[SGS] Joint Educational Placement Agreement for Doctoral Students

SGS #02, 2011-2012

TO: Graduate Chairs, Graduate Directors and Graduate Coordinators

FROM: Brian Corman, Dean of Graduate Studies and Vice-Provost, Graduate Education

CC: Council of Graduate Deans, School of Graduate Studies Staff

Date: September 6, 2011

RE: Joint Educational Placement Agreement for Doctoral Students

I am pleased to announce a new program option for doctoral students, the Joint Educational Placement Agreement for full time study towards the earning of a doctorate at the University of Toronto and a recognized collaborator institution (hereafter Joint Placement). A student must designate one institution as the lead institution and the second as the collaborator institution. This decision must be made at the time of the signing of this agreement and is binding for its duration.

The University has endorsed the individual agreement model (“cotutelle”) for establishing Joint Placements. The academic and research program of a student enrolled in a Joint Placement should be based on ongoing or developing research collaboration between supervisors and/or research groups in the two participating institutions. A Joint Placement student’s application, enrolment and academic program must meet the doctoral requirements of both institutions as well as the following:

• Admission: The student must be deemed admissible by the School of Graduate Studies and apply in the same fashion as other standard degree-seeking students. Where the UofT is the lead institution, a student must complete this application prior to achieving candidacy. Joint Placement applications for admission will come to SGS as non-standard Admission requests to be assessed case-by-case. The non-standard admission case must include a completed Joint Placement Agreement (see attached form) which outlines the unique nature of the research collaboration and issues such as intellectual property, stipends and benefits, travel costs, access to research equipment and supplies, research ethics, space etc. and must be approved by the student, collaborator institutions and the identified supervisor/s of each collaborator institution.

• Registration: The Joint Placement student is registered at both institutions for the duration of the agreement.

• Fees: Tuition is paid at the lead institution according to that institution’s policies throughout the program. Where UofT is the collaborator institution, incoming students will be assessed incidental & ancillary fees as well as UHIP during their residency at UofT.

• Coursework: Regardless of whether the University of Toronto is the lead or collaborator institution, all UofT course requirements for the doctoral degree must be met as defined in the graduate unit entry in the SGS Calendar.

• Dissertation: The dissertation is jointly supervised by two thesis supervisors, one from each institution; the dissertation must meet the thesis requirements of both the lead and the collaborator institutions.

• Oral Defence: A single Final Oral Examination (FOE) is expected. The FOE is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the lead institution. Where the UofT is the lead institution, all SGS policies and regulations for Final Oral Examinations govern the defence, regardless of where the defence takes place.

• Funding: Financial arrangements must be outlined in the Joint Placement Agreement.

• Degree Conferment: The diploma will be awarded by the lead institution. The UofT diploma and transcript will note that degree was awarded under a Joint Doctorate agreement (e.g. “Awarded as a single degree under a Joint Placement arrangement with the (collaborator) institution”.)

The Joint Placement is intended for exceptional doctoral students to pursue research opportunities and acquire research experience in two countries at an early stage in their careers.

In addition to Joint Placements, I would remind you that there are many other opportunities for doctoral students at U of T to gain international experience, including, but not limited to:

• Exchange Opportunities (Transfer Credit)
Graduate students can receive up to 50% of their course requirements through transfer credit by studying at any institution approved as a UofT Graduate Exchange partner. Graduate students can also pursue language courses and engage in field-research/ graduate research at a partner institution.

• Internships
Graduate students can complete an international internship through the CIE administered Students for Development program or through internships arranged through programs or graduate units.

• International Scholar as Supervisory Committee Member(s)
Graduate units can arrange for SGS Graduate Faculty membership in order to appoint an international scholar to serve as a supervisory committee member.

• Conference Grant
SGS offers a Conference Grant to assist registered, full-time doctoral-stream students in good standing to present their research at a conference or other academic meeting. Preference will be given to students early in their career who are presenting their research for the first time.

• Travel Grant
SGS offers a Travel Grant program to help fund travel for doctoral students within Divisions I and II for whom travel is essential for the completion of their research and doctoral program.

If you have any questions about Joint Placements or other opportunities for international engagement for doctoral students at U of T, please contact the Director of Student Services, Heather Kelly at heather.kelly@utoronto.ca

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The placement form and checklist can be found at: http://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/adminsupport/memos/2011-12_Decanal_Memos/Joint_Educational_Placement_Agreement_for_Doctoral_Students.htm.