• Academic Regulations
• Admission Requirements
• Program Requirements

 

Academic Regulations

• See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

Admission Requirements

• An M.Sc. in Physics, or a closely related field, is normally required for admission into the Ph.D. program.
• Students who have been admitted to the M.Sc. program may be permitted to transfer into the Ph.D. program if they demonstrate academic abilities for advanced research in their field.
• In exceptional cases, an outstanding student who has completed the honours B.Sc. will also be considered.

Program Requirements (from M.Sc.)

The normal requirements for the Ph.D. degree (after M.Sc.) are:

• A minimum of 2.0 credits of course work at the graduate level

• Students who lack any of the relevant courses recommended for the M.Sc. program must complete them (or the equivalents) by the end of their Ph.D. program. In addition, students in experimental or theoretical particle physics should complete PHYS 6601 and PHYS 6602, and students in medical physics must have completed PHYS 5203, PHYS 5204, PHYS 5206, PHYS 5207 and PHYS 5209 (or the equivalents).

• A comprehensive examination designed to demonstrate overall ability in physics and in the candidate's research area, normally within the first year of study. This takes the form of a written examination followed, if necessary, by an oral examination.
• A thesis (8.0 credits) which will be defended at an oral examination. The examining board for all theses will include members of the Institute from both Departments of Physics. The external examiner of the thesis will be external to both Departments of Physics.
• Participation in the seminar series of the Institute.

• Time limits: Full-time Ph.D. candidates admitted on the basis of an M.Sc. are expected to complete all requirements within an elapsed period of four to five years after the date of initial registration. Part-time Ph.D. candidates are expected to complete all requirements within an elapsed period of six years after the date of initial registration.

• Residence Requirements
  • For the Ph.D. degree (from B.Sc.): at least three years of full-time study (or equivalent)
  • For the Ph.D. degree (from M.Sc.): at least two years of full-time study (or equivalent)