Degree Requirements

You will complete Term Activity Reports to share your academic progress with your supervisor. At the end of each term, you will receive an email from the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Graduate Program to complete your Term Activity Report.

As an MASc student, you must complete 4 graduate-level courses (0.50 unit weight per course). This includes 1 core course, 1 field-specific course, and 2 elective courses. Review the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar regarding the courses you are required to take for each course category. You can find the current term's course offerings on the Graduate Schedule of Classes.  

As per the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar, all of your courses must be approved by your supervisor(s).

You are strongly encouraged to review the BME courses webpage for more information regarding course requirements, field-specific courses, course enrolment, and course policies. 

Some students may be required to take additional foundational courses. This will be communicated to students if required.

You are required to complete the PACE module milestone as part of your degree requirements. The PACE module milestone includes three components: the seminar series, PACE days, and the annual BME research day.

Seminar Series

As part of the seminar series, you are required to attend a minimum of 5 seminars per term, except during your final term. A biweekly seminar series will be offered, where students, faculty, and guest speakers will be invited to give a presentation. Seminar topics will relate to BME research, academic integrity, or professional development. Track your seminar attendance each term by listing the seminars you have attended in your Term Activity Report at the end of each term.

As part of the seminar series, you are also required to present a seminar in the biweekly seminar series by the end of your final term. 

PACE Days

You are required to attend and participate in 2 PACE Days during terms 1, 2, and 3. These will cover professional development topics. Students will receive communication with more detailed information regarding the PACE days.

Annual BME Research Day

You are required to attend and present at the annual BME Research Day each year. You will be required to submit an abstract and give either an oral or poster presentation.  An email with more detailed information regarding the annual BME Research Day will be sent to students.

You are required to work with your supervisor(s) to establish an Advisory Committee that includes:

• your supervisor(s),
• one faculty member from the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, and
• one faculty member from outside of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program.

At least two of the committee members must be tenure or tenure-track. No more than one adjunct faculty member may serve on the Advisory Committee. Adjunct appointments require the approval of the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs. 

It is expected that the committee will remain the same for both your MASc Thesis Proposal and MASc Thesis.

More information can be found here.

You must write and orally defend a thesis proposal that will be examined and approved by your supervisor(s) and Advisory Committee. The thesis proposal must be completed by the end of term 3.

Follow the steps below and refer to the MASc Thesis Proposal Guidelines and the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar for more information. 

How to write the MASc thesis proposal

The body of written text should not exceed 15 pages, excluding the table of contents, list of references and appendices.

It is suggested that the written proposal should include:

• Title page
• Table of contents
• Abstract
• Introduction / literature review
• Thesis specific objectives / hypothesis
• Proposed methods and materials
• Progress/results to date
• Timeline
• List of references

Expectations of the MASc thesis proposal oral defence

You are also required to orally defend your proposal, which includes presenting your proposal and answering questions from the committee to assess your understanding of the proposed research area. If agreed by the committee, you can present your oral defence during the BME seminar series, given that all committee members will be present during the presentation.

It is expected that the proposal presentation will be 15 to 20 minutes followed by one round of questions from the committee. The expected total length is approximately one hour.

The committee will have 10 business days (2 weeks) to review your thesis proposal. Your thesis proposal defence is to be held by the 10^th business day.

Booking the MASc thesis proposal defence

1. Submit the MASc Thesis Proposal Form to the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Graduate Program for approval by the Director of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program. 
   • Leave the date, time, and location of the defence blank as this will be decided in consultation with your committee after Director approval. 
2. The Academic Services Coordinator – BME Graduate Program will inform you once the Proposal has been approved. 
3. In consultation with your committee, schedule a date, time, and location for your thesis proposal defence. 
   • You must provide your thesis proposal to your committee 10 business days prior to your defence 
   • You can present your oral defence during the BME seminar series, if all of your committee members agree to be present.
4. Include the thesis proposal defence details (date, time, room, etc.) on the already signed MASc Thesis Proposal Form and re-submit it to the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Graduate Program.
5. Send an email calendar invite to your committee members to attend your thesis proposal defence. 
6. You must provide a PDF copy of your thesis proposal to each member of your committee at least 10 business days prior to the thesis proposal defence.

