phd philosophy canada

We are the second-largest graduate program in philosophy in Canada, with almost 40 professors whose research and teaching cover a diverse range of topics. Our program has particular strength in four broad areas: moral, political and legal philosophy; philosophy of cognitive science, mind and language; epistemology and philosophy of science; and history of 19th and 20th century philosophy. The environment is friendly and welcoming. We support and mentor our students and make their goals our goals. Professors co-author articles with students, share social events with them and take students to conferences. Our PhD students TA two courses a year, with the possibility of gaining additional funding and experience by TAing in the summer. In the 4th or 5th year of the program, students who are making good progress are typically given the opportunity to teach their own course.

The program is designed to be completed in 4 years but often takes longer. All requirements for a doctoral degree must be fulfilled within 18 terms (6 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time doctoral student in accordance with the Faculty of Graduate Studies Registration Policies, including the requirement of continuous registration. Terms that students register as Leave of Absence, Maternal Leave, Parental Leave, or No Course Available are not included in these time limits.

Students must complete Philosophy 6800 6.0: First-Year Seminar and either Philosophy 6850 6.0: PhD Research Seminar or Philosophy 6860 6.0: PhD Research Seminar II, plus another six half-courses (or the equivalent), with no more than one full course equivalent a reading course and no more than one full course equivalent integrated with an undergraduate course. Philosophy 6800 6.0 must be taken in Year 1. The six half courses must normally be completed by the end of Year 2, and Philosophy 6850 6.0 or Philosophy 6860 6.0 by the end of Year 3, in order to remain in good standing in the program. With the permission of the program director, students may take one half-graduate course outside the program, either at York University or elsewhere, and count it towards these course requirements. There are also Breadth and Area Requirements that must be met by the six half courses—at least two of them must focus in-depth on a single historically significant problem or philosopher and cover different periods in the history of philosophy; at least two of them must be in metaphysics and/or epistemology, understood as including philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, and philosophy of science; and at least two of them must be in moral, political, social or legal philosophy. Normally, by the end of the second year, students must demonstrate to the logic examination committee a mastery of the semantic and syntactic elements of sentential and first-order predicate logic. This includes understanding validity, logical truth, and natural deduction derivations for both sentential and predicate logic. Mastery may be demonstrated by passing an exam in logic that is set by the logic examination committee, or by passing a graduate-level course in logic. Students who fail to fulfill the logic requirement by the end of the second year will be withdrawn from the program.

Students must submit two papers, normally by the end of the first term of Year 3, to be examined by three anonymous examiners in the program. To pass the exam, each paper must be passed by at least two of the three examiners. The papers, which may be based upon previous term papers, will demonstrate the skills that are needed to successfully pursue advanced doctoral research. One paper will be in the student’s primary area of research, and the other paper will be in a closely related (but not identical) area.

Students must submit a suitable dissertation proposal acceptable to the supervisory committee successfully defend the dissertation proposal and pass an oral examination on literature relevant to the dissertation topic. The list of literature will be compiled jointly by the supervisor and the student after the supervisory relationship is formed and before the proposal is written. The examiners will consist of the student’s supervisory committee plus one outside member from the program. This requirement is normally met by the end of the third year.

Candidates must write an acceptable dissertation embodying original research and defend it at an oral examination. It is recommended that Candidates whose field of study necessitates a reading knowledge of a language other than English acquire sufficient knowledge of that language. Candidates may be asked to demonstrate their proficiency to the Examining Committee.

The Graduate Program in Philosophy at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.

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PhD in Philosophy

PhD students in Philosophy take seminar courses in their first year, take two specialized research area courses in their second year, defend a dissertation proposal, then write the dissertation. The main objective of the Philosophy PhD program is to prepare students to conduct rigorous independent research projects and to explain complex ideas helpfully and clearly to a variety of audiences. We are proud of how our graduates have used those all-purpose skills in careers in and beyond academia.

The University of Waterloo also has Graduate Diplomas in Cognitive Science and Theoretical Neuroscience which can be a great complement to a PhD degree.

Key program features

• Seminar offerings tend to include a high proportion of topics with interdisciplinary and/or practical-oriented content
• Professionalism seminar with a focus on philosophy
• Research area courses to deepen your areas of specialisation and competence
• Dissertation can be a traditional monograph or a “integrated thesis” whose chapters are in the style of journal articles.

All PhD students in the Department of Philosophy receive a standard annual funding package . Outside the funding package, each spring term the department offers extra TA positions to some of our interested graduate students. Students have access to conference and workshop reimbursements from the department, faculty, and university level through the Graduate Student Conference Assistantship . Our department also awards an Excellence in PhD Studies Travel Award once a year to provide additional support for presenting papers at workshops and conferences. For questions about funding, please contact the Graduate Coordinator .

Applications are due by February 1 for the following academic year.

*Note: Due to funding restrictions, the Faculty of Arts is currently limiting the number of international students we can admit. Please contact the department's Associate Chair, Graduate Studies prior to applying to discuss your interest in this program.

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PhD Program in Philosophy

McMaster’s PhD Program in Philosophy enables students to develop their own research while building a foundation of comprehensive knowledge. The program culminates in the preparation and defence of a doctoral dissertation: an original piece of research prepared under the guidance of a supervisory committee. See below for information about the program.

I found the passion amongst individual professors for their discipline and area of study the most beneficial to me.

Brandon Coombs '15

Honours Philosophy and Art History Double Major

About the Program

The PhD Program is designed to be completed in four years. It begins with coursework and culminates in a dissertation: an original piece of research prepared under the guidance of a supervisory committee. Students are encouraged to participate in the life of the department by attending talks, meetings, conferences, workshops, reading groups, and social events. We regularly offer workshops on such topics as: publishing, presentations, the academic job market, careers beyond academia, developing as a teacher, writing a thesis, and work-life balance. Students have access to the resources of McMaster’s MacPherson Institute for Teaching and Learning and can teach their own course as a PhD Teaching Fellow. A Placement Coordinator supports students in their pursuit of both academic and non-academic careers.

Further information can be found below and in our Program Handbook (available below).

Admission Requirements

Admission to the PhD program requires an MA in Philosophy or an equivalent degree. An equivalent degree here normally means an MA or other graduate degree in a related subject and at least some background in Philosophy.

There is a possibility for students enrolled in McMaster’s MA program in Philosophy to be accepted into the PhD program without completing the MA degree, subject to their satisfying certain conditions for excellent progress in their first year.

