Overview
Proposed Online PhD Programme: Complete Academic Journey, Admission to Doctoral Graduation (Graduation Fees Applies)
Imperial European University provides a structured, internationally accessible online PhD programme with a transparent admissions process, supervised research, digital academic infrastructure, milestone-based evaluation, and a credible final doctoral examination.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at IEU–Paris is an advanced, research-driven doctoral programme designed for aspiring scholars, researchers, academics, and experienced professionals seeking to expand the frontiers of knowledge and contribute original insights to their fields. Grounded in rigorous scholarly inquiry, critical thinking, and methodological excellence, the programme places a strong emphasis on theoretical depth, intellectual innovation, and the development of original research that advances academic discourse and informs future research.
Delivered fully online through a flexible, self-paced learning model, the programme enables candidates to pursue independent research while benefiting from expert academic supervision and structured research guidance. Progress is supported through defined academic milestones, rigorous evaluation, and scholarly review processes that encourage research integrity, analytical depth, and the production of a substantial original contribution to knowledge.
Programme Structure
Total Duration
36 to 48 months
Total Credits
240 CREDITS
Thesis
Thesis requirement of minimum 60,000 words
Delivery Mode
Original doctoral dissertation & performance based assignments. Assessment: Research proposal, Doctoral Dissertation: Viva Voce Defence:
PROPOSED PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
Stage 1 — Enquiry and application
Candidate registration, eligibility screening and document verification.
Stage 2 — Admission and enrolment
Academic assessment, interview, admission decision, fee payment and orientation.
Stage 3 — Doctoral foundation
Research methodology, research ethics, academic writing and digital research tools.
Stage 4 — Research proposal
Research problem, literature review, objectives, methodology and proposal defence.
Stage 5 — Research execution
Data collection, experimentation or theoretical research, with regular online supervision.
Stage 6 — Progress evaluation
Research seminars, progress reports, publication or dissemination milestones and annual reviews.
Stage 7 — Thesis preparation
Complete dissertation, originality checks, research compliance and pre-submission review.
Stage 8 — External examination
Independent examiner reports, thesis revisions and final viva voce conducted online where permitted.
Stage 9 — Final approval and graduation
Required corrections, formal award approval, digital credentials and doctoral graduation.
A reasonable initial planning assumption is 36–48 months full-time, with a longer part-time route where regulations permit. These are proposed programme durations, not a substitute for the minimum registration period, maximum completion period or other requirements imposed by the relevant awarding jurisdiction.
Enquiry, application and eligibility screening
Objective: Identify academically qualified applicants who are capable of independent research.
Online process
- Candidate submits an online application form.
- Selects a proposed doctoral discipline and research area.
- Uploads academic qualifications, transcripts, CV and identification documents through a secure admissions portal.
- Submits a preliminary research interest statement of approximately 500–1,000 words.
- Provides English-language proficiency evidence where required.
- Admissions team checks eligibility and document authenticity.
Proposed eligibility criteria
- A recognised master’s degree in a relevant discipline, meeting the requirements of the awarding jurisdiction.
- A strong academic background and evidence of research aptitude.
- A preliminary research idea aligned with available supervisors and institutional research priorities.
- English-language proficiency sufficient for academic research, where applicable.
- Additional requirements for regulated or specialised research areas, where applicable.
Applicants with unusual qualifications, professional experience or foreign degrees should receive an individual eligibility assessment rather than an automatic admission or rejection.
Documents to be collected: Application form, CV, passport or accepted identification, degree certificates, transcripts, research statement, language evidence if required, and declarations concerning academic integrity and prior research.
Academic assessment and admission
The admission process should evaluate research potential, not simply the ability to pay the fee.
Proposed selection workflow
- Admissions office verifies academic eligibility.
- Department reviews the candidate’s research interests and proposed topic.
- Candidate completes a 20–30-minute online interview.
- A research panel assesses feasibility, originality, subject knowledge and supervisor availability.
- Admissions committee issues an offer, conditional offer, waitlist decision or reasoned rejection.
The university should retain an official record of the decision, the eligibility assessment, the interview outcome and any conditions attached to admission.
Enrolment, fees and digital onboarding
Once the offer is accepted, the student completes formal registration.
The university should provide:
- A formal admission letter and doctoral registration number.
- A student agreement specifying the programme duration, fees, refund rules, research requirements and examination process.
