The Degree of PhD (Neuroscience) [Graduate]

Program Requirements

PhD students must complete ★9 in coursework and a thesis.

Coursework

An important feature of the PhD program is the requirement that students participate in a lab rotation course, typically during the first year. Students must choose either NEURO 500 (two terms;★ 6) or NEURO 501 (one term; ★3). NEURO 500 involves rotations through three laboratories. Each rotation involves two months of research experience (six months in total). One rotation may be in the laboratory of the primary supervisor. NEURO 501 involves rotation through one laboratory taken outside of the laboratory of the primary supervisor.
Students, in consultation with their supervisory committees, may also select courses in other areas important to their research programs.
Students will be expected to attend weekly Neuroscience seminars.

Thesis

Registration in 900-level THES.

Candidacy Exam

The candidacy examination must be scheduled by the end of the second year in the program. For students who change program category from the Master’s program to the doctoral program, the candidacy examination must be scheduled by the end of the third year from the beginning of the Master’s program and completed by the end of the fourth year.

Language Requirement

No language other than English is required for the degree.

Residence Requirement

The minimum period of residence is two academic years of full-time attendance at the University of Alberta, where an academic year is defined as the eight-month period from September through April.

Length of Program

The time required to complete the PhD will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken. However, a minimum of three years is normally required. Course work will generally be completed early in the program.

The maximum time to complete the PhD program as set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research is six years.