UBC Graduate Profile:

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1 Joint PhD Degrees The UBC approach Jenny Phelps, Assistant Dean Faculty of Graduate Studies The University of British Columbia UBC Graduate Profile: ~9,500 graduate students; 35,000 undergrads More than 200 Master s and PhD programs in nearly all academic disciplines Over 2500 international graduate students from more than 100 countries Ranked 30 th in world s top universities (2010 Times Higher Education University rankings)

2 Admission requirements PhD study at UBC -Master s degree (diplôme d'études approfondies) OR -Bachelor Degree (Diplome d Ingenieur; Graduéen Ingénierie Maitrise; Magistere; Licence) of very high standard (Bien/Trés Bien) AND - English Proficiency (TOEFL minimum = 80) - Evidence of research potential Phase I: Pre-Candidacy Take all required courses Pass a comprehensive exam Gain approval for a research proposal Advance to Candidacy Phase II: Candidacy Complete a research project (dissertation) Defend the thesis at a Doctoral Oral Examination Doctoral Students: Shouldadvance to candidacy within 2 years, and mustwithin 3 Shouldcomplete all degree requirements within 5 years of enrolment and must within 6 years

3 Joint and dual/double degree programs Understanding the terminology is critical: - joint means a single degree is awarded - dual/double means two degrees are awarded - degree refers to the qualification NOT the parchment(s)/diploma(s) Masters BOTH joint & double degrees valuable widespread, well established & understood PhD jointphd OK a dual/doublephd would require two theses and has little support internationally The French Co-tutelle has successfully led the way for Joint PhDs for many years Joint PhD at UBC UBC Academic Senate approved structure in Must be single degree awarded Final approval of all arrangements delegated to Dean of Graduate Studies Three students formally admitted to Joint PhD programs thus far: University of Edinburgh (Political Science) Bauhaus-Universitat Weimar (Interdisciplinary Studies) Universite Libre de Bruxelles (Electrical & Computer Engineering)

4 U 21 International Jointly Awarded PhD Degree A jointly awarded PhD is a single qualification conferred upon a student on completion of a collaborative program of work designed, supervised & examined by the two universities Normally characterized by: meeting the academic requirements of both universities agreement regarding the lead university joint supervision and examination a single degree awarded for one PhD thesis parchment(s) issued that explicitly state that there has been joint supervision and examination Each student s collaborative PhD program is Unique to their project and goals normally established at the outset of study (must occur before advancing to candidacy) the subject of a separate Memorandum of Agreement, which is approved by the student, both partner Universities and the identified supervisor/s (advisor/s) of each partner University

5 Each Joint PhD Agreement stipulates: one university designated as the lead university at least one supervisor from each university agreed periods of residence at each university (at least one year) assurance of access to university facilities each university admitting the student according to their own procedures examination procedures as agreed by the two universities any other issues, such as coursework requirements and funding/tuition arrangements, that may need to be specified an explicit agreement regarding how Intellectual Property Rights will be dealt with the thesis normally written in the language of lead university (with a substantial summary written in the other language, if different) degree parchment(s) that explicitly reflect the joint nature of the award Joint PhD degrees provide a mechanism for: access to unique and/or sophisticated research equipment and resources, and to world class faculty undertaking research of explicit global significance facilitation of international study and experience for our PhD students enhancement of joint international collaborative research between universities access to additional sources of student financial support -including eligibility for scholarships/awards at both participating universities, enhanced recruitment of excellent graduate students development of personal attributes of international leadership, partnership and global engagement

6 UBC Joint PhD enrolment procedure After gaining preliminary support from the two supervisors A Joint PhD Agreement form must be jointly developed between student & supervisors (information may ultimately be transferred to French co-tutelle agreement format) Draft agreement sent to Dean of Graduate Studies for review and revisions Student must apply and be accepted to the specific UBC PhD program(may be prior to or simultaneous with Joint PhD Agreement development) Agreement circulated for required signatures at both universities; one original must be on file in FGS Dean s office. Upon graduating Normally results in one parchment from each university, both carrying notation along the lines of: Awarded as a single degree under a Joint PhD arrangement with <partner university>

7 The parchment problem Challenges/concerns - two parchments/diplomas does not mean two degrees -the degree parchment(s) must clearly reflect the joint nature of the single award Double-dipping -not relevant to the Joint PhD if it is seen as a single degree Issues of Intellectual Property Rights can be difficult to manage so must be resolved at the outset (and returned to if & when necessary) Challenges/concerns Doctoral degree structures are quite different in different systems and this can make arrangements complex. For example -in North America, often 2 years coursework, more breadth, comprehensive exams, longer duration, funding sources (many by TAs & RAs) -Europe 3 yr UG degrees, little required PhD coursework, direct entry from UG, shorter duration Joint PhD degrees are time consuming to manage and should be reserved for the very brightest students who will specifically benefit from the access to joint supervision and international research locations

8 Benefits and opportunities for students Joint PhDs enhance considerably the students research and employment opportunities on an international scale Clear benefits are access to: -an academic research program enhanced by the collaboration of two different high-quality research environments and cultures - training and facilities of two research-intensive universities - the added value of international networking -a head start in future career planning, networking and professional development