Chateaubriand Fellowships
Questions & Answers
Before any call and answers about the Chateaubriand fellowships, check all the questions below.
WARNING : If your contact in our Office gives you an information that is different from what is written below, the given information is prevailing on whatever is written on this website.
*** Supported area ***
1. Q: I am a PHd /post-doc candidate, I want to do a PHd:post-doc in business administration or management or economics. Can I apply to your program ?
A: No, we don’t support business studies
2. Q: I would like to ask if there is any theme/subject of this year’s fellowships.
A: No
3. Q: What are the criteria’s for receiving the fellowship?
A: Chateaubriand fellowships are dedicated to excellence in science
4. Q: My PhD diploma probably will not be ready before the deadline of the scholarship since I finished my PhD on September this year. Can I enclose some other document approving that I have finished my PhD?
A: You have to send a document attesting that you have finished all your studies duties for the PhD diploma and indicate the approximate date you will get it.
5. Q: Do I need to send the grade sheets for undergraduate studies as well?
A: Send only grades for the highest diploma you have.
6. Q: It seems that this fellowship excludes students from humanities and social sciences, is it right ?
A: Yes, the Chateaubriand Fellowship is not targeted for humanities and social sciences. It supports exact sciences only.
7. Q: I would like to ask if there are any other fellowships available in your scientific office that could be relevant for my research.
A: The French Embassy offers only 1 fellowship for Israelis citizens and that’s the Chateaubriand. We don’t support any other scientific travel/research for doctorates and post-doc.
8. Q: Is there a list of previous winners of the scholarship so I can gauge my chances?
A: The list of the winners is for internal use only. But, FYI, the main criteria for being accepted is excellence.
*** Nationality / place of studies / duration ***
9. Q: I was wondering if Chateaubriand is the right fellowship for me as I also have a French citizenship (although have left France since I was very young and never lived there since) is it a problem?
A: You can not apply if you have French citizenship. Chateaubriand fellowship is for Israeli citizens only.
10. Q: I have never studied in Israel. I began my studies in France. I have French diploma but I am Israeli. Can I apply ?
A: If you have the Israeli nationality only (and not the double nationality French-Israeli), then you can apply.
11. Q: Can you help me with making the first contact with a French institution/ lab/ university?
A: No, you have to make the contact with a laboratory/ university in France in order to do your post-doc there. We are not making the contact for you and don’t provide any information.
12. Q: I would like to apply to Chateaubriand fellowship and I would like to ask if it is possible for me, as an Israeli who just started a post doc in a french laboratory. That means that I will apply for my 2nd year as a post-doc in the french lab. Can I apply or it is restricted to 1st year postdoc only?
A: If you get a fellowship from any other source (French laboratory, Israeli university, etc…) during the 2nd year of your post doc, you can’t apply for Chateaubraind. If you get a fellowship (French laboratory, Israeli university, etc…) only during the 1st year of your post doc, you are eligible to apply for Chateaubriand for the 2nd year. You can’t cumulate fellowships.
13. Q: I wanted to ask whether it’s possible to apply for a shorter period (3-6 months), since my project should partially be performed in Israel.
A: The Chateaubriand fellowship is purposed to be for 1 year. However, sometimes if the Attaché for Science of the Embassy decides so (for academics reasons), it can be for 6 months (minimum). Therefore, we suggest you to send your application ASAP and to mention which dates fit you the best.
14. Q: I would like to ask if it’s possible to come back to Israel during my stay in France in order to perform experiments in Israel during the year.
A: You can come back for experiments in Israel only for short period of time and if your laboratory/manager in France allows that and of course you or your lab will have to pay all the expenses.
15. Q: Can I begin my fellowship before Oct. the 1st ?
A: No, you can’t begin your fellowship before Oct. the 1st
16. Q: Can I travel to France and live there before Oct. the 1st ?
A: Yes, you can, but under 4 conditions:
- You have to inform us as soon as you have your date of departure
- You have to attend an interview in French with the Attaché for Science at the French Embassy, before leaving Israel.
- You will not get any financial support during the period before Oct. the 1st
- You have to mention in your application form that you want a fellowship for a different period of time.
17. Q: Can I begin my fellowship after Oct. the 1st?
A: Yes, but under 2 conditions:
- You have to mention it in your application form that you want a fellowship for a different period of time.
- The fellowships ends anyway on september 30thYou will never get the fellowshiafter Sept. 30th next year, which means you will loose a part of the fellowship (example: if you begin your fellowship on December the 1st (instead of October the 1st), you will loose 2 months and you fellowship will end anyway on September the 30th next year)
Q: Is there’s a possibility of working in France in several non-continuous periods as this option better suits the nature of our research?
A: No, there is no possibility to apply for non-continuous periods; however there is the possibility to ask for a shorter period (such as ½ year for instance). Please the exact period you would like to get the fellowship.
