English PhD / PhD U Timeline – 1

GRADUATE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

PHD PROGRAM TIMELINE AND POLICY ON SATISFACTORY PROGRESS

[For students entering the PhD / PhD U (Direct-Entry) programs on or after Sept 1, 2024]

PhD Program, pages 1-6

PhD U (Direct-Entry) Program, pages 7-12
Typical Timelines (PhD and PhD U), pages 13-14

To supplement this timeline, please carefully consult the PhD Program page, where you will
also find links to the following important documents:

• Graduate English Guidelines: Supervisory Committee, Special Fields Examination, and

Thesis (from Topic to Submission)
• COVID 19 Pandemic Addendum to the Graduate English Guidelines
• Form A: Preliminary Thesis Proposal and Supervisory Committee Request List (also
available in Word doc format)
• Form B: Supervisory Committee and Special Fields Reading List (also available in Word doc
format)
• Description of Special Fields Exam and Timeline for Thesis Proposal, Reading List, and
Special Fields Exam
• Procedure for Students and Supervisors in Advance of the Final Oral Examination (FOE)

PHD PROGRAM (ADMITTED ON THE BASIS OF AN MA)

YEAR 1

Coursework Requirements

● ENG9400H Essential Skills Workshop Series (0.25 FCE), a credit/non-credit course offered in
the Fall Term.
● An additional 3.0 full course equivalents, usually in the form of 6 semester-long (“half”)
graduate courses. ENG9400H does not count towards this requirement. We encourage all
students to complete their coursework in the first year of the program (which includes the
summer at the end of Year 1), although it is possible to leave 1 half course to complete
during Year 2. Students are strongly discouraged from having more than 1 half course to
complete during Year 2.
● Balance between major and minor fields. In addition to fulfilling program requirements,
students should look ahead to the Special Fields Exam and thesis by taking courses in their
primary area of research and teaching, which we call a major field. The major field is
understood to be one in which hiring is or has been done, e.g. Medieval Literature, Early
American Literature, Postcolonial Literature, etc.: it is the established field to which the
dissertation will make an original contribution and in which (should the student intend to
pursue an academic career) the student eventually hopes to be hired. Students should
Revised May 2024
 English PhD / PhD U Timeline – 2

start by consulting the department’s Research Areas: in some cases, the student will be
able to select a research area as the major field (Early Modern Literature or African
American Literature, for example); in other cases, the major field may be more specific
than the research area and fit comfortably within it (Global Modernism is more specific
than and fits comfortably within Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Literature, or
Twentieth-Century American Literature is more specific than and fits comfortably within
American Literature). If possible, students should also take courses in what they envision
as their minor field. A minor field may be a research and teaching field in some way
adjacent to the major field – for instance, chronologically (Eighteenth-Century Literature if
the major field is Romantic Literature) or geographically (Twentieth-Century Canadian
Literature if the major field is Twentieth-Century American Literature); a theoretical or
methodological school or orientation (e.g., Marxist Literary Theory, Affect Theory, etc.); or,
if the minor field is neither adjacent to the major field nor a theoretical/methodological
school, then the minor field should complement the major field in some demonstrable way
(Medieval Literature if the major field is Victorian Literature and the thesis envisioned is on
Victorian Medievalism).
● Grades. You must maintain at least an A- average and complete each course with at least a
B.

Meeting Faculty Members

● You should begin to get to know as many faculty members working in your major
(especially) and minor fields as you can.
● You should begin to consider possible academic advisors who might be able to advise you
regarding the future course of your research and potentially serve on your supervisory
committee. Discussing ideas with your mentor would be a good place to start.
● If you are submitting applications for SSHRC and OGS fellowships, the period when you are
preparing your applications is an ideal time to meet faculty members and talk about the
projects proposed in your statements of purpose / programs of study for these fellowships.

Preliminary Thesis Proposal and Preparation for the Special Fields Examination

● Over the course of the first year, PhD students should give careful consideration to who
will serve as the supervisor of the thesis. Students should consult widely with faculty
members who might serve as supervisor and as the two additional members of your
supervisory committee. Please use a draft of your Preliminary Thesis Proposal as the
starting point for conversations, and bear in mind that securing a supervisor may require
you to revise or modify your research plans.
● April and early May: Circulate your Preliminary Thesis Proposal among at least three and
ideally four faculty members in your field in addition to your prospective supervisor. Solicit
feedback from each in whatever form would be convenient for that faculty member to
provide.
● May 15: Submit Form A: Preliminary Thesis Proposal and Committee Request List
● Early June: Supervisory committees are constituted. The constitution of supervisory
committees is the responsibility of the Department, facilitated by the Associate Director,
PhD, in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and the individual student.

