Luxembourg

The University of Luxembourg, which was created in 2003, immediately adopted the Bologna process. Thus doctoral studies here represent the third university cycle. The time needed to prepare your doctorate is three years, including the defence of your thesis. Nevertheless, a maximum additional period of one year may exceptionally be granted. There are a variety of sources of finance and of different statuses resulting from these. 
Theses undertaken by means of joint supervision with a higher education institution abroad and under the guidance of a co-supervisor who is authorised to supervise research are very widespread.

Supervision of theses
Students are directly assigned to a Doctoral School or a Research Unit (RU).
The majority of doctoral students are not yet supervised within a fixed structure but are grouped around convergent themes since the first Doctoral Schools of the University were created end of 2011. The scientific teams regularly organise seminars and workshops on a variety of themes entirely outside the framework of a doctoral programme.

A comité d’encadrement de these (CET) [thesis supervisory committee] is appointed within a two-month period of the doctoral student’s enrolment and at the suggestion of the thesis supervisor after he has discussed this with the doctoral student. 
This CET is composed of three people including the thesis supervisor. The members are holders of doctorates, and the role of the committee is to monitor the work of the doctoral student. The CET and the doctoral student meet at least once a year to jointly assess the progress of the latter’s work. In the event of a serious decline in work, the CET may advise the Rector to refuse the candidate’s enrolment for the following academic year. 
 

The enrolement procedure varies slightly depending on your status (cf. below). The Bureau des Études Doctorales (BED) [doctoral studies office] is responsible for all the procedures and enquiries related to the doctoral student's study path. Enrolment is possible throughout the year, and has to be renewed each semester.

The conditions of admission to a doctorate

The thesis supervisor verifies: 

• The eligibility of the candidate according to the conditions stipulated in Article 12 of the Law of 12 August 2003.
• The candidate’s aptitude for independent work and scientific research.
• The admissibility of the planned thesis.

Admission is decided by the Rector on the suggestion of the thesis supervisor and on the basis of the criteria listed above.
 

There are different funding schemes for the doctoral education at the University of Luxembourg. The scheme under which a particular thesis is financed determines the students' rights and obligations. There are several possibilities as follows:

University of Luxembourg funding 
The PhD student signs a three years fixed-term employment contract for 40 hours a week with the University of Luxembourg. This one is renewable for a period of one year. He/She is an employee of the University, enjoys the associated rights and obligations.
Obligations: teaching  (1 to 3 hours teaching/week) and research (more than 80% of time has to be dedicated to this activity) activities under the supervision of a professor. 

AFR research grant funding (Aide à la formation Recherche)
"Aide à la Formation Recherche" (AFR) grants for doctoral students are individual grants awarded by the National Research Fund (known as FNR). The PhD students have to directly apply at the FNR. If accepted, the funding may come in form of a grant allocated directly to the PhD student or in form of a working contract with the University of Luxembourg.

Obligations: research activities (more than 80% of his time has to be dedicated to this activity) under the supervision of a professor. Teaching activities are desirable.

Third-party funding 
The PhD is "sponsored" by a third organisation that finances his or her research under a tripartite contract with the University of Luxembourg.

Obligations: research activities (more than 90% of his time has to be dedicated to this activity) under the supervision of a professor. 

Self-funding 
The doctoral student is self-financed. There is no contractual relationship between the University of Luxembourg and the PhD student.

Obligations: research activities (100% of his time has to be dedicated to this activity) under the supervision of a professor.

Some figures

• 12 Research Units
• 2 Interdisciplinary Centres
• 331 doctoral students at the University of Luxembourg,
• a large proportion of them from abroad and 54 co-supervised (as at 31/12/2010).