university of toronto online phd programs

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Online and Remote Learning

Learn where and when you want.

SCS is committed to making learning as accessible as possible both locally and across the globe. We are continuously expanding our list of over 540 online learning opportunities. From languages to accounting, we offer flexible learning opportunities.

Our online courses are instructor-led and delivered through the University of Toronto’s Learning Management Engine – Quercus. Quercus uses weekly, real time modules and has tools for engagement and community building. Course preparation has built in flexibility so you can read, study, and complete assignments on your own time.

You will communicate with your instructors via discussion boards and/or email. Some online courses include live, interactive webinars. If you’re unable to attend the live webinar, you will be able to view a recording of the webinar on your own schedule.

You may also want to investigate funding opportunities available to you on our  Financial Assistance  page. Your path to lifelong learning is more attainable than you think!

0081 - Quantitative Methods for Business Management

0083 - Corporate Finance & Performance Analysis

0084 - Capital Markets, Asset Valuation & Portfolio Management

0166 - Pronunciation

• St. George Campus

0312 - Latin: Level I

0416 - Brazilian Portuguese for Beginners

0442 - Japanese: Level I

0579 - Spanish: Level III

0582 - Chinese (Mandarin): Level I

0586 - Spanish: Level I

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Professional and Graduate Programs

Build on your undergraduate degree with U of T’s rich selection of professional and graduate programs. While some programs require university preparation, others require a university degree. See faculty websites for specific admission information.

School of Graduate Studies

U of T is where Canada goes for answers to its big questions – answers that are being provided by faculty and students of Canada’s largest and most prestigious graduate school. With unparalleled research and education facilities as well as outstanding libraries, our world-class graduate students are studying and working with the most productive research faculty in Canada. Our graduate students’ research is recognized internationally, published in leading journals; they also lead the nation in winning external research grants.

Learn more about our over 175 research and professional master’s and doctoral programs across more than 80 departments, or explore the potential for interdisciplinary research in more than forty collaborative programs. By pursuing graduate studies at U of T, you’ll be learning first-hand from some of the world’s top researchers, scholars, and professionals as they work to solve the most urgent questions of the 21st century. Under their guidance, you’ll develop the skills and reputation you need to launch into a lifelong path of intellectual discovery and professional success.

Length of program: varies Phone Number: 416.978.6614 Programs : www.uoft.me/gradprograms Information: www.uoft.me/gradstudies

A complete university degree required

Architecture, Landscape, and Design

The John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design (Daniels) focuses on interdisciplinary training and research to test the limits of 21st century design.

Length of Program: Varies Phone Number: 416.978.5038 Information: www.uoft.me/daniels

A complete university degree is required for graduate programs

Biomedical Communications

A Faculty of Medicine program, biomedical communications offers an interdisciplinary graduate program in the design and evaluation of visual media in medicine and science.

Length of Program: 2 Years Phone Number: 905.569.4849 Information: www.uoft.me/biomedcomm

One of the foremost dental research centres in Canada, U of T’s Faculty of Dentistry has an international reputation for scholarly activity, in both the clinical and biological sciences.

Length of Program: 4 Years Phone Number: 416.979.4901 ext. 4373 Information: www.uoft.me/Dentistry

Some university education required

The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education is an all-graduate institute. We offer programs in curriculum, teaching and learning; applied psychology and human development; leadership, higher and adult education; and social justice education.

Length of Program: Varies Phone Number: 416.978.1848 Information: www.oise.utoronto.ca/oise/Academic_Programs/index.html

The Faculty of Forestry offers an innovative, interdisciplinary course-based Master of Forest Conservation program, which is accredited by the Canadian Forestry Accreditation Board, and includes a three-month internship and opportunities for international study.

Length of Program: 16 months Phone Number: 416.946.7952 Information: www.uoft.me/forestry

Information

The iSchool develops professionals, grounded in practice, policy and research, in the fields of information, knowledge management, digital communication and curation, libraries, archives and museums for the 21st century.

Length of Program: Varies Phone Number: 416.978.3234 Information: www.ischool.utoronto.ca

The Faculty of Law is one of the oldest professional faculties at U of T and has a long and illustrious history of educating the best lawyers and legal scholars in Canada.

L ength of Program: 3 Years Phone Number: 416.978.3716 Information: www.law.utoronto.ca

Institute for Management & Innovation

The Institute for Management & Innovation is the collaborative centre for management education at U of T Mississauga providing professional masters programs in accounting, biotechnology, innovation and sustainability.

Length of Program: Varies Phone Number: 905.569.4565 Information: www.utm.utoronto.ca/imi

Rotman School of Management

U of T’s Rotman School has set out to redesign business education for the 21st century and become one of the world’s top-tier business schools in preparing business leaders of tomorrow.

Length of Program: Varies Phone Number: 416.978.3499 Information: www.rotman.utoronto.ca

Medical Radiation Sciences

Jointly offered by the Faculty of Medicine and The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences, the Medical Radiation Sciences Program integrates proficiency in diagnostic and therapeutic patient care with advanced technology.

Length of Program: 3 Years Phone Number: 416.978.7837 Information: www.uoft.me/medicalradiationsciences

U of T’s Faculty of Medicine and affiliated hospitals are among the leading health sciences centres for research and education in North America, with a global reputation for excellence and innovation.

Length of Program: 4 Years Phone Number: 416.978.7928 Information: www.uoft.me/studymedicine

The Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing ranks among the premier nursing programs in the world in both education and research.

Length of Program: 2 Years Phone Number: 416.978.2865 Information: www.uoft.me/bloombergnursing

Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy

A Faculty of Medicine program, occupational science and therapy prepares students to become innovative occupational therapists, clinician scientists and educators.

Length of Program: 2 Years Phone Number: 416.946.8571 Information: www.uoft.me/ot

The Doctor of Pharmacy program at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy prepares graduates to become leaders in medication therapy management, improve patient outcomes, and work effectively within health care teams.

Length of Program: 4 Years Phone Number: 416.978.3967 Information: www.uoft.me/pharmacy

Physical Therapy

A program within the Faculty of Medicine, the Master of Science in Physical Therapy develops highly competent academic practitioners who demonstrate the essential competencies of a practicing physical therapist in a wide range of settings upon graduation.

Length of Program: 2 Years Phone Number: 416.946.8641 Information: www.physicaltherapy.utoronto.ca

Physician Assistant

Trained in the Faculty of Medicine, Physician Assistants are health care professionals who practice under the supervision of a licensed physician. In their role, PAs are able to conduct physical examinations, order and interpret tests, diagnose and treat illnesses, and more.

Length of Program: 2 Years Phone Number: 416.978.1676 Information: www.paconsortium.ca

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

The Dalla Lana School of Public Health is Canada’s largest and most comprehensive public health school that is informing practice and influencing government policy in population health, prevention and health-care systems.

Length of Program: 2 Years Phone Number: 416.978.2058 Information: www.dlsph.utoronto.ca

Social Work

The Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work has been on the cutting edge of education, policy, research and practice in the field of social work for 100 years.

Length of Program: Varies Phone Number: 416.978.3257 Information: www.uoft.me/socialwork

Speech-Language Pathology

The Department of Speech-Language Pathology in the Faculty of Medicine prepares highly competent clinical professionals and researchers who find employment in a variety of settings related to assessment, intervention and/or study of communication, swallowing and hearing disorders.

Length of Program: 2 Years Phone Number: 416.946.5456 Information: www.uoft.me/slp

U of T’s affiliate the Toronto School of Theology provides graduate theological education in academic or professional programs and shapes men and women for faithful and creative leadership in the mission of the Church.

Length of Program: Varies Phone Number: 416.978.4039 Information: www.tst.edu

Find out about  co-ops, internships, field school ,  First Year Foundations : The  One Programs, and other enhanced academic opportunities available on all three campuses.

Applicants should rank their choices in order of preference. You will receive separate decisions for each Faculty/Division to which you apply (i.e. multiple offers from the University of Toronto). The Faculties and Divisions include:

• Applied Science and Engineering
• Arts and Science, St. George campus
• Daniels Faculty of Landscape, Architecture and Design
• International Foundation Program
• Kinesiology and Physical Education
• Medical Radiation Sciences *
• Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing *
• Physician Assistant *
• University of Toronto Mississauga
• University of Toronto Scarborough

*admission to these divisions requires some university preparation; you cannot apply to these programs directly from secondary school.

Applicants should rank their choices in order of preference.

U of T provides many opportunities to study internationally. Learn about exchange programs, field courses, international development internships, and co-op placements.

If you do not meet the published admission requirements, and have not previously attempted university level studies, you may become eligible for various programs through either the Academic Bridging Program or the Transitional Year Program. Find out more about these options  here .

If your first language is not English and you will have completed less than four years of satisfactory full-time study in a Canadian school or in a country where the dominant language is English, you may have to present proof of English facility. Find details  here .

You might be a candidate for one of our English Language Transition Programs. These are available on each of our three campuses, find out more about the  different offerings .

Once you’ve been accepted, you’ll receive information about course selection in your Next Steps package. You can get an idea of what courses are available by checking the  Course Finder , or get in touch with your  Registrar  for questions about course selection.

You should also become familiar with the  Accessible Campus Online Resource Network (ACORN) , and use it to find your courses, academic record and fee information.

Main Content

The Rotman PhD Program

Join a close-knit community of scholars at one of the world’s top-ranked centres of management research – at the University of Toronto, in the heart of Canada’s vibrant, culturally diverse financial capital. As part of Rotman’s PhD program, you’ll explore new ideas, develop insights that inspire solutions and help to spark broader conversations among corporate and public leaders

• Why Rotman?
• Student Life

PhD PROGRAM - APPLICATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 2024 ARE NOW CLOSED. Applications for Fall 2025 will be open in September 2024.  

The PhD in Management is a challenging 5 year program which features course-work, cutting edge research training, and close working relationships with some of the best management academics in the world.  The success of our program is evidenced in the impressive careers of our graduates.

PhD students work closely with faculty in our research-led culture which emphasizes rigor, creativity and innovation. The PhD curriculum is carefully designed to support students as publishing scholars as early as possible in their doctoral studies and we have a terrific track record of  placements in leading business schools. Our program is divided into 7 distinct streams of research: Accounting , Economic Analysis and Policy , Finance , Marketing ,   Operations Management and Statistics ,  Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management , and Strategic Management .

Questions? We Have Answers   Research What's Happening   PhD Courses @Rotman

The Rotman School is ranked 16th in the world by the Financial Times for its faculty and research. PhD students at Rotman enjoy an academic culture of collaboration and research excellence. Our doctoral program is delivered in seven streams that reflect the organization of the school as a whole: 

• Economic Analysis and Policy
• Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management
• Operations Management and Statistics  
• Strategic Management

PhD students at Rotman study in small classes and form close working relationships with faculty. Take a moment to get to know our program requirements. If you are a strong candidate with an appetite for academic excellence, we encourage you to contact us to learn more about the Rotman PhD.

