Habilitation to Supervise Research (HDR)

Applications may be submitted to only one institution during the same academic year. Candidates who have already been registered for this diploma at another establishment must indicate this.

The application for registration is examined by the President of Avignon University, who takes a decision on a proposal from the Research Commission, sitting in a formation restricted to persons qualified to direct research.

As stipulated in the amended decree of 23 November 1988, the candidate may choose a "research supervisor", although this is not compulsory. This research supervisor may be chosen from among the staff qualified to supervise research working at Avignon University or in another higher education establishment or research organisation.

To apply for the HDR, candidates should contact the HDR Manager (gestion-hdr@univ-avignon.fr) to find out about Avignon Université's internal process. This covers the various stages, from application to examination, and includes precise administrative formalities and deadlines.

The applicant, in conjunction with his/her "research management" (if applicable), must also identify an external rapporteur, i.e. someone from outside the laboratory and Avignon University. This rapporteur will draw up an opinion based on a summary of the applicant's scientific activity, including in particular his or her research work, publications, scientific and teaching activities and administrative responsibilities. For applicants from a non-academic background, the last two elements are replaced by a presentation of professional experience.

Finally, the "research supervisor" must, if there is one, produce a report justifying the application for registration. Both the external rapporteur and the research supervisor must hold an HDR.

At the initial application stageto the following address gestion-hdr@univ-avignon.fr the following items:

• The summary of its scientific activity (in electronic format),
• The registration form (available to download online),
• As well as written, reasoned reports on the authorisation of registration, drawn up by the external rapporteur and, where applicable, by the research direction.

The complete application (detailed CV, appendix A and reports) is then examined by the Research Committee sitting in a formation restricted to persons qualified to direct research. Transfer to gestion-hdr@univ-avignon.fr by the candidate of the various elements of this file must be completed at least fifteen days before the meeting of the Restricted Search Committee (RSC).

Once authorisation has been obtained (appendix A validated by the CRR), the candidate will receive an e-mail to finalise registration for the diploma (payment of fees). Please note registration is valid for one academic year only. If the candidate is unable to support the application, she will have to submit a new application for authorisation to enrol for the following academic year.

The application includes one or more published or typed works, or a portfolio of work, together with a summary of the candidate's scientific activity, highlighting his or her experience in leading research.

Authorisation to appear before the jury is granted by the president of Avignon Université on the recommendation of the research commission sitting in a formation restricted to persons qualified to direct research. To this end, the President entrusts the task of examining the candidate's work to three "scientific" rapporteurs chosen for their competence, at least two of whom must be qualified to direct research. Two of these rapporteurs must be external to the applicant's institution and laboratory. The "external" rapporteur initially appointed to report on the application may also be a "scientific" rapporteur.

The Research Committee, sitting in a formation restricted to persons qualified to direct research, appoints these three "scientific" rapporteurs from a list of three proposals drawn up by the candidate, in conjunction with his or her research department if one exists (HDR appendix B). This proposal for rapporteurs may be presented to the Research Committee sitting in a formation restricted to persons qualified to direct research at the registration application stage, particularly when the application file is very well developed.

The process leading to authorisation of the defence can only begin when the HDR manager is in possession of appendices A and B, duly completed and signed by the President of the Université d'Avignon, the administrative registration and the final application file (sent electronically). Once these conditions have been met, the HDR manager will be responsible for contacting the 3 rapporteurs and sending them the application file. Within 3 weeks of receiving the application files, the referees will give their opinion on whether or not to authorise the defence, in the form of a written, reasoned report.

The Research Committee, sitting in a formation restricted to persons qualified to direct research, will decide on the application to defend the thesis on the basis of the scientific reports. In all cases, an incompressible period of 2 months must elapse between the Research Committee's examination of the application for registration and the application to defend the thesis. These reports will be sent to the candidate by the HDR manager and may be consulted by any person authorised to supervise research.

After a favourable opinion from the President of Avignon Université, the candidate's work is presented at an oral examination before a panel of experts. jury of at least five members. These members are chosen from :

• Teachers qualified to direct research in public higher education establishments,
• Directors and researchers of scientific and technological establishments.

The jury must comply with the following conditions:

• Being composed at least half of whom are professors or equivalent,
• Count at least half external members to the candidate's home institution,
• Incorporate, as far as possible, a balanced representation of men and women,
• Include foreign personalities if you wish.

All members of the jury must hold an HDR, with the exception of foreign personalities.

The jury is appointed by the President of Avignon University, on the recommendation of the Research Committee sitting in a formation restricted to persons qualified to direct research. For this purpose, a list of members drawn up by the candidate, in conjunction with his/her "research supervisor" if he/she has chosen one (HDR appendix C), is proposed to the Restricted Research Commission. This proposal may be presented to the Restricted Research Committee at the stage of examining the "scientific" rapporteurs or at a later stage.

Whenever possible, the examination will be held on the premises of Avignon Université. In certain exceptional circumstances, the viva may be held by total or partial videoconference.

The HDR manager is responsible for the practical organisation of the oral examination (booking the room, audiovisual equipment). There must be a minimum of 15 days between the Université d'Avignon President's approval of the defence and the oral defence before the jury.

At the end of the oral defence, the chair of the jury will submit or email the final report (appendix D), signed by all the members of the jury, to the HDR manager.

Once the signed appendix D has been received, the HDR manager will send a copy to the candidate with a link to the request for withdrawal of the diploma to the Direction des Études et de la Scolarité of Avignon Université.