Rapporteurs must have the HDR or have a scientific level equivalent to that attested by the HDR if they are foreigners. They must belong to higher education or research establishments and to one of the following categories:
- Professors or equivalent within the meaning of the provisions relating to the appointment of members of the Conseil National des Universités or teachers of equivalent rank who do not come under the Ministry of Education.
- Staff of higher education establishments, public research bodies and research foundations who have the HDR.
- Persons holding a state doctorate (Ph.D.) chosen for their scientific competence by the head of the institution, on the recommendation of the director of the Doctoral School and after consulting the institution's scientific council.
Rapporteurs are appointed by the head of the institution, on the recommendation of the director of the Doctoral School, after consulting the thesis director.
The referees must not be from the Lyon-Saint-Etienne site. They must be external to the institution to which the thesis is attached, to any Research Units attached to the Doctoral School, to any Research Units for which the institution to which the thesis is attached is the supervisor, and to the company (in the case of CIFRE contracts) in which the work is carried out.
Rapporteurs must not have co-authored any articles with the doctoral student.
An emeritus professor may act as rapporteur.