Graduate Studies > Prospective Students >

Programs

Local tools

The graduate programs offered by the University include doctoral, master’s, diploma and certificate programs. Doctoral programs offer students the opportunity to carry out fundamental and applied research. The results of this research must be presented in the form of a thesis containing an original contribution to knowledge. Doctoral theses must be defended in public examinations, subject to the Policy on Intellectual Property. The length and specific format of a doctoral thesis is discipline dependent. Doctoral programs require the passing of comprehensive examinations. All doctoral programs require a minimum of 90 credits of study.

At the master’s level, the University offers a variety of thesis and non-thesis options. All master’s programs require a minimum of 45 credits.

The academic goals of the graduate diploma programs are usually somewhat different from those of doctoral and master’s programs. They are designed either to offer a further specialization in a field or discipline already studied at the undergraduate level, or to provide the introduction to a new field of study or discipline, with the express intent to develop some level of specialized knowledge. A graduate diploma will normally consist of 30 credits. Diploma programs do not require a thesis, although a graduating essay, project or report may be required.

The University offers a number of graduate certificate programs which are designed to serve a professional clientele seeking to upgrade and advance their graduate training over a short time frame. Graduate certificate programs are normally completed in one to three years and normally consist of 15 credits.