Questions tagged [france]

On standards or conventions specific to the higher education system in France, which differs in structure and style from the systems in other parts of the world.

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7 answers
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Is it acceptable to publish student names with the label 'stupid question', on a publicly-visible website?

While I was browsing faculty websites, I came across this page (new link: http://www.pdmi.ras.ru/~iaroslav/teaching.php?screen_check=done&Width=360&Height=640). Near the bottom there is a ...
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133 votes
14 answers
31k views

How to build healthy working relationships with my male colleagues as a young-ish, attractive-ish woman?

I'm a PhD candidate from Asia currently visiting a prestigious university in Europe. Recently I've noticed quite some "strange" behaviours of male "colleagues" around me (by "colleagues", I don't mean ...
Randomvisitor's user avatar
41 votes
7 answers
23k views

I insulted a professor by using an anti-Semitic slur in a department seminar. How bad is this?

I am in a research group in a French university in physics (I am a 1st year PhD student) and in a seminar in my university I used a slur against an Israeli professor, Professor X. I am from an Arab ...
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28 votes
17 answers
21k views

Word choice for salutation in a formal email to your PhD adviser, Is *Dear Boss* appropriate?

I am a first year PhD student in France, born and raised in India. It is not customary in here where I am doing my PhD to call one's adviser boss but I do, partly due to my reluctance to call her by ...
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19 votes
4 answers
4k views

Post Doc application form in France asks for very personal details, is it normal?

I'm trying to get an engineering post doc which I will conduct at a company's R&D labs, however I need to jump through all of the sponsoring university's hoops. I just received their application ...
Saeid Alami's user avatar
17 votes
4 answers
6k views

Why would a post-graduate interviewer care about my knowledge regarding their school?

I was interviewed a few days ago for a master degree and the interviewer asked me questions about the degree and the school in general. Some questions were about the learning method they use, the ...
user161458's user avatar
17 votes
1 answer
420 views

Special status of some physicists in France

This is a question specific to France. Permanent positions at the university typically are either research only or research and teaching. For the latter, positions are "maître de conférences" (...
bela83's user avatar
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16 votes
1 answer
443 views

Is there an age limit on applications for Maitre de Conferences?

I'm interested in pursuing a permanent, independent research position in neuroscience in France. However, I'm getting conflicting information from different researchers in the country about whether or ...
Kat B's user avatar
  • 161
14 votes
3 answers
3k views

What are CNRS research units and how are they staffed

The Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) is the major funding body in France. With nearly 32,000 staff members it is bigger than the US NIH and US NSF combined, yet only has a 1/10 of ...
StrongBad's user avatar
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14 votes
2 answers
738 views

France national research institutes hinder work by banning foreign online services

I recently started a postdoc in France. I am not French, do not speak any French yet, and I am new to the culture. It turns out that all national research institutes in France have a rule against ...
Jan's user avatar
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13 votes
1 answer
543 views

In how much detail should one describe their past and projected future work for a junior scientist application to CNRS?

The competitive application process for CNRS jobs has opened this week, and part of the required documents are a report on past work, as well as a project for future work (together with a list of CNRS ...
Young Postdoc's user avatar
12 votes
6 answers
5k views

Upon my request prior to a faculty application in France, I was invited to give a talk. Should I travel at their expense or better give it online?

So after a few postdocs in applied math (PhD in pure math), I'm currently outside academia with a part time teaching position in France. I'm in the process of applying to a lab in the South of France ...
Science Man's user avatar
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12 votes
5 answers
1k views

What to do if my advisor insists on early attendance?

I have a genuine problem in waking up early in the morning. My advisor prefers to walk in my office whenever he wanted to. Lately, he started to complain to me about not showing up in the morning. ...
A Square's user avatar
  • 123
11 votes
5 answers
40k views

What does "masters 2 level" mean?

I saw an offer in a research group described as 'Research position at master 2 level'. Can anyone clarify for me what that means? Is it a 2nd masters or anything else? Does it always need a masters ...
Black Sheep's user avatar
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10 votes
9 answers
6k views

Worldwide Dissertation Database? or French, German, Italian ones?

Is there a global/worldwide database of dissertations? If not, how can I access French, German, Italian, etc. dissertations online?
Geremia's user avatar
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10 votes
3 answers
2k views

Should I address a "Charge de Recherche" or "Directeur de recherche" in France as "Prof."?

