Doctor of Philosophy with specialization in Cancer Sciences (Oncology)

Coursework

• All students are required to take
  • One of ONCOL 520 - Tumor Biology  or ONCOL 524 - Nutrition and Metabolism Related to Cancer , or an approved equivalent lecture-based course
  • ONCOL 660  and ONCOL 661  Current Topics in Cancer Research or an approved equivalent seminar course. The seminar course is normally taken in the second year.
• Students entering the PhD program after a BSc degree are required to take two additional 3-unit courses or equivalent from the list of approved courses. Contact the Department for course information.
• Course requirements are recommended by the supervisor and supervisory committee based on the background of the student and the area of research to be undertaken
• Additional coursework may be required

Thesis

• Registration in 900-level THES. Students must prepare a thesis describing the results of their research, and be examined orally by a committee formed according to Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research regulations.

Seminars

Students are required to attend all ONCOL 660 /ONCOL 661  research seminars during all years of their program whether or not they are enrolled in the courses. Students are also required to give at least three seminars (usually one per year) through ONCOL 660 .

PhD Proposal

Students must write a PhD proposal in the form of a research grant proposal that is approved by the supervisory committee and the CS-GCC usually within 12 - 30 months of the start of the graduate program. The PhD proposal must be approved before initiating the candidacy exam process

Candidacy Exam

Cancer Sciences PhD students are required to take a candidacy exam consisting of a written grant proposal and an oral defence of the proposal including peripheral areas.

Ethics Requirement

Students must meet the FGSR Ethics and Academic Citizenship Training Requirement  through the completion of INT D 710  (for both master’s and doctoral students) and INT D 720  (for doctoral students) by the end of the first term of registration in their degree program.