Interdisciplinary Oncology Program Info Description of Program for Prospective Students Admission Requirements and Deadlines Supporting documents required for a complete application include: Course Requirements MSc Program: MSc Thesis Guidelines: Transfer from Master′s to Doctoral Programs without Completing Master′s Requirements PhD Program: Admitted to Candidacy: Doctoral Programs PhD Comprehensive Examination Guidelines Thesis Examination Description of Program for Prospective Students Studies leading to Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees are available through the Interdisciplinary Oncology Program in the College for Interdisciplinary Studies. The Interdisciplinary Oncology Program offers advanced study and research in a variety of fields relating to oncology. Those fields include: molecular and cellular biology, genetics, biophysics, bioinformatics, pharmaceutical sciences, radiological sciences, immunology, molecular pathology, sociobehavioural studies, epidemiology and health economics. The goal of the Program is to provide graduate students from diverse backgrounds with an education in a number of disciplines relating to oncology, and to provide opportunities for intensive training in specialized aspects of oncology through thesis research. Admission Requirements and Deadlines Students who apply for entrance into the Interdisciplinary Oncology Program must have completed a BA, BSc, MA, MSc, MD or hold an equivalent degree from a recognized institution. To be accepted into the Program, prospective students must satisfy both the general requirements of the  Faculty of Graduate Studies of UBC and the specific requirements of the Interdisciplinary Oncology Program Advisory Committee. Those requirements generally include a first class standing in 3rd and 4th year courses, a good command of the English language (see TOEFL score requirements) and an academic background which has adequately prepared the student for required oncology courses. If you'd like to apply online please follow the following UBC link  Apply on Line Finally, to gain full admission to the Program, students must secure a written commitment from a Program faculty member to become the student′s research supervisor. This commitment must include both the provision of an appropriate training program and a student stipend in accordance with Canadian Institutes of Health Research guidelines. It is strongly recommended that students contact prospective supervisors prior to submitting an on-line application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. If a student wishes to rotate through two or more laboratories before deciding on a supervisor, this may be arranged through the Director of the Program.A list of research supervisors is given at the end of the web site. Personal pages indicating research interests and contact information for many supervisors can be found in the BC Cancer Research Centre web site as well as the University of British Columbia web site. Please note that this list is not updated on a regular basis and may not include all researchers who are eligible to supervise Oncology Program students. If you have found a supervisor who is not on the list, please e-mail the graduate secretary to find out if that individual is eligible to supervise for the Oncology Program. When considering a student′s application, the Faculty of Graduate Studies ensures the student meets the minimum academic requirements of the University, the Advisory Committee ensures that the student has the appropriate background for the graduate program and the research supervisor ensures that the student′s research interests and background match well with those of his/her lab. If these three levels of requirements are not met, the student cannot be admitted into the program. Information regarding Faculty of Graduate Studies admission requirements, financial aid, housing, etc. can be found on the  Grad Studies web site. If you require additional information regarding the Interdisciplinary Oncology Program please contact The Graduate Secretary, Interdisciplinary Oncology Program, BC Cancer Research Centre, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3 Tel: 604-675-8040; FAX: 604-675-8049; Email: rsmith@bccrc.ca Program Start Date Domestic Students International Students September 2009 March 14, 2009 February 15, 2009 January 2009 August 15, 2008 July 11, 2008 A UBC Faculty of Graduate Studies on-line application must be completed and all supporting application materials must be received in the Graduate Program office prior to the deadline dates shown above in order to be considered for admission into the program. Please send all supporting documents to: The Graduate Secretary Interdisciplinary Oncology Program BC Cancer Research Centre 675 West 10th Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3 CANADA Supporting documents required for a complete application include: Two official transcripts from each post secondary institution you have attended, in sealed envelopes. These should be sent directly from the student's university to the Interdisciplinary Oncology Program office. If the university will not mail transcripts directly to our office, then transcripts should be in sealed envelopes and endorsed by the Registrar of the university. Transcripts in languages other than English or French must come with official translations. Three letters of reference, in sealed envelopes. These should be sent directly to the Interdisciplinary Oncology Program office by the referee or, if necessary, can be included in the applicant's supporting document package but must be sealed and have the referee's signature written across the seal. Confirmation of acceptance from a Research Supervisor. No applicant will be admitted into the program without a commitment from a Research Supervisor. The supervisor should contact the Interdisciplinary Oncology Program Director, Dr. Victor Ling, by e-mail (vling@bccrc.ca) in order to confirm his/her commitment to the applicant, as well as confirming the student stipend. Course Requirements All students entering the Program will enroll in two core courses, Oncology 502 and Oncology 510. Students will also take electives chosen from courses offered by other programs at UBC. The electives to be chosen will be determined by the student in consultation with his/her research supervisor and should be approved by the student′s Supervisory Committee. The combination of core and elective courses is designed to provide students with a broad, interdisciplinary perspective on oncology research, while allowing intensive academic training in the student′s chosen field of specialization. A minimum of 18 credits of course work will be required for a MSc degree, plus a 12 credit thesis (Oncology 549) for a total of 30 credits. Students entering PhD studies without a Master′s degree will be required to take 18 credits of courses (the