Ph.D. Program

Students who hold an M.Sc. degree from McGill or an equivalent degree from another recognized university (see international degree equivalency at: https://www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/international/equivalency) may be considered for admission at the Ph.D. level. Such candidates are accepted at the Ph.D. 2 level. Candidates with a strong academic and research background may be considered for direct entry into the Ph.D. program from the B.Sc.  Such candidates are accepted into Ph.D. 1.

Ph.D. Timeline

(minimum of 6 terms of residency) Printable PDF of Ph.D. Timeline

First Term Courses
PHGY 720 Ph.D. Seminar Course 1 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

PHGY 604 Responsible Conduct in Res.
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

+ 3 credits selected from the list of acceptable graduate level courses in the program details
Second Term Courses
PHGY 721 Ph.D. Seminar Course 2 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

+ 3 credits selected from the list of acceptable graduate level courses in the program details
Third Term Courses
PHGY 701 Ph.D.Comprehensive Examination
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

PHGY 722 Ph.D. Seminar Course 3 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Fourth Term courses
PHGY 723 Ph.D. Seminar Course 4 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

+ 3 credits selected from the list of acceptable graduate level courses in the program details
Fifth Term Courses
PHGY 703 Ph.D. Progress Seminar 1 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

PHGY 724 Ph.D. Seminar Course 5 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Sixth Term courses
PHGY 704 Ph.D. Progress Seminar 2 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

PHGY 725 Ph.D. Seminar Course 6 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Note – Dr. Maurice Chacron is the Graduate Program Director. Although he is listed as the instructor for some of the graduate courses above (PHGY 703 & PHGY 704), the students will actually be assessed by their supervisors.

Ph.D. program outline:

All Ph.D. students are required to take the Ph.D. Seminar Course for 6 terms (PHGY 720-725, 1 credit each). This course is coordinated in conjunction with the weekly Departmental seminar series and meets one hour before each seminar to critically discuss papers on the subject for that week. Attendance at the course and the following seminar is compulsory. Students who do not attend a minimum of 75% of the classes will be required to complete an additional assignment in order to receive a passing grade. In addition to the above, students are required to take 9 credits of Physiology or Science at the 500 level or above, in consultation with their supervisor (please see acceptable graduate level courses in the program details). The passing grade for a graduate student is 65% (B-). Anything lower is considered an F.

The formal Ph.D. program requirements are:

  1. The course work as stipulated above, as well as other any other course identified by the supervisor as necessary for the student's training
  2. A proposal seminar, to be presented within 5-9 months of starting the program
  3. Successful completion of the Ph.D. Comprehensive exam (PHGY 701). For detailed information see: https://www.mcgill.ca/physiology/files/physiology/guidelines_for_students_and_examiners.pdf
  4. Yearly Progress Seminars: to be done after the successful completion of the Comprehensive exam. Progress seminars are mandatory until submission of a thesis. A final progress seminar needs to be done 6-8 weeks before the submission of the initial thesis
  5. Participation in the Annual Research Day in May
  6. Submit a thesis and defend it orally. It is expected that a Ph.D. thesis will generate a body of work comprised of 3 units of published and/or publishable material.
  7. Ph.D degree is to be completed by the end of year 7

Important note: Graduate students may be required to withdraw from their program of study for documented lack of performance in research or two course failures. More info can be obtained at https://www.mcgill.ca/study/2020-2021/university_regulations_and_resources/graduate/gps_gi_failure_policy. Details on graduate policies and tracking can be obtained at www.mcgill.ca/gps/students/research-tracking.

Doctoral Program details here

 

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