A Ph.D. degree in Human Nutrition is suitable for students with a MSc degree in Nutritional Sciences or related areas who wish to become independent researchers and/or leaders in the field of
nutritional Sciences. The School offers a stimulating research environment in which students can pursue a Ph.D. degree from a wide variety of research themes due to the great diversity of research interests by the faculty members that provides opportunities in basic science, clinical research with our many hospital clinicians, as well as population health in Canada and abroad. Careers include academic positions, senior government and industry positions within in Canada and internationally. The PhD degree program
Admission Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Admission requirements for Doctoral degree studies require an MSc degree in an area related to the chosen field of specialization for the PhD program.
General Information, Regulations and Research Guidelines
is the reference used by all staff and students concerning McGill University graduate study policies and procedures. It is given to students upon arrival at McGill. Please be aware of the calendar of dates at the beginning of the publication
Supervision of Graduate Students
Each graduate student shall have a supervisory committee of at least three academic staff members. The supervisor or one of the co-supervisors must have an appointment in the School. In the case of students doing research with a supervisor who is not fully cross-appointed in the School, a co-supervisor must be named who has such an appointment. The committee will be chosen by the supervisor in consultation with the student. The "Student Thesis Supervisory Committee Form" is used for this purpose (attached). The committee shall ensure proper execution of the research project and shall be of assistance to the student in the selection of courses and in all matters pertaining to the student's program including participation in the Doctoral comprehensive examinations (NUTR 798 and 701).
The committee will serve as a resource for all aspects of the student's graduate program. Specifically, the supervisory committee must approve the written research proposal and course program of the student and conduct an annual review of the student's academic progress using the "Student Progress Report” form provided by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The form must be completed, signed by the student and each committee member, and placed in the student's file. A second yearly committee meeting will be required for students who are in Additional Sessions or may be requested for special circumstances. Committee members will have the opportunity to provide input regarding thesis preparation. In consultation with the thesis supervisor, the student or any member of the supervisory committee may arrange for a meeting at any time. Committee members who are not available for advising for an extended period of time will be replaced. If a supervisor is absent from the university for more than one month, and is not available to supervise the student, an alternate supervisor (usually another committee member) will be identified by mutual agreement with the student. A memo to this effect is to be submitted to the to the Graduate Program Director.
Roles of Graduate Student Supervisors
1. Be familiar with regulations and graduate student guidelines. 2. Help keep student informed of deadlines.
3. Provide avenues for applications for personal support. 4. Provide continuous supervision in research.
5. Support expenses related to research project. Thesis research costs are normally covered by research grants. Photocopying and thesis binding costs are covered by the student.
6. Direct publication activities on research projects.
7. Be available for committee meetings, the student's seminar presentations, thesis defense, and the comprehensive examination.
8. Work with committee members on behalf of the student.
9. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that a letter outlining financial commitment be issued to the student upon acceptance into the School.
Roles for Graduate Student Committee Members
1. Be familiar with regulations and graduate student guidelines. 2. Provide expertise as needed on the research project.
3. Be available for consultation with the student upon request. (However, the student should discuss issues first with the supervisor.)
4. Be available for committee meetings, the student's thesis seminar presentations and thesis defense, and where applicable, the comprehensive examination.
5. Work with the committee on behalf of the student. Commitment to the Student
When a graduate student is accepted for graduate studies in human nutrition, the commitment is recognized to provide a working environment and supervision for the student to enable completion of the program under the guidelines and regulations set by the University. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that a letter outlining financial commitment be issued to the student upon acceptance into the School. This commitment is conditional on the student's maintaining academic performance with respect to course work and fulfilling other obligations in a satisfactory fashion. Obligations of the Student
The student is expected to display a norm of professional activity and to abide by the regulations of the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office. The expectation is that the research ideas and directions provided to the student by the supervisor are recognized to be the domain of the supervisor’s research and not taken elsewhere by the student without the supervisor’s permission. Students should anticipate devoting more than 40 hours/week in research activities to complete their thesis/dissertation in a reasonable time frame. It is the responsibility of the student to declare their professional commitments that may impact on their research direction, time and financial situation. In addition to giving Macdonald research seminar presentations (Human Nutrition Colloquium), it is expected that draft(s) of a paper(s) for publication will be presented to the student's supervisor before the student leaves the program. Students are expected to maintain a presence in the research environment as defined by the supervisory committee. In consultation with the research supervisor, the student may be requested to participate in up to 10 hours per week of research or teaching activities in exchange for financial compensation, in addition to their
grant thesis research. This will be discussed and reported in the annual progress report. Unless approved by the Director, the use of McGill letterhead and envelopes in correspondence by graduate students is prohibited.