Selection is made by the PhD Program Committee of the Department of Philosophy, and any student admitted comes under the general regulations of McMaster University.

Any applicant whose first language is not English and who has not completed a degree within an accredited university in a program whose primary language of instruction is English must submit evidence of proficiency in English. Please see  https://gs.mcmaster.ca/academic-services/how-apply  under the Language Requirements tab for an enumeration of the exams and minimum scores that constitute sufficient evidence.

Application Process

Deadline: February 1, 2024, if you wish to receive full consideration for all applicable funding opportunities.

If you encounter any difficulties with your application, please contact us at  [email protected] .

To complete an online application to our PhD program, please go  here . If you have questions regarding our program, please feel free to email the department’s  PhD Advisor .

A completed application will include the following documents. Please ensure that you upload all of your documents to the online portal before finalizing your application submission.

• If the final transcript does not show that all degree requirements have been met or the degree is conferred, an official copy of your diploma is also required.
• Transcripts in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified literal translation.
• If your application is accepted for admission to the program, you will be required to submit original transcripts in order to remain enrolled in the program
• Two Letters of Reference  from instructors most familiar with your academic work. Your referees will automatically be sent an e-Reference request on your behalf, once you enter their email address through the online application.
• English Language Proficiency:  For applicants who do not hold a post-secondary degree from a program whose language of instruction was English, you will be required to provide an official record of your proficiency in English. Please see https://gs.mcmaster.ca/how-to-apply/ under the Language Requirements tab for an enumeration of the exams and minimum scores that constitute sufficient evidence.
• Statement of Interest:  A brief statement (1-2 pages) explaining your research interests, how your background prepares you for the program, and your reasons for seeking to pursue your research interests as a graduate student with the McMaster University Philosophy Program.
• Sample of Work : Please submit a sample of your philosophical writing in English to the  online application system . Your writing sample should be indicative of your ability to engage in advanced philosophical research. It need not fall within the area of your proposed research. To ensure full consideration, your writing sample should not exceed 7000 words.
• C.V.:  Please include on your CV any research, publications, academic awards, teaching, or work experience relevant to philosophy.

Application Fee

You will require a valid credit card or Interac card (domestic applicants) for the application fee ($110 CAD) and a valid email address. Your application will not be considered for admission until your application fee has been received and you submit your application.

Please note that there are no admission fee waivers at the present time.

Program Timelines

The PhD Program is designed to be completed in four years. We summarize here the structure of the program and normal progression through it. For a more detailed timeline, please see the Program Handbook (available below).

In year 1 , students typically complete five graduate courses, and, in consultation with the Department’s PhD Advisor, form their supervisory committee (consisting of a supervisor and two other faculty members). They also apply for any external scholarships for which they are eligible.

In year 2 , students complete the PhD Seminar (a full year course required for all second-year PhD students, and open only to them) and prepare their thesis proposal. In May of year 2, they complete their qualifying exam, which consists of an oral defence of a written thesis proposal. Students whose research requires competence in logic or a language other than English must demonstrate that competence (typically by an exam) before taking the qualifying exam.

In years 3 and 4 , students work on their thesis in collaboration with their supervisor and committee. They also have opportunities to teach their own course as a PhD Teaching Fellow.

Throughout the program, students are encouraged to engage with the life of the department, university, profession, and broader community. This includes giving talks and guest lectures, helping organize events, and submitting their work to conferences and for publication.

Tuition & Program Fees

Visit Graduate Studies to learn more about tuition, supplementary fees and everything you need to know about being paid as a Teaching or Research Assistant. Tuition fees are assessed on a term by term basis, depending on the number of courses a student takes or if they are paying by term.

Apply to a PhD Program in Philosophy

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SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

PhD students take six graduate courses in total: five regular (usually single-semester) courses, plus the PhD Seminar in year 2. With permission of the PhD Advisor, one of the five regular graduate courses may be taken outside Philosophy. Students’ coursework must also satisfy the department’s area requirements (for details, see the Program Handbook, available below). The minimum grade for passing a graduate course at McMaster is B-. Graduate students may also select from Philosophy graduate courses at Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Guelph.

Our Upcoming Course Offerings and Timetables

Course descriptions 2023-24.

Please note that the courses may be subject to change.

Course Outlines 2023-2024

• Philos 4D03/6D03 – Connelly
• Philos 743A – Stotts
• 761 – Stotts
• 763 – Bayruns García
• 769 – Pinheiro Walla
• 771 – Klein
• 722A – Lapointe

Winter 2024

• Philos 4K03/6K03 – Johnstone
• Philos 731 – Allen
• Philos 743B – Stotts
• Philos 752 – Forbes
• Philos 763 – Lapointe
• Philos 764 – Sciaraffa
• Philos 772B – Lapointe
• Wilson 700 – Igneksi et al

Philosophy Course descriptions 2022-23

Graduate Courses Timetable 2022-23

Course Outlines 2022-2023

• Philos 4A03/6A03 – Costantini
• Philos 4T03/6T03 – Ratti
• Philos 731 – Allen
• Philos 743A – Stotts
• 755 – Steizinger
• 762 – Stotts
• 764 – Igneski

Winter 2023

• Philos 4K03/6K03 – Johnstone
• Philos 755 – Lapointe
• Philos 765 – Sciaraffa
• Philos 769 – Pinheiro-Walla
• Philos 758 – Klein
• GSJ 700 – Forbes  

Course Outlines 2021-2022

• Philos 743 – Johnstone
• Philos 753 – Forbes
• Philos 756 – Steizinger
• Philos 759 – Binik
• Philos 764 – Igneski
• Philos 771 – Klein

Winter 2021

• Philos 6K03 – Johnstone
• Philos 6T03 – Verhaegh
• Philos 755 – Lapointe
• Philos 769 – Pinherio Walla

COURSES DESCRIPTIONS 2021-2022

COURSES TIMETABLE 2021-2022

Course Outlines 2020-2021

• Philos 6D03 – Lapointe
• Philos 6F03 – Allen
• Philos 731 – Klein
• Philos 743 – Stotts
• Philos 755 – Steizinger
• Philos 764 – Sciaraffa
• Philos 6K03 – Johnstone
• Philos 700 – Forbes
• Philos 743B – Stotts
• Philos 754 – Sassen
• Philos 761 – Stotts
• Philos 762 – Lapointe
• Philos 764 – Igneski

The Qualifying Exam (QE) is an oral examination based on a written thesis proposal. It is normally completed in May of year 2. It can be retaken, but, absent an extension, must be passed before the end of the student’s 24th month in the program (normally the end of August in year 2). The purpose of the QE is to ensure the candidate has a viable thesis proposal and the background to carry it through successfully. To be eligible to take the QE, the student must have achieved (by the end of the 20th month in the program) a GPA on courses taken towards the PhD of at least 9.5. Students whose research requires competence in logic or a language other than English must also demonstrate that competence (typically by an exam) before taking the QE.

