Demystifying Comprehensive and Qualifying Exams

Learn how to prepare for one of the biggest milestones of your program.

One of the major milestones for most programs is the comprehensive or qualifying exam. It's normal to feel unsure and anxious about this milestone, especially at the beginning of your program when you don't know what to expect from this evaluation.

Join Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs to learn what comprehensive and qualifying exams involve, how to plan for them, and what questions to ask your supervisor as you prepare for this important milestone.  

Accessibility

Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs and the University of Waterloo are committed to achieving barrier-free accessibility for persons with disabilities who are visiting, studying, or working at Waterloo. If you have questions concerning access, such as parking, building layouts, or obtaining workshop content (when applicable) in alternative formats, or wish to request accommodations for our programming, please let us know.  If you require accommodations, please reach out to us by e-mail at gradexperience@uwaterloo.ca. Please note that some accommodations may require time to arrange.