Academic Integrity
Students are reminded that it is their responsibility to inform themselves about the meaning and consequences of cheating and plagiarism. See the student guide and other useful information at www.mcgill.ca/integrity.
Presentations and Publications
All students are encouraged to make presentations, participate in conferences and submit manuscripts to journals, particularly toward the end of the period of research training and while writing up their results, to present the results of their research in a public forum, both for criticism and enrichment. Advantages of such activities include greater self-confidence, a better perspective on the quality and meaning of their research, and more visibility in the job market. Students sometimes do not realize that colleagues may be more interested in the wider aspects of the project and its impact on the whole body of knowledge than in their raw results1. Under the guidance of their supervisor, it is recommended that each student is expected to write and submit at least three articles and to make at least one conference presentation during their graduate studies.
1Graduate Studies: A Practical Guide © Canadian Association for Graduate Studies, 1992. Research Ethics
To protect students and staff, all original research data must be kept at McGill as the data are collected. Regular backups of data etc., to be kept in a separate location, are essential in case of fire/floods etc. The thesis supervisor(s) and co-supervisors will have direct access to it. Copies may be made at the discretion of the supervisor/co-supervisors or the student for work at home or in other locations. It is to be recognized that McGill and staff members are legally responsible to funding agencies for ethical conduct of research, and the completion and publication of research findings. Students are strongly advised to resolve the disposition of research findings in publications with their supervisor or co-supervisors early in the research process. In multicentre research collaborations or industrially funded projects students are urged to clarify their ability to publish from their research activities. The rights and responsibilities of each in this process are to be mutually defined and agreed upon. Students should be aware that animal and human experimentation requires approval by the respective human and animal ethics committee.
Considerations for success in Ph.D. program
The following questions were designed for a suitable framework in which students and professors can interact with a good measure of predictable success1:
1. Have you assessed your financial needs during your studies and do you have a financial contingency plan?
2. Do you have a written commitment from your supervisor which specifies what financial support you will receive during your studies, for what purposes, over what period of time, and in return for what services?
3. Have you made a plan for your research which includes achievable milestones and a timetable for achieving these milestones?
4. Have you discussed your research plan with your supervisor and agreed on the milestones and a timetable?
5. Are you keeping systematic records of your work and results, and are you able to answer questions about the milestones achieved?
6. What progress have you made towards your degree in the last few months?
7. Have you written a draft of any portion of your thesis for which you have completed the research, and are there tables, figures or other matters which you could prepare at this time?
8. Have you discussed your research results and draft with others, and do they find your written work clear and articulate?
9. What is your timetable for completing the remaining phases of your research and for writing up your thesis?
10. What are the remaining requirements for your degree and when do you expect to graduate? 1Graduate Studies: A Practical Guide © Canadian Association for Graduate Studies, 1992.
Vacations and Leaves of Absence
According to the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office, all graduate students are entitled to vacation leave equivalent to the university holidays, plus an additional 15 working days in the year. The holidays that the university is closed between Christmas and New Year’s are considered University holidays and are not part of the 15 entitled vacation days. Vacations for graduate students are to be arranged with and approved by the student's thesis supervisor or co-supervisors. They should be arranged so as not to interfere with the student's research, requirements of the student's supervisor or the student's teaching obligations to the program. It is generally expected that students will work during the summers on their program, unless they are taking some of the 15 allocated vacation days.
