JOINTLY AWARDED PHDs

MODELS FOR CO-OPERATION AND CO-DEVELOPMENT

International University Presidents’ Conference,

Nanjing, China, December 2008

Professor Mary Bownes

Vice Principal, Research Training

University of Edinburgh

Jointly Awarded PhDs promote:

• international student mobility

• knowledge exchange and sharing of research, learning and resources

• international research collaboration

• recognition of partner University qualifications in other countries

• employment prospects for students

• research as a career for high calibre students

• enhanced recruitment of excellent graduate students

• access to additional sources of student financial support – including eligibility for scholarships at both participating universities

Terminology:International Jointly Awarded PhD Degree

A jointly awarded PhD is a qualification conferred upon a student on completion of a collaborative programme established by the partner institutions.

It is characterised by:

• Meeting the academic requirements of both universities

• Agreement regarding a lead university

• Joint supervision

• A single degree awarded for one PhD thesis

• Parchment(s) issued which indicate that there has been joint supervision

Terminology: Double and Joint Degrees

• A jointly awarded degree programme awards one joint qualification upon completion of the collaborative programme requirements established by the partner institutions

• A double degree programme awards two individual qualifications at equivalent levels upon completion of the collaborative programme requirements established by the partner institutions

Examples of Jointly Awarded PhDs at the University of Edinburgh

Under development:

• Universitas 21• Macquarie University, Sydney /University of

Edinburgh

Up and running:

• Franco-Scottish Jointly Awarded PhD/Doctorat

Universitas 21 Jointly Awarded PhD

Aim: to develop jointly awarded/double PhD programmes between U21 member institutions

Participants• University of Melbourne• University of Queensland• University of British Colombia*• University of Hong Kong*• Delhi University• University College Dublin• University of Auckland• Lund University• University of Birmingham• University of Nottingham• University of Glasgow

• University of Edinburgh• University of Virginia• McGill University• Waseda University *

• subject to University approval

It is hoped that U21 members, Fudan and Shanghai Jiao Tong Universities will also participate.

Franco-Scottish Jointly Awarded PhD/Doctorat

Scotland

University of Edinburgh

University of St Andrews

University of Glasgow

France

Université Denis Diderot, Paris

Université de Provence

Université Francois Rabelais, Tours

Université Pierre & Marie Curie, Paris

Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble

Overall Model

Documentation:

• Overarching multilateral Memorandum of Understanding for jointly awarded PhD Programme

• Individual student-specific bilateral Memorandum of Agreement – details including supervision, coursework, thesis and examination arrangements.

Key Areas to consider when developing Jointly Awarded PhDs

•Selection & admission arrangements

•Tuition Fees and scholarship arrangements

•Supervisory details

•Duration of study at each location

•Local arrangements

•Progression arrangements

•Graduation

Opportunities for Jointly Awarded PhD Programmes with Chinese Universities

The University of Edinburgh welcomes collaborations with Chinese Universities that have suitable research links

Existing University of Edinburgh Academic Collaborations

• Peking University• Fudan University*• China Agricultural College• Nankai University• Xiamen University• Guangzhou University• China Academy of Sciences• China Academy of Social Sciences

*Fudan and Shanghai Jiaotong Universities are members of U21

• Beijing Film Academy• Beihang University• Dalian University of Technology• Liaoning University of Petroleum and

Chemical Technology• Shenzhen University• Tianjin University• China Natural Science Foundation