phd in french online

Department of French

Graduate Program

Introduction

Yale’s graduate program in French literature offers both a rigorous grounding in French Literature and an interdisciplinary approach to French theory, thought, and culture.  The graduate curriculum covers the Middle Ages to the present, and the literatures of Africa, the Caribbean, and the Maghreb.  

Our faculty are involved in programs outside the department, including African and African-American Studies , Comparative Literature , Film and Media Studies , Middle East Studies , Judaic Studies , Medieval Studies , and Renaissance Studies . These institutional affiliations provide bridges to related disciplines around the campus. 

Students have at their fingertips the holdings of one of the best research libraries in the world, the Sterling Memorial Library .  The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library is an incomparable resource for scholars in French, holding treasures ranging from medieval illuminated manuscripts of the Roman de la Rose , to the holograph manuscript of Camus’s Myth of Sisyphus and selections from Proust’s correspondence. 

The Program

The French Ph.D. degree normally takes five or six years.   The first two years are devoted to course work, including one required course in Old French.  Students are required to take at least two and up to four courses outside the department in departments such as Comparative Literature, Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, History of Science and Medicine, History of Art, and Film.  Students must also fulfill the language requirement by the end of the second year.  

Read what current students have to say about our courses

In the third year, students take their oral qualifying exam and prepare their dissertation prospectus. Students typically teach one course per semester during two of their years of graduate study, beginning in the third year.  They receive training in language teaching methodology and teach two semesters of French language. Opportunities also exist to be teaching assistants in advanced undergraduate literature courses.

Hear students talk about their teaching experiences

In the fourth or fifth year, most students choose to pursue dissertation research in France or a francophone country.  Many students partake in the exchange program with the Ecole Normale Supérieure, rue d’Ulm, in Paris.

Students complete their dissertation in the fifth or sixth year. 

To recognize expertise in a particular area of study outside French literature, Yale offers several certificates of concentration    Students may also apply to the combined Ph.D. programs with the Department of African American Studies , the Program in Film and Media Studies , and Renaissance Studies .

[click here for the calendar of progress through the program]

All Yale students receive full financial support (tuition plus full stipend, including health insurance coverage) for five years of graduate study. This includes two years of coursework without teaching, two years of teaching, and a dissertation fellowship year.  Students in the French Department who choose  to pursue dissertation research in France or a francophone country receive an additional year of support without having to teach.

Basic Program Requirements  

• Fourteen term courses during the first two years of study. These must include Old French and at least two graduate-level term courses taken outside the department. French 670, Methods and Techniques in the French Language Classroom, is also required in the second year of study.
• Proficiency (defined as one year of college study) in any two languages (beyond English and French) that are relevant to the student’s research interests, to be approved by the DGS. For details, see the Rules document.
• At least one year of teaching experience.
• The qualifying oral examination, to be taken no later than the end of the sixth term.
• The dissertation prospectus, prepared in consultation with the student’s adviser and approved by the faculty.
• The doctoral dissertation, prepared in close consultation with the adviser, approved by the faculty and Graduate School, and completed by the end of the sixth year of study.

For details see the Program Guidelines for Graduate Studies in French (in the left sidebar.)

Policies of the Graduate School can be found at the  Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Programs and Policies Bulletin.

Job Placement

Students in their last year of study take a seminar with the Director of Graduate Studies to prepare for the job market.  Although the market remains challenging, our students have fared remarkably well [ click here for a list of recent placements ].

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French and Francophone

Welcome to the French and Francophone Studies Graduate Program.

Our program here at Harvard is driven by collegiality—the collegiality that reigns among the faculty in the program and is generated, in turn, among our graduate students. We share a common cause in studying the languages, literatures, arts, cultures, and histories that characterize the Francophone world in its most capacious conception. In our teaching and in our research, we address the relation between individuals and communities, humans and the world, the aesthetic and the political, in historically situated contexts that allow for meaningful comparisons across national, spatial, and temporal boundaries. The intellectual life of our unit is marked by mutual respect and an egalitarian ethos that treats students and faculty alike as partners in our mission to understand our present and our past through the cultural objects—both material and abstract—we engage with, and to imagine the future in an age of increasing chaos and instability. As we contend, globally, with natural, social, and political catastrophes that threaten to dehumanize and displace on an unprecedented scale, the study of what makes us human and what can be envisioned beyond the human, as epitomized in the works we grapple with, seems more important than ever.

We look forward to getting to know you in courses, and also, to sharing our intellectual passions and areas of expertise, which we hope to extend to you as a resource as you make your way through to the dissertation. Working with the other sections of RLL, as well as with other departments, we support students in building a singular program of studies that meets their aspirations, including a year abroad at the École normale supérieure, rue d’Ulm. You will find at Harvard, within the program and outside it, a cornucopia of conferences, panels, workshops, performances, seminars, and institutions that will both whet and nourish your intellectual appetites: the Mahindra Humanities Center, where we lead seminars on France and the World, the Renaissance, and Cartography; the Weatherhead Center; the Center for European Studies; the Harvard Film Archive; the Radcliffe Institute; the Center for Early Modern History; and many others. We are also a member of the consortium of French and Francophone graduate programs that, together, award the annual Goncourt américain.

Other wonderful resources to the program are Harvard's Widener Library and its incredibly learned and helpful research staff. Whatever books or journals the library doesn't have, it will get for you on interlibrary loan. We hope also that you will have the occasion to become acquainted with the Houghton Library, Harvard's rare book library, which is a mine of treasures. You will also be able to benefit from Harvard’s museums, the Arnold Arboretum, as well as the research centers it has at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C. and I Tatti in Italy.

Last but not least is the city of Cambridge itself, a truly cosmopolitan city on the banks of the Charles, and Harvard Square, with its many cafes, restaurants, and bookstores, where you can experience a veritable carnival of books, food, films, and theater, following your particular passions. And beyond Cambridge you will find the Greater Boston area offers the Boston Symphony, the Museum of Fine Arts, but also an abundance of places to get away from the city, be it to the beaches of the North and South Shore and Cape Cod, the Berkshires, or the forested space of the Fells. You will add to this list many, many personal discoveries, if you join us and study here.

Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions!

The French Section

To see our program requirements, see the GSAS Policies .

Graduate Contacts

Kathy Hanley (Graduate Program Coordinator)

Ph.D. Program in Modern French Studies (FRMS)

Our Ph.D. program combines training in literary, cultural and language studies with individualized research to open new, innovative understandings of the French-speaking world of yesterday and today. 

Related Links

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• French Graduate Placement

The Ph.D. in modern French studies at the University of Maryland offers comprehensive training in French and Francophone studies, including teaching, research and professionalization. The program offers seminars in French and Francophone literature, culture and film, in addition to French language and linguistics. With the guidance of internationally recognized faculty specializing in a range of genres and issues and reflective of the diversity and complexity of the French-speaking world, students develop competencies in innovative research methods and approaches such as critical theory, gender and sexuality studies, colonial and post-colonial studies, cultural and media criticism, ecocriticism and digital humanities, among others. The French Ph.D. program fosters collaborative work across disciplines, languages, media, centuries and fields. Students may pursue graduate certificates in affiliated programs such as women, gender and sexuality studies, comparative literature and digital humanities, as well as participate in Graduate School field committees in film studies and in medieval and early modern studies. Students are encouraged to pursue independent and innovative thinking through individualized curricula and research projects with the support of the French program’s intellectual community.

Students are normally granted full funding for four years, with the possibility of an additional year, contingent upon availability of funds. Annual renewal of financial support is based on satisfactory performance and progress in the program. The program also provides thorough pedagogical training and teaching experience in French language, literature and culture courses.

Students who have graduated from our program have pursued careers in higher education and beyond. For a complete list of Ph.D. graduate placements .

Admissions Information

Entry into the Ph.D. program is open to students who have already completed an M.A. in a field related to French studies. Students with a B.A. in French or a related field should begin with the M.A.

All foreign applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL examination (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

Course Requirements

Ph.D. students are required to take for credit a minimum of eight courses beyond the M.A. at the 600-level or above.

All students must take one course in each of the three following core categories: 1. History of Ideas 2. Issues in Literature 3. History of the French Language

Apart from those core courses, with the help of the director of graduate studies and their advisor, students will create an individually-tailored program of study that best matches their interests to complete the course requirements towards their degree.

Additionally, graduate teaching assistants are expected to take a 1-credit practicum in their first semester (FREN709) and FREN611 (The Structure of the French Language) in their second (spring) semester.

For additional information, please see the Graduate Student Handbook.

Language Requirement

All Ph.D. students are required to demonstrate a sound reading knowledge of one other language in addition to French and English. Students should choose a language that provides an appropriate background for the projected dissertation. The fulfillment of this requirement is one of the prerequisites for advancement to candidacy.

For additional information on how to fulfill this requirement, please see the Graduate Student Handbook.

Entering students are advised in their first semester by the director of graduate studies or by some other designated professor. By the end of their second semester, students should choose a permanent advisor and register this choice with the director of graduate studies. Final responsibility for meeting Graduate School requirements and deadlines rests solely with the student.

Qualifying Examinations

In order to advance to candidacy, Ph.D. students are required to pass two Qualifying Examinations consisting of:

 a) one two-part Comprehensive Examination; and  b) one Prospectus Defense.

In both cases, the committee will be composed of three members of the French faculty. An additional fourth member from outside the department is possible for the prospectus defense if the topic warrants it.

A ) The first Qualifying Examination is a two-part comprehensive exam, first written, then oral, taken over two consecutive days. It assesses whether students have acquired sufficiently broad knowledge of French and Francophone literature as well as of a range of theoretical approaches to be able to successfully take on the dissertation project. This exam should be taken by the end of the student’s third semester in the Ph.D. program. If students choose to submit their written response in English, the oral portion will be in French, and vice versa.

For the written part of the examination, students will have four hours to respond to one of two questions based on the standard Ph.D. reading list. The exam is taken without notes, in an examination room with a computer provided by the department.

For the oral part of the examination, which lasts approximately an hour, students will be asked to discuss their written response and the reading list with their committee.

To obtain the current reading list for the Ph.D. examination, contact the director of graduate studies.

B) The second Qualifying Examination is the oral defense of a written dissertation prospectus (approx. 5,000 words) and accompanying bibliography. The prospectus is a formal project proposal for the dissertation. The prospectus should lay out the proposed area and object of study, explain the relevant context, a research question, how your project is inscribed within the larger field (what has and has not been done in this area), a theoretical approach and a description of the methodology to be adopted, as well as a bibliography.

*Please note that, following a successful prospectus defense, doctoral students are required to submit the most recent version of their dissertation draft as an email attachment to the three departmental members of their Dissertation Committee one year date-to-date after their prospectus defense, and every six months thereafter until the submission of the final version of their dissertation two weeks prior to the defense date. As a rule, students will receive written feedback on these drafts within four to six weeks.

Dissertation

Doctoral dissertations must receive the preliminary approval of the three departmental members of the Dissertation Committee before being submitted to other readers. All readers must be given at least two weeks in which to read the dissertation. At the beginning of the semester in which the dissertation will be defended, the dissertation director will ask the dean of the Graduate School to approve the Examining Committee. At least one member of this five-person committee (normally the dean's representative) will be external to the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, and one may be drawn from another university. A date will then be set for the oral defense, which can be expected to last about two hours.

Application Instructions

Application deadline is January 15 for admission in the fall and may be submitted here . Before completing the application, applicants are asked to check the Admissions Requirements site for specific instructions about the Ph.D. program .  

As required by the Graduate School, all application materials must be submitted electronically through the Graduate Application Portal :

• Non-refundable application fee for each program
• Statement of Purpose. The statement should address relevant aspects of your educational experience, the focus of your academic interests and reasons for applying to our program.
• Unofficial transcripts of your entire college/university record (undergraduate and graduate), including records of any advanced work done at another institution. Electronic copies of these unofficial transcripts must be uploaded along with your online application.
• Three letters of recommendation. In your online application, please fully complete the information requested for your recommenders and ask them to submit their letters electronically.
• Two samples of critical writing in French. While we encourage you to submit your best writing sample, we prefer a writing sample in your declared field of interest. If you are submitting an excerpted selection, please include a brief description or introduction to the selection. The MLA citation format is preferred.
• Description of Research/Work Experience (optional)
• Publications/Presentations (optional)
• Academic CV/Resume

  Completed applications are reviewed by an admissions committee in each graduate degree program. The recommendations of the committees are submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School, who will make the final admission decision. To ensure the integrity of the application process, the University of Maryland authenticates submitted materials through TurnItIn for Admissions .   For questions related to the admissions process, prospective students may contact the Graduate School.

Information for International Graduate Students

The University of Maryland is dedicated to maintaining a vibrant international graduate student community. International applicants are encouraged to contact the office of International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS), a valuable source of information and assistance for prospective and current international students. Admitted international students will receive instructions about obtaining the appropriate visa to study at the University of Maryland which will require submission of additional documents. International students admitted by the Graduate School are responsible for obtaining the appropriate visa in order to enroll.

English Proficiency Requirement

Non-native speakers of English must submit TOEFL exam results to the Graduate School with their application. Based on these results, students may be advised to take a written expression course from the Maryland English Institute or a basic writing course given by the English Department. This course will not count towards the degree.

Please see the Graduate Admissions Process for International applicants for more information.

Program Contact

Director of graduate studies, sarah benharrech.

Associate Professor, French Affiliate, Classics Associate Professor, School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

3104 Jiménez Hall College Park MD, 20742

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• PhD in French Language & Literature

The doctoral program in French Language & Literature provides each student with a thorough knowledge of French and Francophone literature, its history, and its major works. The program offers professional preparation through the acquisition of extensive knowledge of the field of study; advanced skills in the use, evaluation, and production of critical scholarly and research materials; experience communicating knowledge in a range of contexts; and substantial training in pedagogy and other relevant practical and professional training. Candidates for admission should be able to demonstrate foundational knowledge of the appropriate literature and written and oral competence in the language of study. The PhD program is open to those with a BA or MA in an appropriate field. A broad training in the humanities is advantageous.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate a mastery and appreciation of language and literature in French in a global context and from all historical periods.
• Demonstrate a near-native mastery of the French language.
• Demonstrate the skilled application of research methodologies and techniques, and produce and defend an original and significant contribution to knowledge in the field.
• Be prepared to communicate and teach specific works and literary concepts at the college and university level.
• Adhere to ethical standards in the discipline.

Course Requirements

Sixteen courses (64 credits) on French literature and cultural studies at the 500 level or above are required for this degree, including at least one seminar per semester, as well as coursework and training in pedagogy (e.g., GRS LL 690/LL 691 Proficiency-Based Language Teaching 1 and 2 and CPT), as per departmental and GRS policies. At least three courses in the intended area of specialization are strongly recommended; this guideline may be satisfied in part through directed study.

Language Requirement

Degree candidates are expected to possess a near-native command of written and spoken French by the time they receive their PhD. Students must demonstrate reading knowledge of at least one language in addition to French that will be useful in their research work. In some areas of specialization, two or more additional languages may be required in order to ensure research competence.

Qualifying Examinations

Qualification for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy is achieved through: (1) successful completion of the written Comprehensive Examination based on a reading list of major works and (2) successful completion and oral defense of two qualifying papers, substantial and thoroughly researched works of 25–40 pages. Detailed information concerning the content, format, and schedule of these examinations are described fully in the graduate program handbook. As a general rule, entrants should have completed all coursework and examinations by the end of their third year.

Dissertation and Final Oral Examination

Candidates shall demonstrate their abilities for independent study in a dissertation representing original research or creative scholarship. A prospectus for the dissertation must be completed and approved by the readers, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Department Chair/Program Director. Candidates must undergo a final oral examination in which they defend their dissertation as a valuable contribution to knowledge in their field and demonstrate a mastery of their field of specialization in relation to their dissertation. All portions of the dissertation and final oral examination must be completed as outlined in the GRS General Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree .

Any PhD student who has fulfilled the requirements of the master’s degree program, as stated here , can be awarded a master’s degree.

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Doctoral Studies

With its 21 doctoral schools, Université Paris Cité offers many doctoral students the opportunity to train through research in all major disciplinary fields. At the national level, once fully operational, Université Paris Cité will offfer 5% of all PhD degrees in France.

Université Paris Cité is committed to a doctoral policy aimed at research training and training by research. It trains future researchers and teacher-researchers as well as future high-level executives.

Astronomy and Astrophysics Ile-de-France – ED 127 Director : Mr. Thierry FOUCHET Contact : Mrs. Jacqueline PLANCY

Environmental Sciences Ile-de-France – ED 129 Director : Mrs Pascale BOURUET-AUBERTOT Contact : Mrs Laurence AMSILI-TOUCHON

Doctoral School of Computer Science, Telecommunications, Electronics of Paris (EDITE) – ED 130 Director : Mr. Carlos AGON Contact : Mrs Rose NAHAN

Language, Litterature and Imagery : civilisations and humanities – ED 131 Director : Mr. Mathieu DUPLAY Co-director : Mrs Emmanuelle ANDRE Contact : Mrs Robin CHEVALIER

Cognition, Brain, Behaviour (ED3C) – ED 158 Director : Mr Alain TREMBLEAU Deputy director UPCité   :Mrs Thérèse COLLINS Contact : Mrs Hélène JOUANNE

Cognition, Behaviour, Human behaviour (3CH) – ED 261 Director : Mrs Karine DORE-MAZARS Contact : Mrs Lucie ALEX

Legal, political sciences, economics and management – ED 262 Director  : Mrs Anémone CARTIER-BRESSON Contact : Mrs Josie YEYE

Mathematical science Paris Centre – ED 386 Director : M. Elisha FALBEL Co-director  : M. Pierre-Henri CHAUDOUARD Contact : Mrs Amina HARITI

Physical Chemistry and Analytical chemistry – ED 388 Director : Mrs Alexa COURTY Contact : Mrs Konnavadee SOOBRAYEN

Pierre Louis Doctoral School of Public Health in Paris : Epidemiology and Biomedical Information Sciences – ED 393 Director  : Mr. Pierre-Yves BOËLLE Contact : Mrs Koltoum BEN SAID

Research in Psychoanalysis – ED 450 Director : Mrs Mi-Kyung YI Co-director : Mr Thamy AYOUCH Contact : Mr Ali BRADOR

Frontiers of Innovation in Research and Education (FIRE) – ED 474 Director : Mrs Muriel MAMBRINI-DOUDET  Co-directeur David TARESTE Contact : Mrs Elodie KASLIKOWSKI

Earth and Environmental Sciences and Physics of the Universe – ED 560 Director : Mr. Fabien CASSE Contacts : Mrs Alissa MARTEAU

Hematology, Oncogenesis, and Biotherapies – ED 561 Director  : Mr. Raphaël ITZYKSON Contacts : Mr Maxime DA CUNHA / Mrs Aurélie BULTELLE

Bio Sorbonne Paris Cité – ED 562 Director : Mrs Caroline LE VAN KIM – Co-Director : Mrs Chantal DESDOUETS Contacts : Mr Louis DUVAL-KISTER

Drug Toxicology, Chemistry and Imaging (MTCI) – ED 563 Director  : Mrs Marie-Christine LALLEMAND Contact : Mrs Elisabeth HOMBRADOS

Physics in Ile de France – ED 564 Director  : Mr Frédéric CHEVY Co-director : Mr Philippe LAFARGE Contact : Mrs Monia MESTAR

Sports, Motricity and Humain mobility sciences (SSMMH) – ED 566 Director  : Mrs Isabelle SIEGLER Co-director : Mr. Bernard ANDRIEU Contact : Mrs Marie-Pierre RICHOUX

Language Sciences – ED 622 Director : Mrs Caterina DONATI Contact : Mrs Chafia AIT-HELAL

Knowledge, Science, Education – ED 623 Co-Director : Mr. Fabrice VANDEBROUCK Co-Director : Mrs Anne BARRERE Contact : Mrs Agathe TRAN

Social Sciences – ED 624

Department 1 Director : Mrs Véronique PETIT Contact : Mr. Jérôme BROCHERIOU

Department 2

Director : Mr Antoine REBERIOUX Contact : Mrs Sarah RAHMANI

More information :

Doctoral School website for more information The following content is in French French higher education system chart

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Doctoral Program

  I. Requirements for the Ph.D.

• Course Work
• Required Courses
• Foreign Language Requirement
• Credit for graduate work done elsewhere
• Master's examination
• Qualifying evaluation
• Field Statement
• Ph.D. examination
• Dissertation

II. Advising and Evaluation of Students

Iii. study and teaching abroad, iv. funding, i. requirements for the ph.d., 1. course work ..

Students will be required to complete satisfactorily 17 courses, for a total of 17 course units (CUs). All students should take at least one course in each period of French literature. The choice of courses should also reflect a diversity of theoretical, critical, and methodological approaches. Papers should be presented following MLA guidelines and, in at least half of the French courses, should be written in French. Students may take up to three courses outside of French, either in another language or in another field pertinent to the prospective area of specialization. Comparative literature courses that are not cross-listed with French but partially deal with French texts should be discussed with the instructor and the Graduate Chair; such courses may be given French credit, depending on the amount of reading and writing done in French. Students are expected to meet each semester with the Graduate Chair to discuss seminar selection and for approval of extra-departmental courses. 

