MSE: Materials Science and Engineering PhD

Pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, the most advanced research degree in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, can be a stepping stone to an academic career or to an industrial career which would benefit from in-depth applied research and research skills. Under the guidance of an accomplished supervisor, PhD students engage in original research that contributes to a variety of fields of study. Four years of PhD study allowing students to collaborate with local and international colleagues culminates in a written thesis which is presented orally and evaluated by experts. This is a degree program for outstanding students.

Applicants may enter the PhD program via one of three routes: 1) following successful completion of an MASc degree; 2) transfer from the University of Toronto MASc program to continue work that was begun at that level; or 3) direct entry following completion of an appropriate bachelor's degree.

The program can also be taken on a flexible-time basis.

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 Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)'s additional admission requirements stated below.

  • Students are normally expected to have completed a master's-level program before entering the PhD program.

  • For students whose primary language is not English, the department requires a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:

    • Paper-based TOEFL: minimum score of 580 and 4 on the Test of Written English (TWE)

    • Internet-based TOEFL: minimum score of 93/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.

Completion Requirements

  • The primary subject in a program will be extractive and process metallurgy, physical metallurgy, or materials science.

  • Coursework. The program of study normally includes 2.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) (four half courses), including the weekly Graduate Research Seminar, and a thesis. The coursework selected normally includes:

    • MSE2000H Graduate Research Seminar PhD.

    • Three half courses (1.5 FCEs), at least one of which must be chosen from the list of MSE graduate course offerings.

    • The departmental seminar, comprising a minimum of two seminars presented to the academic staff and students of MSE.

  • Students must complete the seminar JDE1000H Ethics in Research, a non-credit course.

  • A general Qualifying Examination must be scheduled and taken within 12 months of initial registration. In case of failure, one further attempt within 3 months is allowed, no later than within 15 months of initial registration. No further attempts are permitted. In order to take this examination, students must complete all required coursework except for the Graduate Research Seminar PhD.

  • The Qualifying Examination consists of:

    • A report (25 to 30 pages) of research to date, in the form of a dossier.

    • A presentation (20 to 25 minutes) summarizing research, with particular emphasis on providing a critical assessment of the literature in the field, a central hypothesis of thesis, proposed methodology, and recent experimental progress.

    • An oral examination, immediately following the presentation, by the Qualifying Examination committee who will ask the candidate questions pertaining to either the presented material, or related questions in materials science. The student is expected to have a working-level knowledge of the fundamentals of materials science as it pertains to the proposed area of research, and on a broader basis, at the level of a second-year undergraduate student in Materials Science.

  • The required thesis is based upon research work carried out in the department in the areas of extractive and process metallurgy, physical metallurgy, or materials science.

  • Students have the option of completing an emphasis in Sustainable Energy as part of their degree program. Please see details in the Materials Science and Engineering MASc, MEng, PhD Emphases section.

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

 

PhD Program (Transfer)

Transfer Requirements

  • Very strong MASc students may apply to transfer to the PhD program after completing one year of the MASc program. Regulations governing such transfers are available in the MSE Graduate Studies office.

Completion Requirements

  • The primary subject in a program will be extractive and process metallurgy, physical metallurgy, or materials science.

  • Coursework. The program of study normally includes 2.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs), including the weekly Graduate Research Seminar PhD, and a thesis. The coursework selected normally includes:

    • Three half courses (1.5 FCEs) from the MASc program.

    • MSE2000H Graduate Research Seminar PhD.

    • An additional 0.5 graduate FCE.

  • A general Qualifying Examination must be scheduled and taken within 12 months of initial registration. In case of failure, one further attempt within 3 months is allowed, no later than within 15 months of initial registration. No further attempts are permitted. In order to take this examination, students must complete all required coursework except for the Graduate Research Seminar PhD. The Qualifying Examination consists of:

    • A report (25 to 30 pages) of research to date, in the form of a dossier.

    • A presentation (20 to 25 minutes) summarizing research, with a particular emphasis on providing a critical assessment of the literature in the field, a central hypothesis of the thesis, proposed methodology, and recent experimental progress.

    • An oral examination, immediately following the presentation, by the Qualifying Examination committee who will ask the candidate questions pertaining to either the presented material, or related questions in materials science. The student is expected to have a working-level knowledge of the fundamentals of materials science as it pertains to the proposed area of research, and on a broader basis, at the level of a second-year undergraduate student in Materials Science.

  • The required thesis is based upon research work carried out in the department in the areas of extractive and process metallurgy, physical metallurgy, or materials science.

  • Students have the option of completing an emphasis in Sustainable Energy as part of their degree program. Please see details in the Materials Science and Engineering MASc, MEng, PhD Emphases section.

