• Ethics Forms
• FGS Policies
• Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines
• Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans

The following definitions of timely and satisfactory progress work with the design of the program and the sequencing of its requirements.  The deadlines of the first three years (9 terms) are meant to be a “reasonable push,” allowing for little “down time.”  In making this “push,” the Program also endeavours to provide appropriate and responsible faculty and Program administrative involvement, advice, and supervision to facilitate student progress.  The “push” works to facilitate another program goal – that of providing three years of additional funding via TA and/or GA and/or RAships, during which students can research, write, complete, and defend their dissertations.   

The definitions of “timely” and “satisfactory” progress relate to student initiative.  Extenuating and documentable circumstances, for example, medical circumstances and family emergencies, can enable a redefinition of the deadlines of progress for affected students.   Petitions to extend these deadlines must be made in writing with supporting documentation to the Graduate Study Committee of the GPE via the Program Office.  The GSC will decide the merits of petition and set new deadlines, if applicable.

Timely and satisfactory progress are defined as the meeting of all Program and Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements according to their specified deadlines as follows and for each degree respectively:

MA (fulltime)

By the end of

Term 3:              24 credits of coursework or

                            18 credits of coursework and 6-credit MRP or

                            12 credits of coursework and 12-credit MA thesis

• Students wishing additional time must enrol for additional terms part-time.  No additional funding is available.  FGS requires that all Master’s program must be completed within 4 years (12 terms) and enrolment must remain continuous.

PhD (fulltime)

By the end of

Term 3:              Major Field supervisor chosen and Major Field determined

                            Bibliography Requirement fulfilled (if applicable)

Term 5:              Major Field Exam (timely deadline)

FGS Supervisor form signed

Term 6:              18 credits of coursework completed*

                            Major Field Exam (satisfactory deadline)

Term 7:              Dissertation Exam (timely deadline)

Term 8:              FGS Supervisory Committee form signed

(final dissertation supervisory committee may change in the future.  A new form is signed to reflect the changes).

Term 9:              Dissertation Exam (satisfactory progress)**

                            Pre-1789 requirement fulfilled (by coursework or exam)

Term 12:            Language requirement fulfilled (by translation exam or coursework)

Term 18:            Dissertation successfully defended

* 2 years or 6 terms are provided for the completion of coursework so that students can avail themselves of a broad selection of courses offered.  Completion of coursework, however, means that a final course grade is recorded by the Registrar for each course; therefore, all incompletes must be cleared by 31 August of any given year.  See Policy on Incompletes.

** This later deadline reflects that a) additional time for thought with responsible supervision is needed by some students whose ideas emerge and evolve after the Major Field Examination, and b) the Proposals seminar is offered from October to March annually.

Note:     If students are evaluated as “not qualified” in either of the two examinations, then they have up to the end of the tenth term to become qualified, whether in the initial or another field or configuration of the Dissertation sub-fields.

Important Note: Failure to achieve satisfactory progress in the Program renders one eligible to be de-enrolled by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. 

The appropriate FGS form, called a “Course Transaction Form” is a multi-purpose form.  “Course Extension” can be found in box 2, mid-way down the form. 

http://www.yorku.ca/grads/current_students/forms.html

FGS encourages all programs to specify their own policies for incompletes.  The GPE policy is as follows: 

•  students must submit a written request (email) for a “course extension” and thus an “incomplete” grade to the course director no later than one week prior to the final due date for course work set by the course director;
• the request must detail the reasons for the request and specify the assignment(s) for which the extension applies;
• an end date for the extension at which time all specified assignments will be submitted to the professor will be negotiated by the course director and the student;

• no end date for an extension may exceed the end of the term subsequent to that in which the course was taken, namely
• April 31-  for Fall Classes
• Aug 31-  for Winter Courses
• Dec 31- for Summer Courses

• course directors are under no obligation to approve a request for an extension unless the student’s exceptional circumstances can be substantiated by documentation (e.g. medical documentation);
• both the student and course director must sign the FGS course transaction form

http://www.yorku.ca/grads/current_students/forms.html

• the Graduate Program Director, after consultation with the course director and with members of the Graduate Study Committee, makes a decision and informs both petitioner and course director;
• students may not hold more than two incompletes in any given term
• failure to meet the deadlines of a mutually-negotiated extension will result in a grade of F on the student’s transcript.
• Inability to complete course papers within the time limit of an additional term (max) constitutes unsatisfactory progress, and the student may be de-enrolled.  The student cannot withdraw in good standing, because he or she has not been able to maintain good standing in the Program.
• Further extension of an initial “course extension” is only possible through successful petition to the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Note:  students should understand that no application for external funding can be successful if “Incomplete” grades appear on their transcripts.

Faculty of Graduate Studies

• Faculty of Graduate Studies Forms

 Office of the Registrar

• Transcript Request Form
• Change your Name
• Change your Next of Kin, SIN, Emergency Contacts, Address / Phone / Fax / Email (click on "Change your address")
• Request an Office of the Registrar letter
• Request information from my file

Office of Student Financial Services

• Request a tuition refund (prior to the 18th of November, March and July)

Thesis Forms

• Click here

Convocation Forms

• Convocation form
• Apply to graduate