![Summary of Candidacy Process](/sites/default/files/styles/ucws_hero_cta_desktop/public/2019-09/COLOURBOX1070504.jpg?h=17d9f036&itok=rTDHk6h2)
Summary of Candidacy Process
Months 1-8
Completion of courses and supervisory arrangements
- Complete 18 units of courses
- You are assigned an interim supervisor and may remain with this supervisor or chose another supervisor (and a co-supervisor if required)
- Discussions with supervisor about the dissertation research area
- Two additional members are chosen by supervisor (and co-supervisor), in consultation with you, to form supervisory committee
- The supervisory committee acts as the examining committee for all the following stages of the candidacy process
Months 9-10
Approval of research area, fields of study (two), and fields of study reading lists
- Submission of research area description and fields of study documents to the supervisory committee
- Documents include research area description (2,500 words), identification of two fields of study, and a reading list for each field (35-50 items depending on the nature of the field)
- Meeting with supervisory committee regarding research area and fields of study documents
- At this meeting the supervisory committee may approve documents or require alterations
- Alterations can be delegated to supervisor or another meeting can be arranged with the full supervisory committee
- Final submission of any alterations to the area and fields of study documents
- If alterations are satisfactory the supervisory committee signs the Fields of Study Approval I form
- If the alterations are unsatisfactory you are required to withdraw from the program
- You have the right to appeal the committee’s decision to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. See the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar »
Months 11-15
The written Fields of Study Exam
- You have four months to read the fields of study lists in preparation for the written fields of study exam
- At least three weeks before the written exams, the supervisor solicits questions from the other members of the supervisory committee
- The supervisor composes three questions for each of the two field of study areas
- You receive fields of study questions for written exam; you have two weeks to submit your answers
- You must answer one question in each field (three choices) with an essay of 3,750-5,000 words in length plus references in an appropriate style (e.g. APA, MLA)
- Supervisory committee provides assessment of written exam within one week of its submission
- You can receive only one fail judgement on each question — two fail assessments on an exam question requires a rewrite in two to six months
- Two fail assessments on each exam question means both exams are retaken in two to six months
- You have the right to appeal the committee’s decision to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. See the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar »
- With a successful exam, the supervisory committee signs Fields of Study Written Exam Approval II form
- A successful written exam allows you to move on to the fields of study oral exam
Month 16
Fields of Study Oral Exam
- An oral exam is scheduled within two weeks following a successful written exam
- Assessment of the oral exam by the supervisory committee must be unanimous for a pass
- The supervisory committee signs the Fields of Study Oral Exam Approval III form
- A fail requires you to retake the exam in two to six months
- You have the right to appeal the committee’s decision to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. See the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar »
- A successful oral exam allows the study to move on to the dissertation proposal
Months 17-21
The dissertation proposal
- You work with supervisory committee on their dissertation proposal
- When the proposal is satisfactory, a meeting with the supervisory committee is scheduled
- Approval by the supervisory committee regarding the proposal must be unanimous
- Supervisory committee signs the department’s Dissertation Approval Form
- If the proposal is a fail, you can resubmit in two to six months
- If the proposal is a fail at the second meeting, you are required to withdraw
- You have the right to appeal the committee’s decision to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. See the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar »
- Completion of dissertation proposal means student has passed candidacy.