Doctoral students prepare their thesis in consultation with their supervisor and other members of their supervisory committee. With the approval of the supervisory committee, the finished work is submitted to an external examiner. Upon approval by the external examiner, the thesis is defended before members of the supervisory committee and the external examiner. General information about the doctoral thesis and thesis defence process at McMaster can be found here .

All students in the PhD Program are guaranteed funding for four years. This funding takes two main forms: a Teaching Assistantship (TA) and a graduate scholarship. Funding of both kinds may be possible beyond the end of year 4, but is not guaranteed.

Teaching Assistantships

The value of the TA is fixed by the Collective Agreement between the University and Local 3906, Unit 1 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. In 2023-24, the stipend for a full-year TA is $12,906.32. To hold a TA, students must be enrolled full-time and have paid full-time fees. Under the agreement between Local 3906 and the University, the position of TA requires an average of 10 working hours of work per week over a full academic session (Fall and Winter only), for a maximum of 266 hours a year, or 133 hours each academic term.

Typical duties for a Teaching Assistant include conducting two tutorials each week when classes are in session, with up to 20 students in each; grading student work; and consultation with students. Teaching Assistants carry out their duties under the supervision of the instructor in charge of the relevant course.

Graduate Scholarships

In addition to the TA, all PhD students who do not have an external scholarship receive a McMaster Graduate Scholarship (MGS) for four years. The value of the scholarship will be specified in the offer of admission. If a student wins an external award such as an OGS or SSHRC award, their initial offer of an MGS is rescinded and replaced by this external scholarship, assuming it is of higher value. Limited MGS support may be possible beyond year 4, but is not guaranteed.

PhD students are expected to apply for all external awards for which they are eligible. The Department makes its students aware of all funding opportunities and guides them in their applications.

Academic Travel Support

Any graduate student who has a paper accepted at a peer-reviewed philosophy conference is eligible for funding up to $750, once a year, to enable attendance. To apply for this funding, students should complete the  Department of Philosophy Travel Funds application , including confirmation of their paper’s acceptance and an estimate of anticipated expenses.

Limited funds for conference travel purposes may also be available to eligible students who apply to the  Graduate Students Association .

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Department Life

The McMaster department regularly hosts conferences and workshops. Graduate students are heavily involved in these events, as both presenters and organizers. There is also a weekly visiting speaker series during the teaching term. The speaker series is preceded and followed by social events, in which the whole department community can come together. There are always reading groups in progress. For further information, see “ Our Community ” and “ Events .”

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Université de Montréal / Faculty of Arts and Science Department of Philosophy

• Graduate programs

PhD in Philosophy

The  PhD in Philosophy  program has 5 objectives:

• Pursuing one's university education.
• Equipping students to produce an original contribution to the literature in this discipline.
• Training university-level philosophy professors.
• Training professional consultants in strategic fields (ethics, politics, communications).
• Training high-level researchers.
• Fall and winter admission
• Daytime classes
• Full-time and part-time
• 90 credits, including 75 for the thesis

IT IS STILL TIME TO APPLY!

Questions about this program?

David Piché , Associate Professor: 514 343-6111, ext. 1355 Pierrette Delisle , Student File Management Technician: 514 343-6111, ext. 1340

All about this program (in French)

Obtain integrated financial assistance of up to $15,000 per year,   find a thesis supervisor, international (in french), job outlook for graduates in this discipline, the + of studying philosophy at the université de montréal.

• Lectures, roundtable discussions, seminars and informal meetings for philosophical discussions.
• A faculty with a variety of  research interests .
• Ithaque , the philosophy journal, which publishes papers written by students at all levels.
• Enriching activities with the  Canadian Centre for German and European Studies  and the  Société de Philosophie Analytique .

International Student Scholarship Program

The Université de Montréal is a French-language institution. This English website contains only the most frequently consulted pages from our French website.

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Theses and dissertations (in French)

Methodogical guide for the Department of Philosophy (in French)

Our Phd Program

Our department hosts one of the largest PhD programs in philosophy in Canada and its graduates have  good career outcomes .  Our faculty and staff provide a supportive environment for realizing your research goals and for developing the professional skills needed to flourish both within and outside academia.  

The program is designed to take four years to complete:

• In your first year you will begin your coursework--our students typically take 3 graduate courses per semester including the PhD Seminar which will guide you in writing your thesis proposal (this course will also train you in a number of professional skills: grant-writing, teaching, publishing, conference presenting, etc).
• In your second year you will complete your coursework, competency requirement, area requirements and thesis proposal. At the end of the winter semester, you sit your Oral Qualifying Exam.
• In your third and fourth years you will undertake the writing of your thesis and you will defend it at the end of your fourth year.  

We give our students a lot of teaching opportunities:

Our biggest courses all have tutorial components--as a teaching assistant for those classes, you get the opportunity to run your own weekly tutorial classes with undergrads. In the third year, you will also be offered your own course to teach. The department will provide you with a teaching mentor to help you out with any questions you might have about preparing and teaching your own course.   

We also offer interdisciplinary options:

We have options for our graduate students to explore interdisciplinary avenues of research. Graduate students are free to take courses outside of philosophy and a number of our students have availed themselves of opportunity. We also offer collaborative programs at the MA and PhD levels with International Development Studies and Neuroscience (please see below for information about these program options).

