Doctorate in

Political and Social Sciences

  • Schedule
    Daytime schedule
  • ECTS Credits
    180
  • Language
    French

Access conditions

  • 1. Subject to the legal provisions fixed by the academic authorities, and pursuant to the UMONS Doctoral Regulations, students who possess one or more of the following credentials can register for a doctoral programme (PhD) at UMONS:

1°   a Master’s degree which accounts for at least 120 credits;

2°   a similar academic degree awarded by an institution of higher education in or outside the French Community, providing this qualification is accepted by the academic authorities’ and the student has fulfilled any additional requirements as determined by the authorities.

3° a foreign qualification equivalent in level to those mentioned in points 1° and 2°, awarded under the same conditions, and issued in accordance with the relevant decree, European directive, international convention, or other legislation in force.

The additional access conditions referred to in 2° are intended to ensure that students have acquired the subjects and skills required for the studies concerned. When these additional access conditions consist of one or more additional courses, these cannot represent more than 60 additional credits, taking into account all the credits which they can also have on admission. These courses form part of their study programme.

  • 2. Subject to the provisions established by the academic authorities, and pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the holder of a Master’s degree (second cycle studies) issued in or outside the French Community which does not grant access to third cycle (doctoral level) studies but accounts for at least 300 credits validated by the Panel, can, however, be admitted onto a PhD programme.
  • 3. Notwithstanding the aforementioned provisions, the Panel may also admit holders of the following qualifications onto a PhD programme: a degree or other qualification issued outside the French community which, under the original system, can lead directly to doctoral studies or studies and/or work relating to the preparation of a doctoral thesis, even if these degree courses are not arranged in separate cycles or completed in at least five years. Such admission is an exception and requires formal and authentic evidence of the applicant’s ability to pursue doctoral studies under the original system.

The Warocque School of Business and Economics has set additional admission criteria of its own: The faculty jury considers that a distinction obtained for the second cycle of studies or for the last year of the Master’s degree is the minimum standard to be met in order to be admitted to the studies and work relating to the preparation of a doctoral thesis. In the absence of this distinction, the candidate’s file must include evidence of an aptitude for scientific research, such as a mark of at least 16/20 in the dissertation, professional experience that can be used in the context of research activities, or certain research activities that have already been carried out (publication).

Target audience

Holders of a Master’s degree of at least 120 credits or a similar/equivalent academic degree (according to the conditions of the “Paysage” decree).

Extra information

A Thesis Advisory Committe is set up upon admission or at the latest after one year by the faculty jury commission on the proposal of the supervisor.

Program and structure

The title of Doctor is awarded after successfully writing and defending a thesis.

The work related to the preparation of the thesis corresponds to at least 180 credits, which are acquired after being awarded 300 credits (i.e. having achieved a Master’s degree). Of the 180 PhD credits, 60 credits must be acquired during a doctoral training course, attested to by a training certificate in research.

The PhD includes:

  • Writing an original thesis with a personal theory, or an essay demonstrating the interest of a coherent set of publications and achievements of which the candidate is author or co-author.
  • Publicly presenting the thesis, highlighting its qualities, its originality and its scientific outreach potential.

The PhD Admissions Board (CAD) decides on the PhD candidate’s admission and approves the project proposal related to the thesis. The PhD candidate’s Thesis Advisory Committee (CAC) is put together upon admission. The candidate’s supervisor, the CAC and the candidate agree on a doctoral training programme, which is tailored to the candidate’s profile and which meets the needs of the research project. The supervisor oversees the research involved in the preparation of the thesis, while the CAC provides regular follow-ups. They assess the progress made and may make duly motivated recommendations for the following academic year.


Doctoral Schools

The work related to the preparation of a doctoral thesis begins by obtaining a certificate of training in research (60 credits). This is obtained after the candidate has followed a specific programme and completed the activities proposed by the themed doctoral schools.

The FWEG is an active founding member of the following two doctoral schools:

About this training

Sector
Human and Social Sciences
Field
Political and Social Sciences
Location
Mons

Contact us for more info

Mélanie Volral
+32 (0)65 37 32 84