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Department Oral Examination (DOE) of PhD Thesis

The departmental oral examination of the PhD thesis may be scheduled once the candidate and the supervisor agree that the research, experimental work, and written dissertation are complete.

A committee of professors will examine the PhD thesis and the candidate’s oral defense of the thesis. The committee must read the thesis and have sufficient knowledge of the content to examine the candidate and to judge the acceptability of the thesis for the PhD degree.

The supervisor will select professors to serve on the committee according to the following regulations:

• The committee will consist of three professors, including the supervisor. Where there are two supervisors, the committee will consist of four professors, including the two supervisors.
• Normally, all professors on the committee will hold a graduate faculty appointment in ECE. However, should the scope of the thesis fall outside ECE, professors from other departments within the University of Toronto may also serve on the committee (as a complement to the committee members from ECE).
• At least two professors on the committee must hold a full graduate faculty membership in ECE.
• Each professor must hold an appropriate graduate faculty membership (GFM) at the University of Toronto. To serve on this committee the professor must typically hold a full , associate (unrestricted) , or emeritus GFM; an associate member with restricted duties can serve only if their graduate faculty membership specifically includes the privilege to serve as a member of a doctoral thesis committee.

The candidate must distribute the thesis to the committee at least three weeks prior to the examination.

The candidate must submit the PhD Departmental Oral Examination Booking Form to the ECE Graduate Office ( [email protected] ) at least two weeks prior to the examination.

The ECE Graduate Office will book a venue, prepare the relevant documents, and distribute the notice of examination to the ECE Department.

All professors on the committee must be present for the examination to proceed. The order of questioning from the professors should be agreed upon at the beginning of the examination, after which the supervisor can initiate the examination.

During the examination, the candidate will make a twenty-minute presentation concerning their research, which will be followed by questions from the committee. The presentation and question period are open to all graduate students and professors in ECE. After the question period, the committee will vote to determine whether the candidate has passed the examination. The committee may approve the thesis “as is”, or with “minor corrections”, or with “minor modifications.” Any corrections or modifications must be completed prior to scheduling the final Ph.D. oral examination. Where the thesis or the candidate’s oral defense of the thesis are deemed unsatisfactory, the committee may also vote to reconvene the examination.

The supervisor will return the examination report to the ECE Graduate Office immediately after the examination.

A chair is not required for the PhD Departmental Oral Examination. However, the candidate or the supervisor may invite a professor to attend the examination as an objective, third-party observer to conduct the examination; this professor will not examine the student nor vote on the outcome of the examination. The additional professor should be added to the PhD Departmental Oral Examination Booking Form .

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• Current PhD Students

Upcoming PhD Defenses

Departmental phd thesis exams, tomas kojar.

Thursday, May 23, 2024  11:00 a.m. (sharp) BA6183/ Zoom Web Conference

Complete copy of Tomas' thesis

In this thesis we do a fundamental study of the Gaussian multiplicative chaos (GMC) on the real line enroute to an interesting problem in the field of Schramm Loewner evolution (SLE) curve. This is a singular measure that is the limit of the integral of an exponentiated Gaussian field with logarithmic covariance. It is strictly monotonic and so it has an inverse that we study its single-point and multi-point moments and correlation structure.

The interesting problem is a coupling between the Gaussian free field and the SLE curve. In the 2010 - work "Conformal weldings of random surfaces: SLE and the quantum gravity zipper" S.Sheffield initiated an approach of coupling those two random objects by constructing the quantum zipper joint process. Here we follow an alternative perspective initiated around the same time in the 2009-work "Random Conformal Weldings" K. Astala, P. Jones, A. Kupiainen, E. Saksman using the Beltrami equation and the Lehto estimates. In particular, they proved a conformal welding result for the GMC measure on the unit circle. In the thesis, we prove the analogous result for the inverse of the GMC measure on the unit circle.

Thursday, June 13, 2024  11:00 a.m. (sharp) BA6183/ Zoom Web Conference

Complete copy of Jim's thesis

DNA sequencing technologies have revolutionized the study of biology, allowing unprecedented access to the blueprint of life – our genomes. As these technologies have matured, massive amounts of DNA sequences are now becoming available for computers to analyze. The increasing throughput of these technologies has rendered old algorithms unusable. In this thesis, we first build a principled mathematical foundation for approximate DNA string matching, also called sequence alignment. We then show that using theoretically-backed approaches can result in faster and better software implementations, resulting in useful new tools for biologists.

In Chapter 3, we rigorously analyze how to subsample DNA strings to speed up alignment while retaining sensitivity. We show how to determine a sampling algorithm’s conservation, which is a measure of how sensitively it can match strings. Surprisingly, different sampling methods have vastly different conservation even when retaining the same amount of “information”. We show that modifying existing software to use better subsampling algorithms gives more sensitive results.

In Chapter 4, we provide the first non-trivial runtime and accuracy bounds on a widely-used DNA alignment algorithm called seed-chain-extend. We break the worst-case quadratic runtime barrier of sequence alignment by performing an average-case analysis under a probabilistic evolutionary model of DNA sequence. Our results are concordant with algorithmic results on real data and provide new insights into the rigorous analysis of sequence alignment.

In Chapter 5, we utilize the subsampling and the seed-chain-extend approaches analyzed in Chapters 3 and 4 to build a new genome-genome comparison method and software called skani. skani can estimate the evolutionary divergence between two genomes > 25 times faster than previous algorithms. We show that skani can compare hundreds of thousands of genomes in seconds on a standard desktop computer, enabling large-scale comparisons not possible before.

Past PhD Defenses

Tomas dominguez chiozza.

Monday, February 12th, 2024 10:00 a.m. (sharp) BA6183/ Zoom Web Conference

This thesis addresses the problem of recovering the community structure in the stochastic block model with two communities. The stochastic block model is a random graph model with planted clusters widely employed as the canonical model to study clustering and community detection. The focus is on the fundamental limits of community detection, quantified by the asymptotic mutual information between the observed network and the actual community structure. This mutual information is studied using the Hamilton-Jacobi approach, pioneered by Jean-Christophe Mourrat.

The first contribution of this thesis is a detailed description of the Hamilton-Jacobi approach, and its application to computing the limit of the mutual information in the dense stochastic block model, where the average degree of a node diverges with the total number of nodes. The main novelty is a wellposedness theory for Hamilton-Jacobi equations on positive half-space that leverages the monotonicity of the non-linearity to circumvent the imposition of an artificial boundary condition as previously done in the literature.

The second contribution of this thesis is a novel well-posedness theory for an infinite-dimensional Hamilton-Jacobi equation posed on the set of non-negative measures and with a monotonic non-linearity. Such an infinite-dimensional Hamilton-Jacobi equation appears naturally when applying the Hamilton- Jacobi approach to the sparse stochastic block model, where the total number of nodes diverges while the average degree of a node remains bounded. The solution to the infinite-dimensional Hamilton-Jacobi equation is defined as the limit of the solutions to an approximating family of finite-dimensional Hamilton- Jacobi equations on positive half-space. In the special setting of a convex non-linearity, a Hopf-Lax variational representation of the solution is also established.

The third contribution of this thesis is a conjecture for the limit of the mutual information in the sparse stochastic block model, and a proof that this conjectured limit provides a lower bound for the asymptotic mutual information. In the case when links across communities are more likely than links within communities, the asymptotic mutual information is known to be given by a variational formula. It is also shown that the conjectured limit coincides with this formula in this case.

Kevin (Min Seong) Park

Wednesday, December 13, 2023 3:00 p.m. BA6183/ Zoom Web Conference

This thesis presents a stochastic numerical method for computing viscous incompressible flow. By Itô’s lemma, the solution to a linear parabolic PDE is a martingale over an appropriate probability measure induced by Brownian motion. Given an initial boundary value problem, a functional corresponding to the martingale condition is minimized numerically through deep reinforcement learning. This methodology is well-suited for high dimensional PDEs over irregular domains, as it is mesh-free and sampling techniques can avoid the curse of dimensionality.

The extension to computing viscous incompressible flow is done by first formulating a martingale condition for the viscous Burgers’ equation. Its solution is obtained by a fixed point iteration for which a proof of convergence in L2 is provided. The constrained minimization problem subject to divergence-free vector fields is designed for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The velocity is determined without the pressure gradient. The stochastic numerical method avoids difficulties arising from coupling of velocity and pressure terms by globally maintaining incompressibility. Furthermore, pressure can be recovered from the computed velocity in a post-processing step.

The numerical implementation details are provided, including errors from statistical sampling. Simulations of various flow scenarios are showcased, including those with analytical solutions such as Stokes’ flow in a revolving ball, Poiseuille flow, and the Taylor-Green vortex. Additional validation is acquired from comparing against numerical solutions for cavity flow, and flow past a disk. Analysis is undertaken to determine bounds on the statistical and numerical error. A number of improvements in deep learning and generalizations to broader classes of PDES are proposed as possible avenues of future research. Software is available at github.com/mskpark/DRLPDE  

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Dalla Lana School of Public Health

• PhD: Epidemiology
• Our Programs
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Overview

This program aims to develop excellent epidemiologists, able to work, teach and conduct research on contributors to health; disease, disability and death; and effective measures of prevention.

The overall goal of the program is to enable graduates to acquire the necessary scientific knowledge and methodological skills to become independent researchers in epidemiology.  Graduates with a PhD in epidemiology are expected to have developed the skills which enable them to:

• evaluate the scientific literature with respect to epidemiologic concepts, theoretical hypotheses, designs, methods, analyses and interpretation;
• develop theoretical formulations and testable hypotheses from concepts in the literature or epidemiological observations, and propose research questions and design and write research proposals;
• understand the practical and scientific implications of epidemiological research designs and the associated methodological and analytical techniques;
• identify and evaluate available data for addressing specific research questions;
• evaluate strengths and weaknesses of data collection methods, develop methods appropriate for answering specific research questions, and assess the measurement properties of data collection tools;
• address ethical issues related to epidemiologic studies;
• appreciate the policy implications of epidemiologic research; and,
• write and defend a doctoral dissertation which makes a contribution to the scientific literature.

Click here to view PhD Competencies

Admission Requirements

• Applicants generally are expected to hold a master’s degree in epidemiology or a master’s degree in a related field with strong course work in epidemiology and biostatistics.
• Applicants are expected to have prior research experience which may be demonstrated through the completion of a master’s thesis, supervised research practicum, or other research experience, and which includes independent contributions to scientific publications.
• Applicants should have practical experience and reasonable expertise using standard statistical software packages.
• Click here for information regarding the application process.

Successful applicants will have research interests congruent with those of one or more members of faculty, and may have identified a possible primary or co-supervisor, prior to admission.  Admission may otherwise be conditional upon identifying a supervisor.  Thus, applicants are strongly encouraged to seek out potential supervisors, and discuss with them the possibilities, prior to applying to the degree program.  Applicants should note that identifying a potential supervisor does not guarantee admission.

