Training courses
July 23 2026Doctoral training at ABIES
In addition to the scientific support provided by the Research Units, the doctoral training offered by ABIES and partners aims to give doctoral candidates the tools they need to progressively develop their scientific and professional projects. Our training courses are offered throughout the three years of the thesis. They are based on European standards for doctoral training and on recommendations drawn up by firms specialising in recruiting PhD students.
The ABIES training offer aims to deploy an original pedagogical approach that is useful to all doctoral candidates, whatever their working language, field of expertise or career aspirations.
To be noted!
It is compulsory to complete at least 160 hours of doctoral training over the three years of the PhD programme. A training course on research ethics or scientific integrity and one on data management must be completed during the first year of the PhD. An additional training course on open science must be completed before re-enrolment in the third year. Training on career development must be undertaken during the course of the PhD, as well as training in communication. At least one participation in the ABIES doctoral days is compulsory. Training on the detection and prevention of sexual and gender-based violence is also compulsory and should, where possible, be undertaken at the start of the PhD.
Doctoral candidates supplement these compulsory courses with courses of their own choosing, based on their personal research plans and suggestions from their supervisors, as well as by attending international conferences and congresses. Participation in certain activities alongside the thesis, such as teaching, outreach or organising conferences, may also be recognised, subject to discussion with the doctoral school’s management.
The doctoral school may organise specific training courses at the request of doctoral students or supervisors.
Acquiring new skills during the thesis
The thesis is a often first job that enables doctoral candidates to acquire a certain number of skills and aptitudes (scientific and technical skills, project and team management skills, personal skills) that correspond to the needs of a wide range of professions.
The ABIES doctoral school’s approach aims to complement the learning acquired within the host teams by encouraging the development of certain cross-disciplinary skills: communication, language skills, project culture, creativity, etc.
ABIES andUniversité Paris-Saclay training catalogues are regularly updated
The Skills portfolio
The skills portfolio is a tool provided by the doctoral school to help the doctoral candidate to reflect on their career plans by self-assessing the skills acquired. The use of the skills portfolio is
- Strongly recommended
- Individual and personalized
- Supported by the interaction with the thesis supervisors, the members of the individual monitoring committee or the correspondent person at the ABIES direction, depending on the doctoral candidate’s preference.
- Continuous throughout the doctoral studies, from the start to the defence, and can even be used after to facilitate interviews and professional integration.
Resources
- ABIES Skills portfolio docx 246.11 KB