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Doctoral Programmes - Regulations

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General information

The Faculty of Business and Economics organises two doctoral programmes:

  1. PhD in Economics;
  2. PhD in Business Economics.

Both academic degrees are obtained after the public defence of a PhD thesis. One can only be admitted to the public defence of the PhD if all obligations of the respective doctoral programmes have been satisfied. Very exceptionally, the doctoral commission of the faculty can decide to exempt the doctoral student from the doctoral programme.

These regulations are subordinate to the regulations of the university with respect to the doctoral programmes.

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The doctoral commission of the faculty

The doctoral commission of the faculty has two functions: on the one hand, it serves as the Permanent Teaching Commission; on the other hand, it is the examination commission. This commission is composed of:

  • a chairman, namely the vice dean for research;
  • two faculty members from the Department of Economics, of which one is the programme director of the doctoral programme in economics;
  • two faculty members from the other four departments, of which one is the programme director of the doctoral programme in applied economics;
  • two representatives of the doctoral students, namely one of the doctoral programme in economics and one of the doctoral programme in applied economics: these representatives are no member of the doctoral commission when it acts as an examination commission;
  • a secretary, namely the administrative co-ordinator of the doctoral programmes.

The follow-up of the individual files is delegated:

  • to the respective examination juries for the course work;
  • to the thesis committee that is appointed by the Faculty Board, for the thesis part;
  • to the Faculty Board, under personal matters, for all other matters.

All parties can appeal to the doctoral commission of the faculty against any of these thus delegated decisions, and ask to be heard before the commission.

Remark: every time it is mentioned in these regulations that a decision is made by the Faculty Board, the respective department and programme director are consulted first.

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1. THE DOCTORAL PROGRAMME IN ECONOMICS

1. General information

The doctoral programme in economics is an individual programme that requires at least three years of full-time study. In total it requires a minimum of 1500 hours of study time and exactly 60 study points

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2. Admission requirements

For admission to the doctoral programme in economics, students must hold a master degree in economics or an equivalent degree, on condition that they demonstrate to possess the ability to conduct independent scientific research. The Faculty Board will decide about the equivalence of degrees after having consulted the programme director.

 

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3. Enrolments

The doctoral student enrols at the beginning of the doctoral programme (at the Student Administration, Universiteitshal, Naamsestraat 22, 3000 Leuven). To that purpose, the written admission by the programme director is necessary. The doctoral student must also enrol (compulsory, without additional cost) for each subsequent year. During the academic year of the defence of the doctoral dissertation, the doctoral student must enrol for the Doctoral Degree (PhD) itself.

 

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4. Doctum colloquium:

In order to remedy shortcomings in previous studies, the students can be subject to an individual Doctum Colloquium. This decision is based upon the careful analysis of the obtained degrees as well as the past research experience of each individual student. This individual programme consists of courses that are organized within the different advanced master programs of the faculty. Additionally, a research paper has to be submitted.

 

The programme director provides advice on whether or not to subject a student to the Doctum Colloquium and on the content of the individual programme, based on the suggestions made by the supervisor of the doctoral student. This advice is submitted for approval to the Faculty Board and can only be changed with the consent of the Faculty Board.

The courses of the Doctum Colloquium must be followed during the first year of the doctoral programme. The student is admitted to the remainder of the doctoral programme on the condition that (s)he passes every individual course and obtains a weighted score of at least 70 %. The weighting consists of 10 points for each study point and 170 points for the research paper. The final decision hereupon is made by the Faculty Board.

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5. Doctoral courses

During the course of at least three years of the programme, the student participates in educational activities that are organized specifically for doctoral students. These educational activities cover at least 120 hours of study time per year.

 

For this purpose, together with his/her supervisor, the student constructs an individual educational programme, consisting of: 

  • reading courses offered by the department of economics as a third cycle course. Each reading course includes a series of meetings of two hours, each counting for 10 hours of study time. During these meetings, literature will be discussed. The student will be evaluated by the tutor of the reading course;
  • the seminar series of the Center for Economic Studies. In these seminars, researchers of other universities present innovative work. The paper will be available before the seminar. The seminar itself takes 2 hours, offering the possibility for personal discussion. Each meeting counts for 10 hours of study time;
  • doctoral courses taught by guest professors and offered by the department of economics, by other departments within the faculty or within the framework of inter-university organized doctoral networks. Each college hour equals 5 hours of study time.

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6. Research seminars

The student takes part in research seminars, organized by one of the research centers of the economics department. The research presented during these seminars can be by members of the research center as well as by other researchers that are specialized in the research area of the research center. A research seminar, discussion inclusive, counts for 10 hours of study time.