MASc thesis proposal evaluation

Once the committee has reviewed your thesis proposal and you have completed your defence, you will receive the Report of MASc Thesis Proposal with an outcome of one of the following decisions:

• Category 1 - Passed
• Category 2 - Passed subject to completion of recommendations
• Category 3 - Decision deferred/re-examination required

Students who receive a Category 3 (re-examination required) from their thesis proposal defence will be required to meet the conditions listed on the Report of MASc Thesis Proposal and defend their revised thesis proposal no earlier than six weeks after, but within three months of their unsuccessful attempt. A student cannot fail on their first attempt.

When a candidate is re-examined, the outcomes are limited to:

• Category 1 - Passed
• Category 4 - Exam unsuccessful/failed

Students who receive a Category 4 (Exam unsuccessful/failed) will be required to withdraw from the MASc program in the term immediately following the term in which the examination took place.

You are responsible for preparing and submitting your thesis, as well as orally defending your thesis. This will be examined and approved by your Advisory Committee.

Follow the steps below and refer to the MASc Thesis and Defence Guidelines and the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar for more information. 

Structure of your MASc Thesis

Master's theses can take various forms. It has become common in Engineering for students to publish outcomes from their research prior to completing their degree and subsequently to incorporate some of the published material within their thesis.  If you have co-authored content as part of your thesis you will need to follow these guidelines.

Structure and Timing of your MASc Defence

• The MASc Defence Form will be submitted to the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Grad at the same time as the Master's Thesis Submission form.
• The MASc Defence consists of a 20-30 minute presentation by the student, followed by a question-and-answer period by the committee members.
  • Each committee member is permitted to ask 10-15 minutes (generally) of questions each. 
• The internal committee member will Chair the defence.
• Following the committee member questioning, members of the audience are invited to ask questions.
• The committee will deliberate and notify the student of the outcome of their defence.
• The defence is normally hosted during the final week of the student's thesis. The date and time are arranged by the student and supervisor(s) with the committee members.
• For in-person defences, room bookings can be made through the student’s supervisor’s home department or Faculty of Engineering:
  • Systems Design Engineering
  • Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Faculty of Engineering
  • If you are unsure of who to contact, please reach out to the  Academic Services Coordinator – BME Grad
• The student is to send an outlook calendar invite to the committee members to schedule the defence in their calendars. 

Outcomes of the MASc Defence

The Report of MASc Defence is a record of the committee's examination decision (usually in three days) after the defence. The committee must choose from one of the following decisions:

• Category 1 – A maximum of 1 month to make revisions
• Category 2 – A maximum of 4 months to make revisions
• Category 3 - Re-examination required

Students, who receive a Category 3 (re-examination required) from their defence, will be required to meet the conditions listed on the Report of MASc Defence and defend their revised thesis within one calendar year of their unsuccessful attempt. A student cannot fail on their first attempt.

When a candidate is re-examined, the outcomes are limited to:

• Category 1 – A maximum of 1 month to make revisions
• Category 2 – A maximum of 4 months to make revisions
• Category 4 - Exam unsuccessful/failed