Since full-time students do not contribute to the McGill benefits plan, no maternity or sick leave is guaranteed by the University. Cases of absence due to illness must be reported to the student's supervisor. If a student is absent due to prolonged illness, consideration for continued financial support would be given on an individual basis.
A leave of absence may be granted, on a term by term basis, by the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office for health reasons, maternity or parenting. Students must make the request in writing to School’s Committee on Graduate Students, Chair, Graduate Student Matters, in the case of medical leave, show appropriate medical certification. Students who have been granted such leave will have to register for the term(s) in question and will be given a load of "K" showing as "leave of absence" on their record. In order to return to full-time studies after a leave of absence for health reasons, a medical letter is required stating that the student is fit to return to their studies.
Unsatisfactory student progress
In the case of unsatisfactory student progress, a letter will be sent to the student from the supervisor describing the areas of unsatisfactory performance. The supervisor will call a supervisory committee meeting within two weeks of the letter being sent to discuss the student’s situation. The student is expected to attend this meeting. The committee will decide the further course of action.
The committee will consider the student’s circumstances, and the committee may or may not issue an unsatisfactory report. If the student receives an unsatisfactory report and is placed on probation, the supervisory committee will recommend to the student a course of action to obtain a satisfactory report. The options chosen by the committee might include: (a) arbitrating or mediating between the student and supervisor, (b) in case of unsatisfactory progress, remedial work may be recommended. At any point of the process of evaluation, if the student disagrees with the evaluation of the supervisory committee, the student can discuss the evaluation with the Chair of the Committee on Graduate Students or Chair of the School. A decision will be made by the committee on the timing of evaluation of the student’s performance. The student will be re-evaluated by the supervisor. In the event the student disagrees with the evaluation, another supervisory committee meeting will be convened.
If the problem is not resolved, it will then be brought to the Committee on Graduate Students which will make a recommendation to the Director. The Director will then either decide on the matter or take it to the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office for advisement.
PhD Program Requirements
Program requirements for the PhD include a course of study recommended by the committee including a comprehensive examination (NUTR 701), a research dissertation, and two credits of required seminars (NUTR 695 and NUTR 798). Course work at the PhD level normally comprises a smaller portion than for the MSc degree. The research program must clearly show originality and be a contribution to knowledge. At least three years are required to meet the PhD requirements. Outstanding students may be permitted to transfer to the PhD program following the first year of MSc study.
Residency Requirements
Candidates entering Ph.D. 1 must follow a program of a minimum of four years residency (8 full-time semesters) study at McGill University. Candidates entering Ph.D. 2 must complete a minimum of three years residency (6 full-time semesters). The summer semester is not considered a term of residency. There is no guarantee that the work of the degree can be completed in this time. For full discussion, see the "General Information, Regulations and Research Guidelines", Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office.
Ph.D. I
This is entry level for Doctoral studies for those not holding an M.Sc. in nutrition. Ph.D. I has a duration of two semesters. Exceptional MSc students may be considered for PhD I status within an 18 month period of study at McGill. The request is submitted by the student to the advisory committee. The decision on the request is made by the Committee on Graduate Students, and is based on the student's academic performance and evaluation of the student's written research proposal.
Ph.D. II
This is entry level for Doctoral studies for those already holding an M.Sc. in nutrition. Otherwise it follows Ph.D. I and is for students whom the Committee on Graduate Students feels have completed enough course work to be prepared for the Comprehensive Examination which is
normally completed at the end of Ph.D. II or early Ph.D. III (12-18 months after commencing the Ph.D. program). Ph.D. II has a duration of two semesters.
Half-Time
Two half-time terms equal one full-time term in the counting system. Students must have an even number of half-terms to switch from half-time to full-time status. The only part-time status recognized by the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office is "half-time" status.
