Doctoral Degrees
Doctor Education (EdD)
Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
1.1 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The PhD is offered in a variety of programs in multiple graduate units. For specific admission and program requirements, consult graduate unit entries. The Graduate Education Council of the School of Graduate Studies has recommended that all graduate units offering the PhD design a four-year program that can be completed on a full-time basis by a student who has a master’s degree in a discipline appropriate to the intended field of study. Where graduate units are aware that it may be difficult for students to complete their PhD programs within four years, they have been asked to include a statement to that effect in their calendar entries.
1.1.1 Admission Requirements
1.1.1.1 Four-Year PhD Program
Students admitted to this program require an appropriate master’s degree with at least B+ standing from a recognized university in a discipline deemed appropriate to the intended field of study.
A student who is admitted on condition that the requirements for an acceptable master’s degree at another university are completed may be permitted conditional registration, unless this is excluded by the terms of the letter of admission. A student who is conditionally registered must submit to the graduate unit, not later than January 31 of the first year of enrolment, official verification of completion of the requirements for the master’s degree. If verification is not submitted by that date, additional requirements may be added to the PhD program. See further information in the Admission Regulations section of General Regulations.
1.1.1.2 Five-Year PhD Program
(Referred to as “Direct-Entry”)
Students admitted to this program, where offered, require an appropriate bachelor’s degree with at least A- standing from a recognized university in courses in the relevant discipline. Students who hold a master’s degree in another discipline or require further preparation also normally would be admitted to this program.
1.1.1.3 Flexible-Time PhD Program Option
Applicants may apply to a flexible-time PhD program option in a graduate unit offering such an option that has been approved through University of Toronto governance. 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.
Applicants to the flexible-time PhD program option must demonstrate:
1. That the research and proposed program of study is related to the applicant’s professional work and vice-versa;
2. That they will continue their professional activities while registered in the program.
Admission to this option is subject to availability of a supervisor.
1.1.2 Transfers
1.1.2.1 Master’s to PhD
A student may be recommended for transfer from a master’s program to a PhD program. In such cases, the student will transfer to a five-year PhD with the years in the master’s program being counted as part of the PhD program. The total number of courses required for the PhD is the sum of the normal master’s and PhD course requirements unless otherwise specified by the graduate unit.
1.1.2.2 PhD to Master’s
Students transferring from the PhD to the master’s program must complete all of the normal master’s degree requirements, or their equivalent, in order to be awarded the master’s degree. These transfers are made on the recommendation of the graduate unit and must be approved by the SGS Vice-Dean, Students. A second University of Toronto master’s degree of the same name will not be conferred unless it is undertaken in a different field of study from the first. Students who transfer from the PhD to the master’s program will not be permitted to transfer subsequently to the PhD program within the same graduate unit unless approved by the SGS Admissions and Programs Committee.
1.1.3 Program Requirements
PhD students must register for every successive session, including summers, on a full-time basis following the first session of registration unless granted a leave of absence. The minimum period of registration is one academic year, that is, three consecutive sessions. All PhD students are subject to rules and regulations outlined in the General Regulations section, including Good Academic Standing requirements, in addition to these PhD degree requirements and those of the graduate unit in which the student is registered. See also 1.1.3.8 Flexible-Time PhD Program Option, below.
1.1.3.1 Approval
The graduate unit must approve a student's program of advanced study and research.
1.1.3.2 Program
Specific program requirements are set by the graduate units and are found in their respective entries. The thesis topic and the name of the supervisor must be submitted by the middle of the first session of the second year. Graduate units may, at their discretion, require an earlier date.
1.1.3.3 Language Requirement
The student must have an adequate knowledge of such language or languages, other than English, as are required by the graduate unit and the degree program. (See individual graduate unit entries for specific requirements.)
Testing and certification of languages may be administered by the appropriate language department or by the student’s own graduate unit.
The graduate unit in which the student is registered is responsible for ensuring that an acceptable certificate of language competence is deposited in the official student file.
1.1.3.4 Achieving Candidacy: Requirements and Time Limit
See General Regulations, Good Academic Standing section for detailed requirements.
1.1.3.5 Thesis
The candidate, through the graduate unit, shall present a thesis embodying the results of original investigation, conducted by the candidate, on the approved topic from the major field. The thesis shall constitute a significant contribution to the knowledge of the field and must be based on research conducted while registered for the PhD program.
A thesis should have a coherent topic with an introduction presenting the general theme of the research and a conclusion summarizing and integrating the major findings. Nonetheless, it may contain a collection of several papers. The collection of papers may be expanded or supplemented by unpublished material, scholarly notes, and necessary appendices. In all theses, pagination should be continuous; there should be a common table of contents and an integrated bibliography for the whole thesis. A thesis must be prepared in a standard format (see National Library guidelines and Guidelines for the Preparation of Theses).
The thesis should normally be written in English, but with the permission of the School of Graduate Studies, a graduate unit may permit or require students in that unit to write the thesis in French.
In Division I, the Humanities, permission may be given for a thesis to be written in a language other than English or French when the language has been approved for use in theses by the graduate unit concerned. Before such permission can be granted, the graduate unit chair must certify in writing to the School of Graduate Studies that the candidate has passed a supervised essay-type examination, written in English, that demonstrates his or her proficiency in writing correct and idiomatic English prose. A supplementary abstract of about 5,000 words in English or French must form part of a thesis that is written in a language other than English or French, and no language other than English or French may be used for the conduct of final doctoral examinations.
