Doctoral Studies in France

1. Supervision

Scientific Board or Supervisor?
Scientific board. The student has the same personal supervisor during its thesis work on an active research area.

Subject Assignment?
Subject assigned in the beginning of doctoral studies, by agreement between the student, supervisor and the Scientific Board.

Duration?
3 years

Who can be a Supervisor?

• Any professor/lecturer in the department
• Any internal or external researchers but one of the supervisors should be a Full Professor or Associate Professor with Habilitation, or researcher from the CNRS (National Centre for
  Research) with Habilitation.

2. Development

Courseware?
Yes

Course Work:
In some Universities (Nancy), the students have to take course work during their doctoral degree preparation. The course work is not assessed by examinations. There are two specialist graduate courses and a professional course (English for Science, meeting with industrials).

Presentation of Work:

• In the department;
• At national conferences ;
• At international conferences.

3. Thesis

Submission of Doctoral Written Thesis:

• Language normally used: FRANCH. Alternative language: subject to availability by faculty;
• No credits allocated to the doctoral thesis;
• The doctoral thesis is a previously unpublished substantial written report.
  

Oral Presentation of Thesis Work:

• Language normally used: FRENCH. In some cases there can be use of alternative languages (international juries, bi-national thesis);
• Oral presentation for an open audience and with oral examination at open doors ;
• Duration: typical duration of 1.45-2 hours with no formal upper limit.

4. Examination

Thesis Examination Board:

• Composition: two internal examiners, three to four external examiners among whom two “rapporteurs” who should comment in detail the content of the thesis;
• Selection by the supervisor and then assessed by the Scientific Board of the “École Doctorale” (Department for Doctoral Studies).
  

Evaluation:

• Mark based on the reading of the thesis and the oral presentation of the thesis work, with no grading system for the doctoral degree.
  
• If the student fails it may resubmit revised thesis (only the manuscript) but may not do further work if the authorization of presentation of the thesis has been given by the "rapporteur“ in the pre- evaluation, on the written document . If the thesis is to be re-submitted there is no time specification, because this situation is very rare.