COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN POMPEU FABRA UNIVERSITY AND [name of university]
FOR DOCTORAL THESIS JOINT SUPERVISION
IN A MEETING
On one hand, Mr. Jaume Casals Pons, rector of Pompeu Fabra University (hereafter referred to as
UPF), an institution with headquarters at Plaça de la Mercè, 10-12, 08002 Barcelona, on behalf of
which he acts herein by virtue of the powers conferred upon him under article 52 of the said
institution’s statutes, approved by Decree 209/2003 of 9 September.
On the other hand, [name and position, headquarters, authorization, applicable regulations, etc.].
The parties mutually recognize their legal capacity to enter into this agreement and
THEY STATE
I.
That both institutions are interested in establishing and developing scientific cooperation
between their research groups, to which end facilitating the mobility of the respective
institutions’ doctoral students is a key consideration.
II.
That both institutions feel it would be useful to engage in joint research initiatives with a view
to enhancing effectiveness and efficiency in the corresponding fields.
III.
That the parties concur that a framework for action to regulate any subsequent activities
carried out ought to be established.
In the light of the above,
THEY AGREE
To establish a framework for cooperation between UPF and [name of university] for the joint
supervision of doctoral theses.
To formalize, in accordance with current legislation on PhD studies in Spain and in
_[country]_____________, this specific agreement for the JOINT SUPERVISION OF THE DOCTORAL
THESIS of the doctoral student Mr./Ms. __________________, the production of which shall be
the joint responsibility of the two institutions, in accordance with the following
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CLAUSES
One: ADMISSION AND ENROLMENT
Admission and enrolment conditions under the joint supervision arrangement are governed by the
regulations on PhD studies applicable to each of the universities.
The doctoral student must enrol for the supervision and continuous assessment of their thesis at
both universities on an annual basis, regardless of the specific agreement established in relation to
the payment of fees for academic services, which shall be set out in the appendix hereto.
Two: SUPERVISOR
Jointly supervised doctoral students shall have at least one thesis supervisor from each university,
who shall oversee and be responsible for the student’s work on their thesis.
The thesis supervisors pledge to perform all the duties the role of supervisor entails in relation to
the doctoral student.
The powers conferred upon thesis supervisors, in accordance with the regulations applicable to
each university, shall be jointly exercised by both supervisors.
Three: PRODUCTION TIME AND RESEARCH PERIODS
The time taken to produce the doctoral thesis, up to its defence, shall be governed by the
regulations in force at each university. A specific deadline shall be established in the appendix
hereto.
Within the time in question, the student shall spend periods carrying out research at each
university. The student must spend a total of at least nine months at each university. The dates of
the said research periods shall be established in the appendix hereto.
Four: BOARD
The two universities shall reach an agreement on the appointment of the board before which the
doctoral thesis is to be defended. The composition of the board must be in accordance with the
laws of the country in which the defence is to take place.
All board members must be PhD holders who are experts in the relevant subject matter.
Five: THESIS DEFENCE AND GRADING
The doctoral student shall defend their thesis in one of the two undersigned universities. The
board shall carry out its appraisal in accordance with the regulations of the university in which the
defence takes place, and must assign the thesis a grade in accordance with each university’s
doctoral thesis grading system.
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The university organizing the defence shall provide the other university involved in the joint
supervision arrangement with the documentation arising from the defence ceremony.
The fee established for the defence of the doctoral thesis must be paid to the university at which
the defence takes place.
The undersigned universities shall recognize the doctoral thesis defended under this agreement, in
accordance with the corresponding regulations.
Six: PHD CERTIFICATE
On the basis of the doctoral student’s single defence of their thesis, each university shall issue its
own corresponding PhD certificate, subject to payment of the applicable fees.
At the doctoral student’s request, each university may issue a thesis defence certificate setting out
details of the joint supervision arrangement and information related to the defence.
Seven: MISCELLANEOUS
The doctoral student shall be responsible for their own social and health insurance cover during
their research periods at the two universities.
The conditions applicable to the submission of the doctoral thesis, to its reproduction and
publication and the use of its results, and to the copyright and intellectual property rights
corresponding thereto, shall be as established in the regulations in force in each country.
This agreement shall remain in force for such time as the reasons and purposes for which it has
been established continue to apply.
Nonetheless, it may be terminated if both signatories agree thereto or one of them expresses their
wish to terminate it, in writing, with six months’ prior notice.
The specific administrative conditions applicable shall be set out in the appendix hereto.
Both parties shall, as far as possible, provide the means necessary for this agreement to be
properly implemented and carried out.
In witness whereof, the parties sign two copies of this agreement, in the place and on the date
specified below.
On behalf of Pompeu Fabra University
On behalf of [name of university]
(signature)
(signature)
First name and surname(s)
Place and date
First name and surname(s)
Place and date
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APPENDIX TO THE COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN POMPEU FABRA UNIVERSITY AND [name of
university] FOR THE JOINT SUPERVISION OF THE DOCTORAL THESIS OF [name of doctoral student]
As part of the cooperation agreement between UPF and [name of university], this appendix recognizes the
validity of the thesis prepared in accordance with the provisions set out therein.
[name of doctoral student] intends to write a doctoral thesis on the subject of ______________, under the
joint supervision of Dr. [name of supervisor] from UPF and Dr. [name of supervisor] from [name of
university].
PhD programmes
At UPF, the doctoral thesis shall correspond to the [name of programme] PhD programme. At [name of
university], it shall correspond to the [name of programme] PhD programme.
Annual enrolment
The doctoral student must enrol for the supervision and continuous assessment of their thesis at both
universities on an annual basis, including the academic year in which they submit their thesis.
Enrolment fee payments at UPF
The doctoral student must pay the public fees that the Catalan government has established for
academic teaching services, as well as any other fees approved by the University’s Board of Trustees.
Enrolment fee payments at [name of university]
The doctoral student must pay ..............................
Thesis submission deadline
The doctoral thesis must be submitted to both universities before [specify deadline].
Research periods
The doctoral student’s different research periods at the universities involved in the joint supervision
arrangement shall be distributed as follows:
- UPF: [specify dates / research period].
- [name of university]: [specify dates / research period].
Language
The doctoral thesis is to be written in ________, with an abstract in _______.
The language in which the defence of the thesis is to be conducted is ________________.
Board
In accordance with the provisions of clause four of the cooperation agreement, the board before which the
doctoral thesis is to be defended shall have [number] members.
The thesis supervisors may only be part of the board if it has five members, and only then if each university’s
competent body approves their participation.
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Thesis defence venue
The single defence of the doctoral thesis before the board appointed to appraise it shall take place at [name
of university].
Thesis format
The format of the doctoral thesis shall be as established by the university at which it is to be defended.
Matters related to the administrative management of this agreement and its appendix are to be dealt with
by contacting:
Pompeu Fabra University
Secretary’s office, [name] Department
[address]
[email address]
[name of university]
[address]
[email address]
This appendix recognizes the validity of the thesis prepared in accordance with the provisions set out in the
cooperation agreement between UPF and [name of university].
In witness whereof, the parties sign three copies of this appendix, in the place and on the date specified
below.
Doctoral student
First name and surname(s)
Place and date
Thesis supervisor from UPF
Thesis supervisor from [name of university]
First name and surname(s)
Place and date
First name and surname(s)
Place and date
Director of the department responsible for
the thesis at [name of university]
PhD programme coordinator at UPF
First name and surname(s)
Place and date
Rector / vice-rector of UPF
First name and surname(s)
Place and date
Rector / vice-rector of [name of university]
First name and surname(s)
Place and date
First name and surname(s)
Place and date
5
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