Doctorate Subjects [en]

Subjects in which you can obtain a doctoral degree at the University of Lucerne

Registration as a doctoral student  

Students with an appropriate educational background can apply for registration as a doctoral student. Information on the conditions of admission for the doctoral studies (rubric Study). For additional information concerning the application procedure, please consult the Students Administration Office. For questions regarding your study programme please contact the corresponding department of your faculty. 

Mobility Programmes 

Doctoral students can also participate in the mobility programmes of the University of Lucerne, though some limitations do apply. For further information please refer to the academic advisory service of your department or faculty (rubric Study).

The Swiss Government provides university grants for foreign postgraduate students. Information on the offers and registration requirements are provided by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students, ESKAS. 

Accommodation  

The University of Lucerne does not offer accommodation for its doctoral students. Information on housing in Lucerne and a broad offer of flats and rooms is provided by the Verein Studentisches Wohnen Luzern (StuWo Luzern). 

Funding and Grants  

There exist different possibilities of funding and grants for doctoral students who plan a stay abroad or would like to come to the University of Lucerne.  

The following list should not to be considered as exhaustive but is a good starting point: 

Research Promotion Unit of the University of Lucerne
Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students 
swissuniversities
Swiss National Science Foundation SNF
Janggen-Pöhn-Stiftung (in German)
Eidgenössische Stiftungsaufsicht (in German)
Swissfoundations (in German)
German Academic Exchange Service DAAD
British Council
CampusFrance
Nuffic

A joint doctoral degree enables students to carry out their doctoral degree under the supervision of two professors at two different universities in two different countries. 

Joint Doctoral Degree Guidelines

The following guidelines apply for the implementation of a joint doctoral degree at the University of Lucerne: Guidelines for the Implementation of a Joint Doctoral Degree

Agreement  

It is a prerequisite that for each doctoral candidate the two partner institutions involved must close an agreement on the implementation of a joint doctoral degree. The agreement must be signed by the Presidents, Deans, and supervisors of both universities as well as by the doctoral candidate. The cooperation agreement must be signed no later than one year after the enrolment of the doctoral candidate at his/her home university. There exists no entitlement for a joint doctoral degree with the participation of the University of Lucerne.

The International Relations Office of the University of Lucerne provides a standard joint doctoral degree agreement, which respects the existing regulations of the University of Lucerne.

Language  

The language in which the doctoral thesis will be written as well as the language in which the thesis will be defended has to be defined by both universities and is to be written in the cooperation agreement.

Enrolment  

Doctoral candidates must pay tuition fees at their home university; the host university will waive tuition fees during the joint doctoral degree. If the University of Lucerne is not the home university, incoming doctoral candidates must enroll at the student administration office of the University of Lucerne, one month before their intended stay and pay a non-recurring enrolment fee. Doctoral candidates are to ensure that they adhere to the following enrolment deadlines: Fall Semester: 31st August, Spring Semester: 31st January

Admission  

Joint doctoral candidates must fulfill doctoral degree admission requirements at their home university as well as at their host university. Admission to the joint doctoral degree at the partner institution must take place before the closing of the cooperation agreement.

Research Stay  

Joint doctoral candidates must spend at least one semester at the second/host institution. The University of Lucerne does however recommend that doctoral candidates complete two thirds of their dissertation at their home university and one third at the partner university. After completion of the doctoral thesis, the doctoral candidate has to file for recognition of his/her research stays to his/her supervisor at the University of Lucerne. The supervisor will provide the International Relations Office with a copy of the signed recognition.  

Diploma  

The doctoral candidate receives a diploma from both partner institutions. Each partner institution issues a diploma for the same doctoral thesis. It must be stated on the diploma that the obtained degree is a joint doctoral degree. The diploma does not entitle the candidate to two doctoral degrees. 

Funding 

Possible costs regarding the doctoral exam (e.g. travel expenses for the supervisors) are to be paid by each supervisor's home institution. At the University of Lucerne those costs are at the expense of the corresponding department or faculty. 

The State Secretariat for Education and Research (SER) grants scholarships for joint doctoral degrees with European and Israeli universities.  The administration of these scholarships is managed by swissuniversities.

Further information on the financial support available for joint doctoral degrees with European universites (swissuniversities).

Applications for the swissuniversities scholarships need to be completed by March 1st, at the latest. All documents (hard copies) have to be submitted to the International Relations Office of the University of Lucerne by this deadline.

Implementation Procedure

Outlined below you will find the recommended process for establishing a joint doctoral degree:

1. The doctoral candidate obtains the consent of both supervisors.

2. The candidate ensures that their admission to the doctoral programme is checked and confirmed by the faculty concerned.

3. The candidate contacts the International Relations Office (IRO) to prepare the cooperation agreement (Catrin Scheiber, T: +41 41 229 50 71; catrin.scheiberremove-this.@remove-this.unilu.ch). 

4. Candidates apply to the partner university for admission.

5. Candidates prepare the cooperation agreement and the enclosures and submit the dossier to the International Relations Office. Students with a foreign educational background must enclose a copy of the diploma recognised by the Dean's Office with the agreement. Changes to the text of the cooperation agreement require the approval of the International Relations Office; if necessary, the IRO will consult with the partner university.

6. Candidates then submit the cooperation agreement to the supervisors and contact persons at the partner university for signature. Enclosures 1 and 2 of the agreement - "Arrangements for research stays" and "Composition of the examination board" - must be signed by both supervisors and the doctoral student. The International Relations Office then submits the cooperation agreement to the Dean and the President for signature. The contract is drawn up in seven copies.

7. After signing the contract, the doctoral student receives copies of the contract for themselves, for their supervisors and for the administration of the partner university, and they take care of distribution. The International Relations Office serves the President's Office and the faculty.