How to apply to our program

• The application process (deadline: January 3, 2025)
• Minimal admission requirements

Doing the program:

• Philosophy PhD Program Regulations
• PhD Degree Regulations (from Graduate Calendar)
• Graduate course listings 
• Frequently asked questions
• Registration Information for new students  

Interdisciplinary MA Collaborative Specialization in Sexualities, Genders and Bodies (SGB)  

The Philosophy MA or PhD can be combined with a SGB collaborative specialization. Students in SGB study advanced concepts relating to human identity, embodiment, and self-expression. Students explore theories drawn from the fields of feminism, decolonialism, postcolonialism, LGBTQ+, race/whiteness, queer-of-colour, indigeneity, masculinities, and disability/crip studies among many others. Students engage with these topics from interdisciplinary perspectives and apply these concepts, theories, and methodologies to research in their home discipline. In addition to Philosophy program course requirements, students take: 

• SXGN*6000: Somatic Entanglements: Issues and Methods
• SXGN*6100: Challenging Bodies: Theorizing Sexualities and Genders

Please ensure that your statement of intent explains how your research ideas fit with the SGB specialization, and also explains how your background and interests will contribute to the vitality of the specialization.

Please visit the SGB website  for more information.

Interdisciplinary PhD Collaborative Specialization in Neuroscience (CSN)

The Philosophy MA or PhD can be combined with a Neuroscience collaborative specialization. The Collaborative Specialization in Neuroscience offers the opportunity for Master’s and PhD students to combine their studies in Philosophy with multidisciplinary exposure to the field of neuroscience. Doctoral and Master’s (thesis or course work and major research paper) students wishing to undertake graduate studies with emphasis on neuroscience will be admitted by the Philosophy Department and will register in both Philosophy and in the Collaborative Specialization in Neuroscience.

In addition to Philosophy program course requirements, students take:

• NEUR 6000: Principles of Neuroscience
• students and faculty meet once a month to hear talks from experts in the field and discuss the presented research. NEUR*6100 is a two-semester commitment, and students will register for the course twice each year.

Please ensure that your statement of intent explains how your research ideas fit with the CSN specialization, and also explains how your background and interests will contribute to the vitality of the specialization in neuroscience.

Please visit the CSN website for more information.

Interdisciplinary PhD in Collaborative International Development Studies (IDS)

The Philosophy MA or PhD can be combined with an IDS collaborative specialization. This offers an interdisciplinary framework for the study of international development that combines training in a selected academic discipline with exposure to a broad range of social science perspectives. In addition to Philosophy program course requirements, students take:

• For the MA: "IDS Seminar" (IDEV 6100)
• For the PhD: "Theories and Debates in Development" (IDEV 6800) and "Developmental Research and Practice" (IDEV 6850)

Please ensure that your statement of intent explains how your research ideas fit with the IDS specialization, and also explains how your background and interests will contribute to the vitality of the specialization in development studies.

Please visit the  IDS website  for more information.

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• Graduate Studies

The Ph.D. Program

Characterised by small student cohorts and substantial opportunities for engagement with faculty and esteemed visitors, the Ph.D. program provides students with opportunities to pursue intensive, high-level studies and research. In their first year, students complete course work that satisfies distribution requirements in the areas of Value Theory and Metaphysics and Epistemology, for the sake of acquiring an advanced, general education in philosophy. In their second year, students complete comprehensive papers on areas pertinent to their proposed doctoral research as well as a doctoral dissertation proposal, under the supervision of their dissertation committees. Upon successfully completing their comprehensive requirements and orally defending their dissertation proposals, doctoral candidates begin writing their dissertations. The program is structured to ensure that candidates are able to defend in their fifth year. Candidates also acquire teaching experience, often having opportunities to take full responsibility for courses as Teaching Fellows, typically in their fourth or fifth years. 

Prospective Students

Recent graduates of the Ph.D. program have gone on to tenure-track positions, sessional and other teaching positions, postdoctoral fellowships, bioethics fellowships, and professional work in clinical ethics and bioethics. Further information about Ph.D. placement can be found at the button below.

Ph.D. Placement

Applications for all graduate programs in philosophy are hosted online by the School of Graduate Studies (SGS).  Information on how to apply online can be found here . Click below to begin your application.

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Four-year PhD Program

Four-year PhD Program: Requirements and Policies

Each incoming PhD student is assigned a faculty advisor who, in conjunction with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), will recommend a suitable program of philosophy courses. Students are expected to acquire a broad competence in both the history and contemporary problems of philosophy and to develop an area of specialization prior to undertaking formal research for a doctoral thesis (see breadth requirements ).

The Advisor and the DGS will be responsible for overseeing students’ progress until the student has completed the course and breadth requirements and constituted a Thesis Committee . The Thesis Committee, consisting normally of three faculty members, assists the student in defining an area of specialized research in which to write a dissertation. The Thesis Committee guides the student through the Qualifying Year as well as through the writing and defence of their dissertation.

In the Qualifying Year ( see QY checklist ) , the Committee approves a Research Reading List and guides the student in the writing of an (article-length)  Qualifying Paper . On the basis of the paper and written and oral Qualifying Exams , the Committee then determines whether the candidate has met the Qualifying Requirement and can begin formal research for the thesis.

In addition, by the end of August of the year in which the student completes their Qualifying Requirement, the student will designate a particular paper, typically written during coursework, as their Revision Paper and will solicit supervision on the revision of the paper from a faculty member using the  Revision Paper form . Students should plan to complete the Revision Paper Requirement over one or two months depending on whether one or two rounds of revision are undertaken.

After satisfying the Qualifying Requirement, the student selects a member of the Thesis Committee as a Thesis Supervisor .  By the end of September immediately following satisfaction of the Qualifying Year Requirement, the student produces and presents a Thesis Proposal  to their Thesis Committee. The student remains under the guidance of the Thesis Committee through the final Oral Defence of the finished dissertation. Thesis Committees are required to provide regular reports of progress made by their students. At the end of the Qualifying Year, the student should also choose a Teaching Mentor .

Doctoral students are expected to proceed through the program without interruption. Leaves of absence on medical or personal grounds for a period of up to three terms (one academic year) require documentation. The leave of absence policy is detailed on the  School of Graduate Studies  website.

Consult this  Four-Year PhD Timeline , which summarizes the department’s due dates for each requirement. In order to remain in good standing in the department, a student must complete each requirement by its due date. A student who falls out of good standing in the department is no longer guaranteed funding and no longer guaranteed a spot in the PhD program.

