School of Graduate Studies
Find resources and supports for graduate students at the University of Toronto.
Learn More
Successful candidates of the Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences are required to complete the following program requirements on a full-time (within 4 years), direct-entry (within 5 years) or flex-time (within 8 years) schedule.
Some requirements for the PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences are different depending on the program completion schedule selected.
Direct-entry PhD students must:
- complete three full course equivalents (3 FCE) by the end of the fourth year of registration. Students who transfer from the MSc to PhD program will be given transfer credit for graduate course work completed during the MSc program.
- attend a minimum of eight (8) graduate departmental seminars each academic year while they are enrolled in the program.
- attend assigned graduate student group seminar, provide a 15-25 min presentation yearly, and chair one session yearly.
- Present two (2) posters at Graduate Research in Progress (GRIP). One presentation must be at GRIP and the second may be at GRIP or at a peer-reviewed conference.
- Successfully complete qualifying examination within the first 24 months of the program.
PhD full-time students must:
- complete two full course equivalents (2 FCE) by the end of the third year of registration.
- attend a minimum of eight (8) graduate departmental seminars each academic year while they are enrolled in the program
- attend assigned graduate student group seminar, provide a 15-25 min presentation yearly, and chair one session yearly
- Present one (1) poster at Graduate Research in Progress (GRIP)
- Successfully complete qualifying examination within the first 24 months of the program.
Additionally, all students must:
- attend at least one research ethics workshop for graduate students. Students who completed this requirement while registered in the MSc program are not required to attend a second workshop.
- plan and attend yearly advisory committee meetings. This meeting must take place before June 30 of each academic year.
- attend GRIP annually.
- present a final seminar during one’s thesis defense.
- develop a thesis based on an approved research problem in an area of pharmaceutical sciences.
Student Group Seminars
Student Group Seminars give graduate students in specific areas of research an opportunity to meet regularly with their peers for presentations and discussions.
To assist in preparing for presentations, students are advised to seek the counsel of their supervisor.
Graduate Departmental Seminars
Graduate Departmental Seminars provide students with the opportunity to acquaint themselves with different areas of research in pharmaceutical sciences and related fields, and assist them in communicating with professionals in these areas. Students are encouraged to attend the Graduate Departmental Seminars on a regular basis.