Candidates wishing to obtain a doctorate must be judged formally eligible for the doctoral programme by the Admissions Service. They must have a Master issued by a Swiss university or HES or a Master deemed equivalent by the Rectorate to a Swiss university or HES Master.
General rules for university studies
The total number of credits gained and courses taken within the bachelor or master programme or the university degree deemed equivalent by the Rectorate must have been achieved at a university recognized by the Rectorate of the University of Lausanne. Only bachelor’s respectively master degrees or university degrees issued after programmes comparable to those existing in Switzerland and followed at public universities (recognised by UNIL) are accepted.
In case of doubt, it is up to the candidates to submit all the necessary documents to establish their eligibility.
The following programmes in particular are not recognised:
- For a bachelor's degree, university programmes including more than 15 ECTS credits out of 180 for internships or equivalent
- For a master degree, university programmes including more than 45 ECTS credits out of 120 for internships or equivalent
- Technological or vocational university courses.
Candidates must also satisfy the following requirements:
Agreement of a professor to act as thesis supervisor;
Agreement of the Faculty.
These agreements are validated by the signature on the PhD form.
| Online enrolment and preparation of your application Access to the online enrolment and the list of the documents you have to povide. Do not forget to take note of all the information mentioned in the next tab. |
Keep to the specific deadlines regarding your application
Candidates must submit and validate their application online and transmit the required documents within the deadline:
Autumn semester 2023/2024:
before 31 July 2023
Spring semester 2024:
before 30 November 2023
The prospective PhD student must also send the two copies of the completed and signed PhD form (attestation de thèse) to his/her thesis director. The link to the form is provided in the online application and in the email acknowledging receipt sent immediately after the confirmation by the candidate (to be printed out by him/her).
The thesis director signs and forwards the form to the Doctoral School or the Dean’s Office, who stamps and signs the document before returning it to the Admissions Office by 15 October 2023 (autumn semester 2023/2024) or 28 February 2024 (spring semester 2024). It is therefore important for the candidate to forward the PhD form to the thesis director without delay.
Important: doctoral students must be registered at UNIL from the beginning to the end of their doctorate (i.e. until their thesis is registered at the Bibliothèque Cantonale et Universitaire) (registration of the thesis after 15 October: enrolment required for the Autumn semester / after 28 February: enrolment required for the Spring semester).
Online enrolment and preparation of your application
Access to the online enrolment and the list of the documents you have to provide.
Administrative fees
The administrative fees have to be paid before transmitting the documents.
Apply for a visa
How to obtain a visa for your studies in Switzerland.
Processing of your application in Doctorate
What happens once you have confirmed your online enrolment and provided the required documents.
Register for the Service courses (“cours satellite”) or the Cours de vacances for non-French speakers
If you wish to take French courses beside or before your regular studies.
