Co-supervision (“joint supervision”) implies:

• An admission and an enrolment into a doctoral program in one university.
• Two thesis directors who co-supervise the research, one at your home university and the other, at the other university.
• Only one set of doctoral program requirements to be met.
• Enrolment (registration), academic evaluation and research progress as well as jury appointment, thesis evaluation and defence are carried out in accordance with the regulations and procedures in place at the institution, which is your university of admission.
• You pay tuition fees to the institution where you were admitted according to the tuition fee schedule and payment procedures in effect at that institution.
• One graduation ceremony.
• One doctoral degree (PhD diploma).

Learn more about co-supervision.

Cotutelle implies:

• Two admissions, two doctoral programs, two enrolments in two universities.
• The preparation and signature of a cotutelle agreement between the partner institutions.
• Two thesis supervisors who co-direct the academic path and research, one supervisor at the home university and a second at the partner university.
• Two sets of program requirements to be met, one for each program at each institution. This includes successful completion of the courses and seminars within the program (with the possibility of granting equivalences), successful completion of the comprehensive examination as well all matters related to the progress and submission of the thesis (normally, only one thesis to be written).
• The designation at the start of the process of a home institution and a partner institution.
• The continuous enrollment (registration) in both institutions for the duration of the program.
• The residence (location) alternates in each institution according to the cotutelle schedule.
• The tuition fees paid in alternation according to the schedule of the cotutelle’s academic residence. The tuition fees are normally waived when the doctoral student is at the other institution (cotutelle fees apply and collected if uOttawa is the home university).
• A joint thesis jury composed of internal and external examiners appointed by each institution in accordance with the regulations and procedures of each institution.
• A single defence at the home university.
• Two separate graduation ceremonies.
• Two doctoral degrees (PhD diploma) with mention of cotutelle collaboration (eg., Doctorate in Philosophy - Cotutelle with the University of Ottawa).

A doctoral cotutelle agreement is an accord between two universities.

In a cotutelle doctoral program you will be jointly supervised by a thesis supervisor at each institution and you attend the two universities alternately. You will usually need to take a single comprehensive examination, and you work on a thesis to be defended only once in front of a jury chosen by the two partner universities. Once you have completed your doctoral program, each university confers a separate degree, with a mention of the cotutelle collaboration on the degrees.

A cotutelle agreement becomes valid only once signed by all parties involved (the doctoral student, the program supervisors, the vice-deans of graduate studies and the vice-provost of graduate and postdoctoral studies or equivalents in the partner institution) and when the candidate is admitted to a doctoral program at both institutions.

At a minimum, the cotutelle agreement must include:

• Administrative arrangements (e.g., location schedule, duration of the cotutelle, signatories, etc);
• Academic modalities (e.g., academic requirements of the program, equivalencies);
• Academic progress;
• The provisional calendar of residence;
• Procedures relating to the defence;
• Medical coverage;
• Payment of tuition fees.

All doctoral students (whether Canadian citizens, permanent residents, recognized refugees or international candidates) duly admitted to a doctoral program at uOttawa may be eligible for a cotutelle provided they have an admission average of 8.0 and obtain the approval of their thesis supervisor and their faculty.

Please note that a cotutelle could be refused, either by uOttawa or the other institution, if the doctoral student is too advanced in his academic career.

As cotutelles are not part of a university exchange program, there are no specific agreements with other universities.

Since there are generally no framework agreements with other countries, each cotutelle must take into account the specificities of the academic path and the administrative and academic rules/procedures of the two partner institutions in relation to the doctoral student’s program.

If uOttawa is the partner university, you will need to spend at least three (3) terms at uOttawa. These terms may or may not be consecutive and you must pay tuition fees for each of these terms.

If uOttawa is the home university, you will need to spend at least six (6) terms at uOttawa. These terms may or may not be consecutive and you must pay tuition fees for each of these terms. When uOttawa is the home university, cotutelle fees will apply for each term that the doctoral student spends at the partner institution.

The cotutelle procedures differ between those of uOttawa and other institutions. We recommend that students consult the other institution's website to find out the conditions to participate in a cotutelle. Occasionally, restrictions established by the other institution may hinder the development of a cotutelle agreement with uOttawa.