Revised May 2024

 English PhD / PhD U Timeline – 3

While the Department asks for suggestions from students and their supervisors, please
note that it is not always possible to assign committee members on the basis of those
suggestions.
● June-early July: Student should meet or correspond with each member of the Supervisory
Committee to discuss the Thesis Proposal and the Special Fields Reading List and to decide
on an initial 40-50 texts for the Special Fields Reading List.

Summer

● Summer should be spent beginning to prepare for the Special Fields Exam by studying the
initial texts on the Special Fields Reading list. Students should also make notes about (and
if possible discuss with their supervisor and committee members) the remaining 40-50
texts on the list.

Satisfactory Progress

● “To be in good academic standing, a student registered in a degree program in the School
of Graduate Studies must: 1) comply with the General regulations of the School as well as
with the Degree Regulations and Program Requirements governing that degree program;
and 2) make satisfactory progress toward the completion of the degree. Failure to
maintain good academic standing may result in various sanctions, including ineligibility for
fellowships, lowest priority for bursaries and assistantships, and even termination” (SGS
Calendar).
● A PhD student has made Satisfactory Progress for Year 1 if by the end of the first academic
year the student: 1) has satisfied the requirement for ENG9400H; 2) in addition to
ENG9400H, has completed at least 2.5 FCEs, with an average grade of A- and with no grade
lower than a B; 3) has submitted Form A; and 4) has a supervisory committee.

YEAR 2

Coursework

● Complete any remaining course requirements (with the exception of ENG9900H, which
may be taken in either Year 2 or Year 3; see immediately below).
● Fall: option to take ENG9900H Teaching Literature (0.5 FCE), a credit/non-credit course
offered in the Fall Term, which may be taken in either Year 2 or Year 3.

Special Fields Examination

● Oct 1: Submit Form B: Special Fields Reading List

● At least three months should elapse between the submission of Form B and the date of the
Special Fields Examination. Most students will sit their exam in March, April, or May of Year
2. The written take-home exam is followed by a Position Paper (due one week after the
written is submitted) and a two-hour oral exam approximately one to two weeks
thereafter.

Revised May 2024

 English PhD / PhD U Timeline – 4

Satisfactory Progress

● A PhD student has made Satisfactory Progress for Year 2 if by the end of the second year in
the program the student 1) has completed the coursework requirement of ENG9400H plus
3.0 FCEs; 2) has submitted Forms A and B; and 3) has passed the Special Fields
Examination.

YEAR 3

Coursework

● Fall: ENG9900H Teaching Literature if the course was not taken in Year 2.

Language Requirement

● By May 31 of Year 3 you must have demonstrated a reading knowledge of French. With the
permission of the department, another language (including Old English) may be substituted
for French provided that this other language is required by the student’s research area.
The French Language Requirement is normally satisfied by one of the three following
methods: 1) FSL6000H registration, attendance, and successful completion; 2) prior
documented proficiency, usually by means of successful upper-level (third- or fourth-year)
undergraduate coursework in French literature (you should submit a formal request along
with transcripts and any other documentation to the Director of Graduate Studies,
preferably at an early stage in your program); 3) FSL6000H registration with approval of
exam-only option—on a case by case basis, PhD students not able to satisfy the language
requirement as in (2) but who can read French and have other concrete evidence of prior
language qualifications may apply in writing (by email) to the Director of Graduate Studies
to be allowed to exercise an exam-only option for credit in this course.

Supervisory Committee Meetings

● “A student is expected to meet with this committee at least once a year, and more often if
the committee so requires. At each meeting, the supervisory committee will assess the
student’s progress in the program and provide advice on future work. If in each of two
consecutive meetings, a student’s supervisory committee reports that the student’s
progress is unsatisfactory, the graduate unit may recommend to the School the
termination of registration and eligibility of that student. A student who, through the
student’s own neglect, fails to meet with the supervisory committee in a given year will be
considered to have received an unsatisfactory progress report from the committee” (SGS
Calendar).

