A hand holding up a black academic hat with a gold tassel.© Towfiqu barbhuiya via pexels.com

Doing a Cotutelle within the EUPeace Alliance

What is a Cotutelle?

Cotutelle programmes offer doctoral candidates the opportunity to complete their degree under the joint supervision of two universities in different countries. The doctoral degree is awarded on the basis of a single research project carried out at both institutions.

Within EUPeace, a Cotutelle is defined as a jointly supervised PhD project, supervised by faculty members from two EUPeace member institutions, leading to one doctoral title and, whenever possible, a single diploma.

Key elements include:

  • shared supervision,
  • research stays at the partner universities,
  • the involvement of external examiners,

and a joint or mutually recognised degree award.

The specific conditions of each Cotutelle are set out in an individual agreement between the participating universities.

Within the EUPeace Alliance, Cotutelle plays a pivotal role in fostering cooperation by facilitating the exchange of research cultures, standards, and practices, and by establishing long-term institutional partnerships. They support the development of a shared academic identity and foster lasting strategic cohesion among partner universities by integrating doctoral training across borders.

Why pursue a Cotutelle?

Cotutelle programmes offer doctoral candidates a range of advantages, particularly in an international research context. They enable doctoral candidates to establish professional connections in two countries, which is especially beneficial for projects with a strong international or comparative focus. Working in two different academic environments allows candidates:

  • to gain broader interdisciplinary perspectives.
  • to benefit from diverse supervision styles and feedback cultures
  • and to develop innovative methodological approaches.

Additionally, doing a Cotutelle provides valuable international experience and access to an expanded network of mentors, colleagues and professional contacts.

Cotutelle support within the EUPeace Alliance

EUPeace promotes the development of Cotutelle projects by providing intra-alliance templates for Cotutelle agreements, as well as targeted information and support for doctoral candidates and supervisors. These resources are designed to encourage collaboration between partner universities and facilitate the process of setting up joint doctoral projects.

If you are interested in pursuing a Cotutelle, you can reach out to the Cotutelle expert of your home institution:

University

Name

Email address 

 COMILLAS

Pedro Linares pedrol@comillas.edu 

UNSA 

Jasmina Gradaščević-Pleh

jasmina.gradascevic-pleh@unsa.ba

UMR Daniel Höft daniel.hoeft@verwaltung.uni-marburg.de
cotutelle@uni-marburg.de
SUM Prof. Dr. Maja Letica  maja.letica@ef.sum.ba
CU Seher Özer Ütük int.cukurova@gmail.com
JLU Giessen Dr. Imke Polland-Schmandt
Dr. Sabrina Lundström
imke.polland-schmandt@admin.uni-giessen.de
sabrina.lundstroem@uni-giessen.de
UNICAL Dr Eliana Zicarelli; Dr Angela Gallo  dottorati@unical.it  
UNILIM Aurore Berthier  aurore.berthier@unilim.fr   
UWB Jan Michalík Kateřina Newton

jmichali@fel.zcu.cz; knewton@fel.zcu.cz

Area

Group

Initiative

University

Activity