HPME: Health Policy, Management and Evaluation PhD; Concentration: Health Systems Research

PhD Program; Concentration: Health Systems Research (Full-Time)

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the IHPME's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • A master's degree (MA or MSc) requiring a thesis with a B+ average or higher.

  • Satisfactory references pertaining to the applicant's academic and research abilities.

Completion Requirements

  • Students must select one of six emphases and complete the required emphasis courses listed below.

  • Completion of 4.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

    • 2.5 FCEs as follows:

      • HAD5011H Foundations of Health Systems

      • HAD5744H Quantitative Methods in HSR I or HAD5772H Introduction to Statistics for Health Systems Research

      • HAD5746H Quantitative Methods in HSR II or HAD5740H Intermediate Qualitative Methods

      • HAD6760H Professional Skills for Health Systems Researchers

      • HSR1001H Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Systems and Policy Research.

    • 1.0 FCE in emphasis-specific required courses. Please see details in the Emphases section below.

    • 1.0 FCE in IHPME elective courses. Please see the HPME courses section below.

  • Attendance at 75% of the Health Systems Research Seminar series (SRD4445Y) in Years 1 and 2.

  • Successful completion of a PhD comprehensive examination. The examination involves three components:

    • Participation in critical discussions in conjunction with the HSR Seminar series; students can select 3 of 10 seminar discussion topics based on their area of interest.

    • Comprehensive written paper: topics will be set by January 15 of the academic year in which a student plans to sit for the comprehensive exam. Final papers will be due by April 1 ahead of the oral exam component.

    • Oral exam component: oral defence and examination of the comprehensive written paper to be completed in May. Details of the full exam structure and process can be found on the PhD website under Concentration Requirements.

  • Full-time students must complete and pass all components of the comprehensive exam by the end of Year 3, but are strongly advised to complete by the end of Year 2. Students must complete and pass all components of the comprehensive exam by the end of Year 4.

    • In the event of failure, a student will be permitted an additional attempt within one year. Failure after two attempts will result in a recommendation by the School of Graduate Studies for program termination.

  • Writing of a PhD thesis under the supervision of an approved thesis committee (supervisor plus at least two additional graduate faculty members).

  • Oral defence of the thesis before an examination committee.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 4 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 6 years full-time

 

PhD Program; Concentration: Health Systems Research (Transfer)

Transfer Requirements

  • To be considered for admission to the PhD transfer option, applicants must be admitted to the MSc program in Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.

  • At the time of application to the MSc program, applicants must indicate in their Letter of Intent their interest in applying to transfer to the PhD program and request to be enrolled in the transfer option.

  • Transfer to the PhD program is contingent upon:

    • Successful completion of a minimum 2.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) of master's coursework.

    • Achieving an average grade of A– in all courses at the master's level.

    • Obtaining a letter of support from the applicant's supervisor.

    • The preparation of a PhD-quality thesis proposal.

Completion Requirements

  • Students must select one of six emphases and complete the required emphasis courses listed below.

  • Completion of 4.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

    • 2.5 FCEs as follows:

      • HAD5011H Foundations of Health Systems

      • HAD5744H Quantitative Methods in HSR I or HAD5772H Introduction to Statistics for Health Systems Research

      • HAD5746H Quantitative Methods in HSR II or HAD5740H Intermediate Qualitative Methods

      • HAD6760H Professional Skills for Health Systems Researchers

      • HSR1001H Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Systems and Policy Research.

    • 1.0 FCE in emphasis-specific required courses. Please see details in the Emphases section below.

    • 1.0 FCE in IHPME elective courses. Please see the HPME courses section below.

  • Attendance at 75% of the Health Systems Research Seminar series (SRD4445Y) in Years 1 and 2.

  • Successful completion of a PhD comprehensive examination. The examination involves three components:

    • Participation in critical discussions in conjunction with the HSR Seminar series; students can select 3 of 10 seminar discussion topics based on their area of interest.

    • Comprehensive written paper: topics will be set by January 15 of the academic year in which a student plans to sit for the comprehensive exam. Final papers will be due by April 1 ahead of the oral exam component.

    • Oral exam component: oral defence and examination of the comprehensive written paper to be completed in May. Details of the full exam structure and process can be found on the PhD website under Concentration Requirements.

  • Full-time students must complete and pass all components of the comprehensive exam by the end of Year 3, but are strongly advised to complete by the end of Year 2. Students must complete and pass all components of the comprehensive exam by the end of Year 4.

    • In the event of failure, a student will be permitted an additional attempt within one year. Failure after two attempts will result in a recommendation by the School of Graduate Studies for program termination.

  • Writing of a PhD thesis under the supervision of an approved thesis committee (supervisor plus at least two additional graduate faculty members).

  • Oral defence of the thesis before an examination committee.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 5 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 7 years full-time

 

PhD Program; Concentration: Health Systems Research (Flexible-Time)

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the IHPME's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • A master's degree (MA or MSc) requiring a thesis with a B+ average or higher.

  • Satisfactory references pertaining to the applicant's academic and research abilities.

Completion Requirements

  • Students must register full-time for the first four years of their program (Fall, Spring, Summer sessions); thereafter, they may register part-time.

  • Students must select one of six emphases and complete the required emphasis courses listed below.

  • Completion of 4.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

    • 2.5 FCEs as follows:

      • HAD5011H Foundations of Health Systems

      • HAD5744H Quantitative Methods in HSR I or HAD5772H Introduction to Statistics for Health Systems Research

      • HAD5746H Quantitative Methods in HSR II or HAD5740H Intermediate Qualitative Methods

      • HAD6760H Professional Skills for Health Systems Researchers

      • HSR1001H Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Systems and Policy Research.

    • 1.0 FCE in emphasis-specific required courses. Please see details in the Emphases section below.

    • 1.0 FCE in IHPME elective courses. Please see the HPME courses section below.

  • Attendance at 75% of the Health Systems Research Seminar series (SRD4445Y) in Years 1 and 2.

  • Successful completion of a PhD comprehensive examination. The examination involves three components:

    • Participation in critical discussions in conjunction with the HSR Seminar series; students can select 3 of 10 seminar discussion topics based on their area of interest.

    • Comprehensive written paper: topics will be set by January 15 of the academic year in which a student plans to sit for the comprehensive exam. Final papers will be due by April 1 ahead of the oral exam component.

    • Oral exam component: oral defence and examination of the comprehensive written paper to be completed in May. Details of the full exam structure and process can be found on the PhD website under Concentration Requirements.

  • Full-time students must complete and pass all components of the comprehensive exam by the end of Year 3, but are strongly advised to complete by the end of Year 2. Students must complete and pass all components of the comprehensive exam by the end of Year 4.

    • In the event of failure, a student will be permitted an additional attempt within one year. Failure after two attempts will result in a recommendation by the School of Graduate Studies for program termination.

  • Writing of a PhD thesis under the supervision of an approved thesis committee (supervisor plus at least two additional graduate faculty members).

  • Oral defence of the thesis before an examination committee.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 6 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 8 years full-time

 

Health Policy, Management and Evaluation