Course Requirements

Course Requirements (4.0 FCE)

Required Courses (3.5)

Elective Courses (0.5)

Students are best served if their elective courses form part of a coherent package of experience. In this light, students are encouraged to choose elective courses that relate to the theme of their dissertation. For example, advanced methodological courses might be appropriate for a dissertation which involves highly complex statistical analysis; pathology courses for a dissertation which focuses more on disease process; bioethics courses for a dissertation on genetic epidemiology. Electives also may fill gaps in overall training and experience: A student with a largely social sciences background might benefit from health professional level pathology courses; a student with substantial bench-sciences training, who is interested in disease screening, might consider courses in behavioural sciences, health economics, or health policy. Students are encouraged to discuss the selection of appropriate electives with their Supervisory Committees.

Emphasis in Artificial intelligence and Data Science

Students in the PhD program in the Epidemiology field of study have the option to complete an emphasis by completing appropriate coursework in a given area. The emphasis requirements will also count toward, but may exceed, the 4.0 full-course equivalent (FCE) field requirement.

Course Requirements: Emphasis in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (1.5 FCE)

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination is made up of 2 components. Both of the components of the qualifying examination should be completed by the end of the first year.

Details of each component are below:

• Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2) online tutorial: CORE (Course on Research Ethics) is an introduction to the 2nd edition of the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2). It consists of eight modules focusing on the guidance in TCPS 2 that is applicable to all research regardless of discipline or methodology. The completion of this module is usually done within the Introduction to Public Health Research (CHL5005H) course. A certificate of completion must be emailed to Matilda Kong at kong@utoronto.ca ( http://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/eng/education/tutorial-didacticiel/ )
• Doctoral Qualifying Examination: Written doctoral qualifying examination*, which includes an in-class written exam and a take-home question. This exam is held June of the first academic year. This part of the examination is designed to test competence in the concepts, principles, data sources, and content of epidemiology, and the ability to apply these concepts and principles critically. The examination may include multiple choice, fill-in-the blanks, calculations, and short answer questions. The take-home question will be an essay-style. An Examination Committee will mark the examination, blind to the identity of the student. A passing grade is 70%. Students who achieve higher percentages will be informed that they have received grades of Honours (90%+) or High Pass (80-89%).

*The written qualifying can be fulfilled after the indicated required courses are complete:

CHL5005H: Professional Skills for Doctoral Students in Public Health (0.5) CHL5404H: Research Methods I (0.5) CHL5406H: Quantitative Methods for Biomedical Research (0.5) CHL5408H: Research Methods II (0.5) CHL5424H: Advanced Quantitative Methods in Epidemiology (0.5)

PhD Proposal Defense

The PhD proposal defense is a requirement for candidacy and should be completed by December of the second year.  The proposal defense can be done during the first year of study  with the approval of the Program Director. The purpose of the proposal defense is to:

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

Format: The proposal will include a brief and cogent review of the literature, justification of the research question, the objectives and hypotheses, design, data collection or data sources, proposed analysis strategies, timetable, ethics, and potential problems or issues. The proposal will conclude with references in proper bibliographic format. The proposal also will include a concise statement of the student’s role in the development and conduct of the research. A title page, with word count, will include the names of the Supervisor and other Supervisory Committee members. The proposal will be printed using a 12-point font, and limited to 10 single-spaced pages. The bibliography and title page are not included in the page or word counts. Appendices should be kept to a minimum.

Defense for approval of PhD proposal:

The proposal defense consists of a written outline of the dissertation proposal and an oral presentation. The completion of this process also counts as the protocol approval, which is required for candidacy. The following elements will be assessed:

• The literature review is comprehensive and specific to the content area;
• The proposed work demonstrates scholarly impact and innovation with respect to methods and/or substantive contribution;
• Clarity of research question/objectives
• Completeness and relevance to study design/research plan
• Rationale for approach and methodology
• Appropriateness of research design
• Appropriateness of research methods and statistical analyses
• Feasibility of research approach including power calculation as appropriate
• Requirement, timeline, preliminary data etc.
• Anticipation of difficulties/limitations and plans for management
• Ethical considerations
• The project is adequate and appropriate for a PhD dissertation and manageable within the time-frame and expectations of the PhD program.

The proposal presentation must be attended by the student, the Supervisory Committee and one external reviewer approved by the Program Director. The presentation will be advertised within the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences, and students and faculty are encouraged to attend.  The external reviewer must be a Full or Associate member of SGS, ideally has research supervisory experience at the doctoral level, and must have specific research expertise in the dissertation topic or methods. The reviewer should have had no previous involvement with the development of the proposal under review.

Process for evaluation:

• The student’s Supervisory Committee approves the written proposal at least three weeks before the anticipated date of proposal defense.
• The student contacts the Program Director, with a copy to the Administrative Assistant, to give notice that the proposal is ready for defense, together with the name, email and brief rationale for the external reviewer. As a reminder, the reviewer must have an SGS appointment at the University of Toronto. The Program Director will approve the external reviewer via email.
• The Supervisor contacts reviewer and committee to arrange the date/time of the presentation, and informs the program Administrative Assistant of the arrangements.
• The Administrative Assistant reserves a room and any required audiovisual equipment specified by the student, and posts notices on bulletin boards and e-mail, including a confirmatory e-mail to the reviewers and Supervisory Committee.
• The student distributes the proposal to the external reviewer, Supervisory Committee members, and Administrative Assistant, three weeks before the date of the proposal defense.
• The proposal defense will begin with a 20-minute presentation of the research proposal by the student, followed by a period of questions and discussion. Presentation questions are posed to the student in two rounds, with approximately 10 minutes allotted to each reviewer per round, with the reviewer taking the lead in the questions. The Supervisor will chair the proceedings and act as timekeeper. The question period will typically be expected to last 60 to 80 minutes. The Supervisor will take notes of all issues raised.
• At the end of formal questioning, the student and other attendees not part of the review panel will leave the room, and the reviewer and Supervisory Committee will have a general discussion of four elements (I – IV) outlined above. The reviewers will rate the performance of the student using a standardized form and an Accept/Provisional Acceptance/Not Accepted decision will be reached. The Supervisor and external reviewer will take note of the feedback and prepare a summary of the recommendations to share with the student.  Typically, the Supervisor will take notes, on the form during the defense, and email to the external reviewer for final review before sending to the student.

The following outline the implications for the evaluation:

Approval: The student may proceed with dissertation work and remaining program progression, taking note of all feedback received during the protocol defense and in consultation with the Supervisor considering minor amendments to their doctoral research accordingly. This candidacy requirement has been met.

Provisional Approval: The student must create a point-by-point response to the concerns/issues raised and make changes to the proposal within 60 days of the proposal defense. Once the Supervisory committee has approved the revisions, the proposal must be submitted to the Program Director and Administrative Assistant as a final record. An approval will then be recorded for candidacy.

Not approved: Non-approval indicates that the performance was inadequate and/or the protocol has major deficiencies according to the IV domains. In the event that the student is not approved on the first attempt, the student will be permitted one more attempt. Failure of the second attempt will result in a recommendation for program termination.

• At the conclusion of the discussion, the student will be invited into the room to learn the general outline of the committee’s decision. The decision and the completed form must be conveyed to the Program Director and Administrative Assistant within 1 week of the defense.

Supervision

Click here to view the SGS Supervision Guidelines for Students.

Beginning prior to admission, and with the assistance of the Program Director, the applicant will explore supervisory possibilities: a faculty member with an appointment in the Division of Epidemiology who has a Full appointment in the School of Graduate Studies (SGS), and who conducts epidemiological research. In some instances, the student and the Program Director will identify both a primary and a co-supervisor. The co-supervisor generally will be a faculty member with an Associate appointment in the SGS. The faculty supervisor may be confirmed prior to beginning the program, and generally will be in place by the end of the first year.  students are encouraged to explore broadly and have wide-ranging discussions with potential supervisors.  The Program Director must approve the selection of the primary supervisor and the co-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 make every effort to provide funding to the student directly; and will provide references for the student on a timely basis. The Supervisor also will comment on the student’s plan for preparation for the comprehensive 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.

Supervisory Committee

With the assistance of the Supervisor, and with the approval of the Program Director, the student will assemble a Supervisory Committee within the first year of study.

The Supervisory Committee, chaired by the Supervisor, will contribute advice regarding course selection; preparation for the comprehensive examination; selection of the dissertation topic; preparation and defense of the proposal; and implementation of the research plan. The Supervisory Committee also will provide timely and constructive criticism and guidance regarding data analysis, writing the dissertation, and preparing for its defense.

Composition

The Supervisory Committee generally will comprise the Supervisor and at least two members who hold either Full or Associate appointments in the SGS and may or may not hold a primary appointment in Epidemiology. Between these individuals and the Supervisor, there should be expertise in all content and methodological areas relevant to the student’s research focus and dissertation proposal. At times, when the student’s Supervisory Committee extends beyond the requisite Supervisor plus two SGS-qualified members, additional members may not necessarily hold SGS appointments (e.g., community members).  Non-SGS members, however, may participate only as non-voting qualified observers at the SGS Final Oral Examination (i.e., observer who has been approved by the student, the Supervisor, and the SGS Vice-Dean, Programs).

Supervisory Committee meetings will be held at least every six (6) months throughout the student’s PhD program. 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, which will be delivered to the Program Director and filed in the student’s progress file in the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences.

The Report of the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences Oral Defense Committee Meeting will be completed at the end of the Departmental Defense during which the Oral Defense Committee makes the recommendation for the student to proceed to the SGS Final Oral Examination (FOE).  The Report will also be signed and delivered to the Program Director and filed in the student’s progress file in the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences.

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 comprehensive 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 (4) years. Flex-time students may take longer, but not more than eight (8) years; they must submit a revised list of milestones, for approval by the Supervisor and the Program Director.  Click here to view the PhD Epidemiology Timeline .

Research Ethics Board Approval

All research projects in which University of Toronto students are involved at any stage must have approval from the University of Toronto Research Ethics Board (REB). This includes ongoing research projects of the Supervisor which has previously received REB approval and where REB approval is already held from a University affiliated hospital or research institute. Preliminary work necessary to prepare the proposal may also require an original REB application or amendment to the original study. 
See details of the REB application and review process at Office of Research Ethics ( www.research.utoronto.ca/for-researchers-administrators/ethics/ ).

The dissertation proposal, as approved by the Program Director, must have University of Toronto Research Ethics Board approval as a supervised research study. An application for initial REB approval (or amendment to approval for an ongoing study), will therefore follow the approval of the dissertation proposal.

Dissertation

A dissertation in epidemiology must have relevance to the health of human populations. Within that broad framework, the dissertation may deal with any topic in the areas of medicine, public health and, health care services; and the research designs and statistical methods used in these fields. A doctoral dissertation in epidemiology may involve new data, collected for the purpose of the study, or the use of data previously collected. In the latter case, the analysis must be suitably complex, and must be driven by theoretical considerations and a specific research or methodological question. The dissertation result should be new knowledge and should include findings suitable for publication in peer-reviewed epidemiology journals. It may include both methodological and substantive advances in knowledge.

