Before embarking on the preparation of a cotutelle PhD, you need to make sure you have the following components, which are the same for all PhD students: a thesis project, a thesis supervisor with an HDR accreditation or ADT authorisation to supervise a thesis in a University of Bordeaux research unit and an accredited supervisor in the partner university, a doctoral speciality and funding (depending on the doctoral schools).

Prerequisites for a cotutelle doctoral program at the University of Bordeaux:

• At the start of your PhD: You must enroll in 1st year at both universities simultaneously (the same academic year).
• Enrollment: You must renew your enrollment every year in both universities. However, payment of registration fees will be specified in the cotutelle contract (in general, on an alternative basis unless otherwise specified by both institutions. Please note: registration fees may vary substantially depending on the partner institution; you should therefore enquire about the amount before starting the project.
• Co-supervision: You will have 2 thesis supervisors, both accredited to supervise a thesis, one in each partner institution.
• Validation: the cotutelle PhD will be made official by means of a contract validated by both administrations (at the University of Bordeaux, by the Graduate Research School) and signed by both institutions before the end of the 1st year of the PhD.
• Duration of your PhD: A cotutelle doctoral program lasts 3 years, with the possibility of an additional year if authorised by the University of Bordeaux doctoral school and the partner institution.
• Allocation of time: Your doctoral project should plan for equal periods between the 2 institutions, i.e. approximately 18 months spent at each institution for a 3-year doctorate (not necessarily consecutive periods of time).
• Funding: A cotutelle doctoral program raises the question of funding for the doctorate (with regard to the doctoral school's prerequisites), as well as funding for stays at the partner institution, which should be considered before you begin the project.
• Training: You will be required to attend at least 50 hours of training at the University of Bordeaux (instead of 100 hrs.), based on the doctoral school's prerequisites, divided between disciplinary and cross-disciplinary training, and including compulsory courses.
• Dissertation: You will write a single dissertation (in French, English accepted).
• Defense: You will defend your thesis during a session in one of the two institutions.
• Diplomas: Upon approval (favourable opinion) by the thesis jury, you will be awarded a joint PhD degree with 2 diplomas (one from each institution).

You must apply for admission to the doctoral school in your speciality, which will examine your application based on its admission criteria and prerequisites. If the doctoral school does not authorise you to enroll, the cotutelle program will not be possible.

At the same time as the doctoral school admission procedure, your University of Bordeaux thesis supervisor, in their capacity as your research project leader, must contact the doctoral internationalisation office to submit the cotutelle project: cotutelledoctorat@u-bordeaux.fr. As a reminder, this request must be made in the first year of your doctorate.

At the University of Bordeaux, the Graduate Research School internationalisation office is responsible for setting up cotutelle programs. It appraises projects as well as negotiates, drafts, validates and signs cotutelle contracts.