Steps to Submitting the MASc Thesis and Completing the MASc Defence

1. Apply for graduation through Quest. You will not be able to apply to degree complete in a given term until that term has started. You must apply to graduate in the term you plan to degree complete. Do not apply earlier than this.
   •  Navigate to My Academics > Graduation, and select Apply for Graduation
   • Note: You must select the term in which you will complete your degree requirements. If, for example, you are done by the 100% refund deadline in the Fall, on September 1st, you must select the Fall term as your graduation term.
2. When your thesis is ready to be read, complete the Master's Thesis Submission form and MASc Defence Form and send them to the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Grad, who will re-review your committee composition and seek confirmation from the Director of Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program.
   • It is expected that your thesis examination committee will remain the same as your proposal examination committee. If your committee has changed, please complete the MASc Committee Member Replacement form and submit it to the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Grad. They will send this to the Director of Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program for approval.
   • If you plan to have a closed oral defence, submit a Confidential Information Thesis Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) for each member of the committee. This must be done prior to the copies of the thesis being dispensed. It is the responsibility of the researcher(s) to collect and keep any NDAs.
   • Note: If you are going to request that your thesis be withheld from the public domain (e.g., due to patent-pending issues), you can now request a four-month, one-year, or two-year embargo when submitting to UWSpace. Students are no longer required to submit a Request to Restrict Circulation of Thesis form unless they are requesting an extension to a pre-existing embargo. Embargo discussions should now happen between student and supervisor at the end of the defence and recorded on the Department Approval of MASc Thesis form.
3. The Academic Services Coordinator – BME Grad will email you to confirm that your forms have been approved. Once you have received this email, you are required to distribute electronic copies of your thesis to your committee, and they will either need to e-sign your Master's Thesis Submission form to confirm they have received it or send an email confirmation of receipt.
4. You are also required to send an outlook calendar invite to your committee members for your defence.
5. After your readers all have their copy of the thesis and have confirmed receipt, combine the (1) Master's Thesis Submission form and (2) each committee member’s confirmation of thesis receipt into a single PDF file and send to your Academic Services Coordinator – BME Grad along with a separate PDF copy of your thesis
6. The Academic Services Coordinator – BME Grad will submit your completed Master's Thesis Submission form and copy of your thesis to the Engineering Graduate Studies Office (EGSO), where the thesis will be on display electronically, via SharePoint, for 15 business days. 
   • The 15-business-day display period starts the day your thesis is submitted by the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Grad to the EGSO.
   • It is during this three-week display period that your readers will review your thesis and prepare their feedback.
7. Once your thesis is on display, the EGSO will send you a Department Approval of Master's Thesis form (usually within three days).
   • At this time the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Grad will also send the Report of MASc Defence to your Chair, which is to be completed by the Chair with your committee during your defence.
   • At the end of your defence, your Chair is responsible for submitting the completed Report of MASc Defence to the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Grad.
   • Note: The Report of MASc Defence does not replace the Approval of Master's Thesis form. The Approval of Master's Thesis form will still need to be signed by your committee and submitted to the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Grad.
8. After the defence and reading your thesis, your committee will provide you with feedback and revisions (which will be stated in the Report of MASc Defence). Once any revisions requested have been completed to their satisfaction, your Department Approval of Master's Thesis form must be signed by your committee (either electronically of via email confirmation), indicating that they have given you their feedback and the final copy of your thesis is ready for upload to UWSpace.
   • Note: Your committee must have read your thesis and provided feedback by the end of the 15-business-day display period, but time for completion of revisions is in addition to the display period. This means that your committee might not be signing off on your Department Approval of Master's Thesis form until your revisions are complete.
9. After all of your revisions and changes have been made, your supervisor(s) need to sign off (either electronically of via email confirmation) on your final thesis near the bottom of the Department Approval of Master's Thesis form. 
   • Note: If your thesis title has changed, update the form in the space provided before your supervisor(s) signs off.
10. Once your supervisor(s) has signed off on your revisions, return the Department Approval of Master's Thesis form to the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Grad, and they will process it and send it to the EGSO.
    • Make sure you update your thesis title on your Department Approval of Master's Thesis form if it has changed from what was originally submitted.
11. When the completed Department Approval of Master's Thesis form is received by the EGSO, they will issue a Master's Thesis Acceptance (usually within three days) which will be sent to your UW e-mail.
    • You cannot upload to UWSpace until you have obtained this e-mail.
12. Once you have received the Thesis Acceptance Notice from the EGSO, you can upload your final thesis to UWSpace (not before).
    • If an embargo was requested on your examination report (see step 2 above), you will have to select the thesis restriction pull down option when you are uploading to UW Space as well.
13. UWSpace may require you to make revisions to the formatting of your thesis, so check your UW e-mail regularly after you submit for any feedback they might send.
    • Formatting guidelines for theses can be found on the GSPA website
14. When your thesis has been accepted by UWSpace, you will be notified by e-mail.

Degree Completion

For complete instructions and timelines for the degree completion process, visit the Faculty of Engineering's degree completion deadlines page.

