How to prepare a successful master's or doctoral thesis in France : guide for international students

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In France, you are now permitted to write a Master or PhD dissertation in English.

For international students, preparing a thesis requires many new skills and adapting to the French academic context. This practical guide, based on long experience of teaching and accompanying international students at the CPU-Lyon - a non-for-profit association devoted to helping 650 students per year of 70 nationalises -, aims to answer the main questions they ask : what exactly is expected when we talk about « Research »? According to what criteria are they going to be evaluated? How do you find relevant documents, choose a methodology, validate, write and, present a defense? What plan should I adopt? Which timetable should I follow to finish in time ?

This guide is supplemented by self-study questions and useful annexes including a summary of the regulatory texts defining French masters and doctorates, specialized vocabulary, current abbreviations, and a bibliography to take you further.