Doctorate

Under the guidance of a supervisor, the student carries out a research study in an approved subject area. Following the completion of course requirements and a comprehensive exam, a thesis of original research on a unified topic must be presented to the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office and successfully evaluated by external and internal examiners. 

The Time Limitation for degree completion must be respected by all graduate students in our program. Candidates for doctoral degrees must complete their degree by the end of PhD7.  It's important for students to be aware of their program progression, and when they will reach the time limit for completing their degree requirements, and of how enforcement of the Time Limitation Policy could affect them. Please note that students admitted after a master’s degree are normally considered to be PhD2 and not PhD1 (direct entry).


Course Requirements

Ph.D. students need a total of 15 credits from compulsory courses, and they must successfully complete the comprehensive examination.

Additional fees will be charged for courses taken which are not required.

Compulsory courses  

ANAT 690D1 Cell and Developmental Biology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

ANAT 690D2 Cell and Developmental Biology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Course Coordinator: Susanne Bechstedt

A passing grade at the graduate level is B- (65%) or higher

ANAT 695 Seminars in Cell Biology 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

ANAT 696 Seminars in Cell Biology 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

ANAT 697 Seminars in Cell Biology 3 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Seminar Attendance: Students are required to attend a minimum of 12 seminars per course in order to receive a passing grade. The Seminars in Cell Biology courses must be taken in consecutive terms.

Seminars attended must be:

  • 1 hour scientific talk;
  • given by a professor;
  • from a University run seminar series;
  • related to the field of biomedical sciences.
  • Unsure of the above? Ask your supervisor if the seminar is applicable.

Attendance forms must be completed for each seminar. At the end of the term, students must submit all attendance forms to the GPC. An e-mail will be sent in advance of the submission deadline.

Related Seminars at McGill:
Department of Biology
Biomedical Engineering
Department of Chemistry
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Department of Pharmacology
Department of Physiology

Seminars offered by other departments are also advertised on McGill Channels.

ANAT 701 Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

A grade of Pass or Fail will be assigned.

Cell Biology doctoral students must complete the comprehensive exam no later than their 18th month of study, and they must register for the course in the term in which they intend to complete the exam. For example; if a student plans to have their comprehensive exam in February, they must register for ANAT 701 by the add/drop deadline for the winter registration period, or else they will be charged late registration fees. The 18th month falls in the summer term for students who have been admitted during the winter term. Since the department does not offer summer courses, if a student wishes to take the comprehensive exam during the summer term, they must first consult with their supervisor, and then contact the Graduate Program Coordinator for special registration permission.

Please consult the Department Guidelines for examination details.

    Students who have fast tracked from the MSc to PhD program do not need to repeat these courses if they have already completed them.

    Recommended Course Selection:

    Fall admission:

    First Year Second year
    Fall Winter Fall Winter
    ANAT 695 Seminars in Cell Biology 1 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

    ANAT 696 Seminars in Cell Biology 2 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

    ANAT 697 Seminars in Cell Biology 3 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

     
    ANAT 690D1 Cell and Developmental Biology 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

    ANAT 690D2 Cell and Developmental Biology 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

     
    ANAT 701 Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

    Winter admission: 

    First year Second Year
    Winter Fall Winter Summer Fall
    ANAT 695 Seminars in Cell Biology 1 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

    ANAT 696 Seminars in Cell Biology 2 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

    ANAT 697 Seminars in Cell Biology 3 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

    ANAT 701 Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

     
     
    ANAT 690D1 Cell and Developmental Biology 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

    ANAT 690D2 Cell and Developmental Biology 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

       
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