 

The student can complement his/her programme further with seminars organized by other research centers or at other universities. Attending a seminar is honored with 10 hours of study time.

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7. Doctoral proposal

During the first year of the doctoral programme, the student prepares a doctoral proposal that will be evaluated by an ad hoc committee that is composed by the Faculty Board. The presentation of this proposal counts for 50 hours of study time. The ad hoc committee is composed based on the advice of the programme director and the supervisor.

The Faculty Board assigns a supervisor and possibly a co-supervisor for each student. One of them has to be a ZAP (Independent Academic Staff) member of the department of economics. In cooperation with the co-supervisor, the supervisor assists the student during the course of the research.

The ad hoc commission is chaired by the supervisor and contains (the supervisor included) at least three and at most five members of the ZAP members of the department of economics. Besides ZAP members, the commission can also include post-docs and retired professors. The student presents his/her doctoral proposal to this ad hoc commission. The Faculty Board decides upon the approval of the research topic, based on the written report of the meeting by the supervisor.

After the approval of the proposal, the Faculty Board sets up a doctoral committee, after advice by the supervisor, to evaluate the doctoral dissertation. The doctoral committee consists of a minimum of five and a maximum of seven members. The members of the ad hoc committee mentioned before are part of the doctoral committee, unless an exemption is made by the Faculty Board. At least two members of the doctoral committee are not a member of the academic staff of the department of economics. At least one member of the doctoral committee is not a member of the association of the K.U.Leuven.  Post-doctoral mandate holders can be promotor, under the condition that another member of the academic staff acts as second promotor.

The subjects of doctoral dissertations, approved by the Faculty Board, will be reserved for the doctoral students concerned during the time of study and research. The Faculty Board can deprive the person concerned of this privilege, if he/she has not shown his/her supervisor any concrete proof of progress in his/her activities.

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8. Progress

Each student records his/her activities in an individual doctoral booklet, according to the regulations of the economics department. After being approved by the supervisor, this booklet has to be submitted to the programme director at the end of each academic year.

 

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9. Doctoral seminars

At least twice during the doctoral training the student presents own research in one of the research seminars. Each of these presentations results in 50 hours of study time. On these occasions the student will also be evaluated on the progress of his/her research.

 

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10. International conference

Each student actively participates in an international conference at least once during the doctoral training. Participation in an international conference is rewarded with 10 study hours per day. A presentation at a national conference or a seminar at another university will be rewarded with a study time of 50 hours. A presentation or a poster session at an international conference is rewarded with 100 hours of study time.

 

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11. International publication

The student is encouraged to publish in scientific journals. During the training, the student has to publish at least once at the international level. International publications will include articles in English published in a journal that is listed on the VSNU list or that is included in the international electronic databanks Econlit, ABI-Inform or Web of Science. The publication can be written together with one or more co-authors on the condition that the student’s contribution is considered sufficiently substantial. Each publication in a journal with an impact factor of at least 0.5 or in an A or B-journal of the VSNU-list is rewarded a study time of 200 hours. Each publication in a lower qualified international journal is rewarded 150 hours of study time. A publication in another refereed journal, a chapter in a refereed book and a discussion paper in the Center for Economic Studies series are rewarded with 50 hours of study time. A complete book is rewarded with 200 hours. Very exceptionally, the publication at the international level can be replaced by three reviewed, national publications.

 

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12. Certificate of doctoral education

After successful completion of all preceding steps and after gathering at least 1500 hours of study time and exactly 60 study points, the student obtains the certificate of doctoral education. The following table gives an overview:

 

Educational activities STUDY TIME STUDY POINTS
Doctoral courses: 3x120h 360 18
Discussion of doctoral proposal and regular reporting 50 5
Two presentations of conducted research in research seminars: 2x50h 100 5
Active participation at international conference 100 5
International publication 150 (or 200) 5
Other research activities, to be composed of: 740 22
Research seminars (10h each)    
Participation international conference (10h per day)    
Presentation international conference (100h each)    
Presentation national conference (50h each)    
A- or B-publications (200h per publication)    
Other international publications (150h per publication)    
Other publications (50h per article, 200h per book)    
Contacts with supervisor (1h per contact hour, maximum 150h)    
TOTAL 1500 (or 1550) 60

The Faculty Board can decide exceptionally and on an individual basis that the candidate is exempted from the doctoral programme. Such an exemption requires the agreement of the research center that is involved. This exemption can be granted only when the candidate has acquired research experience in or outside the university and/or the candidate can present research achievements, comparable to what might be expected of students following the doctoral programme.

