School of Graduate Studies
Queen's University-
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Agreements & Exchanges
Graduate students may participate in exchanges to other universities in order to expand their areas of study and research. These exchanges are most often the result of research collaborations between Queen's faculty and those from other universities.
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 Queen's, UHIP payment.
Current Queen's graduate students indicate their participation in exchanges outside of Queen's by first completing an Off-Campus Study form (PDF*, 46 KB). These forms are available through the School of Graduate Studies and its website.
In This Section...
- Cotutelle
- Trent University
- Queen's/Royal Military College Visiting Graduate Student
- The Ontario Visiting Graduate Student Program
- Visiting Research Students
- International Exchange Programs
- German Academic Exchange Programs
- Ontario/Baden-Württemberg Student Exchange Program
Cotutelle Program
A cotutelle program is a dual doctoral degree program between two universities: the student completes the full degree requirements at two universities (common dissertation) and if successful, receives two separate degrees. Cotutelle programs afford several opportunities: to enhance doctoral training, to foster international research, to enable student mobility, to develop global networks and experiences. Doctoral students at Queen’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 Queen’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) at two universities.
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 you are a Queen’s student considering a cotutelle experience, discuss this option with your supervisor to explore the possibilities. The relevant Associate Dean at the School of Graduate Studies 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.
Queen’s students completing a cotutelle PhD program with a partner institution in France may apply for France-Canada Research Fund (FCRF) Cotutelle Scholarships:
http://www.ambafrance-ca.org/rubrique1017.html.
If you are a prospective student or Queen’s is your target partner institution, please contact a potential supervisor. Consult program websites to investigate potential senior supervisors.
Trent University
Graduate students in some programs at Queen’s can be supervised by faculty from Trent University.
Under a Queen’s-Trent Agreement, Queen’s allows some faculty from Trent to offer graduate courses and supervise graduate students enrolled at Queen’s.
Enrolled Queen’s graduate students who are supervised by a Trent faculty member can spend time at Trent to pursue their research.
Students may also have Teaching Assistantships at Trent while they participate.
Queen’s students interested in this arrangement should talk with the Graduate Coordinator in their department or program for details
Questions about the Queen’s-Trent agreement or need more details? Contact the Director of Admissions and Student Services in the Queen’s School of Graduate Studies.
Queen'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. Courses may not be audited. Fees are paid at the home university. Contact Darlene Homer at the SGS office for further information
The Ontario Visiting Graduate Student Program
This plan allows a graduate student of an Ontario university to take graduate courses at another Ontario university while remaining registered at the home university. The plan allows the student to bypass the usual application for admission procedures to the host university and facilitates transfer of course credits to the home university. The student pays fees to the home university and is classed as 'visiting graduate student' at the host university, to which no fees are paid.
The student must make application for study under this Plan by completion of a special application form which is available at departmental offices or from the School of Graduate Studies. Students may not audit courses under this plan nor enroll in any courses which are not to be credited towards their degree program. The student must be registered at Queen's as full-time off-campus. Contact Darlene Homer at the SGS office for further information
Visiting research students at Queen's
A student who is registered in a graduate level program at their home university may register at Queen's for non-degree study to join a research group. Upon receipt of the requisite application which includes a letter of approval from Queen's, the recommendation of a research supervisor and the Department Head, such a student can be accepted by the SGS as a Visiting Research Student (VRS) at Queen's University for a period up to one year. These students are assessed student activity fees but no tuition fees. They must be insured under the UHIP and cannot enroll in courses. Contact Darlene Homer at the SGS office for further information and the application documents for the VRS program.
International Exchange Programs at Queen's
Opportunities for international engagement abound at Queen's University. The University has a robust program of international exchange, involving bi-lateral agreements with about 150 universities in 45 countries.
To learn about these exchange opportunities available, please visit the Queen's University Exchange Partner database. Simply select "Graduate Study" in the Faculty drop down menu.
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.
Students who wish to go on exchange should work closely with their supervisor, or graduate coordinator, to find out if the exchange will contribute to them making progress on their academic program.
If you would like to establish an exchange agreement with another university, please bear in mind that the agreement must include the reciprocal exchange of graduate students. Contact your Associate Dean in the School of Graduate Studies for assistance in developing the agreement.
German Academic Exchange Services (DAAD)
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is a publicly funded independent organization of higher education institutions in Germany. Among other funding opportunities, DAAD offers research grants and/or study scholarships for students with at least a Bachelor's degree to either study or do research in Germany.
Departments are informed annually of this competition and the applicable deadline(s). As a partner university with DAAD, Queen's University may nominate one "priority candidate" for these competitions. The priority candidate will be placed in a separate application pool in the DAAD national competition. Even with this status, competition for the limited number of awards is still very strong. A subcommittee of the Fellowship Committee of the School of Graduate Studies and Research will evaluate all eligible applications using the same criteria that the DAAD Selection committee will use: the overall excellence of the academic record, the proposed plan of study/research, and the applicability of the proposal to German institutes of higher education, archives or research institutes. Although Queen's can only nominate one priority candidate, all other, non-nominated, eligible applications will be forwarded to DAAD and placed in the general competition.
Ontario/Baden-Württemberg Student Exchange Program
Up to fifty Ontario students are selected each year to study at a university in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Students chosen to participate in the program will receive a free month-long intensive German course in Heidelberg and $1500 to reimburse them for their international travel costs, medical insurance, and student activity fees. There are no tuition fees at Baden-Württemberg universities. Students retain eligibility for OSAP and OGS support. The program is open to students in all fields who, at the time they submit their application, are pursuing an undergraduate (in second year of higher) or postgraduate degree program at an Ontario university while abroad. Students who are selected must enrol in a full-time course of study at a Baden-Württemberg university for two semesters (mid-October to mid-July). Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Competence in German appropriate to the field and level of study is required. Applications must be submitted to the Program Officer in Kingston Hall 412 by 15 January.
*PDF files can be viewed using Adobe Reader.