Graduate students may participate in exchanges or visiting opportunities at other universities both in Canada and across the world. Find out about the different opportunities in the tabs below, but also look at the partnerships we have with member institutions around the world and within Canada.
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓý's is one of the seven founding members of the Matariki Network of Universities (MNU), along with Uppsala University, Durham University, University of Western Australia, University of Otago, University of Tubingen and Dartmouth College. The University of the Western Cape, joined in 2024. Student experience is at the heart of the Matariki Network of Universities’ mission.
As such, there are multiple ways in which students, across every discipline at »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý's, can engage with this international network. The Matariki partners leverage their diverse research expertise to develop innovative international educational programming for undergraduate and graduate students alike, offering opportunities to showcase academic research, ponder questions of global citizenship, or explore local, regional and global Indigeneities.
Visit the Mataraki web page for more details on collaborations and programming.
Mitacs is the key link between industry and post-secondary institutions, driving collaborations at home and abroad to develop projects which solve business challenges and develop the nation’s innovation capacity. Mitacs is passionate about developing the next generation of researchers, helping to fuel Canada’s knowledge-based economy.
For more details on programming .
The following opportunities to study at other Canadian institutions are available to »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý’s graduate students:
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓý's/Royal Military College Visiting Graduate Student Agreement
Students from either university are permitted to take courses at the graduate level at the host university for degree credit at their home university at no additional cost. Courses may not be audited. Fees are paid at the home university. Please contact Darlene Homer at the SGSPA Office if you have any queries.
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓý’s and Trent University
Under the »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý’s-Trent Agreement, graduate students enrolled at »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý’s in some programs can enroll in graduate courses at Trent University and be supervised by faculty at Trent University. Teaching Assistantships at Trent University may also be available to participating »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý’s graduate students. For more details or questions about the »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý’s-Trent agreement, contact the Director of Admissions and Student Services in the »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý’s School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs.
Ontario Visiting Graduate Student Program
The Ontario Visiting Graduate Student Program Plan allows a graduate student who is registered full-time in a graduate program in any Ontario university to take graduate courses at another Ontario university for no additional tuition fees. Please contact Darlene Homer at the SGSPA office if you have any queries.
International Student Exchanges
International student exchanges are managed through a database of universities with whom »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý's has an exchange agreement. These agreements are often the result of a signed Memorandum of Agreement between two institutions and appendices to these agreements include details such as the length of study, fees that must be paid by students, and the length of the agreement. Because of the reciprocal nature of student exchanges, tuition is often waived at the host institution; however, students continue to pay tuition to their home university. Students are responsible for all other expenses such as travel, fees related to non-academic services, accommodation, and for incoming exchange students at »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý's, UHIP payment. See the listing of possibilities on the VP International website.
International Visiting Researchships
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓý’s graduate students, in consultation with their supervisor, may also seek out their own individual visiting studentship at other universities with whom »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý’s does not have a formal arrangement. Graduate students are responsible for making these arrangements themselves with the desired institution. Once arrangements have been made with the participating university, current »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý's graduate students indicate their participation in study opportunities outside of »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý's by first completing an Off-Campus Study form (PDF*, 51 KB). These forms are available through the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. If the tuition is not waived at the host institution and if tuition is paid in full at the host institution, »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý’s students may request a tuition waiver for tuition charged at »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý’s for the period that they are paying tuition elsewhere.
Cotutelle Program
A cotutelle program is a dual doctoral degree program between two universities: the student completes the full degree requirements for each of the two universities (common dissertation) and, if successful, receives a degree from each university. Cotutelle programs afford opportunities to: enhance doctoral training, foster international research, enable student mobility, develop global networks and experiences. Doctoral students at »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý’s may be able to engage in international cotutelle studies, depending on their academic program, supervision, and plan of study. Students registered in a doctoral program outside of Canada are invited to consider »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý’s as a destination University for cotutelle studies.
Students in a cotutelle program are registered as full-time students at two institutions. They have a supervisor at both universities who are fully committed to mentoring the student in collaboration with each other. Students are subject to the admission requirements (including language requirements), degree requirements, and the regulations of both universities, and they spend research and study time at each institution. One comprehensive/candidacy examination and one thesis defence is held in accordance with the framework agreed upon at the start of the cotutelle program. Normally, a cotutelle option is possible when there is an existing or developing collaborative research project/program between researchers (i.e., prospective supervisors).
A Cotutelle PhD Agreement (PDF 104KB)} must be completed and signed by the participating universities to confirm the terms (e.g., registration, payment of tuition, etc.) and a schedule of study (e.g., periods at each institution, the location of the thesis examination). A detailed research proposal with a schedule for completion of all degree requirements is also required.
If a »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý’s student is considering a cotutelle experience, they should discuss this option with their supervisor to explore the possibilities. An Associate Dean at the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs should be contacted to review the cotutelle program framework, and a Cotutelle PhD Agreement must be completed and signed prior to commencing a cotutelle program of study.
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓý’s students completing a cotutelle PhD program with a partner institution in France may apply for
A student who is registered in a graduate level program at their home university may register at »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý's for non-degree study and/or to join a research group for a period of up to one year. Interested students are required to complete an application that includes a recommendation from the research supervisor and from the Department Head. A Visiting Research Student may be assessed student activity fees but not tuition fees and may not enroll in courses. They must be insured under UHIP (if international). Contact the SGSPA Office for further information and the application documents for the VRS program. Please contact Darlene Homer at the SGSPA Office if you have any queries.
Agreement with the China Scholarship Council
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓý’s has an agreement with the China Scholarship Council (CSC), which is a government agency in China that provides scholarships to Chinese students for doctoral and postdoctoral studies abroad.
- A citizen of China, studying in