Created in 1975, at the initiative of Fernand Braudel, the “Associate Study Directors” (DEA) program is the oldest international mobility program of the Maison des sciences de l'homme Foundation.
Starting in 2024, this program will be organized in partnership with the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS). It will continue to invite foreign scientific figures from all continents for a period of four to six weeks to support their work in the SHS in France, as well as the creation of international research networks and contact with researchers on site.
Mobility to all research centers in France is eligible.
This program supports up to 60 projects per year; its selection rate is approximately 30 %. The selection committee pays close attention to applications from countries where funding for the SHS is limited and to researchers for whom a stay in France represents an important opportunity to build scientific collaborations.
Financial terms
A €3,400 allowance is awarded to cover travel and accommodation costs. In addition, the FMSH provides assistance in obtaining visas to France and logistical support (help in finding accommodation and accessing libraries).
Eligibility criteria
• The program is exclusively intended for university professors or equivalents working in higher education and research establishments.
• Applicants must be under 65 years of age at the time of their stay.
• Priority is given to projects requiring fieldwork (surveys, work in libraries or archives, etc.) in France.
• No stay serving solely for the writing of an article or a book will be financed.

Selection criteria and process
The projects will be assessed in particular with regard to the following elements:
• The scientific quality of the project and the method developed;
• The need to come to France in light of the planned project;
• The feasibility of the project during the duration of the stay in France.
Once assessed, the applications will be selected by a committee composed of members of the Board of Directors and scientific directors of the FMSH, a research professor and a member of the Presidency of the EHESS and specialists from outside the two institutions.
The results will be communicated to applicants no later than November 2023.
Application file elements and timetable
1. A curriculum vitae of 4 pages maximum (including date of birth);
2. A list of scientific publications;
3. A 4-5 page research project with the dates of stay and a bibliography;
4. A detailed work plan including in particular the contacts to be made in France, the archive funds and libraries to be consulted, the stages of the investigation to be undertaken, etc.;
5. A letter of support from a research laboratory in France showing the integration of the invited person in this laboratory during their stay.
6. Provide a single PDF file, with the documents in the following order:
• resume
• list of scientific publications;
• research project and bibliography;
• work plan;
• letter of support

Applications that are not submitted, incomplete or do not meet the criteria mentioned above will not be considered.
Applications must be submitted on the platform: http://programmes.msh-paris.fr
On the platform, in your online application for the DEA program, clearly indicate the year of the call: “2024” and the call session: “April-June 2023”.
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