The dissertation topic must include clearly posed research questions amenable to study by appropriate epidemiologic methods. The student must have contributed substantially to the identification of the research question and must have played an integral part in the planning of the investigation. Wherever appropriate, the student will also be expected to participate directly in the collection of the data. Students will be expected to analyze their own data using appropriate analytic approaches.

Format Options for Dissertation

Students may choose one of two options for preparation of the dissertation: a monograph or a series of journal articles. The monograph is the default option. It is a single report, divided into chapters: introduction, literature review, methods, results, and discussion. A reference list would be followed by various appended material, which might include data collection instruments, additional related findings, and the like.

The journal article option varies from the monograph in that the main body of the dissertation comprises approximately three (3) complete, stand-alone manuscripts; these may already have been published, or may be ready to submit for peer-review. The manuscripts should be preceded and followed by material that unites them. So, for instance, an introduction and literature review, and possibly methods, more global in scope than those included in the manuscripts themselves, would precede the manuscripts; likewise, a discussion would follow, and would tie the manuscripts together, describing how they – as a group – make a contribution to the literature. Appended material might include the methodological details that would not be present in the methods sections of the manuscripts.

Regardless of format, the student should identify and follow appropriate style guides for the preparation of the dissertation.

Dissertation Defense

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 about eight weeks.

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.

The student should expect constructive criticism about the clarity and length of the presentation and the quality of visual materials, as well as about the dissertation itself. In particular, the Departmental defense will confirm that:

• The student has adequately met the requirements for a dissertation; and,
• The student has the required level of understanding of the scientific issues involved in the dissertation work.

The Departmental defense is attended by the student, the Supervisor and other members of the Supervisory Committee, and two reviewers with full SGS appointments. At least one reviewer should have supervisory experience in epidemiology at the doctoral level. The second reviewer may be a substantive expert from another discipline. Eligible reviewers will have had no prior involvement with the design or conduct of the research, with the exception of providing references or other background material, and generally will not be the faculty who served as reviewers at the proposal defense. The presentation will be advertised within the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences, and other students and faculty are encouraged to attend.

• The Supervisory Committee approves the dissertation, at least four (4) weeks before the anticipated date of the defense.
• The Supervisory Committee identifies at least two potential reviewers.
• The student contacts the Program Director (copy to the Administrative Assistant) to give notice that the dissertation is ready for defense, together with the names and email addresses of potential reviewers. If necessary, the Program Director suggests alternative reviewers. The Program Director approves the reviewers, and will nominate one of them to be the Program Director’s representative.
• The Supervisor contacts reviewers and arranges the date/time of the defense, and informs the Administrative Assistant of the arrangements.
• The Administrative Assistant reserves a room and any required audiovisual equipment, as specified by the student, and posts notices on bulletin boards and e-mail, including a confirmatory e-mail to the Supervisory Committee and reviewers.
• The student distributes a copy of the dissertation to reviewers and to Supervisory Committee members four (4) weeks before the date of the defense, with an extra copy to the Supervisor (or designate) which may be made available to other faculty or students who may wish to read it.
• The Oral Defense Committee comprises the external reviewers, the Supervisor and the other Supervisory Committee members.
• Before the Oral Defense Committee convenes, the student and non-committee attendees may be asked to leave the room to permit discussion of the defense process among the Oral Defense Committee members.
• The defense will begin with a 20-minute presentation by the student of the research findings, followed by a period of questions and discussion among those present, with the two reviewers taking the lead in the questions. The Supervisor will chair the proceedings and act as timekeeper. The question period will typically be expected to last 60 to 80 minutes. The Supervisor will take notes of all issues raised.
• At the end of formal questioning, the student and other attendees will generally be asked to leave the room, and the Oral Defense Committee will discuss any issues of concern, to provide focused, constructive, and detailed feedback to the student, Supervisor, and other members of the Supervisory Committee on the dissertation and its oral defense. The Program Director’s Representative will take note of the feedback with respect to whether the dissertation work is generally adequate for the Final Oral Examination (FOE); changes that should be made to the dissertation prior to arranging for the FOE, and improvements that could be made to the oral presentation and defense; and will prepare a summary of the recommendations. If revisions to the text of the dissertation are recommended, there will also be discussion of the timing of the FOE. The student may be invited to be present at these discussions at the discretion of the Oral Defense Committee.
• At the end of the Departmental Defense, the Oral Defense Committee  will complete the Report of the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences Oral Defense Committee Meeting. The options for proceedings are:

a) Dissertation is acceptable: ____    as is ____    with corrections/modifications as described in report to be prepared by the Program Director’s Representative

b) Another Supervisory Committee meeting required to see final dissertation: ____ Yes ____ No

c) If no, Committee member to see that changes are made: __________________________

d) Dissertation recommended for examination in: ______ months.

The Report will be delivered to the Program Director and filed in the student’s file in the Graduate office of Public Health Sciences.

School of Graduate Studies Final Oral Examination (FOE)

• Click here to view Policies & Procedures, PhD
• Click here to view the Procedures for Arranging PhD Defences

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

MIE PhD students produce a thesis of original work with the support of world-renowned researchers and facilities.

MIE Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students work with world renowned faculty members to gain the knowledge and competencies needed for a career in research or industry leadership. The keystone of the doctoral program is a thesis of original work, supervised by a professor.

Students entering the PhD program typically have a Master’s degree. Outstanding applicants coming directly from a bachelor-level program can also apply for direct entry into the PhD program. Full-time PhD students receive funding during the program and can apply for various scholarships.

Admission Requirements

Direct entry phd, flex-time phd, tuition fees, program requirements, specializations, qualifying exam, annual progress review meetings, thesis & final oral examination, phd funding, teaching assistantships, helpful links.

Please note that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission . The Graduate Office cannot provide assessments of credentials prior to application.

• A master's degree with high academic standing from a recognized university (see Alternate Paths to PhD below)
• Minimum GPA requirement of 3.3 (B+; 77-79%) in the previous two years of graduate study. View U of T's Grade Scale for reference. International students should use the International Degree Equivalencies Tool to see which international credentials are required
• Evidence of exceptional research ability
• To be considered for admission, all applicants that require proof of ELP must meet the minimum score requirement for every component of the English language proficiency exam including reading, writing, speaking and listening
• All test components must be completed and passed at the same time (applicants cannot combine scores from different exams)
• For more information, including approved test centres, visit the School of Graduate Studies website

Alternate Paths to PhD:

• Direct Entry PhD: Exceptionally strong applicants (GPA: A- or higher) with a bachelor's degree may be nominated by an MIE professor for direct entry to the PhD program. Learn more about Direct Entry PhD below.
• MASc Fast-Track and Retroactive Transfer to PhD: Exceptional MASc students (GPA: A- or higher and no grade lower than B+) may request to transfer to the PhD program before completing all of the MASc program requirements. Learn more about transferring from MASc to PhD

Exceptionally strong applicants with a bachelor's degree may apply directly to the PhD program.

Additional admissions requirements:

• GPA: A- or higher
• An MIE professor must nominate the student for the Direct Entry PhD program by submitting a one page summary outlining the reasons for the nomination and indicating whether they are able to supervise the student to the Graduate Coordinator: gradchair@mie.utoronto.ca

The Flex-time PhD program offers the flexibility for professionals who want to continue to work while pursuing their PhD part-time.

The program requirements for the Flex-time PhD are the same as the full-time program with the following exceptions:

• The qualifying exam must be taken within 16 months of registration rather than 12 months
• PhD candidacy is achieved if all requirements have been met by end of 3rd year rather than end of 2nd year

Please note:

• the Flex-time PhD program is not eligible for funding support
• Transfers between the full-time and flex-time PhD programs are not permitted

View a the PhD Flex-time Program Requirements checklist

Those interested in applying to the Flex-time PhD program must:

• a thesis topic
• the extent to which the employer will provide time and resources for the student to work on their Ph.D.
• a proposal on how the IP policies of the University will be respected.
• If the Committee is satisfied that the prospective student, his/her employer and an MIE professor are all committed to the success of the student’s program, the student will be invited to submit a formal application

The information below is for reference only and is subject to change annually. Registered students should check their fee balance on their ACORN account . View the U of T Student Accounts website for more information about fees.

Pay annually:

• Domestic students: $8,489.52/year
• International students: $9,113.52/year

Pay per session:

• Domestic students: $4,272.26/session
• International students: $4,896.26/session

Applicants to MIE's PhD program must complete the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Online Admissions Application  by the deadline indicated below.

• Application window: October 1 - January 1 (application fee deadline)
• Document deadline January 15
• Application window:- June 1 - October 1 (application fee deadline)
• Document deadline October15

Same application deadlines for Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents and International Students.

PhD Application Instructions

Students are not required to submit paper copies of their documents unless requested by the Graduate Office.

• Create an  SGS applicant profile and pay the application fee (non-refundable/transferable, regardless of the circumstance). See application deadlines above.

Once your profile has been created, the following is required:

• 2 references. Email addresses for referees must be institution-based (not GMail, Hotmail, etc.). Both referees must hold academic appointments and it is required that one or both of the referees be a previous thesis supervisor. References from friends and family will not be accepted. Instructions will be sent to each referee by email via the SGS system on how to submit a reference letter.
• Complete (or most up-to-date) academic record / transcript(s). Upload post-secondary institutional transcripts as PDF files. Every transcript must include its respective grading scale . You are not required to submit official paper transcripts unless requested by the Graduate Office.
• Resume/C.V.
• Letter of Intent: explain why you want to join our program. Describe your research interest, career goals, the courses you intend to take, etc. The letter should be 650 – 1000 words.
• Field of Study:  Students must indicate up to three fields of study.
• If the student’s admitting degree was issued by a country  not listed under Exemptions on the  School of Graduate Studies  website, the student is required to provide English Language Proficiency (ELP) exam results electronically. MIE requires proof of ELP even if their language of instruction and examination was English. Please note that all test components (reading, writing, speaking and listening) must be completed and passed at the same time (applicants cannot combine scores from different exams). For minimum requirements and approved test centres visit the School of Graduate Studies website. Important : If ELP exam results are required, an application is not considered complete until the results are submitted electronically from the testing institution.

Students are not required to submit official paper transcripts unless it is requested by the Graduate Office. The review process will take place using your electronic transcripts.  Please note that a request for an official transcript is for verification purposes and does not mean acceptance into the program.

If you are receive an email request for paper documents, mail to:

PhD Program Graduate Studies Office, MC108 Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering 5 King’s College Road Toronto, ON M5S 3G8 Canada

After application submission

Admission into the PhD programs is extremely competitive: we only offer admission to a small fraction of applicants, because these students must be funded, either by external scholarships or by a professor's research funds. As a result, PhD applicants are strongly encouraged to contact professors with whom they would like to work, either before or after submitting an application. Without funding, we cannot offer admission.

Students can review the status of their application on the SGS Online Admissions Application website .

