1. A Council of Doctoral College (CDC) is established within USEK and is responsible for the coordination of doctoral studies, and the follow up on PhD students’ learning and research experience within different Schools/faculty.

2. The CDC is composed of the dean of the Doctoral College as chair, associate deans of the Doctoral College (Office of Doctoral College), and schools/faculty doctoral studies coordinators. The dean of College is appointed by the president from among the full-time faculty members holding the academic rank of professor.
The council meets a minimum of two times a year upon the request of the dean of the College. A quorum of 2/3 of the members is required to hold the council meeting.

3. The CDC is in charge of:

• suggesting general doctoral studies regulations according to USEK academic and research strategic directions as well as the admission criteria.
• ensuring and endorsing the display of the PhD Thesis Proposals (PTP) of schools/faculty on the website of the University.
• approving the admission/re-admission of applicants according to USEK academic and research strategic directions.
• ensuring the implementation and respect of the doctoral studies regulations, outlining the procedures relating to the preparation and defense of a PhD thesis and propose amendments, if necessary.
• organizing and promoting doctoral studies as well as ensuring their quality.
• promoting intra- and inter-university cooperation.
• encouraging knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship.
• overseeing the progress work of PhD programs.
• assisting the PhD students to take hold of any calls for doctoral scholarship and research grants.

4. The decisions of the CDC are taken by the absolute majority of the present members. In case of parity, the dean of the Doctoral College has the casting vote.

5. The school/faculty doctoral studies coordinator is in charge of:

• collecting the PhD Thesis Proposals Forms (PTPF) issued by the school/faculty researchers and endorsing them according to the availability of full-time faculty, the school/faculty resources and research planning.
• preparing, in accordance with the general admission requirements, the assessment tools to evaluate the ability of the applicant to pursue doctoral studies.
• proposing, in collaboration with the PhD supervisor(s), the Doctoral Advisory Committee (DAC) to assess the PhD applicant’s admission in accordance with functions stipulated in article 3.
• preparing the comprehensive exams (2).
• encouraging and guiding PhD students to participate in peer-reviewed conferences and symposiums according to institutional policies and procedures.

6. Doctoral Advisory Committee:

• For each PhD Thesis Proposal, a DAC (Doctoral Advisory Committee) is proposed by the PhD supervisor, endorsed by school/faculty doctoral studies coordinator, and approved by the dean of the school/faculty. The DAC is composed obligatorily of:
  - PhD thesis supervisor(s) (joint supervision or co-supervision).
  - One or two experts with the appropriate skills for the assessment of the applicant in the required field.
• For each PhD thesis proposal, it belongs to DAC to:
  - study the PhD application and assess, depending on the profile sought, the applicant's ability to pursue doctoral studies in accordance with the admission requirements stipulated in article 3.
  - guide, along with the supervisor(s), the accepted PhD student throughout the doctoral program by broadening and deepening the range of expertise and experience available to the PhD Student.

(2) The comprehensive assessment, Comps, comprises the applicant’s file review followed by an oral assessment to evaluate the candidate’s scientific and communicative skills; additional admission requirements may be specified by the program. The candidate will sit for comps before the Doctoral Advisory Committee.