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School of Graduate Studies - Theses

The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) requires doctoral and masters graduands to submit a thesis written as a required element of their degree program in electronic format.

To submit your thesis, follow these instructions:

• Online thesis submission system (SGS)
• Thesis preparation and submission instructions (SGS)
• Thesis submission and publishing guide (Library)

SGS intends to house all available digitized Doctoral and Masters theses by U of T graduate students on this site. The current collection is but a small sample of that scholarly work.

Browse items in this community by the following

Collections, doctoral and master theses prior to etd mandate (pre-2009) 12363, doctoral theses (2009 - ) 13208, master's theses (2009 - ) 10977.

• 4 Wang, Jing
• 3 Cheesman, Stephen J.
• 3 Ding, Wei
• 3 Lane, Daniel
• 3 Li, Daniel
• 3 Nguyen, Christine
• 6287 2020 - 2024
• 16987 2010 - 2019
• 9269 2000 - 2009
• 3931 1990 - 1999
• 42 1980 - 1989
• 23 1970 - 1979
• 8 1960 - 1969
• 1 1926 - 1929

Additional information

SGS thesis submission instructions

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Engineering Science

Research Thesis

All EngSci students are required to complete an independent thesis in their final year of study.

Students can work on an approved engineering-related project under the supervision of any U of T faculty member .

U of T's exceptional breadth and strength in research allow students to find projects that fit their individual interests , and work in theoretical, clinical, design or laboratory setting.

Students experience the entire research process from initial project framing and literature review, through experimental design to documentation of their work in a final research thesis and oral presentation. Support is provided throughout the course through lectures and workshops on topics like proposal writing and research documentation.

The course is excellent preparation for those intending to pursue graduate studies and provides all students with valuable experience in independent critical thinking and problem solving .

Deb Raji (1T8 PEY Robotics)

Deb was internationally celebrated for her research into racial and gender bias in artificial intelligence algorithms.

Thesis title: Investigating the Influence of Demographic Diversity on Model Performance in Facial Recognition (Prof. Ashton Anderson, CompSci)

"My thesis supervisor and the thesis course coordinator taught me to think broadly about the impact of technology on society."

Students begin thinking about potential supervisors and topics in Year 3, with a focus in the Winter and Summer terms on firming up commitments with supervisors. By mid-October of Year 4, students are expected to write a formal thesis proposal that defines their projects, though many students have already started their research by then.

Spacecraft attitude control by magnetic actuation and double-gimbal variable-speed control moment gyroscope (Prof. Chris Damaren, UTIAS)

Aerodynamic shape optimization process for a streamlined land-based solar-powered vehicle (Prof. Amy Bilton, MIE)

Development and application of a production cost model for the Ontario electricity sector (Prof. Brian Karney, CivE)

Toward unifying deterministic and stochastic deep reinforcement learning algorithms (Prof. Jimmy Ba, CompSci)

Day trading portfolio construction using technical analysis and machine learning (Prof. Roy Kwon, MIE)

Motion planning for autonomous parking of vehicles in an urban environment (Prof. Tim Barfoot, UTIAS)

Traveling wave based protection of series-compensated transmission lines (Prof. Reza Iravani, ECE)

Development of a high-throughput platform for imaging tumour cell response to hypoxia (Prof. Alison McGuigan, ChemE/IBBME)

Nonadiabatic holonomic two-qubit gates with superconducting qubits (Prof. Aephraim Steinberg, Physics)

Material stocks and flows in Toronto's road infrastructure (Prof. Shoshanna Saxe, CivE)

Creation of an epidemiological model capable of simulating vaccine hesitancy (Prof. Jason Foster, EngSci)

© 2024 Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering

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Master of Museum Studies Thesis Option

The mmst thesis.

The MMSt thesis option allows students to gain experience in developing and executing a research project from beginning to end. This option is designed for students who have a clearly defined topic, can find a supervisor, and can meet tight deadlines in order to complete all program requirements within the normal time limit. The thesis option is typically carried out in the second year of the two-year program. Faculty approval is required.

