The dual law degree, offered jointly by the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Law and the University of Rennes 1, is an exceptional opportunity for immersion at the heart of two distinct legal cultures. Designed specifically for candidates to the LL.M. in International Trade and Foreign Investment Law with research paper, this prestigious path lets you study in France and then in Canada, all within a single academic year.
Dual Degree with the University of Rennes 1
Program Overview
DURATION
LOCATION
LANGUAGES
NOTES
Why Choose This Program?
Studying law on two continents in twelve months is more than a stay abroad: it is learning to think about law through two legal traditions, the French and the Canadian. You experience each system from the inside, in its own setting, alongside its professors.
The program rests on a solid agreement between the two faculties, which grant mutual recognition of the credits earned on each side. You retake no courses: every course counts in both institutions, and you earn two degrees at the end of a single path. At Ottawa, the LL.M. awarded is in International Trade and Foreign Investment Law, a particularly promising specialization for anyone heading toward international practice.
The result is a real asset on the legal market, namely a dual affiliation, two alumni networks and an ease in moving between legal cultures.
Program Options and Structure
The dual degree leads to two complementary diplomas, the Master 2 from the University of Rennes 1 and the LL.M. in International Trade and Foreign Investment Law with research paper from the University of Ottawa.
If you come from the University of Rennes 1
You take the first semester in Rennes, then the winter term in Ottawa to fulfill the LL.M. requirements. In the spring-summer term, you are free to remain at the university of your choice to write the research paper, which is joint to both faculties. You do, however, remain registered at the University of Ottawa for that term and pay the corresponding tuition fees, regardless of where you write.
If you come from the University of Ottawa
You take the fall term in Rennes, then the winter term in Ottawa to fulfill the LL.M. requirements. In the spring-summer term, you write the research paper, which counts toward both degrees.
Please note: the research paper is single and recognized by both institutions. Passing it, like passing all the coursework, is required to obtain both degrees.
Admission Requirements
The dual degree rests on a dual admission: to enter the stream provided for under the reciprocity protocol, you must be accepted at both institutions, that is, in the LL.M. at the University of Ottawa and in the Master II at the University of Rennes 1.
If the University of Ottawa is your home institution
- Submit a complete application to the general LL.M. with research paper, without concentration. First make sure you meet the admission requirements of that program.
- Include with your file a cover letter specifying the stream of study you are aiming for.
- Your file must include proof of French-language proficiency, at the advanced B2 level on the Council of Europe scale.
- The Faculty of Law then forwards up to ten files to the University of Rennes 1.
- The UR1 admissions committee selects, from among these applications, those it retains for its Master II program.
If the University of Rennes 1 is your home institution
- Prepare an application to the Master II within the applicable deadlines. For admission requirements and the application procedure at the University of Rennes 1, write to [email protected].
- Your file must include proof of English-language proficiency. The TOEFL is accepted, with the following minimum scores: 100 on the internet-based version (with at least 24 on the "writing" section), 250 on the computer-based version, or 600 on the paper-based version.
- After assessment, UR1 forwards to the University of Ottawa the files of up to ten selected students.
- The University of Ottawa admissions committee then selects, from among these applications, those it admits to its LL.M.
Please note: selection by your home institution opens the door, but final admission rests with the partner institution. Prepare a strong file on both sides.
Tuition Fees
If you come from the University of Rennes 1
You are required to pay your tuition and related fees directly to the University of Ottawa for the equivalent of two full-time terms (the winter and spring-summer terms).
A significant financial advantage: by taking part in this program, you automatically receive a partial fee exemption scholarship. This means your tuition and incidental fees (including the universal transit pass and health and dental insurance) are reduced to the same rate as those of Canadian students.
If you come from the University of Ottawa
You are required to pay your tuition and related fees directly to the University of Rennes 1, on the same conditions as a French student.
Please note: registration for the two terms corresponds to registration for the research paper, recognized by both universities.
Other expenses to plan for
As with any international mobility, living and settling-in costs remain the student's responsibility. You will need to budget for housing, travel (international flights and local transit), immigration steps (visas), the purchase of course materials, and your health expenses. On that point, please note that the University of Ottawa requires its international student population to enroll in the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP).
Contact us
Office of Graduate Studies
57 Louis-Pasteur st.,
room 301
Ottawa, On K1N 6N5
Tel.: 613-562-5774
[email protected]