Roadmap

Roadmap

This guide will help you navigate what to expect in the HPER PhD program. 

This roadmap is based on a three to four year completion for a full-time student.

Pre-entry 

Apply to scholarships (optional, but recommended)

Intake Meeting (Supervisor). Discuss program timelines, courses, and funding

Register for fall courses (mid-August)  

Year 1

Complete a portion of the 10 required courses – usually taken in the first year (dependent on your emphasis)

Form the thesis committee (minimum 3 members including your supervisor)

Minimum of 6 meetings with your supervisor and 2 meetings with your committee

Attend program orientation in September

Take 3-5 half-year courses including HAD5011H, HAD6500H and HAD6501H

Defer tuition in Acorn if needed (deadline early September)

Apply for scholarships eg. CGS-D, Vanier (optional, but recommended)

Register for winter courses (October)

Take 3-5 half-year courses

Apply for scholarships e.g. OGS (optional, but recommended)

Register for summer courses (late-March)

Take any relevant required or elective courses

Schedule a Progress Meeting with your supervisor to review program progress and funding

Year 2

Take the remainder of the 10 required courses (comprehensive course taken in Year 2, generally fall term)

Minimum of 6 meetings with your supervisor and 2 meetings with your committee 

Take 0-2 half-year courses (depending on number of courses remaining from required 10)

  • Whenever possible, courses should be leveraged to develop the methods for your thesis proposal

Defer tuition in Acorn if needed (deadline early September)

Apply for scholarships eg. CGS-D, Vanier (optional, but recommended)

Register for winter courses (October)

Take 0-2 half-year courses (depending on number of courses remaining from required 10)

  • Whenever possible, courses should be leveraged to develop the methods for your thesis proposal

Apply for scholarships eg. OGS (optional, but recommended)

Register for summer courses (late-March) 

Schedule a Progress Meeting with your supervisor to review program progress and funding

Year 3

Complete and defend thesis proposal

  • Note: thesis proposal may be completed before comprehensive exam, refer to graduate assistant for approval form

Submit research ethics application for research (after thesis proposal is defended)

Begin data collection for thesis

Minimum of 6 meetings with your supervisor and 2 meetings with your committee 

Year 4

Minimum of 6 meetings with your supervisor and 2 meetings with your committee

Review the Important dates as you prepare to defend

Complete data collection and analysis for your thesis 

Write the thesis

Together with your committee, identify internal and external appraiser and submit defence form to IHPME (8 weeks before defence – see handbook for steps leading up to the defence)

Defence

Complete thesis revisions, submit final thesis to SGS (in April for June convocation or September for November convocation- see SGS Calendar for specific thesis deadlines)

Convocation (June or November)