How to Succeed with Your IUF Application: Tips from Florent Masson

Each year, the Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) awards 200 faculty members a five-year term, which includes a reduced teaching load and dedicated funding. Florent Masson, a professor of private law at UPHF and one of the recipients, shares his tips for maximizing your chances.

1. An ambitious but realistic project

For Florent Masson, the key lies in striking a balance between ambition and realism. The IUF seeks out fundamental projects that could not be carried out without its support. “You have to ask yourself: Could I carry out this project without the IUF? If the answer is yes, then it probably doesn’t meet the IUF’s criteria,” he explains.
His own project, at the intersection of law, legal history, and anthropology, illustrates this requirement. It explores societies where the relationship to property is based not on ownership but on usage rights (e.g., customary rights in Africa and South America; water management under French law). “The challenge is to show that the model of private property, although deeply rooted in culture, is technically on the verge of collapse in the face of future challenges, particularly environmental ones,” he explains.

The Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) is a prestigious institution that supports research excellence in France. Each year, 200 faculty members are selected for a five-year term, during which they receive a two-thirds reduction in their teaching load and dedicated research funding.

2. Anticipate feedback and rewrite

Florent Masson applied twice. His first attempt in 2025 was rejected, but the detailed feedback (scores based on 6 criteria: 3 for the project, 3 for the profile) helped him identify his weaknesses: “My project wasn’t mature enough, not impactful enough.”
His advice:
• Don’t wait for the results (announced in May–June) to try again. “You only have four months to revise your application before the next round. You have to plan ahead.”
• Rewrite your project proposal several times: “I rewrote mine three times. Each revision helps refine the wording and make it more precise. ”
• Have your proposal reviewed by IUF awardees, ideally in your field: “Their feedback is invaluable because they have the necessary perspective to identify potential issues in the proposal.”

3. Make Your Project Accessible

The reviewers aren’t necessarily experts in your field. “You have to be able to explain your project to a broad audience, especially in the humanities and social sciences,” emphasizes Florent Masson. His project, for example, addresses universal themes (property, the environment) that are current issues and resonate with the general public.

4. Take Advantage of the Benefits of the IUF

If the application is successful, the benefits are significant:
• A reduction in teaching load (by two-thirds), allowing the recipient to devote time to research.
• An annual budget of €15,000 (to be used at the recipient’s discretion), which is particularly valuable in the fields of law and the social sciences and humanities.
• The opportunity to organize collaborative projects: Florent Masson uses these resources to lead interdisciplinary research, resulting in concrete outputs (collective publications, translations, open-access databases).

In summary

According to Florent Masson, a successful application to the IUF depends on:
✅ An innovative and credible project grounded in basic research.
✅ Meticulous preparation, including targeted rewrites and proofreading.
✅ Clear communication that is accessible to everyone.
✅ Forward thinking, so you can bounce back quickly in the event of a rejection.

"The IUF offers a unique opportunity to push the boundaries of research."

Learn More

Check out the IUF's calls for applications and get started today! » > IUF website