UniDistance Suisse obtains the right to award doctoral degrees
As part of its preparations for accreditation as a cantonal university, UniDistance Suisse has reached another important milestone in its 2027 strategy: with the entry into force of the general doctoral regulations (in French and German) on August 1st 2025, UniDistance Suisse has obtained the right to award doctoral degrees.
Until now, doctoral candidates at UniDistance Suisse were enrolled at a partner university and jointly supervised by professors from both institutions. Ongoing doctorates may continue under this arrangement.
From now on, professors at UniDistance Suisse may also independently supervise doctoral candidates. These candidates can enrol directly at UniDistance Suisse and will receive their doctoral degree from the institution upon successful defence of their thesis.
This development has been made possible thanks to the support of the Canton of Valais, which protects academic titles under the current Law on Education and Research at University-level Institutions and Research Institutes (in French or German) and the forthcoming Law on the Promotion of Higher Education and Research (in French or German). It has also been enabled by the decision of the Presiding Board of the Swiss Accreditation Council, which has recognised UniDistance Suisse, as an accredited university-level institution, as entitled to offer its new doctoral programme.