In France, the following are two of the main ways people get promoted in academic positions: Maître de Conférences (assistant professor whose responsibilities include teaching as well as research) -&...
Science Man's user avatar
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9 votes
3 answers
7k views

How should I follow up with this professor?

I e-mailed a prof in France (Paris) on 10 Jan that my research interest align with his work and I would be willing to work for a PhD under his supervision in Pure Mathematics. I am a student living in ...
user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
2k views

What do they mean when say “the French equivalent of a Ph.D.”?

I read the biography of a French-born scientist-turned-entrepreneur Philippe Kahn. It says that Philippe Kahn received the “French equivalent of a Ph.D. certified by the French Academy of Sciences”. ...
Anish Gupta's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
7k views

How to get a PhD (doctorat) in France?

I previously asked this question in Mathematics.SE (which is now removed from that site): How to be a professor and a researcher in academia if I only have a baccalauréat in maths and don't have ...
user10453's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
1k views

In France, what are the practical differences between the "Maitre de Conferences" position and the other potentially-permanent positions?

I've a few questions about permanent positions in the universities in France. As far as I'm aware, there are three main types of permanent positions in France: Maître des conférences: ("master ...
Science Man's user avatar
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8 votes
2 answers
797 views

Is it a good idea to do a (cs) phd in France with a fixed topic?

For what I know, one finishes PhD with only 3 years in France which is rather efficient, but one may suffer if one's research interest gets changed in the mean time, because the thesis topic is locked ...
Fosotite's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
3k views

High likelihood I'll be unable to submit my thesis before the deadline... What's my outlook?

Ok, so I'm in a pretty dire situation here. I'm coming towards the end of my PhD contract in France. For a litany of reasons, it hasn't gone too well. I had extreme difficulty getting my experiments ...
Ben Randall's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
504 views

Besides salary, is there any difference between "classes" of faculty in France?

While learning about the different faculty jobs in France, I discovered that the two different ranks of faculty are subdivided in classes: maitre de conférence are sorted in "normal class" and "...
user91514's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
938 views

M2 in France = MPhil Equivalent in US/UK?

I did my PhD in comparative literature in the UK. During my third year, I was an exchange researcher at the Ecole normale supérieure in Paris (PSL). As I was keen to top up my Philosophy credits, I ...
Paul Beatrix's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
43k views

M1 vs M2 in France: In the French system, which one is designed for those interested in Academia, M1 or M2?

I'm applying for Master's degree in France and have learned that there are two different ones - M1 and M2. I read the answers to this question and a few websites with general explanations, but couldn'...
nara's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
5k views

Is 14/20 a good grade on master studies in France?

When I asked my professor why Is my grade so low, he told me that it is a good grade. Maybe he didn't want to make me sad? In my country 14/20 is just "not being dumb" grade. I am an international ...
user46147's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
654 views

What is the process for PhD applications and contacting professors in France?

I would like to apply to a PhD program in France, but I am having trouble understanding the admission process. How should/could I submit my application? Is it proper to contact the Professor I would ...
Prospects's user avatar
  • 333
7 votes
1 answer
10k views

What is the salary range for a Post Doc in France?

I was wondering what is the salary range for a Post Doc in France (Engineering - Ecole des Mines)? In the UK the range is £31K - 38K and I'm already midway in the range. I'm considering moving to ...
Saeid Alami's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
2k views

What should I expect in PhD interview in Pure Mathematics

I am a person who completed his master's last year and now I am preparing for PhD admissions in Europe. I am from a poor country in Asia. I have 3 PhD interviews scheduled in last week of January to ...
user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
7k views

What are the equivalencies between the higher education in France (Licence - Master - Doctorat) and the higher education in the United States?

In France the higher education is like this: 3 years of "Licence" 2 years of "Master" 3 years of "Doctorat" But what about in the United States? I heard that they have things called "undergraduate",...
user50746's user avatar
  • 351
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

Why are there so many awards in academia in the US compared with academia in France?

I spent a bit of time in France and in the USA. I observed that there are many more awards given to students and academics in the US than there are in France. Is that observation correct, and if so ...
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

Equivalent of french CAPES or agrégation exam without having to teach

I am a mathematics student in a French university. But I have studied many other subjects on my own with university books. So I would like to have a diploma or an exam that proves that I have a ...
user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
4k views

Can a "maitre de conferences" be called "professor"?

In the French system and other francophone systems, tenured faculty is divided in two categories: maitre de conferences, equivalent to associate professors if I understand correctly, and professeurs, ...
user91248's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
307 views

How do professors advance from 2nd to 1st class in France?

