I am currently a PhD student
On this page you will find all the information you need for your doctoral studies at Avignon University.
In accordance with the decree of 26 August 2022 amending the decree of 25 May 2016, the doctoral student's individual monitoring committee ensures that the programme is progressing smoothly, based on the doctoral charter and the training agreement.
The doctoral student's individual monitoring committee provides support for the student throughout the duration of the doctorate. It must meet before registration in the second year and then before each new registration until the end of the PhD.
The interviews are organised in three distinct stages:
1. Presentation of progress and discussion,
2. interview with the doctoral student without the thesis director,
3. interview with the thesis director without the doctoral student.
During the interview with the doctoral student, the committee assesses the conditions of his/her training and the progress of his/her research. During this same interview, it is particularly vigilant in identifying any form of conflict, discrimination, moral or sexual harassment or sexist behaviour. It makes recommendations and sends a report of the interview to the director of the doctoral school, the doctoral student and the thesis director.
In case of difficulty, the doctoral student's individual monitoring committee alerts the doctoral school, which takes any necessary measures concerning the doctoral student's situation and the progress of the doctorate.
The Monitoring Committee is composed of
2. scientist(s) from outside the Doctoral School and Avignon University;
3. personality(ies) from outside the host unit and the field of the thesis.
The ISC report is to be completed during the committee by the laboratory director (or his/her representative) and sent only to gestion-ed@univ-avignon.fr with a copy to direction-ed536@univ-avignon.fr or direction-ed537@univ-avignon.fr
– ED 536 model report
– ED 537 model report
- In the case of confidential theses, a confidentiality agreement may be signed between the university and the external expert (contact: gestion-ed@univ-avignon.fr).
Before the first ISC is held, the full composition must be sent to the ED for validation using the dedicated form:
– Composition CSI - ED 537
– Composition CSI - ED 536
NB: The CSI external scientist may sit on the defence jury as an examiner, but not as a rapporteur.
Re-enrolment in years 2 and 3
Year 2023/2024: online registration opens on 1ᵉʳ July 2023 and closes on 30 November 2023
From the start of the 2023 academic year, registration for the 2ᵉ and 3ᵉ year of the thesis will be via the ADUM platform.
>> ADUM re-registration procedure
Re-enrolment by waiver
For part-time doctoral students: from year 7ᵉ onwards
- a letter from the doctoral student addressed to the President of the Université d'Avignon requesting a new registration and explaining the reasons that lead him/her to ask for an exemption
- a letter from the thesis director supporting the application
- a progress report: thesis manuscript with detailed summary
- supporting document in case of illness
>> Re-registration procedure by waiver
For this authorisation, the committee is particularly vigilant about the state of progress of the work and will base its decision on the opinion issued by the 3ᵉ year or 6ᵉ year thesis committee.
NB: this derogation can be granted to doctoral students who have an elective mandate in the university and component councils, who are employed (except for financed theses and for part-time doctoral students) on production of a certificate from their employer, who have been on sick leave (with supporting documents) and to doctoral students who have had a child during the thesis preparation period.
Schedule of exemption committees for 2023/2024: to come
Caesura
Period during which a doctoral student temporarily suspends his/her training and research activities in order to gain personal or professional experience outside the framework of his/her thesis in France or abroad.
> Termination arrangements
The forms of gap year (in France or abroad) are set out in Article D. 611-16 of the Education Code. The gap year may take one of the following forms:
1. Training in a field different from that of the course in which the student is registered;
2. Experience in a professional environment in France or abroad;
3. A civic service commitment in France or abroad, which may take the form of a voluntary service of international solidarity, an international voluntary service in an administration or company or a European voluntary service;
4. A project to create an activity as a student-entrepreneur.
A gap year cannot be requested for medical or health reasons.
When the doctoral studies are full-time, the gap can be taken at the beginning of the 2nd year of the doctoral studies but not at the end of the 3rd year. The gap year may be taken during the 4th year of the doctorate, when the doctorate is being prepared on a part-time basis. Only one gap period in the doctoral cycle is possible.
The student is registered at Avignon University as being in a gap year and is issued with a student card. He/she pays the registration fees at the reduced rate provided for in the appendix to the annual decree fixing the tuition fees as well as the student and campus life contribution before registration.
The form completed and accompanied by the supporting documents must be sent to the following e-mail address: gestion-ed@univ-avignon.fr.
There are two application sessions, in the spring and in the autumn. The deadlines for applications are set by each doctoral school.
Calendar
- 17 October 2023
- 10 November 2023
- 18 December 2023
From 1 January 2024, oral examinations will be organised via the ADUM platform. Upcoming procedure
Examination procedures
Beforehand, the ED checks that the candidate has fulfilled his/her training obligations.
