Chapter 3 of Programme Vinci is run by the Université Franco Italienne / Università Italo Francese. It co-funds three-year doctoral positions for cotutelle theses leading to a double or joint French–Italian doctorate.
The director of the main doctoral school (or a delegate) applies with a thesis project. The doctoral candidate is recruited afterwards and enrols the following academic year. The 2026 call closed on 16 February 2026; the call is published every year.
Benefits & funding
- France: 2 doctoral contracts; the doctoral school receives the amount of a standard contrat doctoral.
- Italy: 3 borse triennali, each co-funded up to €78,508.98 gross; the Italian university covers any shortfall.
- Three years of doctoral funding.
- The holder must spend at least 6 months (can be split) at the partner university.
Eligibility
- Applicant: the director of the main doctoral school, or a delegate, at a French or Italian institution authorised to award a state-recognised doctorate.
- The thesis must lead to a double or joint doctorate under a cotutelle agreement.
- The doctoral candidate is chosen later by the doctoral school under national rules and enrols from the academic year after the application; in Italy the selection board tests French.
- No nationality, residence or age rule is stated.
Can you apply?
Check who can apply
“Seuls les établissements d’Enseignement supérieur et de recherche français et italiens habilités à la délivrance du diplôme de doctorat reconnu par l’Etat peuvent candidater.” Eligibility
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Application process
- 1Submit the Chapter 3 application online, in French and Italian, while the call is open (2026: 15 December 2025 – 16 February 2026, 12:00 Paris time).
- 2Leave out anything that identifies the future doctoral candidate, or the project is inadmissible.
- 3If selected, recruit the candidate and send the signed cotutelle agreement to the UFI/UIF secretariat; in Italy the funding is paid only if it arrives on time.
Program timeline
15 December 2025
2026 call opened
16 February 2026, 12:00 Paris time
2026 deadline
June 2026
2026 results
funded doctorates start
Academic year 2026–27