Year

Term

Timeline A - MSc degree

Timeline B - PhD degree

1

1

• student receives information package about the 1^st supervisory committee meeting and progress report (feedback form, biological profile, student-supervisor agreement, etc.)

• select supervisory committee (within 1^st month)

• introductory committee meeting 1

• MBB 801 taken in 1^st year (offered in Fall)

• MBB 803 taken in 1^st year (offered in Fall and Spring)

• student receives information package about the 1^st supervisory committee meeting and progress report (feedback form, biological profile,, submits required forms (student-supervisor agreement, etc.)

• select supervisory committee (within 1^st month)

• introductory committee meeting 1

• MBB 801 taken in 1^st year (offered in Fall)

• MBB 803 taken in 1^st year (offered in Fall and Spring)

2

3

2

4

• committee meeting 2; a discussion of whether student is interested in PhD studies is encouraged

• committee meeting 2; preparation for MBB 806

5

• continue with MSc degree or follow Timeline A’ to transfer to PhD programme

Timeline A’
If planning transfer to PhD:

• enroll in MBB 806 and have a meeting with MBB 806 course instructors within the first 2 weeks of semester

• submit MBB 806 Application Form to instructor(s) by the last day of exams

* MBB 806 taken in the 4^th or 5^th term depending on the availability (only offered in Fall and Summer.

• submit MBB 806 Application Form to instructor(s) by the last day of exams

6

(MSc cont’d)

> EXPECTED time of completion

• enroll in MBB 806 and have a meeting with MBB 806 course instructors within the first 2 weeks of semester

• submit transfer-to-PhD paperwork

* may be taken in the 7^th term only if MBB 806 is not available during the 6^th term (only offered in Fall and Summer)

3

7

• committee meeting 3
  - if necessary

• start the PhD program, follow Timeline B from this term onwards

• committee meeting 3

8

9

> MAXIMUM time to completion: 9 terms

• apply for extension if necessary by the end of the second month of the final semester (contact Grad Assistant: mbb@sfu.ca for paperwork)

4

10

11

• committee meeting 4

12

> EXPECTED time of completion: 12-15 terms

5

13

14

• committee meeting 5 - if necessary

15

6

16-18

> MAXIMUM time to completion: 18 terms

• apply for extension if necessary by the end of the second month of the final semester (contact Grad Assistant: mbb@sfu.ca for paperwork)

Thesis defence

• 10-14 weeks before defence: inform grad assistant

• less than 7 weeks prior to defence: submit to grad assistant signed Grad studies form

• see following table for detailed timeline

• 10-14 weeks before defence, inform grad assistant

• less than 10 weeks prior to defence, submit to grad assistant signed Grad studies form

• see following table for detailed timeline

Action by Student

(unless otherwise indicated)

MSc

PhD

1) Inform Grad Assistant that you plan to defend (with an approximate date of defence) and get full instructions from her

10-14 weeks before defence

10-14 weeks before defence

2) Send your thesis draft to the supervisory committee

> 7 weeks before defence

> 11 weeks before defence

3) Supervisor to informally invite Internal and/or External Examiner;

Work on the Approval of Examining Committee form together with your supervisor:

• Consults with your supervisory committee to ensure that they have read your thesis and agree that you are ready for defence;
• Confirm if your supervisory committee and examiners will attend in person.

Informs Grad Assistant the exact date of defence finalized with supervisory committee and examiners.

5-7 weeks before defence

9-11 weeks before defence

4) Submit to Grad Assistant the following documents:

• Approval of Examining Committee*
• Abstract (also lay abstract for PhD)
• External examiner’s CV (to be provided by supervisor)
• Thesis Postponement Publication form (if applicable)
• Ethics or Animal Care Protocol form (if applicable)

*For MSc defence, include the email confirmations from the supervisory committee that your thesis is ready for defence with the Approval of Examining Committee form.

Ask Grad Assistant to book the Library Thesis Defence Room if needed

5 weeks before defence

9 weeks before defence

5) Email to mbb@sfu.ca a PDF of full thesis

2.5 weeks before defence

Grad Asst will forward PDF to Exam Committee

7 weeks before defence

Grad Studies will forward PDF to Exam Committee

6) Defend Thesis**

It is best practice to schedule defences with enough time for post-defence revisions prior to the submission deadlines provided below. Requests to schedule defences within 5 business days of a submission deadline should be accompanied by a supporting rationale.

When a defence is scheduled within 5 days of the deadline, students who wish to complete their degree requirements within the current term are still expected to complete all degree requirements, including library submission, by the posted deadline. Please reach out to Graduate Studies to discuss options if there are extenuating circumstances present.

> 2 weeks before Library deadline

7) The SIGNED Grad Studies form: Recommendation for Award of Degree must be submitted by Grad Assistant

> 3 days before Library deadline

8) Submit corrected electronic thesis

See Library website for absolute deadline each term