In this section, you will find the most frequently asked questions about the PRISM PhD programme. If your question is not mentioned in this list, please contact the management team at the following email address : contact@prism.psl.eu
Question : How can I apply to the PRISM PhD programme ?
Applications to the PRISM PhD programme are submitted online through the official website prism.psl.eu. To begin your application, you must first create an account by accessing the “My Account” section on the homepage.
For detailed information about the application process, eligibility requirements, and required documents, please consult the “How to apply? > Guide for Applicants” section.
Question : Where should I upload my cover letter for the PhD project ?
Your motivation for applying to the programme should be outlined in your cover letter, which must be uploaded as a separate document, in the “Documents” section when you complete your application file online. The cover letter is a mandatory document of the application and must be submitted for the application to be considered valid.
A guide to preparing your Cover Letter is available on the website under “How to Apply? > Preparing the Application” For further information about the application process, please refer to the “Application Procedure” section of the Guide for Applicants.
Question : Should I contact the principal investigator of the PhD project I am interested in ?
Applicants are encouraged to contact the PhD supervisor if they would like to obtain further information about the project. The supervisor’s contact details are available in the description of each PhD project.
PhD supervisors and co-supervisors are not involved in the selection process. Please note that applications must be submitted online through the PRISM website and not sent directly by email to the project supervisor. Supervisors and co-supervisors can only provide information about the project and answer questions related to the research topic ; they do not influence the candidate selection process.
Question : How is the jury composed for my interview ?
The interview jury is composed of at least six members, including :
• 3 experts in the scientific field related to the selected PhD projects : a representative from industry, an international expert, and a French national expert.
• a representative of the relevant doctoral school ;
• a member of the PRISM management team ;
• a Head of a Joint Research Unit at Université PSL.
Question : I will not have my Master’s degree when I submit my application, but I will obtain it before the PhD starts in 2027. Can I still apply ?
No. According to the programme eligibility rules, you must have obtained your Master’s degree at the time of submitting your application. For the 2026 call, this means your degree must be awarded by 31 October 2026, the application deadline. If you obtain your degree later, you may be eligible to apply to the 2027 call for a PhD starting in March 2028.
Question : Is the 1 March start date fixed, or is it possible to start earlier or a few months later ?
The 1 March start date is fixed. All PhD contracts begin on the same date so that the cohort can take part in the programme’s onboarding and training together. However, if you are selected and face exceptional circumstances beyond your control (for example, a delay in obtaining a French visa), please contact the programme management team via contact@prism.psl.eu as soon as possible. We will assess your situation and, where appropriate, consider a delayed arrival.
Question : I am a French student. Can I apply to the PRISM programme ?
Yes. Applicants of all nationalities are eligible to apply, provided they meet the MSCA mobility rule. As the PRISM programme is based in Paris, France, applicants must not have carried out their main activity (e.g. work or studies) in France for more than 12 months during the three years preceding the call deadline. For the first PRISM call, this means that you must not have carried out your main activity in France for more than 12 months between 31 October 2023 and 31 October 2026.
Question : I am not French, but I am currently living in France. Can I apply to the PRISM programme ?
Yes. Applicants of all nationalities are eligible to apply, provided they meet the MSCA mobility rule. As the PRISM programme is based in Paris, France, applicants must not have carried out their main activity (e.g. work or studies) in France for more than 12 months during the three years preceding the call deadline. For the first PRISM call, this means that you must not have carried out your main activity in France for more than 12 months between 31 October 2023 and 31 October 2026.
Question : I have started my application, but I do not have any English certifications, nevertheless, I do speak English. Is an English language certificate required to apply ? Can I upload digital copies of my certificates ?
No, an official English language certificate such as TOEIC or TOEFL is not mandatory. Native English speakers do not need to provide one. However, all applicants are expected to have an English proficiency level of at least C1.
If English is not your native language, you should provide evidence of your C1 level or equivalent, such as a certificate from your academic institution or a recognised online language test. If you do not have any formal document, you may instead provide a short letter explaining how you have acquired and used English at a C1 level or equivalent (e.g. through an international scholarship along with a long-term Erasmus exchange, extended residence in an English-speaking environment, etc).
You can upload your language proficiency document in the “Optional documents” section, together with any other relevant certificates or supporting documents. Digital copies are accepted.
Please note that all interviews during the selection process are conducted exclusively in English. Candidates must therefore be able to communicate effectively in English.
Question : What salary can I expect as a PRISM PhD student ?
The programme offers a significantly higher salary than the average PhD stipend in France.
PRISM PhD students receive a net monthly salary of approximately €2,200 before the national income tax. This amount is paid after mandatory social security contributions (including health insurance, pension contributions, and other statutory deductions) have been withheld. However, the national income tax (impôt sur le revenu) should also be taken into account, the exact amount depending on each doctoral student’s individual tax situation (2% to 5% is typically retained from your net monthly salary).
In addition to their salary, doctoral students may be eligible for a range of employer benefits, depending on their personal circumstances, including :
• family allowance, where applicable ;
• mobility allowance, where applicable ;
• partial reimbursement of additional health insurance (approximately €20 per month) ;
• reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a public transportation pass, or other partial reimbursement of a sustainable transportation mode ;
• access to additional employee benefits, such as sports facilities, access to canteen, reduced price for cultural activities, and other social benefits.
Question : What expenses are covered by the programme, and what should I plan for ?
Once you have been selected for the programme, please note that any specific costs required to start your programme in Paris (e.g. visa fees, scholarship fees) should be reported to the management team as they will be reimbursed.
During your thesis, expenses directly related to your training or research activities (e.g. consumables, office supplies, computer, etc.) are covered. You will also benefit from a dedicated travel budget to support research-related trips, such as attending conferences, congresses, or summer schools.
Finally, please keep in mind that your salary already includes a mobility allowance, which is intended to help cover the costs of international travel between Paris and your home country.
Question : I cannot create an account on the PRISM website / I do not receive a confirmation email
When creating an account for the first time, please follow these steps :
1. Enter your personal email address on the PRISM website – Home page.
2. Click “Create an account” — not “Submit.”
3. On the next page, enter your email address again and confirm.
4. Wait a few minutes for an automatically generated email from the website. This email will contain your password. If you have not received the email within one hour, please check your spam/junk folder.
5. Return to the PRISM website homepage and enter your email address. Make sure the page has been refreshed.
6. This time, click “Submit.”
7. On the next page, enter the password provided in the email.
8. You should now be able to log in successfully.
Please note : Make sure you use the same email address throughout the registration and login process.
Question : None of my referees have received an email request to submit a recommendation, what should I do ?
First, make sure you have selected the checkbox that triggers the recommendation request to be sent to your referees. Once this option is selected, an email invitation should be sent automatically.
If your referees still have not received the email, please ask them to check their spam or junk mail folder, as the message may have been filtered by their email provider.
For additional information regarding the Recommendation process, please read the Guide for applicants available in pdf under the section “How to apply? > Guide for applicants”.