The Collaborative PhD Program at the University of Manitoba is intended to provide an opportunity for outstanding graduate students to receive training at both the University of Manitoba and a collaborating university outside of Canada. Students spend a period in residence and complete portions of their program of study, and fulfill all requirements of, each university. Each of the collaborating universities awards a PhD degree that explicitly notes that the completed program was based on a collaborative PhD program and names the collaborating university (this information will be provided on both the transcript and parchment).

The program is intended to provide students with exposure to research and scholarship at two universities. In this way students receive a more diverse educational experience and have the opportunity to establish a wide network of collaborations. Similarly, faculty members at the University of Manitoba involved in supervising a student engaged in a collaborative PhD program can benefit from establishing or strengthening collaborations with researchers at other institutions.

Outstanding students wishing to benefit from studying both at the University of Manitoba and at a collaborating university are encouraged to apply for admission to the Collaborative PhD Program (such a program is often referred to as a ‘cotutelle’ for such programs involving a university in France).

Please note this program is only open for Fall admission.

What is a Collaborative PhD Program?

• A program of study and research defined jointly by advisors from the University of Manitoba and a collaborating university
• The student is jointly supervised by the two advisors in conjunction with an advisory committee drawn from the two universities.
• The university at which the student will spend more time in residence is typically designated as the ’Lead’ university, and the other university as the ‘Partner’ university
• The student is required to maintain full-time registration at both the University of Manitoba and the collaborating university and must spend a period of time in residence at both universities (minimally, one year at each).
• The thesis is defended only once at one of the universities with an examining committee comprised of, at minimum, the advisory committee plus an external examiner who has no affiliation to either university and is appointed following the Policies and Procedures of the Lead university.
• A PhD degree is awarded by the University of Manitoba and by the collaborating university. The student receives a parchment from each university, which indicates that the PhD was awarded in conjunction with the collaborating university.

If the University of Manitoba is to Serve as the Lead University

• The student must have been admitted to a PhD program at the University of Manitoba. If not currently enrolled in a PhD program, then the student must apply for admission to a specific unit-based program at the University of Manitoba.
• Following admission, the student must contact the Faculty of Graduate Studies to request entry to a Collaborative program.
• The collaborative program agreement must be defined and presented as part of this request. Completing this agreement will require the student to identify an advisor both at the University of Manitoba and at a collaborating university, and work with both advisors to define a program of study using the template provided.
• Transition to a collaborative program must be completed within a maximum of three years after admission to a PhD program at the University, and before either the thesis proposal is developed or the candidacy examination is written.  The collaborating university may also have rules regarding entry to a collaborative program and it is the responsibility of the student to ensure these are met.
• When an approved agreement is in place, the student must collect all appropriate signatures and include the signed agreement with the request. The student must also apply for admission to the collaborating university and in doing so will be required to provide all information required under their application process.
• If admitted to the collaborating university, and an approved collaborative program agreement in place, then the student will be allowed entry to the collaborative PhD program.

If the University of Manitoba is to Serve as the Partner University

• The student must apply for admission to the collaborative PhD Program at the University of Manitoba.
• The collaborative program agreement must be defined and presented as part of the admission application. Completing this agreement will require the student to identify an advisor both at the University of Manitoba and at a collaborating university, and work with both advisors to define a program of study using the template provided. The agreement must include all appropriate signatures.
• Transition to a collaborative program must be completed before either any thesis proposal is developed or any candidacy examination is written. The collaborating university may also have rules regarding entry to a collaborative program and it is the responsibility of the student to ensure these are met.
• If admitted to the University of Manitoba with an approved collaborative program agreement in place, then the student will be admitted to the collaborative PhD program.