Co-supervision and joint supervision of a thesis

The joint supervision programme aims to develop scientific cooperation between two institutions encouraging thus the mobility of doctoral students. The particularity of a joint supervision is that a doctoral student carries out the research work under the joint responsibility of two thesis supervisors (one at UNIL and one at an institution abroad, authorized to award doctoral degrees). The thesis is only defended once but gives rise to two diplomas, one from UNIL and one from the partner institution (with the joint supervision mentioned on each diploma). Thus the doctoral student must be enroled at both institutions.

The establishment of a joint supervision arrangement requires the conclusion of an agreement between the two institutions. A joint supervision agreement may be signed with institutions with which UNIL has signed a cooperation agreement. For other universities, applications will be examined on a case by case basis by the concerned faculties. At UNIL, a joint supervision agreement may be signed during the first two years of enrolment as a doctoral student.

Information concerning the procedures to be followed and conditions for concluding a joint supervision agreement are indicated in the document below.

Important information

The Faculty of biology and medicine does not encourage the establishment of a joint supervision of thesis, but recommends a co-supervision (Directive 3.11). It is important to take note of the webpage of the Doctoral School of the faculty, where the regulations can be found, and to contact the doctoral school at the following address: phdthesis@unil.ch. 

For information concerning the requirements for establishing a joint supervision agreement and concerning all aspects related to internal regulations of the faculties (expenses, thesis deposit, colloquium, defense of the thesis, composition of the jury, title of the diploma, requirements in terms of exams, signatures, co-supervision, etc.).