Joint PhD Thesis Supervision represents a form of internationalization specifically aimed at PhD students and involves the award of a double degree that has value in two different countries.
The Joint Thesis Supervision requires an alternating and equally divided research period between IUSS and the partner university.
The doctoral thesis, prepared under the guidance of two supervisors (or thesis directors), is discussed only in one of the two universities.
The Joint Thesis Supervision usually takes place under a preliminary framework agreement (intergovernmental either or bilateral between two universities) and an individual agreement (Individual Co-tutelle Agreement or ICA) that binds the partner academic institutions.
Until now, the Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI) has signed framework agreements for joint thesis programs with France, Germany, Switzerland and Spain.
If you plan to initiate a Joint Thesis Supervision with universities belonging to one of these countries, you can directly proceed to take out the Individual Co-tutelle Agreement (ICA).
On the other hand, in the absence of an intergovernmental framework agreement between Italy and the country of the partner university, it is usually necessary to prepare a general framework agreement between the two universities (General Agreement), attaching as Annex I a draft of the Individual Co-tutelle Agreement to be signed whenever there is an interest in the exchange.
The General Framework Agreement is approved by the School's Academic Senate, while the Individual Agreement is approved by the PhD Teaching Board.
Beneficiaries
Ph.D students enrolled to the 1st year of a3-years course or to the 1st or 2nd year of a 4 years course concerning:
- a Ph.D. program with administrative headquarter in IUSS School (Home University) and intend to apply for a Joint Thesis Program with an institution abroad (Host University): Joint Thesis OUTGOING;
- a Ph.D. program at an institution abroad (Home University) and intend to apply for a Joint Thesis Program with the IUSS School (Host University): Joint Thesis INCOMING.
Requirements
The requirements for initiating a Joint Thesis Supervision are:
- enrollment in a doctoral program with administrative headquarters at IUSS (outgoing) or at a foreign university (incoming) according to the current regulations;
- identification of a Doctoral Course that is related in content to the Doctoral Course at Home University which the student is enrolled to;
- identification of a scientific contact person (thesis director/supervisor), possibly with the support of the professor, at the Home University;
- approval of the PhD Teaching Board or the corresponding academic body of the partner institution;
- approval of the IUSS PhD Teaching Board;
- start of the procedures for the joint thesis program activation:
- Three-year doctoral program: within 12 months after the start of the doctoral program with the signature of the individual agreement by the 18th monthafter the enrollment;
- More than three years doctoral program:within 18 months after the start of the doctoral program with signature of the individual agreement by the 24th month after enrollment.
Any other form of retroactive activation for the joint thesis agreement is excluded.
Double title
In order to obtain the double degree, it is necessary to meet the requirements of both universities defined in the agreement.
It is the Phd student’s responsibility to inquire about the administrative procedures regarding the acquisition of the degree in the host university.
How to start a Joint PhD Thesis Supervision:
The application for the activation of an outgoing joint doctoral thesis must be sent to the PhD Coordinator and for information to the PhD Office (postlaurea@iusspavia.it; phd-sdc@iusspavia.it) attaching the following documents:
- Ph.D program of the Host University;
- letter of availability from a faculty member of the Host University to be the thesis supervisor/director. The letter must include the research project that the PhD student will pursue;
- time schedule outline (time schedule of the stay at the partner University, as detailed as possible - with the outline of minimum 12 months and maximum 18 months to be spent at the partnerUniversity).
The application for activation of co-tutelle along with the agreement individual must be approved by the PhD Teaching Board.
At the time General/Individual Agreement is signed, the Ph.D. student can proceed enrollment at the university partner.
The application for the activation of an incoming joint doctoral thesis must be sent to the Coordinator of the doctoral program identified for the joint thesis program and for information to the PhD Office (postlaurea@iusspavia.it; phd-sdc@iusspavia.it) attaching the following documents:
- valid identification document;
- certificate of enrollment issued by the Home University;
- PhD program at Home University;
- letter of availability from a faculty member of the Home University to serve as thesis supervisor/director. The letter must include the research project that the PhD student will pursue;
- Curriculum vitae;
- time schedule outline (time schedule of the stay at the two universities, as detailed as possible -with the outline of a minimum of 12 months to be spent at the IUSS School.
The application and the individual agreement must be approved by the PhD Teaching Board and then deliberated by the Academic Senate.
Once the General/Individual Agreement is signed, the Ph.D student can proceed with the enrollment at IUSS School.