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The Department of English at the University of Toronto offers two doctoral streams, the PhD program and the PhD U (“direct-entry”) program.

Admission to the doctoral streams is highly selective.

The PhD program welcomes applications from our own English MA students and English MA students from other recognized institutions.

Candidates for admission to the PhD program must complete an MA in English at this or another university with a standing of A- or better and must satisfy the Department that they are capable of independent research at an advanced level.

The PhD program is designed for completion in five years ; it may extend, if necessary, to a maximum of six years.

PhD U (Direct-Entry) Program

The "direct-entry" PhD U program welcomes applications from exceptional students who have completed their undergraduate English BA degree but not an English MA, or who have completed an MA in a program related to but not in the field of English. (If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact the Associate Director, PhD , before applying.)

Please see the Application Information  page (under “Programs”) for further information about eligibility for the PhD U program, which involves an additional year of coursework and therefore tends to take an additional year to complete.

Upon registration, all doctoral candidates are assigned a mentor from the Department’s graduate faculty.

A thesis supervisor and supervisory committee are appointed at the end of Year 1 for students in the PhD program or the end of Year 2 for students in the PhD U program.

The Special Fields Examination is normally taken in March, April, or May of Year 2 in the program for PhD students or Year 3 in the program for PhD U students.

Program Requirements and Course Work

At the University of Toronto, the acronym FCE stands for “Full Course Equivalent.” A “full course” is weighted 1.0 FCE and meets for the full year (i.e., two terms or semesters). Almost all of our graduate courses in English , however, run for a single term and are thus called “half courses,” which are weighted 0.5 FCE. (“3.0 FCEs,” in other words, in practice means 6 single-term courses.)

The program requirements (except for ENG9900H) for the PhD are usually completed within the first two years of the program.

The minimum course requirements for the degree are as follows:

• ENG9400H Essential Skills Workshop Series (0.25 FCE); taken in Year 1 of the program
• ENG9900H Teaching Literature (0.5 FCE); students have the option of taking this required course in either Fall of Year 2 or Fall of Year 3
• 3.0 additional FCEs in English, as approved by the department; the department strongly encourages students to complete these 3.0 additional FCEs in Year 1
• Every student must complete at least 2.0 FCEs outside the chosen field of study over the course of their graduate training. The student is encouraged to combine these courses into a minor field. Graduate courses taken as part of the master's program may be counted in this connection, but the following courses may not be counted: ENG6999Y Critical Topographies: Theory and Practice of Contemporary Literary Studies in English , ENG9400H Essential Skills Workshop Series , ENG9900H Teaching Literature .

Language Requirement: PhD students must also demonstrate reading knowledge of French by May 31 of Year 3 of registration. 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 supervisory committee may require the student to qualify in other program-related languages as well.

In order to maintain good academic standing, and to continue in the PhD program, the student must complete each course with a grade of at least B and maintain an average grade of at least A–.

PhD students may take up to 1.0 FCE of coursework outside of the Graduate Program in English, with the approval of the Associate Director, PhD.  

Cross-listed courses (that is, courses taught by English graduate faculty in other units) and courses required for a collaborative specialization are equivalent to English courses and may be taken without special permission from the Department.

PhD U (Direct-Entry)

The program requirements (except for ENG9900H) for the PhD U are usually completed within the first three years of the program.

• ENG6999Y Critical Topographies: Theory and Practice of Contemporary Literary Studies in English (1.0 FCE); taken in Year 1 of the program
• ENG9400H Essential Skills Workshop Series (0.25 FCE); taken in Year 2
• ENG9900H Teaching Literature (0.5 FCE); students have the option of taking this required course in either Fall of Year 3 or Fall of Year 4
• 5.0 additional FCEs in English, as approved by the department. In Year 1, in addition to ENG6999Y the student must complete 2.0 FCEs. In addition to ENG9400H, students must then complete the remaining 3.0 FCEs by the end of Year 3. The department strongly encourages students to complete these 3.0 additional FCEs in Year 2.
• Every student must complete at least 2.0 FCEs outside the chosen field of study. The student is encouraged to combine these courses into a minor field. Neither ENG6999Y Critical Topographies: Theory and Practice of Contemporary Literary Studies in English , ENG9400H Essential Skills Workshop Series , nor ENG9900H Teaching Literature  may be counted towards a minor field.

Language Requirement: PhD U students must also demonstrate reading knowledge of French by May 31 of Year 4 of registration. 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 supervisory committee may require the student to qualify in other program-related languages as well.

In order to maintain good academic standing, and to continue in the PhD U program, the student must complete each course with a grade of at least B and maintain an average grade of at least A–.

PhD U students may take up to 1.0 FCE of coursework outside of the Graduate Program in English, with the approval of the Associate Director, PhD.  

Thesis and Supervisory Committee Information

Along with the information provided under the headings below, please carefully consult these two important documents:

The Thesis Topic

Careful consideration in the process of choosing a thesis topic is critical for all doctoral candidates. Select a subject that excites your curiosity, engages your interest, and represents your current thinking and expertise. A thesis topic should emerge from coursework and intellectual growth during the first stages of the program.

Even candidates who enter the program with ideas about a thesis topic are advised to test them further against their own development, the current state of scholarship in the field, and available faculty and archival resources

Finding a Supervisor

The Graduate English faculty is extensive and extraordinarily wide-ranging. Students are advised to consider all potential supervisors from among faculty holding the rank of Associate or Full Professor.

Every PhD student is assigned a mentor, who is one source for information about potential thesis supervisors. Above all, coursework offers the chance to explore intellectual affinities with potential supervisors, and the Director and Associate Directors of the graduate program can offer useful advice.

Members of the Graduate Faculty are always willing to discuss thesis topics and supervision with candidates, and asking a faculty member to read and comment on a fellowship proposal is an excellent way to begin to gauge the potential of a supervisory relationship.

Students should initiate discussion of a thesis topic with potential supervisors early in the second term of the first year of the PhD program (or second year for direct-entry students).

Form A: Preliminary Thesis Proposal and Supervisory Committee Request List

After securing a thesis supervisor and developing a thesis topic in consultation with that supervisor, the student and supervisor work together to submit Form A to the Department by May 15 of the first year (or second year for PhD U students) .