Special condition for ED536 :
To be authorised to defend, the doctoral student must at least validate his/her research work by, depending on the disciplinary sector (see policy of the corresponding CNU sections):
an article submitted (with proof of submission) as first author in an international journal (indexed in the ISI database or referenced by the HCERES), or a patent application. Exceptions may be granted upon justification (e.g. theses with a confidentiality clause).
Stage 1: the rapporteurs (6 to 8 weeks before the defence)
Rapporteurs must be external to the ED and to the candidate's institution; they may belong to foreign higher education or research institutions. A person having participated in the undivided thesis monitoring committee or having signed one or several publications with the doctoral student during his/her thesis cannot be proposed as a rapporteur. He/she may, however, participate in the jury as an examiner, or even be jury president.
For any person proposed as a rapporteur who is not a rank A, a cv mentioning the date of obtaining the HDR must be provided.
The rapporteurs give their opinion in written reports on the basis of which the director of the ED authorises the defence. These reports are communicated to the jury and to the candidate before the defence.
NB Important The doctoral student must complete and return to the ED secretariat the authorisation form for the dissemination of the thesis (appendix C), a CV detailing his/her publications as well as his/her manuscript in a single file in PDF format. The cover page template must be used (only the first page is compulsory, the plan or the content can be adapted according to the disciplinary constraints or the wishes of each person).
The LaTex template is available on request by email to gestion-ed@univ-avignon.fr
The appendices can be downloaded from the doctoral student's ENT.
Stage 2: the full jury (4 weeks before the defence)
The number of jury members is between 4 and 8. It is composed of :
- at least half of the members must be from outside the ED and the candidate's institution of registration (subject to the specific provisions relating to international co-supervision of the thesis);
- at least half of the staff must be of rank A (university professors, research directors).
Its composition should ensure, as far as possible, a balanced representation of women and men.
They sign the defence report, which must however specify that the final decision was taken by the members of the jury, except for those involved in the direction of the thesis, the information sheet on your defence must be returned to the ED manager at least two weeks before the planned defence date.
Stage 3: The defence
The defence can be held in partial videoconference. The audiovisual service must be contacted by the doctoral student to set up the videoconference.
On the day of the defence, the members of the jury designate a president from among themselves (a rank A staff member). The thesis director may not be chosen as president of the jury.
The defence is public, unless an exception is granted by the head of the establishment if the subject of the thesis is of a proven confidential nature.
In its deliberations, the jury assesses the quality of the candidate's work and oral presentation, as well as his/her ability to discuss his/her results and their extensions in response to the jury's questions.
Exceptionally, and with the exception of its chairman, the members of the jury may take part in the defence by video-conference.
Admission to the doctoral degree or deferral is then pronounced.
Corrections to the manuscript (to be made within three months of the defence) may be requested from the candidate before the authorisation of reproduction and the delivery of the diploma.
The president draws up a report of the defence countersigned by each member of the jury. There is no longer any mention. The defence report is sent to the candidate within a month of the defence.
At the end of the defence and in case of admission, the doctor takes an oath, individually committing himself to respect the principles and requirements of scientific integrity in his future professional career, whatever the sector or field of activity.
The doctors' oath on scientific integrity is as follows:
"In the presence of my peers.
Having completed my doctorate in [xxx], and having thus practised, in my quest for knowledge, the exercise of demanding scientific research, cultivating intellectual rigour, ethical reflexivity and respect for the principles of scientific integrity, I undertake, insofar as I am concerned, in the continuation of my professional career, whatever the sector or field of activity, to maintain integrity in my relationship with knowledge, my methods and my results.
The English version of the oath :
"In the presence of my peers. With the completion of my doctorate in [research field], in my quest for knowledge, I have
carried out demanding research, demonstrated intellectual rigour, ethical reflection, and respect for the principles of research integrity. As I pursue my professional career, whatever my chosen field, I pledge, to the greatest of my ability, to continue to
maintain integrity in my relationship to knowledge, in my methods and in my results.
How is an oath taken?
According to the terms of the decree, the oath is taken individually during the defence, once the candidate has been declared admitted.
This stage of the defence is recorded in the minutes, according to the procedures defined by the institution.
To this end, Annex D (minutes) has been amended accordingly.
The jury president must specify on appendix D (by ticking the dedicated box) whether the doctoral student has taken an oath.
In exceptional circumstances, a doctoral defence may take place behind closed doors if the doctoral thesis is of a clearly confidential nature. In this case, the thesis must be subject to confidentiality undertakings by the rapporteurs and members of the Jury and, where applicable, confidentiality undertakings by the public invited to attend the defence. An embargo on the dissemination of the thesis, for a period greater than or equal to the period of confidentiality, must also be provided for. The request to hold the defence in camera must be made to the head of the institution, and the departments responsible for the legal deposit and distribution of theses must be informed of the decision.
