The Admission Process

Applications for the 2026 Academic Year will open early May, 2025.

• The deadline date for applying to the program is October 1st, annually – complete application packages (all required documents and references) must be submitted on or before that date.
• The selection process for admission is highly competitive, and applicants are required to have a confirmed supervisor at the time of application at Brock University, Lakehead University or the University of Windsor.

Approaching a Potential Supervisor –While there is no one correct way to approach a potential Ph.D. Supervisor, we recommend that you send an email to your prospective supervisor that includes the following:

• a brief description of who you are and your background
• a brief description of your proposed dissertation research, including a proposed research question
• a request to meet in-person, by phone or by videoconferencing to discuss possible supervision
• Before sending an email, we recommend visiting the Designated Faculty List to explore faculty research interests and to see who may supervise.

Applications are completed online with all supporting materials uploaded directly to the online admission portal. See this knowledge based article with instructions: “How to fill out a graduate application?”

Typically in November/December the Program Committee sends out letters recommending positions for successful applicants. Then, on confirmation from the applicant of continued interest, pending the Home University Faculty of Graduate Studies review and approval, the applicant would receive an official offer of admission.

Please refer to the Program Handbook for more detailed information on the process. If you are offered a place in the program you must be prepared to start coursework in July 2026.

The Doctoral Seminars rotate annually among the three home universities. The 2025 academic year is scheduled to take place at the Brock University Campus, St. Catharine’s Ontario in July 2025,  and the University of Windsor, Windsor Ontario in July 2026. Then, in July 2027, the seminars will occur at Lakehead University Thunder Bay ON campus.

The Joint PhD Program will not grant deferrals to successful applicants who are unable to begin their studies the year they first applied.

Admission to the Program is considered complete when the following take place:

1. The Plan of Study form is completed and signed by all parties.
2. A formal Offer of Admission is received by the student from Faculty of Graduate Studies at the home university.
3. The Offer of Admission is accepted by the student in writing, with copies sent to the Office of the Secretariat and home university.