The EUTOPIA PhD co-tutelle programme supports high-quality PhD projects in all research areas co-supervised by academics of the EUTOPIA member universities. It offers PhD scholarships for 3 to 4 years, depending on the length of doctoral studies in the partner universities. It is expected to lead to high-quality research projects with global impact, providing exciting research opportunities for PhD or doctoral candidates.
Table of Content
Summary
- Application DeadlineNot Specified
- Study LevelPhD
- SponsorEUTOPIA European University
- Eligible CountryAll Countries
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Benefits
- Funding of 4 years (depending on the length of doctoral studies in the partner universities)
- The full payment of tuition fees
- A maintenance stipend
- Funding for the PhD scholarships offered in the present call comes from the partner universities. Financial support for the PhD or doctoral candidates therefore follows the national rules and standards of each university.
- Financial support for the PhD or doctoral candidates covers, for all universities, a 3 to 4-year PhD fellowship/stipend.
- According to the universities’ practices, it may be complemented by a travel/research allowance and the payment/exemption of tuition fees by the university. Certain co-tutelle PhD scholarships in this call are jointly financed by the partner institutions, according to processes outlined in the bilateral agreements. In the case of full financing of the student’s scholarship by one university, this university will be the student’s Home Institution. The baseline rule is that fees are paid only at the HOME institution.
- Supplementary costs (taxes, defence fees) and variations (alternating payements, payements when present) must be described in the cotutelle agreement when established. NOVA PhD fellowships are financed by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (applicable only for NOVA HOME projects – not applicable for the 2026 call).
- The student will receive funding for the duration of the PhD co-tutelle programme according to the practices of their Home Institution, either by being employed by the university and receiving a salary or by receiving a stipend.
Requirements
- All co-tutelle PhD projects will be jointly supervised by permanent researchers from the candidate’s Home and Host Institutions.
- The proposed PhD projects should be anchored in the scientific collaboration between the supervisors.
- The eligibility for students and supervisors to the co-tutelle PhD programmes of this call is governed by the partner universities rules and shall be defined in the bilateral co-tutelle agreements.
- PhD or doctoral candidates must meet the minimum entry requirements for PhD programmes at each partner university involved in their co-tutelle PhD programmes (noteworthy items to check : entry diplomas, security clearance, etc.).
- Supervisors in both the home and host institution should meet local and/or national regulations defining the minimum requirements for PhD supervision (see below for details).
Selection Process
Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Quality of the proposed research project:
- relevance to the current topic of the scientific fields
- topicality and originality
- suitable methods, and feasibility
- Qualifications of the researchers:
- track record of the co-supervisors
- quality of preselected candidate(s)
- Added value of the cotutelle
- Individual pertinence of each partner
- Complementarities and synergies made possible through this cotutelle
- Institutional pertinence of the proposal
- Pertinence in regard to the priorities of the research team
- Relevance to strategic interests of the university
- Degree of reciprocity between the universities
The proposals will go through a peer review process (for sections 1 to 3 of the application form) and be submitted to a joint panel including all participating institutions for final decisions: each university will provide an evaluation for each project that is associated with (whether they be Home or Host). The evaluation of the projects will include an evaluation by university leadership (VP/rectors of research) to evaluate the alignment of the projects with the institutional priorities and whether there is a form of reciprocity.
In the case of applications where a PhD candidate has not been identified yet, funding decisions will be conditional on the validation of suitable candidate(s), in accordance with the eligibility criteria (see sections 3 and 4). Application results are expected to be released by each individual home university by end of June 2026.
Application Deadline
Not SpecifiedHow To Apply
Applications are to be submitted by the prospective supervisors of the project. An exception is made for UNIVE and NOVA where it is the prospective PhD student who submits the application due to their internal and national funding requirements : please see the requirements above.
The deadline for submission is dependent on the HOME institution applied for.
The same project can only be submitted once, regardless of the Home or Host institution. Applications submitted after the respective deadline will not be considered.
Submissions should include:
- Completed application form
- Detailed description of the research project
- Academic CVs of both co-supervisors and CV of the PhD candidate(s)
- Letter of motivation from the PhD candidate(s)
- Letters/emails of support from the Head of School/Department/Research Center/Doctoral School/Academic Unit, depending on each university (a support letter from the Head of department is compulsory at the University of Warwick)
- Letter of support from the Doctoral school/office of the co-host university confirming the eligibility and willingness to host the PhD student whenever possible.
- A scanned copy of the PhD candidate’s Master’s degree certificate and academic transcript (or highest degree obtained + Master’s degree underway). Please note that pre-master candidates may not accepted in some universities.
Applications where the PhD candidate has not yet been identified may be considered but strong priority in the selection will be given to complete projects having already identified a PhD candidate or a short list of PhD candidates. Applicants must explain their motivation for the choice of the proposed candidate(s) and indicate their ranking of the potential candidates if more than one has been identified.
Application information
Babes-Bolyai University (UBB)
-
HOME positions: 5
- HOST positions: Not specified
- Application deadline: 11 May
Apply here: Application link
Additional information
Applications open on 30 March and close on 11 May.
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (UNIVE)
- HOME positions: No pre-determined limit
- HOST positions: No pre-determined limit
- Application deadline: See additional information
Apply here: Application link
Additional information
Applicants must submit their applications for the annual call for applications from Ca’ Foscari University for the 42nd cycle of the PhD programme via the link provided above.
Successful applicants may subsequently apply for a Co-tutelle programme with Eutopia partners by following the instructions and deadlines outlined on this page: https://www.unive.it/web/en/2167/studying-abroad.
CY Cergy Paris Université (CY)
- HOME positions: 4
- HOST positions: No pre-determined limit
- Application deadline: 10 May 2026
Apply here: Application link
Dresden University of Technology (TUD)
- HOME positions: 0
- HOST positions: No pre-determined limit
Applications as HOST institution only.
NOVA University Lisbon (NOVA)
- HOME positions: 0
- HOST positions: No pre-determined limit
Important
Before applying, candidates must contact [email protected] to assess their eligibility.
The University of Warwick (UW)
- HOME positions: 5
- HOST positions: Not specified
- Application deadline: 20 May 2026 (16:59 GMT)
Apply here: Application link
For more information, kindly visit Eutopia webpage.
