PhD Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

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

• Appropriate master's degree from a recognized university with a minimum overall B+ average.

• The Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Admissions Committee considers the applicant's background and accomplishments, academic standing, and financial support from the potential supervisor.

• Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination is not English, must demonstrate facility in the English language through the successful completion of one of the following English-language proficiency tests:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:

    • paper-based TOEFL: 600 and 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE)

    • Internet-based TOEFL: 100/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.

  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): a score of 7.0 (Academic) with at least 6.5 in each component.

  • The Certificate of Proficiency in English (COPE): a score of 76, with at least 22 in each component and 32 in the writing component.

  • Academic Preparation Course: a final grade of B in Level 60.

• If the undergraduate degree was not obtained from a recognized Canadian or US university, the applicant must write the Graduate Record Examination (GRE; General Test) and achieve scores at the 50th percentile ranking or better on the Verbal and Quantitative components and a minimum score of 5.0 on the Analytical Writing component.

Completion Requirements

• The PhD is a program of study that provides the appropriate foundation for thesis research. The program depends on the student's background and is planned in consultation with the supervisor and advisory committee, as well as with the approval of the graduate director(s).

• Coursework. Students normally complete 2.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) within the first three years of registration.

• Yearly advisory committee meetings.

• Successful completion of a PhD qualifying examination within the first 24 months of the program. Students are permitted a second attempt, if necessary, to satisfactorily complete the examination. The format of the examination will include the student giving a 20-minute presentation based on the proposal distributed to the Qualifying Examination Committee, followed by a question period. The student is expected to demonstrate appropriate understanding of the scientific basis of the research, the methodological approaches, and the technical details. Failure to successfully complete the PhD qualifying examination will result in a recommendation for termination of registration in the program.

• Attend at least one research ethics workshop (0.0 FCE) for graduate students. Students who completed this requirement while registered in the MSc program are not required to attend a second workshop.

• One poster presentation to all faculty and graduate students at Graduate Research in Progress (GRIP).

• Annual attendance at GRIP.

• Regular attendance at a minimum of eight Pharmaceutical Sciences departmental seminars as well as student group seminars in each academic year for four years (or less if all other program requirements are completed).

• An annual oral presentation of the student's own research work is given in the student seminar series.

• An open final oral presentation (50 minutes long) immediately prior to a closed thesis defence.

• A thesis in conformity with University of Toronto regulations, based on research conducted while registered in a PhD program at the University of Toronto.

• Students must be on campus and participate full-time (including Summer) until all program requirements are completed. Simultaneous registration in another full-time degree program is not allowed.

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

• Students who have a high academic standing and a clearly demonstrated ability to do research at the doctoral level may be eligible to transfer to the PhD program after one year in the MSc program. The student must have completed at least 1.0 full-course equivalent (FCE) with an average grade of A– during Year 1 of the master's program and must have financial support.

• A transfer from the MSc program to the PhD program occurs normally within 15 to 18 months of the student's first registration in the MSc program.

Completion Requirements

• Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs).

• Successful completion of the MSc to PhD transfer examination.

• The transferred student must complete all remaining course requirements of the MSc program, except the thesis, in addition to the requirements of the PhD program. Credit is given in the doctoral program for research and graduate courses completed prior to the transfer.

• Yearly advisory committee meetings.

• Attend at least one research ethics workshop (0.0 FCE) for graduate students. Students who completed this requirement while registered in the MSc program are not required to attend a second workshop.

• Two poster presentations to all faculty and graduate students at Graduate Research in Progress (GRIP), one of which may be at a peer-reviewed conference upon approval.

• Annual attendance at GRIP.

• Regular attendance at a minimum of eight Pharmaceutical Sciences departmental seminars as well as student group seminars in each academic year for four years (or less if all other program requirements are completed).

• An annual oral presentation of the student's own research work is given in the student seminar series.

• An open final oral presentation (50 minutes long) immediately prior to a closed thesis defence.

• A thesis in conformity with University of Toronto regulations, based on research conducted while registered in a PhD program at the University of Toronto.

• Students must be on campus and participate full-time (including Summer) until all program requirements are completed. Simultaneous registration in another full-time degree program is not allowed.

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 Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences' additional admission requirements stated below.

• Under exceptional circumstances, students may be admitted directly to the PhD program with an appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university with a minimum A– (80%) average, or its equivalent, in senior-level courses.

• The Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Admissions Committee considers the applicant's background and accomplishments, academic standing, and financial support from the potential supervisor.

• Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination is not English, must demonstrate facility in the English language through the successful completion of one of the following English-language proficiency tests:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:

    • paper-based TOEFL: 600 and 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE)

    • Internet-based TOEFL: 100/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.

  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): a score of 7.0 (Academic) with at least 6.5 in each component.

