Cotutelle degrees

A cotutelle agreement on a bi-national double degree can only be concluded for compelling reasons: for example, if the planned cooperation and mobility cannot be implemented through an exchange period, or if joint supervision arrangements are otherwise impossible without an agreement on a double degree. Sometimes research funding may also include a condition that requires completing a double degree. The doctoral systems in both universities also need to be compatible.

Concluding the agreement requires that you hold a valid right to complete a doctoral degree at both universities that are parties to the agreement. Negotiations on the agreement can be initiated earlier. It is also worth noting that the duration of the agreement varies from country to country. Typically, it takes about 8–12 months to draw up a contract.

The aim of a cotutelle is genuine international cooperation and mobility. As a rule, negotiations on a cotutelle agreement must be started during your first year of doctoral studies. In exceptional cases involving compelling reasons (e.g., related to the funding of doctoral research), the negotiations can be initiated at a later stage.

The University of Helsinki has also set certain conditions that must be met before an agreement on a joint supervision arrangement leading to the completion of a double degree can be concluded: 

• The student must have valid doctoral degree study rights at both the University of Helsinki and the partner university.
• The agreement always requires a stay of sufficient duration at both partner universities. Periods of study must be equally divided so that a maximum of two-thirds of the duration of degree studies is spent at one of the universities.
• The student must have at least one supervisor committed to the supervision of the double degree at both partner universities. To ensure successful cooperation, it is recommended that the supervisors know each other in advance.
• Students pursuing a double degree must complete not only a doctoral thesis, but also doctoral studies in accordance with the curricula of both universities. Studies completed at the partner university can be recognised for the degree completed at the University of Helsinki if their content and learning outcomes correspond to those of the relevant doctoral programme’s curriculum.
• The examination and assessment of doctoral theses must comply with the relevant general guidelines of the University of Helsinki and any further guidelines issued by the faculties. The agreement can include detailed provisions on the reconciliation of the two universities’ examination practices, but the examination process must always meet at least the minimum requirements set by the University of Helsinki. Negotiations on dissertation practices require a lot of time and coordination.
• As a rule, the public examination of the doctoral thesis must be organised at the University of Helsinki. In exceptional cases, if the examination held at the partner university is public in the manner required by the University of Helsinki and if the examination is also open to the public online, it can be organised at the partner university.
• If the universities’ requirements for the public examination cannot be reconciled, it is possible, in exceptional cases, to organise two public examinations.

If you are interested in completing a cotutelle degree and believe that you meet the most important requirements, please contact HelsinkiUni Help. You can find the HelsinkiUni Help digital service in the top bar of the Studes service or via a direct link at uni-help.helsinki.fi. HelsinkiUni Help will connect you to the doctoral education services, which will determine whether you meet the requirements for cotutelle and negotiate the double degree agreement with your supervisors and the partner university. Please remember to indicate in your message which faculty you are studying at or would like to study at.