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Co-Supervised Thesis
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What is an international cotutelle?
The cotutelle or co-supervision is a type of thesis that is developed simultaneously in several universities. At the UAM, this co-supervision is usually established with a single foreign university (the maximum number of foreign universities is, in any case, two).
A thesis, which is an original research work, in this modality is unique, which requires the existence of a cotutelle agreement between the universities involved.
The co-supervised thesis allows the doctoral student to obtain a doctoral degree from each of the universities that have signed the agreement.
What is a cotutelle agreement?
It is a document of agreement, signed by the rectors of the universities involved in the co-supervision.
The agreement establishes, among other aspects: the duration of the stay in each university (minimum of six months in each one, in one or more periods), the thesis directors at each university, the languages that will be used in the writing of the thesis and in the defense, the university where the thesis will be defended and the composition of the examining board.
Who can apply for a co-supervised thesis?
Doctoral students enrolled in a doctoral program.
The requirements for access, admission and enrollment in the UAM doctoral programs can be found on the website of the UAM Doctoral School.
How is cotutelle requested?
a) Doctoral students who have begun their doctoral studies in a UAM doctoral program and apply for co-supervision with foreign universities
The application must be made once the doctoral student is enrolled and during the first academic year at UAM. For this purpose, they will complete the Application Form provided by the Doctoral School and send it to ori.doctorado@uam.es.
b) Doctoral students who have begun their doctoral studies at a foreign university and apply for co-supervision with the UAM
Students who have already begun their doctorate at a foreign university must submit a proposal for co-supervision with the UAM when they are in their second year of supervision or second year at that university at the latest. To do so, they should complete the Co-Supervised Thesis Proposal for Doctoral Students from Foreign Universities by the Doctoral School and send it to ori.doctorado@uam.es, including the reasoned report of the future tutor and/or thesis supervisor at UAM, the corresponding doctoral program, as well as information regarding the academic record at the other university: thesis supervisor and training and research activities carried out.
In order to make the development of the thesis at both universities compatible, if the doctoral student is enrolled in the second academic year at the foreign university, the first supervision at the UAM may be recognized for the research already carried out at that university, preferably this should be expressly indicated in the application for co-supervision.
In both cases, the Academic Committee of the doctoral program is responsible for issuing a positive or negative report regarding the co-supervision request. In case the report is positive, the co-supervision is approved, and the committee will formally appoint the thesis supervisor at the foreign university.
The agreement between the universities involved in the cotutelle will be processed from the Doctoral School of the UAM, after meeting with the members involved, at least doctoral student and tutor/director (through ori.doctorado@uam.es).
IMPORTANT:
- Enrollment must be renewed at the beginning of each academic year and at least one academic fee must be paid at the UAM.
- The doctoral candidate must spend at least 6 months preparing his/her doctoral tesis at each of the partner institutions.
- The expected duration of the doctoral thesis is 3 compulsory academic years. In some cases, exceptionally, it will be possible to request the recognition of previous research activity for a period equivalent to the second academic year. This recognition must be approved by the EDUAM Permanent Committee.
What will I have to do once the cotutelle is approved?
Once the cotutelle has been approved, the doctoral student must complete the admission and enrollment procedures at the other universities if he/she has not done it previously.