Cotutelle programmes give you the opportunity to obtain a double qualification which is valid in two countries.
With these programmes, you will spend about the same amount of time at the University of Trento and at a partner institution.
You will have two thesis supervisors who will work with you on your doctoral thesis, that you will defend at one of the two universities.
The University of Trento has established many cotutelle agreements with different nations at a global level.
Each cotutelle agreement is based on an intergovernmental or bilateral framework agreement between two universities, and on an individual cotutelle agreement, or ICA, that binds the partner universities.
Intergovernmental framework agreements on cotutelle PhD programmes are in place with France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland.
Individual cotutelle agreements-ICAs can be established directly with universities with which UniTrento has an agreement in place.
However, where there is no intergovernmental framework agreement, the partners have to enter into a general framework agreement (General Agreement) including a draft individual cotutelle agreement (ICA). This agreement must be approved by the Faculty Board and the Department Councils before it is finally signed by legal representatives of the universities involved.
To apply for the establishment of a cotutelle agreement, complete the online application and attach the following documents:
- the doctoral programme at the partner university;
- a letter from a faculty member of the partner university declaring their availability to take on the role of thesis supervisor;
- a summary of the research project (project summary) that you will develop as part of the cotutelle;
- the time schedule of your stay at the partner university, with details (time schedule outline).
The application, which will be automatically forwarded to the relevant PhD programme support division and the PhD programme secretariat, will be submitted to the Faculty Board.
To apply for the establishment of a cotutelle programme, you must meet the following requirements:
- be enrolled in a PhD programme, based on the regulations in force in one of the two countries;
- obtain the favourable opinion of the Faculty Board of your PhD programme or of the corresponding academic body of the partner university;
- sign the individual cotutelle agreement (in line with the general framework agreement), which has already been signed by the legal representatives of the two universities;
- conduct research at the two institutions; students typically spend 12 months at each institution under the supervision of two thesis supervisors (one for each of the two partner universities).
Your research will be assessed by the two partner universities (as established in the individual agreement), and you must pass the final examination before a committee composed of professors or scientific representatives of both institutions in equal number.
At the end of the programme, you will be awarded the PhD degree or the corresponding academic degree by the two partner universities, in compliance with the legislation in force in the two countries.
You will pay tuition fees at one of the two institutions, usually your home university.
Contact the administrative offices of both universities to check the feasibility of the project based on national and university regulations (such as deadlines and enrolment requirements, final exam, partners' requirements in term of periods of stay and payment of tuition fees, etc.).
Designate a professor at your university who will evaluate the sustainability of the project from an academic and scientific point of view.
At the host institution:
- find a doctoral programme that is compatible, in terms of content, with the one you are enrolled in at your university;
- designate a scientific coordinator or thesis supervisor, possibly with the support of your supervisor at the home university.
If you have been awarded a scholarship to conduct research abroad, you are entitled to a scholarship integration (for a maximum of 18 months).
The ministries of University and research and other institutions in France, Germany and Spain support international student mobility with specific actions.