Doctoral programme: becoming a doctoral student

The PhD is a three-year programme, following a course of study that establishes the student's aptitude for research. The PhD is the highest level of higher education and corresponds to eight years of study after secondary school.

Multidisciplinary and focused on interdisciplinarity, Nantes Université is committed to excellence in research, with a desire to support the emergence of new projects and explore ever more new fields of research in order to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

To this end, Nantes Université now has 42 research laboratories covering all scientific fields and can draw on the expertise of nearly 2,600 dedicated staff members. Find out everything you need to know to enrol in a doctoral programme at Nantes Université and settle in Nantes.

Doctorat venir

Funding your PhD

Defending your thesis

A personnalised welcome

The organisation Chercheurs Etrangers à Nantes (Foreign Researchers in Nantes) is dedicated to helping you settle in. It can assist you with all administrative procedures, visa applications, work permits and social security, as well as advising you on accommodation, French language courses and much more. This assistance is free for researchers settling in Nantes.
Visit their website and contact them for personalised answers.

Contacts

Deputy Vice-President for Doctoral Affairs, Co-Director of the Pays de la Loire Doctoral College: Corinne MIRAL

Head of Doctoral Studies: Delphine LANDRON - Tel: +33 (0)2 72 64 11 53

Your doctoral school's site manager: all contacts

Updated on 25 July 2025.