As part of the process of completing Form A, the student should consult with four (or, at a minimum, three) additional members of the graduate faculty to gain further perspectives on the design and viability of the project. On the form, the student lists the names of the faculty members consulted and the names of up to four faculty members to be considered as potential members of the supervisory committee. (The names of the faculty consulted and the potential committee members are often, but may not necessarily be, the same.)

The Preliminary Thesis Proposal is a statement of approximately 1-2 single-spaced pages outlining the focus and approach of the proposed program of research. Successful proposals will be written in clear, concise prose. As its title suggests, the proposal is preliminary: the position paper component of the Special Fields Exam (at the end of the following year) will provide the opportunity for revision and expansion. Students should feel free, if it in fact reflects their current thinking, to adapt their Program of Study from a SSHRC or Plan of Study from a OGS proposal. As above, be sure that your Thesis Proposal reflects your current thinking, growth, and knowledge of the field.

Form B: Supervisory Committee and Special Fields Reading List

After Form A has been received, the Director and Associate Director, PhD, will determine the composition of the supervisory committee (usually the supervisor plus two additional members). Early in the summer, the candidate should then meet with the supervisory committee as a group to discuss the proposal, draw up an initial list of texts for the Special Fields Examination (see below), and develop a plan of work.

In late summer or early fall the student consults with the committee once again to complete Form B, which must be submitted to the Department by October 1 of the second year of the program (or third year for PhD U students) .

Please see below  for further information about the Special Fields Examination.

Thesis Supervision

It is critical to the success of the working relationship between supervisor and candidate to develop an initial agreement about the method and scope of the research, and to clarify the expectations of supervisor and candidate: about the kind and amount of advice that the candidate wants and the supervisor is able and willing to offer; about the involvement of the members of the supervisory committee; about the frequency, regularity and contents of consultations; about an appropriate time scheme for the completion of the thesis; and about the way draft work is to be submitted.

The candidate meets with the supervisor and individual committee members according to the schedule they have established, but the candidate must meet with the full supervisory committee at least once every year in order to meet SGS registration requirements.

Please carefully consult the following SGS publications:

• Graduate Supervision Guidelines
• Graduate Supervision Guidelines — Faculty Edition
• Graduate Supervision Guidelines — Student Edition
• The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Centre for Graduate Mentorship and Supervision

Thesis Submission Guidelines and the Final Oral Examination

Special fields examination.

The Special Fields Examination both prepares students for teaching and scholarly work in a particular field and facilitates the transition to writing the doctoral thesis.

Accordingly, the Special Fields Reading List, which forms the basis for the examination, comprises between 80 and 100 texts, roughly two-thirds (55-65) in a major field and roughly one-third (25-35) in a minor field. Students construct their own lists in consultation with their supervisor and thesis committee.

The Special Fields Examination must be completed by the end of Year 2 (or Year 3 for direct-entry students) and will normally be taken in March, April, or May of that year.

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Everything Economics at the University of Toronto

Ready for It! PhD Candidates on the Job Market

December 5, 2023 By Kate Baggott

Their papers are in order, and they are ready for the search. The Department of Economics has eight PhD candidates and two post-doc researcher s on the 2023-2024 job market. Internationally, there are roughly two hundred positions open to academic economists about to defend their dissertations.

The Job Market Paper, or JMP, is a unique feature of the Economics job search. A highly structured, stand-alone segment of work taken from each candidate’s original dissertation research, it forms the centrepiece of job application packages.

Their interests and projects are diverse in methodology and topic. If anything unites the group, it is their shared commitment to state-of-the-art research with direct implications for decisionmakers and policymakers.

The Department of Economics, University of Toronto is honoured to present its job market candidates for 2023-2024.

Pharmaceutical firms that make discoveries, and take out the first patent, are not necessarily the people who will bring the drug to patients. According to Jie Fang’s research, most drug patents are traded before large scale clinical trials. Not only that, but drug patents that are bought and sold are more likely to reach patients as treatment options.

“82% of primary patents are traded before the associated drug reaches the market,” Fang explained. “We saw the most significant impact of patent trade on successful launches before the Phase III large-scale clinical trial. Reducing transaction costs during this phase could increase the success rate of new drugs by 15%, potentially resulting in 5-8 additional drugs entering the market each year.”

“Jie Fang has created a unique dataset, developed a dynamic structural model, and estimated it to figure out how patent trades improve the success rate of new drugs,” said Professor of Economics Murat Alp Çelik , one of Fang’s dissertation supervisors. “Her focus on drug development enables her to link rich data that is available due to the regulations set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to individual drugs and the associated patents.”

Francis Guiton

Francis Guiton used a structural model of product assortment decisions and created counterfactual experiments to investigate the impact of alignment of organizational objectives at the LCBO. Guiton’s JMP, Misaligned Objectives and Within-Firm Competition in Retail Chains , examined how performance-based bonuses paid to store managers effect the company’s profits and consumers’ interests.

“Using detailed store-level information on inventories, sales, and prices of all products sold in a large Canadian retail chain, I examine the strategic decision-making of store managers regarding which products to carry at their store,” Guiton explained.

“Francis Guiton’s investigation into how performance-based incentives in retail stores can create a disconnect between the goals store managers reach, and the goals the company wants to reach, is a useful example of the on-the-ground benefits of applied economics research to business,” said Professor Avi Goldfarb , one of Guiton’s dissertation supervisors.

Han’s paper, “Motivating Student Effort: Designing Course Assessments in the Presence of Students’ Biased Beliefs,” asks if studying more, when students are feeling badly about their own abilities, lead to better test results? Students pressuring themselves to study more due to lack of confidence does not help.

“I find that if students were to become more aware of their behavioral biases surrounding their own abilities, they would study, on average,

72 percent less, but be better off on average as they would have10 more hours of free time per week,” Han explained. “Due to asymmetrical effects on learning, the average student would not learn less if their behavioral biases were removed.”

“Paul’s findings indicate that the sign and magnitude of the effect on study hours of incorporating more frequent tests hinges on the relative speed at which students adjust their misconceptions about their skills compared to their misperceptions about the returns of hours of study. This paper demonstrates Paul’s strong technical skills,” said Professor Victor Aguirregabiria , one of Han’s co-supervisors.

Alexander Hempel

Are environmental land protection policies a cause of housing shortages and unaffordability? PhD Candidate Alexander Hempel ’s latest research examined the question by looking at what happened to Toronto housing prices when Greenbelt protections were implemented in the early 2000s.