Normally a student will register for eight courses in the first year and three courses per semester for four additional semesters, or until all course requirements are met. Please find below a typical breakdown of coursework, including seminar electives and required courses covering exam preparation and pedagogical training. 

Typical format:

Year 1- Educational Fellow

Fall Semester: 4 courses (including the FIGS proseminar, FREN 7770)

Spring Semester: 4 courses (including the M.A. exam preparation course (FIGS 5000) and the FIGS anchor course)

M.A. Exam (end of the Spring semester)

Students are strongly encouraged to satisfy one of their language requirements in their first year.

Year 2- Teaching/Research Fellow

Fall Semester: 3 courses (including a Literary Theory course and FREN 5990)

Spring Semester: 3 courses 

Year 3- Teaching/Research Fellow

PhD exam (beginning of the Fall semester)

Fall Semester: 3 courses

Spring Semester: no mandatory courses

Dissertation proposal

Students should have earned 17 course units by the end of their 3rd year.

Year 4- Educational Fellow

Dissertation research and writing

Year 5- Educational Fellow

Dissertation writing and completion 

Dissertation Defense

2. Required courses .

As indicated above, five specific courses are required of all graduate students: FIGS 5000 ("Reading for the M.A. Exam"), FIGS 7770 (the FIGS Proseminar), French 5990 "Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching"), and a Literary Theory course. 

A total of seventeen (17) graduate courses are required for the Ph.D., to be distributed as follows:

1. The FIGS Proseminar, FIGS 7770, an introduction to graduate life—a course taken in the first semester of the first year.

2. A FIGS anchor course—a content course (topic varies every year) taken in the second semester of the first year.

3. The M.A. Exam Preparation Course, FIGS 5000—taken in the second semester of the student's first year.

4. FREN 5990 (Teaching and Learning)—a course taken during the first semester of the student's second year to support and implement their service as teaching fellows.

4. A Literary Theory course— taken in the student's first or second year.

6. A minimum of 9 electives in French & Francophone studies is needed (cross-listed courses included). Courses will be chosen in consultation with the Graduate Chair. Depending on their content, courses from other departments may also count, with the approval of the Graduate Chair.

7. Up to 3 courses outside French & Francophone studies in another field pertinent to the student's area of specialization.

Students are permitted to continue coursework past 17 course units with Graduate Chair approval. 

3. Foreign language requirement . 

In addition to French, students are required to demonstrate reading knowledge of another foreign language, normally one that is used significantly in their chosen field of specialization. The foreign language must be selected with the approval of the Graduate Chair. Students are encouraged to satisfy the foreign language requirement early in the program and in any case before they sit for the Ph.D. exam at the end of the third year.

This requirement may be satisfied one of three ways:

• A reading examination in a modern language, which will consist of a translation of about thirty lines of prose from a literary text and thirty lines of modern criticism (two hours with a dictionary). Reading exams are offered twice a year, once in October and once in March. The dates will be announced by the Graduate Coordinator. 
• Successful completion of a one-semester Latin course, in which the student has fulfilled all course requirements such as tests, quizzes, and homework assignments. The student will need to produce a letter from his or her instructor that attests to satisfactory performance in the course.
• Successful completion of a summer course for reading knowledge, offered tuition free by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences during the first summer session of each year. Reading courses are usually given in French, German, Spanish, and they are sometimes given in Latin. Students are expected to complete all course assignments and pass the final exam in order to fulfill the language requirement.

Alternative options to satisfying the   language requirement may be approved by the Graduate Chair on a case-by-case basis.

Please note: Students specializing in Medieval or Renaissance studies need to fulfill a Latin requirement in addition to the other language. The Latin requirement may be fulfilled one of two ways:

• Successful completion of a one-semester Latin course, in which the student has fulfilled all course requirements such as tests, quizzes, and homework assignments. The student will need to produce a letter from his or her instructor that attests to satisfactory performance in the course.
• A translation exam in Latin, which will consist of one passage by a classical author and one passage by a Medieval/Renaissance author.

4. Credit for graduate work done elsewhere .

After his or her first year in the program, a student should make a request to the Graduate Chair to receive credit for graduate courses taken at another institution. Such students may follow an accelerated schedule with respect to course work, exams, and dissertation preparation. The number of credits to be received by an incoming student for work done in another institution will be determined on an ad hoc basis, but will not exceed four course units. The fulfillment of requirements listed in items 1-3 above must be taken into consideration when awarding credit to a student for courses taken elsewhere. That is, a student may receive credit for graduate course work done at another institution in the terms specified by the Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania; but the above departmental requirements must be satisfied either by courses taken previously, by course work pursued at the University of Pennsylvania, or by a combination thereof.

5. Master's examination .

An oral exam based on the Master's Reading List (a corpus of 25 texts) will be given at the conclusion of the spring semester of the student’s first year (2nd semester). Students are granted one credit unit to prepare for the exam. 

The oral exam will last approximately one hour and will be conducted by the examining committee partially in French and partially in English. It is designed to test students' general knowledge of the Masters Reading List and attendant sociohistorical contexts. The grade for the oral exam will be pass/fail.

6. Qualifying evaluation .

In order to be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree, students must pass successfully a qualifying evaluation. At the beginning of the second year, the faculty will evaluate all aspects of the student's performance during his or her first year in the program, namely:

• All written assignments completed for courses
• Contribution to class discussion
• Performance on Master's examination

After all criteria are considered by the graduate faculty, the student will be informed that he or she has:

- Passed the evaluation and is invited to continue studies toward the doctorate. If all Graduate School requirements have been met, the student will be awarded a Master's degree in his or her second year.

- Passed the evaluation and is eligible for a terminal Master's degree. A student who is judged eligible for a terminal Master's degree will be required to finish the third semester of coursework in order to receive the degree.

- Failed the evaluation and is asked to withdraw from the program at the end of the semester in which the evaluation takes place.

7. Ph.D. examination .

The Ph.D. exam will be taken in fall of the third year (or the 5th semester). It will be devised by an examination committee organized by the student in consultation with the student’s primary advisor and the Graduate Chair. It will consist of the following:

• A take-home exam essay, to be completed within four days. The exam will be on a topic formulated by the student’s advisor (in consultation with the committee).  The topic will be in the student's field but will not be directly related to the proposed dissertation topic.  It will be based on the texts from the student’s field of specialization on the Ph.D. reading list (e.g. 17th-century Theater, 19th-century realist novel, 20th-century poetry). It will be written in the language to be used for the student’s dissertation and the length of the answer will be approximately 15-20 pages. The grade for the written Ph.D. examination will be pass/fail.
•  An oral exam to follow within one week will further probe questions from the written exam and also address texts from the Ph.D. Reading List, which will consist of the comprehensive general list as well as 20-25 texts relating to the student's chosen specialized field. The exam will last about one and one-half hours and will be conducted mainly in French. The grade for the oral Ph.D. examination will be pass/fail.

8. Dissertation Process .

The presentation of a dissertation is the final requirement for the Ph.D. Candidates must be thoroughly acquainted with all University regulations governing the writing and presentation of a dissertation and should refer to the Doctoral Dissertation Manual .

a. Dissertation Proposal

Following successful fulfillment of the Ph.D. Examination, the candidate will shape a dissertation project and writing schedule. A Dissertation Chair and a Dissertation Committee will be chosen through a selection process involving the candidate, the FIGS Graduate Chair, and the French & Francophone faculty. The committee will consist of faculty members and at least 2 of which have to belong to the Graduate group. Whatever the composition of their Committee, all students are encouraged to consult informally and widely with the faculty beyond the Committee, both inside and outside the department. In consultation with the Committee, the candidate will prepare a draft of the dissertation proposal, which will serve as the basis for an informal oral presentation of the dissertation topic to the French & Francophone faculty in the Spring of their third year.

b. Dissertation

The presentation of a dissertation is the final requirement for the Ph.D. The dissertation must represent the organized result of an investigation into some area or aspect of literature or culture that was previously unknown or at least insufficiently explored. Candidates must be thoroughly acquainted with all University regulations governing the writing and presentation of a dissertation, and should refer to the Doctoral Dissertation Manual. (Copies are available at the Graduate Division, 3401 Walnut Street, Suite 322A, or from the Graduate Coordinator.)

c. Dissertation Defense

A public, oral presentation of the dissertation will take place during the semester in which the student will graduate. The defense is open to all members of the University community. The defense will include both a short presentation given by the student and an oral examination of the thesis material.

Upon entering the graduate program in French and Francophone Studies, each student will be advised by the Graduate Chair for French and Francophone Studies. Thereafter, the Graduate Chair will continue to review graduate student course registration and give general advice, but students are encouraged to consult other faculty members as well. When a general area of concentration is identified as a possible source of a dissertation topic, the appropriate professor will become, de facto, the student's principal advisor, and, normally, the dissertation supervisor.

After each course, students will receive a "Graduate Progress Report" which will evaluate their work in the course and will also record whether they wrote their papers in French or in English. In addition, the faculty may meet with students individually each year to provide an assessment of overall performance with respect to grades, class participation, quality of written material, and teaching. Because the faculty does not wish to encourage any student who may not be able to complete the degree with distinction, students who have not shown adequate command of oral and/or written French, have failed a course, have a grade point average lower than 3.5, or have generally performed below expectations may be placed on departmental probation, asked to finish the requirements for a terminal M.A., or asked to leave the program.

It is expected that graduate students in French and Francophone Studies will take advantage of our exchange programs with the Universities of Paris and Geneva. In most cases, students will spend their fourth or fifth year abroad according to whichever exchange program best fits their research needs. The exchange program with the University of Geneva allows students to take course work and write a substantial paper in fulfillment of the D.E.S. degree. The exchange programs with the Universities of Paris generally require students to teach and allow for independent research. Information on the different programs is available from the Graduate Coordinator. While abroad, students are expected to make steady progress on their dissertation research and writing and to maintain regular contact with the Graduate Chair and the dissertation advisor.

First-year students are invited to apply for competitive selection to attend Bryn Mawr College's Institut d'Études Françaises d'Avignon. The Avignon program, held in June and July, is a six-week course of study in which students take two graduate-level seminars: http://www.institutdavignon.fr

Students in their third year and above are invited to apply for competitive selection to attend Dartmouth's Institute of French Cultural Studies. The Dartmouth program, held every other year, is a summer program organized around a specific topic and designed for advanced graduate students and junior faculty:  http://www.frenchculturalstudies.com

Students interested in applying to the Avignon or Dartmouth programs should consult with the Graduate Coordinator and the Graduate Chair.

All students admitted to the Graduate Program in French & Francophone Studies receive a Benjamin Franklin Fellowship, which guarantees five years of financial support (tuition remission, Penn's health insurance, and a 12-month stipend) to students who continue in good academic standing. The fellowship requires a two-year teaching assistantship as service to the department.

In addition, the Graduate School has made funds available to the Department to subsidize students' travel and research expenses as follows:

• Up to $500 per conference for a limited number of students delivering papers at scholarly conferences, to be awarded competitively on a yearly basis. A student may receive up to three such awards from the department during his/her graduate career. Students should first apply for Graduate Student Travel Subvention through the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS), which grants a maximum of $500. Students are then eligible for up to $500 beyond the SAS award if their travel expenses exceed that award.
• Financial assistance for a limited number of students undertaking short-term research abroad or summer academic programs to be awarded competitively on a yearly basis. Funds may not be used solely for the purposes of enhancing language proficiency.
• Up to $600 each for students attending the MLA Convention for the purpose of job interviews (awarded once to all such students).

Please see the Graduate Coordinator for application details.

Students can also apply for travel grants from GAPSA .

Students who have finished all pre-dissertation requirements and who no longer receive fellowship support are eligible for a lectureship. These awards provide a stipend for every course taught and may cover the dissertation tuition. The Department also has a small number of one-year, non-renewable full-time lectureships reserved for recent graduates.

Both forms of financial support described above are awarded on the basis of academic merit.  For need-based financial assistance, such as student loans, please contact Student Financial Services at (215) 898-1988; E-mail:  [email protected] .

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Home > Admissions > Admission to a PhD

Admission to a PhD

Candidates who already hold a Master's degree or equivalent and who wish to enter a PhD programme at thesis level, regardless of their previous studies (international or French), should apply directly online . The doctoral programme must be chosen carefully: only one application per year is possible, all doctoral programmes combined.

Degree requirements

• Criteria for the application evaluation

Application

Financing studies, co-supervised thesis, joint thesis, doctoral programmes in economics, history*, political science and sociology**.

Applications starting 11 October 2023

To be eligible for assessment, your application must be  complete and submitted before:

• 10 January 2024 at 11:59pm (Paris time),   for an admission result mid-March 2024
• 17 May 2024 at 11:59pm (Paris time),   for an admission result mid-July 2024

Auditions for applicants may be organised  on 18 June 2024 for the Doctoral programme in History (*) Auditions for applicants may be organised on  26 June 2024 for the Doctoral programme in Sociology (**).

Doctoral programme in Law

Only one admission session this year for the Doctoral programme in  Law (*)

• 12 March 2024 at 11:59pm (Paris time) for an admission result from mid-April 2024

(*) This year, there will be only ONE admission session for the Law doctoral programme with results communicated from mid-April 2024. Contact: Professor Vincent Forray , Head of doctoral studies in Law

The PhD application is open to students with a Research Master's degree , a postgraduate degree (Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies - DEA) or an equivalent degree (bac +5).  There must be a match between the candidate's graduate studies and the discipline of the requested doctoral programme. 

For the record, the IEP awards PhDs in Economics , History , Law , Political Science and Sociology .   For candidates who do not have the required degrees to be directly admitted into the First thesis year, see admissions into Master’s programmes offered by the School of Research.

In Sociology only,  the PhD application can only be reviewed if the thesis supervisor has provided you with a preliminary letter of consent and if a   research unit Director has provided you with a preliminary letter of consent. In Economics, Law and Political science , no preliminary letter of consent is requested. In History , the name of the potential research supervisor must be indicated (in the “Personal statement” tab), no preliminary letter of consent is requested.

The candidate must identify a host research laboratory . See the list of Sciences Po's research units and affiliated researchers.

Sciences Po's Graduate School is careful to limit PhD admissions to students whose thesis proposal is likely to succeed. It is therefore important that the candidate have a developed vision of his/her thesis subject and the implications of this choice for his/her research and career plans.  The thesis topic might change during the first months of the PhD programme, but it is important that the candidate formulate in the most precise and coherent way possible the key elements to evaluating his/her research project. 

Criteria for the Application Evaluation

Several criteria are taken into account for the selection of candidates applying for a doctorate: 

• The selection of the research problem must be supported by previous work. 
• A presentation of the chosen methodology to address the given problem.
• An evaluation of the feasibility of the planned research from both a scientific and practical perspective.  Some topics require access to areas or data that are not easily accessible. 
• The candidate must also indicate his/her availability to produce a thesis.  This is particularly important for employed candidates.  (1)(See the section "Financing of studies" below).
• The financing of studies (See the section "Financing of studies" below).
• Finally, it is important that the candidate be able to explain his/her project in relation to his/her academic and/or professional background . The academic record should preferably be consistent and coherent. In all cases the requisite academic track record must be very good. Moreover, for employed candidates, the professional career must be explained and related to the thesis project: how might the candidate's professional experience tie into the thesis project?  Is the thesis part of a professional development plan?

The application must be submitted  exclusively online , according to the Admissions calendar.

Documents for your application may be uploaded in French or in English  (CAUTION: only png, jpeg, jpg or pdf formats are accepted):

For all doctoral programs:

• Two academic recommendations (an optional professional recommendation may be added)
• Proof of identity
• Thesis project ( PDF or Word format, 5,000 words maximum, i.e. about ten pages, excluding bibliographic references)
• Thesis project synopsis (two pages, PDF or Word format)
• Copy of last completed academic degree (Master or equivalent)
• Master transcripts ( the documents must be attached in the original language, along with an official or informal translation in English or French if necessary. Please add a sworn statement of compliance if the translation is yours)
• If obtained, official proof of doctoral funding obtention (see the  "Financing of studies" section below).

PLEASE NOTE : no supporting document  will be accepted after the evaluation process has begun. Please make sure that your application is complete before submitting it. For candidates currently in the process of obtaining the requested diploma, please attach all the transcripts available at the time of your application.  Incomplete applications will not be assessed.

Additional information for the following doctoral programmes

• If you have a potential supervisor in mind, please indicate his/her name after your Thesis project title in your online space
• Indicate at least one potential Thesis supervisor from Sciences Po’s Center for History in the “Personal statement” tab.
• The Thesis project mustn’t exceed 3,000 words excluding bibliography, that shouldn’t exceed 20-25 titles
• A grade of 16/20 or equivalent is required for the Master Thesis

Political science

• A signed letter from a thesis supervisor authorised to supervise research, indicating that he/she accepts to supervise your thesis ; 
• A letter from the laboratory Director indicating that he/she accepts to host you in the laboratory (contact the laboratory Director) ;
• A grade of 16/20 (if graded) is required for the Master Thesis.

The result of the language test is optional.

• Economics: English C2, French
• History: French B2
• Law: English C2, French
• Political Science (Compared politics, International Relations, Political Theory) : French B2
• Sociology: French B2

CAUTION:  "Required languages" is a mandatory field in our application file; i f you do not have a CECR test result or self-assessment to upload, please select "two years of study in the language" by default.

The €100 application fee is not refundable.   We do not offer fee waivers, unless you have a refugee status or are a recipient of a CROUS scholarship. In that case, please contact us to inform us, and attach the official proof of your current situation to your file.  Please note: Paying the application fee does not mean that your application form has been submitted. Make sure to submit your application form within the deadline by clicking on the “Submit“ button.  If you are unable to pay by credit card, please contact the Admissions Department to obtain our bank details. Your payment will be validated on receipt of a copy of the proof of transfer. 

Do not wait until the last day to submit your application. To be assessed, your application must be complete and submitted before the deadline of the programme you are applying to.  Deadlines always refer to Paris time (23:59pm).    Please note:

• As our platform does not automatically invalidate incomplete files, it is your responsibility to submit an application that includes all required documents (including references).
• Once you have submitted your application, you will not be able to bring any change, please be very careful. 

Applicants may be contacted for an interview as part of the admission procedure.

In accordance with the decree of 25 May 2016 setting the national training framework and the procedures leading to the issuing of the national doctoral degree, the financial preconditions must be met to ensure the orderly conduct of the research work and preparation of the thesis. Doctoral funding is therefore necessary to engage in a doctoral thesis.  The doctorate is full-time at Sciences Po (except in the particular case of full-time employees who work on a research subject directly related to their job and have obtained the employer's agreement to have the necessary time to carry out their research) and the funding must meet the following criteria :

• a duration of at least three years;
• a net monthly amount akin to that of the doctoral contrat in force ;
• the obligations attached to the financing must not represent more than one day per week (with the exception of CIFRE, where the obligations must be assessed on a case-by-case basis);
• the funding organisation must respect the academic freedom of the doctoral student regarding the content of his research and the composition of the defense jury;
• funding must not come from personal resources but from public or private organisations (foundations, associations, companies, public authorities, international organisations, local authorities or others to be validated beforehand by the doctoral school) offering doctoral funding.

For more information on funding opportunities, see the section on Funding .

For all students entering the PhD programme, the annual fee for 2022/2023 is 380 euros, irrespective of tax residency.

In addition to receiving guidance from their thesis supervisor, some PhD students receive assistance from another Professor or Researcher who may be based in a different institution. 

The role of this co-supervisor must be formalised through a co-supervised thesis agreement established :

•  between the PhD student's institution and the co-supervisor if the co-supervisor works at a different institution,  or 
• between the supervisor and co-supervisor if both work at IEP Paris. At Sciences Po the co-supervision is formalised through an exchange of letters.

The PhD student will obtain a PhD from his/her home institution. The co-supervisors commit to following the PhD student's work and to sit on the thesis examining committee.  The thesis will explicitly state it was co-supervised and include the names and titles of the co-supervisors on the thesis cover page. 

The Administrative Officer of the program must be informed of the co-supervised for validation.

The joint thesis involves guidance from two supervisors : a professor at IEP Paris and a professor from a foreign institution.   It allows the issuance of two PhD degree, or of a joint degree where applicable.   In France, joint theses are governed by the amended decree of 6 January 2005 on international joint theses (PDF, 45Ko)   At Sciences Po, joint theses may only be permitted if:

• The student has already been admitted to Sciences Po
• The two thesis supervisors approached have conferred and provided their consent in writing.

Joint theses require the establishment of an agreement signed by all the partners (individuals and institutions). The three-year agreement must cover, among other things, the terms of registration, tuition, and the defence.  It must be established in the first thesis year: see the section below on administrative procedures .

A joint thesis only makes sense and is only possible if the research project is shared by two institutions. In cases where this condition cannot be met, the student might consider a co-supervision , which also provides guidance from two supervisors, but does not allow the issuance of a dual degree.  A joint thesis allows the student to: 

• have access to greater resources (documentary resources, networks)
• pursue international career opportunities.  
• Have access to, joint thesis scholarships covering the costs of joint theses (student's residence and defence fees)  

Disadvantages

Joint theses may be difficult if the thesis supervisors have divergent views on the PhD student's work, or if the institutions' rules are too far apart.

