Thesis with a co-tutorship with the University of Bologna

What is it and can I apply

A PhD co-tutorship is an international collaboration that takes place through bilateral agreements signed by two universities located in different countries. You will have the opportunity to carry out research at both universities and under the joint responsibility of two supervisors, one from each university. At the end you will obtain the title of Doctor of Philosophy in both universities, with an explicit mention of the collaboration with the partner university.

Main elements of a co-tutorship

• Joint programme and joint supervision: the PhD student carries out his/her research activity under the joint responsibility of two supervisors, assigned by the home university (i.e. the university of first enrolment) and the host university;
• Mobility plan: the research period spent at the two universities must be as balanced as possible; it is planned jointly by the two supervisors;
• Final presentation: generally just one presentation is made (usually at the home university); the composition of the committee is structured to ensure a fair balance of members from the two partner universities of the agreement;
• Dual qualification: both universities award a PhD qualification, explicitly mentioning the collaboration with the partner university.

Application requirements

• Enrolment in the first year, or start of the second year at the home university;
• Second-level qualification or a foreign title recognized as equivalent;
• Funding with a minimum duration of one year;
• A part of the entire PhD programme must be carried out at the host university.

How to apply

PhD students need to agree on the proposal with the supervisors at both the home and the host university and must facilitate contact between the universities.

Subsequently, they need to submit the  form [.pdf 103 KB], along with the required attachments, to the PhD Unit at aform.dottorato-internazionale@unibo.it, which will handle the negotiation of the agreement, subject to approval by the Academic Board of the PhD programme.

Once the procedure is completed, the PhD office will handle the negotiation of the agreement, subject to approval by the PhD programme’s academic board.