Application Instructions

Thank you for your interest in the Joint PhD in Educational Studies Program.

The admission portal for the 2027 Academic Year will open in May 2026. The deadline to receive all required documents, including references, is October 1, 2026.

⚠️ Important:
Although the deadline is October 1, applicants should not wait until late September to begin their application.
Referees, transcripts, and document verification can take time — starting early will help ensure your application is complete and submitted before the deadline.

The Joint PhD program is offered jointly by the University of Windsor, Brock University, and Lakehead University.

The online application process is supported by the University of Windsor. As a result, your application will display the University of Windsor logo and contact information, regardless of which university you select as your home institution.

👉 See this Knowledge Base article for detailed instructions:
How to fill out a graduate application?

In your application, you will be asked to indicate which university you wish to apply to — Brock, Lakehead, or Windsor — by completing the Supplementary Admissions Form. Your choice will determine your Home University.

All applications to the Joint PhD Program are automatically forwarded to the Office of the Joint PhD Secretariat for assessment. Please review all information below carefully before beginning your application.

📘 Note: The 2026 Academic Year begins on Thursday, July 2, 2026.

Step 1: Complete the online application including the following sections:

• Supplementary Admissions Form
• Program Selection
• Potential Supervisor Selection
• Biographical Information
• Personal Contact Information
• Citizenship Declaration
• Academic History
• References
• Other Information

Submit the application fee:

• A non-refundable application fee of $125.00 in Canadian funds is required.  This fee is payable to University of Windsor by American Express, Mastercard, and Visa.
• Applications will not be processed without the application fee.

You will be contacted by email (within one week) when we have received your paid application informing you of the required application materials you must submit.  This email will also provide you with your username/Windsor student number, temporary password, and instructions on how to login to University of Windsor’s application portal where you can monitor the status of your application and documents.

Approaching a Potential Supervisor 

Step 2: Academic References

Your application requires two academic references from qualified scholars who can attest to your potential for doctoral-level study and research.

In the online application, you will provide each referee’s name, position, and institutional contact information.
Before listing them, contact your referees to confirm their willingness to provide a positive reference.

Referees will receive an email from the UWinsite Student Graduate Application System with instructions for completing and submitting their reference reports.

⚠️ Important:
Referees are normally given 21 days to submit their references. However, this timeframe does not automatically adjust if you apply close to the October 1 deadline.
For example, if you submit your application in late September, your referees will still only have until October 1 to submit their references.
It is your responsibility to ensure your referees are aware of this and able to submit their reports before the final deadline.
All references must be received by October 1 for your application to be considered complete.

All references are confidential and may be verified for authenticity.

Step 3: Transcripts

You must upload unofficial transcripts and/or degree certificates from each post-secondary institution you have attended. Be sure to include the grading scale with each transcript.

Uploaded transcripts must clearly show all semesters, courses, grades, grading scales, and (if applicable) the awarding of degrees.

Transcripts will be verified for authenticity. Submitting misrepresented, fraudulent, or falsified documents is considered a serious offense and will be fully investigated.

In-progress transcripts are acceptable if you are currently completing a program. Please upload your in-progress transcript with your application; however, final official transcripts and proof of degree(s) will be required if you are admitted.

If accepted into the program, you must submit one official original copy of all academic transcripts and/or degree certificates from each post-secondary institution you have attended. Your offer of admission will include instructions on how and where to submit official documents.

Reminder: Any transcripts or degree certificates not in English must be accompanied by a notarized English translation.

Step 4: Supporting Documents

In order to complete your application, you must upload your other supporting documents (listed below). Once you have received your Windsor username/ID# and password you will be able to activate your University Windsor Portal where you can upload your documents including:

1) Research Plan

• Your Research Plan should be a brief (1500 words maximum) description of your proposed area of research.  It should discuss the topic that is of most interest to you in the context your chosen field of study, relevant literature in the field of study, and refer to relevant research methodologies.
• Please see the Research Plan Template for reference.
• Please reiterate your intended field of study, potential supervisor, and the home universities you would like to consider for your application.

2) Academic CV

• Please use the following standard Academic CV format 

3) Supplementary Admissions Form

• Please use the following Joint Ph.D. in ED Supplementary Admissions Form

4) Proof of Research Competency

• Evidence of research competence is usually demonstrated by a Master’s thesis, those who have not completed a thesis must submit evidence of equivalent research capability. For example, additional proof of research capacity could be major paper, peer reviewed journal articles or published papers. These can be merged to the Research Plan.

5) Proof of English Language Proficiency

English is the primary language of communication and instruction in the program. Applicants from other countries whose official language is not English, and/or have not completed a degree at a university where the primary language of instruction is English must demonstrate proficiency in English to be considered for admission. This can be demonstrated in one of the following ways:

• A minimum score of 7.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with no individual sub-category score less than 6.5.
• A minimum score of 100 on the Internet-Based Test (iBT) version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), including a minimum score of 27 in the Written component and a minimum score of 27 in the Reading component.
• A minimum score of 60 (Brock & Lakehead University) and 70 (University of Windsor) on the Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) examination.

In some cases, home university regulations require the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for students with degrees from overseas universities, even where the language of instruction is English. Please check the home university websites for specific requirements. Note that the Duolingo English Language Test is not accepted.

Please note that transcripts and materials submitted in support of an application to the Joint PhD in Educational Studies become the property of the Secretariat of the Joint PhD in Educational Studies Program and will not be returned.