Joint thesis supervision allows PhD students to pursue their doctoral studies while simultaneously attached to both a French and a foreign institution (though registration fees are paid at only one university). These PhD students are thus supervised by two Thesis Supervisors: one in France and one in a foreign country. A joint supervision agreement is signed by both institutions, stipulating the amount of time to be spent in each country, any special conditions for the thesis defence, etc. The two co-Directors jointly supervise their PhD student, who must work alternately at both institutions (carrying out his/her research partly in France, partly abroad).
A single thesis defence is held in one of the two countries and in one of the two national languages, for the awarding of two separate diplomas:
- A doctorate from your French institution of registration
- A doctorate or equivalent degree from the partner university
Mobility funding
Jointly supervised PhD students must naturally make numerous trips back and forth between both countries during their three-year doctoral studies. To this end, financial aids exist to help laboratories cover the resulting travel costs.