{"id":35076,"date":"2019-10-31T22:02:12","date_gmt":"2019-10-31T19:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prohoster.info\/blog\/vzglyad-iznutri-aspirantura-v-epfl-chast-3-ot-postupleniya-do-zashhity\/"},"modified":"2019-10-31T22:02:12","modified_gmt":"2019-10-31T19:02:12","slug":"vzglyad-iznutri-aspirantura-v-epfl-chast-3-ot-postupleniya-do-zashhity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prohoster.info\/en\/blog\/news\/vzglyad-iznutri-aspirantura-v-epfl-chast-3-ot-postupleniya-do-zashhity","title":{"rendered":"Inside Perspective: Graduate Studies at EPFL. Part 3: From Admission to Defense","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

\"InsideDedicated to the 50th Anniversary of EPFL<\/i><\/p>\n

On October 30, 2012, I held a one-way ticket to Geneva and a strong desire to earn a PhD at one of Europe's most prestigious universities\u2014and perhaps the world. By December 31, 2018, I spent my last day in a lab I had come to cherish. It's time to reflect on where my dreams have led me over the past six years, discuss life in a country known for cheese, chocolate, watches, and army knives, and philosophize about where one might find true happiness.<\/p>\n

How to apply for graduate studies and what to do upon arrival is covered in two articles (Part 1<\/a><\/noindex> and Part 2<\/a><\/noindex>). For the School of Computer Science, I discovered my fairly detailed manual here<\/a><\/noindex>. In this installment, it's time to wrap up the lengthy narrative about grad school at a beautiful university in one of the richest yet simultaneously poorest countries\u2014Switzerland.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer:<\/b> the aim of this article is to present the main aspects of a graduate student's scientific life at EPFL in an accessible manner. Perhaps someday some of the thoughts expressed here will be realized in Russia during university reforms or in the 5-100 program. Additional clarifying information and examples are included in the spoilers; some points may be overgeneralized, but I hope this will not spoil the overall narrative.
\n<\/a><\/noindex>
\nWell, congratulations, my dear friend, you've been admitted to graduate school at one of the best universities in Europe and the world. You've settled into your daily life, which we'll discuss in more detail in upcoming parts, completed the necessary safety and lab training, and now, six months have flown by. Your supervisor, the professor, is immensely pleased (or maybe not\u2014this is uncertain) with the results, and ahead lies the qualifying exam\u2014the first serious test on the path to earning a PhD.<\/p>\n

\"Inside
\nLet's go! The move from Lausanne to the new campus in Sion in April 2015<\/i><\/p>\n

The Swiss Approach to the 'Candidate Minimum'<\/h2>\n

\nAt the end of the first year of training for each graduate student, or more precisely, a candidate for graduate school, there is a qualification exam awaiting. Before this significant moment, graduate students often feel nervous, although cases of expulsion can be counted on one hand. This is because candidates undergo several stages of filtering: <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. a formal one when submitting an application to the school,<\/li>\n
  2. a personal one during the interview and presentation,<\/li>\n
  3. and a social one, when, before the final decision on admission, the professor or group leader asks their colleagues whether they liked the candidate and whether they will fit into the team.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \nIf someone is expelled, it is done for formal and objective reasons, such as regular and serious violations of safety rules or very poor academic results.<\/p>\n

    So there is absolutely no need to fear the first-year exam, as overall it is much easier than in Russia, where you must take exams in philosophy, English, your specialty, and write numerous reports on your work.<\/p>\n

    There are several formal criteria for access to the exam (which may vary from school to school):<\/p>\n