How to prepare a successful Master's or Doctoral thesis in France. Guide for international students

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 65o students per year of 7o nationalities —, 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.