Would you like to participate in a scientific cooperation between North American and French research teams? The joint supervision doctorate, a PhD program carried out under the supervision of two directors, one from ÉTS and the other from France, might be for you.
About Joint Supervision
The joint supervision of dissertations aims to promote the mobility of doctoral students by developing scientific cooperation between research teams from Canada and France.
By completing a PhD under joint supervision, you will perform your work under the guidance of a thesis director from each of the two countries concerned. The two thesis directors undertake to fully exercise the function of tutoring you. Their responsibilities are therefore exercised jointly.
At the end of your joint supervision studies, you will receive two diplomas (a French Doctorate and a Québec PhD) on which it will be highlighted that the diplomas were obtained under joint supervision, mentioning the name of the other institution.
Eligibility Criteria for Joint Supervision
Program plan and timetable
You and your research directors must prepare a proposal for a joint supervision Agreement which includes your Program plan (courses, seminars, comprehensive exam, etc.). The plan indicates the respective activities to be done at each institution and the planned schedule for each. The program plan and schedule must be approved by the Director of the Doctoral Program in Engineering.
Four rules must be respected:
- Your project must meet the objectives and requirements of the program of studies;
- You must pass a comprehensive exam or its equivalent;
- If you are granted equivalences, they must respect the France-Québec agreement on the recognition of diplomas;
- The presentation of the dissertation and the evaluation procedure must conform to the rules in force at ÉTS. Any derogation must be approved in advance by the ÉTS Décanat des études (the Dean of Studies Office).
A framework agreement between the institutions can relax the conditions governing the conduct of the thesis.
Collaboration between departments
The joint supervision must result from a previously established collaboration between the departments, research groups or programs concerned or between the two research directors. You will need to submit, attached to the Agreement:
- An institutional protocol between the departments, research groups or programs concerned of the two institutions;
OR
- A letter attesting to the joint research activities of the two directors. These activities must have been the subject of grants wherein the two researchers are mentioned or scientific publications where the two directors of research are co-authors.
How the Joint Supervision Doctorate Works
Specific conditions
You must be officially admitted to ÉTS with an application filed at the Registrar's Office. In addition, you must meet the requirements of Québec’s Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur (the Education Ministry) for international students and must therefore present a visa, a Quebec acceptance certificate (a “CAQ”) and a proof of insurance (sickness and hospitalization) valid for the duration of your stay.
If these documents expire during your studies, you will have to present the same ones renewed before re-enrolling.
Sharing of time between the two educational Institutions
Your period of residence as a PhD student at ÉTS must be at least one third of the total duration of your doctoral training. As joint supervision is based on a duration of four years, you must be at ÉTS at least four semesters full time (whether consecutive or not). You will therefore need to share your stays half and half.
You must be registered full time without interruption at both ÉTS and in France. When you are not in Québec, you must ensure that your ÉTS registration is completed in due form at the beginning of each term. You will not be billed for this registration.
The Joint Supervision Agreement
You must fill in the joint supervision agreement form and then have the content validated by the Décanat des études (the Dean of Studies Office – see Ms. Ninon Leduc) and by the Director of the Doctoral Program in Engineering before proceeding with final printing and signatures (see the "Procedural Guide”).
The signature of the Program Director on the Joint Supervision Agreement means that you are unconditionally admitted to the program, that the program of studies is approved and that you and your directors of research agree to assume the costs incurred.
The Joint Supervision Agreement must be filed in six (6) original copies with the Dean of Studies Office (to the attention of Ms. Ninon Leduc) preferably before the end of the first session of registration. It must at least include the signatures of the doctoral student, the ÉTS research director and the Director of the ÉTS PhD program. The Dean of Studies Office will be in charge of obtaining the signature of the Director of Academic Affairs.
Evaluation of a Joint Supervision Doctorate
You will work under the guidance of two directors of research (one in France, the other at ÉTS) and you will need to complete the requirements of the two PhD programs, including the educational activities and the comprehensive exam. You are also required to comply with the academic regulations in force at the two institutions.
You will write a single dissertation which will lead to a single defense in France or in Québec.
The dissertation jury will be composed of five (5) examiners from France and Québec: the two directors of research, a member of each institution empowered to examine theses, and a member from outside the two establishments, chosen jointly.
Payment of tuition fees and travel
You must pay the ÉTS tuition fees for each semester you are at ÉTS. Given that tuition fees in France are paid annually, it can happen that, for a semester you will spend at ÉTS, tuition fees have already been paid in France. In this case, in accordance with the framework agreement for joint supervision, the French institution will credit you the portion paid in France; it will be up to you, if applicable, to take the necessary steps.
You must be able to defray the costs of transport and lodgings caused by your annual travel as well as the costs of the thesis defense (travel and accommodations - for at least two members of the jury). ÉTS does not pay any costs of a joint supervision program.