VAE and leave of absence

VAE

A PhD, like any national qualification, can be obtained through the Validation of Acquired Experience (VAE) on the basis of significant professional experience, enabling the candidate to complete their thesis within one year:
Entry requirements:
The duration of the candidate’s research activities must correspond to 24 months of experience, whether continuous or not
The activities declared by the candidate are directly relevant to the doctoral qualification sought (see the RNCP entry for the doctorate)
The candidate is the author of scientific publications that meet the requirements of the doctoral school associated with the discipline (contact details for doctoral schools)

The deadline for candidates to submit their applications to the VAE department is 26 March 2027 at the latest. Candidates are advised to contact the continuing education department of their chosen institution well in advance.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

A PhD student may apply for a leave of absence during their PhD programme. The grounds for a leave of absence are as follows:

Training in a field other than that of the programme in which the student is enrolled
Work experience in France or abroad
A civic service commitment in France or abroad, which may take the form of, for example, international solidarity volunteering, international volunteering in public administration or in a company, or European Voluntary Service
A project to set up a business as a student-entrepreneur