In this case, the student might consider a co-supervision, which also provides guidance from two supervisors, but does not allow the issuance of a dual degree.

Administrative procedures

Even if the student is already enrolled in a foreign university, he/she must also be admitted to Sciences Po's at the thesis level.

Upon admission, the student must submit his/her joint project to the administration (administrative manager).

The agreement must include the following information :

• The university of primary enrolment
• Terms of tuition payment
• Terms of the defence
• Terms of sharing the defence fees

Once the agreement is signed, all parties will receive a copy.

If any breach of agreement should arise, management should be contacted. 

Tuition fees will be paid in accordance with agreement.  However, until the agreement is signed, the student is liable for the tuition at both institutions.

The organisation of the defence is framed by the agreement. 

• For the presentation of the thesis, certain specific rules must be observed. See "Presentation Norms" on the page "Defence"
• For more on submitting a thesis in a foreign language, see the "Defence" page.
• Some foreign universities require a pre-defence.  Inquire with the relevant academic authorities.

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This Guide is provided by the Department of French to describe the graduate program in French Literature and the Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures (with an emphasis in French). It serves as a summary of the requirements and regulations (both divisional and departmental) pertaining to the various degrees. Questions about any aspect of the procedures outlined here may be addressed to the Graduate Advisors or the  Graduate Student Advisor  in French. This version of the Guide is intended for those students who were admitted Fall 2024 and after. Students admitted Fall 2022 and before may consult the Guide to Higher Degrees in French HERE . Students admitted Fall 2023 may consult the Guide to Higher Degrees in French HERE .

Program Information: Ph.D. in French

Purpose of the Ph.D. in French . The purpose of the Ph.D. is to enable students to undertake original research, to engage in scholarly and critical writing in the field, and to prepare for careers in college/university-level teaching and various professional industries. The M.A. is the first phase of the French Department’s graduate program for students entering with a bachelor’s degree. It is thus assumed that students continuing in the Ph.D. program after completing the M.A. phase will have acquired a broad knowledge of the masterworks of French from the Middle Ages to the twenty-first century, including knowledge of Old French. Students arriving with an M.A. degree or equivalent from another institution will be asked to validate the comprehensiveness of their knowledge of French literature and language in ways to be determined in consultation with the Head Graduate Advisor; they may be asked to take the M.A. examination, to undertake additional coursework, or a combination of the two. Students who enter the program with a master’s degree should take their Ph.D. Qualifying Exams before or during their fifth semester in the program (seventh semester for those entering without a master’s degree). Overview of the Ph.D. in French . To a large extent, students design their own programs of study, within guidelines set out by the Department and with the advice and assistance of faculty members. The guidelines are meant to ensure the necessary professional specialization in a field within French studies, to point toward the area of an eventual dissertation, and to prepare the student in a general way for research in that area. Throughout the program, each student will explore and develop a clear understanding of three areas of study within French literature. Each of the areas, while related to the others, obliges the student to view the discipline from a different perspective. The areas of study for the Ph.D. in French are:

• the work of a single major author;
• a historical period in French literature; and
• the development of a genre, theme or carefully-delineated topic (CDT) extending over a period of three centuries.

Students outline their proposed program of study in these three areas by submitting a Ph.D. Program Proposal (see “Ph.D. Program Proposal”). Study Abroad. Graduate students in French are encouraged to spend time studying in France and may apply to participate in the Department’s exchange programs with the École Normale Supérieure, the Université de Paris VII or the Université de Tours. It is expected that during this time they will pursue their program of advanced study or research. Course Requirements . Students are expected to plan, with the aid of their Graduate Advisors and any other appropriate members of the faculty, courses of study which enable them to accomplish the goals and requirements of the Ph.D. program. All entering graduate students enroll in a 1-unit Proseminar course (French 200A) in their first year at Berkeley, regardless of whether or not the student has previously earned an M.A. from another institution. The Proseminar is designed to give new graduate students a broad view of the Department’s faculty, the courses they teach, and their fields of research, as well as institutional resources. In addition, it introduces students to practical aspects of the graduate career, issues that pertain to certain fields of research, and current debates across the profession. Ph.D. candidates will be expected to complete at least 12 courses apart from the French 200A Proseminar—for a letter grade—at Berkeley prior to advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. (Advancement to Candidacy occurs with the constitution of a dissertation committee following the passing of the Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations). At least 10 of the 12 courses are to be taken at the graduate level (above 200), with the student taking at least six graduate courses in the first four semesters of the program (see also “Course Requirements for the M.A. phase”). On petition to the Head Graduate Advisor and if circumstances warrant, students may be granted permission to have an extra undergraduate course count toward the 12, for a total of 3. The 12-course requirement may be modified for students admitted with an M.A. from another university, depending on the Graduate Committee’s assessment of the work done elsewhere. It is Department policy to count a maximum of six courses from previous M.A. work toward the 12-course requirement. Seven of the required 12 courses will be devoted to fulfilling a requirement of historical comprehensiveness. Comprehensive knowledge of French literature will be demonstrated by taking one course at the graduate level (above 200) from the Middle Ages; three courses at the graduate level from among the following four options: 16th-century, 17th-century, 18th-century, early modern studies; and three courses at the graduate level from among the following four options: 19th-century, 20th-century, Francophone studies, modern studies. A course satisfies the historical comprehensiveness requirement if it dwells centrally on various works of literature falling substantially within the given period. Courses centering on one author’s works count for this requirement. The French Ph.D. Program Requirements sheet provides a checklist of what students must complete during their time in the program. M.A. students must take French 270 (Literary Criticism: Recent Work in French) or 274 (Traditions of Critical Thought: French Theory) as part of the M.A. degree requirements. Students who come with an M.A. degree are also expected to take French 270 or 274 before their Qualifying Exams. French 201 (History of the French Language) is also a degree requirement and may be completed at any time before the Qualifying Exams. Upper division or graduate courses in another language may count in satisfaction of the 12‑course requirement, whether or not they are also used to fulfill part of the foreign language requirement. Courses numbered in the 300 or the 600 series will not count toward the total. All students who wish to request an exception to the Department’s degree requirements must submit that request in writing to the Head Graduate Advisor (with a copy to the Graduate Student Advisor). The request is not officially granted until the Head Graduate Advisor assents to the request in writing and has filed that approval with the Graduate Student Advisor. Students are responsible for making sure the request has been officially granted before proceeding ahead with their course of study. Please note also that if any student is dealing with extenuating health issues, they should consult with the Disabled Students Program to inquire if they are eligible for any academic accommodations. Students admitted to the Ph.D. in French must fulfill the residence requirement of the Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate (registration for four semesters, with a minimum of 4 units each semester in a l00‑ or 200‑level course) while enrolled in at least 12 units each semester (to be considered full-time). M.A. Phase of the Doctoral Program .  During the first three semesters of the graduate program (M.A. phase), students complete a minimum of six courses—for a letter grade—at Berkeley, of which five must be undertaken at the graduate level (above 200). In addition, one of the six courses must be from the series French 270A‑B or French 274. (French 298, individual investigation under the supervision of a faculty member, does not count toward the course total.) These six courses all count for the 12-course requirement for the Ph.D. M.A. Examination.  In order to complete the M.A. phase, and for the M.A. degree to be conferred, students must complete the coursework outlined above with at least a 3.5 GPA and also successfully complete a written M.A. Exam during the ninth week of instruction of the third semester of graduate study. (The M.A. is not offered on the Graduate Division’s thesis plan). T he M.A. Examination emphasizes understanding and analysis of texts from the M.A. reading list. The answers to the M.A. Exam should be well written, in good French. In writing their M.A. Exams, students are expected to show both a knowledge of the texts on the M.A. reading list and an ability to use that knowledge toward the cogent articulation of a critical perspective on issues raised by the exam questions. Students are encouraged to consult these reference works as they prepare for the exam, some of which are available in the Department’s Library of French Thought: The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory & Criticism  (available online through the Library) Dictionnaire de rhétorique et de poétique by Michèle Aquien and Georges Molinié A Short History of French Literature by Sarah Kay, Malcolm Bowie, and Terence Cave La Littérature française (tomes 1-2) by Jean-Yves Tadié (dir.) A New History of French Literature by Denis Hollier (ed.) French Global: A New Approach to Literary History by Susan Suleiman The Cambridge Companion to French Literature by John Lyons

·          10 Selected Works that the student chooses.

The 10 Selected Works, all originally produced in French, can come (a) from seminars that students have taken in their first three semesters in the program, (b) from works that reflect their own interests in French studies (e.g., from discovered works through the French 200A Proseminar course), and/or (c) from within the student’s desired coverage upon consultation with the Head Graduate Advisor. Alongside poetry, short stories, plays, and novels, students are able to—but are not required to—include works from other media and genres such as philosophy and film. Students will be given guidance on the selection of the 10 works in the French 200B Advanced Proseminar course and students will submit the list of works to the Chair of the M.A. Committee (CCing the Head Graduate Advisor and French Graduate Student Advisor) for approval in the third week of instruction of their third semester in the program. The Chair of the M.A. Committee will confirm the approval of the selected works within one week. The M.A. Exam is a 5-hour written closed-book exam taken remotely in which students write two essays in French. The M.A. Committee will write and submit the questions for the M.A. Exam by the eighth week of the semester during the semester of examination. Students will be given two pairs of questions—one oriented toward the earlier periods and one toward the later periods—and will answer one question from each pair. M.A. Exams are administered during the ninth week of instruction. The M.A. reading list is available in the French Graduate Office and on the bCourses site for French Graduate Students. Timing and Repetition of Exams .  Students are allowed two attempts at the examination. If the first attempt is unsuccessful, the student may take the exam a second time, but this must be done by the end of the immediate following semester. If a student fails the second attempt at the exam, this constitutes failure to pass the requirements for the master’s degree, thus the student will not be permitted to continue in the graduate program. Permission to Proceed to the Ph.D.  At the end of the semester in which the student completes all the requirements of the M.A. phase, the Graduate Committee reviews the student’s entire graduate record. In addition to faculty evaluations of seminar work, the Graduate Committee considers the written report of the M.A. Committee, which addresses the student’s performance on the examination. On the basis of this review, the Graduate Committee will decide whether or not to grant the student permission to proceed to the Ph.D. program in French. Appeals Procedures. The Department’s appeals procedure is consistent with that of the Graduate Division and affords graduate students in the Department an opportunity to resolve complaints about dismissal from graduate standing, placement on probationary status, denial of readmission, joint-authorship matters, and other departmental decisions which terminate or limit participation in the degree program. Questions regarding this procedure should be addressed to the Graduate Student Advisor. Foreign Language Requirement.  The Ph.D. in French includes the acquisition of certain linguistic skills. Beginning in fall 2009, students may fulfill the foreign language requirement through either Option I or Option II, as specified by the Graduate Division. Option I Option I requires students to demonstrate reading knowledge of two languages. This can be done by either passing a translation exam in both languages or passing a translation exam in one language and completing coursework in the second language. Option I translation exams consist of at least a 300-word passage translated into English, with the use of a dictionary, in 90 minutes. Students who choose to demonstrate reading knowledge of their second language through coursework may either (a) complete a four-semester course sequence with an average grade of B or better or (b) complete (with a grade of B or better) an upper division foreign language course that requires a four-semester course sequence as a prerequisite. Option II Option II requires students to demonstrate an exceptionally thorough reading knowledge and an adequate knowledge of the grammatical structure of one language. Students can demonstrate such knowledge in one of two ways: (a) by passing a translation exam in which the student translates a passage of about 1,000 words into English, without the use of a dictionary, in three hours or (b) by earning a B or better in two upper-division foreign language courses in which the material is read in the original language. The language(s) will be chosen after consultation with the Head Graduate Advisor and in view of the student’s intended Ph.D. Program Proposal. For example, for students intending to work in the Middle Ages or Renaissance, it would be advisable to choose Latin, or perhaps Italian. For students interested in modern philosophy or critical theory, German might be wise. Arabic might be a more useful choice for students interested in Francophone writers from North Africa. Whatever the choice, it should have an intellectual or scholarly relationship to the student’s area of specialization, or with the field of Romance languages more broadly. The foreign language requirement should be completed by the end of the third year in the Ph.D. program (second year, in the case of students entering with an M.A.), and the Graduate Division requires that it be completed before the student may attempt the Ph.D. Qualifying Exams. Please note also that if the student is dealing with extenuating health issues, they should consult with the Disabled Students Program to inquire if they are eligible for any academic accommodations. Ph. D. Program Proposal During the first year of study at the Ph.D. level (or, for students who enter with an M.A., during their second year in the program), students submit the Ph.D. Program Proposal. In the Proposal, the student specifies choices for the three fields of study for the Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations (author, period, genre/theme/topic of their design) (see following section for details). The Program Proposal (a) names the author the student has chosen and provides a list of the author’s complete or major works; (b) provides a list of 35 titles to be read in the period specified; and (c) includes a brief description of the genre, theme, or carefully-delineated topic (CDT) extending over a period of three centuries, and provides a reading list of 35 works by different authors representing the stages of its historical development and up to 5 secondary texts relevant to the subject. Timeline for the Submission of the Proposal By the end of the third week of the fall semester, the graduate student should:

• ask a faculty member to serve as Ph.D. Qualifying Exam Proposal Director and as provisional Dissertation Director. In many cases the program Proposal Director will go on to become the Dissertation Director; however, this need not always be the case. The final decision about a Dissertation Director is made at the time of Advancement to Candidacy, after the successful completion of the Qualifying Examinations. If a student’s interests have evolved in the meantime, it is perfectly reasonable to select a different faculty member as Dissertation Director at this point. The Proposal Director will be working most intensively with the student to craft a coherent, helpful, and rigorous proposal for the Qualifying Examinations, and it is the Proposal Director who is ultimately responsible for approving the document.
• consult with the Proposal Director concerning members of the exam committee and communicate with those members to ensure their availability and willingness to serve.
• submit a form indicating the preliminary choice of Proposal Director and members of the exam committee.

By the end of the eighth week of the fall semester, the student should:

• consult with the Proposal Director and other committee members concerning the proposal statement exam lists.
• submit the working draft of the proposal to the Proposal Director and all members of the committee.
• schedule a 1-hour meeting with program proposal committee in week 11 or 12 to discuss your program proposal. If the student and committee members wish to meet in person rather than virtually, the Graduate Student Advisor will help with space reservation.

By the end of the twelfth week of the fall semester, the student should:

• ensure that the CDT description and lists have been finalized and reviewed by relevant members of the exam committee.
• attend meeting of program proposal committee members. Write a synopsis of the meeting and distribute to committee for comment. E-mail final version of the synopsis to the Graduate Student Advisor.
• submit the approved proposal to the Graduate Student Advisor and the Head Graduate Advisor.

By the end of the fifteenth week of the Fall semester:

• students will be notified when the exam committee has accepted the proposal. In some cases, the committee may request specific changes before final approval.

During the semester in which the exam is to be taken, the Head Graduate Advisor will finalize the Qualifying Exam committee according to the requests of the student, unless there is some reason why a substitution is deemed necessary (e.g., leaves of absence). In this case, the Head Graduate Advisor will inform the student of this change and the reason for it. The Program Proposal is a concise explanation of the three fields of study that the student has selected to prepare for the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination. Although the Program Proposal is not a Dissertation Prospectus, there is often a connection between the Program Proposal and the Dissertation, especially through the CDT. Reference copies of previously approved Ph.D. Program Proposals are on the bCourses site for French Graduate Students. It is to the student’s advantage to carefully consider their options for study while they are working with faculty members on formalizing their Program Proposal, so as to avoid major shifts of emphasis and consequent delays in preparation for the Ph.D. exams. Evolution in the description of the genre/theme/topic is considered a normal and intellectually healthy part of the Proposal process; however, no changes should be made in the Program Proposal after filing the departmental “Application for the Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations” at the start of the semester of the exams. Any major change in the Ph.D. Program Proposal must, in all cases, be approved by the student’s Program Proposal Director (see “Qualifying Examination Procedures”). Areas of Study for the Ph.D. The following is a schematic presentation of the three parts of the Qualifying Examination Program Proposal. For admitted students seeking more detailed information on preparing the document, please consult the “Informal Guide to the Program Proposal” available on bCourses. 1) The work of a single major author.  Students choose an author whose works, in most cases, are to be read in their entirety. If voluminous authors such as Voltaire, Balzac or Hugo are chosen, the student reads an extensive selection of texts representing all important aspects of the author’s literary production. While it is occasionally difficult to classify an author as “major” or “minor,” the distinction is in most cases clear; in any event, the final decision rests with the Program Proposal Director. It should be noted that the author whose works are read for this part of the Qualifying Examinations need not necessarily be the subject of the future dissertation. 2) A historical period in French literature.  In consultation with the Program Proposal Director, the student selects a coherent period of significance to the understanding of the works of the author chosen for study. Students’ knowledge of their historical period should include a knowledge of the general cultural history of the period, including but not limited to knowledge of all literary genres in the period. As part of the Ph.D. Program Proposal, students submit a list of approximately 35 titles to be read (novels, theatre, poetry, critical prose, etc.) and viewed (films, if applicable) as part of the preparation for the historical period. The length of the historical period may, in the case of a medieval author, extend for two centuries, or in the case of a contemporary writer, encompass only one or two generations. The following are examples of periods of study chosen in connection with various authors of specialization:

• For Chrétien: literary history of the period 1090-1300
• For Villon: 1300-1500
• Lafayette: 1600-1690
• For Voltaire: 1727-1778
• For Baudelaire: 1820 (date of  Les Méditations poétiques ) to 1875 (last version of  Les Illuminations )
• For Sartre: 1920-present
• Assia Djebar: 1945-present
• Marie NDiaye: 1970s-present

3) A genre, theme, or carefully-delineated topic (CDT)  which lends itself to being studied in its development throughout the periods of French literary history appropriate to the topic. The genre/theme/CDT should cover at least three of the six historical periods; in most cases, it intersects with the author chosen, but need not. In the Ph.D. Program Proposal, the student defines this area of their program of study in consultation with their Program Proposal Director. The description of the genre, theme or CDT should be a concise explanation of the issues to be studied, including a rationale for the inclusion of the texts and media on the reading list. The reading list contains approximately 35 primary works by different authors representing the stages in the historical development of the chosen genre, theme, or CDT, as well as up to five secondary (critical/theoretical) texts relevant to the subject. Recent topics selected for this section of the exam have included:

• ‘Les enfants passibles’: Racialized Youth from Rousseau to #Adama (major author: Marie NDiaye)
•  ‘Gestures’: Body Language and Expression from Louis XIV to Today (major author: Diderot);
• Knowing Climates (major author: Proust);
• Social, Cultural and Political representations of Paris from the 17th to the 19th century” (major author: Zola);
• Sacrifice and Martyrdom in French writing from the 16th to the 20th century (major author: Corneille);
• Querelles des Femmes in Pre-Revolutionary France (major author: Christine de Pizan); and
• Poetry and Subjectivity: the Pleiade and the Modern Tradition (19th- 20th centuries) (major author: Henri Michaux).