Academics at Rotman Learn More    Research at Rotman See What's Happening

The Rotman PhD is for ambitious scholars who plan to teach and research at some of the world's top business schools. If you are looking to study with leading faculty, publish in noted academic journals, and build a global network of like-minded scholars, the Rotman PhD program is for you. Our goal is to prepare our PhD students for exceptional careers in the field of management, and all aspects of the doctoral program are developed with your professional goals in mind. Find out how the Rotman School at the University of Toronto has been the launching pad for many stellar academic careers.

Careers Learn More   Rotman PhDs on the Market   Research at Rotman See What's Happening

Are you a promising scholar driven to achieve success in your studies? At Rotman we believe that your success is fueled by support that extends well beyond scholarship. Your ability to achieve both during the program and after graduation depends on strong networks with faculty and your peers. We aim to give you the tools you need to complete your program while achieving a balanced life outside of the classroom. Explore these pages to relevant resources.

Student Life Learn More    Research at Rotman See What's Happening

Each year, the Rotman PhD program at the University of Toronto selects a small number of outstanding candidates who will go on to make significant contributions to management research and education. The admission selection process is highly competitive: on average only 15-20 doctoral students are admitted from a pool of 400-500 applicants. 

The faculty admission teams in each area look for excellent academic records that include strong backgrounds in relevant disciplines and/or previous work experience related to the intended area of concentration. Attention is also paid to test scores, letters of reference, and to the applicants' own written descriptions of their backgrounds, interests, and career goals. Explore these pages to learn about Rotman's highly competitive application process. 

Getting In Learn More   

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Arts & Science students are members of Canada's top research university, with access to unparalleled professional and personal opportunities. Our wide-ranging graduate options include 39 PhD programs, 41 doctoral-stream master's programs and eight professional master’s programs across the humanities, social sciences and sciences. Our units are also partners in 11 combined degree programs, one dual degree master's program and 33 interdisciplinary collaborative specializations.

Humanities Programs

Sciences Programs

Social Sciences Programs

Collaborative Specializations

For more information about collaborative specializations, contact the graduate unit (department, centre, or institute) you’re thinking of applying to. Visit the graduate unit and collaborative specializations directory .

• Aboriginal Health, MA, MSc, PhD
• Addiction Studies, MA, PhD
• Aging, Palliative & Supportive Care across the Life Course, MA, MSc, PhD
• Ancient & Medieval Philosophy, PhD
• Ancient Greek & Roman History, PhD + History, York University ‐ PhD
• Bioethics, MA, PhD
• Biomedical Engineering, MSc, PhD
• Book History & Print Culture, MA, PhD
• Community Development, MA, MScPl
• Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies, MA, MGA, MPP, MScPl
• Developmental Biology, MSc, PhD
• Diaspora and Transnational Studies, MA, MSc, PhD
• Earth Sciences & Physics, MSc, PhD
• Editing Ancient and Medieval Texts, PhD
• Environment & Health, MA, MSc, MScPl, PhD
• Environmental Studies, MA, MSc, MGA, MPP, MScPL, PhD,
• Ethnic & Pluralism Studies, MA, MGA, MIRHR, MPP, PhD
• Genome Biology & Bioinformatics, PhD
• Global Health, MA, MSc, MScPl, PhD
• Health Care, Technology & Place, PhD (admissions have closed)
• Human Development, PhD
• Jewish Studies, MA, PhD
• Knowledge Media Design, MA, MSc, PhD
• Mediterranean Archaeology, PhD
• Neuroscience, MA, MSc, PhD
• Sexual Diversity Studies, MA, MSc, PhD
• Psychology and Engineering, MA, PhD
• Public Health Policy, MPP
• Sexual Diversity Studies, MA, MSc, MPP, PhD
• South Asian Studies, MA, MSc, PhD
• Women & Gender Studies, MA, MSc, MScPl, PhD
• Women's Health, MA, MSc, PhD
• Workplace Learning and Social Change, MA

Combined Programs

• Juris Doctor & Master of Arts (Criminology & Sociolegal Studies)
• Juris Doctor & Master of Arts (Economics)
• Juris Doctor & Master of Arts (English)
• Juris Doctor & Master of Arts (European and Russian Affairs)
• Juris Doctor & Master of Global Affairs
• Juris Doctor & Master of Public Policy
• Juris Doctor & Doctor of Philosophy (Criminology & Sociolegal Studies)
• Juris Doctor & Doctor of Philosophy (Economics)
• Juris Doctor & Doctor of Philosophy (Philosophy)
• Juris Doctor & Doctor of Philosophy (Political Science)
• Master of Business Administration & Master of Global Affairs

Dual Degree Programs

• Master of Global Affairs & Master of Public Policy (Sciences Po, Paris)

Start your Application

Application instructions and information can be found on the  School of Graduate Studies website .

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PhD in Information

Diploma of Advanced Study in Information Studies

Master of Information

PhD Program Director: Prof. Patrick Keilty

Be equipped to take on leadership roles in information and knowledge-based environments, including academia. The doctorate program features advanced scholarly research at the intersection of information, technology, people, and communities. In private and public institutions, apply the PhD to professional practice functions such as research, systems analysis and design, and administration.

Prospective students: PhD Student Recruitment

Past students: Where our PhD grads are now

Information Night on Thursday October 26 @ 6pm ET to learn more about the PhD program! If you missed the event, watch the recording here! 

Application & deadlines.

Entry into the program occurs once a year, in  September . The program is delivered in-person on campus.

Application Form & Fee

• Apply via the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies  Online Admissions Application.
• Read the  frequently asked questions  about the online application.
• The application fee is $125 CAD per application.

Application Deadlines for Admission

• October 1  – online application is available
• December 1 –  online application, application fee and all supporting documents must be submitted: statement of interest, research statement, transcripts, CV/resume, writing sample, academic letters of reference, English proficiency test scores (if applicable). An application with supporting documents submitted after this date will be considered incomplete, and will not be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

Research Clusters

Artificial Intelligence

Associated faculty : Anastasia Kuzminykh / Beth Coleman / Brian Cantwell Smith / Christoph Becker / Costis Dallas / Eric Yu / Jia Xue / Julie Yujie Chen / Kelly Lyons / Matt Ratto / Periklis Andritsos / Rhonda McEwen / Safwat Hassan / Seamus Ross / Shion Guha / Tegan Maharaj

Creative, Making & Artistic Practices

Associated faculty : Alan Stanbridge / Beth Coleman / Claire Battershill / Costis Dallas / Jasmine Rault / Jenna Hartel / Maggie Hutcheson / Mary Elizabeth Luka / Matt Ratto / SA Smythe / TL Cowan

Critical Theory & Social Critique

Associated faculty : Alan Galey / Beth Coleman / Brian Cantwell Smith / Christoph Becker / Claire Battershill / Costis Dallas / Jasmine Rault / Marie-Pier Boucher / Matt Ratto / Patrick Keilty / Priyank Chandra / SA Smythe / Sarah Sharma / Thy Phu / TL Cowan

Cultural Memory & Heritage

Associated faculty : Alan Galey / Alan Stanbridge / Cara Krmpotich / Christoph Becker / Costis Dallas / Fiorella Foscarini / Heather MacNeil / Irina D. Mihalache / Jasmine Rault / Maggie Hutcheson / Mary Elizabeth Luka / Nadia Caidi / Patrick Keilty / SA Smythe / Seamus Ross / Thy Phu / TL Cowan / Wendy Duff

Data & Society

Associated faculty : Anastasia Kuzminykh / Aviv Shachak / Beth Coleman / Brian Cantwell Smith / Christoph Becker / Costis Dallas / Eric Yu / Kelly Lyons / Maher Elshakankiri / Patrick Keilty / Periklis Andritsos / Rohan Alexander / Safwat Hassan / Seamus Ross / Shion Guha / Tegan Maharaj

Design Studies

Associated faculty : Christoph Becker / Anastasia Kuzminykh / Costis Dallas / Matt Ratto / Olivier St-Cyr / Priyank Chandra / Sara Grimes

Digital Humanities

Associated faculty: Alan Galey / Claire Battershill / Kenzie Burchell / Matt Ratto / Patrick Keilty / Seamus Ross

Galleries, Libraries, Archives & Museums (GLAM)

Associated Faculty : Alan Galey / Cara Krmpotich / Christoph Becker / Claire Battershill / Fiorella Foscarini / Heather MacNeil / Irina D. Mihalache / Jasmine Rault / Jenna Hartel / Maggie Hutcheson / Mary Elizabeth Luka / Nadia Caidi / Patrick Keilty / SA Smythe / Seamus Ross / Siobhan Stevenson / TL Cowan / Wendy Duff

Gender, Race, & Sexuality

Associated faculty : Beth Coleman / Claire Battershill / Irina D. Mihalache / Jasmine Rault / Leslie Shade / Mary Elizabeth Luka / Nadia Caidi / Negin Dahya / Patrick Keilty / SA Smythe / Sara Grimes / Sarah Sharma / Sherry Yu / Thy Phu / TL Cowan

Global, Transnational & Comparative Studies

Associated faculty : Alessandro Delfanti / David Nieborg / Fiorella Foscarini / Jasmine Rault / Jeffrey Boase / Julie Yujie Chen / Kenzie Burchell / Nadia Caidi / Negin Dahya / Priyank Chandra / Rafael Grohmann / SA Smythe / Sarah Sharma / Sherry Yu / Thy Phu

Health Informatics

Associated faculty : Aviv Shachak / Beth Coleman / Colin Furness / Eric Yu / Javed Mostafa / Jia Xue / Maher Elshakankiri / Rhonda McEwen / Shion Guha

Human-Computer Interaction

Associated faculty : Anastasia Kuzminykh / Aviv Shachak / Brian Cantwell Smith / Christoph Becker / Eric Yu / Kelly Lyons / Matt Ratto / Olivier St-Cyr / Patrick Keilty / Priyank Chandra / Rhonda McEwen / Safwat Hassan / Shion Guha / Tony Tang

Information Behaviour

Associated faculty : Aviv Shachak / Chun Wei Choo / Colin Furness / Fiorella Foscarini / Jenna Hartel

Journalism Studies

Associated faculty : Kenzie Burchell / Nicole Cohen / Sherry Yu

Labour & Technology

Associated faculty : Alessandro Delfanti / Brett Caraway / David Nieborg / Julie Yujie Chen / Kenzie Burchell / Nicole Cohen / Priyank Chandra / Rafael Grohmann / Sarah Sharma / Vera Khovanskaya

Material Cultures

Associated faculty : Alan Galey / Alan Stanbridge / Beth Coleman / Cara Krmpotich / Claire Battershill / Irina D. Mihalache / Jenna Hartel / Matt Ratto / Patrick Keilty / Thy Phu

Media & Communications

Associated faculty: Alan Stanbridge / Alessandro Delfanti / Beth Coleman / Brett Caraway / Claire Battershill / David Nieborg / Irina D. Mihalache / Jasmine Rault / Jeffrey Boase / Jeremy Packer / Julie Yujie Chen / Kenzie Burchell / Leslie Shade / Marie-Pier Boucher / Mary Elizabeth Luka / Nadia Caidi / Negin Dahya / Nicole Cohen / Patrick Keilty / Rafael Grohmann / Rhonda McEwen / Sara Grimes / Sarah Sharma / Sherry Yu / Tero Karppi / Thy Phu / TL Cowan