The length and structure of the Faculty of Information Master’s theses may vary widely depending on their disciplinary context. The general guideline is that the length of a thesis, and the scope of work it reflects, should be proportionate to the 2.0 FCE allotted to the thesis in the MMSt program. The minimum length of a thesis should be determined in consultation with the supervisory committee, but the maximum length should not exceed 21,000 words (including notes, but excluding appendices, bibliography, tables, and figures). The student and supervisor are responsible for keeping the scope of the work within these limits, and should agree on a target length at the proposal stage. Theses that exceed the length limit may not be permitted to go forward for defence.

The format and scope of the thesis project will be determined by the supervisory committee based on the expectations and norms of the disciplines the thesis draws upon. In some cases, a prototype, design, or coded element may be considered the substantive component of the thesis work. Supervisors and the MMSt Program Director may be able to recommend recent examples relevant to the student’s interests. The Faculty of Information maintains a listing of Faculty of Information Master’s theses , many of which are downloadable in full.

The MMSt Program Director oversees all aspects of the thesis process. Students and supervisors are encouraged to consult with them periodically throughout the thesis process.

Student should note that writing a thesis is dependent on the student finding a supervisor with expertise in their area who also has the time to dedicate to supervision. This option is not guaranteed.

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Requirements

• MSL1150H Collection Management
• MSL1230H Ethics, Leadership, Management
• MSL2331H Exhibitions, Interpretation, Communication
• MSL2370H Museums and Cultural Heritage: Context and Critical Issues
• MSL2350H Museum Planning and Management: Projects, Fundraising and Human Resources OR INF2040H Project Management (0.5 credit)
• One research methods course, appropriate to the program of study, with a final grade of at least A-. INF1240H automatically satisfies this requirement. To request that another course satisfy this requirement, contact the MMSt Program Director prior to taking this course. (0.5 credit)
• Five half-courses (2.5 credit), of which at least 1 elective (0.5 credit) must be an MMSt elective course
• A thesis (2.0 credit)

For CDP students that are interested in pursuing an MI thesis as part of their degree, please  review the information and steps here to make the request . Do note that it is rare for CDP students to pursue a thesis, and approval need to be obtained from the Faculty.

Students wishing to combine the thesis option with a Collaborative Specialization are advised to consult with the Collaborative Specialization liaison about compatibility.

The following timeline is based on full-time registration in the normal two-year program for the MMSt degree. Students not on the following two-year program schedule should consult with their supervisor and the MMSt Program Director about adapting the following timeline to their schedule. Any departure from this standard timeline must be justified in the thesis proposal and approved by the Committee on Standing before the student may be enrolled in the thesis option. SGS policies regarding overall degree timelines apply in all cases.

Note that the thesis option is recorded as, RST9999Y – Research/Thesis and is typically a three-term course worth 2.0-credits. Students who have not completed the thesis within the three-term limit must request an extension to coursework from the Committee on Standing.

A typical sample to-do sequence for students interested in pursuing a thesis:

Important milestones for a summer Final Oral Examination (FOE)

The last day to defend a thesis before needing to register for the fall term is  September 15th .

6 weeks before the 15th of September is  August 4th . 6 weeks is the minimum period of time that an external examiner can have the thesis before an examination. They are required to submit their report on the thesis 2 weeks before the FOE to give the candidate time to respond.

7 weeks before the 15th of September is July 28th. If the Committee for the Final Oral Examination form and thesis draft have not been sent by the supervisor to the MMSt Program Director  by July 28th then the student will defend in the fall term. The 28th of July is the absolute last day to submit the form to arrange a FOE for the 15th of September. If the form and thesis draft are submitted on this day but the proposed external cannot participate in an examination on the 15th of September or if the MMSt Program Director cannot confirm the external by August 4th then the student will defend in the fall term. It is strongly advised that students submit as much before this date as possible.

Students whose final drafts are completed, or determined to be defensible by their committee, after July 28th will defend in the fall term.

A student with a complete draft and completed FOEA student with a complete draft and completed FOE request form by July 1st can schedule an FOE between the August 19th and the 15th of September.

A student with a complete draft and completed FOEA student with a complete draft and completed FOE request form by July 15th can schedule an FOE between the 2nd and the 15th of September.