PhD Program
Additional Sessions
Students who have not completed their degree requirements during the residency period are to register in additional session(s) following the completion of the equivalent 6-8 full-time terms, depending if you entered as Ph.D. 1 or 2. Additional session is usually used for completion of thesis work, although courses can be taken; the student has to be registered until the thesis is accepted by the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office.
Student and supervisor and supervisory committee
Student and supervisory committee meet to discuss course selection and the research project. Student submits completed and signed Student Thesis Supervisory Committee Form to the graduate program coordinator. Student submits completed and signed Student Progress Report Form to the graduate program coordinator on March 1st each year.
Course Requirements
In addition to the General requirements set out by the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office, the following program requirements, which include the completion of a thesis based on the candidate's research, have been established for the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition.
The Ph.D. degree is primarily a research degree; therefore, the course work required will depend on the academic background of the individual student and must be approved by the student's supervisory committee. The course work must include one seminar course, NUTR 695, two Ph.D. seminar courses, NUTR 797 and NUTR798, and two courses related to the Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination, NUTR 798 and NUTR 701. NUTR 798 is a pre-requisite to NUTR 701.
With the permission of the supervisory committee, Ph.D. students may take any additional courses they wish at McGill or other Quebec universities during their Ph.D. studies.
Doctoral Comprehensive Examination Overview
The Ph.D. qualifying examination consists of two parts: a written document in the form of the candidate’s Ph.D. research project proposal (NUTR 798) and an oral defense of the proposal (NUTR 701). The candidate must demonstrate competency in both the general area of the proposed research as well as in the details of the proposed Ph.D. research project itself. Both parts must be completed in one academic year. Candidates should review McGill’s Ph.D. Comprehensives Policies
(http://www.mcgill.ca/study/2012-2013/university_regulations_and_resources/graduate/gps_gi_guidelines_and_policies_phd_compr ehensives_policy).
Prerequisites
Candidates must have completed the all of their required course work (including graduate courses in statistics, and/or in research methods or equivalent courses) and have established a Ph.D. thesis supervisory committee to enroll in NUTR 701. Candidates must complete NUTR 798 to enroll in NUTR 701.
Timing within the Ph.D. Program
Students are required to complete the doctoral qualifying exam by the end of Ph.D 3. However, students, with the written support of their supervisor, may petition the School to take the exam up to one year later. This petition must be submitted BEFORE the start of Ph.D 3 and be supported by a strong rationale, and will require approval of the Graduate Program Director. Students can register for the course NUTR 798 in the Fall or Winter term and are required to register NUTR 701 in the subsequent term. If the candidate does not pass the NUTR 798, a grade of HH is assigned (to indicate that the course is still in progress) until the remedial requirements are met or the course is failed. Fail on the second attempt will require the student to repeat the course. If the candidate does not pass NUTR 701, the student will be assigned a FAIL grade and be required to repeat the course. Failure in two courses will require the student to withdraw from the Ph.D. program. The Examining Committee
NUTR 798
There is no examining committee for NUTR 798. The grade will be assigned by the NUTR 701 course director following written feedback from the student’s supervisory committee to both the student and the course director. The student will be provided with written feedback within 2 weeks in the format of a grant review from the supervisory committee evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the written proposal. This document is not to be circulated to the external examiner for NUTR 701 at this time.
NUTR 701
The revised grant application document following feedback obtained from NUTR 798 will be
provided to the examining committee for NUTR 701 including the external examiner for NUTR 701. The doctoral examining committee is chaired by the NUTR 701 course director and is comprised of all of the members of the candidate’s Ph.D. thesis supervisory committee and an external examiner who will be a professor at the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition selected by the course instructor. External examiners may not have scientific relationship with the candidate or the candidate’s major advisor in the past 5 years. The candidate has the option of inviting a faculty member to act as a neutral observer, but this individual may not ask questions nor observe
committee deliberations. All members of the examining committee will participate in questioning the candidate. The chair of the examining committee has the option of asking the candidate questions to clarify certain issues.
Format
Important: Candidates must familiarize themselves of McGill’s policy on academic integrity and plagiarism (http://www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/honest/).