- Access to the learning management system (LMS), university email, digital library and research repository.
- The PhD handbook, research ethics policy and academic integrity policy.
- An introduction to the supervisor allocation process.
- A personalised doctoral study plan and research milestone calendar.
The candidate should complete a virtual orientation covering online learning, supervision meetings, cybersecurity, responsible AI use, citation practices and research data management.
Recommended payment policy: Offer instalment payments linked to registration and clearly defined programme periods. The agreement should explain what each instalment covers, when it is due, what happens after withdrawal, and whether any additional examination, extension or graduation fees apply
Doctoral foundation and research training
Suggested duration: Months 1–6
This phase ensures that students have the methodological and academic skills needed to carry out independent research.
Module | Core content |
Research philosophy and design | Research paradigms, questions, hypotheses and research design |
Advanced research methodology | Qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods approaches |
Literature review | Scholarly databases, systematic searching, critical synthesis and research gaps |
Academic writing | Thesis structure, scholarly argument, referencing and publication writing |
Research ethics and integrity | Consent, privacy, conflicts of interest, plagiarism and responsible research |
Data analysis and research tools | Discipline-specific statistical, qualitative or computational tools |
Research communication | Seminars, presentations, peer review and communicating research impact |
The modules should be delivered through recorded lectures, live online seminars, guided readings, virtual workshops and assessed assignments.
Students should complete the prescribed training assessments before progressing to proposal approval. The exact credit and assessment requirements must be established in the approved curriculum.
Supervisor allocation and doctoral research proposal
Suggested duration: Months 3–9
Each candidate should be assigned a qualified primary supervisor and, where feasible and appropriate, a co-supervisor. Supervisor qualifications, workloads and eligibility must satisfy the applicable regulatory requirements.
The candidate prepares a formal research proposal containing:
- Proposed title and research background.
- Research problem and knowledge gap.
- Research aim, objectives and research questions or hypotheses.
- Critical literature review.
- Theoretical or conceptual framework, where relevant.
- Research methodology and sampling or analytical strategy.
- Ethical considerations and data management plan.
- Expected original contribution to knowledge.
- Work plan, timeline and preliminary budget.
- References and relevant supporting material.
Online proposal defence: The candidate presents the proposal in a scheduled video conference before a research committee. The committee may approve it, request revisions, require a second defence or reject it with documented reasons.
The university should record the decision and approve the proposal before the candidate begins any research requiring institutional ethical clearance.
Research execution and continuous supervision
Suggested duration: Months 7–30
This is the central phase of the doctorate. Students conduct independent research under academic supervision.
6.1 Literature development
Update the literature review, map relevant scholarly debates, refine the research gap and maintain a documented review of important new studies.
6.2 Data collection or research development
Conduct approved experiments, surveys, interviews, field studies, modelling, archival research or theoretical analysis, depending on the discipline.
6.3 Online supervision
Hold regular video meetings, review submitted chapters or research outputs, discuss obstacles, document feedback and agree on the next milestones.
6.4 Research dissemination
Present preliminary findings at research seminars, conferences or approved scholarly forums. Develop manuscripts or other discipline-appropriate outputs where appropriate.
Minimum proposed supervision standard
- One documented supervisory meeting every month.
- Written feedback on agreed research submissions.
- A quarterly student progress report.
- A formal annual review by an independent academic panel.
- A recorded intervention plan if the student falls behind schedule.
These are proposed institutional standards, subject to supervisor capacity and applicable doctoral regulations
Progress reviews and confirmation of research progress
A doctoral student should not move directly from registration to thesis submission without formal monitoring.
Milestone | Suggested target | Evidence required |
Research plan approved | Month 3 | Approved individual study plan |
Foundation training completed | Month 6 | Module assessments and research training record |
Proposal approved | Month 9 | Proposal defence decision |
First formal progress review | Month 12 | Progress report and presentation |
Mid-candidature review | Months 18–24 | Research outputs, methodology and preliminary findings |
Full draft and completion review | Months 30–36 | Draft thesis, results and completion plan |
Final submission | Months 36–48 | Submission-ready dissertation |
The milestones are planning targets, not automatic deadlines for awarding the degree. The university must provide appropriate extensions, remediation or appeal routes under its regulations.
Thesis writing and pre-submission review
The student develops the final dissertation in consultation with the supervisor.
Suggested thesis structure
- Introduction and research problem.
