Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Civil Engineering

The program information below was valid for the fall 2021 term (September 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

• Admit term(s) 
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Spring
• Delivery mode 
  • On-campus
• Program type 
  • Doctoral
  • Research
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Thesis

• Minimum requirements 
  • A Master's degree, an 80% average in coursework and evidence of ability to pursue independent research.
• Application materials 
  • Résumé
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
• References 
  • Number of references:  3
  • Type of references: 

    at least 2 academic

• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Thesis option:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• The coursework associated with the program is intended to provide a foundation for advanced learning in the chosen field of research.
• A minimum of 3 one-term (600 or 700 series) graduate level courses (0.50 unit weight) is required for PhD students holding a Master of Applied Science (MASc) degree or equivalent. A minimum of 7 one-term (500, 600 or 700 series; maximum one 500 level) graduate level courses (0.50 unit weight) is required for PhD students coming from a Bachelors program or incomplete Master’s.
• Students are required to maintain a cumulative average of at least 70% to remain in their program.
• At least half of the courses for the minimum degree requirements must normally be Faculty of Engineering graduate courses.

Link(s) to courses

• Civil Engineering (CIVE) courses

Research Principles and Applications

• Seminar attendance: students are required to attend 20 seminars (for example, Master’s Seminar, PhD Comprehensive Examination, Defense or External Seminar).
• Students are also required to attend and complete the Graduate Skills Workshop.

PhD Comprehensive Examination

• Students are required to meet the University-level PhD Comprehensive Examination minimum requirements outlined in the “Minimum requirements for the PhD degree” section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar (GSAC), with certain noted differences that are specific to the Faculty of Engineering Comprehensive Examination minimum requirements:
  • Comprehensive examination purpose: Consistent with University-level minimum requirements.
  • Timing: Students must follow the Faculty of Engineering completion timelines whereby students shall complete their comprehensive examination before the end of their 4th term or 6th term in cases where the student is admitted to the PhD program without a completed Master’s degree. 
  • Committee: Students must follow the Faculty of Engineering committee composition guidelines which differ from the University-level minimum requirements in both number of committee members and committee makeup.
  • Who Chairs an examination: Students must follow the Faculty of Engineering Chair guidelines whereby the Chair is normally selected from outside of the student’s home department.
  • Format / Content: Consistent with University-level minimum requirements but with additional information provided in the Faculty of Engineering Comprehensive Examination minimum requirements.
  • Academic integrity: Consistent with University-level minimum requirements.

PhD Thesis

• Students must submit and orally defend a thesis, embodying the results of original research.