38 PhDs and PhD graduates

At the start of the 2013-14 academic year, there were about 67,000 students enrolled in a PhD programme, of which 62,700 were in universities. In 2012, almost 13,000 PhDs were awarded. The number of doctoral students enrolled has been falling since 2007, whereas the number of PhDs awarded is increasing. This difference is mainly due to a shortening of the time taken to complete the thesis. Over half of students enrolled for the first time for a university PhD in France were not enrolled in France the previous year in a university course leading to a qualification.

At the start of the 2013-14 academic year in France, about 67,000 students were preparing a PhD: 62,700 in universities or equivalent institution, 3,900 in a non-university engineering school and 190 in a business school.

In universities and equivalent institutions in 2013-14, a quarter of doctoral students enrolled for a PhD for the first time. The number of students was 3% up on 2000. Between 2000 and 2005, numbers increased strongly (+15%) then stabilised in 2006. After 2007, numbers declined (chart 38.01). In 2013, there was a drop of 1% compared with 2012. The fall in numbers was the same in Arts, Languages, and Humanities, in Law, Economics and Economic and Social Administration (Filière Administrative, Économique et Sociale - AES) and in Healthcare (between -2.4% and -1.9%). The decline was less sustained in Sciences, Physical Education and Sports Science and Techniques (Sciences et techniques des activités physiques et sportives - STAPS) (-0.5%), a subject area that has seen the largest increase in doctoral students in ten years.

The distribution of doctoral students by subject area has varied little since 2000-01. In 2013, the proportion of students enrolled in Sciences, STAPS was highest (45%), and the proportion enrolled in Arts, Languages and Humanities was 34%. One student in five was preparing a PhD in Law, Economics and AES and only 2% of doctoral students were enrolled in the Healthcare study track (excluding State doctor of medicine diplomas leading to the professions of doctor, pharmacist, dental surgeon) (chart 38.02). At the start of the 2013-14 academic year, fewer than half of doctoral students in their first year of a PhD programme (45%) had been enrolled at university the previous year: 37% came from a Master's programme (the majority from a research Master's degree) and 3% from a university engineering study track (table 38.03). Students holding foreign diplomas, students returning to their studies after a break of at least one year and non-university engineers made up the other half of the new intake of doctoral students.

At the start of the 2013-14 academic year, the vast majority of the 3,900 doctoral students in non-university engineering schools were enrolled in Sciences, STAPS (90%), many fewer in Arts, Languages and Humanities (7%) and Law, Economics and AES (3%).

In 2013, almost 70% of doctoral students enrolled in their first year of preparing a thesis and whose financial situation was known received some form of funding (table 38.04). The majority of PhDs that were funded received public funding, such as a doctoral contract accredited by the French Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Research (Ministère de l'Éducation nationale, de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche - MENESR) (32%), funding from a research body (11%) or from a local authority (8%). Industrial Agreements for Training through Research (Convention industrielle de formation par la recherche - CIFRE) represented 9% of PhDs receiving funding. And finally, funding for foreign doctoral students represented 17% of those receiving funding.

In 2012 in France, about 13,000 PhDs were awarded: 12,200 in universities or equivalent institutions, 840 in non-university schools. 40% of PhDs awarded in 2012 were completed in less than 40 months, compared with 35% in 2009, and 72% were completed in less than 52 months. The share of PhDs completed in over 6 years dropped 1 point to reach 11%.

Universities awarded 54% more PhDs than in 2000 (chart 38.01). This is a more rapid increase than that seen in the number of doctoral students. Between 2011 and 2012, the number of PhDs increased by 20% in Healthcare courses and by 2% in Sciences, STAPS. Numbers fell by 3% in Law, Economics and AES and by 2% in Arts, Languages and Humanities. The distribution of PhDs awarded by subject area has varied very little since 2000. Six out of ten diplomas were awarded in Sciences, STAPS, a quarter in Arts, Languages and Humanities and only 12% in Law, Economics and AES (chart 38.02).

In addition, in 2012, 840 PhDs were awarded by non-university schools (engineering and business courses), mainly in Sciences.

Samuel Fouquet & Odile Wolber