same as MSc students) plus a thesis (Oncology 649 - 0 credits). Students entering PhD studies with a Master′s degree will take the two core courses as well as any other courses recommended by their Supervisory Committee, plus a thesis (Oncology 649 - 0 credits). Given the interdisciplinary nature of the Program, it is expected that supervisors will require their students to take 3 or 4 courses to prepare them adequately for the comprehensive exam. MSc Program: In the first year, a student should take a minimum of 12 credits of courses. These courses will include the core courses (Oncology 502, 510) and electives. Please note that credit for Oncology 510 will only be given at the end of the student′s program of study so cannot be counted as part of the minimum 12 credits required in the first year. The elective courses are decided by the supervisor and the student, based on the student′s needs and thesis topic. The elective courses must be approved by the student′s Supervisory Committee. Typically, all electives should be courses at the 500 level or above; however, having up to 6 credits of electives at the 300 or 400 level is permissible. As specified in the Faculty of Graduate Studies calendar entry, the minimum requirements are 30 credits of courses numbered 300 or above, including at least 24 credits of courses numbered 500 to 699. These 24 credits include 12 credits of course work, plus a 12 credit thesis (Oncology 549). It is the responsibility of the supervisor and the Supervisory Committee to ensure that the student takes the required number of credits in appropriate courses. The supervisor and committee should also be prepared to assist the student in gaining admission to elective courses which may be blocked to students outside the home department. The Supervisory Committee should also be formed in the first year. The Committee consists of the student′s research supervisor plus two other faculty members with appropriate expertise, one from the student′s host department and one from another department. The composition of the Supervisory Committee must be approved by the Program Director. Before beginning the second year of a MSc, the Supervisory Committee will meet to assess the progress of the student and to approve the research project. Meetings of the Supervisory Committee must be held at least once per year and a formal report of the meeting must be submitted to the Program Director. In the second year, the student is required to complete any remaining coursework, while focusing on his/her research project. The student is also required to present a seminar on the research project for the seminar course (Oncology 510). When both student and supervisor agree that the student has made sufficient progress in the thesis research, they will seek the approval of the Supervisory Committee to write the thesis (12 credits). The student will be required to defend the thesis at a final oral examination. The Examination Committee should be composed of at least three faculty with at least one member from outside the Supervisory Committee. MSc Thesis Guidelines: The Thesis Defence for a Master's degree is a public presentation of the Candidate's thesis followed by questioning from the examiners. The Candidate's MSc Supervisory Committee has to determine if the thesis is ready for the defence. An "MSc Thesis Report" form should be completed and signed by the Research Supervisor and Committee Members and submitted to the Interdisciplinary Oncology office. Please see the Interdsiciplinary Oncology secretary for this form. Candidates for the Thesis Defence must have completed all course work, examinations and any other requirements of the degree program. It is the Candidate's responsibility to arrange the date, time and location of the defence. Once this has been done, please inform the Intersdisciplinary Oncology Office at least 3 weeks in advance. The Examination Committee consists of: -The Chair, who is generally selected by the Director of the program. -A minimum of 3 Examiners, with at least 2 members from the Candidate's Supervisory Committee (normally including the Research Supervisor(s) and at least one member who is neither a Supervisor nor a Co-supervisor) Quorum for the Oral Examination consists of: Chair of the Committee One External Examiner 2 Supervisory Committee Members Procedures to be followed by the Chair at the Thesis Defence: Announce that the meeting has been called for the public examination of [Candidate's name] for the Master's thesis. Request the Candidate to present a synopsis of the thesis. The Candidate may speak from notes and use audio-visual equipment but must NOT read the synopsis. The presentation should be about 20 to 30 minutes in length, but no longer. It should not be interrupted by questions. The Chair is asked to enforce these rules. Ask each member of the Examination Committee, in turn, to question the Candidate. The Research Supervisor should be called upon last. The Chair should exercise discretion in managing the question period. Call for questions from the audience, if any. Call for further questioning by the Committee, and, as Chair, ask the Candidate to address and/or clarify any points that may not have been adequately covered in previous questioning (if necessary). The Candidate and those not on the Examination Committee should leave the room. Call for a discussion. The Examination Committee is asked to make a recommendation with respect to the performance of the Candidate at the defence and of the thesis itself. Transfer from Master′s to Doctoral Programs without Completing Master′s Requirements After completing one year, Master′s students may transfer to the Doctoral program (fast-track) provided they have completed the following course requirements: 12 credits of first class average minimum 9 credits at the 500 level minimum 9 credits of first class standing clear evidence of research ability or potential A transfer directly into the Doctoral program is permitted after one year, but not after two years, in the Master′s program. If a student transfers from a Master′s program to a Doctoral program without completing the Master′s degree, the commencement of the Doctoral program will be from the date of first registration in the Master′s program. PhD Program: In the first year, a student entering PhD studies with a Master′s degree should take the core courses (Oncology 502 and 510) plus any electives deemed useful by the Supervisor and approved by the Supervisory Committee. