Students holding a "research" master's degree (or equivalent) can prepare a PhD within graduate schools. The teams of the Life Sciences Division (Direction des sciences du vivant – DSV) act as "host laboratories" for approximately twenty graduate schools that depend on the partner universities (Paris Sud, Joseph Fourier (Grenoble), Aix-Marseille, etc.).

The DSV provides its doctoral students with a stimulating environment for conducting basic or applied research in the fields of energy and health. This takes place within a multidisciplinary culture that is partnered with other research organizations, renowned universities and industry. The DSV enables them to benefit from the equipment, platforms and expertise of its eight institutes.

Each year, approximately 80 French and foreign students enroll in graduate schools of universities partnered with the DSV, and begin a thesis at the DSV funded through different sources. These sources can include the CEA with its Irtelis competition, the graduate schools, Europe, external laboratory funding, industry, and local governments.

The proposed thesis topics are available on the website of the National Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology (INSTN).