Writing a thesis in a foreign language
If the application is accepted, the doctoral student must accompany his/her foreign language manuscript with a minimum 30-line abstract in French.
Implanteus University Research School Thesis Award
Only doctoral students with the Implanteus label are allowed to apply.
Within 2 months of the thesis defence, the candidate for the prize must send the following documents to the EUR Project Manager (sylvie.fayard@univ-avignon.fr):
- a letter co-signed by the thesis director highlighting the quality of the doctoral research
- the thesis manuscript in pdf format
- the defence report
- publications (in pdf format) reporting on this research in international peer-reviewed journals (if not already included in the manuscript). At the end of the academic year, the EUR Executive Committee (possibly assisted by external experts) will select the prize winner.
- for 2022/2023 for a 3rd year doctoral student holding the label and having defended before June 2023, the prize may be awarded in the same year.
- for 2023/2024 for a 2nd year doctoral student who holds the label and has defended before June 2024, the prize may be awarded in the same year.
Perdiguier programme
Support for the international mobility of doctoral students enrolled at Avignon University (Perdiguier programme - Framework document + version française)
Support for the international mobility of doctoral students registered at Avignon University. This concerns doctoral students (excluding co-tutors) registered at the University of Avignon who wish to carry out a research stay of at least 2 months in a host structure abroad. Please note that foreign doctoral students going on a mobility trip to their country of origin are not eligible.
Three application review sessions will be organised in 2023-2024:
- 9 November 2023
- 21 March 2024
- 23 May 2024
Applications must be submitted to the Collège des études doctorales of the Université d'Avignon at the following address bourse-perdiguier@univ-avignon.fr.
Programme d'Aide aux cotutelles et co-directions internationales (International co-supervision and co-direction support programme)
The International Cotutelle and Co-Directorships Support Programme (version française) supports the international mobility of doctoral students registered at Avignon University in the framework of a cotutelle. Its objective is to encourage the setting up of thesis cotutelles, by guaranteeing a minimum income to doctoral students during the periods of mobility provided for in the framework of the cotutelle, and by contributing to travel expenses.
This aid depends on the situation of the doctoral student:
◦ For doctoral students whose thesis is mainly carried out at Avignon University: this assistance aims to support outgoing mobility to the cotutelle institution;
◦ For doctoral students whose thesis is mainly done abroad: this grant aims to support incoming mobility to Avignon University.
This support covers a mobility period of between 2 months (minimum) and 12 months (maximum).
The file to be submitted to the Doctoral School must include
- the application form duly completed and signed by the doctoral student, the thesis director and the laboratory director concerned at the AU ;
- proof of scholarships or other financial support already received during the mobility period;
All applications must be submitted at least 2 months before the first mobility.
The Cotutelle programme follows the same schedule as the Perdiguier grants.
ED mobility programme
Support for participation in a conference
Any doctoral student presenting an oral communication at a conference may request a contribution from the ED/CED to his/her mission expenses. This flat-rate assistance is granted only once during the thesis.
The amount of aid granted is modulated according to the country of destination, as follows:
- France or countries bordering France: 200 euros
- Europe and Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia): 350 euros
- Other destinations: 500 euros
File to be compiled:
- a letter from the doctoral student specifying the conference (title, venue, dates), the title of the paper and a provisional budget
- notification of acceptance of the oral communication by the scientific committee of the congress
- a letter of support from the thesis director the application
These requests are examined on an ongoing basis by the ED/CED desk and cannot be submitted after the event.
Support for participation in non-departmental training
Any doctoral student wishing to participate in a training course outside the ED as part of his/her thesis project may request financial support from the ED.
File to be compiled: a letter from the doctoral student specifying the course (title, location, dates) and a provisional budget
These applications are considered on an ad hoc basis by the ED/CED office and cannot be submitted after the course.
End of thesis contracts
The objective is to allow doctoral students registered at the University of Avignon to finish their thesis in good conditions while helping them to prepare their future. The contract is therefore aimed at doctoral students who are in the process of finalising and defending their doctorate, and who wish to make use of the results of their thesis. The proposed contract includes a limited teaching load, so as to consolidate the doctoral student's teaching record while keeping a significant part of his or her research work.
Eligibility criteria :
- Proof of three years' enrolment in a doctoral programme at the University of Avignon
- produce a certificate from the thesis director undertaking that the thesis will be defended within 12 months
- not to have benefited from an end of thesis contract at the University of AvignonProcedure : application for authorisation to recruit to be sent to the DRH with the necessary documents for the establishment of a contract (more information on Recruitment-E-doc: HR - DAPR end of thesis contract file).
