International doctorate
A doctorate often has an international dimension – for example through research stays, conferences, international collaborations, publications, or joint supervision arrangements. This does not always require an extended stay abroad.
What matters is that international activities are relevant to the individual research project: they can open up new academic or methodological perspectives, provide access to data, archives, or laboratories, and strengthen international research networks.
©Moritz Peters
Ways to Internationalize Your Doctorate
International experience during a doctorate can take many forms, including:
- research, fieldwork, archival, or laboratory stays abroad
- international conferences, workshops, and summer schools
- participation in international research networks and collaborations
- international publications and academic exchange
- international co-supervision or cotutelle arrangements
Which format is most suitable depends on the research project and the stage of the doctorate. Shorter stays or international collaboration without extended mobility can also make an important contribution to a doctoral project.
International activities should always be discussed with your supervisor well in advance. Research stays abroad in particular often require sufficient lead time for funding, organization, and, where applicable, other formalities.
Funding Opportunities
Various funding opportunities are available for research stays, conference travel, summer schools, fieldwork, and other international activities. As eligibility requirements and deadlines vary, funding options should be explored early.
The Graduate School’s Qualification Fund supports, among other things, active participation in international conferences and summer schools abroad. The International Center provides information and advice on additional funding opportunities for doctoral researchers planning a stay abroad.
Cotutelle and International Supervision
Doctoral supervision can also have an international dimension. In a co-supervision arrangement, an academic from a university abroad is additionally involved in supervising the doctoral project.
In a cotutelle arrangement, the doctorate is jointly supervised by Leuphana and an international partner university on the basis of an individual agreement. Because academic, organizational, and legal requirements need to be coordinated, a cotutelle doctorate should be planned well in advance.
Further information on requirements and procedures is available from the International Center.
