Immunology: Immunology PhD

Doctor of Philosophy

Program Description

The PhD degree is an advanced research degree intended to reflect a level of training consistent with the ability of the candidate to function as an independent research scientist.

Applicants may enter the PhD program via one of three routes: 1) following completion of an MSc degree; 2) transfer from the MSc in Immunology program, Fundamental Immunology field; or 3) direct entry following completion of a BSc degree.

Field: Fundamental Immunology

PhD Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

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

  • Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English must demonstrate proficiency in English. See General Regulations section 4.3 for requirements. Applicants educated outside Canada are required to provide Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (general) scores with their application.

  • Applicants who have completed an MSc degree must have at least a B+ average in that degree.

  • Applicants may be accepted for direct entry with a BSc degree, with at least an A– average in the final two years.

Program Requirements

  • Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 4.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • IMM1000Y Recent Advances in Immunology (1.0 FCE)

    • IMM1200H+ Scientific Skills for Immunologists (0.5 FCE); in the event the student has taken this course to complete the MSc in Immunology, Fundamental Immunology field, a substitute course will be taken with approval of the Graduate Coordinator

    • IMM2000H PhD Proposal in Immunology (0.5 FCE)

    • IMM2025H0 Student Seminar Series (II) (Credit/No Credit; 0.5 FCE)

    • IMM2050H0 Easton Seminar Series (II) (Credit/No Credit; 0.5 FCE)

    • IMM2075H0 Special Topics in Immunology (II) (Credit/No Credit; 0.5 FCE)

    • 1.0 elective FCE at the graduate level from either Immunology or outside the department as relevant to their thesis topic (examples are provided in the elective course list).

  • Students must complete a qualifying exam (DEX5555Y, Credit/No Credit; 0.0 FCE) within 24 months of starting the PhD program, Fundamental Immunology field.

  • Candidates must submit a thesis and defend it at a Doctoral Final Oral Examination conducted by the School of Graduate Studies.

  • Students are required to participate full-time until the program requirements of research and coursework have been completed.

Required Courses
Course Code Course Title
IMM1000Y
Recent Advances in Immunology
IMM1200H+ Scientific Skills for Immunologists
IMM2000H PhD Proposal in Immunology
IMM2025H0
Student Seminar Series (II) (Credit/No Credit)
IMM2050H0
Easton Seminar Series (II) (Credit/No Credit)
IMM2075H0
Special Topics in Immunology (II) (Credit/No Credit)
DEX5555Y Departmental Examination
(Credit/No Credit; prerequisite: IMM1000Y)

+ Extended course. For academic reasons, coursework is extended into session following academic session in which course is offered.

0 Course that may continue over a program. The course is graded or credit is given when completed.

Elective Courses

Students may take any graduate-level course available to fulfil the elective portion of their degree requirements from Immunology*, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Medical Biophysics, Medical Science, Molecular Genetics, Physiology, and Pharmacology and Toxicology.

Students may take a course offered outside the above listed departments towards the elective portion of their degree requirements, but will require the approval of the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies.

*Note: students in the PhD field in Fundamental Immunology cannot use IMM1428H, IMM1429H, IMM1430H, IMM1431H, IMM1436H, IMM1450Y, IMM1550H, IMM1650Y, or IMM1651H towards their degree requirements.

Program Length

4 years

Time Limit

6 years

 

PhD Program (Transfer)

Transfer Requirements

  • Transfer applicants must be enrolled in the MSc Immunology program, Fundamental Immunology field.

  • Applicants must pass a reclassification (transfer) exam (DEX5555Y, Credit/No Credit; 0.0 FCE) within 24 months of initial registration in the MSc Immunology program, Fundamental Immunology field.

  • Successful completion of IMM1200H+ and IMM1000Y with at least a B+ overall average, prior to taking the reclassification exam (DEX5555Y).

  • Completion of, or concurrent registration in, IMM1025H0, IMM1050H0, and IMM1075H0.

Program Requirements

  • Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 6.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • IMM1000Y Recent Advances in Immunology (1.0 FCE)

    • IMM1200H+ Scientific Skills for Immunologists (0.5 FCE)

    • IMM1025H0 Student Seminar Series (I) (Credit/No Credit; 0.5 FCE)

    • IMM1050H0 Easton Seminar Series (I) (Credit/No Credit; 0.5 FCE)

    • IMM1075H0 Special Topics in Immunology I (Credit/No Credit; 0.5 FCE)

    • IMM2000H PhD Proposal in Immunology (0.5 FCE)

    • IMM2025H0 Student Seminar Series (II) (Credit/No Credit; 0.5 FCE)

    • IMM2050H0 Easton Seminar Series (II) (Credit/No Credit; 0.5 FCE)

    • IMM2075H0 Special Topics in Immunology (II) (Credit/No Credit; 0.5 FCE)

    • 1.0 elective FCE at the graduate level from either Immunology or outside the department as relevant to their thesis topic (examples are provided in the elective course list).

  • Students must successfully complete the reclassification transfer exam (DEX5555Y, Credit/No Credit; 0.0 FCE) within 24 months of starting the MSc Immunology program, Fundamental Immunology field.

  • Candidates must submit a thesis and defend it at a Doctoral Final Oral Examination conducted by the School of Graduate Studies.

