Residency Requirements and Duration of Program

Doctoral Students

Students admitted to a doctoral program will normally be expected to spend the equivalent of at least two consecutive years of full-time study at the University. With the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, graduate programs may make different regulations concerning duration of study, sequence of study and location of full-time study.

Students must maintain continuous registration throughout all years until graduation by keeping up with tuition fee payments.

If the degree is not awarded within a period of six years from initial registration, for a full-time student, and eight years from initial registration for a part-time student, the student's eligibility for the degree will be terminated and the student will be required to withdraw from the program. Under exceptional circumstances, an extension to allow a student to continue in the program may be granted by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Students who, for health or personal reasons including childbirth and having primary responsibility for the care of a child, must interrupt their studies should apply for a leave. See On-Leave Status under Classification of Students. The period of leave is not counted toward time to completion.

For doctoral students designated as "full-time with reduced workload", the maximum time in the program is normally eight years.

Master's Students

Students in a master's program are expected to spend the equivalent of at least one year in full-time study. Some programs may be of longer minimum duration. Students must maintain continuous registration throughout all years until graduation by keeping up with fee payments.

If a degree is not awarded within a period of five years from initial registration, the student's eligibility for the degree will be terminated and the student will be required to withdraw from the program. Under exceptional circumstances, an extension to allow a student to continue in the program may be granted by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. This restriction applies equally to full-time and part-time students.

Students who, for health or personal reasons including childbirth and having primary responsibility for the care of a child, must interrupt their studies should apply for a leave. See On-Leave Status under Classification of Students. The period of leave is not counted toward time to completion.


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