Documents Pending

Additional documents required. A student's application is not considered complete until all of the required documents have been submitted. Once all documents have been submitted, status will not automatically update to Under Review. Statuses are updated manually on an ongoing basis.

Under Review

Application complete. Faculty members will review applications and may contact students about offering supervision. Students should actively pursue confirming a supervisor as admission can only be granted to students who have secured a supervisor. Students can contact MIE Faculty members directly to inquire about potential supervision.

If the faculty member has confirmed a student's supervision, the student will be notified of next steps including submission of official final transcripts. Confirmation from the supervisor to the Graduate Office is required to proceed in the PhD program.

Students will then be notified of the results of their application and their status will update to Decision Made.

Graduate Research Days

Select applicants will be invited to learn more about research at MIE at Graduate Research Days .  Applicants will be notified if they have been selected to attend.

Winter Orientation was held on December 10, 2024. The presentation is available here .

• Transfer credit may be requested for up to two previously completed Half Credit Equivalent (HCE) courses (grade of at least A-) that were not used for credit towards a degree
• PhD students must remain in good academic standing by
• maintaining an average GPA of A-
• no grade lower than B- (No failure, FZ, is permitted)
• completing yearly requirements (see below)
• progress review meetings (including the Qualifying Exam ) must be held at least every twelve months from the initial date of registration to get feedback on the progress and quality of their work

Note: Failure to remain in good academic standing will result in various sanctions such as student ineligibility for funding and registration in the program.

Yearly requirements

Download Yearly Requirements Checklist

• at least three MIE courses
• at most one APS or TEP course
• at most one 500 level course
• at most one Reading course (assigned by supervisor)

Note: Fast-track students must complete seven graduate HCE courses (at least four MIE courses) in the first two years of their PhD program

• Attend JDE1000H Ethics in Graduate Research seminar
• Attend 70% of MIE's Distinguished Seminar Series (SRD4444Y). Attendance recorded with student's T-card
• Hold Qualifying Exam (within 12 months of PhD registration)
• Preliminary work on thesis under supervision of MIE faculty member
• Complete fifth graduate level HCE course (if not completed in Year 1)
• Hold first PhD Committee meeting (within 24 months of PhD registration)
• Continue work on thesis

Candidacy will be achieved upon completion of Year 1 & 2 requirements. Candidacy status appears on ACORN.

• Hold second PhD Committee meeting (within 36 months of PhD registration)
• Hold third PhD Committee meeting (before end of fourth year of program)
• Hold MIE Departmental exam after thesis submission to committee (may skip this exam and go directly to Final Oral Exam with committee's vote)
• Hold Final Oral Exam (before end of fourth year of program)

View the Program Requirements section above for required courses.

View the  Courses  page to view all offered MIE courses.

PhD students may pursue collaborative specializations in the following areas:

• Engineering Education
• Psychology and Engineering

In MIE, the purpose of the qualifying exam is to assess the prospects that the student will complete a quality PhD thesis and will develop the ability to operate as an independent researcher. The date and time of the qualifying exam is coordinated between the student and their supervisory committee. The committee consists of the student’s supervisor and at least two other professors appointed as SGS Graduate Faculty with expertise relevant to the thesis topic. The majority of committee members should be MIE faculty members.

Requirements : In order to schedule a qualifying exam, the PhD student must meet the following requirements:

• successfully complete at least four Half Credit Equivalent courses (at least five for Fast-Track PhD), with at least an A- average
• obtain one credit on ACORN for attending JDE1000H Ethics in Graduate Research seminar
• obtain one credit on ACORN for attending 70% of MIE's Distinguished Seminar Series  (SRD4444Y). Attendance recorded with student's T-card

A student who does not meet the above requirements may be required to delay the qualifying exam until requirements are met.  A substantial delay (1 term or more) without Grad Office permission will result in a request to SGS to terminate the program.

Program Requirement : To maintain good academic standing, doctoral students are expected to hold their qualifying exam according to the following schedule from time of admission:

• 12 months - PhD students with a completed Master's degree
• 8 months - Fast Track PhD students (after fast-tracking from a Master's degree).
• 16 months - Direct entry from a Bachelor's degree
• 24 months - Flex-time PhD students.

Process before exam: At least 10 business days before the scheduled qualifying exam, the student must:

• book a room for the exam by contacting  reception@mie.utoronto.ca
• Notify the Graduate Office of their qualifying exam via the Graduate Management System (GMS)
• This document is typically double-spaced and no longer than 10 pages (including figures, tables, and a short list of references). Consult with your supervisor for specific expectations. Read about how to write a good qualifying exam research proposal

Procedure during exam:

• The qualifying exam begins with a student presentation of no more than 20 minutes that summarizes their research proposal.
• This is followed by questions from the committee. (note: MIE PhD qualifying exams are open to other students, unless otherwise requested).
• Following the exam, the committee assesses progress to date and suitability for the PhD program.
• the committee decides whether to adjourn the exam and allow the student another opportunity to pass the exam within three months ,
• or to fail the student and recommend termination of the PhD program.

Following a successful qualifying exam, a PhD student must meet his/her supervisory committee for a progress review meeting at least every twelve months . These meetings allow the committee to assess the progress of the student, in order to decide whether the student remains in good academic standing (see Program Requirements ).

At least ten business days before the scheduled PhD committee meeting, the student must:

• no more than 10 double-spaced pages
• summary of recent progress in the research
• major tasks that remain and a timetable for completion of the program
• papers (journal and conference, published and submitted) and presentations that have resulted from the work
• The student may include additional material as appendices to the report (and should refer to this material in the report), however, the committee is not obligated to read any additional material.

Similar to the qualifying exam, a progress review meeting begins with a student presentation of no more than 20 minutes, followed by questions from the committee. Following the meeting, the committee assesses progress since the last exam/meeting. If the assessment is “unsatisfactory”, another meeting must be scheduled within three months, to determine whether to allow the student to remain in the program.

Due to COVID-19 exams maybe conducted remotely via video conferencing, in-person, or a combination.

The PhD program culminates in the presentation of an oral and written thesis.

A student is ready to defend the thesis once:

• The student's course requirements have been met
• or the thesis committee has decided to forgo the Departmental via Ballot on GMS
• Supervisor must trigger the vote to bypass by selecting the Ballot button on the supervisor's student listing on GMS.
• The written thesis has been submitted to their supervisor

Once the thesis is ready for the external examiner's appraisal, a member of the supervisory committee must submit the Examiner Nomination Form .

Examiner Nominations

A member of the supervisory committee must submit an External Nomination Form to the Graduate Studies Office via the nomination form at least eight weeks before the proposed exam date.

The date and time of the oral exam is coordinated between the student and the FOE committee.

SGS will approve the external examiner. Approval criteria can be found in the Guidelines for the Doctoral Final Oral Examination .

Approval of the External Examiner

An external examiner nomination form must be submitted to initiate the approval process.  Form must be accessed with a UofT/MIE email address.

C.V. format: website link or document (word, .pdf).

The external examiner's c.v. must contain the following:

• Examiner's current title (academic position)
• Year current title was attained

If not included on the c.v., a link to the researcher's website must include the following:

• If at UofT, supervisor must be identified.
• A list of current and graduated research students (Masters and PhD).
• A list of publications.

Once the examiner is approved, the written thesis may then be sent to the external examiner.

The candidate may use UTsend , Dropbox , OneDrive , etc to distribute the thesis to the examiner and other members of the committee.

Scheduling the Final Oral Exam

A committee member or the student should use a scheduling tool to arrange the meeting date (e.g. Doodle , Calendly , etc) in order to minimize the interactions with the examiner before the exam.

Once the date is set, the student must submit the PhD Final Oral Scheduling Form at least 6 weeks before the exam date.

Once the scheduling form is received, the Graduate Program Administrator will:

• Distribute the examiner's instructions to the approved examiner.
• SGS requires a minimum of 20 business days (excluding weekends, holidays and winter break) to fulfill a chair request.

Due To COVID-19 Restrictions: Until further notice all exams are to be conducted remotely via video conferencing

A member of the supervisory committee must arrange video conferencing details for virtual exams.

The candidate cannot host a virtual final exam.

After the Exam

Following a successful FOE, and once the thesis has been finalized, the PhD student must submit their corrected, final thesis to their supervisor for approval. If the student's supervisor requests a printed copy, visit the SGS website for standard formatting requirements.

I f a printed report is requested by the supervisor:

• the binding of theses should be good quality buckram hard-cover, with gold lettering. Colour of PhD thesis cover must be blue.

SGS does not require a physical copy of the thesis. The student must upload an electronic copy of the supervisor-approved thesis to ProQuest in accordance with the  SGS thesis submission guidelines.

The Graduate Office does not require a physical copy of the thesis.

After submitting their thesis  to ProQuest, the student must:

• Complete the departmental Clearance Form online.

Technical problems accessing the clearance form must be reported to:

Departmental IT Support:   computing@mie.utoronto.ca

Convocation Ceremony

Ceremony details are communicated by SGS and the Office of Convocation .

Final Year Fees

Final year fees are pro-rated by date of final thesis submission .

Stay Connected!

Registered PhD candidates receive enough funding to cover tuition and incidental fees. In addition, PhD candidates receive a minimum of $25,000 per year for up to four years (5 years for PhD direct-entry and fast-track students).

Most students earn more than the minimum as a result of teaching assistantships and scholarships, such as from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada, the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR), and the Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS) program.

View the Scholarships & Funding page for more information.

Doctoral Completion Award

The DCA provides tuition support to full-time PhD students who are beyond the funded cohort (year 5 for PhD and year 6 for PhD direct and fast-track students)

Applicants must be current with PhD committee meetings and demonstrate need.

For more information contact the Grad Office at dca@mie.utoronto.ca

All full-time graduate students are eligible to apply for Teaching Assistant (TA) paid positions at MIE. TAs assist undergraduate and graduate course instructors with supervision of labs, leading tutorials and marking assignments and tests.

Apply for TA positions and view more job and volunteer opportunities on the  Professional Development  page.

AMIGAS is the graduate student association at MIE. They host social, athletic, academic, and professional development events for all MIE graduate students, aiming to enrich their professional and personal leadership experiences.

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Email:  gradoffice@mie.utoronto.ca

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Office: MC108, 5 King's College Road

Hours: Monday to Friday, 10 am - 4 pm

Mailing address: Graduate Studies Office, MC108 Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering University of Toronto 5 King’s College Road Toronto, ON M5S 3G8 Canada

Professor Tobin Filleter

Associate Chair of Graduate Studies

Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering University of Toronto 5 King’s College Road Toronto, Ontario • M5S 3G8 • Canada Phone: +1-416-978-3040

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• PhD Program Requirements

The PhD program requires course work, successful completion of two comprehensive examinations, and the completion of a PhD Dissertation. Throughout their PhD program, students are expected to be involved in professors’ projects. This work helps students gain first-hand experience in conducting research, from the formulation of the research question to the completion of the research paper. In most cases, students have the opportunity to present their work with professors at professional conferences and subsequently to publish this work.