Completion of Program Requirements

● Candidacy. Completion of all program requirements other than Thesis Research means
that you are now officially considered a “PhD Candidate” (sometimes referred to as ABD,
“all but dissertation”).

Revised May 2024

 English PhD / PhD U Timeline – 5

● Time-Limit to Completion. “A student enrolled in a full-time PhD degree program will be

denied further registration in that program and will have his or her eligibility terminated at
the end of the third year of registration if by that time either: 1) the student has not
completed all requirements for the degree exclusive of thesis research—including course
requirements, language requirements, qualifying departmental examinations—or: 2) the
student does not have an approved thesis topic, supervisor, or supervisory committee. In
exceptional circumstances, a student who has not met these requirements may be
permitted to register in the program for two further sessions at the discretion of the
graduate unit concerned. Continuation beyond two sessions will require the approval of
both the graduate unit and the SGS Admissions and Programs Committee” (SGS Calendar).

Satisfactory Progress

● A PhD student has made Satisfactory Progress for Year 3 if by the end of the third year in
the program the student has completed all of the requirements for Satisfactory Progress
for Years 1 and 2 and also: 1) has satisfied the French Language requirement (either with
French or with demonstration of reading knowledge in another language, as approved);
has successfully completed ENG9900H; and 3) has received a notice of satisfactory
progress from the supervisory committee.

YEAR 4

Satisfactory Progress

● A PhD student has made Satisfactory Progress for Year 4 if by the end of the fourth year in
the program the student has completed all of the requirements for Satisfactory Progress
for Years 1, 2, and 3 and also has received a notice of satisfactory progress from the
supervisory committee.

Summer Thesis Fellowship

● Please note: To be eligible to apply for a Summer Thesis Fellowship for the summer at the
end of Year 4, students must have completed a competent draft (as judged by the
supervisor) of one chapter of the dissertation by March 1 of Year 4. (NB a full-length
introduction, or combined writings that the supervisor deems to be the equivalent of a
chapter in terms of significance for the dissertation, may be considered a “chapter” for this
purpose.)

YEAR 5

Satisfactory Progress

● A PhD student has made Satisfactory Progress for Year 5 if by the end of the fifth year in
the program the student has completed all of the requirements for Satisfactory Progress
for Years 1 through 4 and also has received a notice of satisfactory progress from the
supervisory committee.

Revised May 2024

 English PhD / PhD U Timeline – 6

Funding Ends

● The Faculty of Arts and Science provides a funding commitment to PhD students so that
they receive a basic minimum of income from a combination of sources, including
University of Toronto Fellowship (UTF), Research Assistantships, External Fellowships, or
Teaching Assistantships (note that almost all PhD students in the Department of English
must work some hours as a TA as part of their funding package). This funding commitment
is in place for five years. After the fifth year, it may become more difficult to find the time
to get your academic work done, as you may have to take on teaching or other jobs to
support yourself. Note also that SSHRC fellowships cannot be held after year 5, OGS
fellowships are rarely awarded after year 6, and Teaching Assistantship entitlements are
for a total of six years (one initial appointment and five subsequent appointments). It is
imperative that you make the most of your five years of funding and make as much
progress on your dissertation as possible. Submitting your dissertation before the end of
Year 5 is strongly recommended.

Doctoral Completion Award

● Please note: To be eligible to apply for a Doctoral Completion Award (DCA), students must
have completed at least two chapters of the dissertation (to the satisfaction of the
supervisory committee) by the end of Year 5.

Thesis Submission and Final Oral Examination

Please see the Graduate English Guidelines: Supervisory Committee, Special Fields
Examination, and Thesis (from Topic to Submission) and the short Procedure for Students and
Supervisors in Advance of the Final Oral Examination (FOE) document.

