In addition to the general rules instituted by the relevant academic departments for all PhD students, those at CORE are kindly requested to observe the following guidelines. If you have any questions or comments about these points or anything else relating to your stay at CORE, please feel free to contact your Student Representative, the Administrative Director or the Research Director.
Research Participation
Every PhD student is required to attend the main CORE seminar of her/his discipline (ET, OR or EC) on a regular basis, i.e. at least 3 out of 4 seminars. Participation in other seminars in the student’s field of research is also expected (e.g. ARC seminars). Students should submit their research results to the CORE discussion paper series after discussing their results with their thesis supervisor. Ideally, the latter should serve as internal referee.
Office Space
Within limits of availability, CORE will provide office space and access to the overall facilities to every PhD student for the first three years after the MA degree, and possibly for a fourth year upon satisfactory progress. With office space in drastic shortage, any absence of more than one month may require partially freeing one’s office for temporary use by visitors.
Travel and Absence
PhD students adhere to ordinary academic standards of presence at CORE. YOU MUST notify the administrative director of your absences (missions) including vacation periods (20 working days). Fill in form with Catherine Germain.
Any person (thus including PhD students) employed by the university has to inform the insurance service well prior to any trip using the appropriate form available at http://www.crct.ucl.ac.be/ucl/Avis_d_absence_pour_mission_scientifique.pdf 
. The purpose of this is to be covered in case of accident. The form has to be signed by the Administrative Director at least 8 days BEFORE the trip.
CORE (limited) travel funds will not cover conferences outside the well-known high-quality association meetings (such as ESEM, EEA, AEA, EARIE for economics students, and INFORS, MPS for operations research students) and smaller workshops organized by international leaders in the student’s field(s). In addition, CORE funding requires that the recipient presents a paper at the conference and that external funding has been asked for IN DUE TIME so that CORE funding can only serve as a last resort solution. Please submit your application to the Administrative Director at least 3 months ahead of departure; the final decision will be made by the Research Director. An application to CORE will not be considered unless an application for external funding has been filled, a copy of which must accompany your application. Only the Belgian National Science Foundation (FNRS) offers funding possibilities; forms are available with Catherine Germain.
Holidays : Only after a period of 12 months work in Belgium, you are allowed to paid holidays. If you take holidays before the 12 months period, they will be deducted from your salary.
Visa : Before registering to a conference and buying a transportation ticket, if you are non European, be sure you obtain the necessary visa for the country you are going to. If your visa is refused, CORE will not reimburse your conference expenses.
CORE Financing
CORE PhD stipends are always made on an exclusive basis. By accepting CORE funds, the student is tacitly stating that she/he receives no funding from other sources. Any outside employment (such as teaching elsewhere) must always be approved by CORE in advance. Within limits of availability, CORE will attempt to fund PhD students with no outside funding for the first three years after their MA degree, and possibly for one more year in cases with proper justification and satisfactory progress. CORE cannot always guarantee renewed funding for students who wish to return to CORE after having interrupted their PhD studies. Again, CORE funds are a last resort solution. Information on funding sources is available http://www.core.ucl.ac.be/life_at_CORE. Students are well advised to think about this and to discuss the matter with their PhD supervisors long before the expiration of their current funding.
July 2009