Course work

Students in the program are required to have two years of residence and to complete nine half-year courses (4.5 FCE). As part of their nine courses, students are required to take the following courses:

• SOC 6101H Contemporary Sociological Theory
• SOC 6707H Intermediate Data Analysis
• SOC 6511H Professional Development Seminar I (taken in the Fall term of the first year PhD program) (beginning with students admitted for the Fall 2017 session)
• SOC 6711Y Research Practicum

[A full-course (Y) counts as two half-courses.] If a student has already taken any of these courses at the graduate level, they may petition the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies to have other courses substituted.

Comprehensive Examinations

In addition to course work, students are required to take two comprehensive examinations in the two chosen major fields of sociology. The comprehensive examination helps students familiarize themselves with the literature in the field and synthesize the literature in order to address research issues, and it provides broad background preparation for teaching in the field in the future. Comprehensive exams may be taken in the following areas: Colonialism, Racialization & Indigeniety, Sociology of Crime and Law; Sociology of Culture; Family; Gender; Global Migration,  Health & Mental Health; Colonialism, Race & Indigeniety; Life Course and Aging; Political Sociology; Qualitative Methods and Computational and Quantitative Methods; Social Demography; Social Networks; Social Policy; Theory; Urban Sociology; Work, Stratification and Markets.

Faculty in each comprehensive area provide a reading list updated on a yearly basis. Reading lists are prepared and available for the eight core areas of specialization in the department (Sociology of Crime and Law; Sociology of Culture; Gender; Health & Mental Health; Immigration and Ethnicity; Political Sociology; Social Networks; and Work, Stratification and Markets) as well as theory, qualitative methods, and computational and quantitative methods. Area committees appoint three committee members to serve as the examining committee for a given year. Areas listed above without lists (Social Policy, Life Course & Aging, Urban Sociology and Social Demography) will have lists created on an adhoc basis when a student wishes to take an exam in this area. Students should notify the graduate director at least six months prior to the start of studying for the exams, so committees may be struck.

Browse the Comprehensive Exam page  to see current committees, reading lists and details of our comprehensive exam policy.

We advise students  to take core courses related to the fields in which they plan to be examined prior to taking the exam. These courses are designed to help students understand the major developments and debates in the field.

PhD Dissertation

In preparation for the PhD thesis, PhD candidates must demonstrate an adequate knowledge of a language other than English if an additional language is deemed essential for satisfactory completion of research for the thesis.

The final stage in the PhD process involves completing an independent dissertation research project with the supervision of a committee, normally composed of three members. This begins with a thesis proposal that students defend before their committee prior to beginning their research. The proposal and its defense should demonstrate the students’ knowledge, the importance of the proposed research questions, the strategies for exploring the questions, and the likelihood of completing the research in a reasonable time frame.

Following a successful PhD thesis proposal defense, students advance to the status of Doctoral Candidate and commence their dissertation research, analysis and writing, all in close consultation with their committee members. Upon completion of the research project the final oral exam is scheduled. Once both the candidate and the committee is pleased with the dissertation, they schedule a PhD oral exam. This marks the final step in completing the PhD program.

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• Music Theory @ UofT
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PhD in Music Theory

• MA in Music Theory
• Direct Entry PhD in Music Theory
• BMus in Music History, Culture, and Theory
• Graduate Courses
• Undergraduate Electives

The following is for informational purposes only . For the official version of the program requirements, please consult the SGS calendar .

This program is offered on a full-time basis only and begins in September. We have ONE admissions cycle per year.

Minimum Admission Requirements

The PhD in Music, Music Theory is a research degree. Candidates must hold a master’s degree with specialization in music theory, musicology, ethnomusicology or related area, and must have an average standing of B+ or better.

Exceptional applicants with an undergraduate degree may apply directly to the five-year fully-funded Direct Entry PhD program .

Applicants, whether from the University of Toronto or from elsewhere, may be interviewed by the Department.

For more details on how and when to apply, visit Applying & Auditions (PhD in Music Theory) .

Program requirements

There are six main requirements in the PhD in Music Theory:

• Fulfillment of the residence requirement
• Fulfillment of course requirements
• Fulfillment of language requirements
• Successful completion of the comprehensive examinations
• Successful completion of the major field examination associated with MUS3997H
• The writing and successful defense of a dissertation

Residence Requirement

PhD students are required to be in residence for two years, except for absences necessary for research and authorized by the Department. To fulfill this requirement a student must be in such geographical proximity as to be able to visit the campus regularly and participate fully in the university’s activities associated with the program.

Course Requirements

Students registered in the PhD in Music Theory must complete 3.0 full-course equivalents as follows:

• MUS1250H PhD Seminar (0.5 credits)
• MUS3997H Research in Music Theory * (0.5 credits, second term)
• 1 full-course equivalent in graduate-only seminars in music theory
• 1 full- course equivalent in electives **

*Research in Music Theory (MUS3997H), must be started at the beginning of the second term of the first year and must be completed by the end of the first term of year 2. During their first year, students are expected to discuss their interests, expectations and research objectives with faculty members. An appropriate supervisor for MUS3997H must then be agreed upon. The supervisor will be primarily responsible for determining the structure and content of MUS3997H, which will include a research paper.

**With the approval of the divisional course and program advising committee, one half-course may be taken outside of music theory, musicology and ethnomusicology (either in the Graduate Department of Music or in another graduate unit).

Coursework should be completed during the first year of study, with an average grade of at least A-, with the exception of MUS3997H, which lays the groundwork for the dissertation research and leads to the Major Field examination in year 2. Students may be required to take additional courses or acquire other skills to meet the needs of their proposed subjects of study.

Language Requirements

[ Updated Summer 2023 ]

Two research languages in addition to English are required: one “secondary” and one “primary.” Students may complete coursework in statistics or computer programming (coding) in place of one language. The goal is to have all language requirements fulfilled by the end of Year 2.

The “secondary” language requirement is the same as the MA language requirement. The default language for the secondary language requirement is German. Students who wish to choose languages other than German or to substitute coursework in statistics or computer programming (coding) must submit a petition to the Division Head (either Musicology or Music Theory) by the end of the first session of Year 1. 

Students can fulfil the secondary language requirement in one of the following three ways:

• complete GER 300H at U of T or its equivalent from another university with a minimum grade of B+; or
• complete GER 6000H; or
• pass a proficiency exam set by the Division

Students who have fulfilled the MA language requirement at U of T may count this as the secondary language or use it as a stepping stone towards the primary language. It is expected that students complete the secondary language requirement by the end of Year 1.

The “primary” language requirement involves advanced reading proficiency in the chosen language. ​Students who wish to choose languages other than German or to substitute intermediate-advanced coursework in statistics or computer programming (coding) must submit a petition to the Division Head (either Musicology or Music Theory) by the end of the first session of Year 1. Information on petitioning is available at the Faculty of Music Graduate Studies Office. 

Students can fulfil the primary language requirement in one of the following three ways:

• complete a 400-level language course at U of T or its equivalent from another university with a minimum grade of B+; or
• pass a proficiency exam set by the Division; or
• pass an exam in another graduate unit by arrangement through the Graduate Department of Music

Students are allowed two attempts at the in-house exam after which they must take a language course at the appropriate MA or PhD level. All language requirements must be completed by the end of year 3. Exceptions are granted only in extenuating circumstances and by petition.

Comprehensive Examinations

The comprehensive examinations (UTORid login required) , taken in the fall of Year 2, are in three parts: (1) contemporary issues, (2) history of the field, and (3) repertoire. Students are permitted two attempts to complete the comprehensive exams, the second attempt to occur in January of Year 2.

Major Field Examination

The purpose of the Major Field Examination is to assess the student’s general knowledge of his or her chosen research field, to examine the theoretical premises and methodological approaches set out in the research paper, and to determine eligibility to continue to the research and writing stages of the dissertation. The Major Field Examination is associated with MUS3997H and is scheduled to take place no later than the end of year 2.

By the midpoint of Year 2 the student must submit an initial dissertation proposal (UTORid login required) of up to 3000 words for divisional circulation. This proposal will derive from the research and writing being undertaken for MUS3997H, and its purpose is to elicit constructive advice from graduate faculty that may help both to direct the student’s study and prepare him or her for the Major Field Examination. Based on these responses, and on faculty members’ fields of expertise, the supervisor will appoint a Major Field Examination Committee comprising the supervisor plus at least two other members of the graduate faculty.

The supervisor will determine a grade for MUS3997H, and the Major Field Examination Committee will pass or fail the student’s performance in the oral examination. The student must attain at least an A- in MUS3997H and pass the oral examination in order to proceed with the PhD. In the event that these standards are not met, a second Major Field examination will be scheduled approximately two months later for the resubmission of the research paper and/or a second attempt at the oral examination. A failure to achieve the standards set for the written and/or oral examination at the second attempt results in the student being required to withdraw from the program.

It is the responsibility of the Associate Dean, Graduate Education to inform the student of the results of the Major Field examination as soon as possible. It is the responsibility of the Major Field Examination Committee to make a recommendation to the Associate Dean, Graduate Education concerning the timing of the second examination if necessary. The committee appointed to conduct the second examination should as far as possible include the same members who examined the student in the first place.

On successful completion of all course, language and Major Field exam requirements, a doctoral student becomes a doctoral candidate and embarks fully on dissertation research and writing.

The Doctoral Dissertation

The doctoral dissertation must be a piece of original scholarship based on primary materials and submitted in conformity with the guidelines stated below. In most cases, the doctoral candidate’s supervisor for MUS3997H will continue to act as supervisor for the rest of the doctorate. A Doctoral Advisory Committee will be struck on successful completion of MUS3997H and the Major Field examination: this committee must consist of at least three members of the University of Toronto’s graduate faculty, one of whom, if appropriate, may be from outside the Graduate Department of Music. In many cases, the Major Field Examination Committee will become the candidate’s Doctoral Advisory Committee.

Within a month of the successful completion of MUS3997H and the Major Field examination, a revised and more detailed dissertation proposal must be submitted that also outlines a tentative schedule for research and writing. The Doctoral Advisory Committee will meet with the candidate in order to approve the dissertation proposal and offer advice. Thereafter, the candidate will meet no less than twice a year with the Doctoral Advisory Committee. The candidate will prepare progress reports, including written work, to be circulated to committee members at least two weeks in advance of the meetings (or longer, in the event of a substantial body of written work). The Doctoral Advisory Committee will then prepare its own report of the meeting and will indicate whether or not satisfactory progress towards the doctorate has been made. In cases where progress is unsatisfactory, clear guidelines must be provided that set out expectations to be met at the next meeting. Two unsatisfactory assessments (consecutive or in total) will result in the candidate being required to withdraw from the program.

In some cases, fieldwork will be required as part of the doctoral study. Candidates planning to undertake fieldwork must apply to the Associate Dean, Graduate Education for off-campus status. All off-campus candidates must leave an official field address with the Graduate Office while they are away. Since it is each candidate’s responsibility to apply for off-campus status, failure to apply could result in forfeiture of registration, fellowships and awards, and loss of full-time graduate status.

