The PhD programme entails one to two years of coursework and at least two years of full-time independent research.
Year 1
PhD students who opt for HSRPH track at the beginning of their PhD are exempted from the course “Molecules to Medicine”. These students can instead take our core course on Health Services Research and Population Health (GMS6950) in their Semester 1. PhD students who opt for HSRPH track in Semester 2 or later will take GMS6950 in their Year 2.
PhD students will conduct three 6-week rotations with HSRPH faculty mentors in Semester 1. Mentors for these rotations are regular-ranked HSRPH faculty who are approved PhD mentors. These rotations are structured to provide students with first-hand exposure to specific disciplines and research programs within HSRPH in which they may choose to conduct their research. At the end of these rotations, students commit to a thesis mentor.
During the second semester, students continue with their coursework and/or begin primary research under the supervision of their thesis mentor.
Year 2
At the start of the second year, students work towards developing their thesis projects. Students may or may not continue with their formal coursework.
In the first semester of their Year 2, all PhD students take a qualifying examination or preliminary exam. Students defend a mock proposal and are evaluated on their knowledge in the given HSRPH discipline and their ability to pursue hypothesis-based research.
Years 3 & 4 – Research and Thesis
After the qualifying exam, remainder of the PhD training consists of the execution of the thesis project and participation in seminars. The thesis mentor will guide the student and act as chair of the student’s thesis advisory committee. Success of the thesis is judged by publication or anticipated publication of two first authored papers, emphasis being on quality rather than quantity.
Curriculum Requirement | Credit |
Year 1 |
Semester 1 |
GMS6950 - “Health Services Research and Population Health” | 4 |
HSRPH Laboratory Rotation 1 | 2 |
HSRPH Laboratory Rotation 2 | 2 |
HSRPH Laboratory Rotation 3 | 2 |
| |
Semester 2 onwards |
GMS6900 – “Student Research Seminars” (6 semesters) | 3 |
(Optional) PhD-QBM seminars | |
| |
Elective Courses (Decided by student & mentor and approved by Course Coordinator) | 28 |
Additional modular credits of 6000 level | 12 |
Additional modular credits of 5000 level or higher | 16 |
|
Thesis & Research | 19 |
Total | 60 |