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Dual-Credential Degrees

International Dual-Credential Degree Programs provide a unique opportunity to enhance the student experience at each participating institution. The development of educational programs with excellent peer universities or institutes in other countries allows students from each partner institution to gain unique educational exposure and valuable international academic and cultural experiences. The global nature of these International Dual-Credential Degree Programs strengthens students’ careers, provides professional opportunities, and enhances the stature of Western wherever such partnerships are established.

Western has always welcomed outstanding students from around the world to study here. By awarding a Dual-Credential Degree, partner institutions acknowledge the additional international experience and effort of each student. More practically, it also allows the educational background and core competencies of each student to be clearly recognized in each jurisdiction.

A dual credential degree agreement may be established at Western University under the following circumstances:
  • existing collaboration between faculty members at both institutions as evidenced by joint publications, previous co-supervision/exchange of students, co-organization of scholarly conferences, etc.
  • an interest of a currently enrolled PhD student to conduct research abroad at an institution with expertise in his/her research field.
  • an interest of a currently enrolled PhD student at a potential partner institution to conduct research at Western.
  1. Receive permission from your thesis supervisor and graduate program to apply for a Dual Credential Degree program of study.
    • Contact your Western thesis supervisor and graduate program to discuss the possibility of becoming a Dual Credential Degree student.
    • Contact the partner institution’s graduate school to determine whether they would support the Dual Credential Degree.
    • Find a thesis supervisor at the partner university who agrees to participate in Dual Credential Degree thesis supervision.
  2. If the Dual Credential Degree program is approved by Western and the partner institution:
    • Apply for admission to the program of study at the partner institution.
    • Request that your thesis supervisor at Western contact the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) regarding the process for establishing a Dual Credential Degree Agreement.
    • Complete any paperwork required by the partner institution.
  3. If the agreement is approved, you will be admitted as a Dual Credential Degree student.
    • Together with your thesis supervisors, you will need to complete the Appendix to the Dual Credential Degree Agreement.
  1. Receive permission from your thesis supervisor and graduate program to apply for a Dual Credential Degree program of study.
    • Contact your thesis supervisor at your current institution and program to discuss the possibility of becoming a Dual Credential Degree student.
    • Contact Western University’s School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies to determine whether they would support the Dual Credential Degree.
    • Find a thesis supervisor at Western University who agrees to participate in Dual Credential Degree supervision.
  2. If the Dual Credential Degree program is approved by Western and the partner institution:
    • Apply for admission to the graduate program of study at Western University.
    • Request that the thesis supervisor at Western contact SGPS regarding the process for establishing a Dual Credential Degree Agreement.
    • Complete any paperwork required by Western University.
  3. If the agreement is approved, you will be admitted as a Dual Credential Degree student.
    • Together with your program supervisors, you will need to complete the Appendix to the Dual Credential Degree Agreement.
Students will pay tuition and mandatory fees to each University for the agreed periods during which they are at that institution as set out in the Agreement’s Student Appendix. Students will not be required to pay these fees to one University during the time period(s) when they are conducting their research and study activities at the other University. Financial support for the student is to be established between the supervisors at the two institutions and specified in the Agreement’s Student Appendix.

The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies has dual-credential degree agreements with the following universities. Educational partnership opportunities require the student to be formally accepted/admitted to each of the two universities.Western is committed to excellence in its research and academic programs and it recognizes that its strengths can be enhanced by collaborative relationships with domestic or international partners.

Dual Credential Degree Agreements

A program of study (within the same area of proficiency and research expertise) offered by Western and one other peer university or institute outside of Canada. Students must register at both institutions and meet the requirements of their respective doctoral programs. Completion of the Dual-Doctoral Degree requirements is confirmed by awarding a separate diploma document by each of the participating institutions, one of which is Western.

A program of study offered jointly by Western and one other peer university or institute outside of Canada, within the same area of proficiency and research expertise, that allows students to pursue a Master’s degree simultaneously at each institution. Completion of the Dual-Master’s Degree requirements is confirmed by the awarding of a separate diploma document from each participating institution, one of which is Western.

A joint degree program in which qualified students spend the first three years of their bachelor’s degree program at the partner institution and the fourth year as Visiting Undergraduate Students at Western through a Letter of Permission, while also receiving a conditional offer of admission to a Master’s program at Western.

Upon successful completion of all requirements for both programs, students are awarded a bachelor’s degree from the partner institution and a Master’s degree from Western.

A conditional offer of admission to the Master’s program at Western will be withdrawn if the student is not awarded a bachelor’s degree from the partner institution upon completion of Year 4 courses at Western. Students enrolled in the Master’s program at Western must successfully complete the courses and degree requirements prescribed by Western.

A joint program established between Soochow University in China and Western. Students admitted to this program will spend two years at Soochow and two years at Western, cumulatively, not necessarily continuous. Western is responsible for the final admission decisions of students to the 2+2 program. They are jointly supervised by professors from each university. Once all program requirements are successfully achieved, students will receive a PhD degree from Western and a certificate from Soochow University.