International joint doctoral supervision (cotutella)

Joint doctoral supervision (cotutella) and other pathways to internationalizing the doctorate

International joint doctoral supervision (cotutella) allows a doctoral candidate to prepare their thesis as part of an academic partnership between a French institution and a foreign institution, both accredited to award doctorates. It allows the doctorate to be jointly awarded by both institutions. It is the framework that provides the strongest institutional recognition of a doctoral project's international dimension.

But other forms of recognition may also be used, such as international joint thesis supervision, a 'European Doctorate' label, or an international thesis defense panel.

When to opt for international joint doctoral supervision (cotutella)?

International joint doctoral supervision is ideal for:

  • doctoral candidates who wish to be enrolled simultaneously in a French institution and a foreign institution authorised to award doctorates, throughout the preparation of their thesis, and to obtain a qualification from each ;
  • Benefiting from an extended immersion in two research environments, with alternating stays (at least one year in each country) ;
  • Formalising the cooperation through an official agreement, which sets out the supervisory arrangements, the allocation of research expenses between the two laboratories, the breakdown of stays, enrolment fees, and the arrangements for the thesis defence. There is a single defence, and the agreement allows the institutions to agree on the rules for the composition of the panel, the examination of the thesis prior to the defence, and so on.

Best suited where student status makes it easier to obtain a long-stay permit, in the partner country or in France; where the two research laboratories already have existing collaborations; where formalising the cooperation is necessary to successfully carry out the thesis topic; where the doctoral project gives rise to research expenses in both countries; or where the two institutions already have a framework agreement in place.

  • Please note that cotutelle requires lengthy administrative preparation (3 to 6 months, reduced where a framework agreement already exists) and must be put in place from the first year of the thesis.
  • Please note that there may be regulatory incompatibilities, particularly regarding enrolment fees and the requirement for a single thesis defence.

Recognition: International joint doctoral supervision (cotutelle) is recognised in particular on the (Opens a new window) national PhD theses portal, www.theses.fr and through the mention of the international cotutelle on both doctoral degrees awarded.

Find out more

Resources available to help you set up international cotutelle arrangements, produced by the Research Commission of the Forum Campus France:

When to aim for a 'European Doctorate' label?

The 'European Doctorate' or 'Doctor Europaeus' label recognises the European dimension of the doctorate.

This label is awarded in addition to the doctoral degree, which is awarded at national level. It was introduced in 1992 by the Confederation of European Union Rectors' Conferences. The label is awarded by the institution that awards the doctoral degree, subject to compliance with the conditions set by the Confederation of EU Rectors' Conferences and by the European University Association (EUA).

This label applies to doctoral candidates at higher education institutions in EU member states, extended to other states of the European Free Trade Association (Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein).

To obtain this label, the following four conditions must be met:

  • Part of the doctorate must have been prepared during a stay of at least three months in another European state.
  • Authorisation to proceed to the thesis defence is granted on the basis of reports written by at least 2 examiners external to the institution where the defence takes place, to the doctoral school and to the laboratory where the work was carried out. The label is awarded on the basis of reports written by three professors or equivalent, belonging to two higher education institutions in two European states other than the one where the doctorate is defended.
  • At least one panel member must belong to a higher education institution in a European state other than the one where the doctorate is defended.
  • Part of the defence must be conducted in a European national language other than the national language(s) of the country where the doctorate is defended.

This label is distinct from international joint doctoral supervision (cotutelle), with which it may be combined.

Best suited to adding symbolic recognition of the European dimension of the doctoral project to the doctorate.

Recognition: although the label itself does not appear on the national doctoral degree or on (Opens a new window) www.theses.fr, its award is confirmed by a separate certificate signed by the university's president. The international composition of the jury, however, does appear on both the doctoral degree and on (Opens a new window) www.theses.fr.

When to choose international joint supervision?

International joint supervision (without an international cotutelle agreement) may be more suitable where:

  • Your project does not require extended stays abroad or student status and/or a work permit in both countries (e.g. occasional stays, remote collaboration).
  • You are not seeking a dual qualification.
  • You wish to collaborate with a foreign researcher, but this collaboration is not essential to the project's success.

Best suited where you are looking for light-touch scientific cooperation, or where setting up an international cotutelle agreement is not possible. In the latter case, an international joint supervision agreement or international cooperation agreement may be drawn up between the two laboratories.

Recognition: International joint supervision is recognized in particular on the (Opens a new window) national theses portal and through the mention of the co-supervisor on the national doctoral degree.

Using an international thesis defence panel

Defending a thesis before an international panel is required for international joint doctoral supervision (cotutelle), international joint thesis supervision, and the 'European Doctorate' label.

However, it is also possible to bring together an international defence panel outside these frameworks. Involving international experts in assessing the doctorate provides another form of international recognition: validation by experts from different academic and cultural backgrounds.

With an international panel, writing the thesis in English is generally a sensible option, making it easier to disseminate and access via platforms such as (Opens a new window) www.theses.fr.

Although machine translation now reduces language barriers, a thesis available in English can reach a wider audience. This approach fits naturally within the exceptions provided for under the Toubon (1994) and Fioraso (2013) laws, which allow theses to be written and defended in English where this serves international scientific or professional purposes.

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