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Full Guidelines and checklist PDF

Enrollment Forms

Overview and Purpose of the PhD Comprehensive Exam

One purpose of the exam is to help PhD students build their skills in important areas, including formulating their ideas and plans in the form of a research proposal, reviewing literature related to their area of research, and presenting and defending their ideas verbally. The second purpose of the comprehensive exam is to ensure that those students who continue in the PhD program are performing at the level expected of a PhD student. An additional value of the comprehensive exam process is that examiners may provide constructive suggestions regarding the research proposed.

PhD students who already have a MSc should normally expect to complete their comprehensive exam within the first 4 semesters. Those who transfer from the MSc program should complete the comprehensive exam within 6 semesters of enrollment, approximately 3 semesters following transfer.

Note: If you plan to schedule your comprehensive exams during the Fall semester, your proposal will need to be distributed to your approved committee by no later than September 30th.

See full guidelines and checklist linked above for further details and procedures.