- Literature review and theoretical framework.
- Research methodology.
- Results or findings.
- Discussion and interpretation.
- Original contribution, implications and limitations.
- Conclusions and future research.
- References and appendices.
The precise structure should reflect the discipline and the approved research design. A thesis may also follow an approved publication-based format where regulations permit.
Before submission, the candidate must:
- Complete all mandatory research training and progress reviews.
- Obtain supervisor confirmation that the thesis is ready for examination, where required.
- Complete ethical and data-management declarations.
- Submit the final thesis file and required supporting materials.
- Complete the university’s originality and academic integrity checks.
- Resolve any outstanding administrative requirements.
A similarity report should support academic judgement, not automatically determine whether plagiarism has occurred. Any publication requirements must be specified in advance and must not replace the requirement for a coherent, original doctoral thesis.
Independent thesis examination and online viva voce
Suggested duration: Months 40–48
The final assessment must establish that the candidate has conducted independent research and made an original contribution to knowledge. An online PhD should maintain the same academic standards as a campus-based doctorate.
Final examination workflow
- Appointment of examiners
Appoint two appropriately qualified, independent examiners, including an external examiner, subject to the applicable regulations. Avoid conflicts of interest.
- Independent thesis evaluation
Examiners assess originality, methodology, quality of evidence, contribution to knowledge, scholarly presentation and limitations.
- Examination reports
Collect written reports and determine whether the thesis is ready for a defence or requires further action.
- Online viva voce
Conduct a live video examination with identity verification, a secure platform, an examination chair and a formal record of proceedings.
- Examination decision
The authorised examination body records its decision and communicates the outcome in writing.
Possible examination outcomes
- Pass without corrections, where permitted.
- Pass subject to minor corrections.
- Major corrections or resubmission within a specified period.
- Re-examination or a further viva, where permitted.
- Fail, with any appeal rights specified in the regulations.
The examiner panel must be independent of the student’s day-to-day supervision. A supervisor may attend or contribute only as allowed by the examination rules. The viva must test the student’s understanding of the research, not merely their ability to present slides.
The use of online thesis examination and independent examiners is consistent with practices documented by established European institutions.
Corrections, final approval and doctoral award
After a successful examination, the candidate completes the required corrections and submits the final approved thesis.
The final steps are:
- The examiner or authorised academic body verifies the corrections.
- The doctoral committee confirms that all academic and administrative requirements have been fulfilled.
- The competent institutional authority formally approves the award.
- The candidate deposits the final thesis in the institutional repository, subject to any approved embargo or confidentiality restriction.
- The university issues the official degree certificate and academic transcript.
- The graduate is invited to an online graduation ceremony or an optional in-person ceremony, if available.
- The university provides digital credentials that can be independently verified.
- Alumni access, research networking and postdoctoral or career-development opportunities are offered.
The degree must not be awarded merely because the student has paid all fees, completed a certain number of years or published a paper. The award must follow the authorised academic examination and approval process.
Proposed online PhD academic model
The programme should combine asynchronous study with scheduled interaction and independent research. It should not be designed as a purely recorded-video course.
Learning Management System
Recorded lectures, reading lists, assignments, submission deadlines, discussion forums, assessment results and student progress dashboards.
Virtual doctoral school
Monthly research seminars, methods workshops, guest lectures, research presentations and cross-disciplinary doctoral discussions.
Digital research library
Access to licensed scholarly databases, electronic journals, ebooks, referencing tools and institutional repository resources.
Supervision and feedback
Secure video meetings, written supervisor comments, tracked thesis versions, meeting minutes and milestone reminders.
Academic integrity and security
Identity verification, access controls, plagiarism review, research data protection, appropriate use of AI and secure online examinations.
Recommended weekly and monthly engagement
Activity | Proposed frequency |
Independent research | Weekly |
Online supervisor meeting | Monthly |
Doctoral seminar or research colloquium | Monthly |
Research progress submission | Quarterly |
Formal progress review | Annually |
Research methods or academic writing workshop | Monthly during the training phase |
Research community and peer discussion | Ongoing |
The university should publish a service standard for supervisor response times, feedback timelines, technical support and the handling of student complaints.
Tuition fee structure
One-time full payment:
€10,000
3 Installments
€3433 x 3
6 Installments
€1766 x 6
Tuition fees are payable in monthly instalments throughout the programme. Graduation fees, degree attestation, and DHL courier charges for the delivery of original documents are charged separately.
