Thesis Supervision Committee (CET)

The Thesis Supervision Committee (CET: comité d’encadrement de thèse) accompanies doctoral candidates for the entire duration of the doctoral cycle at the University of Luxembourg, monitoring their progress and advising them on the key stages of their development to ensure the successful outcome of their studies at Uni.lu. The CET composition must be agreed and formally validated within two months from the beginning of the doctoral candidate’s studies. The supervisor initiates this process via an electronic platform, but they should inform the doctoral candidate about the suggested members.

The CET consists of three members, all holding a PhD:

1. The thesis supervisor, who is an academic researcher with an ADR (“Autorisation à Diriger des Recherches” i.e. supervision rights);
2. At least one member must hold an employment contract with the UL for the duration of the candidate’s doctoral studies and have an ADR, or is an affiliated professor at the Uni.lu;
3. The CET can include a maximum of one member (external or internal to Uni.lu) without supervision rights (ADR).

The CET meets on a regular basis at least once a year. Meetings typically last between one and a half and two hours. Additional ‘intermediary’ CET meetings can be held any time during the doctoral lifecycle.

The CET evaluates progress and decides whether the doctoral candidate should continue to pursue their doctoral work.

The CET recommends the continuation of the thesis work, it will suggest avenues for future research, specific further training, publications to be written (mainly for cumulative theses), presentations to be delivered, and other actions, as necessary.

After each CET meeting, a CET report is prepared.

Defence

For full-time doctoral candidates, the 100% thesis report must be submitted within 48 months from the start date of studies. The doctoral candidate then has another 4 months to defend (48+4). The earliest a doctoral candidate can defend is at 36 months from their start date.

For part-time candidates, the 100% thesis report must be submitted within 96 months from the start date of studies. The defence can take place at the earliest after 36 months from the original start date but not beyond 100 months (96+4). 

At the final CET meeting, the committee decides whether the research project and the material the doctoral candidate has submitted (which should be a defendable version) are ready and a thesis defence can be scheduled. The authorisation for defence should only be requested from the Vice-Rector if the CET members are sure that the DC is ready for the defence.

The CET guarantees that the quality of the work meets international standards in the respective field of research.

Thesis publication is mandatory. The Jury may request modifications, which must be completed within 3 months after the defence.

Thesis format

Possible doctoral thesis formats:

• Monographic
• Cumulative

The CET may decide on the format of the candidates’ thesis in line with the requirements of the respective Doctoral School.