Registrar's Office
and Student Services

Credit for Previous Work

With the express permission of the Ph.D. Program Committee in each case, a maximum of two graduate courses which have not already been credited toward a completed university credential may be accepted for credit in the Ph.D. program. No transfer credit for a research project/thesis will be considered.

All courses considered for transfer credit must carry a grade of ‘B+' (3.30 on a 4.0 scale) or higher. Students are responsible for providing adequate information on course content and its relevance to their proposed program of study.

Student Status

Full-time Ph.D. students are considered to be those who are actively engaged in coursework or research on a regular, daily basis. Full-time students may not be employed outside their program in any form of employment exceeding 10 hours per week. The Dean of the School of Graduate Studies may waive this requirement under extraordinary circumstances. Students who would like to engage in outside employment during their program of study should contact the Dean to discuss their circumstances.

In the event that circumstances prevent a student from pursuing his/her program as originally approved, a Leave of Absence may be requested from the Ph.D. Program Committee. Residence requirements must still be met.

Leave of Absence

During an approved Leave of Absence, the student is not required to register, no fees are assessed, and the time granted is not counted toward the residency requirement. The Leave of Absence may be granted up to a maximum of one year during the tenure of the Ph.D. study.

Residence Requirements and Time Limits

Residence is defined as the period during which the student is registered in the program, taking courses or pursuing scholarly work, or both, at the University of Lethbridge.

The minimum residence requirement shall be 24 months full-time continuous registration in the program. The maximum time limit shall be 48 months full-time continuous registration in the program. The courses specified by the Ph.D. Program Committee must be completed and the thesis submitted within the maximum time limit allowed. Except with the written permission of the Ph.D. Program Committee, students must maintain continuous registration in the program.

Students who do not register in the program in any semester will be considered to have withdrawn unless a Leave of Absence has been granted by the Ph.D. Program Committee. Where applicable, assistantships, grants, awards, scholarships and other financial aid is forfeited. Written permission from the Ph.D. Program Committee must be obtained for readmission.

Program Changes

The Ph.D. Program Committee must approve substantial program, Faculty Supervisor or Supervisory Committee changes. Students who have been admitted into one discipline or program but wish to transfer to another may be required to re-apply.

Academic Standards

Students must receive a minimum grade of ‘B' (3.00 out of 4.00) in all courses. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required to graduate.

In addition to the minimum grade point requirement, research work that is satisfactory to the Supervisory Committee must be maintained.

Probation/Required to Withdraw

Students with unsatisfactory performance in the program may be put on probationary status or required to withdraw by the Ph.D. Program Committee. If students are on probation for two consecutive semesters, they will be required to withdraw from the program.

Appeals

All appeals in the Ph.D. program should be directed to the Dean of Graduate Studies as Chair of the Ph.D. Program Committee. Grade appeals for courses in the Ph.D. program will be processed through the School of Graduate Studies. Other appeals will be heard by the Ph.D. Program Committee. Any appeal decisions may be addressed to the Executive Committee of the School of Graduate Studies, whose decision shall be final.

Academic Offences and Discipline

Graduate students are expected to exemplify high standards of academic and ethical behaviour and are subject to the University's policies and guidelines.

Fees

Fees are assessed for the first two years (24 months or six semesters of study) of enrolment in the program.

A Continuation Fee shall be assessed for each subsequent semester while a student remains in the program, whether the student is resident for all or part of that semester. The semester fee shall be set each year by the Board of Governors.

See the Graduate Programs 2013/2014 Fee schedule in Fees.

For fee payment deadlines, see Fees.