PhD Studies at EPB

The École polytechnique de Bruxelles (EPB) is home to a dynamic community of over 300 researchers, including around 260 doctoral students. Every year, the school recruits new talent motivated by scientific research and technological innovation.

How to do a PHD at EPB?

Pursuing a PhD is much more than just a degree. It is a demanding intellectual and professional journey, but also a deeply rewarding one.
Here are some key reasons to get started:

• To gain expertise
• To learn how to conceptualise, to think, to manage a project
• To face a challenge that will enable you to grow
• To be able, for once, to really follow things through
• To meet others who are passionate about research (create a network)

A PhD, and after ?

A doctorate opens the door to numerous professional opportunities, both in Belgium and internationally.
It is a springboard to positions of high responsibility in a variety of sectors:
 

• The academic and university world, as a researcher or teacher-researcher
• The private sector, particularly in research and development, engineering, artificial intelligence, materials, or electronics
• Public institutions and expert organizations
• The creation or development of technological spin-offs from university research

Researchers can finance their doctoral research through several funding schemes:

• Researchers may be employed by ULB in an assistant position. In this case, they devote 50% of their time to doctoral research and 50% to teaching duties, such as supervising laboratory sessions or exercise classes within the Faculty.

• Researchers may receive a grant funded by the FNRS to carry out a PhD over a period of four years (as an FNRS Research Fellow or FRIA grant holder).

• After completing a PhD, researchers may benefit from a postdoctoral fellowship funded by the FNRS or by the European Marie Skłodowska-Curie program to pursue their research.

• Researchers may also be employed under a research contract obtained by the laboratory where the research is conducted. These contracts are often carried out in partnership with industry.

In addition, the School offers second- and third-year bachelor’s students the opportunity to complete a one-month laboratory internship through Research Initiation Grants. This first research experience allows our students to develop an early interest in research.