Prospective Students > Doctoral Programs (PhD)
These degree courses are for students who already hold a Master's of Science or of an equivalent degree. The number of places is limited. Admission is decided by a jury upon examination of a completed application.
For more extensive information, the student must contact the doctoral program representative in the corresponding graduate school.
Doctoral studies are opened to student researchers holding a master's degree (master recherche or DEA) or an equivalent diploma. Their aim is to train the students for and through research. Under the supervision of a thesis director and in many cases an industrial partner, the students will have to perform an innovative scientific work inside one of the research laboratories of the GEM, attend some lectures either on scientific or on professional topics. Usually after three years, they publicly defend their thesis in front of a jury composed of scientific and industrial personalities, half on them being professors. After completion of their thesis, more than the half of the students joins R&D departments of companies.
In accordance with the decree of June 27, 1985, the Ecole des Mines de Paris is authorized to award the doctorate diploma. The Ecole de Mines de Saint-Etienne awards it jointly with the university of Saint-Etienne, as well as the Ecole des Mines de Nancy with the university of Nancy. The other schools of the GEM enrol their students either in Paris, Saint-Etienne, and Nancy or in the local university.
For students, which do not possess a master recherche or DEA in the speciality of their doctorate, but an equivalent diploma, the commission of doctoral studies may consider each individual case for admission.
The skills to be sought of candidates include: a good standard of scientific culture, a good command of at least one foreign language, a sound capacity for analysis and synthesis, adaptability, creativity and innovation, team work, communication and pedagogical capabilities.
The doctoral research work is usually completed in one of the research laboratories of the GEM. Their strong links with industry give specific features to their doctoral work: it can be performed on topics of real economical importance and in close connection with the involved actors. During the doctorate period, the students are also entitled to participate in all the activities of the laboratory, especially the seminars and follow an educational program, containing scientific as well professional courses. This last class of courses prepare the students to their future activities after the thesis, mainly in the economical world.
All the rights and duties of all the partners, PhD student, thesis director, industrial partner and research laboratory, are described in the Charter of thesis, which is common and specific to the GEM.