Final Oral Comprehensive
The completed thesis will be examined by a committee normally consisting of the supervisor, two members of the supervisory committee, a member of the full-time teaching faculty from outside the Department and an external examiner. The external examiner should be a recognized authority in the special field of research, who should have had no previous contact with the candidate and who has had experience of doctoral supervision. It is Departmental policy to bring in the external examiner for the defence.
Since the ability to present the results of research orally is a fundamental part of academic training, a PhD student must, before finally qualifying, speak on his/her research in a public forum. This may be done in one of two ways, the choice to rest with the student in consultation with his or her supervisory committee.
1. The final oral examination to take the form of a public examination to be advertised as widely as possible throughout the university. Members of the public would be permitted to listen to the student’s defence and to ask questions. They would be asked to leave the examination before the final deliberations of the examining committee.
2. A colloquium, to be given prior to the oral examination during the winter session of the academic year in which the final defence is expected to take place. Such a colloquium is to be advertised as widely as possible. The supervisor, one other member of the supervisory committee and the Graduate Chair shall attend and they or any two of them must approve a report to be sent to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research that this has been done adequately. Failing this, another colloquium must be scheduled. If this route is chosen, the final oral examination would continue in its present form - i.e., advertised in the Department only and not normally open to those outside it.
The Graduate Chair is ex-officio chair of all examining committees and is responsible for appointing a deputy if he or she is already involved as an examiner or cannot be present.