NUTR 798
The written Ph.D. research proposal needs to follow the format of an established 10-page grant application format from a granting agency such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Grant-In-aid Application. The candidate is required to demonstrate the ability to approach a body of scientific literature, and construct a cohesive and informative narrative that illustrates the current state of knowledge on a specific subject area. In addition, the candidate will also
demonstrate that he/she is capable of constructing experimental designs that are feasible and likely to yield interpretable results. The candidate may summarize the current status of his/her thesis project in the progress report section of the grant application form. The candidate can obtain feedback from his/her committee regarding the research direction, hypotheses and objectives described within the document but is expected to independently write the document without any input from the committee in terms of the writing of the proposal. The candidate will submit complete hardcopies of the Ph.D. research proposal to each member of the entire examining committee as well as upload a complete PDF copy onto MyCourses by 11:59 PM, November 30th of the Fall term or 11:59 PM, March 31st of the Winter term.
NUTR 701
The oral exam is comprised of a 15 min PowerPoint presentation seminar prior to the closed
question/answer session with the examining committee. The presentation will not replace the Ph.D. proposal seminar that will be required to take place during the Colloquium period. The timing of the oral exam does not need to coincide with the date of the Colloquium proposal presentation.
The scheduling of the date of the oral exam will be the responsibility of the supervisory committee and the location of the exam will be responsibility of the course instructor, which will take place at the CINE boardroom. The course instructor will confirm 2 weeks beforehand the final exam timing and location to all committee members.
During the oral exam, the candidate is required to: defend the information in the submitted document; demonstrate insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the current literature in the chosen subject area; make linkages to relevant concepts or other pieces of information; make interpretations of existing information in the literature; synthesize new ideas and to propose new directions or approaches that may serve to advance knowledge in the field; and answer outstanding issues; demonstrate the ability to provide a cohesive and informative discussion which illustrates a clear thoughtful understanding of the subject area.
The closed question/answer session with the examining committee will be preceded by a meeting of the examining committee in the absence of the candidate. The candidate’s major advisor will review the candidate’s academic record and research progress, and clarify his/her role in the development of the submitted research proposal.
The chair of the examination committee will start the closed question/answer exam session by reviewing the examination procedures and the requirements of a PASS rating. This will be followed by a round of questions spanning 15-20 min for each of the examiners followed by another round of
follow-up questions spanning up to 5-10 min for each of the examiners. The maximum time limits will be strictly enforced. The order of examiners will be determined by the chair but will usually start with the external examiner.
Assessment, Grading and Reporting NUTR 798
This is a PASS/FAIL course. If the committee decides that a major revision of the document is needed or failure to submit the written Ph.D. research proposal document by the deadline of 11:59 PM, November 30th of the Fall term or 11:59 PM, March 31st of the Winter term will require a second attempt. The candidate will be required to submit the revised document by 11:59 PM of the first day of the following term. Failure of the second attempt will require the student to repeat the course.
NUTR 701
This is a PASS/FAIL course. Assessment will be made immediately following the oral examination according to the criteria described below. The examining committee will excuse the candidate to deliberate on the candidate’s performance and will render a PASS/FAIL grade based on majority decision. The decision will be communicated verbally to the candidate immediately after the committee’s deliberations.
PASS: The candidate demonstrates: ability to think critically (can analyze, conceptualize, synthesize, evaluate and apply information), to integrate information (can link information from diverse sources), to formulate hypotheses and appropriate study designs, to refine study designs or generate new ones, to prioritize issues and discuss them with originality, and is conversant in different aspects of nutrition research (e.g., having knowledge in different aspects of nutrition spanning nutritional biochemistry, nutritional assessment/measurement statistical issues, etc.).
FAIL: The candidate fails to defend the research proposal: the candidate may demonstrate ability to recall details from the literature but is unsure how to use this information to generate new information, or may recognize important issues but is unsure how to evaluate the issues, or is unable to differentiate irrelevant information from that relevant to the main topic at hand, or requires significant hints or guidance in formulating experimental strategies, or lacks the requisite basic knowledge of the proposed topic. The FAIL rating indicates minimal originality, minimal integration of relevant information, and/or failure to identify important issues within the selected research area. Failure will require the student to repeat the course.
