PSL PhD Track: FAQ

• The Master’s degree is a two-year program 
• The PhD Track is a five-year, funded and research-oriented program, including a Master’s degree* and research internships, then a Doctorate. You will obtain a Master’s degree, then a PhD degree. These 2 diplomas will be awarded by Université PSL.

* When you apply to the PhD Track, you will be asked to choose the Master’s course that you want to follow for the first 2 years of the course (see list of eligible Master’s degrees).

Absolutely. Given the very high selectivity of the PhD Tracks, it is strongly recommended that you apply for the Master’s degree in parallel if you are interested in both programs. Look at the page of the Master’s degree that you are interested in for the application calendar and how to apply.

The PhD Track is a 5-year course associated with a PSL graduate program.
The graduate programs follow the model of the “graduate school” in international universities, and consist of an entity (School) that contains research laboratories, academic teams, training programs, etc. The PhD tracks are specific training courses within a graduate program.

The PSL PhD Tracks are intended for high-potential students hoping to become top-level researchers in the public or private sector.
If you are passionate about research and you want an international career, you are ideal for the PhD track program.

The admission criteria common to all the PSL PhD Tracks are as follows: academic excellence, research project, command of English (C1 level).

No personal proof is required for this purpose. The admission criteria are exclusively academic.
 

No.

Certainly, if you speak English fluently. All courses are taught in English.

Level C1 is strongly recommended. Supporting documents are not compulsory for all PhD tracks (see what documents are required in the application portal). Note that interviews with eligible candidates take place in English and allow the jury to assess your oral level.

Certainly. However, note that many applicants already have a Master’s degree.

Yes, if you are preparing the last year of an undergraduate diploma in the year you apply for PhD Tracks. You should upload the most recent transcripts you have available to the applications portal. If you have graduated, you will then be asked to produce your diploma when you enroll.

• Academic CV 
• Transcripts and diplomas from each higher education institution / university attended
  One unique pdf for all documents. You can merge them with pdf-merge for example.
• Statement of purpose (In English, strict 1 page limit)
  The purpose of this document is to explain who you are and what you expect from your postgraduate studies. Give details about your interest in the field and your career goals. You can use this document to clarify anything unusual in your CV or your transcripts. One page maximum.
• Research statement (In English, 1 to 2 pages)
  This project should clearly define your interests within your area of research and specialization. You should present a structured research project showing your commitment and describing what you plan for the future of your research if you join a PSL PhD track.
• Proof of English proficiency, level C1 (proof not compulsory but recommended)
  The language prerequisites specific to each PhD track are detailed on the applications portal. In general:
  - If your first language is English or if you have earned a higher education diploma (BA/BS.c, MA) in an English-speaking university, you should include a statement to this effect.
  - If not, you should include the official results from a recent test of English, e.g. TOEFL or IELTS. If you have no recent official results, you can submit some older test results provisionally. This will not detract from the assessment of your application, but we reserve the right to ask for more recent official results later in the selection process.
• References: contact details (name, position title, email) of at least two academic referees.

The research project must be written in English and not exceed 2 pages.
A research project is a short document that provides a brief history of your past research experience, the current state of your research, and the future work you intend to complete. It should present the context of your work first, then show how it contributes to extend other ongoing work.
It should be written for an audience of other professionals in your field.
Make sure that your statement is clearly tied together. Show a progression.
What is the primary question that you have tried to address over the course of your internships and work experience? Why is this question important to the field? How has each stage of your work related to that question?

The statement of purpose must be written in English and not exceed 1 page.
A statement of purpose (SOP), sometimes referred to as a personal statement, is a critical piece of a graduate program application. It tells admissions committees who you are, what your academic and professional interests are, and how you’ll add value to the GP you’re applying to.
The statement of purpose reflects not only who you are as a candidate but your writing abilities and qualifications as well.
A good personal statement should contain: your personal motivations for applying to the program, your accomplishments and success-stories, the challenges you’ve faced and overcome.

The PhD tracks are five-year programs. As a general reference, the provisional annual enrollment fees listed below are based on the rates applicable for the 2025/26 academic year. Please note that these fees are not covered by the grant awarded to students enrolled in the PSL PhD tracks.

In addition to these fees, students must pay the “Contribution to Student and Campus Life” (CVEC), which is approximately €105 per year. There are several exemptions available. Information

The PSL PhD Track grant is €10,000 / year for one or two years at Master’s level then the equivalent of a doctoral contract based on French legislation.

Tuition fees, as well as the cost of housing, transport, and living expenses in general are paid by the student. 

The combining of funding with other grants will be examined on a case by case basis by the jury of the Graduate Program concerned, which will determine whether the 2 funding methods are compatible.

Note in particular that students who have also been awarded an Eiffel scholarship may not combine the 2 grants during the 2 years of the Master’s degree. However, the Eiffel scholarship can replace the Master’s grant provided in the PSL PhD track for the first two years of the program (until the start of the doctoral studies). 

Certainly.

The PSL Welcome Desk & Euraxess Center assists international students and researchers across all PSL schools. Their team is available to help you prepare your arrival and manage non-academic administrative processes throughout your time with Université PSL. Please visit their web page for detailed information about entry requirements, residence permit, social security, health insurance, housing, and other daily life matters. The PSL Welcome Desk also offers social and cultural outings, including a Buddy Program and Tandem Partner Program.

Please feel free to schedule an appointment or email them with your questions! 

The PSL Welcome Desk will help you at every stage, to advise you, guide you and ensure that your arrival in Paris and at PSL goes smoothly:

• Before you arrive - For the main administrative formalities (visa, CVEC, transport, etc.) and put you in touch with other PSL students via the Buddy Program “Partner@PSL”.
• When you arrive, come and see the Welcome Desk team during office hours to check out the next formalities that need to be completed: validation of your visa, registration with the French Social Security system, request for housing allowance from CAF, taking out home insurance, opening a bank account, etc.
• During the university year: don’t hesitate to contact the PSL Welcome Desk for help with medical reimbursements or with finding a bilingual doctor. The international tutors can also give you a hand with finding a student job and following up on the renewal of your residence permit with the Prefecture.

Non-French speaking students can indeed follow FLE courses as part of their training at PSL. You will get all the information you need at the start of the academic year, at your host school.