Hempel created an analytical model to examine what would have happened to Toronto housing development had the Greenbelt never been created. The data did show price effects up to 2010.

“Using the model, I simulated the scenario in which no Greenbelt was implemented,” Hempel explained. “I did find that the Greenbelt led to a reduction in aggregate housing supply of almost 10,000 units and price increases of 4.1% for houses and 6.1% for condominiums; this corresponded to an increase in condo rent of $675 a year.

“Urban growth boundaries and greenbelts are used throughout the world, but because they impact an entire city, it is challenging to estimate the impact of such policies,” said  Jonathan Hall , Professor of Economics and a member of Hempel’s dissertation supervision committee. “Alex Hempel’s research uses a variety of methods to provide credible estimates of how Toronto’s Greenbelt is impacting housing prices here. This research helps us evaluate the trade-offs inherent in any policy and is of immediate relevance to the policy debates in Ontario and worldwide.”

Guangbin Jeremy Hong

The title of Guangbin Jeremy Hong’s award-winning paper is “ The Two-Sided Sorting of Workers and Firms: Implications for Spatial Inequality and Welfare . Ex” It examines why both the best firms, and the best workers choose to locate in big cities, a phenomenon Hong uses the term “co-locate” to describe. These location choices affect the aggregate productivity of the economy, and everyone’s economic well-being.

“Jeremy’s job market paper studies how firms and workers co-locate across cities, and why it matters in terms of earnings inequality and location-based policies,” said Professor Kevin Lim, a member of Hong’s supervision committee.

“The optimal spatial policy would incentivize high-skilled workers and high-productivity firms to co-locate to a greater extent while redistributing income toward slow-earning cities, leading to a 6% increase in social welfare,” Hong explained.

Hong’s JMP won the Bank of Canada award for Best Graduate Student Research Paper and the European Economic Association UniCredit Foundation Best Job Market Paper prize. Stay turned for his forthcoming paper in the Journal of Monetary Economics and for a second paper under revision with the Journal of International Economics .

En Hua’s JMP,  Confidence in Inference , examines how people make decisions after gathering samples of information, a process everyone engages in.

“This ranges from comparing different Google map reviews before deciding on a restaurant to gathering several weather forecasts before going out,” Hu explained.

But what happens if, after new information samples are added, or different circumstances reveal themselves? En Hua’s research shows that decision-makers largely ignore the sample size, and this uncovers new dynamics that current models are unable to explain. His finding suggests that confidence in correctly interpreting information matters – and a confident decision-maker is surprisingly more likely to ignore the sample size.

“En Hua Hu applies state-of-the-art methods in behavioural and experimental economics to understand the choices people make,” said Professor Colin Stewart , one of En Hua’s co-supervisors. “He has uncovered fascinating new insights into how people use information to inform their decisions.”

Alexandre Lehoux

Small firms need to access R&D subsidies to grow, but if they grow, then they cannot continue to access R&D subsidies. Lehoux’s JMP examined how eligibility reforms to Canada’s largest R&D program in 2004 allowed firms to increase their production while maintaining eligibility for the program. The key benefit to workers? Income improvements by around 2% after the reform.

“An important finding of my paper is that less financially constrained firms were the most responsive in expanding their production following the reform. This result emphasizes how the initial eligibility threshold was introducing what could be called a ‘growth tax’ for these firms,” Lehoux explained.

“His findings indicate that subsidies which target small firms can prevent these firms from growing to maintain their eligibility,” said Kory Kroft , Professor of Economics at the University of Toronto and Lehoux’s dissertation supervisor. Relaxing eligibility constraints leads firms to expand production and he finds that workers capture some of these productivity gains.”

Poli Natama

Rising mineral prices that triggered mining booms in Sub-Saharan Africa is linked to changes in who decides to become a teacher, and how committed they are to the profession.

“I did find that a rise in the prices of minerals more suited for artisanal mining is associated with higher educational levels among teachers, albeit with a noticeable decline in their teaching efforts,” PhD Candidate Natama said. “This trend manifests in various ways, including a lower propensity to provide additional student support, a reduced willingness to engage in pedagogical associations, and a higher likelihood of absenteeism from classes.”

“The mining sector represents a considerable share of GDP across countries in the region, and the rise in the demand for such resources has first-order consequences for these regional economies,” said Gustavo Bobonis , Natama’s dissertation supervisor. “Among the multiple economic consequences, mining booms have substantial effects on regional labor markets, including the returns to educational investments and individuals’ occupational decisions. However, we know little about the mechanisms driving such relationships. In addition to educational demand-side effects that have been documented in this literature, the educational sector may suffer in quality and these stark changes could induce higher dropout and worse learning outcomes among the student population.”

Stanton Hudja

Stanton Hudja is a postdoctoral researcher and manager of the Toronto Experimental Economics Lab (TEEL) housed at the Department of Economics. Over the course of his appointment, he has made significant contributions to both the department and the field of behavioural economics.

“There is a lot of heterogeneity in how researchers think about economics,” Hudja said. “I believe that my experiences have made it easier for me to make connections between different strands of research. Additionally, I think these experiences have allowed me to take a more comprehensive approach towards addressing an economic question.”

“Stanton is an experimental and behavioural economist,” said Professor Yoram Halevy , Director of the TEEL. “In addition to managing the lab and teaching a course in Game Theory he is doing exciting research. In his job market paper, he experimentally investigates decision makers’ attitudes to unknown outcomes. Using a novel experimental technique of eliciting conditional valuations, he can study the probability of getting an unknown outcome and the payment in the complementary event affect subjects’ valuation. This is a novel foundational study in an area that has not been explored experimentally before.”

Jeffrey Hicks

Jeffrey Hicks is a postdoctoral researcher working with Professor Kory Kroft here at the Department of Economics. Hicks’ research interests focus on the design and implementation of taxation and social insurance systems.

“The evaluation of social insurance systems and income transfers is a key aspect of Jeff Hicks’ research that is informing policies and driving progress,” said Professor Kroft. “It has been a pleasure to work with Jeff. He is a careful researcher who brings modern methods to bear on policy-relevant issues and is extremely productive.”

