JOINTLY AWARDED PHDs
MODELS FOR CO-OPERATION
AND CO-DEVELOPMENT
International University Presidents’ Conference,
Nanjing, China, December 2008
Professor Mary Bownes
Vice Principal, Research Training
University of Edinburgh
Jointly Awarded PhDs promote:
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international student mobility
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knowledge exchange and sharing of research, learning and resources
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international research collaboration
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recognition of partner University qualifications in other countries
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employment prospects for students
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research as a career for high calibre students
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enhanced recruitment of excellent graduate students
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access to additional sources of student financial support – including eligibility
for scholarships at both participating universities
Terminology:
International Jointly Awarded PhD Degree
A jointly awarded PhD is a qualification conferred upon a
student on completion of a collaborative programme
established by the partner institutions.
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It is characterised by:
Meeting the academic requirements of both universities
Agreement regarding a lead university
Joint supervision
A single degree awarded for one PhD thesis
Parchment(s) issued which indicate that there has been
joint supervision
Terminology: Double and Joint Degrees
• A jointly awarded degree programme awards one
joint qualification upon completion of the
collaborative programme requirements established
by the partner institutions
• A double degree programme awards two
individual qualifications at equivalent levels upon
completion of the collaborative programme
requirements established by the partner
institutions
Examples of Jointly Awarded PhDs
at the University of Edinburgh
Under development:
• Universitas 21
• Macquarie University, Sydney /University of
Edinburgh
Up and running:
• Franco-Scottish Jointly Awarded PhD/Doctorat
Universitas 21 Jointly Awarded PhD
Aim: to develop jointly awarded/double PhD
programmes between U21 member institutions
Participants
• University of Melbourne
• University of Queensland
• University of British Colombia*
• University of Hong Kong*
• Delhi University
• University College Dublin
• University of Auckland
• Lund University
• University of Birmingham
• University of Nottingham
• University of Glasgow
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University of Edinburgh
University of Virginia
McGill University
Waseda University *
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subject to University approval
It is hoped that U21 members,
Fudan and Shanghai Jiao Tong
Universities will also participate.
Franco-Scottish Jointly Awarded
PhD/Doctorat
Scotland
France
University of Edinburgh
Université Denis Diderot, Paris
University of St Andrews
Université de Provence
University of Glasgow
Université Francois Rabelais, Tours
Université Pierre & Marie Curie, Paris
Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble
Overall Model
Documentation:
• Overarching multilateral Memorandum of
Understanding for jointly awarded PhD
Programme
• Individual student-specific bilateral
Memorandum of Agreement – details including
supervision, coursework, thesis and examination
arrangements.
Key Areas to consider when developing
Jointly Awarded PhDs
•Selection & admission arrangements
•Tuition Fees and scholarship arrangements
•Supervisory details
•Duration of study at each location
•Local arrangements
•Progression arrangements
•Graduation
Opportunities for Jointly Awarded PhD
Programmes with Chinese Universities
The University of Edinburgh welcomes collaborations with Chinese
Universities that have suitable research links
Existing University of Edinburgh
Academic Collaborations
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Peking University
Fudan University*
China Agricultural College
Nankai University
Xiamen University
Guangzhou University
China Academy of Sciences
China Academy of Social Sciences
*Fudan and Shanghai Jiaotong
Universities are members of U21
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Beijing Film Academy
Beihang University
Dalian University of Technology
Liaoning University of Petroleum and
Chemical Technology
Shenzhen University
Tianjin University
China Natural Science Foundation