Program Length

4 years full-time

Time Limit

6 years full-time

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

PhD Program (Flexible-Time)

Minimum Admission Requirements

• The flexible-time option is offered to practising professionals whose employment or other professional work is related to their research or study interests.

• Applicants to the flexible-time PhD program option must apply specifically to this program to be considered.

• The admission, course, and degree requirements for the flexible-time option are identical to those listed for the full-time PhD program.

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

• Applicants must hold a master's degree specializing in Music Education from the University of Toronto with an average standing of B+ or better, or an equivalent degree and standing from another recognized university.

• An interview with the Music Education faculty must be scheduled whenever possible.

• An assigned essay may be substituted for the interview with faculty approval.

• At the discretion of the faculty, applicants may be required to provide a videotape of their teaching expertise.

• Two letters of reference commenting on the applicant's teaching experience, music performance ability, and academic ability.

• Students who are considering the flexible-time PhD should ensure that they have adequate time on campus to attend classes and to fulfil the academic requirements of a PhD program.

Program Requirements

• Coursework. Students must complete 6.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

  • At least 2.0 FCEs (including MUS2995Y⁰ Music Education Doctoral Research Project) must be taken from the departmental offerings in music education.

  • The balance of the student's required program must be approved by the department and may include courses from the MA/MMus/PhD/DMA list and/or from another graduate unit.

  • At the department's discretion, the student may receive credit for up to 3.0 FCEs from an acceptable master's degree program.

• Language requirements, if any, will be established by the student's advisory committee, based on specific research needs.

• Supervision. As early as possible in Year 2, the student will submit a thesis proposal which must be approved by the end of that year. On approval of the proposal by the Music Education division of the department, a principal advisor and an advisory committee of at least three members (including the advisor as chair) will be appointed. The committee will meet with the student at least two times each academic year.

• Students must successfully complete a comprehensive exam by the end of Year 2. Students are permitted two attempts to complete the exam. If students are unsuccessful in their second attempt at the comprehensive exam, the department will make a recommendation for program termination.

• Thesis. Upon successful completion of the comprehensive examination, the candidate proceeds to complete an oral defence of the thesis proposal, a thesis, and an oral defence of the thesis.

• The residency requirement is two years, whereby students must be on campus full-time and consequently in geographical proximity to be able to participate fully in the University activities associated with the program.

• As governed by University of Toronto regulations, flexible-time students must be registered full-time and pay full-time fees for four years, and may apply to be registered part-time thereafter. The program requirements will be the same as those required for the full-time PhD. The difference is that students enrolled in the flexible-time PhD will have the flexibility of a part-time course load and will have an overall time limit to completion of eight years.

Program Length

6 years

Time Limit

8 years

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