A student with a finished draft and a completed FOE form by July 22nd can schedule an FOE between the 12th and the 15th of September

Step 1 : Complete a  Research Methods  course over Fall or Winter of Year 1.

Explore potential thesis topics. Consult with the MMSt Program Director for advice on how to seek a supervisor for your project.

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Step 2 : Start thinking about a thesis proposal, and discuss with your potential  supervisor or supervisory committee .

A student’s supervisory committee provides advice and guidance as the student develops and carries out the thesis project. The supervisory committee consists of:

• A thesis supervisor, who must be a regular faculty member at the Faculty of Information
• A second reader, who may be a regular, adjunct, status only or emeritus faculty member at the Faculty of Information or a regular or emeritus faculty member at another U of T department. The thesis supervisor will assist in locating a second reader with you.

For more information and advice on the roles of the student and the committee members, see the School of Graduate Studies Supervision Guidelines (allowing for the differences between PhD and Master’s programs, where applicable).

Optional : You may wish to use the time to do a reading course with your potential thesis supervisor as preparation for your thesis.

Step 3 : Submit a thesis proposal , together with the Master’s Thesis Proposal form , to the Committee on Standing via  Student Services  prior to  September 1 st  of Year 2 .

If approved, student will be enrolled into RST9999Y to start on their thesis. Students typically start on their thesis in the Fall of Year 2.

At times, the Committee on Standing may suggest some changes to a student’s thesis proposal. In that case, student need to submit an updated proposal prior to being officially enrolled into RST9999Y (and start working on their thesis).

NOTES ON THESIS PROPOSAL

The thesis proposal should contain detail sufficient to describe the significance, background and rationale for the thesis and the work the student will perform for the thesis. Supervisors should guide students in structuring a proposal appropriate to the disciplinary context of the project. The following list of elements is typical for a thesis proposal in Information; however, the Faculty recognizes that this list may not fit all thesis proposals and thus should be considered as illustrative only:

• Statement of the problem–includes the background, context in the information field and in the broader scheme of academic pursuits, key questions, significance of the problem, and description of chosen methodology.
• Grounding and rationale–provides a representative review of theoretical, conceptual, technological or methodological precedents which directly relate to the thesis topic.
• Research plan–details the methods that will be used or the processes that will be followed during the course of investigation. This section describes how the questions posed by the thesis will be addressed, and how the research will translate into a project timeline leading to the defence.

The proposal should also include a statement about the estimated length of the thesis (see guidelines above). If a course other than INF1240H: Research Methods is used to satisfy the research methods requirement, a brief rationale for the choice of methods course should be included as part of the thesis proposal, as well as the course syllabus, and a formal endorsement of the appropriateness of the course from the MMSt Program Director. (Students and supervisors are therefore advised to consult with the MMSt Program Director on non-standard methods courses well in advance.)

The proposal should be no more than 10 pages (double-spaced, not including bibliography or any appendices, tables, and figures), though it may be shorter depending on the nature of the project.

RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

Research protocols must be approved by the University of Toronto’s Social Sciences & Humanities Review Committee– Human Research Area, if human subjects are involved.

Your supervisor and the Associate Dean Research can advise you on the process and timelines. The Research Ethics Board (REB) review process takes 3-4 weeks from submission to approval depending on the complexity of the project, the vulnerability of the population to be studied, and the degree of risk involved in the project. Students and supervisors should take the REB submission dates and timelines into account when planning the thesis.

Our Research Officer can assist in taking a first pass on your REB documents – please forward request to Student Services .

Step 4 : Research, write, research and write more!

As research for the thesis begins, the student and supervisor should agree upon meeting schedules, implementing the research plan described in the proposal, project milestones, and the process for submitting drafts, receiving feedback, and handling revisions. (See also the  School of Graduate Studies’ Supervision Guidelines , allowing for the differences between PhD and Master’s programs, where applicable). A second reader may wish to be closely involved in the research process at an early stage, or may wish only to read and give feedback on a complete draft of the thesis at a later stage. The student, supervisor, and second reader should consult together early to agree upon the process and make expectations clear.

Move towards thesis completion over the Summer of Year 2.

