Cotutelle
Cotutelle agreements are bilateral conventions that the University can establish with foreign institutions for the benefit of PhD students regularly enrolled in either of the participating universities (both incoming and outgoing).
A Cotutelle agreement allows students to conduct their study and research activities during alternate periods (up to a maximum of 18 months) at each university. Through joint supervision and a single thesis defence, students can achieve a double, multiple, or joint doctoral degree valid in both countries.
Key Requirements & Procedures
- Supervision & Defence: The PhD thesis is jointly supervised by one advisor from each institution and is defended in a single oral examination (disputation) at either the home or the host university. The examination board is composed of faculty members from both institutions.
- Official Agreement: A formal Cotutelle agreement must be signed by both universities. This agreement must explicitly state the name of the PhD student, the supervisors at each institution, and the names of the two doctoral programmes in which the student will be enrolled.
- Approvals: The agreement is proposed by the DELoS Program Committee (Collegio dei Docenti), must be approved by the Department of Economics and Management (DISEI), and is ultimately signed by the Rector.
Further Information & Templates
Detailed information and draft agreement templates are available on the Unifi Intranet Area for PhD students, under the section: Svolgere il percorso di Dottorato /Avviare una procedura di Cotutela Internazionale
Last update
30.06.2026