Joint Supervision (Cotutelle de thèse)

Pursue your doctoral studies as part of a partnership between two universities.

At the beginning of or during your doctoral studies, have you realised that guidance and supervision from another experienced researcher could add an extra dimension to your research, that you need access to a library or specific resources, or that the support of a research team could be helpful?

All of this is possible through a cooperation agreement for a “cotutelle de thèse.” A “cotutelle de thèse” project, or doctoral partnership, is based on a formalised collaboration between a Swiss and a foreign university and includes:

• a doctoral dissertation conducted under the supervision of two dissertation supervisors
• a joint defence or similar event in which both participating universities are involved
• the awarding of two diplomas stating that the dissertation was completed either as part of a cotutelle or as part of a doctoral partnership

This entails stays at both partner universities, additional research work, and coordination with your advisors. You are therefore subject to the doctoral regulations of both partners.

As part of a cotutelle partnership, you can apply for a scholarship from swissuniversities once a year in the spring. This scholarship is intended, among other things, to cover the costs of the numerous trips that a cotutelle entails.

We would be happy to advise you personally on this step. Please do not hesitate to contact us!