A doctoral student has one supervisor. However, under a co-supervision agreement with a foreign university or institution, the student may have multiple supervisors. In addition, a co-supervisor may be appointed—and, in exceptional cases, more than one—when warranted by the nature of the dissertation. The student may also have an external advisor who provides specialized expertise during the development of the doctoral dissertation.
A supervisor or co-supervisor must be a UL university teacher with the academic title of assistant professor, associate professor, or professor, or a researcher with the title of research associate, senior research associate, senior research fellow, and must demonstrate active research engagement in the broader field of the doctoral dissertation. A supervisor or co-supervisor may also be a person holding a valid habilitation from another domestic or foreign institution, provided they have appropriate qualifications in the broader field of the doctoral dissertation and either participate in the doctoral programme or are employed by an institution that has a cooperation agreement with the UL or one of its faculties/academies.
To demonstrate sufficient active research engagement, a (co)-supervisor must achieve a minimum of 150 Z-points according to SICRIS within the past five years, along with a score greater than 0 in indicator A1/2 for significant achievements. Alternatively, the requirement may be met by publishing at least two important works as defined in the UL Habilitation Criteria and relevant faculty/academy-specific supplements. When assessing whether the conditions for appointment as (co)-supervisor in a scientific field are met, important scientific works are considered in which the (co)-supervisor is the first or lead author. Where such authorship conventions do not apply, the (co)-supervisor’s substantial contribution must be clearly evident. When assessing whether the conditions for appointment as (co)-supervisor in artistic fields are met, important artistic works are considered in which the (co)-supervisor is either the sole author or their contribution is clearly visible and identifiable in co-authored works. Important works must be completed, published or accepted for publication, no later than the date of the (co)supervisor's appointment by the faculty/academy senate.
In the case of a (co)-supervisor’s extended, justified absence of at least six months (e.g., due to illness, maternity or paternity leave, etc.), the minimum requirements for demonstrating active research engagement may be met within an extended one-year period, or over a longer period if the absence exceeds one year.
The supervisor, co-supervisor, and external advisor are appointed by the senate of the UL faculty/academy responsible for administering the doctoral degree procedure. The senate also decides on any subsequent changes to the supervisor, co-supervisor, or external advisor.
The eligibility of the supervisor, co-supervisor, and external advisor is verified by the competent body of the faculty/academy within three months of the doctoral student’s enrolment in the doctoral programme. The co-supervisor and/or external advisor may also be appointed later during the course of study by the faculty/academy senate, based on a proposal submitted by the supervisor and the doctoral student.
If the proposed supervisor or co-supervisor does not meet the required conditions, the faculty/academy senate requests the doctoral student to propose a replacement.
The doctoral student and the appointed supervisor or co-supervisor may, for justified reasons, submit a written request to the competent body for the replacement of the supervisor, co-supervisor, or external advisor.
An individual may serve as supervisor or co-supervisor for a maximum of six doctoral students who are enrolled in any doctoral study programme at UL, provided that no more than two years have passed since their last enrolment in a study year or in the additional year. This limit does not include doctoral students who have already submitted their dissertation for evaluation.
Supervisors and co-supervisors may be members of the DAC, but they do not participate in the evaluation process.