout the preparation of the doctorate, until the defense and even beyond.
Application for Projects Submitted Outside the Concours Selection Process
You can find all the projects submitted within the ED227 at this address. You can filter the projects by type of funding.
For projects not included in the Concours Selection Process, you must meet the eligibility requirements for ED227 (see above) in order to submit an application. Click on the subject that interests you and then on the "Apply" button.
Once your ADUM profile is created, fill in the required information and upload the supporting documents (see list below).
The PDF containing the supplementary documents must be uploaded by the candidate in the order below on the ADUM application platform.
- Application form (including the cover letter, minimum 2500 characters, including spaces);
- CV;
- Master’s degree (BAC+5) diploma or proof of completion or final transcript for the current year, if applicable;
- Bachelor's degree (BAC+4) transcript (Master 1 or equivalent);
- Master's degree (BAC+5) transcript (Master 2 or equivalent) with ranking for the first semester and the full year*;
- Recommendation letter from your internship supervisor (preferably from a Master 2 internship or equivalent, or Master 1 internship, if applicable). The letter should include supervisor’s evaluation of your application and ability to complete a PhD, along with the date, signature, and email of the supervisor;
- For candidates with disabilities: a copy of the disability decision (RQTH) or a copy of the application receipt from the regional authority (MDPH) regarding the application.
Doctoral Funding
It is the responsibility of your doctoral supervisor and your host laboratory to take the necessary steps with your future employer to arrange the doctoral funding and the transfer agreement (convention de renversement) if needed.
Supervisors at the Muséum can request support from the Project Engineering Cell (CIP) for funding setup: link to the MNHN intranet.
The Doctoral School 227 organizes an annual recruitment selection process funded by the state (MESRI): ED227 program via concours.
Sorbonne University alliance opens doctoral programs every year (Institutes and Initiatives, IPV, CSC, ...): Sorbonne University Doctoral Programs.
Specific "disability" doctoral contracts are also managed through a recruitment process by the doctoral school: MESRI "disability" doctoral program.
Types of Funding
There are many funding organizations for a doctoral project:
> State funding from MESRI: funding for institutions and universities, "disability" programs, and specific funding for students from École Normale Supérieure and École Polytechnique.
> Other state funding: Campus France, Eiffel Scholarship, embassies, and other ministries.
> Local authorities, including regional funding.
> Private companies through CIFRE (Industrial Agreements for Training through Research).
> French research funding agencies: ANR (National Research Agency), Idex, Labex.
> Private organizations based in France (associations, foundations, patronage): non-CIFRE research partnerships.
> The European Commission.
> Foreign funding (governments from Europe and outside Europe, ...).
> International organizations.
Types OF contratS
> CIFRE agreement: To set up a CIFRE agreement, you must contact the Direction de la Valorisation
> Private law doctoral contract: see the decree
> Scholarships from French or foreign governments
> Research training contract
Minimum amount
The minimum amount for doctoral funding is based on:
> le code de la recherche, notamment son article L. 412-2 ;
> le décret n° 2009-464 du 23 avril 2009 relatif aux doctorants contractuels des établissements publics d'enseignement supérieur ou de recherche ;
> l'arrêté du 29 août 2016 fixant le montant de la rémunération du doctorant contractuel ;
> l'arrêté du 11 octobre 2021 modifiant l'arrêté du 29 août 2016 fixant le montant de la rémunération du doctorant contractuel.
To register for ED227, you must have a doctoral funding plan that includes a minimum salary for 3 years of research activity, as follows:
€2,200 gross for contracts signed after January 1, 2025.
Exceptions may be granted, particularly in the case of international joint-supervision (cotutelles). You should contact the doctoral school for this.
Difference between funder and employer
> The funder is the entity that provides the funding. Examples include: the state through universities, local authorities, French research funding agencies, European agencies, as well as associations, foundations, companies, etc.
> The employer is the institution that signs the employment contract with the doctoral candidate. Examples include: universities, research organizations, companies, etc.
> The employer may be different from the funder.
> This information will need to be provided with your admission application and first administrative registration with supporting documents (employment contract, attestation, reverse payment agreement, etc.).
Joint Financing and Agreement Setup
This section concerns the setup of doctoral projects with multiple funders.
> In the case of a doctoral project funded by multiple funders, it may be required that the funds be transferred to a single employer.
> This is a complex process that requires setting up an agreement to transfer the funds to the employer.
> The project leader (supervisor) is responsible, with the help of their unit, for setting up the agreement and determining the modalities and schedule for transferring the funds to the future employment organization of the doctoral candidate.
> At the Muséum, the agreement setup involves multiple parties: the project leader / HR or Financial Affairs Officer (RAF) /members of the research team/ Financial Director of the Departments (CadFI) / Financial Department (DAF) / Legal Department and finally, the Human Resources Department.
> Once the project is accepted, the agreement must be prepared with the RAF, CadFI, and the CIP.
> The employment contract can only begin once the agreement is signed by all parties, and the funds are made available by the DAF.
> The DIREF / ED227 does not manage the agreement setup but can redirect you to the relevant services.
> The Project Engineering Cell (CIP) is a point of contact that can assist you with the project and financing setup.
Once Admitted, Register!
Which institution for administrative registration?
The ED227 is jointly accredited by the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN) and Sorbonne Université (SU).
You have the option to register either at MNHN or SU.
This registration depends on your HDR doctoral supervisor. For example: if your HDR supervisor is a professor at SU, you must register at SU.
If your supervisor is not employed by either MNHN or SU, the registration will be done according to the laboratory’s affiliation and ED227. For example: if your doctoral supervisor is a researcher at CNRS in a laboratory under MNHN’s supervision, you must register at MNHN.
Access registration at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle
