Graduate students are admitted to the Faculty in one of the categories outlined below.
See for application deadlines and forms for all categories.
Regular Students
A student who meets the qualifications for admission to a graduate-level certificate, graduate-level diploma, master’s degree or doctoral degree at the ɫ with no conditions for further academic work (qualifying) or language proficiency (ACC).Interdisciplinary Students
Interdisciplinary students pursue thesis-based research (Master's, PhD) in an area that does not fit the traditional disciplinary requirements of only one graduate program. The requirements for the student's program are individually tailored to meet their research interests. Research is carried out under the direction and guidance of a Supervisor, Co-Supervisor and Supervisory Committee whose research expertise is relevant to the disciplinary areas. The student should submit an application form and fee, along with official transcripts and letters of reference to the intended home graduate program. The application must meet the minimum Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements for admission. The prospective home program will work with the conjoint program to establish coursework and candidacy examination requirements. Parchments for the Interdisciplinary Degree will identify both the home and conjoint programs. Contact the prospective home graduate program for further details.
Cotutelle (admission to cotutelle currently suspended; replaced by Joint PhD)
A doctoral cotutelle is a single PhD degree jointly awarded by two universities with a transcript and parchment from each. It is designed, supervised and examined by faculty from both universities. Applicants must normally meet the PhD requirements of both universities. An agreed plan of study and support must be established at the outset.
The primary institution may be ɫ or another partner institution. Cotutelle admission may be approved at the beginning of the degree or by transfer in the first two years of an existing PhD program.
Joint PhD Students
PhD students study and perform research at the ɫ and one other institution. The ɫ may act as the home institution or the collaborating institution. Students will have supervisors at both institutions, and are required to physically attend the collaborating institution as a visiting student researcher for a minimum of six months.
Students enrolled in a joint degree program must first be accepted to a PhD program at their home institution. They must also meet the admission requirements of the collaborating institution and be recommended for the joint degree by their program at their home institution. Students must complete the degree requirements of their respective program at their home institution.
Students receive one parchment from their home institution. Where the home institution is the ɫ, the parchment will indicate “Joint Degree offered in collaboration with (Collaborating Institution Name).” Where the home institution is not the ɫ, the Joint PhD degree is similarly recognized and recorded. Each joint doctoral degree is administered according to an agreement between the ɫ and the partnering institution.
Qualifying Students
A student who meets the Faculty of Graduate Studies admission requirements but lacks the necessary background for a graduate program in a chosen area of specialization may be admitted as a qualifying graduate student. A qualifying student is required to take more courses in a degree program than a regular graduate student. Upon satisfactory completion of a qualifying term or year, the student may be transferred to regular student status. Qualifying graduate students must be full-time registrants in either a master's or a doctoral degree program. Qualifying status will not be granted for a period exceeding one year.
Note that time spent as a qualifying student does not count as time in the degree program. A qualifying student in a course-based program will pay tuition fees for the extra required courses on a per-course basis.
Conditional Admission for Language Upgrading
An international student may be offered admission into a graduate program conditional on successful completion of the . In order to complete the ACC, the student must achieve a minimum grade of "B+" on each course. Programs may require a higher level of achievement, which will be set out in the letter of conditional admission. Eligible students who are offered conditional admission must complete the ACC within one year; after this time the conditional offer of admission is revoked.
Visiting Students
A student who is registered in a graduate degree program at another university that does not have an exchange agreement with the ɫ, and who wishes to engage in course work and/or research at the graduate level at the ɫ for credit at their home university, may be admitted as a visiting graduate student. A visiting student must contact the graduate program and obtain approval from the graduate program director, then submit an online application and pay the application fee by one of the deadlines posted on the . Visiting students pay all applicable general and tuition fees. Visiting students are normally permitted to spend a maximum of one year at the ɫ. It should be noted that admission as a visiting student does not guarantee later admission to a graduate program at the ɫ.
Exchange Students
The ɫ has reciprocal
exchange agreements with other institutions. Graduate students from
these institutions may engage in course or research work at the
ɫ for credit at the home institution. Note that
students with practicum requirements may not be eligible to apply for an
exchange.
An exchange student pays tuition fees at the home institution when
this is written into the specific exchange agreement, and applicable
general fees at the ɫ.
If there is no reciprocal
fee agreement, the exchange student pays applicable tuition and general
fees at the ɫ.
Exchange student status does not guarantee admission to graduate
programs at the ɫ. An exchange student who wishes to
apply to a graduate program at the ɫ must do so in
the usual manner.
Western Deans’ Agreement
A graduate student registered in the Faculty of Graduate Studies
at one university may apply for student status at a university covered
under the Western Deans’ Agreement. The application requires approval of
the Graduate Program Director and the Faculty of Graduate Studies at
both the student’s home and host universities. See the Faculty of
Graduate Studies website for a list of universities covered by The
Western Deans’ Agreement and application deadlines.
Deadlines in effect at both the home and host institutions must be observed.
The student pays tuition and general fees at the home university and applicable general fees at the host institution.
The student is responsible for arranging for an official transcript
to be sent from the host institution to the home institution when the
course(s) has been completed.
Each home institution has regulations regarding the maximum number
of transfer credits permitted. Further information is available at .
Admissions