Students wishing to transfer from the M.Sc. program to the Ph.D. program are required to have a supervisory committee meeting to address this issue. The meeting would focus on the student’s proposal for a doctoral-level research project. The supervisory committee should be supplemented by an invitee who is external to the committee and knowledgeable in the student’s subject area. The chair of the meeting (non-voting) of the supervisory committee shall be a member of the current Graduate Program Committee, but not the supervisor or co-supervisor of the graduate student involved.
At least two weeks prior to the meeting, the student should distribute copies of a proposal for doctoral-level work. The proposal should outline the status of the student’s work undertaken since entering the graduate program, describe data collected to date, and outline a proposed study or series of studies to be undertaken to meet the requirements of the Ph.D.
At the meeting the student will provide a presentation (up to 20 minutes in length) on the proposed project and data collected to date. Committee members will then assess the student’s “fitness” for the Ph.D. program by posing questions relevant to the proposed project. The student’s academic performance and proposal for additional course work should also be evaluated. Following a period of questions on these issues, the student will leave the meeting so the committee can address the question of transfer. If the committee decides that transfer is not appropriate, the student is informed about what needs to be addressed before another application for transfer to the Ph.D. program is considered. If the proposal for doctoral-level work and the student’s performance to date are regarded as acceptable, the student is informed and provided with comments/suggestions regarding the work to be undertaken.
The Report of the Supervisory Committee Meeting form should be completed and a copy forwarded to the Graduate Program Coordinator. The requisite change of status form regarding the student’s transfer to the Ph.D. program will be completed and signed by the Graduate Program Coordinator. The completed change of status form will then be submitted to the FGSR. The student’s status in the graduate program will be updated to reflect the transfer from MSc. to PhD. candidate.