Becoming a Tenured Academic in France

In France, the majority of senior lecturers and professors (enseignants-chercheurs) are permanent civil servants.
Their recruitment takes place in two stages: qualification by CNU (Conseil national des universités) and competitive examinations. Find out more about the profession and recruitment of enseignants-chercheurs in France.

What is an enseignant-chercheur in France?

How to become an enseignant-chercheur?

What is a qualification CNU and why is it necessary?

Eligibility Criteria

Updated on  September 22, 2025