Step 5 : Thesis completion & scheduling your defence

The completion of the thesis should be well within sight by the beginning of summer of Year 2. The student and the supervisory committee should be entering the final stages leading to the defence.

The official deadline to submit your thesis to the Faculty is typically September 15 th . By this deadline, students need to have successfully defended and ready to submit a complete Thesis to the Faculty and the School of Graduate Studies. To meet this timeline, we recommend that students defend at least 1-2 weeks ahead of this deadline (at the latest). To avoid any unforeseen challenges, the defence should happen prior to the end of August.

Students who are unable to complete their work in time to meet this deadline will normally become ineligible for November convocation, be required to re-register and pay extra tuition fees, and apply for an extension to course work to remain in the thesis option.  Students and supervisors are strongly encouraged to avoid September defences, and to plan the thesis’s scope and research process to allow for an early- or mid-summer defence.

The second reader should be given a minimum of two weeks to read the complete thesis and give feedback. The student should also consult well in advance with their committees about their availability over the summer, allowing for vacations, research trips, and other periods of unavailability.

Once the supervisor and second reader have read the complete thesis and agree that it is ready for defence, the supervisor must submit a Committee for the Final Oral Examination Form , along with the thesis to the MMSt Program Director at least  seven weeks  prior to the desired defence date.

• For example, for a defence to be scheduled on September 15th (the last possible day), the MMSt Program Director should be notified in the first week of August at the latest.
• This interval is to allow for faculty absences during the Summer session and to ensure that Thesis Examination Committee  members have appropriate time to evaluate the thesis. The student and supervisor are advised to have second and third choices ready when proposing external examiners .

The Thesis Examination Committee  consists of the thesis supervisor, the second reader, a non-voting Chair, and an external examiner.

An external examiner is someone that is:

• External to the Faculty of Information (i.e. does not hold a graduate appointment at the Faculty of Information);
• A faculty member from another U of T department, a qualified senior practitioner, or an appointed individual from an academic or research institution
• The external appraiser must be at arm’s length from both the Candidate and the supervisor(s). Normally, this will exclude anyone who: has served as Masters or PhD Supervisor / Supervisee of the Candidate or the Supervisor; or has, in the past six years, been a departmental colleague of the Candidate or the Supervisor, or has collaborated on a research project, scholarly work or publication, with either of them.

Once the Final Oral examination form is received, the MMSt Program Director:

• Confirms that the thesis is within the length guidelines (theses that egregiously exceed the length limit will not be sent to the external examiner until they are edited)
• Reviews, approves, and contacts the external examiner about serving on the Thesis Examination Committee, and informs her/him about the role
• Appoints an independent, non-voting Committee chair
• Finalize/schedule defence date

6 weeks prior to defence date : Once the Examination Committee and defence date have been finalized by the MMSt Program Director, the student is responsible for providing digital copies of the defence draft to the Examination Committee, at least six weeks prior to the defence date for pre-defence appraisal/review.

At least two weeks prior to defence date : the external examiner submits a short written report (1–2 pages) to the MMSt Program Director, who then makes the report available to the student and the rest of the Examination Committee.

Step 6: Final Oral Examination (FOE)

The final oral examination consists of a 10–20 minute presentation by the student (which may include visual aids), followed by a question period not exceeding 60 minutes. Quorum for the examination is two voting members of the Examination Committee. Participation by telephone conference call or videoconferencing is permitted. Other faculty members and students may be invited to attend the examination, with permission of the candidate. Guests may not vote, and must leave the room during the discussions of the Examining Committee before and after the question period.

Assessment is based on examination performance, and quality of the written thesis, taking into account that the Faculty of Information Master’s theses are worth 2.0 FCEs in total.