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Department of Materials Science & Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree is the most advanced research degree in the Faculty. Working under the direction of a supervisor, PhD students engage in original research that contributes to their field of study. Advanced course work accompanies the pursuit of the thesis.

As a PhD student, you’ll receive guaranteed base support funding for up to four years of study. Current graduate scholarship funding tables can be viewed here .

Admission Requirements

Successful completion of a research master's degree in engineering, with an overall average of at least B+ (78%+), from an accredited institution. Current MASc students within our department can apply to fast-track into the PhD program before completing the MASc degree requirements

View the  full graduate studies admission requirements here .

Program Requirements & Time for Completion

The program of study normally includes 2.0 FCE (four half-courses), including the weekly Graduate Research Seminar, the Graduate Ethics Seminar, and a thesis.

In the PhD program, the departmental seminar comprises a minimum of two seminars presented to the academic staff/students of MSE.

Within 12 months of initial enrollment, all PhD students must pass a general Qualifying Examination based on the course material taken within the Department and on the background knowledge in the student's field of specialization.

The required thesis is based upon research work carried out in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering.

PhD candidates typically take between two and six years to complete the requirements of the degree. Only full-time study is available.

See all program requirements here: MSE Graduate Student Handbook

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Additive & advanced manufacturing.

• Zou, Yu  – Extreme mechanics & Advanced Manufacturing
• Naguib, Hani E.  (MIE/MSE) – Smart & Functional Materials
• Hibbard, Glenn D.  – Cellular Hybrid Materials
• Coyle, Thomas W.  – Advanced Coating Technologies
• Thorpe, Steven J.  – Surface Engineering & Electrochemistry

Advanced Characterization & Forensics

• Perovic, Doug D.  – Electron Microscopy,  Microelectronics & Forensics
• Howe, Jane  – In situ  & correlative microscopy group

Biomaterials

• Sone, Eli D.  (BME/MSE) – Composite Biological Materials
• Hatton, Ben  – Functional & Adaptive Surfaces
• Matsuura, Naomi   (BME/MSE) – Nanotechnology, Molecular Imaging & Systems Biology

Coatings & Surfaces

• Nogami, Jun  – Nanostructured Growth & Characterization
• Ruda, Harry E.  – Advanced Nanotechnology & Semiconductors
• Lian, Keryn K.  – Flexible Energy & Electronics

Computational Material & Data Analytics

• Singh, Chandra Veer   – Computational Materials Engineering
• Zou, Yu   - Laboratory for Extreme Mechanics & Additive Manufacturing
• Hattrick-SImpers, Jason  – AUTOnomous DIscovery of ALloys (AUTODIAL)
• von Lilienfeld, Anatole  –  Professor & Clark Chair of Advanced Materials at the Vector Institute

Electronics, Photonics & Sensors

• Kherani, Nazir P.  (ECE/MSE) – Advanced Photovoltaics & Devices
• Ruda, Harry E.  – Advanced Nanotechnology / Semiconductors
• Lu, Zheng-Hong  – Organic Optoelectronics

Energy Generation & Storage

• Barati, Mansoor   – Sustainable Materials Processing
• Azimi, Gisele   – Strategic Materials

Nano, 2D & Composite Materials

• Singh, Chandra Veer  – Computational Materials Engineering
• Perovic, Doug D.  – Electron Microscopy , Microelectronics & Forensics

Smart Materials & Devices

Sustainable materials processing.

• Barati, Mansoor  – Sustainable Materials Processing

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School of Graduate Studies

Guidelines for five-year phd direct-entry programs, introduction.

The School of Graduate Studies allows admission directly into a PhD program on the basis of an appropriate University of Toronto bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent from a recognized university, when the five-year PhD program is approved through University governance and offered by the graduate unit. Applicants are expected to be of exceptional promise and demonstrate superior academic performance.

1. Admission Requirements

Where a graduate unit allows direct entry from a bachelor’s degree to a PhD program, the academic requirements for admission will be as follows:

A . an appropriate U of T bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent from a recognized university, with at least an A-minus average in courses in the relevant discipline;

B . demonstration that the applicant is capable of independent research at an advanced level in the subject matter of the relevant program;

C . at least two strong supporting letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s research potential; and

D . other qualifications as may be specified by the graduate unit.

To be admitted as a candidate for the degree, the applicant must be accepted by the Admission Committee of the relevant graduate unit. A candidate accepted on the basis of a bachelor’s degree will be admitted to a five-year PhD program with a seven-year time limit for completion of all requirements for the degree.

Note: In certain circumstances, an applicant with a master’s degree might be admitted to a five-year program, as well: If the applicant has a master’s degree in a different field of study, or if the applicant hasa master’s degree in the same field of study but is judged to require significant additional preparation, he or she would normally be admitted to a five-year program.

2. Program Requirements

When a graduate unit allows direct entry from a bachelor’s degree to a PhD program, the graduate unit will specify the program requirements for such students. The program requirements for a PhD candidate who enters the PhD program on the basis of a bachelor’s degree should include a substantial portion of the requirements for a master’s degree in the relevant discipline (about two sessions of master’s degree level program requirements), together with the program requirements for a PhD candidate who enters the PhD program on the basis of a master’s degree. A graduate unit may require certain direct entry students to complete additional requirements beyond the normal ones when the graduate unit assesses their backgrounds as deficient in some area.

Graduate units will closely monitor the progress of direct entry students during the first year of the PhD program. They should, in particular, specify a minimum number of courses to be completed during the first year of the program, together with an acceptable minimum grade or average for those courses, in order for those students to maintain good academic standing and to be eligible to continue in the PhD program.

Note: Transfers from the Five-Year PhD Program to the Master’s Program

Students registered in the five-year PhD program are eligible to transfer to the master’s program under certain circumstances. See section 2 of “Transfers” (“PhD to Masters”), under the Degree Regulations for the Doctor of Philosophy, in the SGS Calendar .

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PhD students work closely with a faculty supervisor(s), who is selected by the student at the time of admission, and with a Supervisory Committee. The Supervisory Committee consists of the supervisor(s) and at least two graduate faculty members (at least one of which must be appointed to geography). 

Program Requirements 

The department expectation is that PhD degrees will be completed on a full-time basis within four years of initial registration. The School of Graduate Studies requires that the thesis be submitted within six years of initial registration in the program.

