Senior Lecturer and Professor Competitive Examinations
Senior lecturers (tenured associate professors) and professors have the dual role of developing fundamental and applied research while passing on the resulting knowledge to students. Every year, we recruit them through competitive examinations, either following the campaign run by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (session synchronisée), or as part of our own campaign (fil de l'eau).
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted through the Odyssée platform, managed by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
Applicants must have obtained a qualification CNU.
We strongly recommend that candidates apply early, and not near the closing date.
Incomplete applications by the deadline will be declared inadmissible and won't be assessed by selection committees.
Applicants must have obtained a qualification CNU.
We strongly recommend that candidates apply early, and not near the closing date.
Incomplete applications by the deadline will be declared inadmissible and won't be assessed by selection committees.
Please be advised that:
- Applicants must make sure that their file contains all the requested documents.
- We cannot communicate with applicants through the Odyssée platform. As a result, in the event of an issue with any document, we won't be able to notify them.
- Any incomplete file will be declared inadmissible. Applicants will be informed on the status of their application(s) after the closing date.
- Applicants must make sure that their file contains all the requested documents.
- We cannot communicate with applicants through the Odyssée platform. As a result, in the event of an issue with any document, we won't be able to notify them.
- Any incomplete file will be declared inadmissible. Applicants will be informed on the status of their application(s) after the closing date.
2026 CNU Qualification Campaign
Timeline
From 3 November 2025 to 15 December 2025 (4:00pm): Applications through Odyssée
From 26 January to 20 February 2026: CNU sections' meetings
23 March 2026: Results
Additional information
> Download detailed qualification timeline (in French)
> Download list of required documents (in French)
> Download general information sheet regarding the 2026 campaign (in French), also available on Galaxie.
To apply for this campaign, log in to Odyssée.
From 3 November 2025 to 15 December 2025 (4:00pm): Applications through Odyssée
From 26 January to 20 February 2026: CNU sections' meetings
23 March 2026: Results
Additional information
> Download detailed qualification timeline (in French)
> Download list of required documents (in French)
> Download general information sheet regarding the 2026 campaign (in French), also available on Galaxie.
To apply for this campaign, log in to Odyssée.
2026 UGA Recruitment Campaign Timeline
3 March 2026 - 10:00am (Paris time): Applications open on Odyssée
2 April 2026 - 4:00pm (paris time): Application deadline on Odyssée
From 20 April to 22 May 2026: Selection committees' meetings (candidates shortlisting and interviews)
From 16 June to 23 June 2026: Selected candidates input posting preferences on Odyssée
24 June: Results
2 April 2026 - 4:00pm (paris time): Application deadline on Odyssée
From 20 April to 22 May 2026: Selection committees' meetings (candidates shortlisting and interviews)
From 16 June to 23 June 2026: Selected candidates input posting preferences on Odyssée
24 June: Results
Administrative Documents Required
The list of documents required to apply to senior lecturer and professor positions is determined by the decree of 6th February 2023.
> Please see the decree of 6th February 2023 concerning the general terms and conditions for senior lecturers' and professors' transfer, secondment and competitive exams.
> For a detailed list of documents depending on your situation, please see the Galaxie portal, managed by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
Caution:
- For 46-3 PR positions: applicants must prove that they are eligible (i.e., that they have worked at least 10 years in higher education, 5 of them as a tenured senior lecturer (MCF titulaire)). They must provide us with a Certificate of Service (attestation de services), issued by their institution's HR Department and dated 2026. Any other document will be declared invalid. Candidates who are employed by UGA: please contact the Gestion carrière et paie department.
- For applicants for 46-1 professor positions: Senior lecturers (MCF) who work in France and don't have a qualification CNU must provide us with their Certificate of Appointment as an Established Official (arrêté de titularisation).
> Please see the decree of 6th February 2023 concerning the general terms and conditions for senior lecturers' and professors' transfer, secondment and competitive exams.
> For a detailed list of documents depending on your situation, please see the Galaxie portal, managed by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
Caution:
- For 46-3 PR positions: applicants must prove that they are eligible (i.e., that they have worked at least 10 years in higher education, 5 of them as a tenured senior lecturer (MCF titulaire)). They must provide us with a Certificate of Service (attestation de services), issued by their institution's HR Department and dated 2026. Any other document will be declared invalid. Candidates who are employed by UGA: please contact the Gestion carrière et paie department.
- For applicants for 46-1 professor positions: Senior lecturers (MCF) who work in France and don't have a qualification CNU must provide us with their Certificate of Appointment as an Established Official (arrêté de titularisation).