Joint Ph.D. thesis

Students enrolled in a Ph.D. course at the University of L’Aquila or at a foreign University may activate a joint Ph.D.

The joint Ph.D. is based on the cooperation between the University of L’Aquila and a foreign University, and it allows the doctoral student to carry out research activities under the guidance of two thesis directors, one from the University of L’Aquila and the other from the partner University. At the end of the Ph.D. Course, the Ph.D. student will be awarded the joint or double Ph.D. degree.

The co-direction is founded on the agreement between the two Universities. Each agreement is nominative, and it is stipulated for each doctoral student to be initiated in co-thesis.

In the event that the two Institutions have already signed a “framework agreement”, the doctoral student will be co-initiated in accordance with the terms of the Accord.

If the Ph.D. student intends to start a cooperation with a university based in France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland, then, he/she can proceed directly to the conclusion of the nominative agreement on the basis of the relevant intergovernmental framework agreements concluded with these Countries.

Fundamental aspects, common to all co-joint Ph.D. are:

• The mandatory enrolment in a Ph.D. Course in one of the two Institutions that intends to sign the co-joint agreement, according to the legislation in force in the country where the Institution is located. At the University of L’Aquila, the Ph.D. student must be enrolled in the first year. However, if the Board of Teachers agrees, it is also possible to start co-joint agreement for Ph.D. students enrolled in the 2^nd year.
• The identification of two "thesis directors", one from the University of L’Aquila and one from the partner University.
• At each institution the Ph.D. student must carry out equivalent periods and, in any case, he/she has to spend not less than 6 months at each University, under the co-joint supervision of the two thesis directors/supervisors, who attest his/her effective performance.
• The co-joint evaluation by both Universities of the research activity carried out by the Ph.D. student.
• The modalities for paying tuition fees at one of the two Institutions with exemption at the other, or, alternatively, at the partner Universities.
• The admission of the Ph.D. student to the following years of the Ph.D. program, following the annual assessment by the competent authority of each University.
• The thesis defense will be held at one of the two Universities. The final exam committee is made up of at least 5 members, professors/scientific representatives of both Institutions, including the two thesis directors;
• The release of the Ph.D. title in co-joint agreement with the partner University by both Institutions, according to the regulations of each Country.

HOW TO STIPULATE AN OUTGOING JOINT PH.D. AGREEMENT

• The PhD student enrolled at the University of L’Aquila who intends to carry out his/her Ph.D. program under a thesis co-joint agreement with a foreign University, must explore, together with his/her supervisor, the academic and scientific feasibility of initiating the co-joint arrangement; in particular, this involves verifying the existence, at the foreign Institution, of a Ph.D. program that is comparable in terms of content to the one the student is enrolled at the University of L’Aquila, as well as the availability of a scientific advisor (thesis director/supervisor) at the host Institution;
• If the evaluation has a positive outcome, the Ph.D. student submits a formal request to the Ph.D. Coordinator, who then presents the proposal to the Academic Board.
  If the Board, based on the presentation of the proposal by the scientific advisor (thesis director/supervisor), approves the request, the corresponding resolution is promptly forwarded to the Ph.D. Office.
• The Ph.D. Office, which must be provided with the appropriate contact details of the administrative offices of the foreign University, sends the draft agreement [download the form of the agreement in .doc format] to the relevant contacts at the foreign Institution.
• The Ph.D. Office, together with the offices of the foreign University and with the full involvement of the thesis directors identified in advance, verifies the feasibility of the agreement from the point of view of the regulations of the specific Country/Institution (e.g. deadlines and requirements to be met for enrolment, rules concerning the final examination, partners' requirements concerning the period of stay abroad and payment of fees, etc.);
• The competent offices of the two Institutions will then finalize the agreement, incorporating all the required data and information.
  The agreement must be signed by the Ph.D. Coordinator, the supervisor, and the Ph.D. student, and must be forwarded, by either the Coordinator or the supervisor, to the Ph.D. Office, so that it may be submitted for the Rector's signature and subsequently sent to the partner University;
• If the text differs significantly from the form proposed by the University of L’Aquila, it will be submitted to the Academic Board for approval, and subsequently to the University Governing Bodies.
  The signing of the agreement by the Rector must be authorized by the Board of Administration.
• The agreement, once signed as described above, is then forwarded to the partner University for the signatures of the Ph.D. Coordinator, the thesis supervisor, and the Rector.
  The final agreement must, then, be returned to the University of L’Aquila.

HOW TO STIPULATE AN INCOMING JOINT PH.D. AGREEMENT

• If a Ph.D. student enrolled at a foreign University is interested in undertaking a co-joint agreement at the University of L’Aquila, he/she must identify a university lecturer affiliated with the relevant chosen Ph.D. Course.
• The University lecturer identified as the scientific advisor (thesis director/supervisor) presents the incoming co-joint proposal to the Academic Board, which forwards to the Ph.D. Office the corresponding resolution, if the proposal is approved.
• The competent administrative offices of both Institutions must be put in contact to verify the feasibility of the agreement in light of the laws/regulations in force in both Countries. The foreign Institution may propose its own draft of the agreement. Once the text of the agreement is finalized, the Ph.D. Office submits it for approval to the Academic Board and subsequently to the Academic Bodies.
• The agreement, signed by the Ph.D. Coordinator at the partner University, the thesis director, the Ph.D. student, and the Rector, is then transmitted to the University of L’Aquila and, once it is duly signed by the relevant parties at the University of L’Aquila, the agreement is finalized with the Rector’s signature.
• The incoming Ph.D. student will be enrolled by the Ph.D. Office.