A Collaborative Research Degree Programme (CRDP) is a formal arrangement of joint supervision, at PhD level, by a Queen’s academic and a member of staff from another partner organisation, when the student will spend time working away from the University at the external location. Such arrangements can lead to the conferral of a single, dual or joint award and will typically extend to the full duration of an individual programme of study. CRDPs may also be referred to as split-site PhDs or co-tutelle.
These procedures do not apply to students registered at Queen’s and who may be attending another institution as a visiting researcher or on placement, to students who may be supervised by an honorary title holder, or to individual students who have been granted approval for enrolment as an External Student. Normal requirements, as set out in the University’s Study Regulations for Research Degree Programmes, will apply.
The provision of joint supervision may also represent part of a wider institutional partnership or funding arrangement with an external company/institution normally negotiated through the Research and Enterprise Directorate, for example in support of a Doctoral Training Partnership or Centre for Doctoral Training. Schools should ensure that, regardless of the wider context, Academic Affairs is made aware of such arrangements to ensure they are implemented and recorded appropriately.
An institutional level Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and/or student-based, co-tutelle agreement, setting out agreed parameters for delivery is required prior to the commencement of any new arrangement in which the University is involved. The authorised signatory for an institutional MOA is the Vice-Chancellor or an Institutional Pro-Vice-Chancellor. Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellors may authorise individual co-tutelles.
The approval of a proposed new CRDP will follow one of two main routes depending on the nature of the arrangement, i.e. (i) to support an ad hoc arrangement of joint supervision for an individual student and resulting in an award from Queen’s only or to (ii) support a cohort of students receiving joint supervision with a named partner(s) and/or a student(s) undertaking a joint or dual PhD programme - Academic Affairs should be contacted for advice.
CRDP Approval Procedure 1: Individual Joint Supervision (Co-tutelle) – Single Award
CRDP Approval Procedure 2: Joint Supervision for Student Cohorts and Joint PhD Awards