A written report prepared by the Chair/designate based on the committee’s collective evaluation of candidate’s submitted written document and oral performance will be sent to the candidate within two weeks of the exam. The report will indicate the grade assigned and include feedback on both strengths and weaknesses in presentation, ability to answer questions and global competence in human nutrition. A student who fails a comprehensive examination may petition the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office for a review of the examination process and procedures.
Outcomes
NUTR 798 Transcript Action
Pass P Register for NUTR 701 in the Fall or Winter term
of the same academic year Remedial action on the first
attempt required HH The remedial due date for the Ph.D. research proposal document is 11:59 PM of the first day of the following term (or as indicated by
examining committee if course work is required) Fail on the second attempt F Repeat the course (must pass on 2nd course
attempt or will be excused from program)
NUTR 701 Transcript Action
Pass P (none, qualifying exams completed)
Fail F Repeat the course (failing 2 courses will result
in withdrawal from the program) Ph.D. Thesis Supervisory Committee:
Supervisor: ____________________________________________________________ Co-Supervisor: ____________________________________________________________ Committee member: ____________________________________________________________ Committee member: ____________________________________________________________ Committee member: ____________________________________________________________ Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam Committee
Ph.D. Thesis Supervisor Committee External examiner
Undergraduate Course Registration
If an undergraduate course is required for your graduate degree or combined M.Sc./Graduate Diploma in RD Credentialing, you must go to www.mcgill.ca/students/ records/forms and do the following:
select “Request for Registration/Course Change”
select “Register for an undergraduate (below 500 level) course”
Press submit
Once the form is submitted, it will be forwarded automatically to Lise Grant, who will get final approval from your supervisor and, if approved, send it on to the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office to have you registered in the undergraduate course.
Failures
Students must pass all courses at the level for which they were registered in that course. Within one month of failing a course, the student must decide with their advisory committee a remedial course of action: to take a supplemental exam (if available), to retake the course the next time it is offered or to take an alternate equivalent course. The request must be submitted to the Chair of the Committee of Graduate Students within that month for final approval by the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office. If the student fails the remedial activity or a second course during their program, they will automatically be required to withdraw from the program. This pertains to all courses (graduate or undergraduate) required for the degree.
A failed undergraduate course taken, but not required for the graduate degree does not affect the graduate degree as it is considered as an “extra” course and must be designated as such during registration. A passing mark for a non-required undergraduate level course is “C”. An undergraduate course that is taken as part of the graduate degree must be passed at the graduate level “B-”. This includes all courses required for the combined Ph.D./P.Dt./R.D. (Note that language courses cannot be credited to graduate degrees, but students may be requested to register for language courses as part of their program as “extra” courses.)
Registration
For full instructions of how and when to register, go to http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/students/registration/ Be sure you have:
For newly admitted students: Review your acceptance package and return all documents requested therein to Lise Grant in the Faculty Graduate Studies, Room MS2-074.
Be sure to review the registration schedule at www.mcgill.ca/gps/students/registration/dates
Register on MINERVA. Minerva is McGill's web-based information system. It allows students to register and make course changes on the web. Please read the instructions in every section carefully before registering, including all menu items in the left sidebar of the page. Please see important information about registration below.
Verify your address, telephone number, courses and fees on MINERVA.
Please note that students who are on Time Limitation or who have outstanding holds or fees and fines from previous terms will not have access to registration or course changes.