Works by each author must be specified. Single brief poems cannot be counted as “works”; rather, a group of such texts by a single author may constitute an item on the list. Ph.D. Qualifying Examination Procedures Students who enter the program with a master’s degree from another institution should take their Ph.D. Qualifying Exams before or during their fifth semester in the program (seventh semester for those completing the master’s degree in the Berkeley French Department). By the end of the second week of classes of the semester in which students intend to take the Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations, they file the Department’s “Application for the Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations” with the French Graduate Student Advisor, along with a copy of the Ph.D. Program Proposal. Ph.D. Examinations are given during the tenth week of classes, and the student must be registered at full-time status (12 units) during any semester in which Ph.D. Examinations are attempted. Students must remove any Incomplete grades by the beginning of the semester in which they take the qualifying exams, as well as satisfy program language requirements by the end of the semester in which they attempt the Ph.D. Examinations. The Ph.D. Qualifying Examination Committee comprises five members in total. Four committee members are from the French Department who examine the candidate on the major author, period of specialization, and genre/theme/CDT. A fifth member is typically from outside the Department, serving as the Academic Senate Representative. In exceptional circumstances and with approval, the Academic Senate Representative can also be from the French Department. The Chair and the four members of the Qualifying Examination Committee must be members of the Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate. The Chair of the Qualifying Exam may not subsequently become the Dissertation Director. In preparing for their Qualifying Exams, students are encouraged to frequently consult with their Program Proposal Director as well as other proposed members of the Committee for the examination. The Program Proposal Director of the Qualifying Examinations may serve as the student’s Dissertation Chair upon successful completion of the examination. Ph.D. Qualifying Exams are given in two parts: written and oral. The student must pass all portions of the written exams before proceeding to the oral exam, which is scheduled to occur approximately three weeks after the end of the written exams. The Ph.D. Examinations test the student’s mastery of the three fields of study presented in their Program Proposal; the Ph.D. Examinations are not intended as a prospectus exam for a dissertation; however, students may use their Program Proposal as a stepping stone toward their dissertation research. The candidate’s knowledge of their chosen fields of study is expected to be both extensive and intensive. The written portion of the Qualifying Exam takes place over three days and tests the student’s knowledge of the selected author, period, and genre/theme/CDT. For each of the three essays, students will have a choice between two questions. The French Department Qualifying Written Exam is taken in three parts on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 12 hours each day, with a start time to be agreed with the Graduate Student Advisor, during the tenth week of the semester. The student will receive the examination via e-mail from the Graduate Student Advisor and return the completed examination electronically to the five committee members and the Graduate Student Advisor by the end of the 12-hour writing window (in Pacific Time). The exam is open-book, and students should write as many pages as they need to cogently answer the questions asked while not exhausting themselves or digressing. In some cases, 10 pages (Courier type, around 3,000 words) may be sufficient for thorough treatment; in others, 15-16 pages (about 4,500 words) are justified; the Department considers 12-13 pages as typical. Much depends on the question itself, as well as on the concision that students are able to bring to their answers. In no case should a student write more than 16 pages. Students should meet with their Committee members often from the semester in which they write the Program Proposal onwards. These discussions are an important part of students’ preparation for the exam and they typically inform the questions that are set. The two parts of the genre/theme/CDT written examination consist of (1) a critical analysis of a passage chosen from a work on the student’s genre reading list and (2) an essay on the historical development of the chosen genre/theme/topic. The written exam on the author may also include textual commentary and analysis, as well as other types of questions. The author and the genre/theme/CDT portions of the student’s program will also be covered on the oral portion of the exam, as will the historical period of specialization (the latter is tested only at the oral exam). In accordance with Graduate Division directives, the oral examination , which covers the student’s entire program of study, is addressed primarily to ascertain the candidate’s ability to synthesize the knowledge acquired. All three portions of the student’s program of study are examined in the oral exam. The oral exam lasts from two to three hours; it must in all cases be of sufficient length for the student to demonstrate mastery of the three areas of study while engaged with the Committee members. Since the written exams do not cover the period of specialization, there will generally be more time devoted at the oral examination to testing knowledge in the period than to the sections of the program covered on the written exams. Please note also that if you are dealing with extenuating health issues, you should consult with the Disabled Students Program to inquire if you are eligible for any academic accommodations. Timing and Repetition of Exams. Students are allowed two attempts at any one section of the Qualifying Written Exam. If the first attempt at the examination is unsuccessful, the student may take the exam a second time, but this must be done in the immediate following semester. If a student fails the second attempt at the written exam, this constitutes failure to pass the requirements for the doctoral degree, and the student will be dismissed from the graduate program. In the case of a failed oral examination, the committee may elect not to recommend a re-examination. Doctoral students should be Advanced to Candidacy as soon as possible following successful completion of the Qualifying Examinations (see “Academic Progress and the Normative Time Program”).

Advancement to Candidacy, the Dissertation Prospectus, Writing the Dissertation

Advancement to Candidacy.  After completing the written and oral Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations, the student chooses a dissertation topic and forms their Dissertation Committee consisting of a Director and two other committee members. At this point, the student initiates and completes the “Application for Advancement to Candidacy for the Ph.D.” eForm through CalCentral, normally, by the end of the semester in which the Qualifying Exam is taken. (The French Department Ph.D. is under Plan B.) This eForm is routed through required advisors and ultimately submitted to the Graduate Division for review and approval. The Dissertation Director must be a Berkeley faculty member in the French Department. Of the two other committee members, one must be a Berkeley faculty member from a department other than French, otherwise identified as the Academic Senate Representative. In exceptional circumstances, the Academic Senate Representative can also be from the French Department. The professor who served as Chair of the Qualifying Exam Committee cannot direct the dissertation. Following advancement to candidacy, the dissertation should be completed within four semesters. The Dissertation Prospectus  consists of an 8-10-page essay, accompanied by a bibliography of approximately five pages. It is developed in consultation with the Dissertation Director and must be approved by the Director prior to submission to the Dissertation Committee. The prospectus is due by the end of the 12th week of classes of the semester following the passing of the Qualifying Examinations. The Prospectus sets forth the nature of the research project; its relation to existing scholarship and criticism on the subject; and its anticipated value. The essay serves as an introductory “working paper” that articulates the issues to be addressed in the dissertation, the approach and methodology the candidate expects to adopt, and an outline indicating how the candidate plans to structure the dissertation. The accompanying bibliography represents a preliminary survey of the pertinent primary and secondary literature. Dissertation prospectuses from prior years are available to view with the Graduate Student Advisor of the French Department. Once the Dissertation Prospectus has been approved by the Dissertation Director, a 1-hour Prospectus conference is scheduled with all the members of the Dissertation Committee, taking place no later than the last week of classes in the same semester of the Prospectus submission. At the Prospectus conference, the committee explores with the candidate the issues outlined in the Prospectus. This conference enables the candidate to begin working on the dissertation having benefited from a full and detailed discussion with all the dissertation committee members present. Immediately after the Prospectus conference, the candidate writes a memorandum summarizing the discussion and submits copies to each member of the dissertation committee. The Prospectus conference memorandum serves as a baseline of expectations and will be useful as a point of reference during these meetings. The Graduate Division mandates that doctoral candidates meet with the members of their committee each year. The student, in coordination with the Graduate Student Advisor, is responsible for setting up the annual meeting which should take place no later than the end of January. After the meeting, the student should circulate a paragraph of notes to the members of the committee, the Graduate Student Advisor and the Head Graduate Advisor. At the end of each year at the doctoral stage, the student and Chair of the Ph.D. Committee fill out the annual report of progress toward completion of the dissertation (the Dissertation Candidacy Review; DCR).   Writing the Dissertation.  The subject of the dissertation normally falls in the general area focused on in the student’s Qualifying Examinations, although neither the approach nor the scope need be limited by the fields of the Qualifying Examinations. The study should represent a contribution to knowledge of enough importance and originality to warrant publication, at least potentially, either in whole or in part. The members of the Dissertation Committee can be changed, if necessary, during the course of the student’s work on the project; students contemplating a change in Committee membership should contact the Graduate Student Advisor. The French Department follows the Graduate Division’s Plan B for granting of the doctoral degree. The dissertation is considered accepted when the members of the candidate’s Dissertation Committee approve it in its final form. There is no formal oral examination or defense of the dissertation. A pdf of the dissertation is uploaded to ProQuest/UMI while the approval page and accompanying materials are submitted to the Graduate Division. Students must be registered in the semester they file their dissertation (unless they are on approved filing fee status). Doctoral degrees are awarded in December, May and August. Well before students plan to file, the student should review the Graduate Division Dissertation Writing and Filing guidelines . Dissertations in a Language Other than English.  Approval from the Graduate Division, acting for the Graduate Council, is required for submission of a dissertation in a language other than English. If approval is given, an abstract in English must be included with the finished work.

Academic Progress, Advising, Mentoring

Length of Time in Candidacy: Normative Time Program for Ph.D. candidates in French Academic Progress.  The timetable for completion of degree requirements is as follows: the M.A. phase is completed in four semesters or less. Within two semesters after being granted permission to proceed in the doctoral program (or, for students entering with an M.A. in French, within four semesters after entering the graduate program) students submit the Ph.D. Program Proposal and complete the foreign language requirement. Over the course of the following summer and fall semester, students prepare for and take the Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations and apply for advancement to candidacy for the doctoral degree. Doctoral candidacy lasts for two years after advancement, although students are eligible for an additional two-year grace period before candidacy lapses (see “Length of Time in Advanced-to-Candidacy Status”). Formal Reviews of Academic Progress and Mentoring.  A review of each student’s work and progress is conducted annually by the French Department Faculty, and each student is informed by the Graduate Student Advisor of the results of this review. In addition, students’ records are reviewed before the Graduate Committee determines whether or not to issue invitations to proceed to the Ph.D. program after completion of the M.A. phase (see “Permission to Proceed”). After a student has advanced to candidacy, the annual review of progress is conducted with the student’s Dissertation Director as part of the online Doctoral Candidacy Review (DCR). Students are encouraged to meet regularly with the Head Graduate Advisor to discuss their progress in all phases of the program. In addition to consulting with the Head Graduate Advisor, students will be assigned a faculty mentor for their first year upon entry into the graduate program. While program requirements, course choices, and the other official aspects pertaining to satisfactory progress in the program are discussed during regular meetings with the Head Graduate Advisor, the faculty mentor provides a more informal introduction to the Department’s professional culture by attending to the student’s intellectual guidance. Normative Time to Degree (NTD) refers to the elapsed time that students would need to complete all requirements for the doctorate, assuming that they are engaged in full-time study and making satisfactory progress toward their degrees. NTD has two components: (1) time from the beginning of the student’s graduate work to advancement to doctoral candidacy, and (2) time in candidacy until the dissertation is filed. Normative time to advance to doctoral candidacy is eight semesters (four years), unless a student enters the graduate program with a master’s degree, in which case normative time to advance to doctoral candidacy is six semesters (three years). For normative time in candidacy, see “Length of Time in Advanced-to-Candidacy Status.” Students may be eligible for an extension of normative time in certain circumstances, such as when the student has a letter of accommodation from the Disabled Students Program or when a student has withdrawn from Berkeley for medical reasons. Consult with the Head Graduate Advisor or with the Graduate Student Advisor for more information on normative time extensions. Doctoral Completion Fellowships (DCF).  Students who advance to doctoral candidacy are eligible for the DCF from the Graduate Division, which provides a stipend of $30,000 ($15,000/semester) and covers all fees for two semesters. Students are highly encouraged to apply for the DCF and the Department will supplement the stipend level up to $34,000 ($17,000/semester) for those who do not already have fellowship support for that year. Students who—for reasons relating to their professional training—would like to teach for one semester during their DCF year need the permission of their Dissertation Director and the Head Graduate Advisor. In these cases, the Department will not supplement the DCF stipend paid by the Graduate Division. The DCF must be used within Normative Time to Degree plus one year (NTD+1). NTD is the amount of time set for each program from first enrollment to filing the dissertation. NTD+1 for French and for Romance Languages & Literature (RLL) is 12 semesters (7 years). For those entering the French doctoral program with an M.A. in French, NTD+1 is 10 semesters (6 years). Students taking the DCF who remain beyond NTD plus a one-year grace period are no longer eligible for fellowship funding from the Graduate Division including Block Grant, the Marcel Lemer Fellowship (French) or the Rodriguez Memorial Fellowship (RLL). Students who are within their 12-semester teaching limit may continue as a teaching assistant, otherwise titled at Berkeley as a Teaching Assistant (TA). Students having taken the DCF may also be considered for Continuing Fellowship and the Graduate Student Research (GSR) Library position. Flexibility in Qualifying Exams Deadlines for Graduate Student Parents.  According to Graduate Division policy , graduate students who have taken the time to accommodate childbirth or other serious parental demands may receive an extension of up to one extra year for passing the Qualifying Exam. Following the Qualifying Exams, an extension of one extra year toward NTD completion may also be granted. The total additional time granted by this policy may not exceed two years, regardless of the number of children involved. Expectations Regarding the “Dissertation Phase” of the Program.  The French Department holds these expectations of advanced students who are writing their dissertations: — We expect that, barring rare special circumstances, students will advance to candidacy (that is, complete the PhD Qualifying Exam and file the paperwork establishing their dissertation committee) in normative time. Normative time to candidacy is three years for those arriving with a master’s degree and four years for those arriving without a master’s degree. — We expect that students will complete a dissertation prospectus and meet with their committee to discuss it within a semester of passing the qualifying oral examination. More specifically, the dissertation prospectus (which consists of an 8-10-page essay, accompanied by a bibliography of approximately five pages and is developed in consultation with the Dissertation Director) is due by the end of the 12th week of classes in the following semester for those students taking the Qualifying Exams during the fall semester. — We expect that students will produce a complete draft of at least one dissertation chapter within a year of advancing to candidacy and produce at least two more chapter drafts in the year following. — We expect that students in the dissertation phase who are in residence will be meeting with their Dissertation Director(s) roughly once a month (at a minimum) to discuss their work. We expect students who are away from campus to be in touch with their directors (via e-mail or Skype) with similar frequency. — We encourage students to present their work at least a couple of professional conferences during their graduate career, but not too many. Two (or perhaps three) conference presentations are more than sufficient, and we strongly suggest that no more than one of those conferences be a graduate student organized conference. — We encourage students to submit written work for publication. We recommend one or two submissions over a student’s time in the graduate program. In the majority of cases, the work submitted will be from the dissertation, although sometimes faculty members may suggest rewriting a seminar paper for publication. Students should be proactive about consulting with faculty members about publication, but should remember that neither publication nor attendance at conferences should be allowed to slow progress on the dissertation. The primary concern is progress on the dissertation. Note that the department’s proseminar addresses fundamentals on graduate-level writing, how to create and publish research, and engaging in professional socialization (e.g., conferences) and conferences for graduate students. All graduate students are welcome to attend these sessions as many times as they wish. — The Department organizes around six works-in-progress meetings throughout the year, hosted by the Head Graduate Advisor. These meeting are primarily intended to provide a forum for graduate students in the dissertation phase to present their work. They may also feature the work of faculty or graduate students at an earlier phase in the program. — The Department supports writing and accountability groups according to students’ personal, professional, and intellectual needs and interests (addressing, for example, writing blocks and writing in different genres such as abstracts, dissertation chapters, and articles). — The department circulates the biannual National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD) 14-day writing challenge in Spring and Fall. This free online resource to UC Berkeley students helps to jumpstart the writing process and develop daily habits. All graduate students are encouraged to sign up for this challenge at least once, and as many times as they can. — The Head Graduate Advisor and Graduate Student Advisor are available to discuss time management, writing strategies, and funding opportunities. Length of Time in Advanced-to-Candidacy Status.  The University limits graduate degree candidates’ time in Advanced‑to‑Candidacy status for the doctoral degree. French Department students are maintained in candidacy for up to two years after advancement and may be eligible for an additional two‑year grace period before candidacy lapses. In the case of a Ph.D. candidate whose candidacy has been lapsed, a completed, near‑final draft of the dissertation must be received from the student, and the Dissertation Committee Chair must confirm its impending approval before the Graduate Division reviews a departmental request that candidacy for the Ph.D. be reinstated. Students may be asked to revalidate the comprehensiveness of their knowledge of French language and literature by examination, by additional coursework, or by a combination of the two. Once Ph.D. candidacy is reinstated, the student pays full registration fees (and non‑resident tuition fees, where applicable) in order to file the dissertation. If no request is made for reinstatement within two years of the lapsing of doctoral candidacy status, the student’s candidacy is terminated. Graduate Division policy states that, once terminated, a student’s candidacy may be reinstated only by the student’s retaking the Qualifying Examination and being advanced to candidacy again. The Graduate Division places a four‑year limit on the application of coursework toward M.A. degree requirements. In addition, a lapse of five years since completion of any Ph.D. program requirement, including the Qualifying Examination, can necessitate revalidation of the student’s candidacy before a dissertation can be filed. Appeals Procedures.  The Department’s appeals procedure is consistent with that of the Graduate Division and affords graduate students in the Department an opportunity to resolve complaints about dismissal from graduate standing, placement on probationary status, denial of readmission, joint-authorship matters, and other departmental decisions which terminate or limit participation in the degree program. Questions regarding this procedure should be addressed to the Graduate Student Advisor. Disabilities and Accommodations.   The Berkeley campus has an active Disabled Students Program (DSP) . One of its important responsibilities is to arrange accommodations for students whose disabilities interfere with their ability to function optimally within usual program customs. The important thing to remember is that all requests for accommodation must come to the Department by way of the DSP, not from the student directly. Students who would like to request an accommodation must first visit the DSP, so that their request can be evaluated and formally presented to the Department.

Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures

The Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures (RLL) is a doctorate in three Romance languages and literatures taught in the Departments of French, Italian, and Spanish and Portuguese, prepared with emphasis in one of the three. Students have furthermore the choice of a sub-emphasis in literature (“Literature track”) or in linguistics (“Linguistics track”).

The mission of the RLL program is:

— To take a multilingual approach to language and literature

— To combine literary and linguistic study

— To offer flexibility in the design of students’ programs: the unity of a common heritage and common evolution of the Romance family allows diversity in topics and approaches

— To train Romance scholars of linguistics, literature and culture who can take jobs in Romance language departments, single language departments, or linguistics departments.

Overview of Course of Study:

Students present a combination of courses and personal study to satisfy the requirements of the particular track to which they have been admitted. Although there are some explicit requirements (see below), there is no minimum number of courses required to sit for the Qualifying Examination. Instead, each student’s precise course of study is developed in close consultation with the RLL Graduate Advisor for French.

In the Literature track, students will gain a detailed knowledge of French literature generally. They will also develop sufficient familiarity with Italian literature and a literature taught in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese so as to allow them to do the focused comparative work necessary for the preparation of the Qualifying Examination. Moreover, students will develop both historical and practical expertise in both Latin and in two Romance languages other than French.

In the Linguistics track, students will gain in-depth knowledge of the structure and history (internal and external) of French. They will also develop expertise in the linguistics of two other Romance languages and specialize in an area of general or applied linguistics. This, together with some basic training in Latin, will prepare them for the comparative Romance linguistic work that is required for the Qualifying Examination.

Requirement for Admission, emphasis French:

Literature Track:  B.A. degree or equivalent with studies in French approximately corresponding to the undergraduate major at Berkeley. In addition, we expect of applicants to the Literature track either a) advanced competency in two of the languages the applicant intends to study in the RLL doctoral program, or b) advanced competency in one such language and reasonable preparation in two others. By reasonable preparation we mean either one year’s study of Latin or two years’ study of a modern language. By advanced competency we mean ability to participate fully in a graduate seminar conducted in the modern language in question. Writing samples will be requested of languages in which advanced competency is claimed, and a telephone interview may also be required. Transcripts will provide evidence of reasonable preparation. Linguistics Track  : B.A. degree or equivalent with studies in French or Linguistics approximately corresponding to the undergraduate major at Berkeley. In addition, we expect of applicants to the Linguistics track either a) advanced competency in French and in linguistics or b) advanced competency in French, reasonable preparation in linguistics and in one other Romance language. Note that for the purposes of admission to the linguistics track, this other Romance language may be one of the languages represented by the departments of Italian, and Spanish and Portuguese, or it may come from the broader Romance family (e.g., Catalan, Sardinian, Rumanian, Latin etc.). By advanced competency in linguistics we mean ability to participate fully in a graduate seminar in the linguistics department. By reasonable preparation we mean either one year’s study of Latin or linguistics, or two years’ study of a modern Romance language. Writing samples will be requested of areas in which advanced competency is claimed, and a telephone interview may also be required. Transcripts will provide evidence of reasonable preparation. .

General Requirements and Study Program (both tracks):

1) Screening Interview.  Early in their first semester of enrollment, students will meet with the RLL Executive Committee to evaluate their previous preparation, to familiarize themselves with the program, and to determine an appropriate plan of study for completion of the degree requirements. The Committee will then prepare a brief record of the interview for delivery to the RLL Graduate Advisor for French, indicating any special provisions or studies that must be completed before the student’s admission to the Qualifying Examination.

2) Advanced Language Competency Timetable.  Because of the nature of the RLL program, students are required to achieve language competency above and beyond that attested by passing the standard Graduate Division language requirements (see section 3, below). The following timetables will assure that students will be able to do advanced work in the three Romance Languages. Note that most entering students will fulfill some if not all of these requirements upon arrival. The timeline represents the last possible date by which languages must be acquired.

Literature Track: — By the end of semester 5 the student will have finished 1 year of Latin and will have the necessary competency to participate fully in graduate seminars taught in French, Spanish, or Italian. The student will have made substantial progress towards acquiring competency in their remaining Romance Language, Spansih or Italian. This will be established by the 5th semester review (see section 5 below). — By the end of semester 7, the student will either have taken two upper division undergraduate courses in their last Romance Language, or will have taken a graduate seminar covering literature that the student reads in the original language (although the seminar does not need to be taught in the language in question.) Linguistics Track: — By the end of semester 5 the student will have finished 1 year of Latin and will have the necessary competency to participate fully in graduate seminars taught in French and in linguistics. In addition, the student will have made good progress in another Romance language and begun study of a third. Again, these can be any member of the wider family of Romance languages including for example Occitan, Sardinian and Neo-Latin. By good progress we mean good reading knowledge and this is to be established at the 5th semester review (see section 5 below). — By semester 7, the student will have acquired sufficient knowledge of the first Romance language in order to use it for graduate-level linguistic analysis. This may be done as part of a graduate seminar in a language department, as an independent study with a faculty member, or by making significant use of the language in a linguistics seminar. (Please note that analyzing the language in the RLL C201/202 seminar will not be considered sufficient.) The student will also have attained good reading knowledge in the second Romance language by this point, that is, sufficient for graduate-level linguistic analysis by the time of the qualifying exam.

3) Foreign Language Requirements.  The Graduate Divison requires that foreign language skills be demonstrated in one of two ways. (RLL students may choose which of their Romance Languages they would like to use for the completion of this requirement. The language requirements of the RLL program exceed that of the Graduate Division.) The requirements should be satisfied as early as possible in the student’s doctoral career, following first registration, and must be completed prior to the term proposed for the Qualifying Examination. All language courses taken to fulfill a language requirement must be taken for a letter grade.

