International Dual PhD Degree Initiative with Institutions in France

Ph.D. students may simultaneously pursue Ph.D. studies at the University of Chicago and at a degree-granting institution of higher learning in France, leading to two Ph.D. degrees—one from each of the two institutions. Every student will have an individualized cotutelle (joint supervision) agreement that specifies the details of his/her course of study, academic requirements, and plan/timeline for the completion of the two Ph.D. degrees.

Students approved for this initiative pursue a specific course of study depending on their research and professional interests, must satisfy all the requirements of both doctoral programs, and must write and defend a single dissertation that meets the requirements for each degree.

ELIGIBILITY

Permission to participate in is a privilege extended only to those students who have demonstrated in their work a record of excellence and who can convincingly justify the need and benefit of pursuing Ph.D. studies at both institutions to their present and future scholarly endeavors. Additionally, students must demonstrate that they will be able to complete the requirements for each of the two degrees within the maximum time period a student is accorded enrollment status at either institution. There is no guarantee that an application will be approved. Ongoing satisfactory academic progress will be a requirement for continued participation in a dual Ph.D. initiative until completion.

Any student interested in such a course of study should begin by discussing this option with faculty, including their prospective dissertation advisors and their department or program’s Director of Graduate Studies (or equivalent faculty member responsible for graduate education), as well as their Dean of Students for current UChicago students.

Students in France: Students at an institution of higher learning in France must have completed the first year of the Master’s degree at the French institution at the time of application to the University of Chicago and will be required to have completed the second year of that Master’s degree prior to matriculating at the University of Chicago.

Students at UChicago: Students at the University of Chicago must have completed at least one year in a Ph.D. program at the time of application to an institution of higher learning in France and are expected to have completed the second year of the Ph.D. program and associated requirements prior to matriculating into the French institution.

AUTHORIZATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DUAL PH.D. DEGREE INITIATIVE

Students in France: Students at an institution of higher learning in France must apply to the program of interest at the University of Chicago following the standard admissions procedures and deadlines and be admitted by that program. They must indicate in their application to UChicago that they plan to seek permission to participate in the dual Ph.D. initiative, and prior to matriculation, they must submit the petition documents described below to the appropriate UChicago Dean of Students.

Students at UChicago: UChicago students wishing to be considered for the dual Ph.D. initiative with a French institution of higher learning should meet with their Dean of Students to discuss eligibility and the petition process. They must apply to the Ph.D. program of interest at the institution of higher learning in France following the standard admissions procedures and deadlines and be admitted by that program.

Petition requirements for ALL students: Interested students must identify a faculty advisor in each institution and petition for approval by submitting the following documents to the appropriate UChicago Dean of Students office:

a 1-page statement of intellectual interest that articulates the nature of the research to be undertaken and the reason(s) why the applicant wishes to pursue training in two Ph.D. programs
a record of academic work completed and a plan and timeline for work to be completed to meet the degree requirements of each program, including: (1) an explanation for funding each year that will be required to complete the dual Ph.D. degrees; and (2) the language the dissertation will be in, as agreed upon by both institutions
at least two letters of endorsement—one from each dissertation advisor certifying that the dual course of study forms an academic whole; letters should address why the two Ph.D. degrees are desirable for the applicant’s doctoral work and the applicant’s ability to complete the additional requirements within the standard framework for satisfactory academic progress
as appropriate, identification of which institution—as agreed upon by both institutions—would have ownership rights in the event that the research results in intellectual property that could be owned institutionally
a curriculum vitae

The petition to participate in this dual degree initiativeill require approval by:

the Chair of the student’s original department
the Chair of the department at the other institution
the Dean of Students for the student’s program at the University of Chicago
the equivalent to Dean of Students at the French institution

A draft of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (or cotutelle agreement) should be submitted to the Office of the Provost through UChicagoGRAD early in the process for advice and consent. Authorization to participate in this dual Ph.D. degree initiative is contingent on final approval by the Office of the Provost and will be considered complete once a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Chicago and the partner institution in France is drafted and signed in consultation with the Office of Legal Counsel and UChicago Global.