Students enrolled in a PhD program are required to complete the requirements: coursework, annual progress reports, comprehensive exam, proposal exam, candidacy, internal thesis defense exam, and external final oral exam.

Coursework — Physical

Completion of 3 half-credit courses including:

• the core course GGR1200H
• one (1) half-credit course in geography
• one (1) half-credit course in any subject

Students enrolled in a collaborative specialization should view the  Collaborative Specializations page  for any additional requirements.

Coursework — Human

Completion of 6 half-credit courses including:

• the core course GGR1110H
• two (2) half-credit courses in geography
• one (1) half-credit course which must be taken outside the department
• two (2) half-credit courses in any subject

Annual Progress Reports

The supervisory committee must meet at least once per academic year to review the student’s progress and plans for the following year.

Comprehensive Exam

Students will take a written and oral comprehensive exam between June of year one and no later than December of year two. See the  Examinations  page for further details. 

Proposal Exam

Students will defend a research proposal before their supervisory committee between June of year two and no later than September of year three. See the  Examinations  page for further details. 

The department requires students to achieve candidacy by the end of year two. A student can achieve PhD Candidacy and receive a notation on their transcript once they have completed three requirements: coursework, comprehensive exam, and proposal exam. School of Graduate Studies policy requires that candidacy is achieved by the end of year three.

Thesis Defense Exam

The thesis shall constitute a significant contribution to the knowledge of the field and must be based on original research conducted while registered for the PhD program. The topic for the thesis will have been approved at the proposal defense. The completed PhD thesis will be examined in a Departmental Thesis Examination. The examination committee consists of the supervisory committee. One or more additional members can be from outside the Department of Geography & Planning if required.  

See the  Examinations  page for further details. 

Final Oral Exam

The Final Oral Examination is the capstone experience of the PhD program. Students will defend their dissertation before an Examination Committee. In addition to the supervisor and other members of the supervisory committee, the Examination Committee will include an appraiser (external to the University), at least one graduate faculty member who has not been closely involved in the supervision of the thesis, and a chair designated by the School of Graduate Studies. 

For further details on the PhD program requirements above, please see the  Geography Graduate Handbook . 

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Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)

Earn your phd in the heart of canada’s innovation and health research ecosystem.

PhD students at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy have the opportunity to further their research in collaboration with a vibrant community of world-leading professionals and researchers from a variety of disciplines and background. Our faculty is a diverse and multidisciplinary community exploring some of the world’s most pressing health sciences challenges, and breaking new ground on solutions.

Located in Toronto’s discovery district at the historic University of Toronto St. George campus, our graduate students have the opportunity to collaborate with a wide range of faculties and departments at U of T and nearby world-class teaching hospitals and research institutes.  

Degree Timeline

[1] Doctoral students are subject to the School’s policy on “Timely Completion of Graduate Program Requirements”.  To achieve candidacy, a PhD student is expected to have completed all program requirements exclusive of thesis and seminar courses.  

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the PhD Pharmaceutical Sciences must have:

• Completed (or be in the final year of) a four-year BSc or BA degree or a two-year MSc (or its equivalent) in the Natural/Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering, Social Sciences, or Health Profession such as Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing or Pharmacy from a recognized university.
• A minimum B+ (77%) average , or its equivalent, in a Masters degree program OR
• A minimum of A- (80%) average , or its equivalent, in senior level courses relevant to the program in a four-year undergraduate program. The applicant is expected to have completed an undergraduate research project.
• Secured a potential supervisor within the department of pharmaceutical sciences at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. Applicants are encouraged to contact  prospective supervisors in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences . The supervisor must hold a Graduate Appointment at the Faculty as well as at the School of Graduate Studies.
• Applicants to the flex-time PhD program  must also provide a completed Letter of Support from Employer .

Additionally:

• The Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Admissions Committee considers the applicant's background and accomplishments, academic standing, and financial support from the potential supervisor.
• ​​​paper-based TOEFL: 600 and 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE)
• Internet-based TOEFL: 100/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.
• If the undergraduate degree was not obtained from a recognized Canadian or US university, the applicant must write and achieve scores at the 50th percentile ranking or better on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE; General Test).

International Student?

Learn more about admission requirements for international students here

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The University of Toronto is one of the foremost institutions of higher education in North America. It is located in a metropolitan area with highly livable urban environments, and the University’s St. George campus, where most graduate training takes place, is found near the centre of the city and very close to provincial and local government offices. The population of the Greater Toronto Area exceeds 4 million, enough to support excellent public services, orchestras, jazz festivals, opera companies, major league sports, and a wide variety of entertainment and dining places.

The Department has a large and academically diverse research oriented faculty, well represented in the various sub-fields of the discipline (Political Theory, International Relations, Comparative Politics, Development Studies, Canadian Politics and Public Policy). The Department also participates in a wide range of interdisciplinary graduate programs.

Although the Department is one of the largest Political Science departments in the western world, it is committed to fostering a collegial environment for graduate students and personal interaction between faculty and students.

Each year about 20 to 25 students register in the PhD program and 35 to 40 in the various MA programs. Students come to the Department from all over Canada and from other countries. About 30 percent of the doctoral students and 20 percent of the masters students are admitted from outside Canada. Since entrance requirements and standards of work are high, so is the calibre of the students. Many students hold prestigious fellowships, and several have recently won major awards, including Canadian Political Science Association and American Political Science Association’s prizes for best doctoral theses in their areas. Graduates of the Department have gone on to academic careers, public service, and other work in all provinces of Canada, the United States, and many other countries. The University maintains an active Placement Service to assist graduate students seeking employment in the academic world. Graduate Students in the Department have established an organization, Graduate Association for Students in Political Science (GASPS), to foster intellectual exchanges, social events, and student participation in all aspects of Department life.

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Graduate News

Connaught ‘phds for public impact’ fellow.

Congratulations to Madalyn Hay, a recipient of a 2023-2024 Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship. Madalyn, one of our doctoral students, holds a BAH in Contemporary Studies and Classics from the...

Governor General’s Gold Medal for Academic Excellence

Congratulations to alumna Meaghan Williams, a recipient of the 2022-23 Governor General’s Gold Medal for Academic Excellence, the highest academic honour available to graduate students in Canada. Awarded annually by the Office of the...

Three CPSA Prizes for Political Science, U of T

Great news from the Canadian Political Science Association, which held its annual awards ceremony (online) over the weekend of June 12 & 13: Professor Stefan Rencken’s book "Private Governance and Public...