Faculty Program Advisors 

Faculty program advisors are a resource for students: you can ask questions or get advice beyond formal relationships with academic administrators and your peers, and begin building your network. Key points:

• Faculty program advisors and students will be matched prior to the beginning of the Fall term according to research interests and availability as much as possible.
• Advisors are assigned to students for the duration of their coursework , so for one or two years depending on the program and the student.
• Advisors will reach out to students sometime in August to schedule a 30-45-minute meeting before Orientation and the beginning of classes. This meeting can be in person or online.
• There are no formal rules for this first check-in meeting, but it serves to help orient students to the department and can even be a place for informal guidance on course selection. More formal information sessions about the rules and regulations of coursework and requirements will already have taken place between the student and the director of graduate studies at that point.
• Faculty program advisors and students check in with each other during the first semester, usually in November . Further meetings usually happen once a semester , or more frequently if both parties wish and a check in during the winter term is highly desirable.
• If students apply for travel grants or the like during their course of study, faculty program advisors will sign these forms.

Graduate Student Peer Mentors

Graduate student mentors provide another informal resource for incoming students to help orient themselves to the department, the university, and life as a graduate student in Toronto. Students are matched as best as possible according to research interests and can take any form both sides find most helpful. Graduate student mentors might share experiences or resources—or might simply make for the first new friend in the department to have coffee with. Mentors and mentees can discuss work habits (how much reading should I expect to do in a week?), career choices (what are the best and worst aspects of being a graduate student?) and more. In our experience, the relationship has proven valuable and enjoyable for both mentor and mentee.

Teaching Mentors 

Once students have passed their Qualifying Year , they should request faculty teaching mentors to help guide and assess their teaching. Students will reach out to a teaching mentor they would like to work with. Key points:

• Mentors should be available to review a graduate student’s teaching materials and, ultimately, the teaching dossier prepared for academic job searches.
• Mentors should observe a graduate student’s teaching at least once (more if there is room for pedagogical improvement during the first observation, to ultimately ensure a positive letter).
• Mentors should be listed on the graduate student’s Thesis Committee Report Form .

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PhD Program

• Philosophy Placement Program
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UBC’s Department of Philosophy offers two graduate degree programs: a Master of Arts (MA) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Program Overview

The Department of Philosophy houses a diverse group of internationally celebrated thinkers with broad interests in the analytic tradition and increasing expansion into non-western traditions. Members of the department are engaged in a range of research areas, including the philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of language, aesthetics, ethics, social/political philosophy, logic, Asian philosophy and the history of philosophy.

Graduate students not only work closely with faculty members, but also benefit from interaction with fellow graduate students. The Department offers a supportive environment full of intellectual stimulation and social events. Students are encouraged to take on teaching experiences and participate in the broader community of philosophers.

Master’s Program

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Graduate Programme

The Department of Philosophy at McGill University has particular strength in the following areas: Ancient and Medieval (especially Arabic) Philosophy; Early Modern Philosophy; Kant and post-Kantian German Philosophy; Philosophy of Mind; Aesthetics; Moral and Political Philosophy; Feminist Philosophy; History and Philosophy of Science and Mathematics; Philosophy of Logic; Contemporary European Philosophy. The course of study leading to a PhD in philosophy includes course work and the preparation and defence of a thesis. Students normally take twelve courses over two years, including courses which satisfy requirements in logic, history of philosophy, value theory and metaphysics/epistemology. (Students may take some courses for credit at the Université de Montréal and the Université du Québec à Montréal). Students are expected to work with at least two members of faculty in the preparation of a thesis. The Department has an excellent placement record.

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Doctor of Philosophy

Our PhD program immerses students in advanced research in health sciences, and equips them with the skills, expertise, and critical-thinking to succeed in academia and beyond. Our interdisciplinary approach to research encourages cross-functional collaboration on pressing issues, like global health, environmental health and toxicology, maternal and child health, epidemiology and disease prevention, chronic and infectious diseases, population and public health, mental health & addiction, social inequities and health outcomes, adolescent and child development, reproductive health, and health policy.

Study:  Full time

Length:  Minimum of three years

Workload:  Full time

Coursework:  Minimum of 6 units

Cost:  $1,985/term x 9 terms = $17,865 minimum total tuition, plus $455/term in ancillary fees. See this breakdown of the  typical costs per term  for graduate domestic and international students, and try the  cost of living calculator .

All PhD students in the Faculty of Health Sciences receive financial support either from scholarships, teaching appointments, or professors' research grants. The minimum PhD stipend is  $21,000 per year for three years.  More information is available in the full policy .

There are a variety of awards for incoming students, and deadlines are usually prior to program entry.  Learn more

All PhD candidates complete a minimum of 6 units of graduate coursework.

Typical PhD course plan

Comprehensive exam.

The comprehensive paper can include a critical review of the literature relevant to your research question, discussion of theoretical frameworks, or an in-depth analysis of the specific content area. You will choose your question or topic in collaboration with your supervisory committee.

Thesis proposal

You will prepare a written research proposal that integrates theory, current research and methods in fields related to your research problem. Normally, the proposal reviews the relevant research literature, reflects original work and describes methodology appropriate to the principal research question(s).

A written thesis is the final requirement of the PhD program. Typically, it will include an introduction to your research, research materials and methods, result and analyses, and discussion. You must pass the formal thesis defence to earn your degree.

Do you have questions about becoming a graduate student in the Faculty of Health Sciences?  Email one of our current students  if you'd like more information about student life in our programs.

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Department of Materials Science & Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree is the most advanced research degree in the Faculty. Working under the direction of a supervisor, PhD students engage in original research that contributes to their field of study. Advanced course work accompanies the pursuit of the thesis.

As a PhD student, you’ll receive guaranteed base support funding for up to four years of study. Current graduate scholarship funding tables can be viewed here .

Admission Requirements

Successful completion of a research master's degree in engineering, with an overall average of at least B+ (78%+), from an accredited institution. Current MASc students within our department can apply to fast-track into the PhD program before completing the MASc degree requirements

View the  full graduate studies admission requirements here .

Program Requirements & Time for Completion

The program of study normally includes 2.0 FCE (four half-courses), including the weekly Graduate Research Seminar, the Graduate Ethics Seminar, and a thesis.

In the PhD program, the departmental seminar comprises a minimum of two seminars presented to the academic staff/students of MSE.

Within 12 months of initial enrollment, all PhD students must pass a general Qualifying Examination based on the course material taken within the Department and on the background knowledge in the student's field of specialization.

The required thesis is based upon research work carried out in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering.

PhD candidates typically take between two and six years to complete the requirements of the degree. Only full-time study is available.

