Program Requirements and Milestones
It is your responsibility as a student to ensure that you are meeting all program requirements and milestones by the set deadlines. If you have any questions about your program deadlines please contact your Graduate Program Administrator. Please note that program level funding may be impacted by missing your program deadlines.
First Month in Program
Supervisory Committee
By month-3 - Set-up Supervisory Committee
By month-6 - Hold first committee meeting to introduce yourself and preliminary research project ideas to recently formed supervisory committee and discuss required coursework.
By month-12 - Hold second committee meeting to discuss and review finished draft of research proposal.
By 2nd year and beyond - Minimum of 1 committee meeting per year to touch base on thesis project progress and potentially plan for the final defense, where appropriate. Holding multiple committee meetings within the same year are permitted, if required.
Thesis Proposal (MSc) / Draft Thesis Proposal (PhD)
Deadline: By 12 months
MSc Students - Will need to submit a formal thesis proposal that is reviewed and approved by their supervisory committee.
PhD Students - Will need to submit a draft thesis proposal that is reviewed and approved by their supervisory committee. Please note that this draft is not considered as the formal thesis proposal that is approved during the formal thesis proposal evaluation step of candidacy.
Your Supervisory Committee must approve your formal thesis proposal no later than 12 months from the date you started your program. Your committee will need to note this in the minutes of the supervisory committee meeting where it is approved. Both the supervisory committee meeting minutes and final proposal must be submitted to your program administrator.
Note that your approved proposal may be required to receive Ethics approval which must be obtained prior to commencing research.
Format:
The research proposal must be between 13 and 17 single-spaced pages (excluding figures, tables and references, .75 inch margins and 12 point font). A suggested (but not mandatory) format for the research proposal is:
- • Introduction (approximately 4-6 pages – should contain an appropriate literature review of the field and the project)
- • Relevant Preliminary Data (approximately 3-4 pages)
- • Hypothesis and Specific Aims (approximately 1/2 page)
- • Experimental Plan (approximately 5-6 pages)
- • Significance (1/2 pages)
MDCH Proposal Requirements
Thesis proposals are detailed documents that outline the research approach and methods that will be undertaken in the thesis research. MDCH students are expected to incorporate feedback from their supervisory committee on the preliminary proposal and prepare a more detailed thesis proposal, which should be between 10 and 15 single-spaced pages (excluding figures, tables, and references, 0.75 inch margins and 12-point font). A suggested (but not mandatory)format for the written thesis proposal is:
- Introduction and Literature Review (approximately 4 to 6 pages – should contain a review of relevant theoretical frameworks, definitions or key terms, critical review of the existing published research related to the project, and end with a problem statement or research question(s) and the significance of the proposed study)
- Research Methods/Experimental Plan (approximately 5 to 6 pages – should describe the setting and context, participants, sampling, participant recruitment, data collection, and data analysis plan)
- Ethical Considerations (approximately 1 page – should include a description of data handling procedures)
- Significance (1/2 page)
- Budget and Justification (1-2 pages)
- Dissemination and/or Knowledge Translation plan (approximately 1 page);
- Research Timeline (approximately 1 page)
A draft of your proposal should be submitted to your committee by 12 months into the program (please note that this is not the formal thesis proposal evaluation step of candidacy. Your official proposal approval occurs at the Proposal Evaluation Meeting. See the guidelines for Admission to Candidacy section further down on this page). The draft should be approved by your supervisory committee and noted in the supervisory committee meeting minutes when it is reviewed.
Thesis proposals go through multiple drafts with your supervisory committee. It is important for students to seek feedback from their supervisor and committee before submitting a final draft for approval. Review your specific program requirements for more information.
Format:
The research proposal must be between 13 and 17 single-spaced pages (excluding figures, tables and references, .75 inch margins and 12 point font). A suggested (but not mandatory) format for the research proposal is:
- • Introduction (approximately 4-6 pages – should contain an appropriate literature review of the field and the project)
- • Relevant Preliminary Data (approximately 3-4 pages)
- • Hypothesis and Specific Aims (approximately 1/2 page)
- • Experimental Plan (approximately 5-6 pages)
- • Significance (1/2 pages)
MDCH PhD Draft Proposal Requirements
Thesis proposals are detailed documents that outline the research approach and methods that will be undertaken in the thesis research. MDCH students are expected to incorporate feedback from their supervisory committee on the preliminary proposal and prepare a more detailed thesis proposal, which should be between 10 and 15 single-spaced pages (excluding figures, tables, and references, 0.75 inch margins and 12-point font). A suggested (but not mandatory)format for the written thesis proposal is:
- Introduction and Literature Review (approximately 4 to 6 pages – should contain a review of relevant theoretical frameworks, definitions or key terms, critical review of the existing published research related to the project, and end with a problem statement or research question(s) and the significance of the proposed study)
- Research Methods/Experimental Plan (approximately 5 to 6 pages – should describe the setting and context, participants, sampling, participant recruitment, data collection, and data analysis plan)
- Ethical Considerations (approximately 1 page – should include a description of data handling procedures)
- Significance (1/2 page)
- Budget and Justification (1-2 pages)
- Dissemination and/or Knowledge Translation plan (approximately 1 page);
- Research Timeline (approximately 1 page)
Are you a MSc student who wishes to transfer to a PhD program? Please visit our MSc to PhD Transfer Process Page
Once Per Year Requirements
Questions? Contact your Graduate Program Administrator