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

 

PhD Program (Direct-Entry)

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)'s additional admission requirements stated below.

  • Exceptionally strong BASc students with an average grade of A– over the final four sessions of undergraduate studies (excluding Summer sessions in some cases) may be considered for direct entry to the PhD program.

  • For students whose primary language is not English, the department requires a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:

    • Paper-based TOEFL: minimum score of 580 and 4 on the Test of Written English (TWE)

    • Internet-based TOEFL: minimum score of 93/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.

Completion Requirements

  • The primary subject in a program will be extractive and process metallurgy, physical metallurgy, or materials science.

  • Coursework. The program of study normally includes 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) (six half courses), including the weekly Graduate Research Seminar PhD, and a thesis. The coursework selected normally includes:

    • MSE2000H Graduate Research Seminar PhD.

    • Five half courses (2.5 FCEs), at least two of which must be chosen from the list of MSE graduate course offerings.

  • Students must complete the seminar JDE1000H Ethics in Research, a non-credit course.

  • A general Qualifying Examination must be scheduled and taken within 12 months of initial registration. In case of failure, one further attempt within 3 months is allowed, no later than within 15 months of initial registration. No further attempts are permitted. In order to take this examination, students must complete all required coursework except for the Graduate Research Seminar PhD. The Qualifying Examination consists of:

    • A report (25 to 30 pages) of research to date, in the form of a dossier.

    • A presentation (20 to 25 minutes) summarizing research, with particular emphasis on providing a critical assessment of the literature in the field, a central hypothesis of thesis, proposed methodology, and recent experimental progress.

    • An oral examination, immediately following the presentation, by the Qualifying Examination committee who will ask the candidate questions pertaining to either the presented material, or related questions in materials science. The student is expected to have a working-level knowledge of the fundamentals of materials science as it pertains to the proposed area of research, and on a broader basis, at the level of a second-year undergraduate student in Materials Science.

  • The required thesis is based upon research work carried out in the department in the areas of extractive and process metallurgy, physical metallurgy, or materials science.

  • Students have the option of completing an emphasis in Sustainable Energy as part of their degree program. Please see details in the Materials Science and Engineering MASc, MEng, PhD Emphases section.

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

 

PhD Program (Flexible-Time)

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)'s additional admission requirements stated below.

  • Students must have completed a master's-level program before entering the PhD program.

  • For students whose primary language is not English, the department requires a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:

    • Paper-based TOEFL: minimum score of 580 and 4 on the Test of Written English (TWE)

    • Internet-based TOEFL: minimum score of 93/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.

  • Applicants to the flexible-time PhD option are accepted under the same admission requirements as applicants to the full-time PhD option.

Completion Requirements

  • The primary subject in a program will be extractive and process metallurgy, physical metallurgy, or materials science.

  • Students must complete 2.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) (four half courses) as follows:

    • Year 1: 1.0 FCE plus the non-credit seminar JDE1000H Ethics in Research.

    • Year 2: 0.5 FCE. Prepare a research proposal and pass the Qualifying Examination.

    • Year 3: Present the first seminar for MSE2000H Graduate Research Seminar PhD.

    • Year 4: Research and writing.

    • Year 5: Research and writing. Present the second seminar for MSE2000H.

    • Year 6: Defend the thesis at the Doctoral Final Oral Examination by August 30.

  • Students in the flexible-time option are registered full-time during the first four years and part-time during subsequent years in the program.

  • The general Qualifying Examination must be scheduled and taken within 12 months of initial registration. In case of failure, one further attempt within 3 months is allowed, no later than within 15 months of initial registration. No further attempts are permitted. In order to take this examination, students must complete all required coursework except for the Graduate Research Seminar PhD. The Qualifying Examination consists of:

    • A report (25 to 30 pages) of research to date, in the form of a dossier.

    • A presentation (20 to 25 minutes) summarizing research, with particular emphasis on providing a critical assessment of the literature in the field, a central hypothesis of thesis, proposed methodology, and recent experimental progress.

    • An oral examination, immediately following the presentation, by the Qualifying Examination committee who will ask the candidate questions pertaining to either the presented material, or related questions in materials science. The student is expected to have a working-level knowledge of the fundamentals of materials science as it pertains to the proposed area of research, and on a broader basis, at the level of a second-year undergraduate student in Materials Science.

  • The required thesis is based upon research work carried out in the department in the areas of extractive and process metallurgy, physical metallurgy, or materials science.

  • Students have the option of completing an emphasis in Sustainable Energy as part of their degree program. Please see details in the Materials Science and Engineering MASc, MEng, PhD Emphases section.

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

 

Materials Science and Engineering