Option I Option I requires students to demonstrate reading knowledge of two languages. This can be done be either passing a translation exam in both languages or passing a translation exam in one language and completing coursework in the second language. Option I translation exams consist of at least a 300-word passage translated into English with the use of a dictionary. Students who choose to demonstrate reading knowledge of their second language through coursework may either (a) complete a four-semester (or six-quarter) course sequence with an average grade of B or better or (b) complete (with a grade of B or better) an upper division foreign language course that requires a four-semester (or six-quarter) course sequence as a prerequisite. Option II Option II requires students to demonstrate an exceptionally thorough reading knowledge and an adequate knowledge of the grammatical structure of one language. Students can demonstrate such knowledge in one of two ways: (1) By passing a translation exam in which the student translates a passage of about 1,000 words into English without the use of a dictionary; (2) By earning a B or better in two upper-division foreign language courses in which the material is read in the original language.

4) Core courses.  All RLL students must pass, with a grade of B or better, two core courses: 1) Linguistic History of Romance Languages (RLL C201/202); and 2) Comparative Studies in Romance Literatures and Cultures (RLL C203). Students should satisfy these requirements as early as possible in their doctoral career, bearing in mind that they are unlikely to be offered every year.

5) Progress Report.  Early in the fifth semester, the Executive Committee will evaluate the student’s progress and advise him/her regarding future courses, preparation for the Qualifying Exam, and possible composition of the Qualifying Exam Committee. Students will prepare the following for the progress report meeting:

a) A three-page self-review of the first two years (courses taken, requirements completed, papers written, new areas explored, etc.); b) A statement of developing research interests; c) A major research paper, preferably written in English.

6) Qualifying Examination Fields, Topics, and Reading Lists.  Following the 5th semester review, students should start meeting with the anticipated members of the Qualifying Examination Committee in order to define the fields and topics they wish to cover on their Exam. In the course of these meetings, students will develop field and topic statements and reading lists, which must be submitted to the Executive Committee no later than the twelfth week of the sixth semester.

7) Qualifying Examination.  When the student and his/her advisor agree that preparation is sufficient for the Qualifying Examination, the advisor and the Graduate Student Services Advisor of the department concerned, with suggestions from the student, will determine the Qualifying Examination Committee and inform the Chair of the RLL Executive Committee of its formation.

The Qualifying Examination committee is composed of five members: three representing the main field of focus, a designated “outside” member representing a Romance language besides French (and who may also be a member of the Romance Languages and Literature program), and one other member appropriate to the topics on the exam. All five members of the Qualifying Examination committee must be present and voting at the oral examination. All members of the committee, including the chair and Academic Senate Representative (the person who represents the Graduate Dean and Graduate Council) must be Academic Senate members.

The Qualifying Examination has a written and an oral component. The written section, normally administered in the tenth week of the eighth semester, consists of three 8-hour exams. Please consult  RLL website  for more details.

Literature track: One exam will cover a major field in Romance Literatures and involve at least two languages. (Examples might be: the development of the novel; the lyric tradition; literary modernism; etc.) The other two exams should be on topics individually formulated by each student. The combined reading lists for these two topics should cover all three languages in the student’s program. This structure leaves open the possibility that one topic might be focused on a single literature. (Examples of topics might be the work of a single major author; literary relations between France and Latin America in the twentieth century; immigrant literature; baroque theater.) Historical coverage is highly recommended.

Linguistics track: One exam will cover a major field in Romance Linguistics and involve three languages. (Examples might be word order in Romance, sound change in Romance, or the classification of the Romance languages). A second exam will cover an area in general linguistics (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics), applied linguistics (second language acquisition, the application of linguistics to literature, translation studies), or an appropriate topic in Romance philology. A third exam will cover a specialized topic involving one, two, or three languages (e.g., borrowing from Latin into French in the late Middle Ages, the tu and vous address forms in contemporary French, regional variation in contemporary Italian). The three examination fields and topics should fit together coherently, will display emphasis on French, and will very preferably contain a historical component.

8) Dissertation.  Once the Qualifying Examination is successfully completed, the student will arrange with a faculty member to direct the dissertation and, by consultation with him/her, propose the remaining members. The Chair and designated “outside” member (representing a Romance language other than French) must be members of the Academic Senate. The dissertation will embody the results of original research on a subject chosen in consultation with the director. The Chair of the Qualifying Examination Committee cannot direct the dissertation.

After obtaining the dissertation director’s approval of the proposed topic, the student completes the eForm “Application for Advancement to Candidacy for the Ph.D.” on CalCentral for approval by the Graduate Division on behalf of the Graduate Council. Doctoral students should bear in mind that it is to their advantage to be “Advanced to Candidacy” as soon as possible following completion of the Qualifying Examination (see Normal Progress Schedule).

Prospectus: Students are required to complete a fifteen- to twenty-page dissertation prospectus (including bibliography), to be presented to the student’s dissertation committee by the end of Week 12 of the semester following that in which the QE takes place.

It should be remembered that the prospectus is not intended to be a dissertation in miniature, so that there is normally no compelling reason why its completion should be delayed beyond the appointed deadline. Rather, it should be a concise (15-18 pages) preliminary description of the dissertation project, including: the primary materials to be investigated; the descriptive or analytical approach to be taken to those materials; the project’s relation to existing scholarly work. The prospectus should be accompanied by references and/or bibliography.

Should the need for a change in membership of the committee arise, students should speak both with their dissertation director and the Head Graduate Advisor in their Department. To effect a change, the student must initiate the eForm on CalCentral: “Request for Change in Higher Degree Committee”. This eForm is routed through required advisors and ultimately submitted to the Graduate Division for review and approval.

9) Dissertations in a Language other than English.  Special approval from the Graduate Division, acting for the Graduate Council, is required to submit a dissertation in a language other than English. If approval is given, an abstract in English must be included with the finished work.

10) Academic Progress (both tracks).  The timetable for completion of degree requirements is as follows: By the end of the sixth semester, students will have submitted field and topic statements and reading lists for Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations. Over the course of the next two semesters, students prepare for and take the Qualifying Examinations and apply for advancement to candidacy for the doctoral degree. (Note as well that all languages requirements must be fulfilled before the beginning of the semester in which the Qualifying Examinations are taken.) Doctoral candidacy lasts for two years after advancement, although students are eligible for an additional two year grace period before candidacy lapses (see Length of Time in Advanced-to-Candidacy Status).

Fellowships for Continuing Students

For more information on funding opportunities (including some extramural fellowships), visit bCourses and the Graduate Division website .

Doctoral Completion Fellowships (DCF).  Students who advance to doctoral candidacy are eligible for the DCF from the Graduate Division, which provides a stipend of $30,000 and covers all fees for two semesters. Students are highly encouraged to apply for the DCF and the department will supplement the stipend level up to $34,000 for those who do not already have fellowship support for that year. Students who—for reasons relating to their professional training—would like to teach for one semester during their DCF year need the permission of their Dissertation Director and the Head Graduate Advisor. In these cases, the Department will not supplement the DCF stipend paid by the Graduate Division. The DCF must be used within Normative Time to Degree plus one year. NTD is the amount of time set for each program from first enrollment to filing the dissertation. NTD for French and for Romance Languages & Literature (RLL) is 12 semesters. For those entering the French doctoral program with an M.A. in French, NTD is 10 semesters. Students taking the DCF who remain beyond NTD plus a one-year grace period) are no longer eligible for fellowship funding from the Graduate Division including Block Grant, the Marcel Lemer Fellowship (French) or the Rodriguez Memorial Fellowship (RLL). Students who are within their 12-semester teaching limit may continue as a teaching assistant, otherwise known identified at Berkeley as a Teaching Assistant (TA). Students having taken the DCF may also be considered for Continuing Fellowship and the Graduate Student Research (GSR) Library position. Continuing Student Fellowships.  Departmental awards are made on the basis of students’ overall academic achievement and evidence of substantial progress in their degree programs. Eligible students include those prior to the Qualifying Examinations stage and those who are completing the dissertation who have taken the DCF. Students currently eligible for a DCF will not be considered for Continuing Fellowship. For students at the dissertation stage, priority will go to those who have applied for other sources of funding (e.g., Townsend, Chateaubriand, Lurcy, and other outside fellowships such as those listed on the French Department’s bCourses, accessible to admitted students.) Applicants should outline their academic goals and progress in the doctoral program, and describe the importance of fellowship support at this juncture in their studies. In addition, students at the dissertation stage should demonstrate clarity about the direction of the proposed research project, the current state of the project, the progress expected during the fellowship year, and the project’s significance within the discipline. ENS Fellowships.  One student may be selected for the academic year for the Department’s exchange program with the École Normale Supérieure (ENS). The ENS position will require the student selected to use their DCF during that year. Since the ENS exchange includes free housing, the DCF Fellowship stipend will not be supplemented by the department. Students who have already utilized the DCF will not be eligible for the ENS fellowship. Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships.  FLAS Fellowships enable students who are U.S. citizens and permanent residents to acquire a high level of competence in one or more foreign languages. Fellowships are awarded to students in modern foreign language and area studies and are available for the study of languages in eight world areas: Africa, East Asia, East Europe, Latin America, Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and West Europe. Lowest consideration will be given to students who are taking the first 12 semester hours or the equivalent in Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish. Students may apply for FLAS fellowships for the academic year and summer. Maintaining an Accurate Financial Record with Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO).  It is vital that you update your financial information with FASO every time there is a change in your financial situation, such as when you accept a reader position, you receive a stipend to travel to a conference, and so on. Unreported changes to your financial record can have very negative consequences on your fellowship or student loans.

Teaching Assistantship in French

Application and Appointment.  A teaching assistantship (TA) is a half time appointment for lower division instruction available to qualified, registered graduate students in French or related departments (generally Comparative Literature, the School of Education, or Linguistics). These appointments are made by the Department Chair in consultation with the Graduate Committee of the Department and with the Director of the Lower Division. To be eligible to hold a TA position, the student must be enrolled in regular graduate status at UC Berkeley. A minimum 3.0 grade point average in the preceding two years of studies is required by the Graduate Division for all TAs, but the Department generally requires a higher GPA and will, of course, select the most qualified applicants for these positions. Appointments of graduate students from related departments, when available, are normally limited to three years.

Applications for TA positions are available on bSpace (French Graduate Students) and are due early in the spring semester. If a new TA has college level teaching experience in French or a related discipline, evidence of that employment should also be submitted in order for the Department to assess the instructor's placement in the TA title series.

For those applying for a TA position from outside of the French department, an application is required along with two letters of recommendation. To maximize the possibility of securing a position, it’s best to submit your application by February 1 for the following academic year. For those who are unable to submit an application at that time, consult with the French Graduate Student Advisor about possible openings and applying off-cycle.

The TA title series at Berkeley comprises three "steps," with different salary levels. Beginning TAs serve two semesters as TA 1, and are eligible for advancement to TA 2, then to TA 3 after having taught four semesters at UC Berkeley. TA positions are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the University of California and the UAW. TAsare entitled to a GSHIP premium remission, an educational and registration fee remission, and other applicable benefits as set forth in the Agreement. The Agreement sets forth the specific eligibility requirements and amount of each remission. The full text of the Agreement is available online. In accordance with the Agreement, TAs’ names and departmental addresses are released by the University to the UAW in each term of employment in the bargaining unit. Academic Progress Requirements for TAs. Effective Fall 2007, the Graduate Division requires all students, including TAs, to enroll in at least 12 units per semester. In addition, to retain eligibility for TA positions, the student must have no more than two incompletes on record. Appointment as a TA  requires that the student's time be devoted wholly to the pursuit of studies and instruction within the University; no other appointment in the University or elsewhere is permitted. Duties and Stipend.  TAs are normally assigned by the Director of the French Language Program to teach language courses, which include five hours of classroom instruction, correction (outside the classroom) of all written exercises in the textbook and workbook; correction of written compositions and laboratory exercises and regular attendance at a pilot section for new TAs. Other duties include holding office hours and assisting in the preparation of quizzes and exams. These activities are carried out under the active direction of a regular member of the faculty to whom responsibility for course instruction, students’ grades, and the performance of TAs, is assigned. TAs are responsible for reporting any anticipated absences from campus (as well as any missed work), to the faculty member in charge of the course they are teaching. If the absence is for an extended period of time, a substitute teacher may be assigned. The Standing Orders of the Regents of the University of California state that no compensation shall be paid to those holding University appointments unless they are actively engaged in the service of the University. Teaching duties are complete each term when the instructor's final exams have been graded, course grades computed, and all materials turned in to and reviewed by the course director. The French Department also offers a limited number of Reading and Composition courses in English (French R1A and R1B) . Students must normally have taught the entire French language sequence before they are eligible to teach these courses. These courses require native or near-native competency in English and evidence of superior writing skills from the instructor. It is also not guaranteed that these courses will be offered in French every semester. TAs are paid on the University's monthly payroll schedule beginning September 1 (for the fall semester) and February 1 (for the spring semester). The University requires that all TAs be registered graduate students, and the Graduate Division verifies instructors' current registration during the course of each semester. TA salaries are subject to all state and federal taxes. Review and Reappointment of TAs.  The Department employs graduate students who perform well in their courses, show steady and satisfactory progress toward their graduate degrees, and are good teachers. Reappointment as a TA is not automatic. All TAs seeking reappointment for the following academic year should submit a TA Application by the announced deadline.

Records considered in the reappointment of TAs include course evaluations, the reports on classroom visits filed by members of the Lower Division Instructor Visiting Committee, TA academic records, seminar evaluations and M.A. Exam results. The Department does its utmost to offer teaching positions to all eligible graduate students within the department.

Reappointment as a TA may be for a full year, or for one semester, with continued reappointment contingent on the student's fulfilling special requirements (for example, removal of Incomplete grades, completion of M.A. or Ph.D. exam or submission of a Ph.D. Program Proposal, or improvement in teaching performance). Pedagogical Training of TAs.  Training for instructors in first-year French consists of a required two-semester course sequence in methodology (French 375A and 375B) in which a pilot teacher provides TAs with an analysis of each lesson to be presented the following week, points to be emphasized and ways to present grammatical structures simply and concretely. French 301 and 302, (as well as the second-year methodology course, French 375C), cover Second Language Acquisition theory, general scholarship in Applied Linguistics, and look at best practices and teaching effectiveness examples not only in the Humanities, but in the Sciences as well. The use of technology for language instruction is also covered, as are other aspects of professional preparation in language instruction and writing instruction. Enrollment in French 30l 302, and attendance at its weekly meetings with the Director of Lower Division, are required of TAs who are teaching French l or French 2 for the first time at Berkeley. Four units of credit are awarded each semester (graded on an S/U basis). New instructors also attend a pilot class the first time they teach French l and French 2 in the French Department at Berkeley.

Instructors teaching French 3 for the first time enroll in French 303 and attend weekly meetings with the Coordinator of the Second Year Program. In addition, the training programs for all TAs include periodic visits to teaching assistants' classes by the pilot teacher, the Director of the Lower Division, the Coordinator of the Second Year Program, and other members of the faculty Lower Division Instructor Visiting Committee on an annual basis. TAs are expected to consult each faculty visitor following the visit to discuss the class observed. Eligibility for Service as TA.  Appointments as a TA may be made for a maximum of two semesters at a time; University regulations governing the appointment of TAs state that graduate students may hold these positions for up to four years (eight semesters). Exceptions to the four-year limit on teaching as a TA may, in individual cases, be requested by the Department, and granted by the administration. In any case, service in these titles cannot exceed a total of six years under the terms of the University's Academic Personnel Manual 400 17. Service as a TA on another UC campus counts toward this six-year total. Reappointment in the TA titles is governed by the Graduate Division. TAs must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, be enrolled in 12 units in each semester in which they hold this appointment, and have no more than 2 incompletes on the record. Outstanding TA Annual Award Program.  Under the terms of the Graduate Division GSI Teaching and Resource Center’s annual Outstanding GSI Award Program , the Department of French can nominate for this honor one TA for every ten appointed during the current academic year. TAs  in French are considered for nomination after a minimum of two years of teaching, and are eligible to receive Outstanding TA honors only once. In selecting each year’s Outstanding TA nominee, the Director of the French Language Program and the Coordinator of Second-Year French review eligible candidates’ Lower Division Visiting Committee evaluations, as well as student evaluation ratings for the two most recent semesters taught. The GSI Teaching & Resource Center hosts a reception near the end of the Spring term to honor recipients, and sponsors a Teaching Effectiveness Award program to which recipients may submit applications. Summer Session Teaching Appointments.  The Department operates a small Summer Session program. The Department Chair, in consultation with the Director of the French Language Program, and the Graduate Committee, appoints TAs for this program based on the following criteria:

• Only French Department graduate student TAs enrolled during the preceding Spring or following Fall semester are eligible.
• First‑year TAs, and graduate students who will not be continuing in the graduate program in French, are not normally eligible for on-campus Summer Session appointments.
• The candidacies of TAs who have never taught in Summer Session are given priority over those who already have taught.
• Successful applicant(s) for Summer Session appointment will (a) possess a record of prior teaching competence, as evidenced in annual classroom‑visit reports and student evaluations, which will be reviewed by those making the Summer Session appointments and (b) be making reasonable academic progress toward their degrees.

Application forms for 8‑week Summer Session TAs are distributed during the fall semester every year. Courses offered in the 8‑week Summer Session usually include Elementary French 1 and 2; Intermediate French 3 and 4; and affiliated Reading and Composition courses (R1A and/or R1B). The French Department also offers an intensive elementary French Summer Workshop in the 10‑week Summer Session, and it sometimes offers a summer travel study program in Paris. Students may apply to any programs for which they are eligible. Eligibility requirements for the intensive workshop are the same as for other on-campus summer teaching. While first-year TAs are normally not eligible for on-campus teaching, they may apply to the travel study program when it is being offered. An interview will be required of those students being considered for an appointment with the travel study program. The department’s priority will be to staff all the on-campus courses on its summer schedule with qualified instructors. This priority will necessarily take precedence over any preferences applicants may have regarding teaching assignments. Both the Workshop and the travel study program may involve the appointment of instructors other than TAs. The pool of instructors for the French Summer Workshop and for the travel study program thus includes, but is not limited to, interested French Department TAs.

• M.A. / Ph.D In French
• Ph.D In Romance Language and Literatures (RLL)
• Applying to The Graduate Program
• Teaching Assistantships
• Job Preparation and Placement Record
• Guide to Higher Degrees in French
• Commencement

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PhD Program in French

Our doctoral program focuses on the literatures, films and cultures of the Francophone world. Students with traditional backgrounds in French Studies - but also students with atypical backgrounds - are encouraged to apply, provided they satisfy the requirements of the School of Graduate Studies.

The humanities teach a breadth of soft skills that graduates need to succeed in the job market.

Katarina Todić '15

Bachelor of Arts Honours French and History

About the Program

Our objective is to help students gain a comprehensive understanding of the Francophone world across time, space and socio-cultural discourses and practices, and to facilitate their professional integration in an increasingly globalized world. Admitted candidates will design their own academic journey jointly with their PhD committee. They will take six half courses, including one required course that will expose them to various literary theories, and a series of professionalization workshops (Eg. How to write articles and for various journals, How to prepare for a job interview, etc.) If approved by the Department of French and the instructor, and if relevant to their field of research, students will also be able to take courses in other departments. Courses, comprehensive examinations ( or publishable articles) and a thesis will structure the four years. Part-time students will be admitted on an exceptional basis.

One of the most salient and innovative features of the program is the option of spending up to one year in a Francophone country or region (in Europe, Canada, US, Africa, Asia or the Caribbean). The research study abroad must be approved by the Graduate Committee upon its evaluation of the proposal. During their study abroad, students will be able to expand their research, enrich their professional and personal experience, immerse themselves in a Francophone environment and experience its diversity. While we wish to prepare students for academic professions, we also strive to facilitate their access to other professions which demand highly skilled individuals in fields such as in international relations, the media, human resources, NGOs, business, diplomacy, environment or the arts.

Students may opt to specialize in one or more of the following areas:

• Francophone literatures (African, Asian and Caribbean)
• Quebec literature
• Franco-Ontarian, Acadian and Francophone literatures from elsewhere in Canada
• Indigenous literature in French
• French literature
• Visual culture and intermediality
• Women’s studies and feminist research
• Philosophy of the Enlightenment
• Queer theory
• Utopia and science fiction
• Critical and literary theory

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements conform to the general University regulations. Applicants whose specialization is in French or Francophone literatures and cultures or in a program deemed equivalent are encouraged to apply. The English language proficiency test (TOEFL) is not required to enter the PhD Program in French.

Students will be admitted to the PhD program with a completed MA in French or in a program deemed equivalent. Equivalence will be granted on a case by case basis in consultation with the School of Graduate Studies. Students must obtain a minimum B+ average or equivalent at the Master’s level to be considered for admission. As a rule, part-time studies will not be an option at the PhD level. However, in exceptional circumstances, permission to pursue the Doctorate part-time might be granted, provided the student adheres to a rigorously scheduled plan of action for completion of all degree requirements within a reasonably limited timeframe.

Application Process

The application process is completed  online . You may apply only if you are planning to begin your graduate studies in September 2023 and note that close date for applications is February 1 st , 2023.

