8. Program Progress
8.1 All Degree Students
To be in good academic standing, a student registered in a degree program in the School of Graduate Studies must:
- comply with the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies as well as with the Degree Regulations and program requirements governing that degree program; and
- make satisfactory progress toward the completion of the degree.
All degree students are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies, described in this section of this calendar. The degree regulations for the various doctoral and master’s degrees offered by the School of Graduate Studies are specified in the Degree Regulations section of this calendar and in the Graduate Programs section, under the entry of the graduate unit offering the graduate program leading to the relevant degree. The specific requirements for the various graduate programs offered in the School of Graduate Studies are described under the entry of the graduate unit offering the program. Each student is required to satisfy the program requirements found in the SGS Calendar (see Graduate Programs section) of the academic year in which the student first registered in the graduate program. Failure to maintain good academic standing may result in various sanctions, including ineligibility for financial assistance, lowest priority for bursaries and assistantships, and even termination. The School of Graduate Studies may terminate the registration and eligibility of a student
- who fails to comply with the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies, the relevant Degree Regulations, or the specific degree requirements of the graduate unit in which the student is registered, or
- who fails to maintain satisfactory progress in the degree program in which the student is registered, as measured either by the general standards of the School of Graduate Studies or by the specific standards of the graduate unit.
8.2 Full-Time Students
Students must meet the full-time studies requirements—see General Regulations, section 7.1.1 Registration Procedures.
8.3 Timely Completion of Graduate Program Requirements
Each graduate unit establishes specific requirements for degree programs, in addition to those of the School of Graduate Studies, as well as standards of satisfactory performance and progress. These requirements and standards are described in the appropriate entry in the Graduate Programs section of this calendar and in material published separately by graduate units. Continuation in a degree program requires satisfactory progress toward the completion of that program. A student’s progress in a degree program will be considered satisfactory only if the student satisfies and completes the various requirements for that degree in a manner consistent with the SGS General Regulations and Degree Regulations and the graduate unit’s time line for completion of the degree program. A graduate unit may recommend to the School of Graduate Studies that a student’s registration and degree eligibility be terminated when a student fails to maintain satisfactory progress toward the completion of the degree.
8.4 Satisfactory Completion of Graduate Courses
Satisfactory performance in a degree program requires the completion of every course taken for graduate credit with a grade of at least a B-; some graduate units may require a minimum grade above a B- for some or all courses. If a student fails to complete a graduate course in a satisfactory manner (i.e., receives a grade report of FZ or NCR in a course, or receives a grade report below the minimum acceptable by the graduate unit then the graduate unit in which the student is registered may recommend to the School of Graduate Studies the termination of registration and eligibility of that student. If the student is permitted to continue, he or she must repeat the relevant course, or an alternative course recommended by the graduate unit and approved by the School of Graduate Studies, and obtain a satisfactory grade. The report for the course that was not completed in a satisfactory manner as well as the report for the repeated or alternative course will appear on the student’s academic record.
8.5 Doctoral Students
8.5.1 Achieving Candidacy: Requirements and Time Limit
To achieve candidacy, students in doctoral degree programs must:
- complete all requirements for the degree exclusive of thesis research and courses such as ongoing research seminars that run continuously through the program, and
- have an approved thesis topic, supervisor, and supervisory committee.
Candidacy must be achieved by the end of the third year for all doctoral programs, except for the five-year PhD program, flexible-time PhD program option, and professional doctoral programs begun on a part-time basis. For those exceptions, candidacy must be achieved by the end of the fourth year of registration (see chart below).
Note: The foregoing time limits do not apply to courses that run continuously throughout the program.
|
Doctoral Degree Program Categories |
Time Limit to Achieve Candidacy |
|
PhD, four-year program |
by end of third year |
|
PhD, five-year program (direct-entry) |
by end of fourth year |
|
Flexible-time PhD program option |
by end of fourth year |
|
Professional doctoral program, full-time |
by end of third year |
|
Professional doctoral program, part-time |
within four years of initial registration |
In exceptional circumstances, a student who has not met these requirements may be permitted to register in the program for up to 12 months at the discretion of the graduate unit in which the student is registered. Continuation beyond 12 months will require the approval of both the graduate unit and the SGS Admissions and Programs Committee.
Completion of the program requirements identified above will signal the achievement of candidacy. Successful completion of candidacy is recognized by a notation on the transcript.
See also requirements and deadlines in the Degree Regulations section and unit entries in the Graduate Programs section of this calendar.
8.5.2 Supervision and Satisfactory Progress
All doctoral students should have an identified supervisor and supervisory committee as early as practicable in their program. The supervisory committee should consist of the supervisor and two other members of the graduate faculty. Where appropriate, the graduate unit should assist in selection of the supervisor. Both student and supervisor should be involved in the selection and approval of other supervisory committee members.
Unless the graduate unit has specified earlier deadlines, supervisory committees should be established no later than the end of the fourth session in all doctoral programs, except in five-year (direct-entry) PhD programs, flexible-time PhD program options, and part-time professional doctoral programs, where the supervisory committee should be established no later than the end of the seventh session (see chart below).
|
Doctoral Degree Program Categories |
Time Limit for Constituting Supervisory Committee |
|
PhD, four-year program |
by end of first session in second year |
|
PhD, five-year program (direct-entry) |
by end of first session in third year |
|
Flexible-time PhD program option |
by end of first session in third year |
|
Professional doctoral program, full-time |
by end of first session in second year |
|
Professional doctoral program, part-time |
by end of first session in third year |
The student’s choice of supervisor and supervisory committee is subject to the approval of the graduate unit in which the student is registered. A student who encounters difficulties setting up a supervisory committee should consult the Chair, Director, or Graduate Coordinator of the graduate unit in advance of the relevant deadline. A student who fails to constitute a supervisory committee by the required time may lose good academic standing.
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. In each of two consecutive meetings, if a student’s supervisory committee reports that the student’s progress is unsatisfactory, the graduate unit may recommend to the School of Graduate Studies the termination of registration and eligibility of that student. A student who encounters difficulties arranging a meeting of this committee should consult the Chair, Director, or Graduate Coordinator of the graduate unit in advance of the relevant deadline for doing so. A student who, through the his or her 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.
See also General Regulations, section 9 Graduate Student Supervision; Degree Regulations, section 1 Doctoral Degrees; and specific program requirements in the Graduate Programs section.