Jointly supervised binational doctorates

Cotutelle supervision simply explained

Doctoral students pursuing a PhD under a cotutelle agreement are jointly supervised by their home university and a partner university outside Germany, with the aim of earning a joint doctoral degree from both institutions. Under a cotutelle agreement, you will prepare a single dissertation and will be examined in a single doctoral defence recognized by both institutions. Depending on the specific agreement, you will either receive a doctoral certificate from each of the two universities or a single doctoral certificate issued jointly by both institutions.

Requirements
  • The binational doctoral research project must be agreed jointly between the doctoral research student and the supervisors at both partner universities. They must agree in advance on the title, subject matter, supervision arrangements, the conditions under which the doctoral dissertation will be defended and the award of the doctoral degree – all in accordance with the applicable doctoral degree regulations. The details of what has been agreed must be set out in a written cotutelle agreement signed by Saarland University and the partner university.
  • The doctoral student must enrol or, if applicable, register at both universities for the duration of the binational PhD programme. Typically, any semester fees that may be incurred are paid in turn to each host university, alternating each semester.
  • The details of how payments are to be made are specified in the binational doctoral supervision agreement.
Implementation of the research project
  • Once the agreement has been signed by both universities, the research project will be carried out partly in the first country and partly in the other. The doctoral student will be jointly supervised by the two dissertation supervisors.
  • Cotutelle PhD students are enrolled (or registered) at both universities, but are usually exempt from the applicable fees at one of the two universities every other semester. i.e. fees are paid in alternating semesters to the two host universities.
  • Agreement templates to download:
Duration
  • A binational (cotutelle) doctorate normally takes three years to complete, although this period can usually be extended.
  • In exceptional cases, and depending on progress, it may be possible to grant an extension beyond the maximum period normally permitted for doctoral study.
  • Where an extension is required, an application for an extension must be agreed, prepared and signed by all partners. Any request to amend the agreement must follow the same approval and signature process as used for the agreement itself. Any request for an extension must be clearly justified.
Enrolment
Financial support
Contact

https://www.uni-saarland.de/verwaltung/promotion.html