There are three classes of professors in French universities: second, first, and exceptional. I understand that within each class there are several ranks which seem to be based mostly on time since ...
Herman Toothrot's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
245 views

What are the rules regarding obtaining consent from subjects when publishing results related to drug testing?

I am wondering what the rules relative to consent of subjects are for publishing results related to drug testing. This recent publication by private lab researchers reports the result of drug testing ...
Mister Mak's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
1k views

How are mathematics PhDs from the USA viewed in mainland European universities?

Do American-educated mathematics PhDs generally have an advantage over natively educated PhDs (in, say, France or Italy) in applying for research positions?
Danny's user avatar
  • 105
5 votes
2 answers
429 views

Given my experience, how do I get back to academic research collaboration?

I've a teaching position in an engineering college in France since September 2021, and in a few years' time I'd like to get either a research-only or a mixed research and teaching position. With that ...
Science Man's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
341 views

What do professors want to see in a letter of motivation for a PhD student position in France?

I am applying to a PhD program in France and they asked for a letter of motivation. Is it okay if I repeat some of the information that is already in my resume in my letter? Do you have any tips or ...
krifa sallouha's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
780 views

On the qualification for teacher-researcher/enseignant-chercheur (MCF) positions in France and its recent abolition - what exactly does the law say?

My question is about the necessity of the qualification for teacher-researcher/enseignant-chercheur (maître de conférence- abbreviated as MCF below) positions in France and its recent abolition in ...
Science Man's user avatar
  • 3,238
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

Faculty job in France VS US

In September I got a (permanent) junior faculty position in France. The academic year is about to finish and I am taking stock of the year to see if that is really the right place for me to be. Before ...
frank's user avatar
  • 589
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is it possible to get my habilitation in France while being in industry?

I've finished my PhD in pure mathematics in late 2013 in the US (2 published papers, 1 preprint), and after almost 4 years of postdoc in the subjects of pure math (1 year-unproductive), medical ...
Science Man's user avatar
  • 3,238
5 votes
1 answer
692 views

Grade conversion for PhD application: Masters in France -> Phd in the US (Math)

I am Masters student in France and I am considering pursuing PhD in the US. Grading in France seems to be less uniform then in other countries, which results (from my experience) in that getting 90% ...
CandyUp's user avatar
  • 51
5 votes
1 answer
393 views

Should I take a student loan now, if I intend to become a mathematician? [closed]

I intend to pursue my degree in Mathematics and Physics at Ecole Polytechnique in France. The institution has offered me an interest free loan of 18,000 euros, which has to be repaid three years after ...
user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
316 views

What is the right time of year to write to professors in France asking for PhD positions?

I am a citizen of an Asian country who completed his master's in math in June 2020. I wanted to study more topics before applying for a PhD (in one of the pure mathematics subjects) in Europe, but got ...
user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
785 views

Vacations during my one year postdoc

I am a researcher in South America and this year I will do postdoc in Paris for a period of one year. After this period, I will return to my country. However, I have an elderly aunt for whom I am ...
F. Martucheli's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
731 views

How to translate French "colleur"/"khôlleur" position into english?

French higher education system is quite singular: besides traditional universities (following Bologna Process scheme with Bachelor (3 years), Master (2 years) and PhD (3 years)), there are so-called ...
ebosi's user avatar
  • 2,670
4 votes
3 answers
2k views

Are theses done in industry (French CIFRE) a disadvantage in academia?

France has a mechanism, named CIFRE, by which a PhD student can be employed by a private company while working on their thesis. This is done in relation with a university or institute, which awards ...
user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
4k views

Two masters simultaneously?

I am from Germany and about to finish my second bachelors degree (two different fields). And am now considering options for masters studies. Now i know that in Germany i can study two masters ...
user526159's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
577 views

Hiding M1 grades or first year of master grades

I had obtained my bachelor degree with first class of honor then I pursued my master studies in France. During the first year of my master (M1), I had pretty bad performance. I failed a course but I ...
SomeOne's user avatar
  • 1,255
4 votes
2 answers
304 views

Language of instruction in the ATER positions in France, and resource for English speaking teaching positions in France that are not postes vacataire

For ATER positions in France, is the teaching always in French or it depends on the university? I've written to one or two departmental contacts for ATER position, but they replied that the teaching ...
Stat_math's user avatar
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