Superior Teaching Awards

Congratulations to two political science alumni now teaching at U of T who have both won Superior Teaching Awards! Igor Shoikhedbrod and Khalid Ahmed will be celebrated on May 5th at...

Vanier Scholarship win for Political Science student

Q&A with 2020 Vanier Scholar Yojana Miraya Oscco Congratulations to PhD student Yojana Miraya Oscco who has won a prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (SSHRC). Launched in 2008, the program enables...

June Larkin Award for Pedagogical Development

Congratulations to our graduate student Kevin Edmonds who has won New College's June Larkin Award for Pedagogical Development. A PhD candidate specializing in Caribbean political economy, histories of alternative/illicit development, foreign intervention and...

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MA and PhD programs

Associate chair, graduate studies, ma director, placement officers, graduate administrator, graduate assistant.

For questions about the MA and PhD programs (including questions about admission requirements and the online application), please see our contact page .

For questions about the Master of Financial Economics (MFE) program, please write to [email protected] .

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Doctoral Degrees

Doctoral Degrees (PhD)

• Flex-Time Doctoral Degrees

The Department of Curriculum, Teaching & Learning doctoral programs provide students with the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge original research in the field of education.

Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum & Pedagogy

Doctor of philosophy in language & literacies in education, flex-time doctoral degree option.

This option allows students to pursue a PhD while continuing to work. It is available to professionals whose employment is closely related to their proposed area of study.

The program requirements of the flex-time PhD are the same as those for the full-time program. However, flex-time students are given more time to complete their degree and can take courses on a part-time basis. 

Applicants must demonstrate that they are currently employed and are active professionals engaged in activities relevant to their proposed program of study.

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Rotman PhD: Job Market Candidates

Who's on the market.

The scholars who graduate with a PhD from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto go on to research at some of the world's top schools. The following graduates of the Rotman PhD program are currently on the job market:

Mingyue Zhang

Dissertation title:  Determinants and Consequences of Human Capital Management Disclosure

Committee:   Hai Lu (Co-chair), Franco Wong  (Co-chair), Aida Wahid , Jee-Eun Shin

View Mingyue's website

Shushu Jiang

Dissertation title:  Timely ‘Gain Recognition’ in Debt Contracting – Evidence from Cost Savings and Synergy Add-backs

Committee:   Jeffrey Callen  (Co-chair), Scott Liao   (Co-chair), Dushyant Vyas ,  Franco Wong  

View Shushu's website

Economic Analysis and Policy  

Rolando Campusano

Dissertation title:  Startup Location, Local Spillovers and Neighborhood Sorting

Committee:   Nate Baum-Snow , Will Strange , April Franco , Alberto Galasso

View Rolando's website

Operations Management

Saman Lagzi

Dissertation title:  Three essays on the theory and application of Operations Management

Committee:    Ming Hu  (Co-Chair),  Gonzalo Romero (Co-chair), Joseph Milner , Ningyuan Chen

View Saman's website

Clarice Zhao

Dissertation title:  Managing the Consumption and Creation of Digital Media

Committee:   Nitin Mehta (Co-chair), Matthew Osborne  (Co-chair), Andrew Ching, Mengze Shi

View Clarice's website

Strategic Management

Leandro Pongeluppe

Dissertation title: How Approaches to Value Creation, Appropriation, and Distribution by Private-Sector Organizations Address the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals

Committee: Anita McGahan (Chair), Sarah Kaplan , Bill McEvily , Brian Silverman

 View Leandro's website

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Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The PhD in Biomedical Engineering is a research-intensive program that immerses students in the application of biomedical sciences and engineering principles to advance solutions for challenges in human health. Students can be admitted to the PhD program through direct entry after completion of a bachelor’s degree or, alternatively, after the completion of a master’s degree. PhD students receive a guaranteed minimum stipend for four years.

Length of study

Four years (defined as the period for an academically well-prepared student to complete all program requirements while registered full-time).

Admission requirements

• Entry into PhD program after completion of a bachelor’s degree (i.e., direct entry) : A four-year bachelor’s degree in engineering, medicine, dentistry, physical sciences, or biological sciences, or its equivalent , with an average of at least 3.7 on a 4.0 grade point average scale (i.e., A minus) in the final two years of study from a recognized university ; or
• Entry into PhD program after completion of a master’s degree : A master’s degree in engineering, medicine, dentistry, physical sciences, or biological sciences, or its equivalent , with a cumulative average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 grade point average scale (i.e., B plus) from a recognized university .
• Proof of English-language proficiency is required for all applicants educated outside of Canada whose native language is not English. View the BME English-language requirement policy to determine whether you are required to take a language test and for a list of accepted testing agencies and their minimum scores required for admission.
• Applicants must find a BME faculty supervisor. ( NB : You do not need a supervisor at the time of application. However, admission is competitive and only candidates who have found and secured a research supervisor will be admitted to begin graduate studies.)
• MD/PhD candidates must apply through the MD program
• Possession of the minimum requirements for entry does not guarantee admission
• GRE score is not required

Application procedures

• Complete the online application (see requirements ) and pay the application fee
• Arrange for your English test score to be reported electronically to the University of Toronto by the testing agency if applicable. The institution code for U of T is 0982-00 (there is no need to specify a department)
• Contact the BME Graduate Office to identify your BME faculty supervisor

Rolling admission; multiple rounds with different enrollment capacity in each cycle

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Last updated: January, 2022

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PhD in Fundamental Immunology

The PhD degree is an advanced research degree intended to reflect a level of training consistent with the ability of the candidate to function as an independent research scientist. This involves successful completion of course work reflecting a knowledge of modern immunology, as well as a demonstrated ability to carry out research of publishable quality. To qualify for the degree each candidate must successfully achieve candidacy, submit a satisfactory thesis based on his/her original research, and successfully defend it in a Final Oral Examination. The PhD thesis should contain a body of original research roughly corresponding in quantity to that which would be appropriate for two or three publications in a recognized refereed journal. Normally, at least one of these manuscripts should have been accepted for publication at the time of the exam. 

There are 2 routes to entering the PhD program. 