The application includes the following documents which must be uploaded:

• A letter of intent in French, stating why you want to do a Ph.D. degree in French with us, your intellectual and academic background that prepared you and what you intend your research focus to be (one page).
• Your Ph.D. project description (one page to one page and a half in length).
• A sample of your writing (10-12 pages of your M.A. project in French)
• All your official transcripts since the first year of university.
• Two reference letters written by your professors. We recommend that students ask for these letters very early, communicate the deadlines to their referees (professors providing a letter of reference) and provide them with relevant documents (CV, copy of transcripts, study plan, etc.).
• Your resume (Curriculum Vitae).
• A non-refundable amount of $110 Canadian dollars must accompany your application form for administrative fees. This fee must be paid in Canadian dollars by means of a credit card payment or electronic transfer.

The main criterion is the excellence of your grades and the quality of your letters of recommendation. Offers of admission will be normally sent in the spring by the School of Graduate Studies upon the recommendation of the department’s Graduate Studies Committee.

If you are an international student intending to undertake full-time studies in Canada, you must first notify the officials of the Canadian Immigration Service in your country of origin. Applicants must not leave their country until they have in their possession an offer of admission, issued only by the Faculty of Graduate Studies of McMaster University, and a valid study permit to study at McMaster issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Please note that students from certain countries must obtain a Temporary Resident Visa before being allowed to study in Canada. For further information, please visit the website Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada  (French and English version).

Canadian equivalency for grades obtained at foreign universities will be calculated following the guidelines of the Ontario Universities Registrars’ Association (OURA).

For more information, we invite you to consult  International Student Services.

Language Requirement

Candidates will successfully pass a proficiency examination in a language other than French or English.  The examination consists of the translation of a passage from a third language to French or English. The choice of language should be made by the candidate in consultation with her/his supervisory committee. The department should be informed of this choice as soon as possible.

With the approval of the Department of French Graduate Studies Committee and the candidate’s supervisory committee, this language requirement may be substituted by:

• Successful completion of the course EDU 750/751 Principles and Practices of University Teaching offered by MIIETL (McMaster Institute for Innovation & Excellence in Teaching and Learning). The description of the course may be found in the following section of the SGS Calendar: Faculty of Humanities – French – French Courses .
• Successful completion of a three-unit, doctoral-level course in another discipline relevant to the candidate’s research topic.

This requirement may be fulfilled at any time before completion of the degree.

Program Timelines

A supervisor must be declared within the first 5 months of study and the supervisory committee must be declared within the first 12 months of study. The supervisor will recommend, for the student’s approval, at least two other colleagues – to a maximum of four – as members of the supervisory committee. We recommend that the supervisory committee be wholly established by the end of January of the year following the beginning of the program. Students and supervisors should meet regularly and a report on the student’s progress must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies at least once a year.

The PhD degree program will normally be four years in length. Students are expected to participate in professionalization workshops offered during the academic year. All PhD students must complete six half-courses (three units each) within the first year of the program. One of them, FRENCH 705 Introduction to Literary and Critical Theory, is required. The listing of all courses can be found in the following section of the SGS Calendar: Faculty of Humanities – French – French Courses . The minimum passing grade is a B-.

Before December 1st of the first year of the program, all graduate students, including part time students, must also complete courses SGS 101 (Academic Research Integrity and Ethics) and SGS 201 (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act – AODA). A graduate student may not obtain a graduate degree at McMaster without having passed these courses.

Candidates are expected to complete comprehensive field examinations. PhD. candidates in consultation with their supervisory committee will choose two areas of concentration: the first will be literary and theoretical in nature and the second interdisciplinary. Candidates will submit an extensive bibliography for each area of concentration and will be assessed by way of a written examination. Candidates will be given one week to complete a 10- to 15-page paper for each area. Full-time students will write these examinations within the first twenty months of their program, that is, before the end of April of their second year of residency, assuming the student began residency in September of the first year. These exams are intended as opening stages of the doctoral dissertation. For each examination, candidates must prove their proficiency in the French language and their competence in their selected areas of specialization. They must display in-depth knowledge, not only of the primary texts, but also of the existing scholarship in their areas of concentration. Candidates must obtain a passing grade. In the event of a failing grade, candidates will have one opportunity to rewrite their exams; this second and final attempt should occur within three months of the date of their first examination. In place of a comprehensive examination paper, students will have the choice to write an original article that will be submitted to a recognized, peer-reviewed journal in their field. The article will be a minimum length of 7000 words.

Students will prepare a 25-page thesis project in consultation with their thesis supervisor. This project will then be presented and examined by the candidate’s supervisory committee. An oral defence of the project, conducted by the supervisory committee, must be successfully completed before the candidate can proceed with research and preparation of the thesis manuscript. This requirement should be completed within the first 24 months of the candidate’s program.

During the third or fourth year of the program, candidates will write a scholarly thesis of approximately 250 pages (including notes and bibliography) and will defend it at an Oral Examination. The oral examination of the thesis will normally be conducted in French.

• Completion of 6 half courses within 12 months of start date
• Completion of a research methodology workshop
• Selection of thesis supervisor (as soon as possible, and within the first five months into the program)
• Two areas of concentration, which are the subjects of the student’s comprehensive examinations, to be determined in conjunction with committee members
• Submission of the First Year Progress Report (before the 12th month)

Second Year

• Comprehensive examinations (one of them may be replaced by a publishable article) to be completed within the first 20 months of the program. If the article option is chosen, the article will be submitted to a recognized, peer-review journal in the relevant field.
• A 25-page thesis project to be completed and defended orally within the first 24 months
• Submission of Annual Progress Report (before the 24th month)
• Submission of draft chapters of the thesis
• During their third year of the program, students may elect to study or do research abroad, audit classes in other disciplines, at McMaster or at other universities, or participate in a field work/internship program in a Francophone region or country. To spend a period of time in a Francophone region or country, students must obtain the written approval of their committee and of the School of Graduate Studies.
• Submission of Annual Progress Report (before the 36th month)

Fourth Year

• Submission of the final draft of the thesis; the thesis defence; uploading of the final, electronic version of the thesis to MacSphere.

French PhD Tuition & Program Fees

Visit Graduate Studies to learn more about tuition, supplementary fees and everything you need to know about being paid as a Teaching or Research Assistant. Tuition fees are assessed on a term by term basis, depending on the number of courses a student takes or if they are paying by term.

Apply to the PhD Program in French

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Supplemental information.

Graduate Course Offerings & Outlines 2023-2024

• FRENCH 6DD3 / La littérature à l’épreuve de l’animal
• FRENCH 6Y03 / Topics in 20th Century French Literature
• FRENCH 705 / Introduction to Literary and Critical Theory
• FRENCH 730 / Lectures Dirigées
• FRENCH 722 / De l’anticipation à l’utopie : la science-fiction canadienne-française et québécoise
• FRENCH 724 / La littérature et les arts : cultures contemporaines en France et en Europe
• FRENCH 732 / Eighteenth-Century Theatre

Students who are accepted also have the option of taking, with the professor’s agreement, one directed (tailored) reading course (FRENCH 730) a year on a chosen subject.

McMaster Scholarships

External Scholarships

The Department offers a teaching assistantship to all students admitted to the Graduate Program by the official deadline.

Discover the resources available for Teaching Assistants and offered by the Paul R. MacPherson Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Excellence in Teaching :

• McMaster Teaching Assistant Guide
• McMaster Teaching Assistant Guide for Remote Teaching
• Forward with FLEXibility: A Teaching and Learning Resource on Accessibility
• MacPherson Supported Teaching Tools

The MacPherson Institute is located in the McMaster Mills Library (L504) and is a resourceful and welcoming place to meet teaching and learning specialists at McMaster.

TAs’ Community of Practice

Teaching Assistants’ Community of Practice in the Department of French:

French TAs meet a couple of times each term to share best practices and discuss their teaching experiences. 

Collective Agreement 

CUPE 3906 – T.A.s (Unit 1)

A collective agreement providing terms and conditions of employment as a TA at McMaster.

Research assistantships are occasionally available conditional on faculty research funding.

With a French graduate degree, you could work as a teacher, journalist, translator, interpreter, proofreader, international aid and development worker, diplomatic service officer, education consultant, government administrator, public policy analyst, lawyer. 

You will gain marketable skills such as:

• Analytical and critical thinking
• Conceptual, systemic, interconnected thinking 
• Listening and communication
• Discussion and negotiation
• Writing and literature review skills
• Problem-solving
• Teamwork ability
• Planning and organizing activities
• Intercultural dialogue
• Understanding of diverse worldviews and practices
• Open-mindedness
• Life-long learning skills 

Academic job postings are available on University Affairs and Fabula , among other sources.

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PAST PHD THESES

See some of the research projects completed by our PhD students in recent years.

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Prepare a PhD

The PhD degree attests skills acquired through research in the framework of the doctoral trainin g, which has a 3 years reference duration when the research work is carried out full-time, and a 3 to 6 years duration when the thesis is prepared part-time. The PhD degree can also be obtained by the validation of the acquired experience (VAE). 

The PhD degree - the highest internationnaly recognized by higher education - is awarded after the defense of a thesis or the presentation of a set of original scientific works. 

The different frameworks to prepare a PhD

• Initial traininf (IF in French)
• Lifelong training, excluding initial training  (FTLVin French)
• Validation of the experience acquired (VAE  in French)

Admission to PhD training

• A procedure
• Examination of an application 

Three regimes for three PhD preparation frameworks

Registration in initial training is possible as a continuation of a master or other equivalent degree. 

• In initial training, the PhD is full time prepared  The preparation is initially set to last  3 years. Beyond this 3 years, extensions of the duration of preparation are possible, with derogation.
• Funding dedicated to the preparation of the thesis is requested for a registration in initial training.  The reference amount of this funding corresponds to the remuneration of the PhD contract established by public law.  Derogations from this funding threshold can be requested from the head of the establishment. 

PhD students have a main research activity in one of the research team or unit of the doctoral school. 

They also have complementary PhD activities and training, intended to develop their scientific culture, their international openness and to prepare their professional future. The PhD program is personalized and defined with each doctoral school, in a framework commin to all PhD students at Université Paris-Sacaly. 

They can have complementary activities outside research, which contribute to the preparation of their professional future (teaching mission, scientific mediation, expertise of promotion of research), limited to one sixth of their time each year.

• A thesis monitoring committee report must be submitted by the PhD student for each of their re-registrations.

Registration in lifelong training concerns two categories of people : 

• Those who obtained their last diploma more than a year before the desired date of first enrollment in a PhD (whether the thesis is prepared full-time or part-time, and regardless of the financing conditions envisaged)
• Those who plan to prepare their thesis at the same time as a main activitiy other than the preparation of thesis, regardless of the date of the obtention of the last degree. The main activity means that its provides more than half of the income. 
• Lifelong training does not two types require a funding dedicated to the thesis preparation, but its comission ensures, before the first registration, that material and financial conditions are correct.  Ultimately, candidates who have no funding to prepare their thesis and have no income from their main activity could prepare a thesis, as long as the doctoral school and the commission can ensure that the material and financial resources conditions. 

In lifelong learning, the PhD can be prepared on a part-time basis . 

• The duration initially fixed for the preparation of the thesis depends on the time that can be devoted to its preparation . It is between 3 and 6 years. 
• A derogation must be  requested to extend the duration of the PhD beyond the one initially fixed . Its could be discussed during the monitoring committee taht takes place each abnd every year before re-registration.

PhD students prepare their thesis in one of the research teams or units of their doctoral school . The distributio of their time between the research unit and their non-research activities is fixed from the first registration. 

As PhD student in initial training, PhD student in lifelong training also have PhD complementary activities and training, intended to develop their scientific culture, their international opennes, and to prepare their professional future. Still, their training courses are arranged to feet with the specificities of their situation. 

A thesis monitoring committee must stand each and evrey year, before re-registration. Among other things, it help to check whether the conditions of the lifelong training PhD are suitable, or deserve to be rearranged. 

Planning lifelong training arrangement procedure

Unlike initial training and lifelong training, registration for a validation of the experience acquired can only be done when the original scientific work constitutes a coherent whole, that what makes possible to consider a defense. Those works may have been carried out partly in a research unit of the doctoral school (for example, within the framework of a volunteer researcher agreement), or entirely outside the academic framework. 

• PhD degree is awarded after a thesis defense or a presentation of the original scientific works .

To obtain a PhD degre by a validation of the experience acquired, the candidate must:

• Write a thesis or a dissertation to assess the personal part of collective work . This dissertation or thesis will be evaluated by two rapporteurs and by a defense jury. Composition and expectations of the jury are the same as the ones for the initial training or the lifelong training PhD
• As for the PhD students, the thesis or the dissertation will have to be legaly deposed and, if necessary published on the national portal www.theses.fr
• An accompanying, chosen among the supervisors of the doctoral school, can be offered for the preparation of the thesis or the dissertation 
• The work having been prepared before registration in the Validation of the experience acquired, the accompanying is not a thesis director. He does not ensure the scientific direction of the research work, but guides the candidate in the preparation of the dissertation or thesis.
• He plays the role of thesis director for the defense (in particular to propose the defense)

Documents relating to the preparation of a validation of the experience acquired

• Procedure  2016_05_25_procedure_de_doctorat_en_vae_0.pdf - ( 545.03 KB)
• Admissibility file 2020_12_15_dossier_doctorat_en_vae.docx - ( 69.01 KB)
• The vademecum "Validation of the experience acquired and PhD" vademecum_0.pdf - ( 1.76 MB)
• The charges  tarifs-vae-complet.pdf - ( 46.2 KB)

Admission to a PhD Programme

A PhD application is a complete package that includes

• A candidate with a research project
• An original thesis topic
• A thesis director
• A team to host the research
• A proposed funding or a proof that the material and financial conditions necessary for the successful completion of the doctoral thesis 

Candidates apply to the doctoral school that their research or team unit is attached to  via the Université Paris-Saclay application portal . Their PhD director must also be attached to that doctoral school. 

An application is considered to have been submitted only once it has been completed and finalised . To do this, candidates must : 

• Have submitted all the documents requested by the doctoral school - A thesis subject - Information on the contions of the doctoral programme (thesis supervision, research unit) - CV - Transcripts - Other documents required by the doctoral school
• Obtain a favourable opinion from the thesis director
• Obtain a favourable opinion from the research or team unit director to wich the thesis directors responds

The application process is carried out via internet tool ADUM - an administrative tool for management of the PhD, from application to graduation.  Data recorded in ADUM are subjected to the RGPD regutions. 

Once the complete file has been submitted and the application has been finalised, it is examined by the doctoral school to which the applicant belongs. 

• In case of a favorable opinion on the application file, the candidate then presents his/her doctoral project and previous research experience during an audition, in front of a admission committee organised by the doctoral scool. This hearing is required in both initial formation and lifelong training, and regardless the conditions of funding and the progress of the thesis preparation envisaged.
• If the admissions committee gives a favourable opinion, the future PhD student may registered for the first time. 

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French and francophone studies 2024 awards ceremony, ph.d. program in french and francophone studies, program description.

The Department of French and Francophone Studies offers a Ph.D. degree with specializations in culture & society and literature as well as dual degrees in French and Francophone Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, in French and Francophone Studies and African Studies and in French and Francophone Studies and Visual Studies. Graduate students accepted into the Department’s Ph.D. program are expected to acquire a broad factual and theoretical background in French Studies, advanced proficiency in oral and writing skills, and a thorough grasp of research and teaching methodologies. Students select one specialization and may add other subspecialties.  Many of our graduate students also pursue Minors, such as the  Social Thought  minor.

Admission Requirements

Students interested in the Ph.D. program in French may apply for admission directly into one of the two specializations (Culture & Society or Literature) or under general status with the specialization to be determined after arrival at Penn State. No admissions preference is given to either category of students; all prospective students are judged according to the admissions criteria outlined in the handbook the student receives when he or she begins graduate studies in French at Penn State.

Requirements for All Specializations

Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements stated in the  DEGREE REQUIREMENTS  section of the  Graduate Bulletin .

Students must earn a minimum of 33 to 36 credits (or equivalent) beyond the Master’s degree in French.

The Ph.D. degree prepares candidates for careers in teaching and research at the college or university level. Between 33 and 36 credits beyond the M.A. in French (or equivalent) is required in course work at the 400, 500, 600, or 800 level.  Candidates who have not taken these courses while completing their M.A. at Penn State must take FR 571 French Literacy Theory and Criticism (3), FR 580 Approaches to French Civilization (3), FR 581 Theory and Techniques of Teaching French (1-6), FR 501A Pro-Seminar in French Studies I (1.5), and FR 501B Pro-Seminar in French Studies II (1.5). Credits must be distributed in one of two areas of specialization: culture & society or literature.

A maximum of 12 credits may be earned in teaching methodology (French 581) and in supervised teaching (French 602). Such credits are supplementary to the 33 to 36 credits required for a doctoral specialization, except in applied linguistics where FR 581 is required for the specialization.

Occasionally, the acceleration of course work is possible where a student has a significant academic background in a designated area. Acceleration should be requested by the student’s advisor in consultation with the student’s graduate committee. Acceleration requires the approval of the director of graduate studies and the department head.   Candidates whose prior training does not include courses prerequisite to one of the doctoral specializations are required to complete such courses.

The Chair of the Committee responsible for the specialization, in consultation with other members of the Graduate Faculty and the Department Head, evaluates the graduate training and teaching experience completed at other institutions. A record of any credit to be transferred or of course equivalencies is placed in the candidate’s file, with a copy to the candidate. Waiver of any coursework can only be granted with the approval of the advisor, the instructor of the course being waived, and the Department Head.

All students are required to take the Pro-Seminars in French Studies, FR 501A and FR 501B, within the first two years of entering the program whether at the M.A. or the Ph.D. level.  (The Pro-Seminar is offered every other year.)  Doctoral students who are preparing for the job market are required to take the Pro-Seminar a second time.

Ph.D. Committee and Examinations

All doctoral students must pass a  Candidacy  examination and a  Comprehensive  examination.

Examinations will be written and defended in French.  Exceptions are occasionally made for dual-title Ph.D.s, if serious efforts to find outside members who can read and comprehend French fail, and the DGS, Head and advisor are convinced the student does not need to prove their ability to write or speak French.  If outside members know only some French, the exam will be written in French but the oral exam will be bilingual.  Every effort should be made to locate outside and special members with some knowledge of French.

The Ph.D. Thesis

The thesis (also called “Ph.D. or Doctoral Dissertation”) is a formal demonstration of a student’s ability to conduct high-quality research that poses significant questions and proposes new approaches, implications, and insights. It should represent the culmination of work as a student and, at the same time, demonstrate a student’s expertise to colleagues and peers.

Chapters of the thesis should be submitted to the advisor as they are written. Committee members may prefer to read the thesis chapter by chapter or they may wish to review only the full draft version. This should be decided in consultation between the student and the committee members, preferably at a meeting with the full committee. Both the thesis advisor and the student are responsible for ensuring the completion of a draft of the thesis and for adequate consultation with all committee members well in advance of the oral examination.

Each member of the committee will make any suggestions he or she may have within two weeks of receiving the completed draft. If, at the end of these two weeks, no committee members request major revisions to the thesis (editing suggestions do not qualify), the final oral examination date may be set. The request for examination must be submitted to the dean of the Graduate School for approval  at least three weeks prior to the date of the exam.

The Thesis Guide

Students should consult the Graduate School  Thesis Guide  for the thesis format. This guide, available online, through the Thesis Office or in Pattee Library, contains complete and updated information regarding the thesis format, preparation, appendices, etc. The Graduate School also provides special thesis formatting templates for use on word-processing systems:  https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/french-francophone-studies/ .

Normally, the thesis defense may not be scheduled until at least three months have elapsed after the completion of the Comprehensive Examination, although the dean of the Graduate School may grant a waiver in some cases.

The final oral exam must take place ten weeks before the end of the Semester. Please check the calendar of deadlines posted every semester by the Graduate School.

Please note that this is a basic outline of the major steps leading to the award of a Ph.D. in French and Francophone Studies.  For more details and information, please see the  Graduate Handbook .

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Ph.D. in French Studies

The Ph.D. specialization in French Studies offers comprehensive training in French and Francophone literature and culture.

STAGE 1: Master's degree

• Internal candidates to the Ph.D. program: admission to Stage 2 must be approved by the Committee on Admissions and Financial Aid, based on a recommendation from the M.A. Examination Committee. The Committee on Admissions and Financial Aid evaluates two samples of written work and a statement of research interest submitted by the student, and considers the student's grade point average, which should be no lower than 3.5. For internal candidates, no letters of recommendation are required.
• External candidates to the Ph.D. program: students applying with an M.A. in French Studies earned elsewhere must submit a complete application to the Graduate College, including samples of M.A.-level work written in French. If admitted, these students will be expected to complete any requirements needed to have the equivalent of M.A.-level coursework and training at the University of Illinois.

