European Label

Known as the “European Doctorate”, “European PhD” or “Doctor Europaeus”, the European doctorate label adds to the doctorate diploma the recognition of a European dimension.
Issued by academic institutions of the European Union, it concerns students of member states and other free trade countries (Austria, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Liechtenstein).

This label was founded in 1992 by the Liaison Committee of National Conferences of Rectors and Presidents of Universities of the European Union member states (which became in 2001 the European University Association EUA). It is distinct from the international joint supervision of doctoral dissertations, to which it can be added.
 
The European label is issued in addition to the Doctorate when the following conditions are fulfilled:
  • The Doctorate was prepared during a residence of at least one semester in another country of the European Union.
  • The authorisation for doctoral dissertation defence is granted upon receipt of reports drafted by at least two professors from higher education establishments in two different European states, other than the state (or states in the case of joint supervision) in which the Doctorate was prepared.
  • At least one member of the jury belongs to a higher education establishment in a member state of the European Union other than the one in which the doctoral dissertation is defended.
  • A part of the doctoral dissertation defence is conducted in a language of the European Union other than the national language(s) of the country where the Doctorate is defended.
This European label, awarded in addition to the Doctorate diploma, is a separate certificate.

Applicants wishing to obtain the “European label” must notify their Doctoral School.
Published on  January 8, 2021
Updated on December 17, 2021