[Opportunity] PhD Student Scholarship in Social Sciences– Deadline – 20 March 2026
The Centre de Sciences Humaines (CSH) invites applications for a PhD. Student Scholarship in social sciences on a full-time basis, beginning on 1st September 2026 for a one-year term, renewable for one year.
| Job Title: PhD Scholarship at CSH |
Taking into consideration the small number of available doctoral grants, this one-year (renewable for one year) PhD scholarship is intended for doctoral students who have already started their thesis, but without any doctoral contract. It offers a second chance to talented young researchers registered in a French doctoral school. This PhD scholarship is also open to students who have obtained a doctoral contract but no longer have any funding and need one or two extra years to complete their thesis.
This scholarship is primarily intended to support data collection work in the geographical areas covered by the CSH (India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka). It also can be devoted to the analysis of materials and the writing of the thesis.
With equal quality of application, preference will be given to Indian students who have completed their post-graduate studies in France.
Prerequisite:
– Hold a Master’s degree in social sciences from a leading academic institution
– Have been enrolled in a PhD programme at a leading university in France from 2022 onwards and have completed at least the first year of the doctorate.
– Have developed a research project based on empirical/primary materials (statistical data, archives and other historical documents, ethnographic observations, surveys by interviews or questionnaires, etc.)
Qualifications:
– Be able to situate the object of the research in relation to the main existing works on the topic.
– Be familiar with the existing bibliography dedicated to the topic.
– Have developed research questions, elaborated methodological choices and identified the materials to be collected.
– Ability to integrate a French, Indian and international environment.
– Fluency in English and excellent written and oral skills. Knowledge of a South Asian language is a must.
Duties/Responsibilities:
– Participate in the scientific life of the CSH, collaborate with CSH scholars. During the period of the scholarship, the candidate is expected to follow the rules of the CSH.
– Conduct any research that falls within at least one of the CSH’s three areas of research.
– Give a presentation his or her on-going research once a year.
Status and Remuneration:
The status is that of a full-time researcher on par with all current full-time researchers at CSH.
The monthly net salary is 100 000 INR with access to CSH research funds.
Application and Selection:
The candidates should send a CV, a research project (maximum 15,000 characters including spaces), with a timeline of planned activities and an indicative bibliography, a recommendation letter from the supervisor(s) of the thesis and a certificate of registration in a French Doctoral School.
These documents should be sent electronically jobs@csh-delhi.com. Applications must be received by 20 March 2026 (midnight IST). Kindly mention “PhD scholarship at CSH” in the subject line.
Pre-selected candidates will be contacted for an interview via video-conference (if abroad) or on the premises (if in Delhi), which will take place during the last week of May 2026. The result of the selection procedure will be transmitted to the candidates by 1st June 2026. The position is expected to start from 1st September 2026.
Please note that CSH reserves the right not to fill the position if no candidate is deemed suitable.
