A cotutelle de thèse is a doctoral project that is carried out within the framework of a formalised agreement between two universities (a Swiss and a foreign university). Cotutelle de thèse projects entail the following: preparation of the doctoral thesis under the joint direction of two supervisors; a reasonable distribution of the time spent by the doctoral candidate at each institution; a joint defence of thesis; the awarding of a joint diploma or of two separate diplomas with a reference to the cotutelle de these cooperation with the partner university.
Every year, the State Secretariat for Education and Research SER grants financial support for cotutelle de thèse projects that are based on a cooperation agreement between a Swiss and a a partner university abroad (Europe). The maximum amount of aid is CHF 10,000.-; the funds are mainly intended to go towards travel and living expenses incurred by the doctoral candidate and his/her supervisors.
Doctoral candidates in all fields of study are eligible if:
- they are registered at a Swiss university;
- they are Swiss citizens or hold a residence permit B, C, or G;
- they have studied at least two years at a Swiss university before the cotutelle de thèse commences; and
- their age does not exceed 35 years.
Call for applications 2012: deadline 31 March 2012
Whereas the former calls for applications of the programme cotutelle de thèse were limited to projects based on a collaboration with institutions in neighbouring countries (France, Italy, Germany, Austria), the call for applications 2012 is for the first time open to projects based on a collaboration between a Swiss university and a partner university from the whole of Europe.¹ To participate, the office responsible for cotutelles de thèse at the Swiss university concerned must submit five copies of the application by 31 March 2012 to the
Rectors’ Conference of the Swiss Universities CRUS, „Cotutelles de thèse“, Postfach 607, CH-3000 Berne 9
The evaluation committee will announce its selection of projects in June 2012. The funding awarded will be paid to the Swiss university concerned, which then administers the funds.
--> Application process and documents
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1The call for applications is open to projects with partner universities in countries participating in the Bologna Process (http://www.ehea.info/members.aspx) as well as to partner universities in Israel, in accordance with the current practice of the European research programmes.