What the standard tuition fee covers:
• Admission assessment and doctoral registration.
• Research training and online academic sessions.
• Standard academic supervision throughout the stated period.
• LMS access
• Proposal defence and scheduled progress reviews.
• Thesis submission administration and standard final examination.
• Degree documentation and digital credential verification.
Scholarship and financial assistance framework
Right Honorable Keith Vaz Doctoral Scholarship and Research Excellence Foundation
The Right Honorable Keith Vaz Doctoral Scholarship and Research Excellence Foundation is established to promote doctoral scholarship, academic excellence, and impactful research by supporting outstanding candidates pursuing advanced research at IEU–Paris. The scheme aims to encourage original contributions to knowledge, strengthen research capacity, and advance scholarship in strategically significant academic fields.
Eligibility and Target Beneficiaries: The scholarship is open to eligible doctoral applicants and enrolled PhD candidates who demonstrate strong academic achievement, research potential, intellectual merit, and a clear commitment to scholarly development. Consideration may also be given to financial need and research proposals aligned with IEU-Paris’s defined strategic priorities. Applicants must satisfy the published admission requirements and scholarship-specific criteria.
Annual Budget and Funding Allocation: The Foundation will operate within an approved annual scholarship budget, established through institutional financial planning and reviewed periodically. Awards will be allocated according to available funding, the quality and merit of applications, demonstrated financial need where applicable, and alignment with designated research priorities. Scholarship values and the number of awards will be published annually to ensure transparency and responsible financial stewardship.
Selection and Award Process: Applications will be assessed through a documented, merit-based selection process against published eligibility criteria and evaluation standards. An appointed scholarship committee will review academic qualifications, research proposals, scholarly potential, financial circumstances where relevant, and strategic research alignment. Decisions will be recorded, conflicts of interest appropriately managed, and successful candidates formally notified. Scholarships are competitive and subject to available funding; they are not guaranteed to all applicants and do not constitute automatic tuition discounts or conditions of admission.
Full Doctoral Scholarship – 100% tuition waiver
Student tuition: €0
For exceptional applicants with outstanding academic achievement, a highly competitive research proposal and strong potential for significant scholarly contribution.
Excellence Scholarship –Â 50% tuition waiver
Student tuition: €5,000
For candidates with a strong academic record, research experience, a well-developed proposal and a clear plan for completing the doctorate.
Research Potential Scholarship –Â 25% tuition waiver
Student tuition: €7,500
For promising researchers who demonstrate a feasible research plan, academic readiness and a credible potential to contribute to their field.
Need-Based Scholarship – 25–50% tuition support
For eligible applicants facing documented financial barriers who meet the academic admission requirements.
These are proposed scholarship categories and rates. The university must approve its budget and terms before announcing availability. It should also decide whether awards can be combined, renewed or withdrawn after academic underperformance.
Scholarship selection procedure
- The candidate applies for the PhD and indicates a scholarship preference.
- The admissions office completes the normal academic eligibility review.
- Eligible candidates submit a scholarship statement and, for need-based awards, appropriate financial evidence.
- An independent scholarship committee assesses applications using a published scoring rubric.
- The committee approves the award, amount, duration and conditions.
- The candidate receives a written scholarship offer alongside the admission decision.
- The scholarship is applied to tuition invoices and reviewed according to the published terms.
Suggested scholarship scoring rubric
Assessment criterion | Weight |
Academic record | 25% |
Research proposal quality and originality | 30% |
Research experience and outputs | 20% |
Feasibility and supervisor fit | 15% |
Strategic contribution or documented need, as relevant | 10% |
Total | 100% |
For a need-based award, the final criterion should be evaluated using a separate, clearly documented financial-need assessment. A merit-only ranking and a need-based award should not be treated as interchangeable.
Institutional Recognition
Imperial European University (IEU–Paris) operates under its applicable French institutional authorisation and regulatory framework and is authorised to enrol students in its declared PhD programme. Graduates who successfully complete the programme and are formally awarded the degree may use the doctoral title, subject to applicable laws and regulations. However, international recognition, equivalency, acceptance by employers or academic institutions, professional eligibility, and immigration outcomes are determined by the relevant authorities in each country and are not guaranteed by the University. Prospective students are advised to review the University’s FAQs and verify any country-specific requirements before enrolment.
