Submit Applications for Barrande Fellowship Programme (Czech Republic and France)

The French Institute in Prague (IFP) and the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MŠMT) jointly coordinate the Barrande fellowship programme, an exchange mobility programme for Ph.D. students between the Czech Republic and France.

The primary goal of the programme is to enhance international education exchange while encouraging scientific cooperation between French and Czech research teams. Students from both countries are encouraged to pursue research abroad and acquire new skills that they can further develop in their home countries. These students will play a key role in strengthening French-Czech bilateral relations

Funding Information

• Fellowship recipients receive a monthly stipend of approximately 1,690 EUR in France or 35,000 CZK in the Czech Republic.
• Fellowship recipients, who are registered at a Czech or French university, undertake a 5-month stay abroad each calendar year, for a maximum of 3 years and a total of up to 15 months.

Eligibility Criteria

• Nationality: The programme is open to all Ph.D. students registered at a Czech higher education institution for studies in France (excluding French citizens) and to all Ph.D. students registered at a French higher education institution for studies in the Czech Republic.
• Degree requirements: Students in their second year of a master’s programme at the time of the call may apply. However, applicants must hold a higher education degree before their first stay abroad:
  • In France, to register as a Ph.D. student, you must hold either a Master’s degree or obtain an equivalency certificate for the degree. The equivalency is granted by the French university.
  • In the Czech Republic, admission to a doctoral study programme requires a Master’s degree.
• Faculty requirements:
  • In the Czech Republic: Applicants from French universities should carefully review the Application Procedure and Admission Requirements for the 2025/2026 academic year, as published by their target faculty in the Czech Republic and check the application submission deadline and apply for a full-time doctoral programme through the faculty’s registration system. Official information is available on the website of the target public higher education institution in the Czech Republic.
  • In France: Applicants from Czech universities can find general information about Ph.D. enrolment in France on the Campus France website. Specific registration procedures are available on the websites of the targeted doctoral school.
• Language requirements: The programme is open to English speakers, provided that the thesis supervisor from the French or Czech institution agrees to English being the language of the Ph.D.

Selection Criteria

• The Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS) will verify the eligibility of each applicant and ensure the formal completeness of their application.
• Based on the quality of the written applications, interviews will be held in the second half of February 2025.
• Applicants will be evaluated according to the criteria listed below, using a 10-point scale to assess each criterion:
  • Quality and soundness of the written application
  • Quality and scientific relevance of the applicant’s research project
  • Organisation and added value of the cotutelle project
  • Importance and relevance of the research project to the applicant’s professional development
  • Value of the academic support provided by the applicant’s thesis supervisor(s)
  • Applicant’s professional competence to successfully complete the research project
  • Quality of the oral presentation
  • Overall assessment of the application

Application Requirements

• Academic CV (maximum 2 pages) in English Include the applicant’s contact details (personal and professional e-mail addresses and phone numbers).
• Cover letter (maximum 2 pages) in English Outline the applicant’s motivation for applying for the fellowship, present the research subject, and explain why the applicant wishes to conduct research at the specific foreign university.
• Project Description (maximum 2 pages, with references on the 3rd page) in English Provide an overview of the research topic, outlining the research objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. Include a detailed study plan with a timeline. Provide the names and contact details of both the Czech and French supervisors, as well as the expected dates of each stay abroad.
• Signed Recommendation Letter from the Supervisor at the Home University (on institutional letterhead) The letter should confirm the supervisor’s support for the research project and their agreement to joint supervision. Written in English, it should specify the expected dates of the student’s stay at the foreign institution and highlight the student’s academic qualities and research work. The letter should also explain the benefit of conducting the research under the cotutelle framework.
• Signed Recommendation Letter from the Supervisor at the Foreign University (on institutional letterhead) This letter should confirm the supervisor’s agreement with the student’s research project, their willingness to host the student, and their commitment to joint supervision. It should be written in English and include the expected dates of each stay abroad. The letter should explain the reasons for establishing the cotutelle (e.g. complementarity of expertise) and outline any potential success factors.
• Transcript of the Most Recent Academic Achievements Provide a transcript of records or a copy of the Diploma Supplement issued by the university, covering the most recently completed degree programme.

For more information, visit French Institute in Prague.