The Examination Committee Chair follows the Procedures for the Final Oral Examination as follows:

• Committee assembles and Chair briefly outlines these procedures.
• Chair requests that the student leave the room.
• Chair informs the Committee as to whether degree requirements have been met.
• Chair invites the Committee to briefly discuss any considerations that the student will need to address in the defence questioning, such as weaknesses identified in the external’s report.
• Student is invited back into the room to present their work (10–20 minutes). No questions are asked during the presentation.
• First Round: Chair invites the Committee to comment/ask questions about the presentation and thesis in the following order: 1) external examiner; 2) second reader; and, 3) supervisor. The external examiner is normally given more time for questions in this round than the other two examiners. In the Second Round, Committee members may ask additional questions, following from the First Round.
• Chair requests the student leave the room.
• Committee discusses the presentation in terms of the student’s ability, knowledge of her/his research field, and defence. If the Committee agrees that modifications are required (see below), the Chair makes a list of the specific modifications, including their scope — i.e. whether the modification should be manageable via a couple of new paragraphs, or a short subsection, or a new footnote, or a few strategically placed clarifying sentences.
• Committee votes for Pass, Pass with Modifications, or Fail; outcome is determined by a majority vote.
• Chair recalls the student, and informs them of the Committee’s decision. (See below for detailed instructions in the event of a Pass with Modifications decision).

The Thesis Examination Committee fills out the  Thesis Completion Form at the end of the examination. If the vote is for a Pass with Modifications, a member of the Thesis Examination Committee, normally the supervisor, is appointed to:

• Inform the student in writing of the modifications;
• Review the modifications and advise the student during the process if necessary; and
• Report the result to the MMSt Program Director by a deadline agreed upon by the Examining Committee.

Normally, modifications are those which may be reasonably handled by the student within a two-week timeframe or less. Major revisions involving substantial new analysis or data collection should be considered beyond the scope of Pass with Modifications. If the thesis requires major modifications of this nature to be judged passable by the Examination Committee, the outcome of the defence should be Fail (see below). Minor typos and corrections that can be handled quickly in a single sitting can be included in a straightforward Pass outcome. If the modifications are not completed within this interval, or do not adequately address the Examining Committee’s instructions, the outcome is Fail.

IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE

Students are provided with written reasons in the case of a Fail recommendation.

A second examination may be scheduled within six months of the defence date.

If a second Fail recommendation is made, the student fails the thesis option, and may not repeat it.

A failed student may have his/her registration terminated. However, to make up the total number of credits required for the degree, the necessary number of elective courses may be substituted in place of the thesis option with SGS approval, and on the recommendation of the Faculty of Information.

Step 7: Thesis Submission

The thesis must be submitted in electronic format through the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) submission process. SGS only accepts theses in electronic format. SGS has helpful information about how to format and prepare the thesis, and about publication factors to consider.

SGS notifies students about convocation arrangements about 4–6 weeks in advance. Students failing to complete all steps by the SGS deadlines will be required to re-register and pay additional fees.

• Current Students

School of Graduate Studies

Doctoral examinations & schedule.

The Final Oral Examination ( FOE ) is the capstone experience of your doctoral studies. General information about the FOE is outlined in the SGS Calendar . The Final Oral Examination schedule (see calendar below) lists current thesis defenses, and is updated periodically.

Additionally, you may find helpful the Guidelines for the Doctoral Final Oral Examination (FOE) , a document that outlines the responsibilities of the graduate unit, SGS , the Examination Committee, and the Chair of the Committee in the planning and conduct of a Final Oral Examination. Faculty and Staff can access additional resources on the SGS Final Examinations webpage .

Academic fees for continuously registered Ph.D. candidates in the final year of the program are pro-rated over the 12–month academic year, based on the date of the final approved thesis submission to SGS . Incidental fees are charged on a sessional (term) basis. More information on the pro-rated fees and schedules can be found in Graduate Fees and on the Student Accounts website under Current Fall–Winter Fee & Refund Schedules.

In-Person Examinations at the School of Graduate Studies

Requests to book the rooms at 63 St. George Street are covered by the following guidelines.

• Exam rooms are available for blocks of up to three (3) hours between 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM ET, Monday to Friday.
• Exam rooms have maximum capacities as indicated on the Book a Meeting Room website.
• All participants should bring their laptop or tablet with them; the computer, camera, and microphone in the room can be used to provide a full room view for remote participants. The computer is currently configured for anyone to sign into their Zoom or Microsoft Teams account. Teleconference is also available for a maximum of two participants.
• All signature files and forms will be administered electronically.
• Please avoid the use of perfume, cologne, hairspray and other scented products when you visit the School of Graduate Studies. Refer to the University’s Guidelines on the Use of Perfumes and Scented Products .

