Students
Some questions can’t be answered using one discipline alone. Who pays when rooftop solar is subsidized is a question for energy economists and econometricians. How to grow food on less land is one for sustainability economists and operations researchers. In a joint thesis, you work on such a question with supervisors from two of the Lab’s contributing bodies.
Our contributors work on these UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Acquire a second toolkit when your question really needs it, from people who use it every day.
Get feedback from two supervisors who look at your question from different angles.
Employers and PhD programs look for people who have a deep knowledge of one field but are able to work across other fields.
A joint thesis fits if
your question needs both perspectives, not just a second reader
you are solid in one field’s methods and curious about the other’s
you are thinking about a PhD, research, consulting, or policy work
A regular thesis is better if
your topic fits neatly into one field
you want to stay with one set of methods
Our contributing bodies supervise regular theses too, and they are just as welcome.
Not sure?
Two supervisors can mean twice the input, or twice the confusion. We set up every joint thesis so it’s the former.
Half a page on your question and why it needs two perspectives.
One chair leads; your thesis is registered there, under its usual rules.
You and both supervisors agree on the question, the methods, and who gives feedback on what.
Your lead supervisor is your primary contact; the second advises on one defined aspect of your thesis.
In shortSame scope and same deadline as any thesis, and one primary contact.
Send us a short email, ideally three to six months before you want to start. We’ll find the right two supervisors and set up an initial meeting.
Who could supervise you? See what our team works on and which theses they supervise
No. Scope and deadline are the same as for any thesis at the lead chair.
Your lead supervisor, under the lead chair’s exam regulations. Where the regulations allow, the second chair’s professor acts as second examiner.
Your lead supervisor decides. That’s agreed at the kick-off, before you start writing.
Students of the programs our contributing bodies teach in. If you’re unsure, ask us.
