Applying for doctoral (PhD) studies at UTC

The PhD is a professional experience that consists of undertaking 3 years of research in a university laboratory, a large research organization or a research-development-innovation centre within a company.

Requirements to a PhD registration
Finding a thesis subject
Application

Requirements to a PhD registration

To be eligible to enrol for a thesis, candidates must hold a master’s degree from a French university or an equivalent master’s‑level qualification awarded following an educational programme demonstrating an ability for research.

Candidates who have achieved an equivalent level in a foreign university and candidates benefiting from accreditation for work experience (VAE) may enrol by providing evidence of master’s‑level studies approved by the Director of the Doctoral School (request for a special dispensation to make at the application).

Candidates must have a certified B1 level of proficiency in English (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). Ce niveau est attesté par la présentation du résultat à un test officiel (voir la liste des tests reconnus par l’UTC). UTC strongly recommends that candidates have a B2 level of proficiency in English.

English test

Submit your application:

for a specific thesis topic (see the tab Finding a thesis subject)
a specific thesis supervisor (or supervisors) from UTC Doctoral School (see the tab Finding a thesis subject)
a UTC research unit (laboratory) (even if the thesis is partly done outside UTC)
the doctoral candidate’s funding for the thesis duration (at least 3 years). (see Financial support for PhD studies)

Tuition fees

By decision of the French Ministry of Education, the tuition fees for the academic year 2024–2025 are set at:

Doctorate, HDR: 391 €.
CVEC (contribution to student and campus life): 103 €
Consult https://cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr / to pay this contribution. To help you with this process, the CROUS provides free telephone assistance service on +33 1.40.51.62.00 or +33 1.40.51.37.35 (for English-speaking international students).

Sports association (optional): €30
The “Tremplin” UTC alumni network (optional): 14 €.
Students’ Union BDE-RED (optional): 20 €.
The “Tremplin” UTC alumni network (optional): 14 €.
Students’ Union BDE-RED (optional): 20 €.

The awarding of a UTC doctorate

The conditions relating to the awarding of a UTC doctorate are set out in detail in the Doctoral School Internal Regulations (Règlement intérieur de l’école doctorale), article 13:

Writing of a thesis manuscript and defence before a PhD examining board
Having had some training courses validated by the Doctoral School (scientific and technical skills, professional skills and language skills)
Having attained the B2 level in English (certificate to be presented by the doctoral candidate)
Having had his or her research work recognized, either through a patent or through the publication of work in at least one top-level journal or international conference.

The award of a doctorate as a validation of professional experience (VAE)

On the basis of professional research experience and original research work you might apply for a validation of professional experience (VAE in French) to get a doctorate. Research work can have happen outside academia (i.e. in a R&D office in a company). Candidates should contact UTC’s VAE office.

Finding a thesis subject

If you wish to apply for a thesis subject, here is the procedure to follow:

Consult the proposals for thesis subjects via the ADUM portal, that are already funded.
Find here below, by research laboratory, the UTC thesis proposals funded by various supports. If you are interested in a topic in particular, appy via the ADUM portal and contact the thesis supervisor (see details in the proposal).

Contact a potential thesis supervisor of a UTC research lab and discuss about a research project (topic and funding).
The research load, hence the thesis work, must be achieved in 3 years (full time).

Find out more about funding.
If you are a salaried employee and you want to make a part-time PhD, contact a potential thesis supervisor of a UTC research lab and discuss about a research subject.
If you have a disability, you can of course apply to a UTC proposal. You could also consider applying to a Doctoral Contract intended for Handicap.

Research units:

Avenues (Sciences de la construction, infrastructure de transport, hydrologie / Génie électrique / Urbanisme, aménagement et transports)
BMBI (Biomécanique / Biomatériaux / Bioingénierie)
Costech (Philosophie, épistémologie, histoire des sciences et des techniques / Design, sciences et technologies cognitives / Sciences de l'information et de la communication / Sciences économiques, sciences de gestion et sociologie des techniques)
GEC (Biotechnologie / Ingénierie moléculaire et interaction / Biologie végétale et environnement)
LMAC (Mathématiques appliquées / Équations aux dérivées partielles et méthodes numériques / Statistique)
Roberval (Mécanique numérique / Génie électrique / Mécatronique, photonique et systèmes / Mécanique et matériaux / Acoustique et vibrations / Génie industriel)
TIMR (Génie des procédés / Chimie / Énergétique /Bioprocédés)
Heudiasyc (Informatique / Automatique et robotique / Sciences et technologies de l’information et des systèmes)

CONTACT : Chargée de communication de l'école doctorale – Salima Aaras-Andaloussi : 03 44 23 43 86 – salima.aaras-andaloussi@utc.fr

Application

Application forms

Registration to UTC Doctoral School develops in two separate phases:

1° Application (for admission) to the Doctoral School,

2° Administrative registration once you have gained admission from the Doctoral School.

1° Application

a. Application process is online via the ADUM platform.
Prepare the following documents:

CV (curriculum vitae)
covering letter
copies of degree certificates previously obtained, or where applicable, a certificate with details of the degree that you are currently studying for
proof of grades awarded for your last degree (Master level)

And seek for a reference letter (at least one) from someone in a position to assess your past research work. This person will upload her/his letter on the ADUM platform.

b. The thesis supervisor gives her/his opinion.

c. Applicants who receive an approval are interviewed by a jury.

2° Administrative registration

If the jury decide in favour of the application, the Doctoral School is able to declare an admission.

The applicant is then invited to registrer on the ADUM platform.

Please note that a certified B1 level of proficiency in English (see the list of English tests recognized by UTC) is required to registrer to a doctorate. The proof will be needed to registrer, if you are admitted.

English tests 2021

Fiche candidat à une thèse à l'UTC en contrat doctoral

UTC Doctorate Charter

ED Internal Regulations

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