Preselection

Preselection Application

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The preselection of the VAS competitive admissions process candidates is done by examining applications.
The VAS administration must have the complete application file one business day before the date of the interview with the selection committee (posted in due time on the VAS website and sent to individuals via email).

Contents of the Preselection Application

Each application must include :
• a detailed curriculum vitae detailing university studies as well as research experience
• coursework and results over the 2 years of the Master’s degree (semesters 9/10)
• a signed certificate of rank obtained during the second year of the Master’s degree (semesters 9/10);
if no final ranking is available, a ranking during the 9th semester (usually corresponding to methodological training) will be accepted. If there were no rankings, a letter from the Master’s advisor clarifying this point is required
• once available, a transcript or other document signed by the advisor indicating grades and ranking (imperative) of the candidate during the Master’s
• a personal statement explaining why you have chosen to pursue a career in research and why you have chosen this specific profile
• a summary of all research during the 2nd year of Master’s and, if applicable, during the 1st year. This summary should be no longer than one page (400 words)
• any and all other documents which demonstrate the qualifications, motivation and research capacities of the candidate to the selection committee (other research projects, internships, publications/presentations…)

**To be allowed to apply, candidates must have been ranked in the top 2/3 of their Master’s**

Evaluation Criteria

Candidates will be evaluated according to the following criteria :
• research experience : motivation and, above all, aptitude and disciplinary skills related to the subject chosen
• analytical skills and ability to pursue the chosen project : justification chosen topic; situating the subject as part of a general problematic; scientific understanding of the topic; ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills as they relate to the topic; quality of the proposed project
• integrating the thesis into professional goals/career path

Selection Committee

The preselection committee is made up of 2 members of the administration, 2 members of the research committee, 2 members of the pedagogy committee, and 2 doctoral representatives elected to the VAS Council. They will examine the application files (around 100) and give them a grade. Based on these grades the committee will rank them and create a list of candidates who have been chosen for interview, giving preference to the best applications and avoiding too many candidates for profiles with few spots.