Information on Cotutela di Tesi 1. What is a cotutela di tesi? Cotutela or cotutelle means “shared supervision” and refers to a bi‐national PhD process. The candidate is supervised by two thesis advisors from two universities in different countries. The candidate can be enrolled at both universities and is also awarded the doctorate from both institutions. You can find further information under: http://www.hrk.de/themen/internationales/arbeitsfelder/mobilitaet‐und‐anerkennung/cotutelle‐de‐
these/ 2. How to reach a cotutela agreement Attaining the doctoral degree in the framework of a cotutela requires an individual contract between the doctoral student, both thesis advisors, the responsible deans or heads of graduate schools and both university rectors or presidents. For each individual case, a contract is drafted on the basis of a model contract. It takes into consideration the specific needs of the candidate as well as the PhD regulations of the involved universities, faculties or schools. In the contract, the doctoral student has to decide which university will serve as the main university (first location) and which one will serve as the partner university (second location). In most cases, and if not otherwise specified, the PhD regulations of the main university apply. The cotutela office of the a.r.t.e.s. Graduate School (http://artes.phil‐fak.uni‐koeln.de/14051.html) is responsible for all doctoral students from the UoC’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities who want to do their doctoral studies in the framework of a cotutela with another university as well as those from other universities who would like to reach a cotutela agreement with the UoC’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities. 3. The (model) procedure: 1. Making contact, negotiating and signing the contract a. The doctoral candidate makes contact with the partner university (first with the potential advisor) and with the cotutela office of the main university. b. He or she then obtains a written agreement to supervise the thesis from both advisors. c. The main university’s cotutela office will draft an individual contract on the basis of the model contract. It then contacts the cotutela office of the partner university. d. The partner university’s cotutela office reviews the proposed contract. e. In some cases, it will have to be renegotiated, compromises will have to be found, and changes made (then return to pt. d.) f. If the University of Cologne is the main university, the student should apply for admission as a doctoral student (Promotionszulassung) at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities as soon as possible: http://artes.phil‐fak.uni‐koeln.de/14081.html). [If a different university serves as the main university, the doctoral student needs to be admitted there prior to the signing of the cotutela contract.] g. Signing of the contract (candidate, first and second advisor, first and second dean or graduate school head, first and second rector or president). h. The contract becomes effective with the signatures of both rectors/presidents. 2. Enrolment and admission a. If the University of Cologne serves as the main university, the doctoral student can only be enrolled after he or she has been admitted as a doctoral student. b. Generally, the candidate should also be enrolled at the partner university during his or her stay at that institution. In this case, the admission and enrolment procedures of the partner university apply. If the University of Cologne serves as the partner university, the doctoral student can be temporarily enrolled for the duration of his or her stay without being officially admitted as a doctoral student. His or her admission as a doctoral student at the main university suffices (by virtue of the signed cotutela contract). 3. PhD defense and conferral of the doctorate a. the PhD defense takes place at the main university in the framework of its doctoral regulations. All deviations from the regulations are indicated in the cotutela contract. b. All necessary documents are then sent to the partner university. c. Both universities confer the doctorate in accordance with their doctoral regulations. If possible, the diplomas should indicate the partner university with which the doctorate is conferred. d. The doctorate is a single title (mutually conferred), which can be used and described in the sense conferred by either institution. [This leaflet serves information purposes only. It is not legally binding.] [last revised: April 2015]