*** Documents you have to provide / conditions to be an applicant***
Q: Is it mandatory to provide 3 letters of references, or is possible to send only 2 such letters?
A: Mandatory 3 letters (not from your hosting institution)
Q: Is there an age limit for applying to Chateaubriand fellowship?
A: No
Q: Is this fellowship is available for married women with children ?
A: Yes, you can apply, however the health insurance you will get is for you only.
Q: I would appreciate a hint as to what the letter of agreement from my host laboratory should include. Is a brief statement sufficient, or is a longer letter expressing emphatic interest in my project better?
A: The letter of agreement should be of about 10/20 lines, explaining shortly their willingness to host you and their appreciation that your project indeed enters into their fields of research/interest/etc…
Q: I haven’t been asked to present an academic transcript by anyone in many years. Is this necessary, even post-Ph.D.?
A: It is mandatory to join your highest diploma to the application file! It should be in English or French only.
Q: Can I ask from the laboratory in France that will host me to write a recommendation letter for me?
A: NO, it is forbidden to get recommendation letters from the hosting institution.
Q: I saw in the application that I have to list a university and scientist in Israel. What does that mean?
A: Normally, you should be registered in a university in Israel, but if you don’t, you need to explain why.
Q: How do I add a photo and a signature on the form? Should I print, sign, add a photo and scan?
A: Scan your photo and your signature please
*** Sending the documents to apply ***
Q: Can the recommendation letters be sent directly by e-mail, for the discreteness?
A: Yes
Q: Can I split the documents needed for the fellowship?
A: No possibility to split the file (all documents have to arrive together by mail)
Q: I’m sending everything by email, do I still have to send 4 copies etc. ?
A: Only 1 copy by email
Q: Can I post my candidature to the address of the embassy as indicated on the web-site?
A: No, all needs to arrive by email, in 1 email and not split
Q: Is there a possibility to e-mail the application with all details and upon approval supply all authentic documents?
A: NO!
Q: Can I ask you to postpone the submission of my candidature later than the final deadline?
A: No
Questions relative to candidates who got the fellowship:
Q: Who will be covered by the Health insurance provided by EGIDE?
A: Only you, as you are the one who gets the fellowship. Regarding your family, they should take care of that by themselves. More details about your health insurance you can find in the site of EGIDE:
http://www.egide.asso.fr/jahia/Jahia/site/egide/lang/fr/nos_services
Q: What will be my status ?
A: Your status will be of :”boursier du gouvernement français”.
*** Visa ***
Q: To whom and where to apply for a visa?
A: Only the Consulate General of France in Tel Aviv is competent to handle visa applications from residents in Haifa and its surroundings.
You must make an appointment via the internet to the Consulate General of France in Tel Aviv here.
The website proposes you available days and hours, select a date that suits you.
Persons residing in Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories must deposit their visa applications at the Consulate General of France in Jerusalem.
Note: When you arrive at the consulate, you must have the complete file and the application form must be already completed.
Q: How to build my case?
A: Visa applicants must provide their file respecting the information sheet on the visa category corresponding to the pattern of their stay in France. You must classify your documents in the order specified.
About information sheets :
The “information sheet” indicates the documents you need to provide (the Consulate may requires additional documents if necessary). These records are available on the website of the Consulate General of France.
Q: How long before I left for France should I apply for my visa?
A: You can request that the validity date of your visa begins either the day of deliverance, or to another date within three months from the date of issue.
Thus, you can apply for a visa up to three months before the date of your departure to France. WARNING: Between the demand for long-term visa (> 90 days) and its issue, it takes a minimum of a week. Do not wait too long to apply.
Q: How much costs a long-term visa?
A: You have no charge to advance. A letter from the Scientific Office will allow you to get the visa for free.
Q: I can’t get to my appointment at Consulate General of France, what to do?
A: You can modify your appointment here. To do this you will need the identification number assigned to your request for an appointment and your passport number.
Q: Can I send my application or an additional document by mail or fax?
A: NO. All documents must be presented at your appointment at the consulate.Note: You must not send file to the visa department, or any other, unless it’s on the written request of the visa department.
Q: How to know the status of my application?
A: To know the status of your application, please click here. WARNING: This service allows you to know the status of your application (the file is processed or in process). In no case, the service tells you if your visa has been accepted or refused. When your applications has been processed, you can contact the Visa department (03 520 85 08) to see if it is accepted.
Q: Can I extend my stay in France after the visa expires?
A: If you stay on French territory after the expiration of your visa, you may have to pay a fine or be notified when you leave French territory. The consulate will then process your possible future applications for visas taking into account your illegal stay in France.
Therefore, if you think you are compelled to extend your stay in France after the expiration of your visa for some important reasons, you must, before the end of validity of your visa:
• apply for a “visa extension” to the Préfecture of the place you are living in and present evidences,
• respect the decision of the prefectural authority.