● When the thesis is completed, the Supervisor sends an email to the Director of Graduate
Studies stating that the student is ready to submit and suggesting possible external
examiners and departmental examiners. In close consultation with the Director of
Graduate Studies and Graduate Department staff, the student prepares a CV and thesis
abstract; once those have been approved, the student submits the CV, the abstract, and
the dissertation as three separate PDFs. The Department and the School of Graduate
Studies then set up the Final Oral Examination (also called the thesis defense). After a
successful defense, the student uploads a final version of the thesis to the electronic thesis
repository (ETD) and submits a printed and bound hard copy to the Department.
● NOTE: A minimum of ten weeks must elapse between submitting the thesis to the
department and the defense; sometimes a longer period of time is required. Until the final
corrected version of the thesis is uploaded to the thesis repository (ETD), the student
continues to pay fees. SGS also has deadlines for convocation. Students planning on a
March convocation should make sure they submit the thesis to the Department before Nov
1; for a June Convocation, before Feb 1; for a Nov convocation, before July 1. There may be
corrections that need to be made to the thesis after the defense, which may add more
time to the process.

Revised May 2024

 English PhD / PhD U Timeline – 7

PHD U (DIRECT-ENTRY) PROGRAM (TYPICALLY ADMITTED ON THE BASIS OF A BA OR AN MA IN A RELATED FIELD)

YEAR 1

Coursework

● ENG6999YH Critical Topographies.

● An additional 2.0 full course equivalents. In other words, 4 additional semester-long
(“half”) graduate courses. (ENG6999YH does not count towards this requirement.)
● Balance between major and minor fields. In addition to fulfilling program requirements,
students should look ahead to the Special Fields Exam and thesis by taking courses in their
primary area of research and teaching, which we call a major field. The major field is
understood to be one in which hiring is or has been done, e.g. Medieval Literature, Early
American Literature, Postcolonial Literature, etc.: it is the established field to which the
dissertation will make an original contribution and in which (should the student intend to
pursue an academic career) the student eventually hopes to be hired. Students should
start by consulting the department’s Research Areas: in some cases, the student will be
able to select a research area as the major field (Early Modern Literature or African
American Literature, for example); in other cases, the major field may be more specific
than the research area and fit comfortably within it (Global Modernism is more specific
than and fits comfortably within Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Literature, or
Twentieth-Century American Literature is more specific than and fits comfortably within
American Literature). If possible, students should also take courses in what they envision as
their minor field. A minor field may be a research and teaching field in some way adjacent
to the major field – for instance, chronologically (Eighteenth-Century Literature if the
major field is Romantic Literature) or geographically (Twentieth-Century Canadian
Literature if the major field is Twentieth-Century American Literature); a theoretical or
methodological school or orientation (e.g., Marxist Literary Theory, Affect Theory, etc.); or,
if the minor field is neither adjacent to the major field nor a theoretical/methodological
school, then the minor field should complement the major field in some demonstrable way
(Medieval Literature if the major field is Victorian Literature and the thesis envisioned is on
Victorian Medievalism).
● Grades. You must maintain at least an A- average, and complete each course with at least a
B.

Meeting Faculty Members

● You should begin to get to know as many faculty members working in your major
(especially) and minor fields as you can.
● You should begin to consider possible academic advisors who might be able to advise you
regarding the future course of your research and potentially serve on your supervisory
committee. Discussing ideas with your mentor would be a good place to start.
● If you are submitting applications for SSHRC and OGS fellowships, the period when you are
preparing your applications is an ideal time to meet faculty members and talk about the
projects proposed in your statements of purpose / programs of study for these fellowships.

Revised May 2024

 English PhD / PhD U Timeline – 8

Satisfactory Progress

● “To be in good academic standing, a student registered in a degree program in the School
of Graduate Studies must: 1) comply with the General regulations of the School as well as
with the Degree Regulations and Program Requirements governing that degree program;
and 2) make satisfactory progress toward the completion of the degree. Failure to
maintain good academic standing may result in various sanctions, including ineligibility for
fellowships, lowest priority for bursaries and assistantships, and even termination” (SGS
Calendar).
● A PhD U student has made Satisfactory Progress for Year 1 if by the end of the first
academic year the student has completed ENG6999YH plus 2.0 FCEs, and done so with an
average grade of A- and with no grade lower than a B.

YEAR 2

Coursework Requirements

● ENG9400H Essential Skills Workshop Series (0.25 FCE), a credit/non-credit course offered
in the Fall Term.
● An additional 3.0 full course equivalents, usually in the form of 6 semester-long graduate
courses. ENG9400H does not count towards this requirement. We encourage all students
to complete their coursework in the second year of the program (which includes the
summer at the end of Year 2), although it is possible to leave 1 half course to complete
during Year 3. Students are strongly discouraged from having more than 1 half course to
complete during Year 3.
● Balance between major and minor fields. See above, under Year 1.
● Grades. You must maintain at least an A- average and complete each course with at least a
B.

