International Dual Degree Agreement between K. N. Toosi University of Technology and Western University of Canada

K. N. Toosi University of Technology and Western University of Canada (UWO) jointly signed an International Dual Degree Agreement in January 2020.

International dual degree programs generally provide unique opportunities for the graduate students and promote the development of intercultural competence, give students experience working in multinational research teams, and provide valuable exposure to multiple disciplinary and research perspectives.

The agreement between KNTU and UWO establishes both dual doctoral and master degree programs between the two institutions, enabling students to pursue coordinated doctoral/master studies at both universities and, if successful, be awarded a doctoral/master degree at each university.

Students undertaking the program work with supervisors in both universities, benefiting from research and educational resources in both institutions. In this program, both K. N. Toosi University of Technology and Western University could potentially be the students’ home university. The home university is commonly where the students begin and finish their studies. The home university initially provides the administration and it is where the students initially apply. The selected Ph.D./M.Sc. candidates will then apply to the Ph.D./M.Sc. program at the other university. The students should also select supervisors in both institutions.

For instance, if KNTU is the home university for a Ph.D. degree applicant, the applicant should initially be accepted at KNTU. They then need to find a potential supervisor and apply at Western. Upon acceptance in the Ph.D. program at Western, the student spends the first two years at KNTU, mostly taking their courses and prepare their research proposal. They then spend the following two years at Western University to complete their research work.

Currently, the agreement on the dual Ph.D. degree applies to all disciplines and the agreement on the dual M.Sc. degree applies only to the master programs in KNTU’s Civil Engineering Department and Western’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department.

For more information, please contact KNTU’s office of Vice-Chancellor for Global Strategies and International Affairs.