Platform Studies

Associated faculty : David Nieborg / Julie Yujie Chen / Kenzie Burchell / Rafael Grohmann / Tero Karppi

Political Economy

Associated faculty : Alessandro Delfanti / Brett Caraway / David Nieborg / Julie Yujie Chen / Kenzie Burchell / Leslie Shade / Nicole Cohen / Rafael Grohmann / Sara Grimes / Sarah Sharma / Siobhan Stevenson

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)

Associated faculty: Aviv Shachak / Claire Battershill / Colin Furness / Jenna Hartel / Maggie Hutcheson / Maher Elshakankiri / Malayna Bernstein / Nada Almasri / Olivier St-Cyr / Sarah English / Tao Wang / Velian Pandeliev

Social Media

Associated faculty : David Nieborg / Jeffrey Boase / Rhonda McEwen / Tero Karppi

Software & Systems

Associated faculty : Christoph Becker / Eric Yu / Kelly Lyons / Safwat Hassan

Technology, Sustainability and Social Justice

Associated faculty : Beth Coleman / Christoph Becker / Eric Yu / Matt Ratto / Tegan Maharaj

Youth & Digital Technology

Associated faculty : Jia Xue / Leslie Shade / Nadia Caidi / Negin Dahya / Sara Grimes / Shion Guha

Institutes and Labs

The Faculty of Information is also home to several interdisciplinary research hubs:

• Communication, Organization of Knowledge, Information Ecosystems (COoKIE) Group
• Critical Making Lab
• Human-Centered Data Science Lab
• Just Sustainability Design
• Kids Play Tech Lab
• Knowledge Media Design Institute

Future Students

We encourage prospective applicants to review the current projects in which our faculty are engaged.

The doctoral program is available only on a full-time (4 year) basis.

The Faculty of Information provides 4-year funding packages for all full-time doctoral students.

Questions? Please contact us via email at: [email protected]

Visit the How to Apply page for detailed application and admission information.

Degree Requirements

Full-time phd program.

• The customary program length for full-time doctoral study is 4 years.
• All requirements must be completed within 6 years from first enrolment in the program.
• PhD students must be regularly registered in the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) during each year of their program.

In order to maintain satisfactory progress, a student must:

• Complete the core course requirements by the end of Year 1
• Complete all 3 (1.5 FCE) required electives before the Qualifying Examination
• Pass the Qualifying Examination during the 2nd session of INF3006, which is a three-session course
• Successfully defend their thesis proposal by the fall session of Year 3
• Achieve candidacy by the end of Year 3, in compliance with the requirements of the School of Graduate Studies
• Successfully defend their thesis by the end of Year 6 (maximum time limit for full-time students)

Full-Time Sample Timetable

Coursework requirements

Students in the Media, Technology and Culture concentration complete 4.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

• INF 3001H Research in Information: Foundations (0.5 FCE)
• INF 3012H Social Scientific Methods for Media (0.5 FCE) or INF 3014H Cultural and Interpretative Methods for Media and Technology  (0.5 FCE). Course selection to be determined in consultation with the student’s research advisor.
• INF 3009H Theory and History of Media Technology (0.5FCE)
• INF 3010H Power, Media and Technology (0.5 FCE)
• 2.0 FCEs in elective courses relevant to Media, Technology, and Culture (this list of courses will be updated every year)
• Under ‘Enrol and Manage’ – choose ‘Programs’
• Use the gear-wheel icon to either ‘Add program’ or ‘Drop program’ for the concentration you intend to add/drop.
• A prompt asking you to confirm action will appear. Click ‘Add’ or ‘Drop’ to confirm action.
• While the Faculty of Information uses the term “concentration” or “Area of Study”, ACORN uses the term “program”.
• Students will work closely with their advisor to decide if they should enrol in the MTC concentration.
• Changes to enrolment in the MTC concentration can be made any time before achieving candidacy.
• Once candidacy has been reached, requests for changes in MTC concentration enrolment will only be considered for exceptional circumstances.

Students in all other concentrations must complete 4.0 FCEs as follows:

• ​​​INF 3001H Research in Information: Foundations (0.5 FCE).
• A methods course (0.5 FCE): INF 3003H Research in Information: Frameworks and Design or a specific methods course to be determined in consultation with the student’s research advisor.
• INF 3006Y Major Area Reading Course (1.0 FCE)  or two additional electives to be determined in consultation with the student’s research advisor (1.0 FCE).
• 2.0 FCEs of elective courses.

PhD Funding Package

The Faculty covers tuition and fees for all students, domestic and international, for the first five years of the program. In addition, a typical student receives a minimum base funding of $18,500 for 4 years, which comes in the form of a Teaching Assistantship (TAship) and Faculty scholarship. In some cases, faculty members use grants to fund a student’s base funding, including tuition and fees, which can exceed the minimum funding. If a student receives a SSHRC or NSERC Doctoral Fellowship of $15,000 or greater, the Faculty provides an additional $5,000 excellence award (for a total of $20,000) in the first four years of the program, which replaces the normal minimum funding allocation. In all cases, students build on their base funding by receiving Research Assistantships (RAships), external grants, awards, scholarships, fellowships, and additional TAships from any unit across campus. These do not affect a student’s base funding package.  

The Faculty pays tuition and fees in the 5th year for all students in good standing. Any student who previously accepted a TAship is guaranteed a TAship in their 5th year and subsequent years. The Faculty does not provide a scholarship in the 5 th  year. However, students can apply for a one-time dissertation completion award in their final year of the program.   As in previous years, students can receive additional external grants, awards, scholarships, fellowships, RAships, and additional TAships from any unit across campus.

The Faculty is seeking ways to increase PhD student funding. For more information about funding, please consult the PhD Funding   webpage .

Awards and Scholarships

The Faculty of Information assists with a number of awards and scholarships for doctoral students.

Review our main awards page for a comprehensive list of available awards for our doctoral students. We have highlighted a few below:

• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship : The Vanier CGS award aims to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by supporting students who demonstrate both leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies.
• PhD Conference Travel Award : The award assists Faculty of Information doctoral students with travel costs associated with presenting original research at a conference or symposium, or to engage in other appropriate scholarly activity at a conference.
• Ethel W. Auster Scholarship for Doctoral Research : This award was endowed by a donation from family and friends of the late Professor Auster. Awarded by the Council of the Faculty of Information Studies, this award is open to doctoral students in their dissertation research.
• Doctoral Completion Award : The aim of the DCA is to support full-time PhD students who are beyond the funded cohort but within the time limit for the degree.

Please see our Awards and Scholarships page.

Contact us for more information

Please email [email protected] for information about admissions.

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PhD program admission requirements

Degree and course requirements.

Applicants must have completed, or be in the process of completing a master's degree in economics or a related field with an average of at least B+, or have completed, or be in the process of completing a bachelor’s degree in economics or a related field with an average of at least A- in the final two years of study.

We offer both regular-entry and direct-entry PhD programs. The regular-entry program is open only to students who will have completed the requirements for a master’s degree in economics or a related field by September of the year for which they are applying. Students who do not expect to satisfy this condition should apply to the direct-entry program . In particular, applicants currently in the final year of a bachelor’s program should apply for the direct-entry PhD. Under no circumstances should you apply to both the regular-entry and the direct-entry PhD program. Applicants to the direct-entry program will be asked whether they wish to be considered for the Economics MA program should their PhD application be unsuccessful.

Applicants educated in a country other than Canada should check the equivalent qualifications table prior to starting the online admission application (not all bachelor’s or master's degrees are equivalent to the corresponding degree from the University of Toronto). The PhD is a full-time program. It is not possible to pursue a PhD on a part-time basis. Candidates are required to remain in full-time attendance for the first three years of the program. There is one admission date, in September. There is no January admission.

Applicants must have a strong preparation in advanced mathematics, statistics, and economics, including courses in microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, and econometrics or statistics.

Please note that meeting these minimum requirements does not imply automatic acceptance into the program. (See the PhD FAQ for the typical profile of a successful applicant.)

The admission process

Please read in full the application information and instructions prior to starting the university's online application to ensure you have informed yourself on essential information including: application deadlines, application processing time, planning for your application submission, how to apply, contact information and the application assessment process.

Once the university's online application form has been completed and the application fee paid (final deadline January 19, 2024), applicants will receive an email message from the Department of Economics with a link to a supplementary form. When this form is completed and the Economics Graduate Office has received all required supporting documentation (final deadline January 19, 2024), the department will begin to review and assess the application. To avoid any issues, we strongly advise applicants to complete their application and supplementary form well in advance of the deadline. To be considered for certain prestigious scholarships, such as the Connaught or Trillium scholarship, the application must be completed by January 19, 2024, including all required supporting documentation.

The application assessment process

The files of applicants who meet the minimum requirements, submit all the required documents by the deadline will be reviewed by the Department of Economics Admissions Committee. Note: The meeting of these requirements is only a necessary condition, not a sufficient condition, for acceptance into the program. The Admissions Committee normally starts to make first round offers from mid-March through early April and may continue with subsequent rounds of offers until June. All applicants will be notified either with an offer of admission or rejection of their application by the end of June.

Please also see our PhD FAQ page for the answers to commonly asked questions.

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The Department of English at the University of Toronto offers two doctoral streams, the PhD program and the PhD U (“direct-entry”) program.

Admission to the doctoral streams is highly selective.

The PhD program welcomes applications from our own English MA students and English MA students from other recognized institutions.

Candidates for admission to the PhD program must complete an MA in English at this or another university with a standing of A- or better and must satisfy the Department that they are capable of independent research at an advanced level.

The PhD program is designed for completion in five years ; it may extend, if necessary, to a maximum of six years.

PhD U (Direct-Entry) Program

The "direct-entry" PhD U program welcomes applications from exceptional students who have completed their undergraduate English BA degree but not an English MA, or who have completed an MA in a program related to but not in the field of English. (If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact the Associate Director, PhD , before applying.)

Please see the Application Information  page (under “Programs”) for further information about eligibility for the PhD U program, which involves an additional year of coursework and therefore tends to take an additional year to complete.

Upon registration, all doctoral candidates are assigned a mentor from the Department’s graduate faculty.

A thesis supervisor and supervisory committee are appointed at the end of Year 1 for students in the PhD program or the end of Year 2 for students in the PhD U program.

The Special Fields Examination is normally taken in March, April, or May of Year 2 in the program for PhD students or Year 3 in the program for PhD U students.

Program Requirements and Course Work

At the University of Toronto, the acronym FCE stands for “Full Course Equivalent.” A “full course” is weighted 1.0 FCE and meets for the full year (i.e., two terms or semesters). Almost all of our graduate courses in English , however, run for a single term and are thus called “half courses,” which are weighted 0.5 FCE. (“3.0 FCEs,” in other words, in practice means 6 single-term courses.)

The program requirements (except for ENG9900H) for the PhD are usually completed within the first two years of the program.

