Doing one part of your studies in Canada and another in France as part of a double or joint degree program is sure to be one of the richest, most well-rounded and valuable experiences abroad that you can imagine.
In contrast to a traditional exchange program, when you are completing a double / joint degree program, you are registered at the same time with both a Canadian and a French university. Upon graduation, you receive either a diploma from each university ("double degree") or a single diploma issued by both universities ("joint degree").
- Dual certification in French as a Second Language – Simon Fraser University / Université de Tours.
- Dual certification program between the University François Rabelais of Tours and Simon Fraser University in Vancouver (This program allows students French and Canadian validate a M1 or M2 Fle French (Tours) and, jointly, the program vocational training in the teaching of French second language (in Vancouver).
Doctoral students also have the opportunity to enroll in an international program and to earn, upon their thesis defence, a double degree or a joint degree for a PhD program.
Doctoral students registered in a "Cotutelle" program are registered with a Canadian university as well as with a French university. They work under the supervision of two thesis directors and alternate between semesters spent in Canada and in France. Thesis defence takes place before a single jury and the doctoral student obtains either a double degree or a joint degree.
This framework allows PhD students to enrich their research work thanks to a wider access to different scientific and often complementary approaches as well as a greater variety of resources (documentation, scientific equipment).
A joint PhD thesis allows the researcher, from the start, to build an international network of contacts which will be of great value during his/her entire career.
It is NOT mandatory for students to be fluent in French in order to complete a joint PhD degree at a French university. Students have the option of writing and defending their thesis in English (a summary in French is required in this case).
Conducting a part of your research in France is an excellent way to improve your French!