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13. Adjoined theses

At least three months before the public defence and in any case before the pre-defence, the doctoral student presents a list of six adjoined theses, approved of by the supervisor, to the Faculty Board. These theses have to be original, have to be formulated concisely and have to contain statements that allow discussion. They are expected to show that the doctoral student is also versed in other parts of economics than those that apply to the dissertation. Therefore they may not be related to the dissertation. The Faculty Board chooses three theses from the submitted list, on which the student can be examined during the public defence.

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14. Pre-defence

The doctoral student will consult his supervisor regularly during the development and the editing of the dissertation. He/she has to deliver original work, which is the result of personal study and research. The subject has to be treated thoroughly and objectively. The text will be in Dutch or in English. The dissertation can consist of papers that have already been published or that have been accepted for publication. If any of these contributions are written in co-operation with one or more co-authors, the doctoral committee will check whether the contribution of the doctoral student is sufficiently substantial.

The final text of the dissertation has to be submitted for final approval by the supervisor and the co-supervisor. Before that approval is given, there will be a first closed pre-defence of the dissertation for the doctoral committee. The doctoral student appeals to the Faculty Board with this request. The Faculty Board will only allow the pre-defence to take place after hearing the supervisor. The members of the doctoral committee will receive the preliminary text of the dissertation at least eight weeks before the date of the pre-defence. Members of the doctoral committee, who cannot be present, will send their remarks to the supervisor (in writing) before the time of the pre-defence. The doctoral committee can take one of the following decisions:

  • (a) the dissertation can be submitted unaltered for final approval
  • (b) the dissertation can be submitted for final approval on the condition that some changes are carried out
  • (c) the dissertation cannot be submitted for final approval and a new pre-defence is necessary

In case (b), the doctoral student, while reworking the dissertation, will have to stick to the modifications imposed by the doctoral committee. The supervisor and the co-supervisor will have to give their approval of the final version of the dissertation. As soon as the supervisor and the co-supervisor have announced their final approval to the Faculty Board and the doctoral student, the latter can start the reproduction of the manuscript. At the same time the doctoral student registers for the exam of Doctor in Economics.

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15. Public defence

The public defence of the dissertation and the adjoined theses takes place at a date that is determined by the Faculty Board, at the earliest one month after the members of the doctoral committee have received the final reproduction of the dissertation. The defence takes place in Dutch or in English or both and will be chaired by the programme director. In case the latter is unable to attend, he/she can be replaced by another ZAP member of the faculty. Members of the doctoral committee, who are unable to attend, should hand over their questions (in writing) to the supervisor before the time of the public defence.

For the final text and the layout of the dissertation, the doctoral student follows the regulations developed by the Faculty of Business and Economics. To that purpose, he/she consults the administrative co-ordinator of the doctoral programme beforehand.

After the successful defence of the doctoral dissertation, the doctoral student obtains an allowance of 750 € to cover the expenses of the doctoral programme.

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2. THE DOCTORAL PROGRAMME IN BUSINESS ECONOMICS

1. General information

The doctoral programme in business economics is an individual programme that requires at least three years of full-time study. In total it requires a minimum of 1715 hours of study time and exactly 60 study points.

 

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2. Admission requirements

The admission requirements for the doctoral programme depend on the applicant’s previous studies. The admission to the doctoral programme is granted by the Faculty Board based on the individual file of the applicant and after consulting the professors of the department in question. The minimum admission requirements are:

 

  • a university degree with honours of Master in Applied Economics, Commercial Engineering or Commercial Engineering in Information Sciences;
  • a degree with honours of Master in Commercial Sciences or Commercial Engineering obtained at a European institution of higher education with two cycles;
  • an equivalent or other academic degree with honours.

“Honours” refers to the fact that the candidate obtained the level honours at least twice for the university diplomas mentioned. Exceptions to these degrees are allowed as long as no compromises are made with regard to quality. Exceptions must be very rare and clearly motivated.

Depending on the application, letters of recommendation and a GMAT score of at least 600 may be required. The GMAT score is required for all applicants outside the EU. A candidate may be asked to make up for deficiencies in previous studies through special study assignments.

Holders of a master degree granted by a higher institute in economics of the long type may also enrol. The following regulations apply:

  • the candidate must rank among the 10% best students of the programme in question at the higher institute and may not have repeated any years;
  • programmes followed at a university are also taken into account: these programmes must be completed with honours.

