Students must fulfill the local doctorate programme in which they have enrolled at the home university. In addition they can join any of the doctorate programmes in Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials already available in the other partner universities. The following doctorate programmes can be chosen at each University:

• Ruhr-Universität Bochum: Graduate School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Kaunas University of Technology: Doctorate Programmes in Physics, Chemistry and Materials Engineering
• Jagiellonian University Kraków: Doctorate Programmes in Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Science
• Universidad Autonoma de Madrid: Doctorate Programme in Condensed Matter Physics, Doctorate Programme in Materials Physics, Doctorate Programme in Chemistry
• University of Milano: Doctorate Programme in Physics: Curriculum studiorum in Condensed Matter
• University of Milano-Bicocca: Doctorate Programme in Material Science
• Universidad del País Vasco: Doctorate Programme in Materials Science
• University of St. Andrews: Doctorate Programme in Chemistry
• University of Southern Denmark: Doctorate Programme in mesoscopic structures, dynamics and optics

Doctoral students also have as a rule to take at least eight credits of any doctorate programme in these fields at some of the other universities. In order to do research work, they also have as a rule to spend a minimum of six months in one of the universities signing this agreement.

A supervisor at the home institution shall be appointed for each student registering under the joint doctorate programme and a second supervisor shall be appointed at the guest university. They shall co-ordinate the student’s academic and research programme and any additional study requirements. They will also be required to submit reports on the student’s progress. Co-tutoring with partner universities will also be possible. The joint doctorate programme will in due time develop interdisciplinary courses, and an itinerant summer school.

Students enrolled under the joint doctorate programme will present their thesis in English. At least an examiner from the universities signing the present Partnership Agreement, but not belonging to the home university, will be appointed to be a member of the jury. The criteria for the award of a doctorate degree at the home university shall apply. In addition, students will receive an additional diploma stating its European significance.

Address speech to the colleagues of the European network PCAM, the final thesis defence Commission and the PhD candidates before awarding the first European certificate of the University of Milano-Bicocca, delivered by the European PCAM Coordinator, Prof. Gian Paolo Brivio, at the University of Milano-Bicocca on 12 December 2008.