PhD Subjects and Funding

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List of thesis topics


Here you will find the list of thesis topics currently submitted for application to the MSTII Doctoral School.
Some of these topics already come with secured funding, while others require the candidate to apply for a doctoral contract, either from the MSTII Doctoral School or another funding body. This information is specified in each proposal.


Doctoral contracts

The most common form of PhD funding at the MSTII Doctoral School is the doctoral contract.

There are many sources of doctoral contracts, and such contracts can take various forms.

Examples include: Project leaders receiving funding from national research agencies or programs (such as the ANR, the Investments for the Future Programs—PIA—through initiatives like Labex, Idex, or research institutes like MIAI, or research federations such as QuantAlps);  Major national research institutions (CNRS, INRIA, CEA);  The Écoles Normales Supérieures via CDSN schemes for their students;  École Polytechnique for its own students;  Strategic international partnerships (ISP); Interdisciplinary projects (CDP);
and more.

There are also doctoral contracts under private law, established in collaboration with a company. In such cases, the Doctoral School recommends considering a CIFRE agreement (a French public-private PhD funding scheme).

Each year (May/June), the MSTII Doctoral School also opens a competitive selection process for a number of doctoral contracts awarded by Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA) and Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB). Find more information here


CIFRE agreements

The research topic is usually of an applied nature.
The company must be incorporated under French law. It is usually the company that examines the application. During the thesis, the company employs the doctoral student on a 3-year fixed-term contract or a permanent contract. The company receives a grant from the Ministry of Research, which is managed by the ANRT. Since 1st September 2024, the minimum salary has been €2100 gross (revalued each year).
The laboratory may be at a university, school or public research body.
The CIFRE agreement can be set up at any time during the year.

To find out more about CIFREs: http://www.anrt.asso.fr/

Other sources of funding

For the many other possible sources of funding, the MSTII doctoral school refers you to the following websites:
The ED MSTII laboratories each have their own way of managing thesis topics.
You will find thesis proposals on the following link.
Below are links to other institutions that may be able to offer thesis topics:
Published on  January 8, 2021
Updated on April 10, 2025