Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biology - Water

The program information below was valid for the spring 2023 term (May 1, 2023 - August 31, 2023). 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 
  • Collaborative
  • Doctoral
  • Research
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Thesis

• Minimum requirements 
  • A 75% overall standing, or equivalent in a Master of Science (MSc) degree in a relevant field.
  • Students holding degrees from institutions outside Canada may be required to submit Graduate Record Examination scores (GRE, Analytical and Quantitative) with their application.
  • Before applying to the program, students are strongly advised to establish contact with potential supervisors. It is a good strategy to identify whether the potential supervisors that students would like to undertake research with have available positions and funding.
  • There is also an option of transferring from the Master's program to the Doctoral program. This is not a routine option, but can be approved on a case-by-case basis for suitably qualified individuals. Further information is available from the Department Graduate Officer.
• 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 

• Students must complete 2 one-term graduate courses (0.50 unit weight) accepted for credit by the Department of Biology. This will be satisfied by WATER 601 and WATER 602.

• This degree is offered through the Collaborative Water Program. This program, jointly offered by a range of departments across several academic faculties, promotes the development of interdisciplinary perspectives on water. Collaborative Water Program students complete their specialist training in their respective home departments, while working with colleagues from a variety of other departments in core interdisciplinary courses (WATER 601 and WATER 602).

• Students must complete the following core courses:
  • WATER 601 Integrated Water Management
  • WATER 602 Integrated Water Management Project
• Students who have already completed WATER 601 and WATER 602 as part of their Masters Water degree, must complete the following course requirement:
  • 1 graduate level water course from outside the student’s home Faculty agreed to by the student’s Supervisor and the Collaborative Water Program Director.
• The Department will determine whether or not collaborative program courses can be used as electives. It is therefore possible that students will need to take additional courses in order to meet the specific requirements of the program.
• For candidates who do not hold a Master's degree, the requirement will be a minimum of 4 one-term courses (0.50 unit weight). 2 of these course credits will be satisfied by WATER 601 and WATER 602.
• Undergraduate level courses cannot be credited towards the PhD degree requirements.

Link(s) to courses

• Biology (BIOL) courses
• Water (WATER) courses

PhD Seminar

• Students will make a formal presentation on their research at an annual symposium or other designated event. This will be an opportunity to interact with a very broad multidisciplinary audience that crosses all areas of research in the collaborative programs.

Collaborative Research Seminar I

• Students are required to present a seminar on their thesis or major paper research proposal and, if appropriate, early stage results to current and past Water students and Water Institute faculty members. Seminars will normally occur following the completion of WATER 601 and WATER 602. Seminars will provide the opportunity for students to discuss how learnings from Water courses were applied in, or influenced, research proposals or research work in the student’s home department. Seminars will normally be poster presentations at Water Institute organized events. The seminar is not an oral examination of the thesis or paper; rather, its purpose is to develop the student's ability to communicate their research in an organized and informative manner.

Collaborative Research Seminar II

• Students who have completed the Collaborative Research Seminar 1 as part of their Masters Water degree, must complete the Collaborative Research Seminar 2.

• Students are required to present a seminar on their PhD thesis proposal to current and past water students and Water Institute faculty members. Seminars will normally occur following the completion of required courses and the comprehensive exam. Seminars should present how learnings from the Collaborative Water Program were applied in, or influenced, thesis proposals. Seminars will normally be poster presentations or talks at Water Institute organized events. The seminar is not an oral examination of the thesis proposal; rather, its purpose is to develop the student's ability to communicate their research in an organized and informative manner.

Collaborative Academic Contribution

• Students who have completed the Collaborative Water Program Research Seminar 1 as part of their Masters Water degree, must complete the Collaborative Academic Contribution milestone.

• Students are required to make an academic contribution to the Collaborative Water Program. The proposed contribution will be documented by the student and approved by the student’s Supervisor and the Collaborative Water Program Director. Potential contributions may include, but not be limited to:

  • Development of new or improved curricula or course content;

  • Delivery of a lecture(s);

  • Preparation of a publication;

  • Preparation of a case study;

  • Mentorship of a group of students.

PhD Thesis Proposal

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).

PhD Thesis

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