• Direct entry from the BSc Students with outstanding undergraduate records are encouraged to apply to the PhD program directly. Students entering via this route undergo a qualifying exam during the 2nd year of their program. Students admitted to the direct-entry PhD may choose to graduate with an MSc after two years of study if extenuating circumstances prevent them from continuing with the PhD. This change requires approval from the Supervisor, the Department, and the School of Graduate Studies.  
• Entry after completion of an M.Sc. degree Students who have completed or are in the process of completing an MSc degree from another department/University are encouraged apply to the PhD program. All students entering the PhD program with an MSc degree must undergo a qualifying exam during the 2nd year of their program. 

Students doing a thesis-based PhD in Fundamental Immunology will receive a guaranteed stipend .

In our Department, students typically spend about 5 years in the PhD degree program.

Course Requirements

For students who started their program in september 2021 or later :.

The Department requires students to complete

• IMM1000Y Recent Advances in Immunology
• IMM1025/2025H Student Seminar Series I / II*
• IMM1050/2050H Easton Seminar Series I / II*
• IMM1075/2075H Special Topics in Immunology I / II*
• IMM1200H Scientific Skills for Immunologists
• IMM2000H PhD Proposal in Immunology
• 1.0 FCE electives, approved by the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies
• Successfully pass the Qualifying Exam (DEX5555Y)

*Continuous courses taken throughout the student's PhD program until completed.

For students who started their program in September 2020 :

• Successfully pass the Qualifying Exam (DEX5555Y)

For students who started their program before September 2020 :

• 0.5 FCE elective, approved by the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies
• Successfully pass the Qualifying Exam

More information on required and elective courses

MPUTC Joint PhD Program

The Max Planck-University of Toronto Centre (MPUTC) for Neural Science and Technology offers unique opportunities for jointly supervised PhD thesis research between the participating Max Planck Society (MPG) and University of Toronto (U of T) PIs.

How the Program Works

PhD candidates complete academic requirements at and earn PhD degrees from the U of T while being able to conduct research at a Max Planck Institute (MPI).  As a jointly supervised PhD student, you will have access to complementary facilities, equipment, and diverse intellectual feedback to increase the impact of your research. The ability to work effectively at multiple institutions, with different cultures, and in international environments is an important and highly valued skill in the global economy.  Finally, the experience will increase your job prospects as you expand your network, meet new friends and colleagues, and learn about different cultures.

Year 1 : U of T

Coursework, get started in research, pass qualifying exam.

Year 2 & 3 : MPI

Research,  visit U of T as necessary

Year 4 : MPI & U of T

Research, visit U of T as necessary Defend thesis at U of T

• At U of T :  PhD students receive funding according to the registered department's policy.  ( MPUTC International Doctoral Cluster Award or stipend of $18,000+ also available for students supervised by PIs in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering ( BME , ECE , ChemE , MIE ), Institute of Medical Science ,  Krembil Brain Institute , and Hospital for Sick Children .)
• At MPI :  PhD students receive a minimum of 65% TVöD (German civil servant salary scale) 13 work contract at the project-affiliated MPI.

How To Register

Check the available projects below for a collaborative PhD position between a participating MPG PI and the U of T PI.

Alternatively, you may contact one of the participating PIs directly to see if they can create a project:

University of Toronto PI's

Max planck society pi's, mail for inquiry.

[email protected]

• Submit a graduate studies application for the PhD program at the department of the University of Toronto supervisor.  Please click the “How to apply for the PhD program” link under the “Student’s U of T Department” for details about the application. 
• Send your CV and a 1-page single spaced proposal to the relevant supervisors and administrator to apply for an available project or request for a proposed collaboration.

The MPUTC is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. 

Project proposal

To submit a proposal for a joint phd project, please complete this mputc joint phd project proposal template.   successful applicants will be notified on an ongoing basis..

MPUTC Joint PhD Project Proposal Template

Brochure for the mputc joint phd program.

Thesis Topic : Specific Hippocampal pathways mediate episodic memory and statistical learning.

Description: The process by which new memories are layered upon prior experience and knowledge remains poorly understood. Growing evidence suggests that the hippocampus is critical for rapidly extracting regularities from the environment, a process known as statistical learning. These results, which imply generalization across episodes, are however at odd with the known role of the hippocampus in encoding individual memories. An extension of the complementary learning system accommodates this conundrum by postulating that episodic memory and statistical learning operate via different hippocampal pathways. Although this model provides a theoretical solution to a long-standing puzzle in the field, testing it in human subjects is technically challenging as it requires imaging the hippocampus with high spatial resolution to enable subfield classification and high temporal resolution to characterize the sequence of activity in the two pathways. We want to acquire unique datasets for this purpose by integrating 7T high-field fMRI with invasive electrophysiology, and electrical stimulation of specific hippocampal subfield in epilepsy patients while subjects perform associative learning and statistical learning tasks. This project seeks to establish a new multi-institution, high-throughput collaboration for large-scale, non-invasive imaging, invasive neural recording and stimulation to study memory processes in healthy subjects and patients.

Thesis Topic : Microrobotic Electrode Placement for Neural Interfaces and Deep Brain Stimulation.

Research Theme: Develop novel tools to observe and stimulate neural activity.

Description: The project is part of a broader effort to develop micro/nanotechnology-based sensors and actuators to monitor and stimulate neural circuits in vitro and in vivo. The goal of the devices is to enable a better understanding of neurons and neural circuits, which will aid in the development of neuromedicine. The ability to map the activity of individual neurons will allow for high resolution recording of neural activity at a level not seen before. To this end, advanced probes are being developed to be implanted into brain tissue. However, the ability to place arrays of electrodes with single-neuron precision has not been achieved. In this project, the student will develop new electrode placement mechanisms based on smart material and/or magnetic actuation which allows for addressable precision placement of many electrode tips within an array. The student will work in the labs of Prof. Eric Diller at the University of Toronto and Metin Sitti at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems using multidisciplinary skills. With neurophysics collaborators, the student will develop prototypes for testing in phantom models to prove the efficacy for electrode placement and adjustment.

Thesis Topic : Leveraging artificial intelligence tools to characterize the perception of accented speech in older adults.

Research Theme: To conduct neurobiology experiments that use advance tools, and to analyze data, create models and make predictions about neural activity.