The minimum course requirements for the degree are as follows:

• ENG9400H Essential Skills Workshop Series (0.25 FCE); taken in Year 1 of the program
• ENG9900H Teaching Literature (0.5 FCE); students have the option of taking this required course in either Fall of Year 2 or Fall of Year 3
• 3.0 additional FCEs in English, as approved by the department; the department strongly encourages students to complete these 3.0 additional FCEs in Year 1
• Every student must complete at least 2.0 FCEs outside the chosen field of study over the course of their graduate training. The student is encouraged to combine these courses into a minor field. Graduate courses taken as part of the master's program may be counted in this connection, but the following courses may not be counted: ENG6999Y Critical Topographies: Theory and Practice of Contemporary Literary Studies in English , ENG9400H Essential Skills Workshop Series , ENG9900H Teaching Literature .

Language Requirement: PhD students must also demonstrate reading knowledge of French by May 31 of Year 3 of registration. With the permission of the department, another language (including Old English) may be substituted for French provided that this other language is required by the student's research area. The supervisory committee may require the student to qualify in other program-related languages as well.

In order to maintain good academic standing, and to continue in the PhD program, the student must complete each course with a grade of at least B and maintain an average grade of at least A–.

PhD students may take up to 1.0 FCE of coursework outside of the Graduate Program in English, with the approval of the Associate Director, PhD.  

Cross-listed courses (that is, courses taught by English graduate faculty in other units) and courses required for a collaborative specialization are equivalent to English courses and may be taken without special permission from the Department.

PhD U (Direct-Entry)

The program requirements (except for ENG9900H) for the PhD U are usually completed within the first three years of the program.

• ENG6999Y Critical Topographies: Theory and Practice of Contemporary Literary Studies in English (1.0 FCE); taken in Year 1 of the program
• ENG9400H Essential Skills Workshop Series (0.25 FCE); taken in Year 2
• ENG9900H Teaching Literature (0.5 FCE); students have the option of taking this required course in either Fall of Year 3 or Fall of Year 4
• 5.0 additional FCEs in English, as approved by the department. In Year 1, in addition to ENG6999Y the student must complete 2.0 FCEs. In addition to ENG9400H, students must then complete the remaining 3.0 FCEs by the end of Year 3. The department strongly encourages students to complete these 3.0 additional FCEs in Year 2.
• Every student must complete at least 2.0 FCEs outside the chosen field of study. The student is encouraged to combine these courses into a minor field. Neither ENG6999Y Critical Topographies: Theory and Practice of Contemporary Literary Studies in English , ENG9400H Essential Skills Workshop Series , nor ENG9900H Teaching Literature  may be counted towards a minor field.

Language Requirement: PhD U students must also demonstrate reading knowledge of French by May 31 of Year 4 of registration. With the permission of the department, another language (including Old English) may be substituted for French provided that this other language is required by the student's research area. The supervisory committee may require the student to qualify in other program-related languages as well.

In order to maintain good academic standing, and to continue in the PhD U program, the student must complete each course with a grade of at least B and maintain an average grade of at least A–.

PhD U students may take up to 1.0 FCE of coursework outside of the Graduate Program in English, with the approval of the Associate Director, PhD.  

Thesis and Supervisory Committee Information

Along with the information provided under the headings below, please carefully consult these two important documents:

The Thesis Topic

Careful consideration in the process of choosing a thesis topic is critical for all doctoral candidates. Select a subject that excites your curiosity, engages your interest, and represents your current thinking and expertise. A thesis topic should emerge from coursework and intellectual growth during the first stages of the program.

Even candidates who enter the program with ideas about a thesis topic are advised to test them further against their own development, the current state of scholarship in the field, and available faculty and archival resources

Finding a Supervisor

The Graduate English faculty is extensive and extraordinarily wide-ranging. Students are advised to consider all potential supervisors from among faculty holding the rank of Associate or Full Professor.

Every PhD student is assigned a mentor, who is one source for information about potential thesis supervisors. Above all, coursework offers the chance to explore intellectual affinities with potential supervisors, and the Director and Associate Directors of the graduate program can offer useful advice.

Members of the Graduate Faculty are always willing to discuss thesis topics and supervision with candidates, and asking a faculty member to read and comment on a fellowship proposal is an excellent way to begin to gauge the potential of a supervisory relationship.

Students should initiate discussion of a thesis topic with potential supervisors early in the second term of the first year of the PhD program (or second year for direct-entry students).

Form A: Preliminary Thesis Proposal and Supervisory Committee Request List

After securing a thesis supervisor and developing a thesis topic in consultation with that supervisor, the student and supervisor work together to submit Form A to the Department by May 15 of the first year (or second year for PhD U students) .

As part of the process of completing Form A, the student should consult with four (or, at a minimum, three) additional members of the graduate faculty to gain further perspectives on the design and viability of the project. On the form, the student lists the names of the faculty members consulted and the names of up to four faculty members to be considered as potential members of the supervisory committee. (The names of the faculty consulted and the potential committee members are often, but may not necessarily be, the same.)

The Preliminary Thesis Proposal is a statement of approximately 1-2 single-spaced pages outlining the focus and approach of the proposed program of research. Successful proposals will be written in clear, concise prose. As its title suggests, the proposal is preliminary: the position paper component of the Special Fields Exam (at the end of the following year) will provide the opportunity for revision and expansion. Students should feel free, if it in fact reflects their current thinking, to adapt their Program of Study from a SSHRC or Plan of Study from a OGS proposal. As above, be sure that your Thesis Proposal reflects your current thinking, growth, and knowledge of the field.

Form B: Supervisory Committee and Special Fields Reading List

After Form A has been received, the Director and Associate Director, PhD, will determine the composition of the supervisory committee (usually the supervisor plus two additional members). Early in the summer, the candidate should then meet with the supervisory committee as a group to discuss the proposal, draw up an initial list of texts for the Special Fields Examination (see below), and develop a plan of work.

In late summer or early fall the student consults with the committee once again to complete Form B, which must be submitted to the Department by October 1 of the second year of the program (or third year for PhD U students) .

Please see below  for further information about the Special Fields Examination.

Thesis Supervision

It is critical to the success of the working relationship between supervisor and candidate to develop an initial agreement about the method and scope of the research, and to clarify the expectations of supervisor and candidate: about the kind and amount of advice that the candidate wants and the supervisor is able and willing to offer; about the involvement of the members of the supervisory committee; about the frequency, regularity and contents of consultations; about an appropriate time scheme for the completion of the thesis; and about the way draft work is to be submitted.

The candidate meets with the supervisor and individual committee members according to the schedule they have established, but the candidate must meet with the full supervisory committee at least once every year in order to meet SGS registration requirements.

Please carefully consult the following SGS publications:

• Supervision Guidelines
• Graduate Supervision Guidelines — Faculty Edition
• Graduate Supervision Guidelines — Student Edition
• The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Centre for Graduate Mentorship and Supervision

Thesis Submission Guidelines and the Final Oral Examination

Special fields examination.

The Special Fields Examination both prepares students for teaching and scholarly work in a particular field and facilitates the transition to writing the doctoral thesis.

Accordingly, the Special Fields Reading List, which forms the basis for the examination, comprises between 80 and 100 texts, roughly two-thirds (55-65) in a major field and roughly one-third (25-35) in a minor field. Students construct their own lists in consultation with their supervisor and thesis committee.

The Special Fields Examination must be completed by the end of Year 2 (or Year 3 for direct-entry students) and will normally be taken in March, April, or May of that year.

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The PhD program in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto is a research-intensive program that immerses students in the application of biomedical sciences and engineering principles to advance solutions for challenges in human health. Students can be admitted to the PhD program through direct entry after completion of a bachelor’s degree or, alternatively, after the completion of a master’s degree. PhD students receive a guaranteed minimum stipend for four years.

Criteria for success

The PhD program is designed to train students in becoming experts and leaders in research in any setting, such as (but not limited to) academic institutions, industry, non-governmental organizations, and government agencies. The core focus of a doctorate is the development and honing of five essential skills: 1) the acquisition of broad knowledge of the field and hands-on methodology; 2) the ability to create, design, and execute original, innovative and high-quality work; 3) the capacity for critical thinking and synthesis of new and complex ideas; 4) the effective communication of scientific results in all written, verbal and visual formats; and 5) adherence to the highest standards of ethics and integrity. The end-goal of the PhD training is to push the limits of current scientific knowledge, whether through solving previously unresolved questions or creating new solutions for yet-to-be-identified problems. Ideally, the research should be framed carefully within the context of the broader field, showing a deep and integrated understanding of the big picture and where the doctoral research fits. In keeping with the expectations of most PhD programs in STEM in Canada and the United States, PhD candidates in Biomedical Engineering must meet the following requirements for successful completion of the program:

• Completion of compulsory coursework, training activities (e.g., regular supervisory meetings), and exams.
• A written dissertation that demonstrates strong scientific motivation and substantial, cohesive aims to support a rational scientific enquiry.
• An oral defense that demonstrates thorough knowledge of the field, methods employed, contributions to the field, and significance of the work.
• Three first-authored original peer-reviewed research articles published in the leading journals of the field. In many instances, these three articles correspond to the three scientific aims that comprise the main chapters of a cohesive dissertation.

Length of study

Four years (defined as the period for an academically well-prepared student to complete all program requirements while registered full-time).

Admission requirements

• Entry into PhD program after completion of a bachelor’s degree (i.e., direct entry) : A four-year bachelor’s degree in engineering, medicine, dentistry, physical sciences, or biological sciences, or its equivalent , with an average of at least 3.7 on a 4.0 grade point average scale (i.e., A minus) in the final two years of study from a recognized university ; or
• Entry into PhD program after completion of a master’s degree : A master’s degree in engineering, medicine, dentistry, physical sciences, or biological sciences, or its equivalent , with a cumulative average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 grade point average scale (i.e., B plus) from a recognized university .
• Proof of English-language proficiency is required for all applicants educated outside of Canada whose native language is not English. View the BME English-language requirement policy to determine whether you are required to take a language test and for a list of accepted testing agencies and their minimum scores required for admission.
• Applicants must find a BME faculty supervisor. ( NB : You do not need a supervisor at the time of application. However, admission is competitive and only candidates who have found and secured a research supervisor will be admitted to begin graduate studies.)
• MD/PhD candidates must apply through the MD program
• Possession of the minimum requirements for entry does not guarantee admission
• GRE score is not required

Application procedures

• Complete the online application (see requirements ) and pay the application fee
• Arrange for your English test score to be reported electronically to the University of Toronto by the testing agency if applicable. The institution code for U of T is 0982-00 (there is no need to specify a department)
• Contact the BME Graduate Office to identify your BME faculty supervisor

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Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)

Earn your phd in the heart of canada’s innovation and health research ecosystem.

PhD students at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy have the opportunity to further their research in collaboration with a vibrant community of world-leading professionals and researchers from a variety of disciplines and background. Our faculty is a diverse and multidisciplinary community exploring some of the world’s most pressing health sciences challenges, and breaking new ground on solutions.

