Sorbonne University, an attractive environment for PhDs
Pursuing a doctorate at Sorbonne University means being educated in and through research in one of the best universities in the world, and being mentored by renowned researchers to become a scientific expert but also rich in generalist skills. It also means forging a strategic vision of the world that will enable you to position yourself as a key player in society.
3 faculties, 115 research units, numerous technical platforms
Languages, history, arts, humanities and social sciences, science and engineering and medicine, Sorbonne University is known and recognised for the excellence of its academic research in all these disciplinary fields. Sorbonne University's priority is to respond to today's challenges and prepare for the future.
An inter-disciplinary approach for understanding, learning and engaging
Our many interdisciplinary projects contribute to meeting the greatest challenges facing society, such as global warming, the aging population, the digital revolution and the place of democracy, health and education. Sorbonne University offers doctoral programs that mobilise science and technology, human and social sciences and medicine at the intersection and very heart of disciplines.
A university open to the world
Sorbonne University is equipped with the resources worth of a world-class university, notably through strategic partnerships with other universities around the world (notably with the 4EU+ Alliance).
The quality of doctoral research and the smooth running of research are essential aspects of the doctoral policy set up by Sorbonne University. Thus, Sorbonne University is very attentive to the quality of supervision and monitoring of doctoral candidates. It ensures that each thesis director devotes the necessary time to guiding and training the doctoral candidates they supervise. Sorbonne University encourages co-supervision, with a clear distribution of duties. To support thesis directors in this task, specific ongoing education schemes are offered by the Sorbonne University doctoral college to candidates for the HDR (accreditation to direct research) but also to all researchers who are keen to improve their supervision practices.
From the Induction Day, the first official meeting that symbolises the start of the doctorate, to the doctoral graduation ceremony marking its end, the doctoral program allows Sorbonne University doctoral candidates to assume the status of researcher within a scientific community. The doctoral program is punctuated by a series of milestones during which doctoral candidates can meet and exchange ideas, whether during disciplinary seminars, festive events or other activities offered by the doctoral schools and the doctoral college.
Sorbonne University encourages its young researchers to get involved in university life at the institutional, cultural or associative level. Whether as representatives and elected officials in the various bodies, councils and commissions, as members of an association, particularly those attached to Sorbonne University, such as Doc'Up or Le collectif Doctoral, or as active members of the community of young researchers, Sorbonne University invites doctoral candidates to actively participate in doctoral life and to be a driving force in the strategic choices of their doctoral schools and the doctoral college, but also to contribute to the organisation and implementation of events or training.
Developing a career plan in line with one's personality, qualities, desires, motivations and skills takes time. This is why the Sorbonne University's doctoral teaching teams encourage doctoral candidates from the first year of their doctorate to question themselves while offering support for the development of their career plans. Whatever their plans, they will have the opportunity to establish an individual training plan adapted to and coherent with their future needs.
To help doctoral candidates identify potential business sectors and the different professions they could focus on, the doctoral college schedules numerous meetings between doctoral candidates and PhDs from various backgrounds. It also organises visits to companies to enable them to broaden their career prospects.
In addition to providing food for thought for young researchers on their career development, all these events contribute to the creation and development of a professional network.
The "Mission d'expertise" scheme gives doctoral candidates the opportunity to perform, within the framework of their doctoral contract, a complementary paid activity within a company, a local authority, an administration, an association or a foundation. Sometimes little-known, these expertise missions are an opportunity to discover a working environment outside the academic sector and also to create a link between a potential employer and a future doctor.
Within the framework of its mission of service to society, Sorbonne University strongly encourages its doctoral candidates to disseminate their research, and promotes the values of openness illustrated in 3 areas: open science, innovation & dissemination of research and scientific knowledge.
Open Science
Sorbonne University is committed to the open science movement. To ensure the visibility, accessibility and sustainability of scientific publications from its laboratories, Sorbonne University makes its researchers aware of best practices for making their work, data and research results freely available.
Innovation & Dissemination of Research
To enhance the value of its research and help an innovative ecosystem prosper, Sorbonne University maintains special links with a number of industrial partners. Thus, Sorbonne University promotes the entrepreneurial spirit in its community by encouraging and supporting researchers who are committed to entrepreneurship. Doctoral candidates who wish to carry out a business creation project can apply to the PEPITE scheme to benefit from support.
Dissemination of scientific knowledge
Sorbonne University promotes scientific culture, and works towards introducing the world of research and presenting its various professions to candidates and teachers but also to citizens. Doctoral candidates actively participate in major national operations such as the Fête de la science or international competitions such as MT180. We also encourage them to make their voices heard in public debate by writing "general public" articles in the online publication The Conversation.
Sorbonne University regularly conducts surveys to find out the professional future and career development of its PhDs. Follow-up surveys carried out by doctoral schools and the doctoral college show that Sorbonne University's doctoral candidates occupy high-level jobs (researchers, senior managers, entrepreneurs, scientific advisors, R&D) in all socio-economic sectors.
To maintain a closer link with its graduates, Sorbonne University has created an Alumni Department, a team whose goal is to build and coordinate a powerful network with a worldwide influence.
Every year, newly graduated PhDs join the Doctors' Club, a club that allows them to develop extended professional interactions (formal and informal exchanges, new collaborations, career boosts, ...) or simply share some pleasant moments.