Joint Doctorate

To promote international cooperation and ensure access to infrastructure, technologies, and other resources necessary for the development of the doctoral thesis, doctoral students may pursue their studies within a joint doctorate. This programme allows to study simultaneously at two universities – one in Latvia and one partner university abroad.
This approach broadens academic opportunities, fosters international research, and provides doctoral students with access to global scientific networks.

• A joint doctoral programme is organised between two universities, with one serving as the partner institution.
• The doctoral student must spend at least one year studying at the partner university.
• The student is admitted for studies and research at the partner university according to that university’s admission requirements and criteria.
• Each university appoints a scientific supervisor for the doctoral thesis in accordance with its own procedures.
• The doctoral student prepares one doctoral thesis, which is defended either separately at each university or before a joint committee.
• The universities sign an agreement on the organisation of the joint doctoral programme according to the doctoral student’s research interests. This agreement defines the intended learning outcomes, timelines, conditions for thesis supervision and defence, the procedure and composition of the Doctoral Council and the conditions for funding the studies.
• The supervisors from the UL and the partner university collaborate to ensure that the student achieves the study and research aims, to oversee the thesis development process, and to assess its progress.
• Students in joint doctoral programmes are matriculated in accordance with the procedures established by the UL.