3rd cycle: PhD / Doctoral formation (FD)

Constituting the third cycle of university studies, a doctorate leads to the academic degree of "Doctor".

It is awarded after writing and successful defending a thesis, equivalent to at least 180 credits (min. 3 years) gained after completion of first and second cycle university education (at least 300 credits) ending with a Master degree.

Moreover, doctoral training must be taken before or while writing the PhD thesis, dependent on the Admission Panel's decision.

Admission requirements

You are only allowed to apply for a doctorate when you hold one of the following qualifications:

• 2nd cycle studies in Belgium:

  • A 2nd cycle degree (120 ECTS Master degree) gained in the French Community of Belgium.

  • An advanced master degree (Master complémentaire) gained in the French Community of Belgium.

  • A degree similar to the above two gained in the Flemish Community or at the Royal Military School (ERM).

  • A "licence" gained under the pre-Bologna university system of the French Community of Belgium.

  • A 4-year 2nd cycle degree gained in the Flemish Community or at the Royal Military School (ERM), valued at min. 240 credits by the Doctorate Admissions Panel, with a further 60 credits gained in:

    • either other study programmes, parts of study programmes, or special or in-depth courses accessible solely to holders of a qualification or degree entitling them to at least 2nd cycle studies (e.g. a Diplôme D'Etudes Approfondies);

    • or a supplementary year of 2nd cycle studies in the French Community of Belgium and consisting of 60 credits (defined by the Admissions Panel).

• 2nd cycle studies pursued abroad:

  • A foreign degree recognised as equivalent to a 120-credit Master degree by the Ministry of the French Community of Belgium (please note: recognitions approximated to a Master degree are not accepted).

  • A foreign 2nd cycle degree valued at min. 300 credits by the Doctorate Admissions Panel. The official duration of the study programme must have been at least 5 years.

  • A 4-year 2nd cycle degree valued at min. 240 credits by the Doctorate Admissions Panel, with a further 60 credits gained in:

    • either other study programmes, parts of study programmes, or special or in-depth courses accessible solely to holders of a qualification or degree entitling them to at least 2nd cycle studies (e.g. a Diplôme D'Etudes Approfondies);

    • or a supplementary year of 2nd cycle studies in the French Community of Belgium and consisting of 60 credits (defined by the panel).

Please note the following:

• 2nd cycle degrees gained at private institutions not recognised by the state of issuance cannot be taken into consideration.

• Work experience can also not be taken into account.

More information is available here.

Doctorate Website

Should you comply with one of these admission requirements, we invite you to consult the ULB web page devoted to doctoral training and PhDs / doctorates.
There you will find a host of useful information on PhD studies at the ULB (scientific fields, funding, co-supervision, etc.).

This website may also be a help in finding a potential supervisor.
Generally speaking, before starting to register, you should choose a supervisor for your thesis dependent on the field of research you intend to work on. With such a person, you will be able to define your thesis project, discuss its feasibility and possible funding.

Finally, we would like to ask you to read the regulations on PhDs and all information on how they are organised on the Académie Wallonie-Bruxelles website..

Initial registration

After having defined your research project with your supervisor, we would like to ask you to compile your application file as quickly as possible. To do this, please click on the type of degree gained:

Deadline for submitting applications: 31 October

Re-registration

Each academic year until you actually defend your thesis, you will need to re-register. To do this, you need to gain certain approvals. Details of what you need to do to re-register are listed on the first page of the re-registration form. The deadline for submitting the re-registration form to your faculty is 31 October.

Costs

Registration fees for doctoral training are set at € 835, payable each year insofar as registration is separate from the actual doctorate.

The full registration fees for the doctorate (€ 835) are to be paid just once on initial registration.
In the following years, the only fees to be paid are those for registering in the student roll and administrative fees (€ 32).

When registering for doctoral training and a doctorate at the same time, registration fees amount to € 835 for the first year, and € 32 for each re-registration.

There are no additional fees for registering for 3rd cycle studies (doctoral training and/or a doctorate).

Contact

Carine Faniel - carine.faniel@ulb.ac.be
Tel.: +32 2 650 25 67

Location:
Avenue A. Buyl, 87a - 1050 Brussels
Building S, 4th floor, Room S.4.129

Opening hours:
Mondays: 13:30 - 16:00
Tuesdays: 9:00 - 12:00
Wednesdays: 13:30 - 16:00
Thursdays: 9:00 - 12:00
Fridays: closed