The degree completion process takes time. Start planning for this final stage of your degree at least a couple of months in advance. Please see the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Graduate Program for instructions prior to applying to graduate in Quest, and then apply for graduation through Quest.

You will complete Term Activity Reports to share your academic progress with your supervisor. At the end of each term, you will receive an email from the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Graduate Program to complete your Term Activity Report. 

PhD students with a master’s degree must complete 4 graduate-level courses (0.50 unit weight per course). This includes 1 core course, 1 field-specific course, and 2 elective courses. PhD students with a bachelor’s degree/incomplete master’s must complete 7 (0.50 unit weight per course). This includes 2 core courses, 1 field-specific course, and 4 elective courses. Review the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar regarding the courses your are required to take for each course category. You can find the current term's course offerings on the Graduate Schedule of Classes.  

As per the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar, your field-specific course and electives must be approved by your supervisor(s).

You are strongly encouraged to review the BME courses webpage for more information regarding course requirements, field-specific courses, course enrolment, and course policies.

Some students may be required to take additional foundational courses. This will be communicated to students if required.

You are required to complete the PACE module milestone as part of your degree requirements. The PACE module milestone includes three components: the seminar series, PACE days, and an annual BME Research Day.

Seminar Series

You are required to attend a minimum of 5 seminars per term, except for your final term. A biweekly seminar series will be offered, where students, faculty, and guest speakers will be invited to give a presentation. Seminar topics will relate to BME research, academic integrity, or professional development. Track your seminar attendance each term by listing the seminars you have attended in your Term Activity Report at the end of each term.

You are also required to present a seminar in the biweekly seminar series by the end of your final term. 

PACE Days

You are required to attend and participate in 2 PACE Days during terms 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. These will cover professional development topics. You will receive communication with more detailed information regarding the PACE days.

Annual BME Research Day

You are required to attend and present at the annual BME research day each year. You will submit an abstract and give either an oral or poster presentation. Students will receive communication with more detailed information regarding the annual BME research day.

You are required to work with your supervisor(s) to establish an Advisory Committee. In addition to your supervisor(s), your Advisory Committee will include a minimum of three faculty members to serve as examiners. The examiners must satisfy the following conditions: 

• Two must be faculty members from the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program and hold a tenure or tenure-track position (the internals)

• One must be a faculty member who is outside of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program (the internal/external)

All examiners must hold a PhD or equivalent degree, and a maximum of one can hold an adjunct appointment or emeritus status.

Your supervisor(s) will recommend appropriate members for the Advisory Committee. The composition of the committee will be approved by the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs. More information can be found in the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.  

It is expected that the committee will remain the same for your PhD Comprehensive Examination I (The Background), PhD Comprehensive Examination II (The Proposal), and your PhD Thesis.

The purpose of the Comprehensive Background Examination is to examine your breadth knowledge in your area of specialization, and to examine if you have adequate background preparation in order to pursue your area of research. The specific topics you will be examined on will be defined by a list of background subjects, which will be listed on the PhD Comprehensive Background Examination form. These will be approved by your supervisor and Advisory Committee members.

It is expected that the Comprehensive Background Examination will be held in your third term (fourth term if you have an incomplete MASc). You must successfully complete this exam before you can book your Comprehensive Proposal Examination. If you fail your Comprehensive Background Examination, you will be permitted to retake the exam before the end of the subsequent term. If you fail the Comprehensive Background Examination for a second time, you must withdraw from the PhD program.

The PhD Comprehensive Background Examination is a closed-book assessment, and no aids are permitted. Recording of the examination process is not allowed, nor is the use of smart phones, video cameras, cameras, or tape recorders unless used for the purpose of the examination presentation or for accessibility accommodations.

For more information, please refer to the PhD Comprehensive Examination I and Comprehensive Examination II Guidelines and the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Preparing for the Comprehensive Background Examination

You are to provide your committee with an abstract (maximum of 1 page) of your research.

The background subjects listed on the PhD Comprehensive Background Examination Form are to be suggested by your supervisor(s) and then discussed and approved by your committee members. Once the background subjects are agreed upon, the committee will also define the references for each background subject that you are to use to prepare for the examination. Your supervisor(s) is to share the background subjects and references with you.

