EUROPEAN DOCTORATE LABEL
The "European Doctorate" label was established in 1992 by the Liaison Committee of the Rectors' and Presidents' Conferences of the member countries of the European Union, which became the European University Association in 2001. This initiative is distinct from international joint supervision of theses, although it may overlap.
This label complements the doctoral diploma by adding recognition of a European dimension. It is awarded when the following conditions are met:
- The doctorate must have been prepared partly during a stay of at least one quarter in a European state*, other than the country where the defense takes place.
- Permission for defense is granted based on reports written by at least two professors or equivalent from Higher Education Institutions in two European states other than where the defense takes place.
- At least one member of the thesis defense jury must be affiliated with a Higher Education Institution from a European state other than where the doctorate is defended.
- Part of the defense must be conducted in a national European language other than the national language(s) of the country where the defense takes place.
*By European state, we mean one of the member countries of the European Union extended to other states of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland).
Modalities:
The candidate wishing to obtain the "European Doctorate" label must, in agreement with their thesis supervisor, meet the conditions for obtaining this label within the framework of their thesis. At the end of their thesis, they must comply with the thesis defense procedure of Aix-Marseille University, which must be initiated no later than 9 weeks before the scheduled defense date.
The doctoral candidate must, when submitting their defense authorization request to the academic office, attach the defense request dossier with the "European Doctorate" label. This dossier, which is to be downloaded from the ADUM platform, consists of the following documents:
- The completed and signed candidacy form by all parties.
- The mobility certificate (in French or English) indicating the period of stay, signed by the director of the European hosting laboratory.
- A one-page report on the mobility period.
The defense request dossier with the "European Doctorate" label is submitted to the jury on the day of the defense. In addition to the defense minutes, the jury president signs the additional deliberation form regarding the award of the "European Doctorate" label.
The "European Doctorate" label does not appear on the Doctoral diploma. After the defense and submission of the final thesis manuscript to the Common Documentation Service, the doctoral office responsible for the doctorate issues a certificate of award of the "European Doctorate" label signed by the University President.