University policy regarding “Safety in the Field” outlines a hierarchy of responsibility for safety starting with the candidate’s academic supervisor. Before departing for the field, the candidate must file a letter with the Department that acknowledges awareness of any risks in the proposed fieldwork. In some instances, doctoral candidates may need to satisfy an ethics review, in which case research must be structured according to the University of Toronto’s guidelines on the use of human subjects.

When the Doctoral Advisory Committee is satisfied that the dissertation is ready to proceed to its oral defense, the candidate will prepare the work according to the formatting guidelines established by the University of Toronto’s School of Graduate Studies. The dissertation shall not exceed 80,000 words exclusive of notes and bibliography. Exceeding the prescribed length limit is a sufficient reason for a dissertation to be refused examination. Once the dissertation has been fully prepared for submission, a doctoral candidate becomes a doctoral author.

A date will be set for the PhD defense roughly eight weeks after submission of the dissertation. The Doctoral Defense Committee will ordinarily consist of five or six voting members (there must be a quorum of four voting members) and will include the supervisor, other members the Doctoral Advisory Committee (only two of whom may be voting members), at least one internal reader who has not been closely involved in the supervision of the thesis, and an external examiner from another university who is an expert in the author’s field of study. The external examiner will provide a written report to the author and the other members of the Doctoral Defense Committee no less than two weeks prior to the defense.

Extensions, Lapsing, and Reinstatement

It is the Graduate Department of Music’s aim that doctoral candidates complete their degrees within four years. A candidate who has failed to complete all degree requirements within six years may be granted a one-year extension, if the Department approves. The Department is likely to approve such a request if the candidate can provide evidence that he or she has made substantial progress and is likely to finish within the one-year extension. PhD candidates who fail to complete the program in that period may apply for a further extension of up to one year, but the Department scrutinizes such an application very carefully and consents only if it is persuaded that the thesis will be completed within the period of further extension. Third extensions are decided by the School of Graduate Studies and are rarely granted.

A failure to complete the program after an extension, or the refusal of an extension by the School of Graduate Studies, results in the lapsing of the candidacy. Lapsing does not mean termination. The School of Graduate Studies thinks of the lapsed candidate as being “inactive.” Lapsing has the effect of withdrawing the privileges that membership in the University brings – the right to a carrel in the library, to supervision, and so on. But those whose candidacy has lapsed are encouraged by the Department to finish their programs and are helped in every way possible while doing so. Dissertations must be complete before applying for reinstatement by the School of Graduate Studies. Candidates will be required to pay at least the equivalent of one term’s full-time fee in order to be reinstated.

A request for reinstatement may be refused when, in the view of the Department Chair, the thesis or research paper is not sufficiently complete or of sufficiently high quality for the Department to support it.

If you want to join a research environment striving for excellence which impacts oral health, dental education and clinical practice in Canada and globally, you are in the right place.

Our researchers cover a large range of basic, translational, and clinical research, and have a deep-rooted belief in the importance and value of basic research for patient outcomes, dental education and advancing the profession.

From stronger, ‘smarter’ fillings to advances in nanotechnology and wound healing, and from cardiovascular testing to advances in dental implants and stem cell therapies, our researchers cross boundaries between oral and overall health, forging innovations in biomedical, cancer, and pain management research.

If you want to apply for an MSc or PhD, you need to have a firm idea of your research project or area before applying. You will then develop this with your potential supervisor. 

You do not need to be a dentist or involved in dental research to apply.

We welcome both domestic and international graduate students. Our recruitment is solely based upon academic merit and research potential.

MSc and PhD at a glance

Master of science (msc) – dental biomedical sciences.

The Master of Science program is two years of full time study.

You will follow a timetable of study and research. You may have the option to transfer to a PhD if you pass the PhD transfer examination in year two.

You have compulsory courses to complete and may choose a selection of electives (pending approval from your supervisor). Some electives can be chosen from other faculties at the University of Toronto.

In year one : you will develop a research project and proposal, and coursework. Coursework will normally include, as a minimum:

• Seminars in Oral Health Sciences (DEN 1001Y0) 
• Research Ethics (DEN 1010H) 
• an additional 1.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) that includes Introduction to Biostatistics (DEN 1015H). 

Exemptions may be granted for previously completed coursework at the bachelor's level.

In year two : you will complete your written thesis and its oral defense.

As part of your MSc, you will also:

• take part in all graduate research activities of your supervisor’s research group.
• present at meetings and publish original research findings where possible.
• participate in Faculty and student committees where relevant.

As part of your funding package, we pay your tuition and fees, and you will be paid a stipend of $18,500 CAD for two years (this amount is set by the School of Graduate Studies and may vary). 

Eligibility for the MSc

You must have a dental or four-year undergraduate science degree from a recognized university with a final year average of at least a B+ (3.30/4.00 GPA).

For international students

The International Degree Equivalencies tool on the School of Graduate Studies website will help you determine if your international degree makes you eligible.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Dental Biomedical Sciences

The PhD is five years.

Although you will need to complete some compulsory courses, the emphasis of the PhD is on independent study and research agreed with your supervisor.

As part of your funding package, you will be paid a stipend of $18,500 CAD for two years (this increases to $21,500 CAD when you successfully complete the transfer (from MSc) or Qualifying Examination, during year two), and tuition fees will be paid on your behalf for five years. This amount is set by the School of Graduate Studies and may vary. 

As part of your PhD, you will:

• take part in your customized program, approved by a supervisory committee, comprising advanced study and original research culminating in the defense of a thesis.
• complete the minimum course requirements of: Seminars in Oral Health Sciences (DEN 1100Y); Research Ethics (DEN 1010H); and an additional 2.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) that includes Introduction to Biostatistics (DEN 1015H). 
• pass the qualifying oral examination in year two which demonstrates your capacity for oral health sciences research; your thesis proposal; and, your breadth of knowledge relative to the research project.

Eligibility for PhD

You must have a dental or Masters degree with a final year average of at least an A- (3.70/4.00 GPA), or demonstrated comparable research competence.

You can enter a PhD in two ways:

• If your GPA is less than 3.70: enroll in the MSc first and transfer; or
• If your GPA is 3.70 or higher, apply directly, using the application process below.

The International Degree Equivalencies tool on the School of Graduate Studies website will help you determine if your international degree makes you eligible. 

Funding your MSc or PhD

You are not personally responsible for the fees to complete your MSc or PhD and you cannot self-fund.

Your tuition fees and stipend are typically funded by:

Your research supervisor :

• MSc: year one
• PhD: years one and five

The Graduate Office at the Faculty of Dentistry in combination with the supervisor :

• MSc: year two (graduate office pays stipend and supervisor pays tuition)
• PhD: years two, three and four (graduate office pays stipend and supervisor pays tuition)

Should a student transfer from the MSc to PhD, the student will be considered to be in year three of the PhD program.  

You may be able to (particularly if you are an international student) apply for a scholarship from organizations, such as charities or government agencies. If you obtain a scholarship, this could improve your chances of being accepted. 

See Scholarships and Awards on the School of Graduate Studies website, or contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.

Due to your supervisor being partly responsible for your funding, it is important to contact a potential supervisor and have an agreement in place before applying, as they need to have (or be able to secure) funding to be able to offer you a place on their research team.

• See Stage one: consider your research project of the application process below.

Application process: how to apply for an MSc or PhD

Our application process is run jointly with the School of Graduate studies .

Stage one: consider your research project

Write a statement of research interest to guide your thoughts and find a potential supervisor.

Consult our list of graduate faculty members to find out which faculty members may supervise graduate students and where to find out more information about their research interests. 

Once you have identified a potential supervisor, get in touch with them by email to find out if they:

• are accepting new MSc or PhD applications just now
• think your project has potential and fits with their research portfolio.

Do you research – find what you are passionate about – do not send prospective emails to all supervisors. Be specific about what you want and who you contact.

How to write a statement of research interest

Prepare this before you start to contact potential supervisors and it will help guide your conversations. You can then refine it after speaking to a supervisor, before submitting your application.

1. Why you?

Explain what makes you a good candidate for graduate studies (maximum 250 words).

Explain why the Faculty of Dentistry is the ideal place for your studies (maximum 250 words).

3. What is the project?

Describe which specific project(s) you are interested in. Provide names of potential supervisor(s) and what communication you have had with them (maximum 300 words).

4. Your perspective

Describe your career goal(s) and future perspective. How will your studies at our Faculty help you achieve those? (maximum 150 words)

Stage two: apply for the program

Once you have found a potential supervisor, complete the online application form on the School of Graduate Studies website . 

This includes submitting:

• Your current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume.
• Your finalized statement of research interest. 
• Two letters of reference from individuals (preferably university faculty members) who are familiar with your previous academic work. Once you enter you referees’ information on the online application, they will receive an email with a link to upload their letter. If your referees are submitting hard copies of their reference letters, ask them to enclose the letter in a sealed envelope with a signature across the seal.
• Paying the non-refundable application service fee of $125 CAD.

Getting documents to us

Upload them directly to the online application

[email protected]

Admissions Office Faculty of Dentistry 124 Edward Street, Room 104 Toronto, ON M5G 1G6

+1 (416) 979-4944

Stage three: submit additional documents

In addition to the above, ensure the Admissions Office at the Faculty of Dentistry receives:

• Official transcripts of all your previous university and other post-secondary education. Transcripts must be sent to the Admissions Office directly from the issuing institution in electronic format, or a sealed envelope. If not originally in English, a notarized translation must be attached. If you are a University of Toronto student already, you do not need to send in your official University of Toronto transcripts, we will download them from ROSI.
• If you completed your first degree in a country where English is not the native language, you must provide proof of your English abilities by completing an English proficiency test. You must request official test scores are sent by the testing agency directly to the Admissions Office using our institution code of 0982 .

We recognize the following tests

How we select students and when you will hear

Once a supervisor is allocated to you, we will contact you to offer a place.

If you have applied for a PhD and your application goes to the next stage, you will be invited to an interview with a panel of academics where you will present your past and future research.

Have questions? Contact us

+1 416 864 8113

Research at the Faculty of Dentistry

• Our researchers received $10m (CAD) in grant funding 2018-19. 
• We were the top dental school in Canada for research publication citations in 2018-19 (138) and number of journal papers published (153).
• We have 25,000 sq ft of modern, open concept labs and 18,000 sq ft office and collaborative space.

Find out more about our research

Useful links

Application form  on the School of Graduate Studies website

Collaborative specializations

I nformation for prospective graduate students

Why you should apply: studying at the Faculty of Dentistry

You have been offered a place on our graduate program! What do you need to know now?

Student Services and Student Life

How to become a specialist dentist: Masters and PhDs with clinical training

The Faculty Calendar

Research Guides

Theses & dissertations, uoft theses online, uoft theses in print.

