COTUTELLE
Give your PhD a global perspective
Did you know you can pursue doctoral research at more than one university? A cotutelle opens doors to international researchers and gives you a joint PhD.
A cotutelle refers to an agreement on joint supervision between two universities at the doctoral level. It allows the students to get a joint PhD degree delivered and recognized by both institutions.
Full-time doctoral students can take advantage of an exceptional opportunity to earn a joint PhD degree while developing strong connections with international partners. Through the cotutelle program, PhD candidates work in collaboration with distinguished faculty members from Concordia and an international partner university to produce an original thesis.
The program requires that students satisfy each institution's minimum requirements and submit their dissertation to both universities prior to graduation. Successful candidates receive a PhD degree from Concordia and the partner institution.
Benefits of a cotutelle
For the student
- Opportunities for international research
- Collaborations with other researchers
- A recognized joint degree from Concordia and the partner university
For the university
- Expansion of international relationships for Concordia
- Raises Concordia’s visibility abroad as a centre of cutting-edge research
- Provides supervisors and faculty members with opportunities to develop international collaborations
Candidate FAQs
You are eligible to register at any international accredited university that is open to a cotutelle agreement. Concordia supervisors must approve the partner university and agree to work in collaboration with the chosen co-supervisor.
- Discuss the cotutelle plan with your current Concordia supervisor
- Contact Irene Grigoropoulos, graduate admission advisor at the School of Graduate Studies, to discuss a potential cotutelle before communicating with the partner university
- If approved, reach out to your potential co-supervisor at the partner university
- Follow the requirements needed to enrol at the partner university
- Complete a Cotutelle Agreement form with your supervisor, in collaboration with Irene Grigoropoulos
- All other required signatures will be collected by the School of Graduate Studies
- Once both universities approve the cotutelle program, you will be admitted
Yes, you must follow the partner university’s application/admission procedures.
You will pay tuition for the terms you are registered at Concordia University (a minimum of 3 non-consecutive terms are required). You need to contact the partner university for questions about their tuition fees.
No. However, the cotutelle arrangement should be established as early as possible.
As per the Awards Holder’s guide, award holders must maintain full-time registration status in the graduate degree program specified in the award notification, in each term during which the award is held. Should you be registered at the partner institution and you have a “Cotutelle outside of Quebec (CTOQ)” registration notation at Concordia, your award payments will be deferred until you have returned to Concordia and there is a full-time registration at Concordia.
With regards to awards/funds from other funding sources at Concordia (TAs, RAs, department funding, faculty funding), it is best to contact the respective source of funding to inquire about the eligibility of continual payment(s) of these funds while you are registered at the partner institution.
Ready to begin?
Cotutelle with French partner university
If you are pursuing a cotutelle with France, complete this form:
Convention de Cotutelle (Concordia France)
Cotutelle with international partner university
If you are pursuing a cotutelle outside of France, complete this form:
Concordia Joint PhD Agreement
If Concordia University is your potential partner university
1. Visit Explore Concordia to learn more about research networks at our Montreal campuses
2. Contact Irene Grigoropoulos at the School of Graduate Studies to discuss Concordia's requirements for a cotutelle program prior to the admission deadline date
3. Apply to Concordia University as a doctoral student
Questions?
Irene Grigoropoulos
Graduate Admission Advisor
School of Graduate Studies