Doctorate
iacchos | Louvain-la-Neuve
Joining our Institute means engaging in a stimulating research environment, one that is interdisciplinary and deeply rooted in the challenges of our contemporary societies. Here, we support you before, during, and after your research: from drafting your thesis project to promoting its outcomes. All researchers benefit from the services of the IACCHOS HUB, which offers structured guidance tailored to research needs.
Your research takes place within a research center, and thus within a community aligned with your themes and disciplinary knowledge. IACCHOS brings together these research centers to form a broader community of researchers in the humanities and social sciences, all sharing common concerns about contemporary knowledge issues—encouraging methodological innovation and critical thinking. By joining our Institute, you will also become a member of the Scientific Body (CORSCI), which acts as a unifying link between researchers across centers. Its role is to bring members together, organize convivial events, and address your concerns.
Doing a PhD at IACCHOS means benefiting from top-quality / international supervision, as well as opportunities for training, networking, and promoting your work.
The first requirement to be eligible to pursue a PhD is to hold a Master’s degree—generally 120 ECTS credits—in a discipline related to your future research topic. Certain specialized or international Master’s degrees may require equivalency.
Doctoral studies can generally be carried out in French, English, or Spanish.
Finding a Supervisor (Thesis Director)
This is a key step: initiating contact with a university professor accredited to supervise doctoral research, and proposing your topic or applying for one they are offering. Entering into dialogue will eventually allow you to secure funding—a step that can take between 6 months and 1 year.
Tip: check the websites of the research centers to find professors whose interests align with yours.
Before Admission
The Doctoral Domain Commission (CDD) meets once a month, and the meeting dates are provided in response to a request for the admission application, which must be submitted to the doctoral program administrator.
Admission requests must be submitted at least 1 working week before the date of the CDD meeting.
As a general rule, applications are processed on a rolling basis within a minimum timeframe of 3 weeks.
Doctoral Domain Commission
Your doctoral journey is overseen by the relevant Doctoral Domain Commission (CDD). Each CDD:
- supervises the various stages of the PhD, from admission to the defense;
- ensures that each phase of the doctoral process is validated;
- intervenes in the event of difficulties or conflicts (particularly between the doctoral researcher and the supervisor);
- serves as your main point of contact throughout your PhD.
The CDD is made up of academic members and scientific representatives. It is supported by a doctoral administrative coordinator, who will be your main contact at every stage, including for any administrative questions or special circumstances.
For more information about the CDD responsible for your field, consult the contacts and resources specific to your doctoral program.
Joint PhD (Co-mentoring)
Would you like to pursue your PhD at UCLouvain as part of a joint PhD (co-mentoring) with another university? This arrangement, which allows you to obtain a double doctoral degree, involves joint supervision by two advisors and a doctoral path that meets the requirements of both institutions. To learn how to officially submit a joint PhD request, consult the dedicated UCLouvain webpage outlining all the necessary steps.