See all program requirements here: MSE Graduate Student Handbook

Research Areas & Affiliated Core Professors

Additive & advanced manufacturing.

• Zou, Yu  – Extreme mechanics & Advanced Manufacturing
• Naguib, Hani E.  (MIE/MSE) – Smart & Functional Materials
• Hibbard, Glenn D.  – Cellular Hybrid Materials
• Coyle, Thomas W.  – Advanced Coating Technologies
• Thorpe, Steven J.  – Surface Engineering & Electrochemistry

Advanced Characterization & Forensics

• Perovic, Doug D.  – Electron Microscopy,  Microelectronics & Forensics
• Howe, Jane  – In situ  & correlative microscopy group

Biomaterials

• Sone, Eli D.  (BME/MSE) – Composite Biological Materials
• Hatton, Ben  – Functional & Adaptive Surfaces
• Matsuura, Naomi   (BME/MSE) – Nanotechnology, Molecular Imaging & Systems Biology

Coatings & Surfaces

• Nogami, Jun  – Nanostructured Growth & Characterization
• Ruda, Harry E.  – Advanced Nanotechnology & Semiconductors
• Lian, Keryn K.  – Flexible Energy & Electronics

Computational Material & Data Analytics

• Singh, Chandra Veer   – Computational Materials Engineering
• Zou, Yu   - Laboratory for Extreme Mechanics & Additive Manufacturing
• Hattrick-SImpers, Jason  – AUTOnomous DIscovery of ALloys (AUTODIAL)
• von Lilienfeld, Anatole  –  Professor & Clark Chair of Advanced Materials at the Vector Institute

Electronics, Photonics & Sensors

• Kherani, Nazir P.  (ECE/MSE) – Advanced Photovoltaics & Devices
• Ruda, Harry E.  – Advanced Nanotechnology / Semiconductors
• Lu, Zheng-Hong  – Organic Optoelectronics

Energy Generation & Storage

• Barati, Mansoor   – Sustainable Materials Processing
• Azimi, Gisele   – Strategic Materials

Nano, 2D & Composite Materials

• Singh, Chandra Veer  – Computational Materials Engineering
• Perovic, Doug D.  – Electron Microscopy , Microelectronics & Forensics

Smart Materials & Devices

Sustainable materials processing.

• Barati, Mansoor  – Sustainable Materials Processing

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The graduate program has been innovative since its beginning. We have always placed an emphasis on interdisciplinary research and the acquisition of skills needed to work with texts in foreign languages, and students are required to develop a broad knowledge of the history of philosophy. There is also an important teaching skills component. Other new directions in the study of philosophy initiated by the department include the availability of Graduate Certificates attesting to a student's intensive course work and qualifying the student to teach at the interface of a related discipline. Currently, the department is affiliated with Graduate Certificate Programs in Cultural Studies, and  Women's and Gender Studies .

The purpose of the Doctoral Program is to prepare students for independent research and scholarship in the field, and to help them develop the necessary intellectual and pedagogical skills for teaching philosophy. The requirements and review processes are designed so that all seminar and non-seminar work will be completed by the end of the third year, leaving the fourth year for dissertation research and writing.

The Program includes seminars from these categories: History of Philosophy, Interface Studies, and Contemporary Philosophy. Each student then selects additional seminars in one category to form a concentration. In addition to twelve seminars (36 credits), there is a Teaching Practicum (3 credits) and several non-seminar units: logic and language requirements, two research papers, a History of Philosophy Exam, and a Prospectus Program. Here is a summary of the progress anticipated each year:

The department conducts its pedagogical training through the Teaching Practicum and the courses taught by graduate students which form an integral part of the undergraduate curriculum of the College of Arts and Sciences. Many doctoral students in the department have won Stony Brook's President's Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Graduate Student, and we are proud of the outstanding reputation our doctoral students have earned as undergraduate teachers. Currently, there are over sixty graduate students enrolled in the Doctoral Program, many from other countries including, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Colombia, Japan, Korea, Mexico and Sweden and and from a wide range of liberal arts colleges and universities in the United States. A significant number participate in conferences and publish articles in philosophy journals prior to the completion of their doctoral degrees.

Considering applying? Click on  Admissions for more detailed information.

More questions? Contact the Graduate Program Director for the Philosophy Department, Anne O'Byrne , at (631) 632-7590.

• Admissions to the PhD Program
• Doctoral Program Handbook
• International Programs
• Requirements for the PhD

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• 17 April 2024

Canadian science gets biggest boost to PhD and postdoc pay in 20 years

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Researchers in Canada got most of what they were hoping for in the country’s 2024 federal budget, with a big boost in postgraduate pay and more funding for research and scientific infrastructure.

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Canada pledges dramatic pay rise for PhDs, postdocs – but many will not benefit

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The Canadian government has pledged a significant investment in its graduate students and postdoctoral scholars after more than two decades of stagnation . Its 2024 budget proposal , announced on 16 April , provides C$825 million (£481 million) over the next five years to support next-generation researchers by increasing both the number and value of stipends. However, the pay rise will only be seen by graduates who win scarce Tri-Council grants, although it is hoped that as these stipends rise others will need to too to compete.

The budget, which the House of Commons must pass before it is finalised, would provide nearly C$200 million per year, increasing annual master’s and PhD scholarships to $27,000 and $40,000, respectively, and postdoctoral fellowships to $70,000. The budget’s passage is not guaranteed – it needs the support of at least one of three political parties other than the ruling Liberal party.

Source: © David Kawai/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, and Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s deputy prime minister and finance minister, presented the budget on 16 April. The package included funding that ended over 20 years of stagnation in PhD and postdoctoral stipends

The planned increases represent a dramatic jump. Currently, the typical annual stipend in Canada is around C$17,500 for master’s students, C$24,000 for PhDs and C$45,000 for postdocs. The government is also proposing C$1.8 billion to the different funding agencies in Canada over five years to increase core research grant funding.

The funding surge is expected to increase the number of research scholarships and fellowships provided by the government, building to approximately 1720 more graduate students or fellows benefiting each year.

Graduate student and postdoc pay in Canada has remained unchanged for over 20 years . A national survey last year by the Ottawa Science Policy Network found that nearly 90% of graduate students in the country reported feeling stressed and anxious about their finances, and almost one-third said they have considered leaving academia due to financial pressures.