• Thesis from Other Institutions
• Borrowing or Reqesting Theses
• Writing & Submitting Your Thesis
• University of Toronto TSpace This link opens in a new window The University of Toronto's research bank. Showcases and preserves the scholarly work of the U of T community, and makes theses and dissertations publicly accessible online.
• Proquest Dissertations & Theses Global The most comprehensive worldwide collection of dissertations and theses. Full text for many dissertations added since 1997+.
• Theses Canada This link opens in a new window Comprehensive collection of Canadian theses at Library and Archives Canada. Covers U of T dissertations from 1950+ and master's theses from 1989+.
• School of Graduate Studies - Theses University of Toronto's Open Access repository (TSpace)
• Engineering & Computer Science
• UofT Archives

Many print U of T doctoral dissertations and masters' theses are listed in LibrarySearch . Older print theses may be listed in a card catalogue at the particular library in which it is held.

Theses from 2009+ are submitted online only to TSpace .

For information on print theses at different U of T libraries please click on the tabs above.

Doctoral dissertations and masters' theses submitted between 1989 and 2009 are listed in LibrarySearch .

Search by author, title or subject.

Browse theses and dissertations by doing an advanced search  and selecting 'Thesis' from the format dropdown menu.

Doctoral dissertations and master's theses from  1972-1989  are also available on  microform  in the  Media Commons , 3rd floor, Robarts Library.

Search for doctoral dissertations and theses submitted between  1930 to 1997 in the card catalogue in the Reference Department, 4th floor, Robarts Library.

Search by author, department, or subject.

For University of Toronto masters and doctoral theses in the sciences consult the library catalogue . Theses can be searched in the catalogue by author, title, or department .

Ask at the Gerstein Information Desk for assistance.

Where do I find a paper copy in Gerstein?

microfiche copies of U of T masters theses in the sciences are held in the Media Commons (4th Floor), Robarts Library

All theses are shelved by author name on 2-Below at the end of the Z call number range.

Please note that the Engineering & Computer Science Library no longer keeps print theses in the library.  Some theses are located at Gerstein Science Information Centre and others at Downsview. For information on a thesis is located see below .

If you have the citation information for a print thesis, you can search the UTL catalogue :

• By the title of the thesis
• By the author of the thesis

If you would like to browse UofT's theses holdings, use the following instructions:

• Go to the UTL Catalogue .
• Select Call number from the drop-down list.
• Type in the appropriate code (i.e. AEROS for aerospace science and engineering).
• Optional: Type in the year , if you know the year you are looking for
• Example: AEROS 1985  

List of Engineering and Computer Science Theses Codes:

• AEROS (aerospace science and engineering)
• IBMEN (biomedical engineering/biomaterials and biomedical engineering)
• CHENG & CHEMG (chemical engineering)
• CIENG (civil engineering)
• COMPS (computer science)
• ELENG (electrical engineering/electrical and computer engineering)
• INENG (industrial engineering)
• METAL (metallurgy, materials science and engineering)
• MEENG (mechanical engineering/mechanical and industrial engineering)

Finding theses from OISE

All OISE theses & dissertations submitted after November 2009 are available on TSpace

Pre 2009 theses are located on the 2nd floor of the OISE library  and are filed alphabetically by author's last name

Theses are searchable in the library catalogue

• The  University of Toronto Archives holds master's theses from 1897 to 1989 & doctoral theses from 1900 to 1985
• Next: Thesis from Other Institutions >>
• Last Updated: May 30, 2023 9:44 AM
• URL: https://guides.library.utoronto.ca/theses

Library links

• Library Home
• Renew items and pay fines
• Library hours
• Engineering
• UT Mississauga Library
• UT Scarborough Library
• Information Commons
• All libraries

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School of Graduate Studies

Graduate programs.

February 2024

ATTENTION: You may have heard of new measures in place for International students admitted to postsecondary institutions in Canada and applying for study permits. These new measures do not apply to graduate students (Master’s and PhD programs). While all international students must follow the established study permit application processes, the new Attestation Letter required for undergraduate students does not apply to graduate students in degree-granting programs.

As of February 15, 2024, graduates of master’s degree programs will be eligible to apply for a 3-year post-graduation work permit. Open work permits will also remain available to spouses of international students in master’s and doctoral programs. We will provide additional information about this change as it becomes available.

For more information see Apply for Your Study Permit – Centre for International Experience .

Types of programs

The training and experience you’ll acquire at the master’s or doctoral level at the University of Toronto will give you tools to drive change and excel in virtually any industry — whether you go on to teach and do research at a university, take a role in government, start a private enterprise, or embark on a professional career. Our research-driven graduate programs will help guide you through a lifetime of intellectual study, opportunity, and challenge.

View our types of graduate programs at a glance . Here’s a quick overview:

• More than 70 professional graduate programs in health sciences, management, engineering, and more.
• Approximately 140 combined degree programs.
• 14 dual degree programs.
• More than 40 collaborative specializations if you are interested in interdisciplinary studies.
• 4 diploma programs for professionals who would like to pursue academic study but don’t wish to enrol in a graduate degree program.

Ready to apply?

Are you ready to launch a lifelong path of intellectual discovery and professional enrichment? Apply to graduate school at Canada’s #1 research institution.* Visit our Future Students page to find out more.

*According to Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2021 . View our rankings.

U of T graduate program directory

Explore our 400 areas of study within more than 300 graduate program below.

Questions? Explore the 2023-24 SGS Calendar to access comprehensive information about graduate programs.

Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact the graduate unit (department, centre, or institute) you’re thinking of applying to. Visit the graduate unit and collaborative specializations directory.

Apply to U of T

International student study permits.

In light of the recent announcement by the Government of Canada on international student study permits, we have prepared a list of answers to some of the questions we have received from students below. As more information becomes available, we will continue to update this list. U of T’s Authorized Immigration Advisors are on hand to support you, and can be contacted as follows

• Centre for International Experience
• email: [email protected]
• International Education Centre  
• email: [email protected]
• International Student Centre  
• email: [email protected]

If you are a graduate student, please refer to the School of Graduate studies for more details.

International Undergraduate Students Admitted to U of T for Fall 2024 – FAQs for Study Permits

The new measures are not intended to impact the number of students allowed at the University of Toronto and other universities in Canada but implementation details remain to be decided.

If you are applying for your study permit outside of Canada, you will now need to submit a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from the provincial government of Ontario, unless exempted, along with your study permit application to the Government of Canada. Current valid study permit holders will not be affected.

There are no changes to work conditions for students, and you might be eligible to work while you are pursuing your studies if you continue to meet the requirements .

Spouses of undergraduate students will no longer automatically qualify for open work permits but may be able to arrive as visitors or apply for alternative Work Permit pathways, if qualified.

Should you have any questions or require assistance, please contact our International Student Immigration Advising Teams (see below under “Who can I go to for assistance at U of T with my study permit?”).

Most incoming international undergraduate students applying for a study permit outside of Canada will need to provide a PAL. The full list of exemptions is here .

U of T’s Centre for International Experience has developed a tool to assist you in determining whether an exemption applies to you. The tool can be found here .

Admitted international students will receive more information about acquiring an attestation letter by email—or they can find details on the Join U of T Applicant Portal.

Should you have questions please contact our International Student Immigration Advising Teams (see below under “Who can I go to for assistance at U of T with my study permit?”)

To receive an attestation letter (PAL), you will need to do three things:

• accept your offer;
• pay the admission deposit; and
• submit the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) Confirmation Form.

You will be able to access the PAL Confirmation Form through the Offer Page on the Join U of T Applicant Portal after you have accepted an offer and paid the admission deposit.

After completing all three steps, the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) will issue the PAL to the University. You will receive an email notification when your PAL is available. You can then download it through your Offer Page on the Join U of T Applicant Portal .

The Government of Canada has advised that study permit applications submitted without attestation letters will be returned. For this reason, we advise students to wait to submit their study permit applications until they have received their PAL. However, you can begin to prepare your study permit application now. U of T’s International Student Immigration Advisors on each campus are available to assist you in preparing your best application.

The new measures are not intended to impact the University of Toronto and other universities in Canada.

Yes, you are able to bring your dependants with you. U of T’s International Student Immigration Advisors are on hand to support you.

Currently Enrolled Undergraduate U of T International Students

No. You will be able to complete your education at U of T if you have a current study permit.  Renewals inside Canada will not be impacted by this cap. 

Last updated on March 28, 2024.

Find out which application you should use , depending on whether you’re a current Ontario high school student, an applicant from another Canadian province or territory, an international applicant, or in another circumstance.

Make sure you check the Important Application Dates to find out when your application, required documents, and other supplementary documents are due.

It depends on what you’re applying to, but most programs do not require additional applications. Some programs, colleges and campuses ask students to fill out an added application or profile. You should receive an email that will indicate if you need to fill out an application, where you can find it and what the deadline is. You can also find this information by looking up your intended program’s requirements in the Program Finder .

Find out about academic requirements for applicants from outside Canada .

Find out about U of T’s English Language Requirements and proof of English facility .

If you have completed college or university studies, AP, IB, GCE, CAPE, or French Bacc. examinations you may be eligible for transfer credit at the University of Toronto. Transfer credits are assessed after admission.

Find out more about transfer credits at U of T.

All changes to your application should be made before the application deadline .

If you have applied using the OUAC Undergraduate Application and wish to make changes to your initial application, you must do this by logging in to the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre website .

All other applicants (International/Internal/Part-Time/Non-Degree) should log onto JOIN U of T , click on Check Status, and follow the instructions for making changes to your application.

We do not accept any changes or corrections via email or telephone.

You will receive an acknowledgment from U of T, with login instructions for our applicant website, JOIN U of T , about two weeks after you submit your application.

Telephone & In-Person Inquiries We are available for telephone and in-person inquiries.

Email Inquiries Connect with us by email for:

• Admissions: apply.adm.utoronto.ca/register/questions
• Ask a Student: apply.adm.utoronto.ca/register/askastudent

Contact Client Services for financial aid inquires including:

• OSAP (Ontario Student Assistant Program) full and part-time
• BSWD (Bursaries for Students with Disabilities)
• UTAPS (University of Toronto Advanced Planning for Students)
• Part-Time Financial
• OOP Funding for other provinces outside of Ontario
• US student aid – for United States citizens (US Federal Student Aid loan opportunities, private loans (non-government), Veteran Affairs certification requests for benefits & education tax credit

Your feedback is important to us. Please take a couple of minutes to let us know how we did by completing our  University Admissions and Outreach Satisfaction Survey .

If you are unable to begin your degree studies in the fall, you may request a one-year deferral of your offer of admission. Deferrals are not guaranteed and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Check out further information on deferring an offer of admission .

U of T raises concern about actions in Pro-Palestinian encampment

'we're not here to destroy,' says organizer as school warns protesters could be charged.

Social Sharing

The University of Toronto says members of a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus are engaging in actions that are putting protesters at risk of being charged with trespass and destruction of property.

The university said in an update on Friday that it has been communicating with a student representative of the encampment in person and in writing as the demonstration continues for a second day. The protesters are calling for the school to divest from Israel.

"We have conveyed our expectations and shared our observations regarding actions that have contravened them, including lack of crowd control, health and safety risks, destruction of property, and use of language that is considered discriminatory, threatening or hateful," the university says in its latest missive to the U of T community.

"We have made it clear that these activities fall outside of our policies and relevant law and are considered unauthorized on our private property."

The encampment — one of several set up at Canadian university campuses in recent days — went up early Thursday morning after students said they breached the fence.

On Thursday, the university said the tents, banners and flags were a safety concern and it had asked the students to leave by 10 p.m. However, it said it would not remove the students if their activities remained peaceful. 

On Friday, the university said the protest had evolved and that it had received several questions and reports of "concerning language" being used in signs and chants.

Mohammad Yassin, a protest organizer with U of T Occupy for Palestine, said earlier Friday those concerns weren't brought to the group directly.

"We are students, it's our space. We're not here to destroy," he said. 

"We are trying our best to keep decorum here, and we do not endorse any kind of destruction of property or violence," said Yassin, adding the group has "cracked down" on anyone suggesting it.

'A humanitarian cause,' says protest organizer

Yassin said members scheduled a stress relief workshop, prayers, a Shabbat dinner and movie screenings Friday.

He said there's a strong sense of community among protesters, with support coming from far beyond the Palestinian community, citing the group Jews Say No to Genocide as one example. 

"We've had the level of support that we couldn't even imagine from all kinds of groups," said Yassin.

Yassin says that kind of support has been heartening.

"To me, this is like proof that this isn't just about Palestinians ... it is a humanitarian cause. Everybody has a right to say no to genocide," he said.

The group has pledged not to leave university grounds until their demands are met. They want the university to reveal a complete list of its endowment's investments and divest from assets that "sustain Israeli apartheid, occupation and illegal settlement of Palestine." They also demanded the school cut ties with Israeli academic institutions that operate within the occupied West Bank.

"It's supposed to be the beacon of Canadian academia — U of T should be held accountable for their moral actions," said Yassin. 

University says some actions 'contravene' expectations

In a statement Friday afternoon, the university said its preference "continues to be dialogue." But in a message to protesters several hours later, vice-provost Sandy Welsh said it is witnessing actions and behaviours of concern, including blocking the fire safety access route Thursday night and dumping biowaste and other materials in the gardens and grass.

"We also have reports of graffiti and a broken lamp post," said Welsh. "The lack of your ability to enforce crowd control only increases our concerns for future damage."

Yassin said he isn't aware of protesters dumping biowaste or destroying property.

The university says while it respects the rights of students to protest, students must not "interfere with the ability of students, faculty, librarians and staff to learn, teach, research and work on our campuses." If they do, they'll be subject to the law, it said.

Pro-Palestinian encampment at U of T enters second day

The university also said that a significant number of people, many from outside the U of T community, were on the St. George campus for a large rally on Friday. The group says some 120 people slept on the property overnight, with alumni and faculty members dropping in to show support. 

Most university buildings will be locked this weekend and will only be accessible through a fob, which is a normal practise, the school added.

The encampments are happening as The International Court of Justice investigates whether Israel has committed acts of genocide in the ongoing war in Gaza, with a ruling expected to take years. Israel has rejected allegations of wrongdoing and accused the court of bias.

Israel's campaign in Gaza was launched after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 men, women and children hostage. The Israeli offensive has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials.

• U of T tells protestors they won't be removed — yet
• On Day 6 of McGill encampment, pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protesters face off

The war has wreaked vast destruction and brought a humanitarian disaster with several thousand Palestinians in northern Gaza facing imminent famine, according to the United Nations.

Pro-Palestinian activists have also set up tents at McGill University in Montreal, the University of Ottawa and the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver.

The student movement began at Columbia University in New York City on April 17. That encampment was forcefully cleared by police at the request of administrators earlier this week. Police began taking down makeshift barricades at the University of California, Los Angeles Thursday after  violent clashes between protestors and counter-protestors .

Jewish advocacy group voices concern

In a statement Friday, U of T students with Hillel Ontario, a group that advocates on behalf of Jewish students, said it "watched with concern as tensions on campus rose throughout Thursday."

The group pointed to some protesters chanting, "All the Zionists are racists" and chalk on the ground reading "Go back to Europe."

Hillel Ontario's CEO reacts to U of T encampment

Miriam Nisone Oliver, the incoming student president of the school's chapter, said she respects people's right to protest and assemble peacefully, but takes issue with the anti-Zionist messaging.

"Seeing a lot of the rhetoric that's been going on saying we don't want Zionists on our campus," Oliver said, feels "explicitly violent."

In a statement, the group said it requested an urgent meeting with the school to get a better understanding of its plans ahead of the weekend. It said harassment and intimidation of Jewish students, faculty or staff shouldn't be tolerated, and is asking universities to "enforce their existing policies and hold violators accountable for their actions."

"We're all beholden to the same code of conduct on campus, and I think it's interesting that one group is allowed to blatantly disregard that code of conduct," said Oliver.

Encampment organizer Erin Mackey said it's important "to point out that anti-Zionism is different than antisemitism."

"And that the Israeli government does not represent everyone who is Jewish. And there's actually a lot of Jewish students who are here, a lot of Jewish faculty who are supporting this encampment."

Government says universities responsible

Toronto's mayor, the Ontario government, as well as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said universities are the ones responsible for managing encampment protests on their property.

Mayor Olivia Chow said King's College Circle belongs to the university, adding peaceful protest is allowed under the Charter, as long as it's done "without hate."

"It's up to the University of Toronto to work out what their security arrangement is with the police," she said. 

Similarly, in a news conference in Hamilton on Friday, Trudeau said universities are places of learning where ideas can be exchanged and debated, but at the same time, everyone must feel safe on campus.

Meanwhile, in an email to CBC News, a spokesperson for Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop said the ministry expects schools to "work with police and campus security to address any incidents of hate and racism, unauthorized encampments and occupations, and all other forms of discrimination at their institutions."

The spokesperson said, "The government has been assured by college and university presidents that they are working with their teams to adopt appropriate measures to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of all students, faculty, and staff, so that students can continue to learn and attend graduation without interruption."

With files from The Canadian Press, Meagan Fitzpatrick and Dale Manucdoc

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• 3 men arrested as Edmonton police cleared pro-Palestinian encampment at U of A campus
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Leadership PhD graduates complete successful doctoral dissertation defense

The Leadership Studies Department congratulates the 2024 Leadership PhD graduates on the successful defense of their doctoral dissertations.

Wally Fraser, PhD ’24

Dissertation title

Unveiling the Lived Experiences of Police Officers in a Small Police Department. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Officer Wellness and Mental Health Support

Dissertation committee

Chair: Elizabeth Turesky, PhD; Members: Joseph Lasley, PhD, Robert Yawson, PhD, Gráinne Perkins, PhD

Paul Froman, PhD ’24

Leading in Emergencies: Skills, Strategies, and Practices Utilized by Paramedics

Chair: Dan Jenkins, PhD; Members: Elizabeth Goryunova, PhD, Elizabeth Turesky, PhD, Gordon Kokx, PhD

Jennifer Hart, PhD ’24

In Their Own Words: Investigating Lived Experiences of Knowledge Workers’ Workplace Engagement to Inform Leaders’ Efforts in Strengthening Thereof

Chair: Elizabeth Goryunova, PhD; Members: Elizabeth Turesky, PhD, Robert Yawson, PhD, Brandon Stewart, PhD

Tarynne Schuman, PhD ’24

Identifying Gen Z Burnout Factors to Inform Leaders for Effective Mitigation Thereof

Chair: Elizabeth Goryunova, PhD; Members: Dan Jenkins, PhD, Mary-Anne Peabody, EdD, Michael Mattis, PhD

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About the PhD Program

The primary objective of the PhD in Planning is to prepare students for academic careers in teaching and research. Some may also pursue an advanced planning career in the private, non-profit or public sector, given the rising demand for people with a PhD credential outside of academia.

The PhD program in Planning has 3 fields of specialization:

• City-regions in global context: economic development and social planning
• Environment and sustainability planning
• Urban development, design and the built environment

Our program is designed to provide students with a broad and critical knowledge of planning history, theory and practice, as well as rigorous training in research. These objectives are achieved through a combination of advanced seminars and workshops, a comprehensive exam and a doctoral dissertation. As part of their training, students also receive teaching assistantships and may be offered research assistantships, as these become available.

The expectation is that PhD degrees will be completed on a full-time basis within four years of initial registration. The School of Graduate Studies requires that the thesis be submitted within six years of initial registration in the program.

PhD students must complete the following program requirements:

• Coursework : All students must complete at least six half-credit courses (3.0 FCE) as follows – PLA2000H (0.5 FCE), PLA2001H (0.5 FCE), JPG1111H/JPG1120H or an approved methods course (0.5 FCE), at least one course from outside the planning program (0.5 FCE), two electives in any subject (1.0 FCE)
• Annual Progress Reports : The supervisory committee must meet at least once per academic year to review the student’s progress and plans for the following year.
• PhD Comprehensive Examination : Students will take a written and oral comprehensive exam between June of year one and no later than December of year two. The purpose of the exam is to ascertain whether a student has obtained an adequate knowledge base to continue in the PhD program; to ascertain any knowledge gaps and suggest remedial action; and to provide a student with the opportunity to get a broad perspective on their chosen field of study.
• PhD Research Proposal Examination : Students will submit a research proposal which is defended before the supervisory committee. Ideally, the research proposal should take the form of a paper of about twenty to forty pages in length which includes a statement of the problem, research questions, a discussion and literature review of the research context in which it is set, research objectives or hypotheses, a brief outline of the data sources and methods, a draft survey or guiding questions for interviews (where appropriate) and a suggested timetable for completion. There should be a discussion of methods and methodology that makes reference to the literature on methodology. The proposal should provide a rationale for the choice of methods and discuss any ethical issues stemming from the research (if appropriate).
• PhD Candidacy : When all requirements exclusive of the thesis have been met, the student has achieved PhD Candidacy. When all requirements exclusive of the thesis have been met, a student has achieved PhD Candidacy. The department requires students to achieve candidacy by the end of year two. School of Graduate Studies policy requires that candidacy is achieved by the end of year three.
• Thesis and Departmental Thesis Examination : The thesis shall constitute a significant contribution to the knowledge of the field and must be based on original research conducted while registered for the PhD program. The topic for the thesis will have been approved at the proposal defense. The completed PhD thesis will be examined in a Departmental Thesis Examination. The examination committee consists of the supervisory committee.
• School of Graduate Studies Final Oral Examination : The Final Oral Examination is the capstone experience of the PhD program. Students will defend their dissertation before an Examination Committee which will include an appraiser (external to the University) and at least one graduate faculty member who has not been closely involved in the supervision of the thesis (in addition to the supervisor and other members of the supervisory committee).

For complete details on PhD program requirements above please review the Planning PhD Handbook .

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