It is expected that your committee members come to the PhD Comprehensive Background Examination with questions prepared (based on the references) in advance. The questions should probe your knowledge in each background topic. You should be able to demonstrate mature insight and fundamental understanding of each topic.

Scheduling the PhD Comprehensive Examination I (The Background)

1. Submit the PhD Comprehensive Background Examination Form four weeks prior to your desired exam date (with the signatures of all your committee members) to the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Graduate Program. They will seek approval of your committee membership from the Director of Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program.
   • A Chair will be required for this examination and is to be selected by your supervisor. The role of the Chair is to ensure that the examination is conducted according to the examination guidelines. The Chair is not an examiner and cannot vote.
   • All committee members must attend your Comprehensive Background Examination. If this examination is scheduled as hybrid, the student, supervisor(s), and chair are not permitted to attend remotely.
2. The Academic Services Coordinator – BME Graduate Program will inform you once the Director has approved your committee membership.
3. Send an email calendar invite to your committee members and Chair for your Comprehensive Examination Background.

Conduct of the PhD Comprehensive Examination I (The Background)

1. The Chair will introduce themself, the candidate and all committee members at the start of the examination
2. The Committee will then question your background technical knowledge
   • The first round of questions will typically last about 15 minutes each (co-supervisors share time)
   • The second round of questions will continue for about 10 minutes each
   • The question period is to be a maximum of 2 hours
3. Only the Chair and members of your committee are permitted in the examination room
4. At the conclusion of the questioning period, you must leave the room for closed deliberations
5. If you have more than one supervisor, your co-supervisor's vote is divided fractionally among them, such that each may vote independently but the total supervisor vote (one) remains unchanged
6. Once a decision has been reached, the Chair will inform you of the results of your Comprehensive Background Examination
   • This will be in the presence of your committee members
   • This will include any conditions you will have to complete
7. It is the Chair’s responsibility to record the results and submit the completed paperwork to the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Grad

Results of the PhD Comprehensive Examination I (The Background)

Your Advisory Committee must choose from one of the following four decisions:

• Category 1 Unconditional Pass
• Category 2 Passed subject to completion of conditions - When a student’s background preparation is generally adequate but certain deficiencies need to be rectified. The conditions might require you to enroll in additional graduate courses, prepare a written report on designated aspects of the proposed research program, and/or present a public seminar on a background subject. The specific conditions of the committee must be clearly identified on the appropriate forms by the Chair, along with completion dates and the committee member(s) responsible for ensuring that the conditions will be satisfied.
  
  For students who are required to complete additional requirements, you must satisfy these within one calendar year. Students who fail to meet these conditions will be required to withdraw. The designated committee member(s) must inform the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Grad when all conditions have been satisfied.
• Category 3 Re-examination required – When a student’s background is deficient. Re-Examination cannot take place within six weeks of the date of the first comprehensive examination but must be done before the end of the subsequent term. You must establish the re-examination date with your committee and the Candidate. This is to be reported as part of your conditions. The same committee must be used for your re-examination.
• Category 4 Failed - The decision failed is only applicable to the PhD Background Comprehensive Re-examination and means that Comprehensive Examination procedure is closed, and that you will be required to withdraw from the PhD program. This will not be received on a first attempt.

PhD Comprehensive Examination II (The Proposal)

You will be required to complete a research proposal as well as an oral examination that will examine your research proposal. This examination is expected to be held during your fifth term (sixth term if you have an incomplete MASc).

Recording of the examination process is not allowed, nor is the use of cell phones, video cameras, cameras or tape recorders unless used for the purpose of the examination presentation or if accessibility accommodation is required.

For more information, please refer to the PhD Comprehensive Examination I and Comprehensive Examination II Guidelines and the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

How to write the proposal

Your research proposal will consist of a double-spaced report of, typically, no more than fifty pages including tables, diagrams and references. It is suggested that the written proposal should include:

• Title page
• Table of contents
• Abstract
• Introduction / literature review
• Thesis specific objectives / hypothesis
• Proposed methods and materials
• Progress/results to date
• Timeline
• List of references

There are no formatting guidelines for the Research Proposal, however, students are welcome to follow the thesis formatting guidelines published by the GSPA.

