Why not obtain a doctorate at two universities in two different countries?

Would you like to pursue a bi-national doctoral degree? Then perhaps a co-tutelle de thèse could be of interest to you. This website contains the most important information regarding what a co-tutelle de thèse is and what there is to consider.

A co-tutelle de thèse is a bi-national doctorate project in which two professors from universities in two different countries supervise a dissertation and both universities jointly award the doctoral degree.

You will divide your time conducting research for your dissertation equally between both universities. You will write a dissertation that will be defended before a committee of representatives from both universities, and both universities will recognize the thesis.

Afterwards, the universities will jointly issue a doctoral degree certificate. Two separate degree certificates may be issued if they refer to and are only valid in conjunction with one another.

If you are thinking about pursuing a co-tutelle de thèse, there are several aspects you should keep in mind.

  • A co-tutelle agreement has to be individually signed for each dissertation proposal. Even if doctoral degree regulations do not explicitly provide for a bi-national doctoral degree, this can be arranged individually, as the co-tutelle agreement must comply with the doctoral degree regulations of each university.
  • A co-tutelle is established at the beginning of the research period and supervised bi-nationally. Retroactive recognition of a doctoral degree written in only one country by a second university does not constitute a co-tutelle.
  • A co-tutelle agreement does not require a formal partnership between both universities, considering that a co-tutelle is not a bi-national course of studies, but rather an individual project.

You must fulfill the following requirements in order to write a co-tutelle de thèse:

  • You are responsible for finding a supervisor at both universities and agreeing on a dissertation topic with them.
  • You must be eligible as a doctoral degree candidate at both universities and be registered or enrolled at both universities.
  • The conditions of the doctoral degree must be cleared with the supervisors and doctoral examination offices (Promotionsprüfungsamt) at both universities. The doctoral project must comply with the doctoral degree regulations at both universities.
  • These conditions must be set out in an individualized co-tutelle agreement.

Before concluding the contract for a bi-national doctorate in cooperation with JGU, you should clarify the following points:

  • Admission to a doctoral degree program, including the recognition of foreign certificates, if the authorization to pursue a doctoral degree was not obtained at JGU
  • Your registration as a doctoral candidate at the Dean’s Office for your subject at JGU
  • If applicable, your enrollment as a doctoral candidate at JGU (at least for the research period spent at JGU)

Would you like to register or enroll for your doctoral degree at JGU? You can find all of the relevant information here:

You will receive a template for the co-tutelle agreement from the International Office.

The co-tutelle agreement governs the following matters:

  • Topic and joint supervision of the dissertation
  • Enrollment at both universities
  • The waiver of tuition fees at one of the two universities
  • Potential financial support and funding, e.g., for committee members’ travel expenses
  • French co-tutelle agreement templates typically include social security and accommodation; however, this is not mandatory

First and foremost, the doctoral degree assessment procedure is determined, including:

  • The composition of the dissertation committee
  • The location, language, and form of the doctoral dissertation and defense
  • Ideally, a single joint (bilingual) diploma certificate will be awarded. Two diploma certificates may be issued provided that both versions emphasize the fact that the degree is awarded jointly and that one diploma certificate (e.g., the German version) is not valid without the other (e.g., the French version). Thus, the joint diploma certificate should not only mention the mutual recognition of the bi-national dissertation, but must also emphasize the fact that the doctoral degree is awarded bi-nationally. If a country issues immutable domestic doctoral diplomas (as is the case in France, for example), then both universities must at least issue a joint doctoral document or diploma referring to each other.

The co-tutelle agreement must be composed in the languages of both universities (or in English) and must be signed by the following representatives of both universities:

  • the doctoral candidate
  • the dissertation supervisor
  • the Dean (i.e., the director of the doctoral examination office)
  • the President or Rector (at JGU via the International Office)

The co-tutelle agreement allows for the opportunity to address legal concerns in each individual case. An agreement which meets all regulations of the German doctoral degree regulations allows you to complete a domestic German doctoral degree, even if a supervisor withdraws from the project (and vice versa).

You can find an initial overview of a selection of options here: