How can I be hosted by an institution in France?

• Higher education and research institutions under the aegis of the French ministry for Higher Education and Research;
• EESPIG-designated private higher education institutions;
• Institutions or structures under the aegis of the French Ministry of Culture.

You are eligible for the PAUSE programme whatever your geographical origin (outside the European Union) or discipline if you meet all of the following criteria:

• Be able to prove doctoral student (with a thesis in progress and interrupted due to an urgent situation), researcher, teacher-researcher or artist-teacher status in your country of origin;
• Be in a crisis situation due to the security situation in your country of origin and/or persecution or fear of persecution due to your ethnicity, religion, political convictions, opinions, sexual orientation, or the content of your research and/or teaching. Economic emergency does not fall within the scope of the program;
  
• Being forced to go into exile from your country of origin, or have been in France for less than three years.
  

| Applicants must not be older than retirement age; where applicable, institutions must ensure that they are able to sign a contract covering the period of the candidate's hosting |

To receive support from the PAUSE programme, you must first identify a higher education or research institution which can potentially host you. This institution will prepare and submit your application to the PAUSE programme. This involves submitting a co-funding application in response to one of the three annual calls for applications.

At the end of the hosting period, both you and your host institution must submit a review form to the PAUSE programme.

If you already have contacts in the French academic or artistic community:

We recommend that you directly contact institutions that meet the PAUSE programme eligibility criteria to inform them of your emergency situation.

If you do not have any contacts in the French academic or artistic community:

For scientists:
The PAUSE programme can provide guidance in searching for a host institution. See "How can I get help finding a host institution?" to learn more.

For artists:
The Atelier des artistes en exil, a partner of the PAUSE programme, can accompany you in your project in France. You can contact them at contact@aa-e.org.

How can I access this help?

The application form (in French, in English) filled in online must be accompanied by the following supporting documents:

• The detailed curriculum vitae including the list of the publications;
• The presentation of the research project ;
  
• The document justifying the status as a researcher or teacher-researcher;
• The personal testimony on the situation of danger;
• The sworn statement completed and signed. Download the sworn statement;
• The copy of passport and/or residence permit.

The PAUSE programme verifies your eligibility based on your status and the urgency of your situation. If you are eligible, the PAUSE team will provide you with guidance in identifying a suitable institution and will add your profile to an anonymous list of eligible applications, which is sent to institutions wishing to host researchers in exile.

What form does this help take?

The PAUSE program shares your profile with its network of partner institutions willing to host a researcher at risk. The program guides you in identifying laboratories working in your field of expertise.

Your eligibility for the PAUSE program does not guarantee that an institution will apply on your behalf. Therefore, with the PAUSE team's support, you will have to approach institutions whose research areas correspond to yours and who might be interested in your profile. It implies a real commitment on your end in the research process.

What happens once I have identified an institution?

The institution must submit an application in response to one of three annual calls for applications, or via the emergency procedure if required in your situation.

Applications are evaluated by the PAUSE programme Scientific Committee according to the following criteria:

• The level of urgency of the risk experienced by the applicant;
• The quality of the scientific or artistic project;
• The social and professional support system.
  

| Incomplete applications will not be considered |

The PAUSE programme Executive Committee validates applications on the basis of referrals from the Scientific Committee. Its decisions are final.

You will be informed of the PAUSE programme’s decision directly by the host institution.

Given the sensitive nature of your data and communications with your host institution and the PAUSE programme, the following measures have been put in place:

• Supporting documents submitted with the application which could be used to identify you (passport, residence permit) will be neutralized by the institution by adding the word “specimen” as a watermark or manually. This prevents identity theft if these documents are intercepted online.
• Applications by email will not be accepted. Institutions can only submit applications via the secure application platform.
• If you have particular confidentiality constraints, please contact the PAUSE team which will set up a secure email communication procedure.