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the Program, it is expected that supervisors will require their students to take 3 or 4 courses to prepare them adequately for the comprehensive exam. If the student has a MSc and has already taken the core courses or equivalent courses, the course requirements may be exempted upon approval by the Program Director. However, the student must take the seminar course (Oncology 510). Students entering PhD studies without a Master′s degree will be required to take 18 credits of courses, which would include the same courses as those for MSc students, plus a thesis (Oncology 649). It is the responsibility of the supervisor and the Supervisory Committee to ensure that the student takes the required number of credits in appropriate courses. The Supervisory Committee will also be formed in the first year. The Committee will consist of the student′s research supervisor and three other faculty members in the Program with appropriate expertise. At least one faculty member in addition to the supervisor must be from the student′s host department and at least one faculty member must be from another department. The composition of the Supervisory Committee must be approved by the Program Director. Meetings of the Committee must be held at least once per year. A formal report of the meeting must be submitted to the Program Director. Before beginning the second year, the Supervisory Committee will meet to assess the progress of the student and to approve the research project. In the second year the student will focus on his/her research project and, once all coursework has been completed, take the qualifying comprehensive examination to be admitted to candidacy. Admitted to Candidacy: Doctoral Programs Excerpt from the Faculty of Graduate Studies website. The basic requirements for a doctoral student to be admitted to Candidacy are: all required course work has been successfully completed; the comprehensive examination has been passed; the research supervisor has certified that the thesis proposal has been approved. Students are normally expected to complete their comprehensive examination within 24 months from the date of initial registration. A student who is not admitted to candidacy within 36 months from date of initial registration must withdraw from the program. Extension of this period may be permitted by the Dean of Graduate Studies in exceptional circumstances. As soon as a student has satisfied all requirements, the Program Director must recommend to the Faculty of Graduate Studies that the student be admitted to candidacy. This status is then entered on the University′s Student Information System (SIS). PhD Comprehensive Examination Guidelines A comprehensive examination is a Faculty of Graduate Studies requirement for PhD programs and is normally held after completion of all required coursework. The comprehensive examination is in addition to any course examinations, and is intended to test the student′s understanding of the chosen field of study as a whole and the student′s preparation for the thesis research to follow. Please note the following requirements for the PhD Comprehensive Exam: The Faculty of Graduate Studies requires that all PhD students pass a comprehensive examination in his or her area of study. Students are expected to complete their comprehensive examination within 24 months from the date of initial registration. A student who is not admitted to candidacy within 36 months from date of initial registration must withdraw from the program. Extension of this period may be permitted by the Dean of Graduate Studies in exceptional circumstances. It is expected that the student will not take the comprehensive exam until all required course work has been completed and the student has achieved a solid background in his⁄her area of study⁄research. The Supervisory Committee will determine that the student is ready for the comprehensive exam. The Examination Committee is comprised of a Chairperson, two members of the student′s Supervisory Committee, one examiner who is a member of the Oncology program and one external examiner from another department. All examiners will be selected by the Research Supervisor and are subject to approval by the Program Director. Names of examiners, date, time and location of the exam should be provided to the Oncology Program Office. Instructions will be sent out to all members of the Examination Committee one month before the exam. It is the student′s responsibility to arrange the date, time and location of the examination. Generally the schedule should be set four to six weeks prior to the exam. Students should be allowed one month to study for the exam and all examiners have the right to provide pertinent study materials to the student. The comprehensive exam will focus on the student′s area of study⁄research. A list of key words or phases describing the area of study should be submitted by the student to the Oncology Program office. These key words or phrases will be given to the examiners several weeks prior to the exam. At their discretion, examiners may also provide the student with a brief reading list covering topics the examiners consider important to the student′s area of research. The student must be prepared to answer questions on any of the recommended reading material in addition to the key words or phrases provided by the student. The Chair will determine at the time of the examination whether examiner questions are appropriate. In place of a list of key words, the student may also provide the Examining Committee with a brief description of his⁄her research or an abstract of the student′s thesis. The Research Supervisor will attend the Comprehensive Examination to ensure the fairness of the examination procedures. He⁄she may provide questions at the discretion of the Chair. Following the examination, the Committee will pass the student, recommend that all or part of the examination be repeated or fail the student. If the student passes the examination, he⁄she will continue in the Program and may be admitted to Candidacy. Students who fail will be allowed to repeat the examination (normally with the same committee members) no more than twice. Any additional examination attempts must be completed within twelve months of the initial examination. If the student passes the second (or third) examination, he⁄she will then be allowed to continue in the Program. If the student fails he⁄she must leave the Program. Thesis Examination All students must pass the final oral examination of their thesis as determined by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. After completion of the comprehensive examination, the student will concentrate on his/her research for the thesis. The student must also give a seminar on the research project for the seminar course (Oncology 510). When both student and supervisor agree that the student has made sufficient progress in the thesis research, they will seek the approval of the Supervisory Committee to write the thesis. The thesis must be approved by the Committee before it is submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The student will then proceed to defend the thesis in the final oral examination according to the guidelines of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.