STAGE 2: Ph.D. courses and exams

• Eight additional graduate-level courses in French Studies (32 credit hours), at least two of which must be in literature or culture prior to 1800. One of these courses may be taken outside the department.
• At least one course in the literature of each of the four periods of French Literature as defined for the graduate examinations (Medieval and 16th Century, 17th and 18th Centuries, 19th to mid-20th Century, Mid-20th to 21st Century including Francophone). Courses taken at the M.A. level may be counted to fulfill this requirement.
• Modern foreign language requirement: students are expected to demonstrate a reading proficiency in one modern foreign language (other than French and English). Guidelines can be found in section 5.2.2 of the Graduate Student Handbook . In addition, students specializing in medieval or 16th-century studies must demonstrate an equivalent reading knowledge of Latin.
• One course in French Linguistics or linguistically oriented textual theory.

Ph.D. qualifying examination . The Ph.D. qualifying examination should be scheduled early in the fourth semester of Stage 2 of graduate study (usually no later than March of the second year of Ph.D. courses).  It is similar in structure to the M.A. examination: it has two components, written and oral, and is based on the French Studies reading lists covering four periods of French literature and culture (Medieval and 16th Century, 17th and 18th Centuries, 19th Century to mid-20th Century, and mid-20th Century to 21st Century including Francophone). The qualifying exam is cumulative and covers all four periods: for students who received their M.A. from FRIT, the written component of the qualifying exam mostly focuses on the two periods not chosen for the M.A. exam. Students also prepare a short reading list of additional works for their planned period of specialization.  The members of the Ph.D. qualifying examination committee (usually all available faculty members in French Studies) are named by the Head of the department.

Guidelines for the Ph.D. qualifying examination in French Studies

Preliminary (prospectus) examination . After successfully passing the Ph.D. qualifying examination, the student will choose an advisor who will in most cases serve as the chair of their doctoral committee. The preliminary (prospectus) examination should be scheduled to take place approximately 2 years after beginning doctoral coursework, usually in the Fall of the third year of the Ph.D. stage of graduate study. The committee will consist of the chairperson, who must be a member of the graduate faculty in French Studies, and three other professors, up to two of whom may be chosen from a different program in FRIT, a different department (usually from the list of FRIT affiliate faculty), or from another institution. At least three of the committee members must be graduate faculty; at least two, tenured; at least two must be faculty in French Studies. The committee must be approved by the Graduate College. In consultation with the committee, the student will prepare an annotated bibliography and prospectus that will serve as a basis for future thesis research.

Guidelines for the preliminary (prospectus) examination in French Studies

STAGE 3: Ph.D. Thesis

• The thesis committee is usually the same as the committee for the preliminary examination. A change in the committee must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and by the Graduate College. The thesis will develop aspects of the area of research defined in the preliminary examination.

Note:  Teaching Assistants are required to take FR 505 (Teaching College and Secondary Foreign Language, 4 hours) as part of their contractual obligation. Students are required to take FR 505 once (in their first year in the program) and the course does not count toward the degree.

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Graduate handbook information is updated and maintained by each program. Graduate handbooks are available within each program's office and online at https://utexas.box.com/v/UTAustinGraduateHandbooks . Please contact the program with concerns or questions.

Applicants to the graduate program in French apply directly to the PhD. The Master of Arts (MA) degree is awarded on the way to the PhD provided that the student fulfills the requirements described below. The master’s degree program in French requires that the candidate have a bachelor’s degree with a major in French or demonstrate equivalent knowledge.  Master of Arts (MA) degree plans are available with a concentration in French studies or linguistics.

The program in French Studies requires 30 semester hours of coursework, including two courses outside the department. Coursework is designed around three main organizing structures: Historic Periods, Literary/Artistic Genres, and Theoretical Approaches . Students are expected to gain breadth of exposure in the various areas and begin to develop a depth of knowledge in a specific field.

Completion of the program in French Linguistics requires four semesters or 30 semester hours of coursework with a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework in French Linguistics.

The doctoral program is offered in French Studies and French Linguistics. Information about required courses in each of these areas is available from the department. An examination committee is formed for each candidate; with the graduate advisor, the committee oversees the student’s progress and eventually administers a comprehensive examination based on coursework and reading lists. One of the graduate faculty members conducting the examination may come from outside the program. Eighteen to 36 semester hours of coursework beyond the MA are normally required for the degree. An approved dissertation prospectus is required for all doctoral candidates before they may begin to write the dissertation. A final oral defense of the dissertation is required of all candidates.

In French Studies, the candidate is expected to take courses outside of the department in related areas of interest, such as French history, art history, comparative literature, and anthropology. During the first two years within the program, students are required to take a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework in French Studies graduate courses. Candidates must pass a comprehensive exam on three areas of expertise before beginning work on the dissertation. The comprehensive examination will consist of a one- to two-hour oral examination conducted by three to four graduate faculty members. For the concentration in French Studies, students must demonstrate competency in Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, Arabic, or any other modern language approved by the graduate advisor at a fourth semester level or a classical language at the second semester level. 

In French Linguistics, students are expected to take courses that provide a thorough understanding of both the theory and the practice of their subject. Coursework for the PhD normally consists of 60 semester credit hours of graduate content courses. The precise nature of the courses will vary with the needs of the individual student, and must be approved in consultation with the graduate advisor. Coursework completed for the master’s degree may be counted toward this requirement.  Students who are admitted with an MA in French from another institution should expect to take a minimum of 30 to 36 semester hours beyond the MA level. Students must demonstrate competency in Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, Arabic, or any other modern language approved by the graduate advisor at a fourth semester level or a classical language at the second semester level. Candidates must pass a comprehensive exam structured into two parts: a written component consisting of two research papers based on topics proposed by the members of the student’s comprehensive exam committee, and an oral component consisting of a discussion and question session based on the exam papers. The students’ comprehensive exam committee will comprise three to four graduate faculty members, one of which may come from outside the program.

The following faculty members served on the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) in the spring 2023 semester.

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At Université de Lorraine, Distance Learning is an off-campus study method in which you mostly pursue your degree online (with a few in-person sessions), enabling students from all backgrounds to work flexibly around family or work commitments. Some of the courses available at Université de Lorraine can be taken online, and are primarily taught in French.

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Étudiants internationaux, facilitez votre intégration

Votre intégration est notre priorité absolue. Labellisée « Bienvenue en France » avec 2 étoiles, l’Université de Lorraine s’engage à vous offrir la meilleure expérience d’accueil possible.

Votre carte étudiante

C’est LE sésame qui va vous permettre de prouver votre statut étudiant et pouvoir accéder à de nombreux services (prêt de livres, restauration…). Suite à votre inscription administrative, elle vous sera remise. Découvrez toutes les utilisations possibles de cette carte qui vous suivra tout le long de votre cursus universitaire !

Le numérique à l’Université de Lorraine

Profitez d’un Environnement Numérique de Travail personnalisé qui sera votre point d’entrée à un large éventail d’outils, de services et de contenus numériques proposés par l’Université de Lorraine.

Ces services répondent au plus près à vos besoins, vous garantissent un niveau de sécurité adapté et un hébergement de vos données dans les datacenters de l’université.

Accédez aux cours en ligne et déposez un devoir sur ARCHE

Au cours de votre cursus, vos enseignants peuvent être amenés à créer un cours en ligne sur la plateforme ARCHE. Il s’agit d’un espace en ligne structuré par des ressources multimédias (cours, leçons, …) et des activités (forum, dépôts de devoirs, QCM, …) organisées autour de ces ressources.

Partagez et collaborez avec B’UL

Stockez et partagez vos documents de manière sécurisée ! B’UL vous offre la possibilité d’accéder à vos fichiers où que vous soyez et de collaborer avec d’autres personnes pour modifier ou commenter vos documents.

L’Université de Lorraine sur votre smartphone

Avec son ergonomie améliorée, une offre de service enrichie et une personnalisation simplifiée, l’appli UnivLorraine offre un accès toujours plus simple aux services de l’établissement. Elle est disponible gratuitement sur les stores Android et Apple.

Une sensibilisation à l’Hygiène informatique obligatoire

Chaque étudiant est tenu de valider la formation obligatoire Sensibilisation Hygiène informatique (30 à 45 minutes) , vous y découvrirez les bonnes pratiques indispensables lors de l’usage des outils informatiques. L’absence de validation de cette formation entraînera à terme le retrait des accès aux services de l’établissement.

Faites appel aux services de proximité pour l’assistance en cas de problème, via le système de tickets sur l’ENT ou sur numerique.univ-lorraine.fr/assistance

Mobilité internationale pendant vos études

Grâce à son réseau d’établissements partenaires, l’Université de  Lorraine offre à ses étudiants de nombreuses possibilités d’effectuer une partie de leur cursus à l’étranger.

Les avantages de partir avec un programme d’échanges de l’Université de Lorraine sont nombreux :

• Poursuite du cursus à l’Université de Lorraine sans perte de semestres par reconnaissance académique immédiate du séjour à l’étranger ;
• Suivi pédagogique et administratif de l’Université de Lorraine avant, pendant et après le séjour à l’étranger ;
• Paiement des droits d’inscription à l’Université de Lorraine uniquement ;
• Possibilité d’obtention de financements complémentaires (par exemple, avec le programme d’échanges ERASMUS+)

Un projet de mobilité internationale est l’opportunité de s’ouvrir à de  nouvelles compétences, notamment interculturelles et se donner les  moyens de le réaliser pour préparer son avenir professionnel dans un contexte européen et international.

Ça vous donne envie ?

La CVEC : 100€ mais pourquoi ?

Chaque étudiant inscrit en formation initiale dans un établissement d’enseignement supérieur doit obligatoirement obtenir, préalablement à son inscription, son attestation d’acquittement de la Contribution de vie étudiante et de campus (CVEC), par paiement ou exonération, chaque année.

D’un montant de 100€ acquittée auprès du CROUS. La part reversée aux établissements permet de financer des services et des actions pour améliorer les conditions d’accueil sur les campus et toutes les dimensions de la vie étudiante.

En payant la CVEC, vous pouvez accéder à une offre de soutien en santé, un programme d’activité culturelles et plus de 70 activités sportives gratuitement et vous contribuez également à soutenir la solidarité et les initiatives étudiantes. Vous pouvez, tout à la fois, créer et profiter de ces opportunités uniques qui rendent votre expérience étudiante encore plus enrichissante. Alors, n’hésitez pas à venir découvrir et profiter de ces activités étudiantes qu’elles soient sociétales, sportives et/ou culturelles !

Quand je verse 100€, que deviennent-ils ?

Lorsqu’un étudiant verse 100€ de CVEC, cette contribution est utilisée pour financer des projets de vie étudiante. L’Université de Lorraine bénéficie d’environ 60€ de cette somme qui est utilisée de la façon suivante :

• Santé et social : 24%
• Activités physiques et sportives : 19%
• Vie associative et initiatives étudiantes : 17%
• Culture : 14%
• Accueils des publics spécifiques : 12%
• Mobilité et transport : 4%
• Egalité, diversité : 4%
• Hébergement et restauration : 3%
• Rythme de vie et d’études : 3%

L’application mobile univlorraine

Avec l’appli UnivLorraine :

• consultez votre emploi du temps et votre dossier étudiant
• soyez alerté d’un changement de cours et d’une séance de sport grâce aux notifications
• recevez et envoyez des mails via votre messagerie Zimbra
• gardez vos cours à portée de doigt avec les cours en ligne sur Arche
• connectez-vous  en direct aux BU : pour rechercher et réserver des ouvrages, ou encore faire une demande de prêt d’ordinateurs retrouvez les menus de vos restos U tenant compte de  votre position géographique
• Suivez l’actualité de l’université, en consultant les annonces de Factuel

C’est gratuit, et c’est très pratique !

Donnez une coloration à votre formation !

Certification PIX

PIX est un service public pour évaluer, développer et certifier ses  compétences numériques. Son objectif est d’accompagner l’élévation du  niveau général de connaissances et de compétences numériques et ainsi de  préparer la transformation digitale de l’ensemble de la société et de  l’économie. PIX s’appuie notamment sur le référentiel européen DIGCOM, permettant d’évaluer les compétences numériques sur 8 niveaux et 5 grands domaines :

• Informations et données,
• Communication et collaboration,
• Création de contenu,
• Protection et sécurité,
• Environnement et numérique.

Le principe de la certification est de valider un profil de  compétences numériques obtenu sur la plateforme PIX, afin que le candidat puisse le valoriser auprès de tiers.

Depuis le 17 février 2021, l’Université de Lorraine est agréée centre de certification PIX.

Unités d’enseignements libres

Tous les étudiants de Licence 2 doivent choisir une Unité d’Enseignement libre (UE libre) : cet enseignement est conçu comme un enseignement d’ouverture sur une autre discipline ou comme une préparation à des choix d’études ultérieures.

Centre de ressources en langues

Via le dispositif Edolang, l’Université de Lorraine propose des ressources pour faciliter l’apprentissage des langues. 3 centres existent.

L’apprentissage à distance

Les Centres de Ressources en Langues de l’Université de Lorraine vous proposent des ateliers, conversations et entretiens conseils à distance accessibles en priorité aux étudiants et personnels de l’université qui  se trouvent sur un campus éloigné d’un centre de ressources en langues.

« Prévention et Secours Civiques de niveau 1 » (payante) : La formation PSC1 est accessible à tous et ne nécessite aucun prérequis. Elle se déroule par groupe de maximum 10 personnes et dure 7h. La formation contient les items suivants :

• Malaise et alerte
• Plaies et la protection
• Traumatismes
• Hémorragies
• Obstruction des voies aériennes
• Perte de connaissance
• Arrêt cardiaque
• Alerte aux populations

«  Premiers Secours en Santé Mentale »  : la formation est accessible à tous, ne nécessite aucun prérequis et dure 2 jours. Elle apprend aux stagiaires comment fournir un soutien aux personnes subissant des débuts de troubles de la santé mentale, une détérioration de ces troubles ou encore des crises de santé mentale. Pour toute demande d’information ou d’inscription pour les formations PSC1 et PSSM, contactez le Service de Santé Étudiante le plus proche de votre campus.

Formation des membres d’associations

Une programmation variée

L’université s’associe avec plusieurs partenaires pour vous proposer des formations afin d’acquérir les bases utiles à chaque étape de la vie d’une association ou approfondir des compétences qui vous permettront de développer vos projets.

L’université s’est entourée d’intervenants qui vous connaissent et qui comprennent les enjeux d’une association. Les formations sont dispensées soit de pair à pair par des étudiants formés par les associations FEDELOR et ANIMAFAC, qui connaissent parfaitement votre quotidien d’étudiant avec des engagements associatifs, soit des directions de l’université et institutions compétentes pour vous accompagner dans la réussite de vos projets.

Les formations classiques de gestion aborderont des sujets tels que la gouvernance associative , la responsabilité des dirigeants , le renouvellement de bureau , la gestion financière , la g estion de projet , la prise de parole en public …. Des items qui apportent les bases nécessaires afin de garantir la pérennité d’une association. D’autres formations abordent des points plus spécifiques : prévention des risques sur les événements comme le programme “Faites la fête” avec le Service de Santé Étudiante ou des formations à l’inclusion ou la transition écologique .

Des formations ouvertes à tous !

Membres du bureau bien sûr mais aussi tout membre en prévision d’une future passation ou simplement curieux. Selon les formations, l’université vous donne rendez-vous dans les Maisons de l’étudiant !

L’engagement pour la protection de l’environnement

Triez vos déchets.

Plus de 2 000 ilots de tris sont présents sur les campus de l’université.

une alimentation saine et équilibrée

Des distributeurs de produits locaux et sains sur vos campus

transports durables

Choisissez les mobilités alternatives. À pieds, à vélo ou les transports en commun

Des événements écolos tout au long de l’année

Ateliers d’upcycling, concours de projets étudiants, repair cafés, cleanwalks… Vos campus regorgent d’événements pour mettre en pratique un mode de vie plus respectueux de l’environnement.

Et si vous rejoigniez une association étudiante ?

Vous souhaitez vous investir de manière concrète dans des actions de sensibilisation à l’écologie ? N’hésitez pas à rejoindre les associations étudiantes engagées dans la transition écologique.

• Collectif nancéien des écoles supérieures pour la transition, CoNEST – Contact : Lucas Marchaland
• ASOENIM – Contact : [email protected]
• Bureau des aides humanitaires – Contact : [email protected]
• ENSEM Conseil – Contact : [email protected]
• BDE – Contact : [email protected]
• MiNE – Contact : [email protected]
• EMAA Nancy – Contact : [email protected]
• Cercle des élèves – Contact : [email protected]
• HumaniTN – Contact : [email protected]
• Cercle des élèves de TELECOM Nancy (CETEN) – Contact : [email protected]
• LEC – Contact : [email protected]
• AETPF – Contact : [email protected]
• JAPADEN (Jardins partagés des étudiants nancéiens) – Contact : [email protected]
• IFSA (International Forestry Students’ Assovciation) – Contact : [email protected]
• BIAE – Contact : [email protected]
• C CA qui compte – Contact : [email protected]
• Gaïa – Contact : [email protected]
• I3D (Idées de développement durable) – Contact : [email protected]

Le théâtre à l’Université de Lorraine

L’espace Bernard-Marie Koltès

L’Espace Bernard-Marie Koltès est un théâtre reconnu « Scène conventionnée » par le Ministère de la Culture et dédie sa programmation aux écritures contemporaines.

Situé à Metz sur l’ïle du Saulcy, dans un écrin de verdure sur le campus du centre de Metz, retrouvez tout au long de la saison des spectacles de compagnies locales et nationales, mais également des projets étudiants, des ateliers, des festivals, un concours d’écriture et des soirées pleines de découvertes.

Le TUm – théâtre Universitaire de Metz

Le TUM a pour objectif de poursuivre son projet de professionnalisation et pour cela, il a prévu de s’associer à des professionnels du métier pour enseigner aux adhérents et leur permettre de rencontrer des personnes déjà actives dans leur domaine. De ce fait le TUM a créé divers ateliers tout au long de l’année universitaire.

Egalement, le TUM n’oublie pas sa fonction primaire : diffuser la culture par tous les moyens. Cette mission sera notamment accomplie grâce à la poursuite de Tum’Ulte.

Le TUN – Théâtre universitaire de Nancy

Le Théâtre Universitaire de Nancy (T.U.N.) anime de l’intérieur la vie étudiante par le moyen du théâtre. Il offre aux étudiants la possibilité de pratiquer et d’organiser le théâtre ou de découvrir des spectacles. Il propose des activités régulières (ateliers hebdomadaires de pratique théâtrale) et évènementielles (« La Fête du Théâtre » de rentrée et festival « autour du théâtre contemporain » a.t.c) organisées autour de trois grands axes de pratique théâtrale : Création, Formation et Diffusion.  

Maisons de l’étudiant·e

Concerts, ateliers hebdomadaires, théâtres, jeux et jeux vidéo, animations en ligne ! L’équipe animatrice des Maisons de l’étudiant·e accompagne les associations et les projets étudiants, une idée en tête ? Contactez la MDE la plus proche ! 

Les MDE sont ouvertes à tous les étudiants de l’Université de Lorraine, l’une est située à Nancy sur le campus Lettres, l’une à Metz sur l’île du Saulcy et la e.MDE est accessible en ligne via le discord Vie-étudiante-UL

L’actualité à l’Université de Lorraine

Factuel est le site d’information et d’actualité contributif édité par l’Université de Lorraine. Chaque jour, de nouvelles informations y sont publiées. Vous pouvez y retrouver toute l’actualité des services de l’université. Elles sont adressées aux étudiants chaque semaine dans une newsletter.

Contributif ? Vous pouvez y participer

Tous les étudiants et les personnels de l’Université de Lorraine peuvent contribuer à Factuel par des brèves, des événements ou des articles.

Pour contribuer, c’est simple, connectez-vous avec vos identifiants !

Les réseaux sociaux de l’université

Ne ratez rien de l’actualité de nos campus et suivez-nous sur nos réseaux sociaux !

Études et santé

Service de santé étudiante.

Le Service de Santé Étudiante propose aux étudiants des consultations gratuites et confidentielles sur les sites de l’Université de Lorraine. Pour prendre contact avec un professionnel de santé (médecin, infirmière …) ou une assistante sociale, contactez le Service de Santé Étudiante le plus proche de votre campus.

Assistance sociale

Les assistants de service social du Service de Santé Étudiante vous accueillent et vous écoutent quelles que soient vos difficultés dans un cadre confidentiel.

Ils peuvent vous orienter si vous le souhaitez vers une équipe médicale avec laquelle ils collaborent. Il existe notamment le SPE / Santé Psy Étudiant qui vous dispense d’avance de frais sur des consultations.

Être étudiant·e au quotidien

Bourses/crous.

De nombreux dispositifs existent pour vous aider à financer vos études et votre quotidien d’étudiant. Proposée par le CROUS, la bourse d’enseignement supérieur sur critères sociaux est accordée à l’étudiant confronté à des difficultés matérielles ne lui permettant pas d’entreprendre ou de poursuivre des études supérieures. Vous pouvez réaliser une simulation et vérifier si vous êtes éligible.

Restauration

Pour prendre des forces et bien étudier, il faut se restaurer ! Le CROUS propose une offre de restauration variée (restaurants universitaires, cafétérias, food trucks…) sur et à proximité des campus.

Le service de santé étudiante propose également, avec différents acteurs universitaires, des actions autour de l’alimentation, toute l’année.