This assistance is mainly financed by the host laboratory, so it is necessary to check with your thesis director beforehand.
Reimbursement of printing costs of the thesis
EURAXESS Portal
Avignon University is a EURAXESS Local Contact Point and a member of the Euraxess France association. The network EURAXESS Researchers in Motion is a European Commission initiative launched in 2004 to facilitate the mobility of researchers in Europe.
>>> Discover the EURAXESS portal
Scientific and Technical Culture
ACACIA Association
The ACACIA association aims to create a network between young researchers from INRAE and Avignon University and offers its members scientific and cultural activities to facilitate their integration. Through its members and their knowledge, the ACACIA association also aims to organise events to share science in these research centres but also with the general public. Indeed, ACACIA takes part in the science festival, the Pint of Science festival; organises English forums but also outdoor activities, escape games, lasergames and afterwork events (partnership with the 2J, the explosion, the beer district).
If you would like more information on this association and to consult the events that have already taken place, I invite you to visit their website: https://assoacacia.wordpress.com/
or contact the association directly at the following address acacia.asso@gmail.com
or ask to join the Facebook group : ACACIA - Association des jeunes chercheurs d'Avignon
To subscribe to the mailing list and receive all the information on the activities and animations proposed by ACACIA it is here: https://framalistes.org/sympa/subscribe/acacia
Election of doctoral student representatives to DHS boards
The doctoral student representatives are elected by and among the doctoral students belonging to the doctoral school, for a two-year term of office. The mandate ends in case of resignation, loss of doctoral student status (at the end of the academic year of the thesis defence).
The election is carried out through a one-round list system based on proportional representation, with the seats to be filled being distributed according to the rule of the largest remainder, without a mixture of candidates.
All doctoral students regularly registered at the university and belonging to the ED are eligible to vote. No one can take part in the vote if he/she is not on the list of voters. Voter status is assessed on the date of the vote.
Every voter registered on the electoral roll is eligible to vote.
Every two years, doctoral students are asked to mobilise not only to vote but also to stand for election.
For each ED, it is a list ballot with 4 members and 4 substitutes. The candidates for this election must therefore make a proposal for a list of 8 members (specifying for each one who is a titular and who is a substitute). This list should be as representative as possible of the disciplines and laboratories, men and women.
This is an important moment in the life of our EDs. It is an opportunity for the elected doctoral students to give their points of view and make their demands. They participate in particular in the Commissions of derogations, in the ED Councils (which meet 2 or 3 times per academic year). The Councils are notably the places where the annual report on the activity of the DEs is discussed and where the possibilities for the evolution of the training offer and the international mobility support systems are debated.
For ED 536, the doctoral students elected for the 2023/2025 term are :
- Ahmadou Moustapha DIENG
- Margot FAUCHEUX
- Virgile SUCAL
- Lindsay MAS-NORMAND
- Alexandre MAKHLOUF
- Célia EL MARAHI
- Lucas MAISON
- Clarisse BREARD
They can be reached at representants-doct536@univ-avignon.fr
For ED 537, the doctoral students elected for the 2023/2025 term are :
- Charly GUIBAUD
- Thibaud MEURICE
- Laure DOMONT
- Terki TEWFIK
- Laure-Hélène SWINNEN
- Thibault LECOURT
- Allison GUIRAUD
- Thomas SAINT-JEAN
They can be reached at representants-doct537@univ-avignon.fr
In case of relational difficulties between the doctoral student and his/her thesis director, a mediation procedure at two successive levels is set up: a) with the laboratory director, b) with the ED director.
In the case of doctoral students on a doctoral contract with the institution, a 3rd mediation may involve an advisory commission (article 10, paragraph 2 of the decree of 23 April 2009).
If you have any questions, you can contact the university's HR department (clarisse.vermes@univ-avignon.fr) or the Ethics Officer (martine.le-friant@univ-avignon.fr).
Any request for mediation must go through the Avignon University reporting platform (https://signalement.univ-avignon.fr/).
Doctoral School 537 offers you a monthly slotOn the first Tuesday of each month, from 1 to 2 pm, we discuss various aspects of doctoral life.
- Tuesday 7 February 2023 : The ISC (new composition, new organisation, reports and obligations...)
- Tuesday 7 March 2023 : The thesis defense (oath of scientific integrity, deliberation, appendices, deadlines...)
- Tuesday 4 April 2023 : The CV (update, main headings, issues...)
- Tuesday 2 May 2023 : CNU qualification (planning, documents required, evaluation criteria...)
ED Brief presentation materials
Mis à jour le 18 July 2023