Located in Toronto’s discovery district at the historic University of Toronto St. George campus, our graduate students have the opportunity to collaborate with a wide range of faculties and departments at U of T and nearby world-class teaching hospitals and research institutes.  

Degree Timeline

[1] Doctoral students are subject to the School’s policy on “Timely Completion of Graduate Program Requirements”.  To achieve candidacy, a PhD student is expected to have completed all program requirements exclusive of thesis and seminar courses.  

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the PhD Pharmaceutical Sciences must have:

• Completed (or be in the final year of) a four-year BSc or BA degree or a two-year MSc (or its equivalent) in the Natural/Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering, Social Sciences, or Health Profession such as Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing or Pharmacy from a recognized university.
• A minimum B+ (77%) average , or its equivalent, in a Masters degree program OR
• A minimum of A- (80%) average , or its equivalent, in senior level courses relevant to the program in a four-year undergraduate program. The applicant is expected to have completed an undergraduate research project.
• Secured a potential supervisor within the department of pharmaceutical sciences at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. Applicants are encouraged to contact  prospective supervisors in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences . The supervisor must hold a Graduate Appointment at the Faculty as well as at the School of Graduate Studies.
• Applicants to the flex-time PhD program  must also provide a completed Letter of Support from Employer .

Additionally:

• The Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Admissions Committee considers the applicant's background and accomplishments, academic standing, and financial support from the potential supervisor.
• ​​​paper-based TOEFL: 600 and 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE)
• Internet-based TOEFL: 100/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.
• If the undergraduate degree was not obtained from a recognized Canadian or US university, the applicant must write and achieve scores at the 50th percentile ranking or better on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE; General Test).

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To be in good academic standing, a student registered in Chemistry Department must:

• Complete all courses including research courses with a satisfactory grade of at least B- and maintain a minimum of B+ standing;
• Adhere to the specific requirements in their field of study;
• Meet with supervisory committee annually; and
• Comply with the General and Degree Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies (SGS);

The Department may recommend to the School of Graduate Studies the termination of registration and candidacy of a student who fails to make a satisfactory progress toward the completion of the degree.

In addition, make sure to review SGS guidance on Understanding Good Standing and Satisfactory Progress . It lays out expectations regarding coursework completion, supervisory committee meetings and evalutions, candidacy, and program length and time limit.

If there are challenges that may be hindering your progress, there are options:

• Centre for Graduate Mentorship and Supervision and/or Graduate Wellness Services for strategies.
• Additional advice from School of Graduate Studies
• Address the issue(s) with your advisory committee members.  Students may contact the Graduate Office to facilitate a meeting outside of your annual progress meeting with the Associate Chair.
• Contact the Graduate Office to seek advice.

Doctoral Supervisory Committee and Annual Meetings

Students must establish a supervisory committee  within three months  of entering the doctoral program. The committee will consist of the supervisor (or co-supervisors) and at least two University of Toronto graduate faculty members. One of the two members can be outside of the chemistry graduate department. Student must fill out the  Doctoral Supervisory Committee Enrolment form  and upload to the Chemistry Graduate Office drive .

How Do You Choose Committee Members? Committee members are best selected in consultation with your supervisor.   Here are some key questios when considering prospective members:

• Can they add value (eg. field-specific advice) to your research program?
• Will they be around and available for consultation and meetings throughout most of your program?.
• Will they be approachable and offer constructive advice?
• Can they be objective enough to help if problems arise?
• Will they be able and wiling to offer their opinion even if contrary to that of your supervisor or other members?
• Is there a good balance?  Do their reas of expertise cover a sufficient range?

Membership must remain the same throughout the doctoral program. If a member needs to be replaced, please forward another  Doctoral Supervisory Committee Enrolment form  along with a letter of justification for the change.

Students must also arrange a supervisory committee meeting  within twelve months  of entering the doctoral program. Thereafter, students are required by School of Graduate Studies to meet with the committee at least once a year to assess the student's progress in the program and to provide advice on future work. Students are expected to meet with their committee at least once a year, and more often if the committee so requires. A 20-30-minute meeting is generally sufficient but students or faculty may request for more time if needed. Students must fill out the  Doctoral Supervisory Committee Meeting Report  which needs to be submitted to the Chemistry Graduate Office after the meeting. If a member is unable to make it to the meeting, the student must arrange a separate meeting.  As a best practice and to get as much from this annual meeting, it is utmost important to schedule a it when all members are available. 

The meeting is meant to provide guidance and advice to both the student and to the supervisor from interested colleagues, to ensure that the progress towards graduation is satisfactory and to provide a forum to resolve any issues (eg. research, academic, personal) which may arise. It thus follows that if either the student or the supervisor (or, on occasion, the Associate Chair) feels that a meeting is in order outside the required annual one, it is their right to request such a meeting and the responsibility of all the members of the committee to agree to such a meeting.  

What You Can Expect of your Supervisory Committee Your supervisory committee should:

• Meet regularly (at least once a year)
• Provide guidance during your research
• Add complementary value to your supervision
• Provide meaningful written feedback
• Resource towards enhancing your professional development

The School of Graduate Studies have developed guidelines for students to peruse.  It provides information on responsiblities of the student, supervisor and advisory committee. 

A student falls out of good academic standing if the supervisory committee concludes that unsatisfactory progress is being made on two consecutive meetings.

Arranging the annual meeting is generally the student's responsibility. However, if a student experiences difficulty in arranging a meeting with any member(s) of their committee or should require additional meeting(s), they should contact the Graduate Office for assistance.

Failure to meet the above timelines can be grounds for termination in the program.

Time Limit for Completion of Program Requirements in a Ph.D. Program

A student enrolled in a full-time PhD degree program will be denied further registration in that program and will have their candidacy terminated at the end of the third year of registration in the case of a four-year program, or at the end of the fourth year of registration in the case of a five-year program (direct entry from bachelors degree), if, by that time, either:

• the candidate has not completed all requirements for the degree exclusive of thesis research including course requirements and qualifying departmental examinations; or
• the candidate does not have an approved thesis topic, supervisor, or supervisory committee.

In exceptional circumstances, such a student may be permitted to register in the program for two further sessions at the Department's discretion. Student must fill out a  Request for Extension to Achieve Candidacy form  and receive approval from the supervisor before submitting to the Chemistry Graduate Office. Continuation beyond two sessions will require the approval of both the department and the SGS Admissions and Programs Committee.

Our Department requires students to register in courses that run continuously throughout the program, e.g., ongoing research and seminar courses. The foregoing time limit does not apply to such courses. Doctoral students in their third year must be ABD (All But Dissertation) in order to continue in the program.

Course Reduction & Transfers

Course Reduction

With the approval of Department of Chemistry and School of Graduate Studies, course reduction may be granted for graduate work completed in another MSc program. This will reduce the number of courses a doctoral student will need to complete to fulfill in the program requirements. Students may request up to two half-courses which must be equivalent to courses offered by our Department. Graduate or cross-listed courses taken while in the undergraduate level do not apply.  Doctoral students who completed their MSc in chemistry at UofT are not required to submit a course reduction request. 

Since the course(s) has been credited towards another degree, the course cannot be transferred towards the doctoral degree.

To request a course reduction, the following documents must be submitted to the Graduate Office for approval within a year  of entering the doctoral program:

• Request for  Course Reduction Form ;
• Copy of the course syllabus for each course requested;
• Unofficial copy of transcript

Course Transfers

With the approval of the department and the School of Graduate Studies, transfer credit may be granted for graduate work completed in another program, provided that the course(s) has not been credited towards another degree. Transfer credit will be limited to two half-courses. Student must submit the  Request for Transfer Credit form  to the Chemistry Graduate Office for departmental approval.

Seminar Series

All students are required to participate and give at least two to four seminars in the doctoral program. Students who fail to meet the  seminar requirement  before their final oral examination will be denied by School of Graduate Studies to proceed with the examination. Students must contact the seminar coordinator in their field of study if they are due to present. The seminar series generally run from September to April.  For more information about the seminar requirement and oral presentation guidelines, review the program requirements for the doctoral program.  View  upcoming seminars.

Here are online resources for oral presentation guidelines and skills:

• Oral Presentation, Writing University of Toronto
• Presentation Skills
• Public Speaking and Graduate School
• Mastering the Art of Presenting

Comprehensive Oral Examination

The purpose of the examination is to test the knowledge of the student's subject area and to determine if the student is prepared to proceed on to the thesis writing. The examination typically lasts for 2 hours which includes a 20-minute presentation by the examinee.

Students may request to arrange a comprehensive oral examination generally after the completion of the required course work in their field of study. However, students should satisfy this requirement before the end of their third year of registration in the case of a four year program or before the end of their fourth year in the case of a five-year program (PhD direct-entry from Bachelors degree).

To arrange an examination, please contact the  Chemistry Graduate Office  with the proposed dates, and names of the three members of the supervisory committee including your supervisor (4 if co-supervised) and another University of Toronto graduate faculty member. No more than one member outside the Chemistry Department is acceptable. The exam requires four voters and the student needs at least 3 votes to pass (4 if co-supervised).

The examinee should print out the  voting ballot  for the examination. Examinations to be held in the Lash Miller building may contact the departmental  receptionist  to book a projector. If the exam is booked in LM151 there is no need to book a projector through the receptionist. Students also have the option to hold their annual supervisory meeting after the examination. The  Doctoral Supervisory Committee report form  should be forwarded to the Chemistry Graduate Office to ensure a record of the meeting.

If a student fails to pass the examination, a reconvened examination is to be held within one year. No new members shall be added to the committee except for necessary replacements to ensure a quorum. The chair of the examination is required to explain in a written report reasons for an unsuccessful exam and determine, if possible, a timeline to reconvene.

Fees for Final Year PhDs

Academic fees for full-time doctoral students in the final year of their program are pro-rated based on the twelve-month academic year. Incidental fees are charged on a sessional (term) basis.

When a final corrected thesis is submitted to School of Graduate Studies, fees and service charges are adjusted accordingly. For more information please review the monthly academic and incidental fees schedule with  Fees Department .

Doctoral Completion Award

The aim of the Doctoral Completion Award (DCA) is to help ensure that meritorious PhD students who are no longer receiving the normal funding from their graduate unit can complete their degree program within time limit. Students may receive a DCA only once during their program. Criteria and conditions include: academic merit and quality of research, the availability of alternative funding, and, if appropriate, special features of the research program that require more time than usual.  Deadline:  The Chemistry Graduate Office generally sends out a notification in the spring

Thesis and Planning for a PhD Final Oral Examination

Review the  SGS Guide to Program Completion . In addition, the Department follows its own procedures to ensure that the PhD candidate meets the timelines specified by SGS. 

Guidelines on thesis formatting, submission, copyright and deadlines can be found on the SGS website .   There are no specific requirements by the department but consult with your supervisor for their expectations.  Make sure to peruse the Writing at UofT for tips and advice and use the resources offered at Graduate Centre for Academic Communication .

Planning for the final oral examination must begin at least  eight weeks  before the proposed date(s) of the examination. Note that the two-week closure in December does not count.