‘These fellowships had the same value for many years, which means their ability to support students had, in many cases, fallen below a livable amount,’ explains Bruce Arndtsen , a chemistry professor at McGill University. ‘Many departments and institutions therefore needed to top these fellowships up from research grants simply to get to our normal stipend level.’

Most chemistry graduates ineligible for raise

Such a significant increase to graduate student stipends in Canada will give top students a competitive stipend and enable Canada to better retain these students, Arndtsen adds. ‘It will also allow the use of grant funds to better support their research activities rather than topping their fellowship up to needed levels.’

However, he notes that these stipend increases will only apply to the select few who win prestigious Tri-Council awards, and the majority of chemistry graduate students in Canada do not receive these top fellowships but are instead paid from research grants. In fact, Arndtsen notes that funding for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s major chemistry funding programme has also remained stagnant for decades, and he expresses hope that these grants will receive a similar increase in the near term.

Anne Labarre , a sixth-year PhD chemistry student at McGill who is involved in computational drug discovery, celebrated the government’s announcement. Labarre says the PhD stipends at her chemistry department are currently fixed at around C$26,000 per year and emphasises that this increase is significant considering the recent inflation and rent increases in Montreal.

Matthew Berg, who received a PhD in biochemistry from Western University in Canada in 2021 and is now a postdoc at the University of Washington in the US, is optimistic. ‘These increases are going to set the bar for where funding should be for trainees in the sciences and in graduate school,’ he states. ‘Right now, a lot of Canadian graduate students struggle,’ Berg continues. ‘We’ve heard stories of students having to rely on food banks and different support systems in order to just make it through their degree.’

Last year there was a nationwide walkout of students and academics in Canada who were demanding more federal funding for graduate students and postdoc researchers. This month, graduate teaching assistants at Western University went on strike to protest what they deemed unfair wages. Meanwhile, a union representing striking academic workers at York University in Toronto, including teaching assistants and graduate workers, appeared to have reached a tentative deal on 14 April after being on strike over pay since late February.

Berg says he was lucky – he received one of one of the elusive federal awards to support him as a PhD candidate in Canada, which he says was worth about C$35,000 annually for three years. As a postdoc in the US, Berg says he currently receives significantly better compensation, with a stipend equivalent to more than C$90,000.

‘My dream after my PhD is to move to back to Canada and be a professor there,’ he says. ‘But it does make me nervous how difficult it is to get funding there and I don’t want to run a lab where my students are struggling to survive.’

Michel Cayouette , the vice president of research and academic affairs at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute, says the C$1.8 billion funding boost is great news but will be insufficient to allow supervisors to increase the value of their trainees’ stipends to the amounts announced for award recipients. ‘This means that the vast majority of students and postdocs will continue to struggle financially,’ Cayouette warns. ‘There is therefore more work to do in coming years to fill the gap in funding and ensure that all trainees receive a liveable wage.’

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Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)

Canadian immigration updates.

Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

Go to programs search

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is a broad-based department with a wide range of research interests covering many key topics in contemporary physics, astronomy, and applied physics. We are a vibrant community that engages in a wide range of research directions, from probing the origin of the universe to exploring emergent phenomena in complex systems, that provide deep insights into the nature of the universe and practical solutions that will help define the world of tomorrow. Departmental research activities are supported by several computing and experimental facilities, and excellent electronics and machine shops.

Our graduate programs include approximately 200 graduate students, working on experiments and theory in research fields that include: Applied Physics, Astronomy/Astrophysics, Atomic/Molecular/Optics, Biophysics, Condensed Matter, Cosmology, Gravity, Medical Physics, Nuclear Physics, Particle Physics, and String Theory.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

The Department of Physics & Astronomy at UBC is noted for the excellence of its research and its high academic standards and integrity. It is one of the largest and most diverse physics and astronomy departments in Canada. We are constantly rated as one of the top Physics & Astronomy programs in the world. Much of the Department's research is enhanced by local facilities such as the TRIUMF National Laboratory, the Advanced Materials and Process Engineering Laboratory (AMPEL), and the BC Cancer Agency, UBC, and associated teaching hospitals, in addition to many specialized research laboratories housed within the Department. There is a great deal of collaboration and overlap of interests among the various groups.

Each year, our faculty bring over $20 million in research grants. This enables us to maintain world-class research laboratories and computational facilities, attract distinguished post-doctorate researchers, and support highly skilled engineers and technicians whose expertise is critical to our research.

UBC is a great place to study because it has a strong condensed matter physics division with approachable faculty. [...] I am also part of the Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute, which supports its affiliated graduate students generously and has partnership programs with other leading physics institutions around the world.

Oguzhan Can

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, 1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 90

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 6.5

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

2) Meet Deadlines

3) prepare application, transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

From September 2024 all full-time students in UBC-Vancouver PhD programs will be provided with a funding package of at least $24,000 for each of the first four years of their PhD. The funding package may consist of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, and graduate academic assistantships. Please note that many graduate programs provide funding packages that are substantially greater than $24,000 per year. Please check with your prospective graduate program for specific details of the funding provided to its PhD students.

Average Funding

• 55 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 55 students was $8,283.
• 66 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 66 students was $18,834.
• 6 students received Academic Assistantships. Average AA funding based on 6 students was $1,873.
• 82 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 82 students was $9,894.
• 14 students received external awards. Average external award funding based on 14 students was $25,857.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

108 students graduated between 2005 and 2013: 2 graduates are seeking employment; for 11 we have no data (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016). For the remaining 95 graduates:

Sample Employers in Higher Education

Sample employers outside higher education, sample job titles outside higher education, phd career outcome survey, alumni on success.

Michael Hoff

Job Title Assistant Professor

Employer University of Washington

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion rates & times, upcoming doctoral exams, thursday, 16 may 2024 - 9:30am - room 203, monday, 24 june 2024 - 12:30pm - room 200.