Preliminary Thesis Proposal and Preparation for the Special Fields Examination

● Over the course of the second year, PhD U students should give careful consideration to
who will serve as the supervisor of the thesis. Students should consult widely with faculty
members who might serve as supervisor and as the two additional members of your
supervisory committee. Please use a draft of your Preliminary Thesis Proposal as the
starting point for conversations, and bear in mind that securing a supervisor may require
you to revise or modify your research plans.
● April and early May: Circulate your Preliminary Thesis Proposal among at least three and
ideally four faculty members in your field in addition to your prospective supervisor. Solicit
feedback from each in whatever form would be convenient for that faculty member to
provide.
● May 15: Submit Form A: Preliminary Thesis Proposal and Committee Request List
● Early June: Supervisory committees are constituted. The constitution of supervisory
committees is the responsibility of the Department, facilitated by the Associate Director,
PhD, in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and the individual student.
While the Department asks for suggestions from students and their supervisors, please

Revised May 2024

 English PhD / PhD U Timeline – 9

note that it is not always possible to assign committee members on the basis of those
suggestions.
● June-early July: Student should meet or correspond with each member of the Supervisory
Committee to discuss the Thesis Proposal and the Special Fields Reading List and to decide
on an initial 40-50 texts for the Special Fields Reading List.

Summer

● Summer should be spent beginning to prepare for the Special Fields Exam by studying the
initial texts on the Special Fields Reading list. Students should also make notes about (and
if possible discuss with their supervisor and committee members) the remaining 40-50
texts on the list.

Satisfactory Progress

● “To be in good academic standing, a student registered in a degree program in the School
of Graduate Studies must: 1) comply with the General regulations of the School as well as
with the Degree Regulations and Program Requirements governing that degree program;
and 2) make satisfactory progress toward the completion of the degree. Failure to
maintain good academic standing may result in various sanctions, including ineligibility for
fellowships, lowest priority for bursaries and assistantships, and even termination” (SGS
Calendar).
● A PhD U student has made Satisfactory Progress for Year 2 if by the end of the second
academic year the student: 1) has satisfied the requirements for ENG6999YH and
ENG9400H (credit/non-credit); 2) in addition to ENG6999YH and ENG9400H, has
completed at least 5.5 FCEs with an average grade of A- and with no grade lower than a B;
3) has submitted Form A; and 4) has a supervisory committee.

YEAR 3

Coursework

● Complete any remaining course requirements (with the exception of ENG9900H, which
may be taken in either Year 3 or Year 4; see immediately below).
● Fall: option to take ENG9900H Teaching Literature (0.5 FCE), a credit/non-credit course
offered in the Fall Term, which may be taken in either Year 3 or Year 4.

Special Fields Examination

● Oct 1: Submit Form B: Special Fields Reading List

● At least three months should elapse between the submission of Form B and the date of the
Special Fields Examination. Most students will sit their exam in March, April, or May of Year
3. The written take-home exam is followed by a Position Paper (due one week after the
written is submitted) and a two-hour oral exam approximately one to two weeks
thereafter.

Revised May 2024

 English PhD / PhD U Timeline – 10

Satisfactory Progress

● A PhD U student has made Satisfactory Progress for Year 3 if by the end of the third year in
the program the student has completed all of the requirements for Satisfactory Progress
for Years 1 and 2 and also: 1) has submitted Form B (Special Fields Reading List); and 2) has
passed the Special Fields Examination.

YEAR 4

Coursework

● Fall: ENG9900H Teaching Literature if the course was not taken in Year 3.

Language Requirement

● By May 31 of Year 3 you must have demonstrated a reading knowledge of French. With the
permission of the department, another language (including Old English) may be substituted
for French provided that this other language is required by the student’s research area.
The French Language Requirement is normally satisfied by one of the three following
methods: 1) FSL6000H registration, attendance, and successful completion; 2) prior
documented proficiency, usually by means of successful upper-level (third- or fourth-year)
undergraduate coursework in French literature – you should submit a formal request
along with transcripts and any other documentation to the Director of Graduate Studies,
preferably at an early stage in your program; 3) FSL6000H registration with approval of
exam-only option – on a case by case basis, PhD students not able to satisfy the language
requirement as in (2) but who can read French and have other concrete evidence of prior
language qualifications may apply in writing (by email) to the Director of Graduate Studies
to be allowed to exercise an exam-only option for credit in this course.

