Doctoral Studies

To apply to complete a doctoral program with CentraleSupélec, the candidate must hold a Master’s or equivalent diploma.

The application for a doctorate must be submitted to one of the doctoral schools with which the thesis supervisor is associated, and must detail at least the following: a thesis subject, a thesis supervisor, a research department, and funding. Conditions for admission are defined within each doctoral school.

Doctoral students are recruited by doctoral schools:

 

Registration

Academic registration is completed with doctoral schools and administrative registration with CentraleSupélec. Registration is initiated online via the ADUM website.

Cost and funding

The annual cost of registration for completing a thesis is €391. Funding comes from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, industrial companies and funding organizations (ANRT, Digiteo, etc.).

 

Thesis charter

The charter formalizes the agreement between the doctoral student, the thesis supervisor, the director of the research unit in which the student intends to prepare the doctorate, the director of the doctoral school to which the student is attached and the registration institution. The objective of this charter is to ensure that the doctorate is completed under optimal conditions and to encourage the student to pursue a career as a young researcher with success. For each signatory, the charter outlines rights and obligations.

 

Interdisciplinary programs

Doctoral students are invited to take additional classes (120 hours over three years), over and above their research work, to deepen their scientific knowledge and prepare their professional future.

Since the new decree dated May 25, 2016, doctoral students must prepare a training agreement signed by the school director, and compile a portfolio of training programs listing the skills they have acquired during the completion of their thesis.

CentraleSupélec participates in the professional insertion of students by providing interdisciplinary training programs, pooled across doctoral colleges. These training programs are organized in streams, to provide doctoral students with a comprehensive overview of business sectors and sectors associated with the training offering. Some programs are labeled (e.g. the Association of French Engineering Schools (CDEFI), etc.).

  • For the Paris-Saclay campus, the course catalogue is available at the following address
  • For the Rennes campus, the course catalogue is available at the following address
  • For the Metz campus, the course catalogue is available at the following address

 

Additional placements

During their studies, within the doctoral charter, the doctoral student may complete additional remunerated assignment representing 1/6 of their academic agenda (renewable under certain conditions). These include:

  • Teaching placement (64 hours of tutorials) enabling doctoral students to gain teaching experience via one of the teaching departments
  • Consultancy and expertise placement that can be completed within a company, a local authority, an administrative body, a public institution, an association or a foundation
  • Placement to promote scientific and technical research results
  • Dissemination of scientific and technical information placement
  • A call for applications is open every year.

 

International Joint Supervision (Cotutelle)

In order to encourage mobility among PhD students and develop international scientific cooperation, PhD students may complete their thesis under joint supervision between two institutions, one in France and one overseas.

Joint supervision is established either with a framework agreement signed between the two institutions, and an application, or with an individual agreement.

For the Châtenay-Malabry and Gif-sur-Yvette campuses, click here.

European label

In order to recognize the European dimension of a doctoral project, Université Paris-Saclay awards a “European Doctorate” label to a PhD student with at least three months of mobility experience in Europe, as well as other criteria. You can read all the details here.

Associations for doctoral students

There are currently two associations of doctoral students at CentraleSupélec. These associations organize scientific and social events as well as events that bring together companies and students, and forums that give doctoral students from CentraleSupélec and the four other École Centrales a chance to get together. Doctoral students also participate actively in the school’s other associations.