  • Students are required to participate full-time until the program requirements of research and coursework have been completed.

Required Courses
Course Code Course Title
IMM1000Y Recent Advances in Immunology
IMM1200H+ Scientific Skills for Immunologists
IMM1025H0 Student Seminar Series (I) (Credit/No Credit)
IMM1050H0 Easton Seminar Series (I) (Credit/No Credit)
IMM1075H0 Special Topics in Immunology (I) (Credit/No Credit)
IMM2000H PhD Proposal in Immunology
IMM2025H0 Student Seminar Series (II) (Credit/No Credit)
IMM2050H0 Easton Seminar Series (II) (Credit/No Credit)
IMM2075H0 Special Topics in Immunology (II) (Credit/No Credit)
DEX5555Y Departmental Examination
(Credit/No Credit; prerequisite: IMM1000Y)

+ Extended course. For academic reasons, coursework is extended into session following academic session in which course is offered.

0 Course that may continue over a program. The course is graded or credit is given when completed.

Elective Courses

Students may take any graduate-level course available to fulfil the elective portion of their degree requirements from Immunology*, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Medical Biophysics, Medical Science, Molecular Genetics, Physiology, and Pharmacology and Toxicology.

Students may take a course offered outside the above listed departments towards the elective portion of their degree requirements, but will require the approval of the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies.

*Note: students in the PhD field in Fundamental Immunology cannot use IMM1428H, IMM1429H, IMM1430H, IMM1431H, IMM1436H, IMM1450Y, IMM1550H, IMM1650Y, IMM1651H towards their degree requirements.

Program Length

5 years

Time Limit

7 years

 

PhD Program (Direct-Entry)

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Direct entry is available for highly qualified BSc graduates who completed the undergraduate Immunology specialist program or an appropriate undergraduate program in the life sciences from a recognized university, with a minimum A– average in the final two years and relevant research experience.

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

  • Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English must demonstrate proficiency in English. See General Regulations section 4.3 for requirements. Applicants educated outside Canada are required to provide Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (general) scores with their application.

  • Applicants are selected by the departmental admissions committee on the basis of academic and research excellence. Admission to the program is finalized when a graduate faculty member agrees to supervise the student's research and guarantees a full stipend for the student.

Program Requirements

  • Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 6.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • IMM1000Y Recent Advances in Immunology (1.0 FCE)

    • IMM1200H+ Scientific Skills for Immunologists (0.5 FCE)

    • IMM1025H0 Student Seminar Series (I) (Credit/No Credit; 0.5 FCE)

    • IMM1050H0 Easton Seminar Series (I) (Credit/No Credit; 0.5 FCE)

    • IMM1075H0 Special Topics in Immunology I (Credit/No Credit; 0.5 FCE)

    • IMM2025H0 Student Seminar Series (II) (Credit/No Credit; 0.5 FCE)

    • IMM2000H PhD Proposal in Immunology (0.5 FCE)

    • IMM2050H0 Easton Seminar Series (II) (Credit/No Credit; 0.5 FCE)

    • IMM2075H0 Special Topics in Immunology (II) (Credit/No Credit; 0.5 FCE)

    • 1.0 elective FCE at the graduate level from either Immunology or outside the department as relevant to their thesis topic (examples are provided in the elective course list).

  • Students must complete a qualifying exam (DEX5555Y, Credit/No Credit; 0.0 FCE) within 24 months of starting the PhD program, Fundamental Immunology field.

  • Candidates must submit a thesis and defend it at a Doctoral Final Oral Examination conducted by the School of Graduate Studies.

  • Students are required to participate full-time until the program requirements of research and coursework have been completed.

Required Courses
Course Code Course Title
IMM1000Y Recent Advances in Immunology
IMM1200H+ Scientific Skills for Immunologists
IMM1025H0 Student Seminar Series (I) (Credit/No Credit)
IMM1050H0 Easton Seminar Series (I) (Credit/No Credit)
IMM1075H0 Special Topics in Immunology (I) (Credit/No Credit)
IMM2000H PhD Proposal in Immunology
IMM2025H0 Student Seminar Series (II) (Credit/No Credit)
IMM2050H0 Easton Seminar Series (II) (Credit/No Credit)
IMM2075H0 Special Topics in Immunology (II) (Credit/No Credit)
DEX5555Y Departmental Examination
(Credit/No Credit; prerequisite: IMM1000Y)

+ Extended course. For academic reasons, coursework is extended into session following academic session in which course is offered.

0 Course that may continue over a program. The course is graded or credit is given when completed.

Elective Courses

Students may take any graduate-level course available to fulfil the elective portion of their degree requirements from Immunology*, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Medical Biophysics, Medical Science, Molecular Genetics, Physiology, and Pharmacology and Toxicology.

Students may take a course offered outside the above listed departments towards the elective portion of their degree requirements, but will require the approval of the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies.

*Note: students in the PhD field in Fundamental Immunology cannot use IMM1428H, IMM1429H, IMM1430H, IMM1431H, IMM1436H, IMM1450Y, IMM1550H, IMM1650Y, or IMM1651H towards their degree requirements.

Program Length

5 years

Time Limit

7 years