Scheduling the PhD Comprehensive Examination II (The Proposal)

1. Submit the PhD Comprehensive Proposal Examination Form to the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Graduate Program to re-review your committee membership and to have a Chair assigned.
   • Leave the date/time blank as this will not be decided until after the Chair has been assigned. 
   • Note: The Comprehensive Proposal Examination Committee must consist of the same committee members who were approved and attended the Comprehensive Background Examination Committee. This is your Advisory Committee.
2. The Academic Services Coordinator – BME Graduate Program will submit this form to the Engineering Graduate Studies Office (EGSO) to approve and assign a Chair.
   • The role of the Chair is to ensure that the examination is conducted according to the examination guidelines. The Chair is not an examiner and cannot vote.
3. Once a Chair has been assigned, the EGSO will inform your supervisor(s) and the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Graduate Program.
4. Set the date for your examination in consultation with your committee members and Chair. Please refer to the blackout dates, as your exam should not be scheduled during these dates.
5. Once the date is set, include the examination details (date, time, room, etc.) on the already signed PhD Comprehensive Proposal Examination Form and re-submit it to the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Graduate Program.
   • This is to be submitted at least three weeks prior to your examination date.
6. Send a calendar invite to your committee members for your examination.
7. At least 2 weeks prior to your examination date, you must provide a copy of your research proposal to each member of your Advisory Committee.

Conduct of the PhD Comprehensive Examination II (The Proposal)

1. You will begin with an oral presentation on the main points of the research proposal. This should be presented within 30 minutes.
2. After your presentation, the Chair will then invite your committee members to examine the proposal, which will include a questioning period.
   • The Chair may declare a short break in the middle of the examination.
3. At the conclusion of the questioning period, only members of the examining committee are allowed to stay for the closed deliberation session following the Comprehensive Proposal Examination.
4. Once a decision has been made, the Chair will inform you of the results of your Comprehensive Proposal Examination
   • This will be in the presence of your committee members
   • This will include any conditions you will have to complete
5. It is the Chair’s responsibility to record the results and submit the completed paperwork to the EGSO.

Results of the PhD Comprehensive Examination II (The Proposal)

Your Examination Committee must choose from one of the following four decisions:

• Category 1 Unconditional Pass
• Category 2 Passed subject to completion of conditions - When a student’s proposal preparation is generally adequate, but certain deficiencies need to be rectified.
  
  The conditions might require you to prepare a written report on designated aspects of the proposed research area and/or to present a public seminar on the proposal. The specific conditions of the Comprehensive Examination Committee must be clearly identified on Page 2 of the Report of PhD Comprehensive Proposal Examination by the Chair, along with completion dates and the Committee member(s) responsible for ensuring that the conditions will be satisfied.

If you are required to complete additional requirements, you must satisfy these within one calendar year. Students who fail to meet these conditions will be required to withdraw. The designated committee member(s) must inform the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Grad when all conditions have been satisfied.

• Category 3 Re-examination required - When a student’s proposal is deficient. Re-examination cannot take place within six weeks after the date of the Comprehensive Proposal Examination. The re-examination must be scheduled no later than one year after the Comprehensive Proposal Examination. The re-examination date must be established by the supervisor(s) in consultation with the examiners and the candidate and reported as part of the conditions. A student who fails a re-examination will be required to withdraw from the PhD program.
• Category 4 Failed - The proposal examination procedure is closed, and you will be required to withdraw from the PhD program. If you fail the re-examination, you must withdraw from the PhD program.

You will be required to complete a research proposal as well as an oral examination that will examine your research proposal. This examination is expected to be held during your fifth term (sixth term if you have an incomplete MASc).

Recording of the examination process is not allowed, nor is the use of cell phones, video cameras, cameras or tape recorders unless used for the purpose of the examination presentation or if accessibility accommodation is required.

