Habilitation to Supervise Research

In France, the Habilitation à diriger des Recherches (HDR) is a diploma that "sanctions recognition of the candidate's high scientific level, the originality of his or her approach in a field of science, his or her ability to master a research strategy in a sufficiently broad scientific or technological field, and his or her capacity to supervise young researchers". It was created in 1984 by the Savary law, replacing the state doctorate.

The HDR is a prerequisite for university professorships. It is not mandatory, but it is in fact required to apply for research Établissement public à caractère scientifique, culturel et professionnel [management positions in public scientific and technological establishments] (EPST). There are exceptions to this rule. A person appointed to the professorship is automatically qualified to direct research.

An HDR is a prerequisite for supervising a thesis or acting as thesis rapporteur (in the absence of the rank of university professor, study director or research director).

History

The habilitation to direct research is a recent diploma in France, created in 1984 by the Savary law. It replaces the doctorat d'État [state doctorate], which itself lasted only twenty years (Decree no. 66-170 of March 22, 1966). It has few equivalents anywhere in the world, existing in only a few countries, most of them European (see the list in the University accreditation article).

Rank

The HDR is the highest academic qualification in France, insofar as the agrégation du supérieur, in those disciplines where it still exists, is not a diploma but a competitive examination. The HDR diploma does not have a specific RNCP level.

The habilitation does not sanction the completion of a university course, and "is not and must not under any circumstances be considered as a second, higher-level doctorate, as the state doctorate was in the past in relation to the post-graduate doctorate".