Stellenbosch
University has agreements with a limited number of partner institutions
in different countries for the enrolment of joint degree candidates.
Most of the agreements are for enrolment at doctoral level. The list of
possible institutions with whom Stellenbosch University can enrol joint
degree candidates changes as new agreements are concluded. See further
on for a recent list.
Definition of a joint degree
A
joint degree results from international academic collaboration between
Stellenbosch University and a partner institution abroad on a jointly
defined and entirely shared study programme leading to a joint degree.
All partner institutions are responsible for the entire programme and
not just their own separate parts. A joint degree is a single
qualification awarded by joint decision of the partner institutions. If
the partner(s) cannot come to a joint decision to award the joint
degree, none of the partners may then proceed to award the degree
outside the agreement as a single institution degree.
Criteria for concluding a new joint degree agreement
When
decisions are to be taken with which foreign university joint degrees
can be offered by Stellenbosch University, the following six
requirements as a whole must be met in a substantial manner:
- It
must fit in within the vision and mission of Stellenbosch University
and contribute to attaining the goals of Stellenbosch University;
- Stellenbosch University must benefit from the complementarity of the particular foreign university;
- The foreign university must have the appropriate expertise in the research area in which the joint degree can be awarded;
- Stellenbosch
University and the partner institution(s) must have the appropriate
expertise in the research area in which the joint degree can be awarded;
- There must be reasonable prospects of student movement to and from Stellenbosch University and the foreign university;
The
number of agreements for the awarding of joint and double degrees are
strictly limited to agreements which have reasonable prospects of
sustainability and active functioning based on a proven track record of
collaboration between the institutions.
Formalities required to put a new joint degree in place
There
is a set of documents that is usually required and they are finalised
at different levels. For each joint degree agreement there must usually
be:
- It is preferable to contemplate joint degree agreements with existing partners.
- Entering
into a new joint degree agreement requires a substantial matching of
processes, rules and regulations and takes a considerable amount of time
to negotiate new cases. Where there is an existing general framework
agreement, it is usually straightforward to conclude a candidate
agreement because the basic principles are already agreed upon.
- At
Stellenbosch University, new joint degree agreements must be considered
and recommended/declined by a Joint Degree Committee (JDC). The JDC
meets on an ad-hoc basis, which allows for new agreements to be
considered regularly, subject to demand and the availability of the JDC
members. The decisions of the JDC are reported by the Postgraduate
Office, via the Academic Planning Committee to Senate (for information
purposes).
- A joint degree involves time spent by the student at
both institutions so there are travel, cost of living and visa costs
involved.
Further factors, which may add significantly to
the cost of funding a joint degree, are the requirement to pay fees at
the partners, the constitution of the joint examination committee (most
examiners must be physically present at the examination and defence),
etc.
Stellenbosch University's existing joint degree partners
The
list of institutions with whom we can enrol joint PhD degree candidates
is not fixed but it is limited. New agreements are negotiated from time
to time and therefore this list will change. Not all the agreements are
applicable to all prospective candidates
Reutlingen
University (Master's
only)* | KU Leuven
| Universiteit Antwerpen
|
University
of Göttingen (Master's only)* | Macquarie
University | University of Groningen
|
University
of Leipzig (includes
Master's)* | Université
de Bordeaux | University of Hamburg
|
Coventry
University | Université
Jean MonnetSaint-Etienne | University of Padova
|
Erasmus
University Rotterdam (EUR) | Université
Rouen | Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VUA)
|
Ghent
University | Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen
| Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
|
Hasselt
University | Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1
|
|
* Only available in specific disciplines |
What you need to know to do a joint degree with an existing partner: