Department of Chemistry

Progress Towards Degree Candidacy

It is expected that graduate students will strive to complete all requirements for the M.Sc. within 5 terms (20 months) of initial registration. This means that all course requirements should, if possible, be completed within the first 3 terms of registration. Guaranteed University-based financial support (e.g. teaching assistantships) available to Masters candidates is limited to 6 terms of registration in the program.

Ph.D. students are expected to strive to complete all requirements for the degree within 12 terms (4 years) of initial registration in the Ph.D. program. Guaranteed University-based financial support available to Ph.D. candidates is limited to 12 terms in the program for candidates already possessing a masters degree, and is limited to 15 terms in the program for students not possessing a masters degree.

First Year Report

Before the end of the first twelve-month period of full-time registration, each graduate student will submit to his or her Thesis Supervisory/Examining Committee a written report (Report Description) describing progress to date and future plans concerning both the research project and the course work. Not later than 13 months after initial graduate registration, the student will meet with his or her Thesis Supervisory/Examining Committee and give an oral presentation describing the area of thesis research, the ultimate objectives of the project, the motivation for the work, and the results to date. In the description below, "Progress" refers to

a) progress in research;
b) an understanding of the research area; and
c) the timely completion of and performance in graduate courses.

Note: the student must submit the first year report at least one week (seven days) before the meeting to his/her advisory committee.

For students not seeking Ph.D. candidacy:

Students not seeking Ph.D. candidacy will remain with the Thesis Supervisory/Examining Committee after the First Year Report has been presented, and the Committee will ask questions related primarily to the research. The aim is to assess the student's understanding of the research area. The Thesis Supervisory/Examining Committee will deliberate after the student withdraws from the meeting and decide whether the progress of the student is satisfactory or not satisfactory.

If progress is satisfactory, the Committee will recommend to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee that the student proceed with M.Sc. candidacy.

If progress is not satisfactory, the Committee will recommend to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee that the student be offered a single opportunity to redo the oral presentation and defence of the First Year Report within two (2) months. Following the second presentation and defence, the Committee will recommend the student either:

1. proceed with M.Sc. candidacy,
or
2. withdraw from the program.

For students in or seeking admission to the Ph.D. program:

Students in or seeking admission to the Ph.D. program will remain with the Thesis Supervisory/Examining Committee after the First Year Report has been presented, and the Committee will conduct an oral comprehensive examination. The student will be asked questions on the research and ancillary topics; questions will be related to the research area, but will aim to assess the student's broader understanding of chemistry. The Thesis Supervisory/Examining Committee will deliberate after the student withdraws from the meeting and decide whether the progress of the student and performance in the oral comprehensive exam is satisfactory or not satisfactory.

For students seeking admission to the Ph.D program:

If progress is satisfactory and performance in the oral comprehensive exam is satisfactory, the Committee will recommend to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee that the student be admitted to the Ph.D. program immediately without writing a Master's thesis.

If progress is satisfactory and performance in the oral comprehensive exam is not satisfactory, the Committee will recommend to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee that the student be offered a single opportunity to redo the comprehensive examination and defence of the First Year Report within two (2) months. Following the second comprehensive examination, the Committee will recommend the student either:

1. be admitted to the Ph.D. program immediately without writing a Master's thesis,
2. remain in the Master's program, and proceed to write a Master's thesis,
or
3. withdraw from the program.

If progress is not satisfactory, the Committee will recommend to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee that the student

1. remain in the Master's program, and proceed to write a Master's thesis,
or
2. withdraw from the program.

For students already in the Ph.D. program:

If progress is satisfactory, and performance in the oral comprehensive exam is satisfactory, the Committee will recommend to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee that the student proceed with Ph.D. candidacy.

If progress is satisfactory, and performance in the oral comprehensive exam is not satisfactory, the Committee will recommend to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee that the student be offered a single opportunity to redo the oral comprehensive examination within two (2) months. Following the second comprehensive examination, the Committee will recommend the student either:

1. proceed with Ph.D. candidacy,
or
2. withdraw from the program.

If progress is not satisfactory, the Committee will recommend to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee that the student withdraw from the program.

Second Year Reports (MSc candidates)

Before the end of the 24th month of full-time registration, M.Sc. candidates will submit to the Graduate Secretary the appropriate number of copies of the completed M.Sc. thesis. If the thesis is not submitted at this time, the student will submit the Table of Contents of the MSc thesis to his or her Examining Committee and the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee. In each section, the exact progress (in terms of % completed) with regards to both the experimental work and the writing of the thesis should be indicated. A timeline for completion of the research as well as for completion of the thesis should be included. A brief curriculum vitae and a copy of the Progress Report Response Sheet should be attached to your report.

The student, the supervisor, or a member of the Examining Committee may convene a meeting to discuss the report. Otherwise, feedback to the candidate will be provided using the Response Sheet.

Second Year Progress Evaluation (Ph.D. candidates)

Before the end of the 24th month of full-time registration since initial registration in the graduate program, Ph.D. candidates will submit the Second Year Progress Evaluation Form to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee.

Third year Report (Ph.D. candidates)

Before the end of the 36th month of full-time registration since initial registration in the graduate program, Ph.D. candidates will submit to his or her Examining Committee a Table of Contents for the PhD Thesis. Each section should briefly describe the research progress to date and additional work required to complete the research. An estimated date of thesis completion should be included as well as a brief curriculum vitae.

Not later than 37 months after initial graduate registration, the student will meet with his or her Examining Committee and give an oral presentation (15 – 20 mins) describing the results obtained to date and summarizing the future work required for completion of the thesis. A letter summarizing the progress of the student and any concerns, signed by all members of the Examining Committee and the supervisor and copied to the student should be submitted to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee.

Fourth Year Report (Ph.D. candidates)

Before the end of the 48th month of full-time registration, (and every 12 month period thereafter), since initial registration in the graduate program, Ph.D. candidates will submit to his or her Examining Committee and the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee the Table of Contents of the PhD thesis. Under each section, the exact progress (in terms of % completed) with regards to both the experimental work and the writing of the thesis should be indicated. A timeline for completion of the research as well as for completion of the thesis should be included. A brief curriculum vitae and a copy of the Progress Report Response Sheet should be attached to your report.

The student, the supervisor, or a member of the Examining Committee may convene a meeting to discuss the report. Otherwise, feedback to the candidate will be provided using the Response Sheet.