Guidelines Joint Doctoral Degree
Regarding the implementation of a joint doctoral degree at the University of Lucerne, the following guidelines must be respected (see also fact sheet in download area)
Agreement
It is a prerequisite that for each doctoral candidate the two partner institutions involved must close an agreement on the implementation of a joint doctoral degree. The agreement must be signed by the Rectors/Presidents, Deans, and supervisors of both universities as well as by the doctoral candidate. The cooperation agreement must be signed at the latest one year after enrolment of the doctoral candidate. There exists no entitlement of a joint doctoral degree with the participation of the University of Lucerne.
The International Relations Office of the University of Lucerne provides a standard joint doctoral degree agreement, which respects the existing regulations of the University of Lucerne. Doctoral candidates must only use this standard agreement.
Language
The language in which the doctoral thesis will be written as well as the language in which the thesis will be defended has to be defined by both universities and is subject to the cooperation agreement.
to topEnrolment
Doctoral candidates must pay tuition fees at their home university; the host university will waive tuition fees during the joint doctoral degree. One month before coming to the University of Lucerne, incoming doctoral candidates must register by using an application form at the Student Administration Office of the University of Lucerne and pay a non-recurring registration fee.
to topAdmission
Doctoral candidates need to be admitted to a doctoral degree at their home university as well as to a joint doctoral degree at their host university. The admission to the joint doctoral degree at the partner institution should take place before the closing of the cooperation agreement.
Research Stay
The University of Lucerne recommends that the doctoral candidates complete two third of their dissertation at their home university and one third at the partner university. After completion of the doctoral thesis, the doctoral candidate has to file in recognition of his/her research stays to his/her supervisor at the University of Lucerne. The supervisor will provide the International Relations Office with a copy of the signed recognition.
Diploma
The doctoral candidate receives a diploma from both partner institutions. Each partner institution issues a diploma for the same doctoral thesis. It must be mentioned on the diploma that the obtained degree is a joint doctoral degree.
The diploma does not entitle to two doctoral degrees.
Funding
Possible costs regarding the doctoral exam (e.g. travel expenses for the supervisors) are to be paid by the partner institutions. At the University of Lucerne those costs are at the expense of the corresponding department or faculty.
The State Secretariat for Education and Research (SER) grants scholarships for joint doctoral degrees with European universities. The Rectors’ Conference of the Swiss Universities (CRUS) is charged with the administration of the process. For further information on the financial support of joint doctoral degree with European universities, please consult the CRUS website (in German/French/Italian).
Applications for the CRUS scholarships need to be filed in by March 1st the latest. All documents (in paper) have to be filed in at the International Relations Office of the University of Lucerne in due time.
