Doctoral Candidacy & Final Oral Exams

Doctoral Programs

Every student in a doctoral thesis degree program must pass a candidacy examination and final oral examination prior to completing their program.

Some departments also require comprehensive examinations (contact the department for details).

Candidacy Examination

the candidacy examination is normally held within two years of a student's commencement of the program when most, if not all, of the course work is completed and the thesis is started or well defined
departments are responsible for establishing candidacy examination procedures and recommending candidacy examining committee members

Notice and Approval of Examining Committee & Examination Date
Committee Membership Checklist
the candidacy examination must be passed no less than six months prior to taking the final oral examination
once the candidacy is passed (or conditions of a conditional pass are satisfied) departments must complete the following form and submit to the FGSR

Report of Completion of Candidacy Examination

Final Oral Examination

departments are responsible for establishing final oral examination procedures, inviting external examiners and recommending the final oral examining committee members

Invite External Reader/Examiner for Final Doctoral Oral Examination
Request for Funds for External Examiner Travel
Request for Funds for External Examiner Teleconferencing
Notice and Approval of Examining Committee & Examination Date
Committee Membership Checklist
the examination must be scheduled and held in accordance with FGSR regulations
the FGSR has a meeting room available to departments for use in thesis defenses, located on the main floor of Triffo Hall. To book the room, contact Executive Admin ASsistant eafgsr@ualberta.ca. The room does not have video conferencing equipment, but the FGSR has a Skype account and can provide a laptop and data projector (departments must supply their own technical support). To book the equipment, please contact the FGSR Operations Manager (e-mail or phone 492-2816). There are also several video conferencing rooms on campus available for bookings.

Following the exam, the department completes the Thesis Approval/Program Completion form

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