Doctoral Examination Schedule

Research Guides

Submit and publish your thesis.

• The Graduate Thesis: What is it?

Thesis Defences

• Deadlines and Fees
• Formatting in MS Word
• Formatting in LaTeX
• Making Thesis Accessible
• Thesis Embargo
• Review and Release
• Your Rights as an Author
• Re-using Third Party Materials
• Creative Commons Licenses for Theses
• Turning Thesis into an Article
• Turning Thesis into a Book
• Other Venues of Publication

Doctoral students must defend their theses in a closed final oral examination, after their supervisory committee has deemed it ready to go forward. The thesis is reviewed by an external appraiser from another university/institution, and this individual provides the student and committee with a thoughtful critique of the thesis prior to the defence.

Doctoral Defences

The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) oversees the doctoral defence process. On average, a doctoral defence runs just under two hours, and students usually present their research in a 20 minute presentation at the start of the exam, and are then questioned by the committee. Students are sent out for the voting process, and are invited back into the room to learn the result:

• As Stands - no corrections needed. You must submit your thesis to SGS in one week.
• Minor Corrections: minor corrections are required. You must obtain your supervisor’s approval of the corrections and submit your thesis to SGS within a month.
• Minor Modifications: modifications are required, and a subcommittee is struck. The subcommittee must approve the modifications and you have three months to submit your thesis to SGS.

Masters Defences

Exam practices vary for masters students, and are overseen by individual units and/or faculties; consult your Graduate Handbook for the practice in your unit.

The following are some common masters defence scenarios:

• Defence takes place with supervisor and 2 other faculty members, 1 of whom must be a graduate faculty member from the student’s unit.
• Defence takes place with supervisor and 2 other faculty members, as well as an appraiser that is external to the University of Toronto.
• Approval of the thesis is completed by the supervisor alone.
• Approval of the thesis is completed by the supervisor alone, followed by a public departmental seminar.
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• Last Updated: Sep 15, 2023 3:23 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.utoronto.ca/thesis

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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 (3.5 FCE)

Required Courses:

• CHL5005H : Professional Skills for Doctoral Students in Public Health
• 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

MSc Thesis-Based Program

Students in the Thesis-Based MSc are expected to think critically about scientific issues and develop a knowledge base in pharmacology while formulating hypotheses in a specific area of pharmacological research. You will test your hypotheses through active research and present your investigations in a thesis.

Program Requirements

Students in the Thesis-Based MSc must fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete PCL1002Y: Graduate Pharmacology. The academic program may require additional coursework.
• Present a departmental seminar after one year in the program.
• Participate in a research program and present the results of the investigation as a written thesis. The thesis will be evaluated and defended to the satisfaction of a thesis examination committee.
• Spend a minimum of one full year of residence, during which time the student is required to be on campus full-time and in such geographic proximity as to be able to participate fully in the department's activities associated with the program.

The MSc program can be completed in 6 sessions (2 years) full-time.

Monitoring and Progress

In addition to the immediate supervisor, MSc students in the thesis-based program select an advisor -- an additional Graduate Faculty member that monitors your progress and provides guidance.

The Advisor is selected by you in consultation with your Supervisor and is subject to the approval of the Graduate Coordinator. Selection of the advisor should be made within the first 3 months of program registration by submitting an  Advisor Selection Form  to the Graduate Office.   

Both the Supervisor and the Advisor are required to submit formal annual reports on your progress at the beginning of each academic session, prior to re-registration. See  MSc Advisor Report  and  MSc Supervisor Report . 

The Supervisor, the Advisor, or the student, may report problems directly to the Graduate Coordinator or the Department Chair.

First-Year Seminar

All M.Sc. students are required to give a seminar after one year in the program. The seminars are normally held in the fall and are an opportunity for you to become familiar with the expectations for the defense.

You should aim to present the results/progress made thus far and include any problems you are encountering. If you are still awaiting results from your thesis research, you can still give a seminar focusing on scientific thought and rationale. The length of your presentation should be 15 minutes. A 10-minute question period will follow your presentation.

