PhD: career development and further opportunities
Today, a PhD is recognised as preparing students for demanding careers involving the resolution of complex issues in structures where innovation is essential. Some doctoral graduates go on to start their own businesses. A PhD also allows graduates to pursue careers in higher education and/or research laboratories.
Good to know: During their doctoral training, doctoral students must complete a minimum of 100 hours of training spread over the three years of their thesis (training related to their research project within their doctoral school + professional training offered at the doctoral college level).
Career development during the doctorate
Expertise within private or public organisations
Professional training courses are integrated into the PhD programme, including:
Cross-disciplinary perspectives (real-life problem-solving scenarios), Team Management (seminar in English on team management and leadership), Responsible Management, Project Management, MOOC Career development, etc.
Contact: formations@doctorat-paysdelaloire.fr
During their PhD, doctoral students may also take on consulting or expert assignments for companies or public institutions through the doctoral student-expert programme.
Entrepreneurship, business creation or takeover
The Entrepreneurship Mission at Nantes Université offers several initiatives to raise awareness, initiate and support doctoral entrepreneurship.
Doctoral students can choose from the following three programmes:
- Doctinnov - introduction to and awareness of entrepreneurship. Testimonials, meetings and experience sharing.
- Deeptech Tour - meetings with Deeptech entrepreneurs.
- Symbiose - creation of projects with a positive impact on the environment and society.
Contact: entreprendre@univ-nantes.fr
Teaching, scientific outreach and promotion
The doctoral contract may include tasks that complement the research activity. In this context, the doctoral student may, in particular, carry out:
- teaching activities,
- tasks related to the dissemination of scientific and technical information, or the promotion of research.
These tasks contribute to the professionalisation of doctoral training.
Contact: formations@doctorat-paysdelaloire.fr
A study on the career paths of doctoral graduates
The latest study conducted by the Pays de la Loire doctoral college provides an overview of the situation of doctoral graduates in December 2021, based on the 2018 cohort (response rate to the survey = 67%).
92% of PhD graduates are in employment
In 2021, 92% of PhD graduates from 2018 are in employment; this rate has been steadily increasing over the last four years (the 2015 cohort had an employment rate of 89%).
82% are satisfied with their professional situation
Among the respondents to the 2021 survey, 95% had defined a career plan when they defended their thesis. Among these PhD graduates, 63% have a job that matches their career plan. Nevertheless, when asked about their level of satisfaction with their professional situation, nearly 82% of 2018 graduates said they were satisfied.
Sectors
The most represented sectors are the following:
- higher education and research
- R&D
- human health and social work
- manufacturing
- information and data processing