You can initiate the cotutelle process before, during or after the admission process. However, the cotutelle can only be effective when the doctoral student has been duly admitted and enrolled (registered) in a doctoral program in each institution and the cotutelle agreement is signed. We recommend that you begin the process at least six months in advance, as many stakeholders are involved in the process and many factors can have an impact on the development of the cotutelle.

The decision to determine the home institution is a mutual decision, taken at the beginning of the partnership, by the thesis supervisors and the doctoral student.

The following criteria may be useful in your decision-making:

• Place of research: the institution where the majority of the academic career and/or research will take place and where the doctoral student will spend most of their time.
• Start: the institution where the doctoral student started their doctoral program, i.e. where the doctoral student initially enrolled.
• Thesis defence: the institution where the defence will take place.

The doctoral student for whom uOttawa is the home university must spend at least two years (six terms, consecutive or not) at uOttawa and pay the associated tuition fees. When uOttawa is the partner university, the obligation is at least one year (three terms).

You must first verify if your university is recognized by uOttawa by contacting the person responsible for the development of cotutelles at uOttawa at [email protected].

Then, you will need to find a thesis supervisor at uOttawa who is willing to accompany you within the framework of a cotutelle. You will need to discuss the cotutelle project with BOTH thesis supervisors BEFORE applying for admission to uOttawa and before beginning the process of asking for the development a cotutelle agreement.

Once the thesis supervisors have been identified at each institution, please complete the Letter of Intent for Doctoral Cotutelle in collaboration with both thesis supervisors and send it to [email protected]. The Letter of Intent for Doctoral Cotutelle form must be signed by the doctoral student and the two thesis supervisors so that the person responsible for developing cotutelles at uOttawa can begin the discussions between the two institutions.

In parallel, if both institutions are willing to develop a cotutelle, you may start your application for admission to a doctoral program at uOttawa. Programs are available on the website of the University of Ottawa. Once you have identified your doctoral program, you will also find information on how to apply under the "Admissions" tab on this web page. For questions related to language tests, admission averages and admission deadlines, you will need to contact the Office of Graduate Studies of the faculty offering the program.

Thus, if you are eligible for a doctoral program, you will be admitted to two doctoral programs and you will have two thesis supervisors, one in each of the institutions that have signed the cotutelle agreement, who will share the supervision of your academic career and research.

The admission process and the development of a cotutelle agreement are independent of each other. However, the duly signed cotutelle will only be effective once the doctoral candidate has been offered admission and is enrolled in the program. At uOttawa, the admission process is managed by the faculty offering the doctoral program and the cotutelle is handled by the Office of the Vice-Provost of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

If uOttawa is the partner university, you will be required to spend at least three (3) semesters at uOttawa. If uOttawa is the home university, you will be required to spend at least six (6) semesters at uOttawa. These terms may or may not be consecutive and you will be required to pay tuition fees for each of these terms.

You must first consult your thesis supervisor to obtain his consent to supervise you within a cotutelle agreement. You must also have a file in good standing with the Graduate Studies Office of your faculty. Then check with the partner institution if they are open to cotutelles.

If your thesis supervisor agrees to pursue the development of a cotutelle agreement, you will need to find a thesis supervisor at a partner institution (the institution needs to be recognized by uOttawa) that accepts cotutelle agreements, validate with the second thesis supervisor their interest in supervising you within a cotutelle, complete the Letter of Intent for Doctoral Cotutelle form in collaboration with the two thesis supervisors and send it to [email protected]. The Letter of Intent for Doctoral Cotutelle form must be signed by the doctoral student and the two thesis supervisors so that the person responsible to develop cotutelles at uOttawa can begin the cotutelle discussions between the two institutions. Please note that there may be different administrative processes at the partner institution that you will need to follow as well.

To find a thesis supervisor at another institution, you may wish to consult your current thesis supervisor, who may be able to recommend a colleague. If your thesis supervisor does not have a colleague to recommend, you will have to search on your own for a second thesis supervisor willing to direct your doctoral project under the premise of a cotutelle. It is essential to obtain the agreement of both thesis supervisors to begin the cotutelle process.

If uOttawa is the partner university, you will be required to spend at least three (3) semesters at uOttawa. If uOttawa is the home university, you will be required to spend at least six (6) semesters at uOttawa. These terms may or may not be consecutive and you must pay tuition fees for each of these terms.

The person responsible for developing cotutelles at uOttawa will advise you of the next steps, depending on the exchanges with the other institution.