At Least Eight Weeks or Earlier Prior to the Proposed Exam Date(s)

• The supervisor and student discuss the potential members of the Examination Committee. Please forward the names of the members to the  Chemistry Graduate Office . The quorum for voting members is four. However, SGS requires five voting members to obtain approval from the SGS Vice-Dean to book the examination. In case of emergency in which one of the members is unable to attend, the candidate can therefore still proceed with the examination since it meets the quorum. A maximum of three of the voting members of the Exam Committee will have served on the candidate's Supervisory Committee. At least two voting members (including the external examiner) will not have been closely involved in the supervision of the thesis. Eligible voters are the external appraiser, members of the graduate faculty of the Chemistry Department and members of the graduate faculty of other departments, centres or institutes of the University of Toronto.  
• The supervisor must submit a  list of three potential external appraisers  to the Graduate Office. The list should be in order of preference. For each name listed, the reason for the choice is presented with specific regard to the subject of the thesis. The first choice is generally approved unless the Associate Dean at SGS deems the first choice unsuitable. To avoid issues with SGS and delays, the supervisor and the student should ensure that there is an "arms-length" relationship between the external examiner and the rest of the examination committee.  
• Once the Graduate Office receives the list of the potential members of the Examination Committee, a request is forwarded to the SGS Associate Dean for pre-approval. Once approved, the Graduate Office may contact the members, including the external appraiser for their availability to determine acceptable dates for the examination. It is not required that the external examiner be present at the examination. Teleconference or videoconference is available upon request.  
• The student completes the thesis and forwards copies to members of the Supervisory Committee for the review. The members must have at least two weeks to review the thesis. Please contact them directly as early as possible to confirm if the allotted time for appraisal is sufficient in case of other commitments and to properly estimate a timeline. Forward a copy of the  Thesis Review Guidelines  to your reviewers along with your thesis. The advance reading by members of the Supervisory Committee allows the student to avoid situations where major changes are needed after the examination and a good quality appraisal can be expected.  
• The student amends the thesis based on the comments and suggestions from members of the supervisory committee. The members must also deem that the thesis is ready and may be forwarded to the external appraiser. A thesis may  only  proceed to examination without the approval of the Supervisory Committee, if there is a letter of authorization from the Associate Dean (SGS).  
• The student must certify that he or she has fulfilled all the degree requirements for his or her field of study. These include completion of courses with satisfactory grades, seminars, cumulative examinations (if applicable) and comprehensive examination. For more information about the degree requirements for your field of study, please refer to  PhD Program Requirements .  
• The student must confirm that the record of Supervisory Committee meetings in the Chemistry Graduate Office is up-to-date. The last committee meeting must have taken place within the last 12 months prior to the proposed examination date and the outcome must be noted as "satisfactory" on the record.

At Least Six Weeks or Earlier Prior to the Exam Date

• The student submits a copy of the corrected version of the thesis to the Graduate Office along with the signed  PhD Examination Form . The office will forward the thesis to the external examiner via FedEx. The supervisory committee members must have signed the form to confirm that they have read the thesis before a copy can be forwarded to the external examiner. An e-mail from the faculty members to the Graduate Office will suffice.  
• As well, a thesis abstract (no longer than 350 words) via e-mail must be submitted to the Graduate Office.  
• A copy of the reviewed thesis is also forwarded to the fourth University of Toronto examination member. The copy can be submitted to the Graduate Office if faculty member(s) is not easily accessible.  
• The Graduate Office books the examination at the SGS PhD Office and sends out a final confirmation of the examination date and location to the candidate and members of the examination committee.

At Least Two Weeks or Earlier Prior to the Exam Date

• A copy of the external appraisal is forwarded to the candidate, members of the Examination Committee, Graduate Chair and the Ph.D. Office. The student may discuss the appraisal with members of Examination Committee except with the external appraiser. The candidate may have the option to revise the thesis and postpone the examination date at this point.  
• An examination program is forwarded to the candidate and members of the Examination Committee as a final confirmation along with the name of the Examination Chair.  
• Prepare presentation (up to 20 minute for a closed oral exam or 30 minutes for a public seminar).   
• Review Voting Procedure.  
• Additional reading:  The Last BIg Hurdle

After a Successful Examination

Theses are submitted electronically to SGS and approved by the PhD Completion Office.  Carefully follow the SGS' instructions.  Theses that do not conform to the formatting guidelines will be rejected and negatively impact eligibility to proceed with graduation.  In addition, final corrections to the thesis must be approved by the supervisor before submitting to SGS. Please refer to  Producing Your Thesis  for more information. Enquiries should be redirected to the PhD Completion Office .

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Apply to Graduate School

The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) oversees all graduate programs at the University of Toronto; however, admissions into graduate programs are the responsibility of the individual graduate units (departments, institute). 

If you are interested in applying to graduate school at the University of Toronto: 

1. Explore the School of Graduate Studies offerings  

Discover everything you need to know about applying to graduate studies at U of T. 

Applicants to any graduate program at the University of Toronto must satisfy all requirements for entry at this university within a competitive selection process. 

Use the international credentials equivalencies tool to see which international credentials are required for masters and doctoral admissions at U of T. 

Please note that many graduate units (departments and institutes) have higher minimum requirements than the minimum SGS requirements. Meeting the minimum admissions requirement does not necessarily guarantee admission. 

2. Check your program’s website for specific eligibility requirements, instructions on how to apply and application deadlines  

Confirm your program's admission requirements by consulting the SGS Calendar . 

For UTSC-based graduate programs, please consult the departmental application pages: 

Accounting & Finance: Masters program  

Environmental Science: Masters and PhD program

Counselling & Clinical Psychology: Master and PhD program  

3. Prepare your application  

Some of the items you'll need to include are - a statement of intent; transcripts (academic records); curriculum vitae; any program-specific requirements; official GRE/GMAT, TOEFL/IELTS, or equivalent test scores if required. 

Information and tip-sheets on applying to graduate school are available through contacting the Academic Advising & Career Centre and the SGS's Admissions Office .

4. Submit your application on the SGS online application system  

*Please note that there is an application fee. This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. Some programs do charge a supplementary application fee which is normally listed on the program's website or at the payment step of the online application. 

Consult SGS - Admission Application Frequently Asked Questions for more information on the general graduate program application process. 

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree requirements:.

• Between three and eight approved technical graduate courses
• JDE1000H ‘Ethics in Research Seminar’
• Attendance at the DLS is mandatory for all PhD students.
• PhD Background Statement
• PhD Qualifying Examination
• PhD Thesis Proposal
• Annual Meetings of PhD Supervisory Committee
• Department Oral Examination (DOE) of PhD Thesis
• Final Oral Examination (FOE) of PhD Thesis

Schedule for Timely Completion

ECE’s expectations for the timely completion of the PhD degree requirements are outlined below. Timely completion is a condition of financial support and continued registration.

SGS policy requires that the supervisory committee be formed and meet within the first 16 months of registration; in ECE this requirement is met through the thesis proposal (i.e. the thesis proposal presentation is the 1st annual supervisory committee meeting).

Thereafter, the student must meet with their supervisory committee at least once per year. As per Section 7.5.2 of the SGS General Regulations :

• “A student is expected to meet with this committee at least once a year, and more often if the committee so requires. At each meeting, the supervisory committee will assess the student’s progress in the program and provide advice on future work.”
• “A student who, through their own neglect, fails to meet with the supervisory committee in a given year will be considered to have received an unsatisfactory progress report from the committee.”

The Department Oral Examination (DOE) is the student’s final annual supervisory committee meeting. The DOE can replace the requirement of a supervisory committee meeting in the student’s final year if the DOE takes place within 12 months of the student’s previous supervisory committee meeting.

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Dalla Lana School of Public Health

• PhD: Social and Behavioural Health Sciences
• Our Programs
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Overview

The PhD course of study includes a set of common requirements with flexibility to enable the student to pursue a unique learning experience tailored to his/her learning needs and research problem focus.  The program permits students to pursue their area of interest from different levels of understanding and theoretical perspectives.

The program enables students to take advantage of what the university/program faculty has to offer, and assists them in tailoring their studies according to their own experiences, scholarly interests, career direction and aspirations.  This program also participates and encourages participation in a variety of interdisciplinary graduate University of Toronto Collaborative Specializations .

Features of the program:

• Emphasizes the application of concepts, theories, models and methods concerned with the structures and processes that underlie health and health promotion, illness, premature mortality, injury and disability;
• Emphasizes research methodology (philosophy and design) and research methods (techniques);
• Seeks to develop substantive knowledge and critical analytic ability at multiple levels of analysis, from the “micro” individual level to the “macro” societal level;
• Fosters a reflexive and critical perspective on theory and methodology; and
• Adopts a model of independent student scholarship.

The requirements of the   PhD Program in Social & Behavioural Health Sciences (SBHS) include:

• Qualifying exam
• Thesis proposal defense
• Thesis defense: A) Departmental defense B) Final oral examination

Admission Requirements

The application deadline for the September 2024 start was on November 24th at 11:59pm EST .   See Application Process  for information about the admission process.  Click  here  to view minimum application requirements for a PhD Program. Click here for information on our  funding package  and for information on the university’s  funding policies . To identify potential supervisors, please visit our  faculty database  which is searchable by research interest. While you are not required to have a confirmed match with a supervisor at the time of your application, it is strongly recommended that you list one or more potential supervisors in your letter of intent to help demonstrate fit with our program. Prospective students are encouraged to contact potential supervisors in advance to determine their capacity to take on new doctoral students.

Additional Admission Requirements for the PhD

• A match between the student’s research area and potential supervisor’s expertise
• Background (course, experience) in social sciences and/or health sciences
• Graduate level quantitative or qualitative methods courses/background

Course Requirements

Coursework (reflects minimum requirements)

Course Requirements (3.0 FCE)

Required Courses:

• CHL5101H : Social and Behavioural Theory and Health
• CHL5102H : Social and Political Forces in Health Care
• To be selected according to the student’s interests and educational needs, in consultation with the supervisor.
• By the end of their degree, students should aim to have working knowledge of both qualitative and quantitative methods, and to achieve proficiency in one of these approaches.
• 2 electives

Please note that students can satisfy coursework requirements with courses from across the DLSPH and University of Toronto. We encourage students to seek out such courses.

Qualifying Examination

The purpose of the qualifying exam (QE) is to assess the student’s capacity to understand, apply, and compare theoretical perspectives that are taught in the Social and Behavioural Health Sciences (SBHS) core theory courses (CHL5101H and CHL5102H). Specifically, the QE process will assess the student’s ability to theorize a topic using two different theoretical approaches and to propose theoretically sophisticated research questions that would advance the student’s topic area of interest and may be used for the dissertation. The qualifying examination is written during the months of May and June of the student’s first year.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED QUALIFYING EXAM GUIDELINES

Thesis Proposal Defense

The thesis proposal defense is a requirement for candidacy and for full-time students, should be completed by April of the second year, or earlier if possible.

