Joint doctoral thesis

Tweeter

Joint doctoral thesis

New : In the framework of a joint PhD thesis, funding is available at the ULg to finance the venue of the co-promoter of the thesis when the public defense takes place at the ULg. Contact : Administration of Research and Developpement - efavart@ulg.ac.be).

What's a joint doctoral thesis ?

The joint doctoral thesis favours international mobility of doctoral students, contribute to develop scientific cooperation between researchers as well as establish agreements with foreign higher education institutions.

The research activity and the conduct of the thesis will be carried out in both institutions, during alternative successive stay periods in both institutions, determined by both supervisors with the approval of the PhD student.

Admission and registration

There are two SEPARATE procedures to go through :

1) the admission/registration at the University of Liege. Students must also be registered and have accomplished all administrative procedures at the partner university, but it's up to them to get the information from the services concerned.

2) the set up of the joint PhD degree agreement

The student must satisfy the admission criteria to the doctoral degree.

• The student will contact his/her supervisor and the doctoral school;
• Moreover, foreign students, from an EU or non-EU country, must fill an admission file.
  For more details: Admission Office web site

The admission procedure follows the rules and regulations of each partner institution.

With the documents which allow him/her to register, the student will go to the registration service.

Tuition fees

The student must register in both institutions during the whole period of his/her studies, but may be exempted from tuition fees in one of them.

But, in order to get a PhD degree delivered by the French Community of Belgium, the student will pay tuition fees at the beginning of their research, the first year of registration as a PhD student.

In compliance with the regulation in each country, both universities will deliver the title of doctor and this by means of a single diploma.

Practical information

The joint PhD degree agreement is available : template

Student must fill the electronic version of the agreement and send it to the contact person (see below). Please, don't send any paper version. 

The University can work with the partner's agreement, as long as the rules applying to the University of Liege are respected, and notably the rules related to the composition of the jury (5 members minimum).