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Aronson, Meigan (heavy-ferromagnetic compounds; charge density waves; magnetic nanoparticles)
• Berciu, Mona (Electronic and magnetic properties of condensed matter and supraconductivity; Physical sciences; condensed matter theory; polarons, bipolarons; strongly correlated systems)
• Boley, Aaron (Astronomy and Astrophysics; Planet formation, protoplanetary disk evolution, formation of meteorite parent bodies)
• Bonn, Douglas Andrew (Condensed matter, high temperature superconductors, microwave measurements, crystal growth)
• Bryman, Douglas (Particle physics, experimental; Experimental Particle Physics; Applied physics; physics)
• Burke, Sarah (Scanning probe microscopy, organic materials, nanoscale materials, surface physics, photovoltaics )
• Choptuik, Matthew (Theoretical physics, Relativity/Computational Physics )
• Damascelli, Andrea (Electronic structure of solids, strongly correlated electron systems, low dimensional spin systems, thin films and nanostructures, transition metal oxides, high-Tc superconductors, linear and nonlinear optical spectroscopies, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy, synchrotron based spectroscopies., Electronic structure of novel complex systems in nanostructured materials)
• Dierker, Steve (Physical sciences; Collective dynamics of condensed matter systems; Dependence on reduced dimensionality, strong interactions, disorder, and mesoscale structure)
• Folk, Joshua (Physical sciences; 2D materials and Vanderwaals heterostructures; Quantum electronics; Thermodynamics of quantum systems; Strongly correlated phenomena; Topological phenomena; Quantum transport)
• Franz, Marcel (Condensed matter theory )
• Gay, Colin (Experimental subatomic physics, Beyond Standard Model physics, Extra dimensions)
• Gladman, Brett (Astronomy, Planetary Science, meteorites, astrobiology, Solar system formation and evolution)
• Hallas, Alannah (Physical sciences; quantum phenomena; magnetism; Materials design and discovery; Quantum materials)
• Halpern, Mark (Cosmology, Cosmic background radiation, history of star formation, measuring the geometry and contents of the Universe, satellites, balloon-borne telescopes, the physics of music, Physics of music, Cosmic Microwave Background, Physical Cosmology, Star formation history)
• Hasinoff, Michael (Low-energy particle physics)
• Hearty, Christopher (Particle physics, experimental; Experimental Particle Physics; e+e- collider; Physics beyond the Standard Model; Dark sector; dark matter)
• Heyl, Jeremy (Astronomical and space sciences; Physical sciences; Astrophysics; Black Holes; Neutron Stars; quantum phenomena; Quantum-Field Theory; Stellar; Stellar Physics)
• Hickson, Paul (cosmology, galaxies, telescopes, adaptive optics., Astronomy, astrophysics, Galaxies, clusters, instrumentation, adaptive optics)
• Hinshaw, Gary (cosmology, cosmic background radiation, Cosmology, Measuring diffuse background radiations)
• Jones, David (Atomic, optical and molecular physics,Ultrafast Optics, Spectroscopy)
• Karczmarek, Joanna (Physical sciences; Emergent spacetime and gravity; Matrix models; Noncommutative geometry; String theory)
• Leslie, Sabrina
• Lister, Alison (Particle physics, experimental; Large Hadron Collier (LHC); ATLAS experiment; Search for physics beyond the standard model; top quarks; dark matter; Machine Learning; Long-lived particles)
• Madison, Kirk (Condensed matter, atomic, molecular and optical physics )

Doctoral Citations

Sample thesis submissions.

• Towards improving radiotherapeutic treatment of the parotid glands : a cross-modality investigation
• Four dimensional dose calculations and planning strategies for dynamic tumour tracking treatments
• Direct entropy measurements in mesoscopic systems : from proof of concept to the Kondo regime
• Topological superconductivity in twisted cuprates and device applications inspired by their Josephson physics
• Topics in numerical relativity
• From growth to TR-ARPES of C₆₀ : a prototypical OPV system
• Quantum chaos in conformal field theories
• Resurrecting the N = 20 shell closure and upgrades to the TITAN measurement Penning trap
• A journey into computational protein design : simulation methods, physical origins of disease, and therapeutic design for neurodegenerative diseases and COVID19
• Relaxation dynamics in a molecular ultracold plasma : control and modeling
• Refinement of the first r-process abundance peak via high-precision mass measurements
• Longitudinal relaxation dynamics in white matter : experiments in NMR and MRI
• A detection of cosmological 21 cm emission from CHIME in cross-correlation with the eBOSS Lyman-𝜶 forest
• New Raman scattering enhancement methods with potential for improving the detection of breath VOCs
• Electron-phonon coupling in insulators : beyond the Migdal limit

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Science in Physics (MSc)

Same Academic Unit

• Doctor of Philosophy in Astronomy (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Physics (PhD)
• Master of Applied Science in Engineering Physics (MASc)
• Master of Science in Astronomy (MSc)
• Master of Science in Medical Physics (MSc)

Further Information

Specialization.

Physics provides research opportunities in many subfields of physics, including

• applied physics : this effort has spawned a number of spin-off companies.
• medical physics : be involved in a broad range of medical physics research in the areas of radiation therapy, medical imaging, biomedical optics and radiation biophysics.
• biophysics : the application of quantitative principles and methods to biological systems.
• nuclear and particle physics : the aim of subatomic physics is to understand matter and the fundamental forces in the universe and ultimately form a Theory of Everything.
• astronomy and astrophysics : study stars, galaxies, the material in between, and the Universe as a whole.
• atomic, molecular, and optical physics : this field is rapidly expanding and serves as the basis for many modern technological innovations.
• condensed matter physics is concerned with understanding and exploiting the properties of solids and liquids and the large area that this covers makes it the largest field of contemporary physics.
• theoretical physics : Gravity and Relativity, String Theory, High Energy Physics, and Condensed Matter Theory, to Quantum Information and Biophysics

UBC Calendar

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Rane Simpson

UBC is a fantastic institution in an amazing country. Add to this that it is home to the nations premier environment for nuclear physics experiments, and you will have a picture that describes why UBC was my number one destination for graduate studies.

Sharada Balaji

My supervisors! Having done my undergraduate degree at UBC, I was looking for a change of scenery for my graduate work. Meeting with both of my (then potential) supervisors, seeing the work they did, and their enthusiasm and friendliness made me change my mind about heading elsewhere.

Joshua MacEachern

In my undergrad, I really got great insight to how incredible the researchers in our physics/astronomy department (and the rest of UBC) are. Two of the cosmology faculty on the team that I joined at UBC (including my supervisor) won a Fundamental Breakthrough Prize in Physics in 2018. Their work on...

Paul Herringer

I get excited about all kinds of physics, not just my field of specialization, so I wanted to find a department with a wide variety of research topics. I was also able to find a supervisor whom I work well with in a field that suits my research interests. Last but not least, there are very few...

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