Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Ph.D. program will normally require the completion of a thesis-based master's degree in Engineering or a related field. Students must satisfy minimum English language requirements, including a TOEFL score of 580 (PBT) or 92 (IBT), or an IELTS minimum overall band of 6.5 (with nothing less than 6 per individual test). Students are also required to meet the minimum standards specified for admission by the UBC Okanagan campus College of Graduate Studies. The Ph.D. is a research degree and so students must identify a faculty member as their research supervisor. Please see the graduate program descriptions for Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering.
Program Requirements
The Ph.D. program requires the completion of required coursework, a qualifying examination and research thesis proposal, and a research thesis. The number of credits of coursework required depends on the background of the student entering the program and the nature of the intended research project. Selection of courses is made in consultation with the supervisor(s). The coursework completed must satisfy the advisory committee prior to graduation.
The Ph.D. advisory committee is initially composed of the supervisor and the Associate Director Graduate Studies and Research. An additional member will be added for the first yearly review meeting. A third member will be added for the candidacy/proposal exam. The final defence will be conducted through the College of Graduate Studies in accordance with the UBC Ph.D. dissertation defence procedures.
A combined proposal defence and candidacy exam will typically be held within 24 months of first registration. The comprehensive exam will consist of a written proposal (due two weeks prior to the exam date), an oral question period (comprehensive), and an oral presentation of the proposal and question period (proposal defense). The comprehensive exam will be graded: a) Pass, b) Pass with additional readings/courses, c) Fail. The student may retake the comprehensive exam once and it must be done within 6 months. The proposal defence will be graded a) Pass, b) Pass with additional work, c) Fail. The student may retake the proposal defence once and it must be done within six months.
Students will register in ENGR 596a Seminar each term until they present a seminar and earn a "Pass" grade. They then register for ENGR 596b Seminar until they present their second seminar and earn a "Pass" grade.
It usually takes 36–48 months of full-time study to complete the coursework and thesis requirements of the Ph.D. program.
Last reviewed 
9/14/2011 1:03:13 PM