See also General Regulations sections Doctoral Supervision and Submission of Theses.
1.1.3.6 Final Oral Examination
All students must defend a thesis at a final oral examination organized by the graduate unit with the cooperation of SGS. See Doctoral Final Oral Examination in General Regulations for detailed requirements and deadlines.
1.1.3.7 Time for Completion of Degree
All requirements must be completed within six years from first enrolment for the four-year PhD program and within seven years for the five-year PhD program. In exceptional circumstances, a candidate who has failed to complete all the requirements for the degree within this period may be considered for a maximum of four one-year extensions. See Extension of Time for Completion of Degree Requirements, Doctoral Students in General Regulations.
PhD students who have not completed the degree requirements before the time limit for the degree or by the end of the extension period may not enrol further.
For flexible-time PhD program option, see details below.
1.1.3.8 Flexible-Time PhD Program Option
Graduate units may offer a flexible-time PhD program option, approved by University of Toronto governance. Such a program option is offered where there is sufficient demand by practicing professionals in related fields. The design and delivery of a flexible-time PhD program option permits continued employment by the student in areas related to the student’s field of research, except for short specified periods of time. In these programs, theory and praxis uniquely engage and inform each other. See further information in Degree Regulations, Admission Requirements section 1.1.1.3 Flexible-Time PhD Program Option.
The flexible-time PhD program option differs from the full-time PhD program only in design and delivery. 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 successive session, including summers, following the first session of registration unless granted a leave of absence. Each graduate program offering a flexible-time PhD option will identify a normal program length for students in the option which normally will be five or six years.
The time limit, between six to eight years, will be established through the departmental regulations. Transfers between the full-time PhD program and the flexible-time PhD program option are not permitted. Students in the flexible-time option must satisfy the SGS General Regulations and Degree Regulations in the SGS Calendar, including good academic standing supervision and candidacy regulations.
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1.2 Doctor of Education (EdD)
The EdD program is offered in a variety of programs in multiple graduate units. The EdD program is designed to provide opportunities for more advanced study for those already engaged in a career related to education.
All students are subject to rules and regulations outlined in the General Regulations section, including Good Standing requirements, in addition to these degree requirements and those of the graduate unit in which the student is registered. See specific admission and program requirements in the Graduate Programs section.
All students must defend a thesis at a final oral examination organized by the graduate unit with the cooperation of SGS. See Doctoral Final Oral Examination in General Regulations for detailed requirements and deadlines.
In exceptional circumstances, a candidate who has failed to complete all the requirements for the degree within the time limit of six years may be considered for a maximum of four one-year extensions. See Extension of Time for Completion of Degree Requirements in General Regulations.
Students who have not completed the degree requirements before the six-year time limit or by the end of the extension period may not enrol further.
1.2.1 Admission Requirements
1. An MEd or MA in Education, or its equivalent from a recognized university, in the same area of specialization proposed at the doctoral level, completed with standing equivalent to a B+ or better.
2. Successful professional experience in education, or in a relevant field.
A student may be enrolled in one of the following graduate units:
- Adult Education and Counselling Psychology
- Sociology and Equity Studies in Education
- Theory and Policy Studies in Education
1.2.2 Program Requirements
For specific program and registration requirements, see the Graduate Programs section of this calendar.
1. Normally, a minimum of one Fall Session and one Winter Session of full-time study must be taken consecutively, i.e., Fall Session (September to December) followed by Winter Session (January to April) or Winter Session (January to April) followed by Fall Session (September to December).
2. In most programs, students may begin their studies on a part-time basis.
3. Eight half-courses are required for students who have a MEd or MA degree or the equivalent in the same area of specialization proposed at the doctoral level.
An eight half-course EdD program should include at least four half-courses in the home graduate unit except as otherwise stated in graduate unit program descriptions.
4. Students in some graduate programs will be required to take a comprehensive examination. Consult specific graduate-unit entry for details.
5. A thesis embodying the results of original investigation conducted by the student under the direction of an OISE thesis committee.
6. Students undergo an SGS final oral examination on the content and implications of the thesis, to determine the adequacy of both the thesis and its defence by the student.
7. All requirements for the EdD must be completed within six years of first enrolment as an EdD student.
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1.3 Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)
This degree is offered in the Faculty of Law. Admission and program requirements for the degree program are outlined in the Law entry in the Degree and Diploma Programs by Graduate Unit section. All SJD students are subject to rules and regulations outlined in the General Regulations section, including Good Standing requirements, in addition to the degree requirements specified in the Faculty of Law entry.
All doctoral students must defend a thesis at a final oral examination organized by the graduate unit with the cooperation of SGS. See Doctoral Final Oral Examination in General Regulations for detailed requirements and deadlines.
1.4 Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
This degree is offered in the Faculty of Music. Admission and program requirements for the degree program are outlined in the Music entry in the Degree and Diploma Programs by Graduate Unit section. All DMA students are subject to rules and regulations outlined in the General Regulations section, including Good Standing requirements, in addition to the degree requirements specified in the Faculty of Music entry.
All doctoral students must defend a thesis at a final oral examination organized by the graduate unit with the cooperation of SGS. See Doctoral Final Oral Examination in General Regulations for detailed requirements and deadlines.
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