  • The Certificate of Proficiency in English (COPE): a score of 76, with at least 22 in each component and 32 in the writing component.

  • Academic Preparation Course: a final grade of B in Level 60.

• If the undergraduate degree was not obtained from a recognized Canadian or US university, the applicant must write the Graduate Record Examination (GRE; General Test) and achieve scores at the 50th percentile ranking or better on the Verbal and Quantitative components and a minimum score of 5.0 on the Analytical Writing component.

Completion Requirements

• The PhD is a program of study that provides the appropriate foundation for thesis research. The program depends on the student's background and is planned in consultation with the supervisor and advisory committee, as well as with the approval of the graduate chair.

• Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs).

• Yearly advisory committee meetings.

• Successful completion of a PhD qualifying examination within the first 24 months of the program. Students are permitted a second attempt, if necessary, to satisfactorily complete the examination. The format of the examination will include the student giving a 20-minute presentation based on the proposal distributed to the Qualifying Examination Committee, followed by a question period. The student is expected to demonstrate appropriate understanding of the scientific basis of the research, the methodological approaches, and the technical details. Failure to successfully complete the PhD qualifying examination will result in a recommendation for termination of registration in the program.

• Attend at least one research ethics workshop (0.0 FCE) for graduate students. Students who completed this requirement while registered in the MSc program are not required to attend a second workshop.

• Two poster presentation(s) to all faculty and graduate students at Graduate Research in Progress (GRIP), one of which may be at a peer-reviewed conference upon approval.

• Annual attendance at GRIP.

• Regular attendance at a minimum of eight Pharmaceutical Sciences departmental seminars as well as student group seminars in each academic year for four years (or less if all other program requirements are completed).

• An annual oral presentation of the student's own research work is given in the student seminar series.

• An open final oral presentation (50 minutes long) immediately prior to a closed thesis defence.

• A thesis in conformity with University of Toronto regulations, based on research conducted while registered in a PhD program at the University of Toronto.

• Students must be on campus and participate full-time (including Summer) until all program requirements are completed. Simultaneous registration in another full-time degree program is not allowed.

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 Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences' additional admission requirements stated below.

• Appropriate master's degree from a recognized university with a minimum overall B+ average.

• The Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Admissions Committee considers the applicant's background and accomplishments, academic standing, and financial support from the potential supervisor.

• Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination is not English are required to write the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:

  • paper-based TOEFL: 600 and 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE)

  • Internet-based TOEFL: 100/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.

• If the undergraduate degree was not obtained from a recognized Canadian or US university, the applicant must write the Graduate Record Examination (GRE; General Test) and achieve scores at the 50th percentile ranking or better on the Verbal and Quantitative components and a minimum score of 5.0 on the Analytical Writing component.

• A letter of support from the employer.

• The departmental admissions committee reviews the applications; admission is highly selective with preference given to applicants who are members in good standing of a regulated profession or scientific society.

Completion Requirements

• The PhD is a program of study that provides the appropriate foundation for thesis research. The program depends on the student's background and is planned in consultation with the supervisor and advisory committee, with the approval of the graduate chair.

• Coursework. Students normally complete a total of 2.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs).

• Yearly advisory committee meetings.

• Successful completion of a PhD qualifying examination within the first 32 months of the program. Students are permitted a second attempt, if necessary, to satisfactorily complete the examination. The format of the examination will include the student giving a 20-minute presentation based on the proposal distributed to the Qualifying Examination Committee, followed by a question period. The student is expected to demonstrate appropriate understanding of the scientific basis of the research, the methodological approaches, and the technical details. Failure to successfully complete the PhD qualifying examination will result in a recommendation for termination of registration in the program.

• Attend at least one research ethics workshop (0.0 FCE) for graduate students. Students who completed this requirement while registered in the MSc program are not required to attend a second workshop.

• One poster presentation, or two poster presentations by those without a master's degree, to all faculty and graduate students at Graduate Research in Progress (GRIP).

• Annual attendance at GRIP.

• Regular attendance at a minimum of eight Pharmaceutical Sciences departmental seminars as well as student group seminars in each academic year for four years. Students whose current professional background is such that they would be deemed to have fulfilled a significant portion of the requirements contained in the department seminar series may be eligible for a reduction of four seminars upon consultation with the Director.

• An annual oral presentation of the student's own research work is given in the student seminar series.

• An open final oral presentation (50 minutes long) immediately prior to a closed thesis defence.

• A thesis in conformity with University of Toronto regulations, based on research conducted while registered in a PhD program at the University of Toronto.

• Students must ensure that they have adequate time on campus to attend classes and to fulfil the academic requirements.

• Full-time registration is required for the first four years and thereafter, students may register part-time.

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