Public Health Sciences: Public Health Sciences PhD (Field: Biostatistics)

Doctor of Philosophy

Field: Biostatistics

PhD Program (Full-Time and Flexible-Time)

Minimum Admission Requirements

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

  • Master's degree in a public health science-related discipline from a recognized university, with a minimum A– standing.

  • Demonstrated educational and/or professional experience that indicates a capacity to undertake research-oriented doctoral studies.

Program Requirements

  • Coursework. Completion of 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • 0.5 FCE: CHL5005H Professional Skills for Doctoral Students in Public Health (Credit/No Credit)

    • 1.0 FCE: CHL5208Y0 Advanced Laboratory in Statistical Design and Analysis

    • 0.5 FCE: CHL5209H Survival Analysis I

    • 0.5 FCE: CHL5210H Categorical Data Analysis

    • 0.5 FCE: CHL5250H+ Special Topics in Biostatistics (seminar)

    • 0.5 FCE: CHL5260H0 Doctoral Seminar Series in Biostatistics

    • 1.0 FCE: STA2112H and STA2212H Mathematical Statistics

    • 0.5 FCE: elective course that relates to the student’s area of study

    • Students who have taken their MSc in the department may have taken some or all of these courses already. In this case, their program of study will be designed with consultation of the program director at the time of admission.

    • Students may elect to take up to 0.5 FCE on a Credit/No Credit (CR/NCR) basis. See the CR/NCR-eligible courses in the course list section.

  • Demonstrated proficiency in statistics or research methods.

  • A written qualifying examination in biostatistics.

  • A departmental defence of the dissertation proposal.

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

  • A departmental defence of the dissertation prior to the SGS Final Oral Examination.

  • A final oral defence of the dissertation before an examination committee approved by the School of Graduate Studies.

Program Length

4 years full-time; 6 years flexible-time

Time Limit

6 years full-time; 8 years flexible-time

+ 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 when completed.