Dual PhDs

Guidance for developing proposals for dual PhD awards

A Dual PhD Award is given when both the university and one or more awarding bodies each grant an award on completion of the research degree programme. It requires a Cotutelle agreement to be drawn up for the student(s) which details the arrangements for joint supervision, delivery of research training, establishes the period of time spent at each institution, and agrees examination requirements. On successful completion the PGR receives two certificates one from each institution.

Faq Items

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Key Characteristics

The partner institution must be legally empowered to award a dual degree or equivalent;
Each partner is responsible for the content, delivery, quality and standards of its own provision and makes its own award;
Students must be registered at each participating institution either concurrently or sequentially for the duration of the jointly delivered PhD programme;
The model applies only to full-time study – students may not study part-time.

Developing and Approving Dual PhDs

Dual awards are subject to LJMU’s approval process for Collaborative provision:

https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/~/media/staff-intranet/academic-registry/files/collab/apog-guidance/collaborative-partner-approval-process.pdf?la=en

Dual PhD awards are not expected to be undertaken with a UK partner.

Partnership arrangements should be grounded on shared research expertise or build on strong established research links.

A proposal for a Dual PhD must have the full support of the relevant Faculty or Faculties.

Cotutelle Agreement for Individual Students

Following Collaborative Partner Approval both Parties must formalise their collective and individual responsibilities for co-supervised students. This agreement follows a template that sets out the terms and conditions of the arrangement and agrees a start and end date for the studentship.

Admission

Candidates must satisfy the entry requirements and comply with application procedures required by both institutions before they can be accepted onto the programme.

Unless otherwise agreed by both LJMU and the partner institution, candidates shall be required to enrol at both institutions at the start of each academic year.

The candidate will be responsible for applying for and obtaining the relevant UK visa and ATAS certificate (where required) in good time and for complying with all UK Visas and Immigration (UKVIS) requirements and regulations.

Supervision

Students studying for dual degrees must have a supervisor from each of the awarding institutions. Supervisors may be subject to substitution, providing such changes conform to the normal requirements of the relevant institution.

Attendance

Students on dual PhDs must be registered at the University for the duration of their candidature and should normally include a stay of 50% of the registration period (excluding the completion year) in each institution. This would normally equate to a period of 18 months in each location. Whilst in the UK, students must comply with UKVI requirements, including any attendance requirements and monitoring thereof.

Examination

The location of and arrangements for the final examination will be agreed between the university and the partner institution and set out in the written agreement.

In the case of an appeal the student may lodge a single appeal under the procedures of the University at which the viva was held only but not to both Universities. The decision of the appeal at either University will be binding on both institutions. Once a student has initiated an appeal under one set of regulations then they cannot commence subsequent proceedings under the other University’s proceedings.

Fees and funding

Candidates or their sponsor will normally be expected to pay 50% of the standard LJMU international postgraduate research student fee in force at the time of enrolment. Expectations of the partner institution regarding fees will be agreed at the time a formal agreement is entered into. Candidates or their sponsor will also be expected to pay candidates’ living and travel costs.

Project consumable costs for research conducted at LJMU are not covered by the fees. Charges for project consumables will only be levied by LJMU to fund necessary expenses for the project incurred whilst at LJMU.