The purpose of the proposal defense is to:

• Ensure that the proposed research will result in a successful PhD dissertation.
• Strengthen the thesis question, theoretical framework, design, and methods through critical feedback.
• Assess the student’s ability to conduct independent and original research.
• Assess the student’s knowledge base relevant to their thesis topic.
• Provide a formal approval to proceed with the dissertation research.

DETAILED proposal defense GUIDELINES

Supervision

Successful applicants will have research interests congruent with those of one or more members of faculty. Thus, applicants are strongly encouraged to seek out potential supervisors, and discuss with them the possibility of studying under their supervision, prior to applying to the degree program. Applicants should note that identifying a potential supervisor does not guarantee admission. PhD students must be supervised by a faculty member who has an appointment in the Division of Social and Behavioral Health Sciences (SBHS) and Full Membership in the School of Graduate Studies (SGS).  A co-supervisor generally will be a faculty member with Associate Membership in the SGS. Other faculty in Public Health Sciences outside of SBHS  may be eligible to supervise with the approval of the Program Director.  The Program Director must approve the final selection of the primary supervisor and co-supervisor. The faculty supervisor may be confirmed prior to beginning the program, and should be in place by the end of the first term.  Students are encouraged to explore broadly and have wide-ranging discussions with potential supervisors.

Upon admission to the PhD Program, students and supervisors should review and complete the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences PhD Student-Supervisor Conversation Checklist .

Students have the right to appropriate assistance and guidance from their supervisors. Supervisors and students are required to meet on a regular basis throughout the program to discuss academic, financial and personal matters related to the student’s progress. Students should assume responsibility for contacting the supervisor, arranging meetings, and setting agenda for committee meetings.

In rare circumstances, it may be necessary for students to change their area of research and/or their supervisor. In these cases, the first step would be for students to discuss the potential change with their supervisor and/or PhD Program Director.

Supervisor Role and Responsibilities

The supervisor is responsible for providing mentorship to the student through all phases of the PhD program. Thus; to the extent possible, the supervisor will guide the selection of courses, dissertation topic, supervisory committee membership, and supervisory committee meetings; will assist with applications for funding; will provide funding to the student directly when it is possible for them to do so; and will provide references for the student on a timely basis. The supervisor also will provide feedback on the student’s selection of theories and reading lists for the qualifying examination. The supervisor will guide the development of the student’s research proposal, and the implementation and conduct of all aspects of the research; advise on writing the dissertation; correct drafts and approve the final dissertation; and attend the defense.

For more information about student and supervisor roles and responsibilities, please see the School of Graduate Studies Graduate Supervision Guidelines .

Supervisory Committee

With the assistance of the supervisor, and with the approval of the Program Director, the student will assemble a Supervisory Committee no later than the end of their second term in the program (i.e., by May of their first year).

Composition of the Supervisory Committee

The Supervisory Committee generally will comprise the supervisor and at least two members who hold either Full or Associate Membership in the SGS and may or may not hold a primary appointment in SBHS. Between these individuals and the supervisor, there should be expertise in all substantive, theoretical and methodological areas relevant to the Student’s research focus and dissertation proposal.

Supervisory Committee meetings will be held at least every six (6) months throughout the student’s PhD program. More regular meetings should be held with the supervisor. Under certain circumstances (e.g., during times of very rapid progress), the student and the Supervisory Committee may decide there is a need for more frequent meetings.

At the end of every meeting of the Supervisory Committee, the student and the Committee will complete the Supervisory Committee Meeting Report . All present must sign the report; in case the meeting is held virtually, the supervisor and committee members can e-sign the report. A scanned or paper copy of the report should be e-mailed/delivered to the SBHS Admin Assistant at sbhs.dlsph@utoronto.ca .

The Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences will keep a copy of the report in the student’s progress file.

Progress Through the PhD

The phases of the PhD program are identified by a set of accomplishments which the student generally will attain in order, and within a satisfactory time. These phases, which will be monitored by the Program Director of the PhD program, are the identification of the Supervisor and the Supervisory Committee, completion of required and elective course work, completion of the qualifying examination, defense of the research proposal, and defense of the dissertation (both Departmental and SGS). Full-time students are expected to complete the PhD within four to five years. Flex-time students may take longer, but not more than eight years; they must submit a revised list of milestones, for approval by the Supervisor and the Program Director.

 view the SBHS PhD Timeline

Dissertation

The PhD dissertation must demonstrate an original contribution to scholarship. The nature of the dissertation is agreed upon by the supervisor and the student, in consultation with a Thesis Committee.  The Student should aim to defend the dissertation within four years of entry into the PhD program. The defense of the dissertation will take place in two stages: first, a Departmental defense, second, a formal defense (the Final Oral Examination) before a University committee according to procedures established by the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). The two defenses generally are separated by at least eight weeks.

a)  Departmental Defense:

The Departmental defense will be held after the completed dissertation has been approved by all members of the student’s Supervisory Committee, and the completion of the final Supervisory Committee meeting report. The purpose of this defense is to rehearse the oral presentation for the SGS defense and to determine whether the student is ready for the SGS defense.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED departmental defense procedureS

b)  School of Graduate Studies Final Oral Examination (FOE)

Arrangements for the PhD Final Oral Defense and for the preparation of the final thesis are given at length in the SGS calendar. The dissertation and the necessary documents must be submitted at least eight weeks prior to the oral exam. See the Graduate Department of Public Health Science  academic policies for forms and information for thesis preparation, including guidelines on multiple paper dissertations, and arranging the defense.

• Click here for Guidelines on Multiple Paper Dissertations
• Click here  for Producing Your Thesis guidelines on SGS website
• Click here  for Final Oral Exam Guidelines on SGS website

Student Profiles & Contact

PhD in Fundamental Immunology

The PhD degree is an advanced research degree intended to reflect a level of training consistent with the ability of the candidate to function as an independent research scientist. This involves successful completion of course work reflecting a knowledge of modern immunology, as well as a demonstrated ability to carry out research of publishable quality. To qualify for the degree each candidate must successfully achieve candidacy, submit a satisfactory thesis based on his/her original research, and successfully defend it in a Final Oral Examination. The PhD thesis should contain a body of original research roughly corresponding in quantity to that which would be appropriate for two or three publications in a recognized refereed journal. Normally, at least one of these manuscripts should have been accepted for publication at the time of the exam. 

There are 2 routes to entering the PhD program. 

• Direct entry from the BSc Students with outstanding undergraduate records are encouraged to apply to the PhD program directly. Students entering via this route undergo a qualifying exam during the 2nd year of their program. Students admitted to the direct-entry PhD may choose to graduate with an MSc after two years of study if extenuating circumstances prevent them from continuing with the PhD. This change requires approval from the Supervisor, the Department, and the School of Graduate Studies.  
• Entry after completion of an M.Sc. degree Students who have completed or are in the process of completing an MSc degree from another department/University are encouraged apply to the PhD program. All students entering the PhD program with an MSc degree must undergo a qualifying exam during the 2nd year of their program. 

Students doing a thesis-based PhD in Fundamental Immunology will receive a guaranteed stipend .

In our Department, students typically spend about 5 years in the PhD degree program.

Course Requirements

For students who started their program in september 2021 or later :.

The Department requires students to complete

• IMM1000Y Recent Advances in Immunology
• IMM1025/2025H Student Seminar Series I / II*
• IMM1050/2050H Easton Seminar Series I / II*
• IMM1075/2075H Special Topics in Immunology I / II*
• IMM1200H Scientific Skills for Immunologists
• IMM2000H PhD Proposal in Immunology
• 1.0 FCE electives, approved by the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies
• Successfully pass the Qualifying Exam (DEX5555Y)

*Continuous courses taken throughout the student's PhD program until completed.

For students who started their program in September 2020 :

• Successfully pass the Qualifying Exam (DEX5555Y)

For students who started their program before September 2020 :

• 0.5 FCE elective, approved by the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies
• Successfully pass the Qualifying Exam

More information on required and elective courses

UTA’s graduate engineering programs among nation’s best

Wednesday, Jun 26, 2024 • Brian Lopez : contact

The University of Texas at Arlington’s graduate engineering programs were ranked among the top 100 in the nation in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings, the latest sign of academic excellence at UTA.

Additionally, the civil and mechanical engineering graduate programs each improved by three spots over the previous year.

“There are many ways to determine the quality of academic programs. These rankings are a very visible piece of information for students as they consider where to pursue a graduate degree, but certainly not the only mechanism by which students and families determine quality and potential for student opportunities,” said Peter Crouch, dean of the College of Engineering. “As a Carnegie R-1 university in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, UTA provides our students unique opportunities to pursue research and careers with many of the top companies in the world.”

UTA offers 13 master’s and 9 doctoral degree programs in seven departments:

• Bioengineering
• Civil engineering
• Computer science and engineering
• Electrical engineering
• Industrial, manufacturing and systems engineering
• Materials science and engineering
• Mechanical and aerospace engineering

Being ranked among the best in the nation reflects the quality of the current engineering students, faculty, and staff and makes the University an attractive institution for top talent. An example of this can be seen in the recent recruitment of Hongtei Eric Tseng, a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering.

Dr. Tseng is a member of the National Academy of Engineering with decades of experience in the automotive industry and over 100 U.S. patents, about a third of which are implemented in Ford vehicles.

He is the first faculty member hired under UTA’s Recruiting Innovative Scholars for Excellence (RISE) initiative, which represents a substantial investment in the future of UTA. Through RISE, the University seeks to recruit more than 100 new tenure-system faculty. Hiring at this scale often takes up to 15 years; UTA aims to achieve its faculty hiring goals by 2026. The $60 million effort is funded in part through the support of the UT System’s Regents Research Excellence program.

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Part of a leading stem university.

Purdue’s Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business is part of one of the world’s preeminent engineering, science and technology universities. Our graduates are immediately prepared to contribute and possess the leadership skills to advance their careers, initiate progress and innovation in their fields, and build a better world.

Respected Internationally

The Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business' faculty , staff, students and alumni push the boundaries of knowledge and together solve the world’s most complex problems every day.

A “Brand That Matters”

For the second year in a row, Purdue was named as one of Fast Company’s “Brands That Matter,” a list honoring organizations for cultural relevance, social impact and clear, authentic communication. Purdue is proud to be the sole university and one of only 13 two-time honorees to join internationally recognized brands like Nike, Salesforce.org, Fender and other influential organizations who made the 2022 list. Come experience the Boilermaker brand of business !

What Our Students Say

"My Online MBA classes have immediately paid off in my day-to-day. It's been awesome to see things I learn in my coursework get put to use at work."

Meredith Simmons Purdue University Online MBA Graduate, 2022

"The Online MBA program offers group work in almost every course, which is where you get the opportunity to learn from your peers and learn about other roles or business industries that are out there."

Amanda Farrer Purdue University Online MBA Graduate, 2022

"What stood out to me about the program was the flexibility. I was working in a position where I was traveling a lot, and since the program is online, I could study from anywhere in the world."