The students select their field of research from the following list:

  • accountancy;
  • actuarial sciences;
  • managerial economics, strategy and innovation;
  • econometrics and statistics;
  • finance;
  • informatics;
  • marketing;
  • operations research;
  • operations management;
  • human resources management

 

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3. Enrolments

The doctoral student enrols at the beginning of the doctoral programme (at the Student Administration, Universiteitshal, Naamsestraat 22, 3000 Leuven). To that purpose, the written admission by the programme director is necessary. The doctoral student must also enrol (compulsory, without additional cost) for each subsequent year. During the academic year of the defence of the doctoral dissertation, the doctoral student must enrol for the Doctoral Degree (PhD) itself.

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4. Doctoral courses

The doctoral student follows courses for 21 credits. Minimum 12 credits are from courses from the Master of Advanced Business Studies programme. Courses from outside the Master of Advanced Business Studies must have a research focus and are preferably courses from a Master after Master level. The individual programme must be signed by the promotor and the Coordinator of the Research Unit where the student does his/her PhD. The final approval of the programme lies with the Faculty Board.

Doctoral students who already have a Research Master degree in Economics or Business Economics, with honours, are exempted from the courses.

The doctoral student follows the courses in the first year of the doctoral programme. Spreading the courses over the first two years is possible provided that the student has a detailed motivation and permission by the Faculty Board.

The course ‘Academic English for doctoral students’ is strongly recommended for doctoral students during the second year of their doctoral studies.

If doctoral students have followed courses from the Master of Advanced Business studies programme during their previous education and if they have obtained a score of at least 14 out of 20, they can be exempted from these courses.

Deliberation: The doctoral student succeeds for these doctoral courses if the candidate achieves an average grade of at least 68% on all the doctoral courses, with a score of at least 10 out of 20 on each individual course. Each year only one deliberation is organized, which takes place in June. In order to allow the student to achieve an average of at least 68%, there is one resit possible, also for doctoral courses with already obtained scores between 10-13 on 20.

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5. The comprehensive exam

The comprehensive exam (counting for 300 hours of study time) normally takes place during the month of September of the first year, after consultation between the professors in the field of research and the student. At the start of the academic year, the programme director informs the co-ordinator of the research group about the candidates that will take the comprehensive exam. This exam is drawn up and graded by the faculty of the research group which is brought together by the co-ordinator of the research group.

Remark: Doctoral students working on a research project can spread the doctoral courses and the comprehensive exam over two years

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6. Research seminars

Each research group can, by itself or in combination with another research group within the K.U.Leuven or with a similar research group at another university, organize a series of research seminars (counting for 60 hours of study time each year). These research seminars are open to anyone that is interested in the field of research. This series of research seminars must be attended actively during each year of the doctoral programme. If the research group doesn’t organize a series of research seminars, the research group must assign another series of research seminars.

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7. Doctoral proposal

During the first two years of the doctoral programme, the student prepares a doctoral proposal that will be evaluated by a doctoral committee that is composed by the Faculty Board. The doctoral proposal is presented during the series of research seminars of the research group and counts for 50 hours of study time. The doctoral committee is composed based on the advice of the programme director and the supervisor.

 The Faculty Board assigns a supervisor and possibly a co-supervisor for each student. One of them has to be a ZAP (Independent Academic Staff) member of the Faculty of Business and Economics. In cooperation with the co-supervisor, the supervisor assists the student during the course of the research.

The doctoral commission is assigned based on the advice of the programme director and the supervisor. During the early stages of the PhD, the doctoral commission has to include at least three members, preferably including one member from a different research group. During the stage of the preliminary and the public defence, the doctoral committee has to include at least five and at most seven members, from which at least one does not belong to the association of the K.U.Leuven.  Post-doctoral mandate holders can be promotor, under the condition that another member of the academic staff acts as second promotor.

The subjects of doctoral dissertations, approved by the Faculty Board, will be reserved for the doctoral students concerned during the time of study and research. The Faculty Board can deprive the person concerned of this privilege, if he/she has not shown his/her supervisor any concrete proof of progress in his/her activities during two years.

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8. Progress

During the month of September in every year of the doctoral programme a progress report is presented to the programme director. This progress report is first approved by the supervisor.

