Completion of a doctoral thesis typically takes 48 months (four years):
- At first, the qualifying year during which the doctoral student finds a thesis director, completes the EDAR mandatory courses (4 credits), and develops a research plan under the guidance of the thesis director. The research plan is presented and defended during the Candidacy Exam.
- Subject to a successful completion of the Candidacy Exam, the doctoral student receives 36 months to complete the thesis. Early defense is possible following 24 months since the date of enrolment. During this time, the doctoral student must also complete the remaining course work at EDAR (10 credits).
Each year after the first one, doctoral candidates and their thesis directors must submit an Annual Report to the EDAR. This report describes the achieved progress and showcases the quality of work, for which the thesis director is deemed responsible. Should a thesis fail to progress as expected, or in care of doubts regarding the quality of work from the side of thesis director, the annual report makes a suitable opportunity to bring the matter to the EDAR’s attention.
Contractual possibilities for doctoral candidates:
Students may have a PhD assistant status for a period of no longer than six years. This status entails:
- Full-time employment status.
- A specific salary scale starting at 55,150 CHF gross annually (valid from 01.01.2025).
- No involvement in other professional activities.
EPFL doctoral candidates employed by the EFPL are to be funded for the entire duration of their dissertation.
The supervisor agrees to finance the doctoral student for the duration of his or her dissertation at the time of hiring.
The doctoral student is not employed by the EPFL. This status entails:
- Employment status at another academic institution (HES, etc.), public administration or company.
or
- A foreign PhD fellowship.
In order to be accepted by the EPFL and EDAR, third-party financed students must:
- Prove they have annual revenues equivalent to the minimum salary paid to EPFL doctoral candidates.
- Prove they have the time needed to complete a dissertation. If employed, doctoral candidates must provide a written statement from their employer stating that they shall devote at least 50% of their working time to their dissertation (if the doctoral candidate is employed half-time for a sufficient salary, this proof is not necessary).
Third-party financed doctoral students enrolled at the EPFL complete their dissertation in 48 months, like EPFL doctoral candidates financed by the EPFL.
The arrival of these doctoral candidates, must in all cases, be reported to the ENAC’s human resources department (or the relevant school, if not ENAC).
These doctoral students are enrolled in a PhD at a university other than the EPFL, and is hosted by the EPFL in exchange.
This status entails:
- Funding from a source other than the EPFL, though the salary scale need not necessarily correspond to that of an internal doctoral student.
- A minimum monthly income equivalent to 2,500 CHF net, required by the Swiss government to issue a work permit.
- The arrival of these doctoral candidates must, in all cases, be reported to the ENAC’s human resources department (or the relevant school, if not the ENAC).
Duration of the doctoral program
The duration of the doctoral program is fours years.
Extension requests must be submitted before the relevant deadline, signed by the thesis director (and co-director if applicable). They should be validated by the program director and EDOC.
External doctoral candidates practicing a professional activity outside EPFL must ensure that their workload does not prevent them from pursuing their doctoral studies.