Dual Degrees in Canada: Comparing Agreements, Mobility and Costs

Two Degrees or an Experience Abroad?

Start by defining your goal. Do you want to earn two credentials, study two disciplines or spend part of your program in another country? These plans can overlap, but the words “double” and “joint” alone do not tell you what you will receive.

At McGill, Joint Honours is a Bachelor of Arts option that combines two disciplinary components: its name therefore does not demonstrate that students earn two international degrees. An exchange, meanwhile, may meet a desire for mobility without the host university awarding a second credential.

This table is intended to compare program types, not rank them. The right question is what outcome matters to you.

Campus Abroad: Look for the Location and the Credential

An offering described as a “campus abroad” deserves a closer look. Ask whether it is a teaching location for your university, an organized study period or a partner institution. Then clarify where courses take place, who enrols you and who awards the degree.

Do not infer that there is a second credential just because you will be in another country. The reverse is also possible: the Sherbrooke example below brings partner institutions together to offer degrees on both sides of the Atlantic. To compare offerings, look for the names of the credentials and the requirements for completing them rather than focusing only on the destination.

Universities and Programs

These two examples illustrate different arrangements. Their descriptions do not guarantee that applications are open or that the admission requirements and fees will apply to your cohort.

Sherbrooke and Grenoble Alpes: An International Agreement in Law

The Université de Sherbrooke profile includes the Maîtrise en droit — Cheminement double diplôme avec l'Université Grenoble-Alpes. The official master’s program page, updated on September 16, 2026, describes a pathway leading to a Sherbrooke master’s degree and a Master 2 from the French partner. Award of the credentials depends on successful completion and meeting the pathway requirements.

The same official page also describes pathways with La Rochelle Université and the Université de Poitiers. For Poitiers, it also mentions a Master 1: check which credentials are planned for your chosen partner rather than assuming all agreements are identical.

For Sherbrooke students following the sequence described, the first 3 terms take place in Sherbrooke and the next 2 with the French partner. The location where the thesis is written in the sixth term may vary. This schedule should not automatically be applied to someone entering the program through the French university.

UBC Okanagan: Two Degrees at One University

The Bachelor + Master of Management Dual Degree, associated with the University of British Columbia profile, combines an eligible bachelor’s degree with a Master of Management. The faculty states that the master’s phase takes 8 months of full-time study.

This example helps distinguish dual degrees from mobility: the information consulted does not establish that an international study period is mandatory. Initial admission to the option also does not remove the requirements that must be met to continue into the master’s program.

Read the Agreement from the Right Perspective

A partnership announcement is a starting point, not a complete description of your program. Ask for the documents that apply to your cohort and your entry institution. Before submitting an application, get written clarification of the following:

• Credentials: their exact names, which institution awards each one and the requirements to meet.
• Schedule: the periods at each location, the final project and the courses or credits that will be recognized.
• Selection: admission decisions and progression requirements at each stage.
• Unexpected circumstances: what happens if a course is not passed or mobility is not possible, and whether you can continue toward the first degree.
• Personal requirements: prerequisites, language requirements and documents required for your pathway.

The Sherbrooke example shows why the direction of mobility matters: a schedule described for students entering through the Quebec university is not enough to establish the schedule for someone entering through the French partner.

For another type of mobility, UBC states that students selected and matched with a partner through Go Global must then apply to the host university. This is an exchange procedure, not a universal rule for all dual degrees.

Build a Budget for Both Stages

An amount displayed for one stage does not necessarily represent the cost of the full program. At UBC Okanagan, the “2025W and after” fee schedule for the Undergraduate/Master of Management option lists the following amounts:

This is not the total price of both degrees. The deposit should not be added a second time as a separate expense. Ask for the fee schedule that applies to your cohort and confirm which category applies to your status.

For an international agreement, ask each institution: what tuition does it charge during each period? Add mandatory fees and ask whether any costs will remain your responsibility during the mobility period. At Sherbrooke, tuition schedules vary according to student status; the general page alone does not establish the full cost of a dual degree in law.

In your personal budget, also allow for housing in each city, travel, insurance and administrative procedures. A contingency for a possible additional term can help you assess whether the plan is financially viable. List confirmed scholarships separately from funding you are only planning to apply for.

Permits: Distinguish Between Situations

A university agreement does not replace immigration procedures. To study in Quebec in a program lasting more than 6 months, a foreign national normally needs a Quebec Acceptance Certificate for studies and a Canadian study permit, subject to applicable exemptions. Quebec specifies that a stay of less than 6 months may also require a CAQ if it is part of a longer program.

This information concerns foreign nationals; do not apply these procedures to your situation without checking your status. Also check with the relevant authorities which authorizations you need in the partner country.

If you are considering a Canadian post-graduation work permit, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada states that an overseas component of a Canadian program may be compatible with an application if it results in a credit from a Canadian institution. In the case described by IRCC, the validity of the permit is tied to the time studied in Canada; the other eligibility requirements still apply.

This information is general and the rules may change. A university agreement guarantees neither a permit, a job nor immigration. If you are considering a regulated profession, also ask the authority in the jurisdiction where you want to practise which requirements apply to your program.

Choose with a Comparison Sheet

For each option, gather five answers on one page: credentials sought, study locations, progression requirements, full budget and procedures specific to your situation. Note what has been confirmed in writing and what you still need to ask.

Then return to your priority. If it is international experience, an exchange may be worth comparing with a dual degree. If you want two credentials, review the requirements for each and how to fund both stages. If your main goal is to combine disciplines, check whether a single degree combining those fields meets your needs.

The most useful choice is not necessarily the one whose name sounds the most international: it is the one whose steps you understand and whose costs you can plan for.