Since supervisors are required to attend all of their students’ seminars, it is not possible for the Graduate Office to give students a choice of dates. We will do our best to distribute a tentative schedule early enough so that if there are any conflicts you and your supervisor(s) can inform the Graduate Office before the final schedule is complete.

Program Completion

Begin by familiarizing yourself with the Program Completion procedures.

Thesis write-up and defence should be completed within 3 months after active research has been completed. Once your thesis is complete and approved by your Supervisor, finalize the date and time of the defence with your committee members and submit the  MSc Oral Examination Committee form  along with a copy of your thesis to the Graduate Office at least  FOUR WEEKS PRIOR  to the date you are scheduled to defend.   IMPORTANT : In preparing for the oral examination, you should be aware that the Examination Committee is not required to restrict their questions to the specific subject area of the defence since it is expected that students would have gained a broad knowledge base in pharmacology during the course of their studies. It is your responsibility to ensure that the thesis is delivered to the Examination Committee in a reasonable period of time (i.e., minimum four weeks) so the committee members can read the thesis and the appraiser can write the appraisal. All members of the examination committee (including the Chair) must receive a copy of the thesis.  The  MSc Examination Committee  is composed of:

• Supervisor(s) 
• Voting Member 
• Chair (obtained by the Graduate Office) 

The Appraiser:  For the purposes of the M.Sc. defence, the Appraiser of the thesis should be an expert on the subject of the thesis and, normally, will be an Assistant, Associate or Full Professor at the University of Toronto. In nominating someone as Appraiser for a thesis, the Supervisor must certify to the Graduate Coordinator that the nominee has an arm’s-length relationship both with the candidate and with the Supervisor. The Appraiser provides a 1-2 page report with brief, constructively critical and analytical comments, in addition to an explicit recommendation that the thesis be or not be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree. 

Voting Members:  One of the 2 voting members should have a graduate appointment in Pharmacology. The student's Advisor can be a voting member. 

Potential Examination Outcomes

• Successful Defence:  After successful examination, the corrected thesis must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies. Please visit their website for information on  program completion  procedures.
• Postponement:  An examination may be postponed   if more than one negative vote concerning the suitability of the written thesis for defence is received in advance. Only one postponement of an oral examination is permitted.
• Adjournment:  During the examination, more than one negative vote (or abstention) in either the thesis or oral examination category causes the oral examination to be adjourned. In situations where an examination was adjourned, a reconvened examination is to be held within one year of the adjournment. If the candidate is not successful at the reconvened exam, they will be ineligible for further M.Sc./Ph.D. candidacy at the University.

A Thesis Approval Form is given to your Supervisor after the Defense. If your supervisor did not receive it, you may obtain another copy from the Graduate Office. This form must be submitted to the Graduate Office in enough time for the Graduate Office to prepare and submit your Degree Recommendation to the School of Graduate Studies.

Transfer to the Ph.D. Program

Outstanding MSc students may apply for transfer to the Ph.D. program in Pharmacology after one year.  Transfer after the end of April of the second year is not permitted.  Students enrolled in the course-based Applied Clinical Pharmacology program are not eligible to transfer to the Ph.D. program; however, they are eligible to apply for the Ph.D. program upon completion of the MSc program.

Eligibility Criteria

• B+ or higher in all graduate courses taken
• The current MSc research project must be expandable in scope to meet Ph.D. thesis research requirements and must have resulted in sufficient progress to support the likelihood of a successful outcome at the Ph.D. level
• The full support of the current MSc Supervisor (and Co-Supervisor where applicable)
• The proposed Ph.D. supervisor MUST be the same as the current MSc supervisor

How to Apply

• Notify the Graduate Office you wish to be considered for Ph.D. transfer
• a review of background literature;
• a statement of hypotheses and/or goals;
• a progress report on work accomplished to date;
• a research plan for experiments to be completed in the Ph.D. program;
• a statement of the overall significance of the research project.
• A one-page summary  of the Research Proposal
• Curriculum Vitae  (be sure to include any publications and presentations)
• One letter from the proposed Ph.D. supervisor (current MSc supervisor)
• Two letters from Graduate Faculty members (Assessors) who are well acquainted with your work, are subject matter experts on the research field of the proposed project, and might possibly serve on your Ph.D. supervisory committee
• If you have a co-supervisor, an additional letter from the co-supervisor is also required.

