PhD in Development Studies

A four-year programme, the PhD in Development Studies aims to analyse development issues according to a multidisciplinary approach. It consists of writing and defending a piece of original research constituting an outstanding scientific contribution presented under the supervision of a thesis director.

Besides offering the traditional prospects of graduate teaching and research, this programme opens perspectives of employment within international organisations, NGOs or the public and private sectors.

The programme must be completed in eight consecutive semesters from the date of enrolment and consists of three essential parts:

• Obtaining 18 ECTS credits defined by the curriculum, 12 of which for the compulsory PhD seminar, before the end of the second semester of studies;
• Defence and acceptance of the preliminary thesis dissertation, before the end of the   third semester;
• Public thesis defence before the end of the eighth semester, followed by legal deposit   registration, three months later at the latest.

Once this is accomplished, the candidate will receive a Ph.D. degree in Development studies.

Specific Admission Conditions

1. Institute students

For DES/DEA/MDEV students wishing to register for the Ph.D. in Development Studies.

In order to be potentially eligible, candidates must:

Provide a provisional title for the thesis, a brief statement and two letters of recommendation (one of which must be from the dissertation's director and the other from a faculty member of the Institute) to the Ph.D. Programme Secretariat (2nd floor, 16 Voie Creuse) by 15 January 2010 at the latest.

Only complete files will be taken into consideration.

2. External students

External candidates must satisfy the Institute’s general admissions conditions. In order for their candidacy to the Ph.D. Development Studies programme to be taken into consideration, they must:

• Hold a DEA or a Master’s degree in Development Studies or in a similar field;

• Have written a research dissertation of equal importance, insofar as possible, as a DEA or a Master’s of the Institute (to be attached to the application file).

   

The deadline for applications is 15 January 2010. 

The decision for admission is taken on the basis of global academic results and of the letters of recommendation.

Scholarships

As Ph.D. studies take a long time and sometimes require travelling or staying abroad, the Institute proposes several excellence scholarships to its Ph.D. students. Application for these scholarships must be received by 15 January 2010 at the latest, at the same time as the application file (the application form is directly linked to the online application file).

There is also an opportunity to request a scholarship during the studies. The ad hoc form is then to be sent for 30 May 2010.

Ph.D. students may furthermore apply for a position as a teaching assistant, which will allow them to acquire valuable experience on university teaching and research.