Call for applications - 2026 doctoral thesis award
The Department of Research and Education of the musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac seeks to encourage and support research based on its collections, as well as research on the past and present of non-European societies and their relationships with Europe. Eligible disciplines include anthropology, history, art history, archaeology, sociology, and related fields and disciplines.
To this end, one or two doctoral thesis awards, each consisting of a €4,000 publication grant, will be awarded this year to doctoral dissertations distinguished by their scholarly merit and originality.
Eligible theses must have been written in French or English and successfully defended between 1 January and 31 December 2025 (inclusive).
Applications will be evaluated by the Scientific Evaluation Committee of the musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, whose membership can be consulted here.
How to apply
Applications for the 2026 musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac Doctoral Thesis Award must be submitted via the online application form available at: https://demarche.numerique.gouv.fr/commencer/test-candidature-au-prix-de-these-du-musee-du-quai.
Applicants must provide the following documents:
- A thesis abstract (maximum two pages).
- The thesis examination report. If your university does not issue a thesis examination report, please upload the examiners' reports as a single PDF file. If your institution's doctoral examination process does not include any form of examination report, you may indicate this in the online application form.
- Two letters of recommendation. At least one letter must be written by a scholar who did not supervise your doctoral research. Some referees may prefer to send their letter directly to the office responsible for administering the award. In that case, the referee should send the letter by email to prix.these@quaibranly.fr before the application deadline.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Doctoral diploma or an official certificate confirming the award of the doctoral degree.
- Repatriation or restitution project/report (optional). If applicable, and if your research has involved or will involve a restitution project, you may submit a description of the project in a document of no more than two pages.
- A copy of the thesis manuscript. Where relevant, you may also upload a second volume or appendices as a separate file.
To be considered, applications must be submitted no later than Sunday, 30 August 2026, 11:59 p.m. (Paris time).
The results will be published on the museum's website in mid-November.
If you have any questions or encounter difficulties submitting your application, please contact: prix.these@quaibranly.fr.