Description: Canada and Germany are immigration countries where individuals from different language backgrounds live together and communicate. This brings mutual challenges: Native and immigrant listeners routinely encounter non-native accents, while for immigrants it additionally is their second language, making speech comprehension difficult. This is a barrier to social participation especially for older adults: 1) 40% of adults over 60 live with hearing loss, making comprehension challenging, particularly for non-native speakers and accented speech; 2) >15% of adults over 60 live with cognitive decline, reducing their language proficiency and accented speech comprehension. The proposed work will leverage advanced data analysis tools with non-invasive brain recordings to develop a detailed account of how accented speech is processed in the brains of native and non-native speaking older adults. Participants will listen to naturalistic speech with different, non-native accents under different listening conditions (e.g., background noise). Artificial intelligence tools, including speech synthesizers and Large Language models, and modern deconvolution modeling will be used to understand how acoustic, phonetic, and semantic information are encoded neurally. The work will provide tools, approaches, and understandings for future clinical applications, such as detecting hearing loss earlier, detecting second language loss in adults with cognitive decline, and evaluating treatment outcomes..

Thesis Topic : TBD

Research Theme: To conduct neurobiology experiments that use advance tools.

Description: The fields of cognitive and clinical neuroscience have learned a great deal about the functional organization of the mind/brain using noninvasive imaging technologies such as fMRI, and M/EEG. Traditionally this research has required tightly controlled experimental lab conditions, with several non-naturalistic elements such as a requirement to remain still, seated/supine, quiet, in darkly lit rooms, and in the case of vision science observing contextually disconnected 2D images. New developments in mobile neuroimaging technologies, eye-tracking, and virtual+augmented reality (VR/AR) are enabling a new wave of investigations where the brain is studied in a substantially more naturalistic setting. In particular, the coupling of high-density mobile EEG with AR and eye tracking allows experiments where subjects move freely in their environment, and visual stimuli are presented virtually as navigable 3D objects. This project will explore this paradigm’s extension to mobile, high-density functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), recorded concurrently with EEG, adding an important complementary brain measurement modality. Using this approach, we will study the emergence and representation of semantics at different levels of abstraction in contextually-situated processing of visual objects, collecting fNIRS-EEG data and analyzing it with advanced statistical techniques, as well as neurophysiological and neuro-AI models.

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Investment in advanced talent key to Canada’s success in the knowledge economy: U of T study

(photo by Xavier Lorenzo/Getty Images)

Published: May 15, 2024

By Adina Bresge

PhD graduates are experiencing growing demand for their knowledge and skills across multiple sectors – further evidence that strategic investments in advanced talent support Canada’s global competitiveness.  

A new  Career Outcomes study , led by the University of Toronto’s School of Graduate Studies, finds that while U of T continues to be Canada’s leading generator of academic talent, an increasing number of PhD graduates are also finding success in the private sector.

Employers now recognize that universities are both generating new discoveries and training the industry leaders they need, says  Joshua Barker , vice-provost, graduate research and education and dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

“What we’re seeing is that U of T is playing a role in bringing advanced researchers, with their specialized knowledge and skills, into the workforce,” says Barker, who recently joined academic, industry, government and other leaders to discuss the study at an event hosted by the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy and U of T’s Government Relations Office – part of the New Frontiers for Policymakers policy discussion series.

“The more pathways there are to move back and forth between university, industry and non-profit, the better it is for a robust, resilient and competitive economy.”

The Career Outcomes study shows that professional paths for U of T’s PhD graduates are expanding, based on a survey of publicly available data on roughly 16,000 alumni over the past two decades .

While the post-secondary sector remains the primary employer for PhD graduates, the study shows a nearly 10-per-cent rise in private sector employment for PhD grads when comparing the 2000-2015 and 2016-2021 cohorts – from 19 per cent to 27 per cent. 

The top industries hiring PhD graduates include life sciences, engineering, trades and transportation and health and information technology. 

PhD graduates in the physical sciences, meanwhile, were the most likely to find employment in the private sector, amounting to nearly 43 per cent of all alumni as of 2022. Major employers included Google, Intel and Royal Bank of Canada.

At present, only about one per cent of Canadians have a PhD degree. But this number may rise following the federal government’s recent commitment to invest  $825 million over the next five years to increase the value and number of scholarships for master’s students, PhD students and post-doctoral fellows .

“The recent investment that the federal government made has a huge impact for us, and I think it will help accelerate some of the trends that we’re seeing,” says Barker, adding that sustained support is necessary to develop the pipeline of advanced research talent to fuel Canada’s innovation ecosystem.

That includes startups such as Toronto-based Xanadu , founded by former U of T post-doc  Christian Weedbrook , which is working to build the world’s first photonic-based, fault-tolerant quantum computer. 

“We still have a long way to go from a research perspective,” says  Rafal Janik , Xanadu’s chief operating officer, who attended the New Frontiers event and talked about why the company recruits PhD graduates. “I think our entire team has post-graduate degrees. I think everybody has some connection to U of T from that space as well.”

The study also finds a notable uptick in private sector employment among PhD graduates in the life sciences, with nine per cent more graduates from 2016-2021 in industry jobs compared to the previous cohort.

The non-profit adMare BioInnovations is playing a role in moving PhD graduates’ research out of the lab so it can be turned into new treatments and therapies.

"The adMare Academy offers programming that enables PhD graduates and others to see the commercial potential in their research and to understand what it takes to translate that research into commercially viable therapeutics,” says  Ann Meyer , director of adMare’s BioInnovation Scientist Program.

It’s not only STEM fields where PhD grads are finding private sector employment.

The study shows that nine per cent of humanities graduates worked in the private sector in 2022, with many in this group exploring fields outside academia including media and publishing (15 per cent), arts and culture (35 per cent), education (10 per cent) and banking and finance (seven per cent). 

At the same time, the post-secondary employment pattern for social sciences graduates remains steady. More than half are in tenure-track roles at Canadian universities, and a fifth are in teaching-focused positions at universities and colleges.

Overall, 47 per cent of all PhD graduates over the study period were employed in the post-secondary sector.

With about 1,000 PhD graduates a year, U of T trains one in seven of Canada’s doctorate holders and plays a pivotal role in advancing the exchange of ideas that drives Canada’s prosperity and progress. 

“U of T is continually replenishing and rejuvenating the workforce across higher education,” Barker says. “These institutions, in turn, train the next generation of undergrad and graduate students who will go out and work across the economy.”  

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