Students who are registered in the MSc in Mental Health program have the option to fast-track to the PhD in Mental Health program upon recommendation from their supervisor and passing the PSYT 701 Comprehensive Exam. Promising MSc students who have shown superior research progress and who meet the following requirements may take the oral comprehensive exam in order to determine their eligibility to fast-track:
- The student must have completed a minimum of 2 full-time听terms in the Master's program, up to a maximum of 4 full-time terms.
- The student has completed, or is in the process of completing, the 9 course credits required for their MSc.
- The student has a minimum CGPA of 3.5 in their MSc studies to date (*Note: if the student is still in the process of completing the required course credits, the file will be judged on the student's record to date and the plausibility of the student meeting the requirement).
- The student has had their first annual Thesis Committee meeting and has obtained a favorable assessment from the committee. The student should听inform the committee of their interest to fast-track to the PhD program in advance听(i.e. at the time when the notice of the meeting is sent to all committee members).
Upon approval by the supervisor and the thesis committee, the student will be allowed to proceed to the oral comprehensive exam (PSYT 701), which will take place within 9-12 months. In addition to the regular thesis committee members, the student and supervisor should identify an additional committee member who听MUST听be from outside the Department of Psychiatry to participate in the comprehensive exam. Detailed guidelines for the PSYT 701 Oral Comprehensive Exam can be found听here.
The student, if approved for fast-tracking, will create a PhD Fast-Track application on the . Kindly note that the standard department application deadlines still apply. If admitted, the student will enter the doctoral program at the PhD2 level.