Supervisory Committee Meetings

● “A student is expected to meet with this committee at least once a year, and more often if
the committee so requires. At each meeting, the supervisory committee will assess the
student’s progress in the program and provide advice on future work. If in each of two
consecutive meetings, a student’s supervisory committee reports that the student’s
progress is unsatisfactory, the graduate unit may recommend to the School the
termination of registration and eligibility of that student. A student who, through the
student’s own neglect, fails to meet with the supervisory committee in a given year will be
considered to have received an unsatisfactory progress report from the committee” (SGS
Calendar).

Completion of Program Requirements

● Candidacy. Completion of all program requirements other than Thesis Research means
that you are now officially considered a “PhD Candidate” (sometimes referred to as ABD,
“all but dissertation”).

Revised May 2024

 English PhD / PhD U Timeline – 11

● Time-Limit to Completion. “A student enrolled in a full-time PhD degree program will be

denied further registration in that program and will have his or her eligibility terminated at
the end of the fourth year of registration [for Direct Entry students] if by that time either:
1) the student has not completed all requirements for the degree exclusive of thesis
research—including course requirements, language requirements, qualifying departmental
examinations—or: 2) the student does not have an approved thesis topic, supervisor, or
supervisory committee. In exceptional circumstances, a student who has not met these
requirements may be permitted to register in the program for two further sessions at the
discretion of the graduate unit concerned. Continuation beyond two sessions will require
the approval of both the graduate unit and the SGS Admissions and Programs Committee.”
(SGS Calendar)

Satisfactory Progress

● A PhD U student has made Satisfactory Progress for Year 4 if by the end of the fourth year
in the program the student has completed all of the requirements for Satisfactory Progress
for Years 1-3 and also 1) has satisfied the French Language requirement (either with French
or with demonstration of reading knowledge in another language, as approved); 2) has
completed ENG9900H; and 3) has received a notice of satisfactory progress from the
supervisory committee.

YEAR 5

Satisfactory Progress

● A PhD U student has made Satisfactory Progress for Year 5 if by the end of the fifth year in
the program the student has completed all of the requirements for Satisfactory Progress
for Years 1-4 and also has received a notice of satisfactory progress from the supervisory
committee.

Funding Ends

● The Faculty of Arts and Science provides a funding commitment to PhD students so that
they receive a basic minimum of income from a combination of sources, including
University of Toronto Fellowship (UTF), Research Assistantships, External Fellowships, or
Teaching Assistantships (note that almost all PhD students in the Department of English
must work some hours as a TA as part of their funding package). This funding commitment
is in place for five years. After the fifth year, it may become more difficult to find the time
to get your academic work done, as you may have to take on teaching or other jobs to
support yourself. Note also that SSHRC fellowships cannot be held after year 5, OGS
fellowships are rarely awarded after year 6, and Teaching Assistantship entitlements are
for a total of six years (one initial appointment and five subsequent appointments). It is
imperative that you make the most of your five years of funding and make as much
progress on your dissertation as possible. Submitting your dissertation before the end of
Year 5 is strongly recommended.

Revised May 2024

 English PhD / PhD U Timeline – 12

Summer Thesis Fellowship

● Please note: To be eligible to apply for a Summer Thesis Fellowship for the summer at the
end of Year 5, students must have completed a competent draft (as judged by the
supervisory committee) of one chapter of the dissertation by March 1 of Year 5. (NB a full-
length introduction, or combined writings that the supervisor deems to be the equivalent
of a chapter in terms of significance for the dissertation, may be considered a “chapter” for
this purpose.)

Doctoral Completion Award

● To be eligible to apply for a Doctoral Completion Award (DCA), PhD U students must have
completed at least two chapters of their dissertation (to the satisfaction of the supervisory
committee) by the end of Year 5. PhD U students may apply a second time for a DCA in
Year 6, but they will have to submit ONE NEW chapter with their second application.

