Joint PhD

A Joint PhD is single PhD degree that is awarded jointly by two or more universities who have collaborated in the design and delivery of a specific doctoral degree that each university has approved though its deliberative structures.

Key Characteristics of Collaborative Joint PhD Awards

Joint degrees have the additional complexity of having to bring together the partner institutions’ policies, requirements and academic regulations to design the single PhD

Characteristics of Joint PhD Approval Arrangements

This is a research degree that is offered with another university that not only has degree awarding powers but whose statutes permit joint collaborative research degree awards.
This is a single PhD degree that is awarded jointly by two or more universities who have collaborated in the design and delivery of a specific doctoral degree that each university has approved though its deliberative structures.
All universities who deliver this specific PhD do so with the aim of offering a single degree certificate with all universities named. It is jointly delivered, jointly assessed and jointly awarded.
A joint PhD has a single set of agreed regulations that each university agrees to and these are approved specifically by each institution for this programme.
All requirements for Transfer and the final thesis submission and examination will be approved as part of the approvals process and set down at the start of the candidature.
If it is mandatory on the part of the collaborating partner to register the forthcoming collaborative arrangement so that this meets local requirements these details must be sought at an early stage and Leeds advised. No offers of a place will be made until any such requirements have been met.
After consideration by the Faculty Graduate School Committee, a Joint PhD award must be recommended for approval by PGR Programmes and Quality Group and approved by Graduate Board before any arrangements can be put in place to deliver the programme. This includes the making of an offer of a place.
Any proposal taken forward must be both financially viable and sustainable not just in year 1 but in subsequent years. This will require discussions with both Faculty Finance and Faculty Marketing both of which will have to contribute to the rationale as to why the programme should be considered for outline planning approval.
There will be a site visit to ensure the availability of appropriate facilities to undertake the research as required and for the duration of the research degree as well as a Due Diligence requirement.
A Collaborative Agreement will be drafted by the University’s Legal Advisor and must be signed by all parties before PGRs are made an offer of a place at Leeds.
A link Academic Tutor will be nominated for the programme to maintain academic oversight and to support the developments of the programme.

Characteristics of the Programme

General features

The PGR will spend time at both institutions but must spend 50% of their time at Leeds.
The PGR cannot start on a standard PhD and then transfer their candidature to that of a Joint PhD. Changing programme in year 1 to a Joint PhD or joining a joint PhD programme in year 2, year 3 or year 4 is not permitted The PGR must be registered on the Joint PhD from the beginning of their candidature.
If the programme involves a number of institutions (more than 2) the PGR must spend a minimum of 12 months at Leeds.
The attendance requirements at Leeds are based on key milestones of induction, transfer, annual progress monitoring and examination.
There is a jointly agreed project, jointly agreed admissions process, joint supervision and monitoring.
The location of the PGR each year is set down in an approved programme specification as part of the approvals process.
All requirements for Transfer and the final thesis submission and examination will be approved as part of the approvals process and set down at the start of the candidature

Admissions

Standard requirements for admissions are required and in addition for English language a band score of 6.5 in IELTS is required with no component below 6.0.
Research projects will be agreed at the application stage in order that supervisory teams and resources are both agreed and in place at the start of the programme.
Decisions on admissions will be made jointly by both institutions and approval must be given by both institutions before an offer of a place can be made.
Discussions with the applicant during the application process must clarify and confirm the means by which supervisions will take place and that suitable facilities are in place to enable this to happen.
Specific study, assessment and examination arrangements must also be discussed and confirmed during the application process to ensure that expectations are met.
The PGR registers at both institutions and at Leeds for the duration of the programme.

Supervisions

Supervisions by Skype are permitted when the PGR is not resident at Leeds.
PGRs registered on a Dual PhD will use GRAD to log all notes of meetings and for progression milestones.
There will be joint supervision with a supervisor from both institutions.
The Leeds supervisor will be the lead supervisor for PGRs registered at Leeds.
At least 50% of the meetings should involve the whole supervisory team.
The supervisor from each institution will monitor progress to ensure that all requirements from both institutions are met.

Transfer and Progression Milestones and Thesis Submission and Viva

The PGR must meet the requirements for Transfer as set down for the joint award.
The PGR must meet the requirements as set down for the thesis submission and examination regulations for the joint award.
The Thesis submission and viva for the Leeds degree will be in English.
A link Academic Tutor will be nominated for the programme to maintain academic oversight.
The collaborative arrangement is added to the University’s Collaborative register

Approval forms

For approval forms please contact Doctoral College Programmes

Version 1: February 2019

Version 2: December 2021