Vous souhaitez louer un appartement et le transformer en nid douillet ? L’Université de Lorraine vous accompagne dans vos démarches avec ses partenaires. Résidences étudiantes du CROUS, offres de logement exclusives sur Studapart ou encore aide au montage de dossier, l’établissement souhaite accompagner ses étudiants dans la recherche de leur cadre de vie.

Travailler pendant ses études/jobs

Concilier études et travail doit se faire dans les meilleures conditions. Le rythme des études doit être pris en compte dans le fait de trouver un job adapté à cet emploi du temps. L’Université de Lorraine propose des emplois réservés à ses étudiants. Ils sont répartis en 8 branches d’activité.

L’université relaie également des offres d’emploi susceptibles d’être occupés par des étudiants avec le souci de rester vigilants quant à l’équilibre entre études et emploi. Trouvez le job qui vous convient !

Transport 

Pour vous rendre sur votre campus, plusieurs solutions s’offrent à vous. L’Université de Lorraine est investie dans les mobilités alternatives. À pieds, à vélo ou avec les transports en commun, les solutions ne manquent pas pour remplacer la voiture… et oublier le stress des embouteillages et du stationnement !

Si toutefois vous devez conduire, ne venez pas tout seul et pensez covoiturage avec les partenaires de l’université Klaxit et Ridygo.

Être étudiant, construire votre parcours

Vous souhaitez être conseillé·e dans la construction de votre  projet (poursuite d’études, réorientation, projet professionnel) ou dans  votre recherche de stage, d’emploi, d’alternance ? Le SOIP (Service d’Orientation et d’Insertion Professionnelle) vous conseille et vous accompagne tout au long de votre parcours ! Avec des antennes à Nancy, Vandoeuvre et Metz, ainsi qu’à distance en visio, des conseiller·ère·s sont à votre écoute.

Bibliothèques universitaires

Les bibliothèques universitaires sont bien plus qu’un lieu rempli de livres, venez-découvrir leur potentiel ! Expos, conférences, réservation de salles en groupe, et bien sûr lecture : rendez-vous dans les 25 bibliothèques du territoire, véritables lieux de vie au coeur des campus.

Découvrez-les et faites partie des 1,7 millions d’entrées annuelles.

En accord avec votre établissement, vous pouvez temporairement interrompre votre formation pour vivre une autre expérience : Service Civique, stage, volontariat et bénévolat, emploi… L’université, via le SOIP, propose un accompagnement personnalisé, sur rendez-vous, pour vous aider à définir et rédiger votre projet de césure, ou à valoriser l’expérience (connaissances, compétences, etc.) acquise durant ce dispositif.

Étudiants, engagez-vous dans la vie universitaire !

La représentation étudiante et les causes sociétales

Parce que l’université est un lieu d’exercice de la démocratie, les étudiantes et étudiants sont associés à l’ensemble des conseils qui les concernent. Conseil d’administration de l’université ou les conseils de la recherche, de la formation ou de la vie universitaire comme le conseil des écoles, instituts ou UFR, chaque usager est invité à s’engager dans les débats qui animent la communauté universitaire.

Seul ou en lien avec une organisation de représentation étudiante, il est possible de faire entendre sa voix en participant à l’élection à chaque niveau de concertation. Et comme l’université est au cœur des enjeux de société, au-delà d’un mandat représentatif interne, les étudiantes et étudiants sont invités et soutenus au travers de leurs engagements sociétaux : solidarité, transition écologique, culture, sport, inclusion tant ils participent de leur émancipation et donc de leurs apprentissages.

Vie associative – Les association étudiantes

Plus de 170 associations sont actives chaque année sur l’ensemble des campus de l’Université de Lorraine. Associations de filière, de culture, de solidarité, de sport, de développement durable, citoyenneté ou encore BDE…

Vous trouverez forcément une association dans laquelle vous investir ou simplement partager de bons moments ! Vous souhaitez vous rapprocher d’elles, mais vous ne savez pas vers qui vous tourner ? Consultez l’annuaire ou renseignez-vous auprès de la Maison des étudiants !

 B2E – Une reconnaissance

Le Bonus Engagement Étudiant (B2E) permet de valoriser vos compétences acquises lors d’un engagement associatif ou personnel au sein de votre parcours universitaire.

Avec ce bonus, vous pouvez donc obtenir une reconnaissance de votre engagement en dehors de votre temps universitaire comme participant de votre formation. Concrètement, en fonction des compétences que vous avez pu développer, vous avez la possibilité d’obtenir jusqu’à 0,5 point supplémentaire sur la moyenne annuelle (le jury reste souverain dans l’application de ce bonus).

Je suis de formation ingénieur généraliste avec une spécialisation en contrôle commande, automatique. Mon projet de fin d’études réalisé au CERN (Centre Européen Pour la Recherche nucléaire) m’a donné l’opportunité de rejoindre ensuite EDF. J’ai commencé par travailler sur les simulateurs de formation des opérateurs de centrales nucléaires. J’ai souhaité, par la suite, m’orienter vers la recherche et le développement.

En poste à Cattenom depuis 4 ans, je manage une équipe de 30 personnes responsables des travaux neufs des domaines électricité et essais pour l’ingénierie nationale. Nous avons également un nouveau défi à l’horizon 2026 : la pérennisation du fonctionnement, pour 10 années supplémentaires, du 1er réacteur de la centrale (qui fêtera son 40ème anniversaire en 2026).

Quelles sont les opportunités de professionnalisation au sein d’EDF ?

Le parcours CAP CADRE, sur 3 années, est accessible aux salariés qui maîtrisent le métier de chargé d’affaires et motivés par une reprise d’études. Une dizaine de candidats entrent dans ce processus chaque année. Cela a été le cas pour Elias Adib. Les nouvelles compétences acquises en formation associées à l’expérience professionnelle acquise en centrale bénéficieront à une nouvelle équipe, dans une nouvelle centrale. Chez EDF, la montée en compétences est associée à une mobilité.

Pour les salariés avec une expérience d’au moins 15 années, il est possible de suivre le parcours ARCADE (1 an) qui permet d’évoluer vers des postes d’ingénieurs EDF. »

Quelques mots sur le cycle préparatoire et la formation ingénieur ENSEM ?

Le cycle préparatoire proposé par Lorraine INP est incontournable. Les personnes qui ont quitté les études il y a plusieurs années doivent se remettre à niveau : d’abord les mathématiques puis les différentes options (mécanique, électricité…) en fonction du profil des candidats.

Le cycle préparatoire proposé par Lorraine INP est incontournable

L’ENSEM sait adapter la formation en fonction des besoins d’EDF. Il est aussi important pour nous de vérifier que le plan de charge d’activités de la centrale concorde avec les attendus de la formation, avec la typologie des activités qui existent au sein d’une section opérationnelle. C’est un dialogue permanent qui bénéficie aux deux parties prenantes.

Pouvez-vous nous présenter le GREEN ?

Le Groupe de Recherche en Énergie Électrique de Nancy mène des recherches dans le domaine du génie électrique avec une focalisation sur les aspects énergétiques, en particulier sur le thème de la mobilité électrique. Deux thèmes principaux y sont développés : les applications des supraconducteurs en génie électrique et les chaînes de conversion électromécaniques. Une vingtaine d’enseignants-chercheurs sont rattachés au laboratoire. La plupart sont basés dans nos locaux de Nancy ; une équipe, basée à Longwy, s’intéresse plus spécifiquement aux énergies renouvelables et à leur stockage sous forme d’Hydrogène. Nous accueillons également une vingtaine de doctorants qui préparent leurs thèses de Doctorat.

Nous accueillons des étudiants étrangers  de nombreux pays : Iran, Algérie, Thaïlande, Chine, Colombie, Inde, Ukraine

Quels sont les profils des doctorants ?

Les étudiants proviennent de l’ENSEM (École Nationale Supérieure d’Électricité et de Mécanique) après l’obtention de leur diplôme d’ingénieur ou du Master énergie électrique proposé par la Faculté des Sciences et Technologies Nancy. Nous accueillons aussi des étudiants étrangers en lien avec nos partenariats tissés avec de nombreux pays : Iran, Algérie, Thaïlande, Chine, Colombie, Inde, Ukraine…

L’entreprise va pouvoir développer un nouveau produit ou améliorer un processus

Quels sont les avantages des doctorants en thèse CIFRE ?

Le dispositif des Conventions Industrielles de Formation par la Recherche (CIFRE) permet à l’entreprise de bénéficier d’une aide financière pour recruter un jeune doctorant dont les travaux de recherche, encadrés par un laboratoire public de recherche, conduiront à la soutenance d’une thèse.

L’entreprise va pouvoir développer un nouveau produit, améliorer un processus en ayant comme support un laboratoire de recherche expert dans le domaine. Elle va recruter un doctorant qui va travailler à temps plein sur le sujet retenu. Le laboratoire va maintenir le relationnel avec l’entreprise tout au long de la thèse.

Pour le doctorant, l’embauche se fait au niveau bac+5. Il va travailler pendant 3 ans sur un sujet unique. La thèse CIFRE débouche, dans la plupart des cas, sur une embauche au sein de l’entreprise.

Quel est le sujet de recherche de Larbi Dahnoun ?

Larbi a rejoint le GREEN en octobre 2021 après l’obtention de son diplôme d’ingénieur ENSEM. ll bénéficie d’une thèse CIFRE. SAFRAN TECH, son entreprise d’accueil, est le centre de Recherche & Technologie du groupe SAFRAN avec lequel le GREEN collabore depuis plus de 15 ans. Sa thèse a pour applicatif les génératrices de puissance des réseaux de bords avions ou hélicoptères. Il étudie la faisabilité de machines électriques qui tournent à grande vitesse, pour servir de génératrices principales dans un avion par exemple. L’avion hybride, à l’image des voitures hybrides que nous connaissons, devrait voir le jour à l’horizon 2035 avec comme objectif une économie de 30% de carburant !

Pour aller plus loin : le site web du GREEN

Christophe Viguier, adjoint à la directrice du pôle systèmes électriques & électroniques au sein de SAFRAN TECH, est également expert société en machines électriques.

J’ai intégré SAFRAN TECH, le centre de recherche & technologie du groupe SAFRAN, il y a 5 ans. Auparavant, j’ai travaillé, pendant 10 ans, en tant qu’ingénieur dans une entreprise chargée de la conception de systèmes innovants de machines électriques mais également de convertisseurs électromécaniques pour l’aérospatial, l’automobile ou encore le biomédical. j’ai une formation universitaire : licence, maîtrise puis DEA (Diplôme d’études approfondies) obtenu à l’ENSEEIHT, école d’ingénieurs toulousaine, j’ai terminé par un doctorat en génie électrique au laboratoire LAPLACE.

Pouvez-vous nous présenter SAFRAN TECH et le pôle systèmes électriques & électroniques ?

SAFRAN TECH est en charge de l’activité de recherche amont du groupe pour assurer une innovation sur le long terme tout en rationalisant un travail transverse sur les différents métiers de SAFRAN et en support à la R&T des sociétés.. On y retrouve 3 grands domaines : les matériaux et procédés, l’énergétique ainsi que l’information. Le domaine énergétique est composé de 2 pôles : le pôle énergie & propulsion et le pôle systèmes électriques & électroniques.

Environ 500 chercheurs, dont 60 doctorants en thèse CIFRE, travaillent au centre de recherche.

Ce dernier travaille sur des briques technologiques élémentaires qui composent les systèmes électriques (machines électriques, convertisseurs électroniques de puissance, …) avec un niveau de maturité faible. L’objectif étant d’identifier ces nouvelles briques, de démontrer leurs intérêts et de les valider avant intégration dans le développement de nouveaux produits. Le pôle couvre une partie importante du génie électrique, l’un des domaines de compétences du GREEN (Groupe de Recherche en Énergie Électrique de Nancy, laboratoire de recherche de l’Université de Lorraine) avec lequel SAFRAN collabore depuis de nombreuses années. Environ 500 chercheurs, dont 60 doctorants en thèse CIFRE, travaillent au centre de recherche.

Sur quels sujets travaillez-vous ?

On s’intéresse aux différents sujets ayant attrait à l’électrification et l’hybridation des aéronefs afin de réduire leurs empreintes écologiques notamment.. Nous pouvons citer entre autres, l’étude de nouvelles génératrices électriques de fortes puissance qui pourraient répondre au besoin grandissant de puissance électrique dans un avion dont les fonctions actuellement assurées par des actionnements hydrauliques pourraient devenir électriques.. Pour se faire il y a beaucoup de technologies à développer et faire monter en maturité afin de surmonter les contraintes grandissantes pour : minimiser la masse, augmenter le rendement et la fiabilité, tout cela devant s’inscrire dans des coûts industriels compétitifs.

Il faut constamment avoir un temps d’avance et la recherche est indispensable pour avoir ce temps d’avance.

Qu’apportent les doctorants au sein des équipes de SAFRAN TECH ?

Comme je le précisais précédemment, les doctorants représentent une partie importante des salariés de SAFRAN TECH. Depuis quelques années, on constate un changement de posture. Les doctorants ont des convictions écologiques de plus en plus fortes. Cela se voit notamment dans la façon d’aborder la science. Ils viennent un peu bousculer les générations plus anciennes ! Les collaborations entre le laboratoire auquel est rattaché le doctorant et SAFRAN TECH sont indispensables pour rester compétitif. Il faut constamment avoir un temps d’avance et la recherche est indispensable pour avoir ce temps d’avance.

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How to enrol in a Doctorate in France

Before you can enrol in a Doctorate in France, you must find a thesis supervisor and subject. What are the steps?

The key steps when enrolling in a Doctorate

In France, there are no "doctoral programmes" that enable you to enrol for a Doctorate in a particular field, leaving you the first year to choose and refine your thesis subject.

You must therefore be able to find a thesis topic and a thesis supervisor before you can enrol. The Doctoral school must also accept you.

First of all, to enter the first year of a Doctorate, you must have a Master's degree or equivalent, so therefore during the second year of your Master's you should start to look for a Doctorate (starting in January).

In the natural and technological sciences (physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, engineering), you need funding to enrol.

In some cases in the social sciences and humanities, you can enrol without funding. Check with the doctoral school (you will find this information on the page describing each doctoral school )

Funding for tuition is not the question (€380/year) but rather for living expenses (grants, salary, generally greater than €1,000/month).

The first question to ask yourself is the following: does my government or university have a specific programme for financing my Doctorate in France? If it is the case, it's often the best solution when it comes to doing your Doctorate. Such programmes exist in particular in Mexico, China and Pakistan.

If no funding from your government is possible, you will find other possibilities here .

A large number of Doctorates are funded by French host universities, in the form of a doctoral fellowship, which is a work contract that lasts 3 years or takes the form of other work contracts.

How to do it?

1: If you wish to do a Doctorate in natural and technological sciences.

Note: in this case there is no point in preparing a research project and then trying to find a researcher in a French laboratory who may become your thesis supervisor, as in natural and technological sciences this operates in the other direction in France.

You must apply for thesis subjects that have been published by French researchers.

You will find these subjects on the Campus France platform .

There are two types of subjects: subjects already funded by the host establishment (choose Type: Contract), and subjects for which you must have your own funding (choose Type: Grant).

As soon as you have found a subject that interests you, the only thing left to do is contact the researcher or doctoral school that published the subject.

2: If you wish to do a Doctorate in the social sciences and humanities.

First of all, check the Campus France subject platform : there are a few subjects in the arts and humanities.

If you can't find anything suitable, you will have to prepare a research project that you can then send to a researcher.

How to find a researcher to be a thesis supervisor

First of all, remember that you must not propose a research project to every researcher in the field that interests you. For example, if your research project is in economics, don't send your proposal to every economist! They already receive an enormous number of requests like that and can't go through them all.

You must target specific people (this is also the rule in marketing…). That means the theme of your research project must correspond to the specialty of the researcher. Don't send a proposal on a study of the history of Franco-Spanish relations to a historian specialising in the Far East!

After you've sent the proposal to the right person, you'll have to engage with the researcher in order to refine your thesis topic. To maximise your chances, you need to be flexible and ready to move away from your initial proposal.

And if you are able to obtain funding, say so at the start of your message.

Congratulations, you've found a thesis supervisor who accepts you!

Now the doctoral school has to approve it so you can enrol in a Doctorate. If funding is required by the doctoral school, it must be approved before you can enrol.

The annual registration fee for a Doctorate is €380 (2022/23 academic year). Even if you have a doctoral fellowship, you will have to pay the registration fee.

Enjoy your Doctorate!

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Millions of gamers advance biomedical research

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Leveraging gamers and video game technology can dramatically boost scientific research according to a new study published today in Nature Biotechnology .

4.5 million gamers around the world have advanced medical science by helping to reconstruct microbial evolutionary histories using a minigame included inside the critically and commercially successful video game, Borderlands 3 . Their playing has led to a significantly refined estimate of the relationships of microbes in the human gut. The results of this collaboration will both substantially advance our knowledge of the microbiome and improve on the AI programs that will be used to carry out this work in future.

Tracing the evolutionary relationships of bacteria

By playing Borderlands Science , a mini-game within the looter-shooter video game Borderlands 3 , these players have helped trace the evolutionary relationships of more than a million different kinds of bacteria that live in the human gut, some of which play a crucial role in our health. This information represents an exponential increase in what we have discovered about the microbiome up till now. By aligning rows of tiles which represent the genetic building blocks of different microbes, humans have been able to take on tasks that even the best existing computer algorithms have been unable to solve yet.

The project was led by McGill University researchers, developed in collaboration with Gearbox Entertainment Company , an award-winning interactive entertainment company, and Massively Multiplayer Online Science ( MMOS ) , a Swiss IT company connecting scientists to video games), and supported by the expertise and genomic material from the Microsetta Initiative led by Rob Knight from the Departments of Pediatrics, Bioengineering, and Computer Science & Engineering at the University of California San Diego.

Humans improve on existing algorithms and lay groundwork for the future

Not only have the gamers improved on the results produced by the existing programs used to analyze DNA sequences, but they are also helping lay the groundwork for improved AI programs that can be used in future.

“We didn’t know whether the players of a popular game like Borderlands 3 would be interested or whether the results would be good enough to improve on what was already known about microbial evolution. But we’ve been amazed by the results.” says Jérôme Waldispühl , an associate professor in McGill’s School of Computer Science and senior author on the paper published today. “In half a day, the Borderlands Science players collected five times more data about microbial DNA sequences than our earlier game, Phylo , had collected over a 10-year period.”

The idea for integrating DNA analysis into a commercial video game with mass market appeal came from Attila Szantner, an adjunct professor in McGill’s School of Computer Science and CEO and co-founder of MMOS . “As almost half of the world population is playing with videogames, it is of utmost importance that we find new creative ways to extract value from all this time and brainpower that we spend gaming,” says Szantner. “ Borderlands Science shows how far we can get by teaming up with the game industry and its communities to tackle the big challenges of our times.”

“Gearbox’s developers were eager to engage millions of Borderlands players globally with our creation of an appealing in-game experience to demonstrate how clever minds playing Borderlands are capable of producing tangible, useful, and valuable scientific data at a level not approachable with non-interactive technology and mediums,” said Randy Pitchford , founder and CEO of Gearbox Entertainment Company. “I'm proud that Borderlands Science has become one of the largest and most accomplished citizen science projects of all time, forecasting the opportunity for similar projects in future video games and pushing the boundaries of the positive effect that video games can make on the world.”

Relating microbes to disease and lifestyle

The tens of trillions of microbes that colonize our bodies play a crucial role in maintaining human health. But microbial communities can change over time in response to factors such as diet, medications, and lifestyle habits.

Because of the sheer number of microbes involved, scientists are still only in the early days of being able to identify which microorganisms are affected by, or can affect, which conditions.

Which is why the researchers’ project and the results from the gamers are so important.

“We expect to be able to use this information to relate specific kinds of microbes to what we eat, to how we age, and to the many diseases ranging from inflammatory bowel disease to Alzheimer’s that we now know microbes to be involved in,” adds Knight, who also directs the Center for Microbiome Innovation at the UC San Diego. “Because evolution is a great guide to function, having a better tree relating our microbes to one another gives us a more precise view of what they are doing within and around us.”

Building communities to advance knowledge

“Here we have 4.5 million people who contributed to science. In a sense, this result is theirs too and they should feel proud about it,” says Waldispühl . “It shows that we can fight the fear or misconceptions that members of the public may have about science and start building communities who work collectively to advance knowledge.”

“ Borderlands Science created an incredible opportunity to engage with citizen scientists on a novel and important problem, using data generated by a separate massive citizen science project,” adds Daniel McDonald, the Scientific Director of the Microsetta Initiative. “These results demonstrate the remarkable value of open access data, and the scale of what is possible with inclusive practices in scientific endeavors.”

“ Improving microbial phylogeny with citizen science within a mass-market video game ” by Roman Sarrazin-Gendron et al was published in Nature Biotechnology DOI: 10.1038/s41587-024-02175-6

The research was funded in part by Genome Canada and Génome Québec.

About McGill University

Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, McGill University is Canada’s top ranked medical doctoral university. McGill is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning three campuses, 12 faculties, 14 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 39,000 students, including more than 10,400 graduate students. McGill attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,000 international students making up 30% of the student body. Over half of McGill students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 20% of our students who say French is their mother tongue. 

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