Depending on your research topic, joint thesis supervision (without undertaking a joint degree programme) may be the appropriate choice for you. This involves having two PhD supervisors who agree to oversee your research in person. Both supervisors may be from the same university (but different research centres or institutes), but often the second supervisor will work at another university, or even at a research centre independent of the university of the first supervisor.
Whether you are doing a PhD at UCL or another institution, it is important that your choice of a second supervisor be approved by the ad hoc competent authorities within the university in question (at UCL, these are the subject-specific doctoral committees, or CDDs) to ensure that this supervisor’s contribution to your research is officially recognised.
Practical aspects
If you wish to have joint thesis supervision (without undertaking a joint degree programme), you only need to be admitted to and enrolled in the PhD programme at one university for the purpose of obtaining your doctoral degree from that institution.
Various technical resources are now available for setting up a collaborative arrangement and interacting with a second supervisor. However, spending time doing scientific research and/or training within his/her research team may also prove to be very rewarding and may, subject to certain conditions, earn you credit towards your PhD.
Are you thinking of doing your doctoral research at UCL and obtaining your PhD there?
When you submit your PhD admission application to the relevant CDD, you will be able to propose – in consultation with your supervisor – the name of a second supervisor, who will also be a member of your supervisory panel.