© Robert Lohse

In principle, all faculties of TU Dresden can offer the possibility to pursue a doctoral degree/PhD in cooperation with a foreign university, a so-called binational PhD or Cotutelle. A binational PhD/Cotutelle leads to the joint award of one doctoral degree by two universities. The prerequisite is that two professors, one at each university, jointly supervise the respective PhD project and a corresponding cooperation agreement signed by the responsible authorities of both universities that defines the details regarding the doctorate proceedings, responsibilities etc. 

A binational PhD might be taken into consideration if

• you are searching for an academic affiliation within two countries,
• your research topic has a binational dimension,
• you are aiming at starting a career after your PhD in the partner country.

However, a binational PhD can also be particularly challenging since

• it might require a considerable bureaucratic effort,
• extra expenses for research stays abroad are not covered,
• you might need more time to complete your doctorate.

The Graduate Academy of TU Dresden provides advice and information regarding binational PhDs/Cotutelles.

The initiation, implementation and completion of a bi-national doctorate require additional regulations and require a great deal of coordination between all the actors involved. To ensure that this process is transparent and efficient, all the necessary steps have been summarised in the following handout:
Binational Doctorates at TU Dresden: Guidelines for the Initiation and Implementation.