 

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9. Doctoral seminars

At least twice during the doctoral training the student presents own research in one of the research seminars. Each of these presentations results in 50 hours of study time. On these occasions the student will also be evaluated on the progress of his/her research. This presentation is public and is announced at least four weeks in advance. The first doctoral seminar can consist of a thorough presentation of the doctoral proposal. During the second doctoral seminar, the basis of the doctoral research is presented. At that moment, the doctoral student reports on the progress of his/her doctoral research. The first doctoral seminar has to take place within two years after the start of the PhD. The indicative timing of the second doctoral seminar is the month of January of the fourth year of the PhD.

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10. Research reports

During the doctoral programme at least two research reports, which may be co-authored, must be submitted and evaluated by the supervisor and the Faculty Board (2 x 50 hours). The research reports are presented in the doctoral workshops of the field of research or in the doctoral seminars.

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11. International conference

Each student actively participates in an international conference at least once during the doctoral training. A presentation or a poster session at an international conference is rewarded with a study time of 100 hours. Participation in an international conference is rewarded with 10 study hours per day. A presentation at a national conference, a seminar at another university or a participation at an internationally organized doctoral course or a workshop with preparation (e.g., EDEN programme) will be rewarded with a study time of 50 hours for the preparation and participation and a study time of 50 hours for a scientific report of the activity.

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12. International publication

The student is encouraged to publish in scientific journals. During the training the student has to publish at least once at the international level. International publications will include articles in English published in a journal that is listed on the VSNU list or that is included in the international electronic databanks Econlit, ABI-Inform or Web of Science. The publication can be written together with one or more co-authors on the condition that the student’s contribution is considered sufficiently substantial. Each publication in a journal with an impact factor of at least 0.5 or in an A or B-journal of the VSNU-list is rewarded a study time of 200 hours. Each publication in a lower qualified international journal is rewarded 150 hours of study time. A publication in another refereed journal, a chapter in a refereed book and a research report in the series of the own department are rewarded with 50 hours of study time. A complete book is rewarded with 200 hours. Very exceptionally, the publication at the international level can be replaced by three reviewed, national publications.

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13. Certificate of doctoral education

After successful completion of all preceding steps and after gathering exactly 1715 hours of study time and exactly 60 study points, the student obtains the certificate of doctoral education. The following table gives an overview:

Activities STUDY TIME STUDY POINTS
Basic elements
1 international reviewed publication (i.e. VSNU list (A, B, C), reviewed proceedings of international conferences (full text), contribution in an international book - written in English) (1 x 150 hours)

Or
(only exceptionally)

3 reviewed national publications (3 x 50 hours)

 150h 5 pt
Present 2 seminars (2 x 50 hours) 100h 5 pt
1 active participation (i.e. presenter or discussant, not session chairman) at an international conference (100 hours)

Or

2 participations at internationally organised doctoral courses or workshops with preparation (e.g. EDEN) with ex-post report (2 x 50 hours)

 100h 5 pt
doctoral courses 675h 21 pt
Progress reports (at least three yearly progress reports) 50h 2 pt
Contact with supervisor
For the record
Additional elements
Comprehensive exam 300h 10 pt
Attend doctoral workshops (4 years x 60 hours) 240h 8 pt
Two research reports (2 x 50 hours) 100h 4 pt
 
General total (required: 1500-1800 hours study capacity; 60 points) 1715h 60 pt

The Faculty Board can decide exceptionally and on an individual basis that the candidate is exempted from the doctoral programme. This exemption can be granted only when the candidate has acquired research experience in or outside the university and/or the candidate can present research achievements, comparable to what might be expected of students following the doctoral programme.

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14. Pre-defence

The student presents the preliminary doctoral dissertation to the doctoral committee. This session is public. Permission to hold the preliminary defence is granted by the Faculty Board and the text must be submitted at least four weeks in advance. The indicative timing for the preliminary defence is May of the fourth year.

 

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15. Public defence

Following a positive evaluation of the doctoral dissertation by the doctoral committee, the Faculty Board grants the permission for the public defence. This permission and the submission of the final text must take place at least four weeks before the public defence. The indicative timing for the public defence is the month of September in the fourth year of the doctoral programme.

During the public defence, which in principle is chaired by the programme director, the doctoral work is presented by the doctoral student. The members of the doctoral committee as well as anyone that is interested can ask questions to the doctoral candidate.

The doctoral committee takes the decision to grant the degree of Doctor in Applied Economics.

For the final text and the layout of the dissertation, the doctoral student follows the regulations developed by the Faculty of Business and Economics. To that purpose, he/she consults the administrative co-ordinator of the doctoral programme beforehand.

After the successful defence of the doctoral dissertation, the doctoral student obtains an allowance of 750 € to cover the expenses of the doctoral programme.

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