For more information, please refer to the PhD Comprehensive Examination I and Comprehensive Examination II Guidelines and the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

How to write the proposal

Your research proposal will consist of a double-spaced report of, typically, no more than fifty pages including tables, diagrams and references. It is suggested that the written proposal should include:

• Title page
• Table of contents
• Abstract
• Introduction / literature review
• Thesis specific objectives / hypothesis
• Proposed methods and materials
• Progress/results to date
• Timeline
• List of references

There are no formatting guidelines for the Research Proposal, however, students are welcome to follow the thesis formatting guidelines published by the GSPA.

Scheduling the PhD Comprehensive Examination II (The Proposal)

1. Submit the PhD Comprehensive Proposal Examination Form to the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Graduate Program to re-review your committee membership and to have a Chair assigned.
   • Leave the date/time blank as this will not be decided until after the Chair has been assigned. 
   • Note: The committee membership must consist of the same committee members who were approved and attended the Comprehensive Background Examination Committee. This is your Advisory Committee.
2. The Academic Services Coordinator – BME Graduate Program will submit this form to the Engineering Graduate Studies Office (EGSO) to approve and assign a Chair.
   • The role of the Chair is to ensure that the examination is conducted according to the examination guidelines. The Chair is not an examiner and cannot vote.
3. Once a Chair has been assigned, the EGSO will inform your supervisor(s) and the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Graduate Program.
4. Set the date for your examination in consultation with your committee members and Chair. Please refer to the blackout dates, as your exam should not be scheduled during these dates.
5. Once the date is set, include the examination details (date, time, room, etc.) on the already signed PhD Comprehensive Proposal Examination Form and re-submit it to the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Graduate Program.
   • This is to be submitted at least three weeks prior to your examination date.
6. Send a calendar invite to your committee members for your examination.
7. At least 2 weeks prior to your examination date, you must provide a copy of your research proposal to each member of your Advisory Committee.

Conduct of the PhD Comprehensive Examination II (The Proposal)

1. You will begin with an oral presentation on the main points of the research proposal. This should be presented within 30 minutes.
2. After your presentation, the Chair will then invite your committee members to examine the proposal, which will include a questioning period.
   • The Chair may declare a short break in the middle of the examination.
3. At the conclusion of the questioning period, only members of the examining committee are allowed to stay for the closed deliberation session following the Comprehensive Proposal Examination.
4. Once a decision has been made, the Chair will inform you of the results of your Comprehensive Proposal Examination
   • This will be in the presence of your committee members
   • This will include any conditions you will have to complete
5. It is the Chair’s responsibility to record the results and submit the completed paperwork to the EGSO.

Results of the PhD Comprehensive Examination II (The Proposal)

Your Advisory Committee must choose from one of the following four decisions:

• Category 1 Unconditional Pass
• Category 2 Passed subject to completion of conditions - When a student’s proposal preparation is generally adequate, but certain deficiencies need to be rectified.
  
  The conditions might require you to prepare a written report on designated aspects of the proposed research area and/or to present a public seminar on the proposal. The specific conditions of the committee must be clearly identified on Page 2 of the Report of PhD Comprehensive Proposal Examination by the Chair, along with completion dates and the Committee member(s) responsible for ensuring that the conditions will be satisfied.

If you are required to complete additional requirements, you must satisfy these within one calendar year. Students who fail to meet these conditions will be required to withdraw. The designated committee member(s) must inform the Academic Services Coordinator – BME Grad when all conditions have been satisfied.

• Category 3 Re-examination required - When a student’s proposal is deficient. Re-examination cannot take place within six weeks after the date of the Comprehensive Proposal Examination. The re-examination must be scheduled no later than one year after the Comprehensive Proposal Examination. The re-examination date must be established by the supervisor(s) in consultation with the examiners and the candidate and reported as part of the conditions. A student who fails a re-examination will be required to withdraw from the PhD program.
• Category 4 Failed - The proposal examination procedure is closed, and you will be required to withdraw from the PhD program. If you fail the re-examination, you must withdraw from the PhD program.

You are responsible for preparing and submitting your thesis, the written culmination of your graduate research. For complete instructions and timelines for the PhD thesis process, visit PhD degree completion.