Studying for a PhD at Nantes Université

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Students enrolled at Nantes Université to prepare a doctorate are also affiliated, according to their disciplinary field, with one of the 10 regional doctoral schools which oversee all stages of the thesis (doctoral registration, training, organisation of the defence, etc.). Doctoral Schools have a coordinating role, ensuring the scientific consistency of the candidate's research project. It is responsible for training and preparing PhD students for their occupational integration.
 
The doctoral programme is based on 10 thematic doctoral schools which train more than 1,000 PhD students per year in the fields of physical, natural, human, social and life sciences.
 
Doctoral studies require a minimum of 3 years of studies, after which the PhD student is awarded the highest degree offered within the French higher education system. You will find below the contacts and useful information by field.

Doctoral studies in this field at Nantes Université are organised by the Graduate School of Research "Health Sciences and Technologies". Students are affiliated with the regional Doctoral School "Biology-Health" (BS, ED605).

  • Director of the STS EUR at Nantes Université and of the regional ED: Xavier PRIEUR
  • Associated laboratories: CRCI2NA, CR2TI, IICiMed, INCIT, Institut du thorax, PHAN, RMeS, SPHERE, TaRGeT, TENS, US2B. Partners: IFREMER, INRAE-BIA, INSERM
  • Contact: gs.health.sciences@univ-nantes.fr
  • More information
  • For administrative questions (registration, defence, validation of training, etc.), contact: Céline BRELET
    ed-bs.nantes@doctorat-paysdelaloire.fr, telephone: 02 72 64 88 42

Doctoral studies in this field are organised by the Graduate School of Research "Engineering and Systems Sciences (SIS)" at Nantes Université. Students are affiliated with the regional Doctoral School of the same name (SIS, ED602). The regional ED and the EUR are managed by Centrale Nantes on behalf of Nantes Université.

Doctoral studies in this field at Nantes Université are organised by the Graduate School of Research "Mathematics and STIC". Students are affiliated with the regional Doctoral School of the same name (Mastic, ED641).

  • Director of the Mastic EUR at Nantes Université: Benoit DELAHAYE / Director of the regional ED: Yannick AOUSTIN
  • Associated laboratories: IETR, IREENA, LMJL, LS2N
  • Contact: (recruitment in progress / if needed, contact the directors)
  • More information
  • For administrative questions (registration, defence, validation of training, etc.), contact: Sylvie GUILBAUD
    ed-mastic.nantes@doctorat-paysdelaloire.fr, telephone: 02 72 64 88 47

Doctoral studies in this field are organised by the Graduate School of Research "Matter, Molecules, Materials and Geosciences (3MG)" at Nantes Université. Students are affiliated with the regional Doctoral School of the same name (3MG, ED596).

Doctoral studies in this field at Nantes Université are organised by the regional Doctoral School "Arts, Literature, Languages" (ALL, ED 643).

Doctoral studies in this field at Nantes Université are organised by the regional Doctoral School "Law and Political Science" (DSP, ED 639).

Doctoral studies in this field at Nantes Université are organised by the regional Doctoral School "Education, Cognition, Languages, Interactions, Health" (ECLIS, ED603).

Doctoral studies in this field at Nantes Université are organised by the regional Doctoral School "Economics and Management" (EDGE, ED640).

Doctoral studies in this field at Nantes Université are organised by the regional Doctoral School "Societies, Time, Territories" (STT, ED 604).

Doctoral studies in this field at Nantes Université are organised by the regional Doctoral School "Vegetal, Animal, Food, Sea, Environment" (VAAME, ED 642).

Doctoral School, Graduate School of Research: What's the difference?

Doctoral schools (ED) are regional and have the mission of organising the administration and coordination of doctoral studies in their field across all establishments in the Pays de la Loire region. Graduate schools of research (EUR) are specific to Nantes Université and offer our students additional opportunities and activities complementary to those provided by their regional ED of affiliation.

Who does what?

During your doctoral studies, you will be in contact with:

  • The development officer (only in EURs) who works with the director of the EUR to coordinate and develop activities for doctoral students in Nantes. You can contact them for the EUR's scientific events, international mobility opportunities, professional meetings, etc.
  • The site manager who handles administrative procedures related to the doctorate for all Nantes establishments in their ED (Nantes Université, but also, depending on the ED, Centrale Nantes, ONIRIS, IMTA, Université Gustave Eiffel). You can contact them for your registration, re-registrations, and the preparation of your defence. They also manage applications for HDR registration.
  • The management administrator who manages the life of the doctoral school for the entire Pays de la Loire region. You can contact them for ED training, events, mobility assistance, etc. They also handle recruitment and admission procedures, communication, doctoral school councils, etc.

More information

International PhD students

All international PhD students must register with AMETHIS

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Updated on 11 June 2025.