Doctoral Program

Admission

Admission is to the PhD program is restricted to the holders of a research oriented Master, or a degree equivalent to the CERGAM-CAE’s Master’s program. Derogatory admission may however be granted if the candidate, besides a Master’s degree, can justify of a research experience through publications or validated by professional experience. The Master of  Research degree is necessary but not sufficient, only candidates who have demonstrated a strong potential for research will be selected. Although priority has traditionally been given to applicants who graduated from CAE’s Master of research program, external candidates who have demonstrated excellence have also been accepted in the past.

The PhD registration is only possible with the approval of a research supervisor who agrees to supervise your work for three years or more. It is your responsibility to take the steps necessary for him to select you. The volume of applications being extremely high, and a number of doctoral students a professor is authorized to support being limited, it is recommended that external candidates be introduced to their prospective supervisor by an actively researching professor from his home university working on one of CERGAM-CAE’s research area.

Finally, preparing a dissertation must be part of a clearly defined professional project.

The website of the école doctorale de sciences économique et de gestion d’Aix-Marseille (n° 372) provides further information on this subject.

Scholarships and financing

In addition to its capabilities in research, candidates must provide proof of funding for his thesis. The CAE-CERGAM has access to two types of doctoral scholarships, ministerial scholarships and regional scholarships.

Ministerial scholarships are awarded after a hearing before the Doctoral Council, in a highly competitive process. In 2011 these interviews will take place in early September. The CAE-CERGAM only sends its best candidates.

Regional scholarships are granted by the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur for doctoral projects with an attractive economic or social development for the region. When filling their demand, it is, among other things, asked that applicants find a socioeconomic partner prepared to certify the interest of his project for the region, and to accompany him during his doctoral training. These scholarships are only available for candidates currently in their second year of Masters, and submissions are to be sent in February / March for the next year’s scholarship.

Several other financial arrangements are possible: bilateral arrangements and grants from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, co-supervision of thesis, research grants from firms with such agreements as CIFRE contracts and also grants from the home country or institution. It is the responsibility of the applicant to take the necessary steps after his acceptance by a thesis director.

Moreover, it is possible to obtain a limited number of hours as an instructor at the undergraduate level, and the CERGAM-CAE encourages its doctoral students to do so. However, this additional income can not replace or act as a funding. In no event shall teaching encroach on the doctoral student’s research work.

Training

In addition to research with their thesis director, doctoral training consists of frequent participation in the scientific debate, as early as the first months of doctoral training, through presentations at workshops, seminars, conferences and symposiums in the program. They allow doctoral students to formalize their research regularly and compare them with observations from the CERGAM-CAE’s professor and external referees, as well as those of other PhD candidates.

In the first year, they must produce a publishable article. During their second year of thesis, doctoral students must participate in at least one annual international symposium.

Each year in June, the CERGAM-CAE organizes a day of doctoral presentations which is a real genuine mid-thesis defense. All doctoral students must demonstrate their progress in their projects before a panel of professors and researchers from CERGAM-CAE. The reinstatement to the PhD program the following year is conditional to the successful completion of this interview.

Beyond these duties, it is expected of the students they create their place in the research community and actively participate in the life of the CAE; doctoral training is a fully professional research experience.

During his training, the PhD candidate should develop knowledge and skills that will be necessary in his current position and its future role in the complex and rapidly changing work of the researcher or teacher-researcher. That’s why training dynamically adapts to the needs generated by the conduct of their research and the development of their professional project, to ensure an exemplary scientific training. The CERGAM-CAE’s team provides a structure in which PhD students must consolidate and develop skills in all areas: scientific, technical, organizational, managerial and relational.

Mobility

Research visits and participation in specialized seminars are encouraged by the CERGAM-CAE. Opportunities vary according to interests and research topics of candidates. Doctoral students are helped by the CERGAM and CERGAM-CAE in their dealings with the universities with which a formal and informal exchange network has been established.