Thesis Submission and Final Oral Examination

Please see the Graduate English Guidelines: Supervisory Committee, Special Fields
Examination, and Thesis (from Topic to Submission) and the short Procedure for Students and
Supervisors in Advance of the Final Oral Examination (FOE) document.

● When the thesis is completed, the Supervisor sends an email to the Director of Graduate
Studies stating that the student is ready to submit and suggesting possible external
examiners and departmental examiners. In close consultation with the Director of
Graduate Studies and Graduate Department staff, the student prepares a CV and thesis
abstract; once those have been approved, the student submits the CV, the abstract, and
the dissertation as three separate PDFs. The Department and the School of Graduate
Studies then set up the Final Oral Examination (also called the thesis defense). After a
successful defense, the student uploads a final version of the thesis to the electronic thesis
repository (ETD) and submits a printed and bound hard copy to the Department.
● NOTE: A minimum of ten weeks must elapse between submitting the thesis to the
department and the defense; sometimes a longer period of time is required. Until the final
corrected version of the thesis is uploaded to the thesis repository (ETD), the student
continues to pay fees. SGS also has deadlines for convocation. Students planning on a
March convocation should make sure they submit the thesis to the Department before Nov
1; for a June Convocation, before Feb 1; for a Nov convocation, before July 1. There may be
corrections that need to be made to the thesis after the defense, which may add more
time to the process.

Revised May 2024

 English PhD / PhD U Timeline – 13

Typical Timelines

PHD (ADMITTED ON THE BASIS OF AN MA)

Year 1 (Coursework: ENG9400H + 5 or 6 seminars [2.5 or 3.0 FCEs]; Form A)

Sept Orientation
Fall Term ENG9400H + 2 or (ideally) 3 seminars
Fellowship Applications
Winter Term 3 seminars
May 15 Form A
Summer Constitution of Supervisory Committee
Summer Begin reading for Special Fields Examination

Year 2 (Complete coursework if necessary; Form B; SF Exam)

Fall Term 1 remaining seminar, if necessary

Option to take ENG9900H (course may be taken instead in Year 3)
Fellowship Applications
Oct 1 Form B
Spring Special Fields Examination

Year 3 (Thesis Writing)

Fall Term Option to take ENG9900H (if course was not taken in Year 2)
Fall-Spring Thesis Writing
May Deadline for French Requirement
July Deadline for Completion of Program Requirements/Candidacy Achieved

Year 4 (Thesis Writing)

Fall-Spring Thesis Writing

Summer Summer Thesis Fellowship

Year 5 (Thesis Completion)

Nov 15 Last day to submit Thesis for possible March convocation

Feb 15 Last day to submit Thesis for possible June convocation
July 15 Last day to submit Thesis for possible November convocation
Summer Funding Ends

Revised May 2024

 English PhD / PhD U Timeline – 14

PHD U (TYPICALLY ADMITTED ON THE BASIS OF A BA OR AN MA IN A RELATED FIELD)

Year 1 (Coursework: ENG6999YH + 2.0 FCEs = 4 seminars)

September Orientation
Fall Term ENG 6999YH + 1 or 2 seminars
Fellowship Applications
Winter Term 1 or 2 seminars
Summer 1 seminar, if necessary

Year 2 (Coursework: ENG9400H + 2.5 or 3.0 FCEs = 5 or 6 seminars; Form A)

Fall Term ENG9400H + 2 or (ideally) 3 seminars

Fellowship Applications
Winter Term 3 seminars
May 15 Form A
Summer Constitution of Supervisory Committee
Summer Begin reading for Special Fields Examination

Year 3 (Complete coursework if necessary; Form B; SF Exam)

Fall Term 1 remaining seminar, if necessary

Option to take ENG9900H (course may be taken instead in Year 4)
Fellowship Applications
Oct 1 Form B
Spring Special Fields Examination
July Deadline for Completion of Program Requirements/Candidacy Achieved

Year 4 (Thesis Writing)

Fall Term Option to take ENG9900H (if course was not taken in Year 3)
Fall-Spring Thesis Writing
May Deadline for French Requirement

Year 5 (Thesis Completion)

Nov 15 Last day to submit Thesis for possible March convocation

Feb 15 Last day to submit Thesis for possible June convocation
July 15 Last day to submit Thesis for possible November convocation
Summer Summer Thesis Fellowship (after which funding ends)

Revised May 2024