Please also note that successful completion of registration is contingent upon acceptable academic standing in the previous session. All students should check their registration status on MINERVA at the end of August or beginning of September. If a student=s registration has been inactivated for any reason, the registration will automatically be reactivated and the student will not have to re-register if all outstanding fee balances have been paid and all registration restrictions are cleared. For more information about what is “Time Limitation” go to www.mcgill.ca/gps/students/progress/time-limitation
Additional Minerva Registration Information: Please note that graduate students must register for the Registration Confirmation course “REGN RCGR” in both the Fall and Winter sessions immediately, in addition to any other regular courses, in order to initiate the registration for each session, please follow the following instructions:
Instructions to register for Fall:
Access MINERVA and Login
Choose the term you wish to register (i.e. September 20XX).
Click “Submit Term”.
Go to “Subject” and choose in the pick list “REGN Registration”.
Click on this one and press “submit” at the bottom of the screen.
You will now see a list different programs.
Choose “REGN RCGR”. Press submit.
Instructions to register for Winter: (students must register for both semesters before August 14th,
2013)
Follow the same steps as above
Choose “REGN RCGR”. Press submit.
Whether or not you are taking courses, you must register for the Fall and Winter terms (you would only register for the summer term if you wish to finish your M.Sc. quickly (within one year) and you need to have the summer term serve as your last term of residence). For students doing their project or field work outside of Canada, please remember to register while you are away. This is a very common mistake and will cost you additional fees and make it more complicated to return to Canada, re: visa (CAQ forms), etc.
All students who have accessed MINERVA to register must officially withdraw from the University if they decide not to attend the session(s) for which they have registered (see Section 6.5 of the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies AGeneral Information, Regulations and Research Guidelines" booklet). Otherwise they will be liable for all resulting tuition and other fees.
Summer terms of residence can be used to complete graduate student residency requirements upon request. Students must register for a minimum of 12 credits for a period of 13 weeks of full-time study from May 1 to August 31.
Returning students will not receive the Fee Information Booklet. The text of the Fee Information Booklet as well as fee tables and other important information is available on the internet at http://www.mcgill.ca/student-accounts/tuition-charges/fallwinter-term-tuition-and-fees/graduate-fees
The Thesis Preparation and Submission Process
The completion of a thesis which displays original scholarship expressed in satisfactory literary form and which is a distinct contribution to knowledge is required. Students who have disputes with their supervisor and supervisory committee regarding the extent of their research activities are encouraged to contact the Committee on Graduate Students, Chair of Graduate Student Matters, to help resolve their differences.
Please see the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office website:
http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/students/thesis/guidelines for complete details to follow for thesis formatting and submission and the list of required thesis submission forms.
Approximately two months before the thesis submission the student submits a draft of the thesis to the supervisory committee.
Two weeks after receiving the thesis draft the supervisory committee members return comments to the student.
Prior to submitting the thesis for external review, all members of the supervisory committee must have read the thesis. An email must be sent by each member of the supervisory committee to the Graduate Coordinator, Lise Grant at [email protected] to confirm that they approve that the thesis is ready for submission.
Within one week of the appropriate deadline the student must submit their thesis along with all required forms to the Director for review to assure that the Thesis Office Guidelines have been followed and for signatures to the Nomination of Examiners form and the Thesis Submission form. The student then makes the first (initial) submission of their thesis (2 copies) for evaluation, along with the forms listed above to the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office, and 5-6 copies of the thesis to the School depending on the composition of the Ph.D. Oral Defense Committee.
Thesis Office solicits evaluation reports from the supervisor, internal examiner and external
examiner. Once all the examiners reports are received by the Thesis Office, they will forward them to the student and supervisor by email.
PhD Oral Defense
The thesis oral examination is scheduled if all of the examiners pass the thesis. The oral defense is held on the subject of the thesis and subjects intimately related to it. The thesis is examined by a committee of not less than five and not more than seven members, exclusive of the Pro-Dean. At least two of the committee members should be from outside of the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition. The Director of the School and thesis supervisor, or co-supervisors, are usually members of the committee. The "Ph.D. Oral Defense Form" is received from the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office, completed and returned to Graduate Studies. The date chosen for the oral should be at least two weeks after the expected return of the examiners' reports, and two weeks notice must be given to the Thesis Office to allow for necessary arrangements. The folded four-sided abstract is to be submitted to the Graduate Program Coordinator a minimum of 7 days prior to the seminar for distribution. The abstract is to include such details as the date/time/location, committee composition, abstract, publications and curriculum vitae (degrees and awards).
