You are here : ED 205 EDISS > Version anglaise > Applying for a PhD

Competitive government fellowships

This government fellowships allocated to EDISS by University Lyon 1 and INSA Lyon are awarded annually in a 2-step competitive process which takes place in June or July.
Candidates apply on the basis of thesis topics submitted by the research units and validated by EDISS.
 
The competition takes place in 2 steps:

Step 1 :Eligibility
The application will be first examined by the Council of EDISS. The number of candidates selected for an interview depends on the number of government fellowships allocated to EDISS, and on the number of applications.

The candidates are selected for an interview based on their academic record and mark transcripts. They will notified of their selection (with the date and time of their interview) or of the rejection of their application by e-mail. 

Step 2 : Interview of selected candidates
Successful candidates are notified by e-mail of the date and time of the audition. Auditions are only held in person (except for international candidates - a very exceptional case).

Terms and procedure of the selection process

CRITERIA FOR APPLYING FOR A GOVERNMENT FELLOWSHIP

The competitive government fellowship is open to candidates presented by laboratories affiliated to the University Lyon 1 or to INSA Lyon, regardless of their nationality or of the institution which awarded them their Master degree. The presentation slide must not include any additional slides (no additional slides during questions from the jury).

The eligibility criteria are the following :
  • The candidate must hold, or be in the process of being awarded, a French Research Master degree (M2 or Engineer degree with a 6-month internship in an academic laboratory), or a foreign degree of equivalent level including research training
  • The candidate must have a PhD project related to one of the scientific disciplines of EDISS
  • The candidate must have obtained support letterheads from a PhD supervisor and the Director of the laboratory both affiliated to EDISS
  • The candidate must have sent the completed and signed application form as well as the requested documents 
  • The candidate must not have any salary or any other professional income
  • Not having been a candidate in the previous year's EDISS doctoral contract award competition

THE APPLICATION FILE

The application file must include the following elements: 
  • CV (2 pages maximum)
  • The EDISS application form completed and signed
  • Letter of support from the PhD supervisor
  • Letter of support from the Director of the laboratory
  • A copy of the Master degree or equivalent diploma
  • Mark transcripts of the 4 semesters of the Master program including the ranking of the candidate (mandatory)*
* Candidates who do not yet have the results of their Master 2 or equivalent diploma when submitting their application should send a certificate from the Master supervisor including the candidate ranking for semester 3 and if possible for semester 4.

ELIGIBILITY

Candidates' academic grades will be taken into account for eligibility. 
You will find below some ranking information; however, the jury retains sovereignty over these decisions.

M1 ranking

Top 10% : 4 points
Top 25% : 3 points
Top 50% : 2 points
Top 75% : 1 point

Or if no ranking possible

Mention TB : 4 points
Mention B : 3 points
Mention AB : 2 points
Menton P : 1 point

S3M2 ranking 

Top 10% : 6 points
Top 25% : 4 points
Top 50% : 2 points
Top 75% : 1 point

Ou if no ranking possible

Mention TB : 6 points
Mention B : 4 points
Mention AB : 2 points
Menton P : 1 point

Internships

Voluntary internship in a laboratory before Master
Internship in a laboratory during Master 1
Internships in 2 different laboratories/teams (HCERES) between Master 1 and Master 2 (please provide internship agreements)

Bonus points
Salaried students
Highly selective Masters : ex graduate school

INTERVIEW

Before 12:00 on July 2, 2025, candidates must send their S4M2 and M2 results (if available) to the secretariat (secretariat.ediss@univ-lyon1.fr). In the event of a tie at the audition, these results will be taken into account to break the tie. 
 
The audition consists of
_ 10 min presentation with
 _ Academic background: 1 slide 
 _ Master's degree subject and results: 3 to 4 min
 _ Thesis subject: 5 to 6 min
_ 10 min questions/discussion with jury members
 
The candidate should announce
_ the reasons and motivations for entering a thesis program
_ how his or her background and experience make him or her the right candidate for the thesis topic
_ he or she should show that he or she has thought through the project (major stages with timetable and technical feasibility).
 
 The presentation slide show should not include any additional slides (no additional slides during questions from the jury).

Supervisors may only be present (without the right to speak) during their candidate's audition (with the candidate's authorization).
 

RESULTS

The jury ranks the interviewed candidates. The rank is then sent to the University Lyon1 and INSA Lyon for validation, and posted on the EDISS website. When the ranking has been approved by the University of Lyon 1 and INSA Lyon, the results are sent by e-mail to the candidates

The PV is posted on the EDISS website subject to the validation of the institutions awarding doctoral contracts (University Lyon 1, INSA Lyon).
=> PV of the EDISS 2025 competition

Ranking validated by the UCBL on  

 

ENROLMENT IN EDISS PHD PROGRAM

If the candidate is authorized to enroll in EDISS PhD program, his/her ADUM* account will be created by EDISS so that they can start the enrollment process (Le Réseau ADUM)
Tutorial: https://www.universite-lyon.fr/medias/fichier/user-guide-adum-platform-vf_1687161120004-pdf?ID_FICHE=129809
 * Accès doctorat unique et mutualisé

The registration comprises two parts :
  1. Pedagogical registration managed by EDISS (step 1-4, see below)
  2. Administrative registration (step 5-6, see below) managed by University Lyon1, INSA Lyon or VetaGroSup