Assessors should indicate:

• The proposed project is suitable for a Ph.D. project (comment on the scientific quality of the proposal and potential impact of anticipated results)
• The student has the qualities and potential for the Ph.D. program

The letter from the proposed Ph.D. supervisor should comment on the above and also confirm that adequate financial and infrastructure resources are in place to support both the student and the project.

Upon receipt of the above, the Graduate Education Committee will recommend whether the student should be allowed to proceed with the transfer.

Ph.D. Transfer Checklist

The following are some statements to guide your thinking about the feasibility of your proposed Ph.D. research:

• The scope of my current M.Sc. project is expandable to a Ph.D. project.
• My project has generated sufficient preliminary data to support the feasibility of the research goals.
• The progress of my project is being monitored at reasonable time intervals.
• Clinical Projects: I have made sufficient progress in patient recruitment to demonstrate the feasibility of my proposed study
• There are no experimental/methodological issues that could hamper the progress of the project being addressed.
• My study scope and timeline for achieving my research objectives align with the program completion time guidelines.

Continuing from the MSc to the Ph.D. Program

As per SGS regulations, all students applying for admission are required to submit and pay the posted application fee; this includes those currently registered who wish to continue on to a second program of study. Full application must be made by all applicants by the posted application dates.

Eligibility for the Ph.D. Program

To be eligible, the student must have achieved an average grade of at least B+ or higher in their Master's degree courses.

Continuing from the M.Sc. to Ph.D. program in Pharmacology may be carried out in one of two ways:

• For those Pharmacology M.Sc. students in the thesis-based program who have already obtained a Ph.D. supervisor and proposed Ph.D. project, there is the opportunity to screen at their Master's defense. This option is usually for students who are continuing on in the same laboratory with the same supervisor. An  online application  must still be completed but the process is expedited.
• M.Sc. Pharmacology graduates who do not screen at their outgoing M.Sc. defense must apply via the  online application system . As with all other applicants to the Ph.D. program, students will be admitted based on their academic qualifications, references and a detailed examination of the full application package. An admission interview may or may not be required.

Ph.D. Screening (Option #1)

Application to screen at the M.Sc. defense must be made to the Graduate Education Committee at least SIX WEEKS ahead of the proposed date of the defense (i.e., in time for the committee to evaluate the application and Ph.D. proposal prior to the proposed Defense+Screening).

Continuing students may enter the Ph.D. program either in September or January.

Application is made via the  online application system  and applicants must pay the processing fee and comply with the posted deadlines and required documentation rules.

The application must include:

• Three references . One from the current M.Sc. supervisor, which states that the current project is suitable for a Ph.D. project and that the student has the qualities and potential for the Ph.D. program; the second should be from a faculty member (e.g., the M.Sc. Advisor) who is well acquainted with the student's work. [For students proposing to change supervisors for the Ph.D. program, an additional letter from the proposed Ph.D. supervisor discussing the suitability of the proposed project should be included.]  
• A one-page summary of the research proposal
• A statement of hypotheses and/or goals;
• A progress report on work accomplished to date (if applicable);
• A research plan for experiments to be completed in the Ph.D. program;
• A statement of the overall significance of the research project.
• Curriculum Vitae  (be sure to include publications if any). 

Once the application to screen has been approved, a standard M.Sc. examination committee must be assembled. Two additional Graduate Education Committee members will be added to the examination committee to evaluate the Ph.D. screening. These two additional Screening Committee Members are not required to have a copy of the thesis unless specifically requested.

The student undergoing simultaneous M.Sc. Defense/Ph.D. Screening should be prepared to give an oral presentation (20 mins) that outlines the M.Sc. thesis research and a very brief description of the proposed Ph.D. project. Questions at the M.Sc. Defense/Ph.D. Screening can involve the M.Sc. thesis research, the proposed Ph.D. work, and general principles of pharmacology.