Christian Coakley Purdue University Online MBA Student, 2023

Application Requirements

To be eligible for admission to this program, the following are recommended:

• At least 24 months of work experience
• The equivalent of a U.S. four-year bachelor’s degree
• A minimum GPA of 3.0

Application review emphasizes your work experience, prior undergraduate academic record and professional training. To be considered for the Purdue Online MBA program, you may be asked to complete an interview with the program manager, and you will be required to submit all the items below:

• Academic Statement of Purpose introducing yourself to the Admissions Committee ( view full details )
• Two letters of recommendation
• Personal History Statement ( view full details )
• Professional resume with education, work experience and training
• Official transcripts for every higher education institution attended. Please note: All transcripts and/or academic documents uploaded by the applicant to the online application system are considered unofficial. Please order your transcripts to be sent directly from your institution to the Purdue University Graduate School at [email protected] .
• Interview feedback

The Online MBA is a rigorous program that requires quantitative aptitude. The Daniels School's online programs admissions team will look for evidence of this in your application via previous coursework. If you feel that you do not have sufficient evidence in your previous coursework to demonstrate this aptitude, you may want to consider submitting a GMAT or GRE score to enhance your application. The GMAT or GRE is not required for admission to the online MBA.

Online Application

When completing your application for the Purdue master of business administration online program, select the following:

• Graduate major: Management (MBA)
• An area of interest
• Degree objective: Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Course delivery method: Distance (online or off-campus location)
• Fall 2024 Term: August 19, 2024 (application deadline – August 1, 2024)
• Spring 2025 Term: January 13, 2025 (application deadline – December 1, 2024)

Transcript Information

• All applicants must upload to the online application transcript(s) and/or academic document(s) for every institution of higher education attended. If a transcript and diploma/degree certificate is not in English, an English translation (certified by the college or university that issued it) must be uploaded.
• The uploaded transcript and/or academic document must be from the official version of the document. An official transcript bears the original signature of the registrar and/or the original seal of the issuing institution.
• If personal identifying information such as a student identification number or Social Security number appear on the document, REMOVE THIS INFORMATION from your electronic version of your document or mark out the information in black ink before scanning your document.

All transcripts and/or academic documents uploaded by the applicant to the online application system are considered unofficial. Please order your transcripts to be sent directly from your institution to the Purdue University Graduate School at [email protected] . The Purdue University Graduate School reserves the right to require official transcripts and/or academic documents at any time during the admissions process.

Letters of Recommendation

• Two online recommendations are required for your application to be received. No more than two recommendations are needed.
• Recommendations will only be accepted through the online application (no paper recommendations will be accepted).
• We strongly urge (but do not require) that one recommendation be from your direct supervisor.
• Recommendations from friends, family members, acquaintances and other sources unable to evaluate professional or academic qualifications for MBA study are not acceptable.
• We require that recommenders submit the recommendations online (instructions to do so are provided within the online application).

Please note that we will not receive your application until at least two registered recommenders have submitted recommendations through the online application.

Required Essays

Academic statement of purpose (2-pages max).

The Academic Statement of Purpose is an opportunity for you to introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee. In your statement, you should share information about your academic background and training, academic objectives and interests, and why you are a good match for the program to which you are applying.

View more information about the application statement .

Personal History Statement

Your Personal History Statement helps reviewers learn more about you and your potential as a graduate student. Your statement may include relevant information about your leadership roles, community services projects, participation in diverse teams, as well as any barriers you’ve had to overcome to attend graduate school.

View details about the personal history requirements .

Personalize Your Degree Plan

It's Your MBA on Your Terms

Design your own plan of study to fit your individual needs and goals. Graduate in as few as two years, or lighten your course load and take more time. For busy adults balancing work and school, it’s important to be able to slow down when you need to — or speed up when life allows.

You can also customize your MBA by choosing from a wide range of courses that best align to your career plans. Want to further hone your expertise? Add a specialization in one of ten high-demand areas, such as Business Analytics, Machine Learning and AI, and Digital Marketing & Analytics.

Additional Daniels School Master’s Programs

Whether you are an experienced working professional or looking to launch your career, Daniels offers a variety of graduate business options designed to suit your background and goals:

• Master of Business Programs
• Online Programs
• Specialized Master's Programs
• Certificate and Professional Development Programs

As Few as 2 Years

Program Length

3 Times a Year

Start Dates

100% Online

Learning Format

Ready to Take Your Next Giant Leap?

Notes and conditions - please read.

1 Innovative Institutions: Source: U.S. News & World Report, on the internet at https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/innovative

2 #9 Best Online MBA in North America: Source: https://ceo-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-Global-MBA-Rankings-All-Categories-.pdf

3 Top 10 Public University: The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education, on the internet at https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-public-universities-united-states ; #7 for Value: The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education, on the internet at https://www.wsj.com/articles/college-rankings-list-2022-11632246093

4 Graduates at Fortune 500 Companies: Source: Forbes, on the internet at https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2021/09/04/the-universities-with-the-most-graduates-working-at-top-fortune-500-companies/

5 Tuition rate includes fees. Tuition and fees are subject to increase based on approval by the Purdue University Board of Trustees. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.

6 Deposit is applied toward the first semester's tuition upon enrollment.

School of Graduate Studies

Flexible-time phd program option guidelines, what is the flexible-time phd program option.

The flexible-time PhD program is a registration option that differs from the full-time PhD program only in design and delivery. The flexible-time PhD program option is for practicing professionals in the relevant field of study who require a modified time period and/or content delivery option to complete the requirements of their program.

The design and delivery of the flexible-time option permits continued professional practice by the student in areas related to the student’s field of research, except for short, specified periods of time. Because the option involves continued professional practice, it allows a student to complete the program over a longer period of time.

The degree requirements and program curriculum of the flexible-time PhD program option are the same. As such, students must satisfy the SGS General Regulations and Degree Regulations in the SGS Calendar, including good academic standing, supervision and candidacy regulations.

Who can offer a flexible-time PhD program option?

A flexible-time PhD program option may only be offered by a graduate unit where the graduate unit finds there is sufficient demand by practicing professionals in related fields. The option requires governance approval and an SGS Calendar entry notation. A practicing professional is currently defined in the SGS Calendar as an “active professionals who is engaged in work activities that may include consulting, community organizing, self-employment, contractual work, or equivalent. This category may include recently retired individuals who maintain professional engagement ( Degree Regulation 12.1.1.3).”

Governance Approval Requirements

Graduate units may offer a flexible-time PhD program option, approved through University of Toronto governance. Proposals to introduce the flexible-time PhD program option into an existing PhD program must be submitted, along with a revised SGS Calendar entry, and approved through University governance procedures for graduate programs as a Major Modification .

Admission Requirements

Applicants may apply to a flexible-time PhD program option in any graduate unit approved to offer this option (see Governance Approval Requirements above). Applications to flexible-time PhD program options are subject to the SGS General Regulations and Degree Regulations and must meet the same admission requirements as applicants to the full-time PhD program.

In addition, applicants to the flexible-time PhD program option must demonstrate that they are “practicing professionals”, that is, they are active professionals who are engaged in work activities that may include consulting, community organizing, self-employment, contractual work, or equivalent. This category may include recently retired individuals who maintain professional engagement. Admission to this option is subject to the availability of a supervisor.

Applicants to the flexible-time PhD program option must demonstrate that the research and proposed program of study is related to the applicant’s professional work and vice versa. In addition, they will continue their professional activities while registered in the program.

Program Requirements and Path to Completion

Students enrolled in the flexible-time PhD program option may complete the program requirements over a modified time period. As such, the graduate unit will provide a year-by-year path to completion and timeline of requirements based on the defined flexible time program length. This modified path to completion should be included in the SGS Calendar and will ensure that students are aware of dates and deadlines, and expectations surrounding progression through the program.

Year 1: Complete courses ABC 1234H, ABC 1244Y. Year 2: Complete courses ABC 1235H, ABC 1233Y. Prepare thesis proposal. Year 3: Complete course ABC 1235Y. Finalize thesis proposal, defend proposal by October 1. Year 4: Pass Comprehensive Exams. Achieve Candidacy by August 30. Year 5: Research and writing. Year 6: Research and writing. Year 7: Defend Thesis at Final Oral Examination by August 30.

Program Length: 7 years Time Limit: 8 years

Registration

Students in a flexible-time PhD program option will register full-time during the first four years and part-time during subsequent years in the program. Students are required to be registered for every session, including summers, following the first session of registration unless granted a leave of absence.

Transfers between the full-time PhD program and the flexible-time PhD program option are not permitted. A student may transfer from a master’s program into an approved flexible-time option program, with the years in the master’s program being counted as part of the PhD program.  

Fees and Funding

Students pay full-time fees for the first four years and part-time fees thereafter.  Students are expected to be self-funded.

Program Length and Time Limit

Each graduate program offering a flexible-time PhD program option will identify a program length for inclusion in the SGS Calendar entry, which normally will be five or six years. The time limit, between six and eight years, will be established through the departmental regulations. Flexible-time PhD program option students are afforded the same number of program extensions as other PhD students, with approval as required. 

Supervisor and Supervisory Committee

All doctoral students should have an identified supervisor and supervisory committee as early as possible in their program. For the flexible-time PhD program option, the time limit for constituting a supervisory committee is by the end of the first session in Year 3.

Achieving Candidacy

Candidacy must be achieved in the flexible-time PhD program option by the end of the fourth year of registration.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Can a student switch from a full-time phd to a flexible-time phd program option, or vice-versa.

No. Transfers between full-time PhD programs and flexible-time PhD programs are not permitted.

What is the difference between a flexible-time PhD and a full-time PhD?

The flexible-time PhD program is an option for full-time enrolment in a PhD that offers students an extended timeline on the completion of the program requirements of the degree in order to accommodate and academically benefit from concurrent employment in the relevant field of study.

Is the flexible-time PhD program option open to all students? What do I need to apply?

The flexible-time PhD program option is available to practicing professionals in the relevant field of study, in programs where the option has been approved to offer it. In addition to the admission requirements for full-time PhD applicants, flexible-time PhD applicants must also demonstrate that they are practising professionals in the relevant field.

What is the timeline for program requirements in a flexible-time PhD program option?

The graduate unit and supervisor should develop a timeline to complete the program requirements of the degree, including dates, deadlines and expectations of progression through the program. The SGS Calendar entry will typically also provide this information.

What is the time limit for a student to complete a flexible-time PhD program?

Each graduate unit will identify a program length for the flexible-time PhD program option. The time limit is typically two years longer than the full-time PhD, will be established through departmental regulations, and will not exceed 8 years.

Are flexible-time PhD students eligible to receive a funding package?

No. Flexible-time PhD students are expected to be self-funded and pay full-time fees for the first four years and reduced fees (equivalent to part-time) thereafter.

What if a student’s employment situation changes during the flexible-time PhD program?

The definition of a ‘practicing professional’ is broad (see Admission Requirements above). The definition allows for some flexibility with professional practice arrangements that may change or evolve over the length of the program. While the flexible-time option requires demonstrated continuity, different activities can contribute to your engaged practice.

Students with concerns or questions about their situation, should​ consult with their program Graduate Coordinator or Chair.