Joint supervision
Joint Doctorate Supervision
A joint PhD (other names: Joint Doctorate; co-tutelle doctorate) is a doctoral degree awarded by two different institutions/universities, who share the responsibilities of supervising, coordination and examining a researcher’s work towards a PhD degree. Below the requirements to be entitled to do a joint PhD:
· The PhD student shares his /her time between the two universities
· The PhD student has two PhD supervisors, one in each university
· An agreement specific to the student and his/her research has been set up
· The procedure set out in French law (6 January 2005) by the French Ministry of Education, Research and Technology (MENRT) has been followed.
The agreement linking the two institutions must include the following:
Administrative Requirements:
· The registration date of the student and duration of work
· The duration of work spend in each institution
· The university in which the student pays registration fees: he/she will be registered in both universities but one will agree to be exempt from the registration fees.
· Health insurance cover for the stay in France
· Accommodation for the student and any grants received for the stay in France
Academic Requirements:
· The name of the Thesis Supervisor in each institution
· The student will defend his/her viva voce exam in front of a mixed scientific jury from both countries, including the two Thesis supervisors
· The choice of the country in which the viva voce will take place
· The language in which the thesis will be written and presented at viva voce
· The language in which the written and oral summaries will be presented
· The award of the PhD qualification: each institution must commit to award the Doctor Status (from Montpellier SupAgro) and the equivalent diploma from your home institution.
· Regulation details from each countries on the presentation, dissemination and reproduction of thesis.
Download the joint supervision agreement: this document is in PDF format and is to be completed online, printed off and signed
Procedure to register a student in joint supervision
Requesting a joint doctorate should be made before registering for a PhD or, exceptionally, during the first year of the PhD. Agreement must be given by the PhD committee at Montpellier SupAgro and must be signed by both universities.
Please note: Joint PhD supervision is not the same as ‘Doctor Europaeus: European Ph.D. Label’. The European Ph.D. Label can be requested just before the viva voce and is for EU countries only. This label is an additional Ph.D. qualification and should not be confused with the procedures for joint PhD.
You can request the ‘Doctor Europaeus: European Ph.D. Label’ leaflet at the PhD office.
Last update : 16/04/2012
