The application-oriented research at UAS frequently draws on collaboration, not only between researchers with different disciplinary backgrounds but also with a wide range of regional, national, and international partners. Doctoral education takes place in this practice-oriented environment and often extends into multiple third mission areas. Doctoral education at UAS can be broadly divided into two policy approaches: First, UASs have a formal role in early-stage researchers’ development including co-supervision with a degree-awarding university. Second, UASs become entitled to award doctorates independently. We aim to obtain a European perspective on the quality assurance discussion associated with this newfound role of UASs.

To examine how the policies in the four selected member states are put into practice, we address the following questions: What role is ascribed to UASs by the policymakers and what conceptualizations of the UASs ́ `applied´ doctorate emerge? How do the requirements of collaboration fit into this? A thematically focussed case analysis of four member states’ models (Austria, Finland, Germany, Portugal) aims to elucidate the underlying notions of the policymakers. The discussion of foundational conceptualizations outlines possible fields of investigation for a reflection on these developments against the backdrop of the European Higher Education Area.