Year One

September

• Select courses, including (usually) Core Course(s) in Field 1 and/or Field 2
• Agree on program/course requirements with Graduate Director
• Check in with designated Advisor

October

• Submit fellowship applications (OGS, SSHRC, etc.)

January to August

• Explore ideas for thesis in a general way and candidates for thesis committee. Meet with potential supervisors

May or August

• Write Field Exam(s)

Year Two

September

• Select courses to complete PhD course requirements

October

• Submit fellowship applications
• Explore additional funding sources for later stages/field work (if applicable)

October to December

• Select thesis supervisor and committee members additional to supervisor (if not already done)

January to April

• Work towards thesis proposal (for many, this is in conjunction with Dissertation Research Workshop, taken in close consultation with thesis supervisor)Satisfy language requirement(s)

May to August

• Work on thesis proposal
• Work on ethics review, if applicable
• Consider, if possible and applicable, preliminary field work
• Complete Field Exam(s)

Year Three

September

• Meet with your dissertation supervisor and register for POL2812

October to December

• Finalize supervisory committee
• Ensure that ethical review (if applicable) is prepared
• Complete a draft of thesis proposal

January to May

1. Finalize thesis proposal
2. Ensure all non-thesis requirements satisfied, if not already (absolute deadline for such requirements is end of year three)
3. Begin thesis work, including fieldwork, if applicable

Years Four and Five

Continuous

• Thesis work

October

• Submit fellowship applications