Upon successful completion of the oral defense, the student will be given the comments from the examiners of the written thesis and according to the deadline specified on information sent to the supervisor, the student makes corrections to the thesis based on the comments of the internal and external examiners. The student must then submit their final thesis by E-Thesis. Full details about E-Thesis final submission can be found at www.mcgill.ca/gps/students/thesis/guidelines/oral/ Graduation
The Thesis Office no longer provides letters attesting to graduation to graduating students. Shortly after Senate meets and approves the graduation list, students can verify their graduation status by accessing their advising transcript on line via the MINERVA system.
For proof of graduation, students can request official transcripts from the Admissions, Recruitment and Registrar’s Office, in person, or by following the procedures on the web at www.mcgill.ca/students-information/transcripts
Keeping in Touch
If you are going away for any length of time (i.e., in the field, conference, vacation), you are asked to please let the supervisor and graduate secretary know the dates (to and from) and your contact telephone and fax numbers.
For returning students, if you move - whether you are graduating or not - and for new students who are newly settled in Montréal, please make sure “Minerva” has your correct address. Otherwise important correspondence from this office and Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office cannot be forwarded to you.
Student Records
Please note that graduate students are required to submit copies of the following on an ongoing basis to the Graduate Program Coordinator:
• submitted abstracts (including seminar abstracts)
• popular and scientific articles you have authored or coauthored • posters presented and conferences attended
• applications for funds (including external McGill agencies) • announcements of awarding of funds
From Students to Students International Students
International students in our department suggest that you consider applying for landed immigrant status as soon as you arrive here in Canada. This process will usually take one year, but after that time you will pay substantially reduced Canadian fees.
All International students are required to participate in the University’s compulsory International Student Health Insurance plan. Please visit the International Student Services web page at
http://www.mcgill.ca under the Key Site “Student Services” and click on “International Student
Services” for enrolment procedure and schedule, or call 398-6012, or e-mail: [email protected].
Recommended Courses
The following two courses are highly recommended for foreign graduate students to enable them to function more effectively in English during their graduate studies.
1. ESLN640 Fundamentals of Academic Writing. (Primarily for graduate students new to McGill). Instructor: Prof. R. Myles. This course focuses on developing students’ ability to produce clear and cohesive academic writing. You will learn structures commonly used in graduate-level academic writing along with strategies for vocabulary building so that you can express complex ideas. Other areas to be covered: efficient reading of academic articles; self-editing; and mechanics.
2. ESLN650 Pronunciation and Communication for Graduate Students. Instructor: Dr. Judith M. Cocker. Focus is on developing pronunciation and communication skills so that students may function effectively in academic settings, such as at seminars and
conferences. Instruction deals primarily with the aspects of pronunciation that most affect intelligibility, and with the use of verbal and non-verbal techniques for effective
communication. Assessment is based on audio- and video-recorded assignments that deal with each student’s own academic discipline..
3. ESLN690 Writing for graduate Students. (Primarily for students at Thesis stage). Primarily for students (non-native speakers of English) at the thesis (Masters) or dissertation (PhD) levels with advanced English skills. Students develop skills for shaping their work according to the criteria of the audiences, purposes, organization and styles of their particular field. Students acquire skills that allow them to become better writers of all genres of writing, better self-editors and editors of others, and better collaborative writers.
For more information: Prof. Robert Myles, Director Humanistic Studies Program, McGill University, Stephen Leacock Building, Room 309, 855 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H3A 2T7. Tel.: 398-3320; fax: 398-5449; Email: [email protected]
Forms
Progress Report form can be found at http://www.mcgill.ca/dietetics/programs/graduate/forms/. The deadline for all students beginning in-program students and students beginning their program in September is December 20th. The deadline for students who have started their program in January is March 31st.
