Home>Academics>PhD Programmes
PhD Programmes
The PhD is primarily intended for students who would like to pursue careers in teaching and research. The Masters degree is a prerequisite, with the thesis providing evidence of ability to conduct research. However, the Masters is just the first step in the PhD programme, which equips students with the core knowledge and methodological tools to pursue in-depth research at the doctoral level.
Beginning in the first year of both the masters and doctoral programmes, a mentor guides students in all of their work, particularly in the development of research papers.
The key objective is to enable students to demonstrate an excellent command of the knowledge and methods in their chosen field.
Our programmes
Doctoral scholarships and mobility programmes are also offered with prestigious international partners.
Programme structure
Doctoral students benefit from supervision by internationally recognised scholars and from personalised support in Sciences Po’s research centres. We also ensure our students are well prepared to launch their careers.
Find out more about studying for a PhD
Tuition Fees & Financing
Following a vote by the FNSP Board of Directors on 21 May 2025, all doctoral students enrolled at Sciences Po will be exempt from tuition fees between D1 and D6, from the start of the 2025-2026 academic year.
All doctoral students are liable for the CVEC.
In order to make Sciences Po accessible to all and promote academic success, Sciences Po has significantly improved its student support services.
Joint supervision and joint thesis supervision
In addition to the supervision provided by their thesis supervisor, some PhD students receive support from an other lecturer or researcher, whether or not they are based at another institution.
The role of co-supervisor must be formalised through a thesis co-supervision arrangement, established:
- between the doctoral student’s institution and the co-supervisor if the latter is based at another institution;
- or between the supervisor and the co-supervisor if both are based at the IEP in Paris. At Sciences Po, co-supervision is formalised through an exchange of correspondence.
The doctoral student is awarded the doctorate by their institution of enrolment.
Co-supervisors undertake to monitor the doctoral student’s work and generally sit on the thesis examination board.
The thesis must then explicitly mention the co-supervision, and the names and titles of the co-supervisors must be listed on the thesis title page.
The programme’s administrative officer must be informed of the co-supervision for the purposes of validation.
Joint supervision involves dual supervision of the thesis: by a supervisor from the IEP de Paris and by a supervisor from a foreign institution.
It enables the award of two doctoral degrees, or, where applicable, a joint degree.
In France, joint supervision is governed by the decree of 25 May 2016 establishing the national framework for doctoral training and the procedures leading to the award of the national doctoral degree.
At Sciences Po, joint supervision may only be authorised if:
- the student is already admitted to Sciences Po;
- the two proposed thesis supervisors have consulted one another and given their written consent.
Joint supervision requires the drawing up of an agreement signed by all partners (individuals and institutions).
The agreement, drawn up for a period of three years, sets out, in particular, the procedures for enrolment, payment of tuition fees and the conditions for the thesis defence. It must be drawn up during the first year of the PhD programme.
Benefits
Joint supervision only makes sense and is only possible within the framework of a research project shared by both institutions.
In particular, it enables the student:
- to have access to a wider range of resources and networks;
- to enhance international career prospects;
- to access joint supervision grants that may cover the costs associated with the arrangement (the doctoral student’s living expenses, defence costs).
Points to note
Joint supervision may prove difficult if the thesis supervisors hold differing views on the doctoral student’s work or if the institutions’ academic regulations differ too greatly.
In such cases, one option to consider is co-supervision. This also provides dual supervision, but does not lead to the award of a dual degree.
Administrative procedures
Admission
Even if the student is already enrolled at a foreign university, they must also be admitted to a PhD programme at Sciences Po.
Once admitted, they must submit their joint supervision proposal to the administration (administrative officer).
The agreement must specify at least the following points:
- the primary university of enrolment;
- the arrangements for payment of tuition fees;
- the arrangements for the defence;
- the arrangements for sharing the costs of the defence.
Once the agreement has been signed, all parties will receive a copy.
In the event of any breach of the agreement, the management should be contacted.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are paid in accordance with the provisions of the agreement.
At Sciences Po, all enrolled PhD students are exempt from tuition fees between D1 and D6 from the start of the 2025–2026 academic year. All PhD students are required to pay the CVEC.
For details of tuition fees at the other institution, please refer to the agreement.
Thesis defence
The organisation of the thesis defence is governed by the agreement.
- Certain specific rules must be followed when presenting the thesis: please consult the page ‘Thesis formatting’.
- For a thesis in a foreign language, please consult the page ‘Thesis defence’.
- At some foreign universities, a pre-defence is required. You should check with the academic authorities.