Once these steps have been completed, you will also want to inquire about the admission process. Check the admission requirements and begin the process of preparing your application for admission to this institution. For a cotutelle to be effective, you must be admitted and enrolled in two doctoral programs. You will have two thesis supervisors, one in each of the institutions that has signed the agreement, who will share the supervision of your academic career and research.

You must obtain the approval of both thesis supervisors to initiate the process of developing a cotutelle.

The signed Letter of Intent for Doctoral Cotutelle form ensures that the two thesis supervisors agree to accompany a doctoral student within the framework of a cotutelle. Please note that other institutions may operate differently, as each institution is unique and has its own internal procedures.

If uOttawa is the partner university, you will need to spend at least three (3) terms at uOttawa. These terms may or may not be consecutive and you must pay tuition fees for each of these terms.

If uOttawa is the home university, you will need to spend at least six (6) terms at uOttawa. These terms may or may not be consecutive and you must pay tuition fees for each of these terms. When uOttawa is the home university, cotutelle fees will apply for each term that the doctoral student spends at the partner institution.

Your faculty may offer you financial support during your registration in the program, and in some cases even during your stay at the other university. For information on financial support opportunities, please contact the Office of Graduate Studies of your faculty.

If you receive the International Doctoral Scholarship, it will be applied only for the duration of your stay at the University of Ottawa and only while tuition fees are charged by the University of Ottawa, according to the calendar established in your cotutelle agreement.

The general principle which governs the financing of a cotutelle is:

• Normally, the doctoral student pays tuition fees (and related costs such as ancillary fees) only at the institution where they are physically located, according to the periods defined in the cotutelle agreement. Please note that there may be other financial requirements that apply, depending on the partner institution.
• If uOttawa is the home university, cotutelle fees will apply for each term that the doctoral student spends at the partner institution.
• The costs of transportation and living expenses incurred by the cotutelle are the responsibility of the doctoral student.
• For information on the possibilities of financial support, please contact the Office of Graduate Studies of your faculty and consult the following web pages:
  • Finance your studies;
  • Tuition fees;
  • Financial aid and awards.
• The doctoral student for whom uOttawa is the home university will be entitled to a cotutelle scholarship. This non-recurring, one-time sum of $ 5,000 is awarded during the first term at the partner institution.

The people who can provide you with information are:

• First, your thesis supervisor, who will be able to help you identify possible individuals or teams working in your field of research.
• The Graduate Studies Office of your faculty will be able to support you with your admission application and with your academic career.
• Questions regarding the study visa should be directed to the uOttawa International Office. They can be reached at: [email protected]
• If you are looking for a doctoral program at uOttawa, you can consult the webpage describing the uOttawa programs. This section will inform you about the eligibility criteria as well as the procedures to follow when applying for admission. The cotutelle process does not constitute an admission to a doctoral program at the University of Ottawa.
• The point-person for cotutelles at uOttawa may be reached at the following email address: [email protected].

We recommend that doctoral students discuss their cotutelle project with their current thesis supervisor. The latter could perhaps recommend a colleague at uOttawa.

Otherwise, doctoral students can refer to the web page Thesis Supervision.

Each uOttawa faculty has a directory of professors (faculty members) and their areas of interest. This information may be found on the web pages of each faculty and departments.

• You are responsible for communicating any information, providing information and making the necessary follow-ups during the development process of a cotutelle as required by both institutions.
• You must ensure that you respect the terms and conditions in your cotutelle agreement.
• You are also responsible for your doctoral studies and must therefore ensure that you maintain your enrolment in both institutions.
• You must report any situation that must be modified or that may infringe on the cotutelle agreement to the cotutelle point-person at [email protected].

Equivalencies may be granted for compulsory courses and seminars (except comprehensive exams) taken at the other institution, with the approval of the thesis supervisors, program directors and the Office of Graduate Studies of the faculties. It is recommended that doctoral students submit a request for equivalency of their courses or seminars when applying for admission at uOttawa to ensure that everything can be evaluated simultaneously.

The comprehensive exam is compulsory within the framework of a doctoral program.

Within the framework of a cotutelle, the doctoral student must meet the requirements of the doctoral program of both partner institutions.

If you are in the process of developing a cotutelle and wish to abandon the process, simply send an email to the person responsible for cotutelles at [email protected] and notify your two thesis supervisors.

If you wish to continue your doctoral program within uOttawa, you will be integrated into the regular doctoral path.