General Programme Requirements for Graduate Studies

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General Information

These general requirements specify the minimum academic requirements in order to obtain a Master's or Doctoral Degree with the Division of Graduate Studies. The student's primary department and/or programme may have additional requirements.

Master's Degrees

Requirements for a Master's programme

• Normally a period of two academic years, plus the intervening summer, of full-time graduate study is required for completion of a Master's degree programme.
• The minimum RMC content required for the awarding of an RMC Master's degree is work equivalent to two full-time terms (one academic year) of full-time graduate study under the RMC faculty.

Programme of Studies for a Master's Programme

• A minimum of four approved one-term courses or the equivalent at the graduate level, plus a thesis will be required for a Master's degree.
• A term course is defined as one consisting of three (one-hour) periods per week for one academic term.
• Work done at other universities will be accepted if recommended by the Graduate Studies Committee and approved by Faculty Council. Results of original research or contribution to knowledge will normally be presented in the form of a thesis.

• The normal requirement for an RMC Master's degree is:
  • five one-term courses or the equivalent at the graduate level plus a thesis,
  • eight one-term courses or the equivalent at the graduate level plus a project, or
  • ten one-term courses or the equivalent at the graduate level.

Please see the various degree programmes by department for the details of degree requirements.

• A candidate's primary department is the department in which the thesis research is conducted.
• In the case of graduate degree programmes conducted by interdepartmental committees of the Division of Graduate Studies rather than by departments, the interdepartmental committee and its chair will assume the responsibilities of the primary department and departmental chair respectively.
• The programme of studies and research recommended by the primary department concerned must be approved each term by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Time Limit for a Master's Programme

The period allowed from first registration into the Master's programme to the final submission of the thesis normally shall be no more that five years. Requests for extension of the thesis will be considered on a case by case basis.

Doctoral Degrees

Residence Requirements for a Doctoral Programme

• The minimum residence requirement for the Doctoral degree is four full-time terms (two academic years), dated from the initial registration in the programme.
• The minimum RMC content required for the awarding of a RMC Doctoral degree is work equivalent to four academic terms or two academic years of full-time graduate study in a Doctoral programme at RMC.
• In the case of candidates who are full-time members of the RMC faculty while undertaking a Doctoral programme on a part-time basis in their own time, one-half of an academic year of residence requirement will be credited for each year on staff during the period in which the candidate is registered in a Doctoral programme. For the purpose of this requirement, the academic year is considered to extend from 1 September to 30 April.
• A Master's student, who is allowed to transfer into a Doctoral programme, must fulfil two academic years of full-time study, but dated from the initial registration in the Master's programme.

Programme of Studies for a Doctoral Programme

• The candidate will be required to take sufficient courses to provide proper preparation for the comprehensive examination.
• Normally, a minimum of eight approved one-term courses or the equivalent at the graduate level past the Bachelor's level will be required or a minimum of four approved courses past the master's level.
• Major departments may have additional course work requirements.

• A candidate's primary department is the department in which the thesis research is conducted.
• In the case of graduate degree programmes conducted by interdepartmental committees of the Division of Graduate Studies rather than by departments, the interdepartmental committee and its chair will assume the responsibilities of the primary department and departmental chair respectively.
• Graduate level courses previously completed at RMC or another university, including courses credited toward the granting of a Master's degree, will be accepted for credit up to a maximum of four one-term courses or equivalent, if recommended by the primary department and Graduate Studies Committee and approved by Faculty Council.
• Credit for additional graduate courses may be considered on petition by the candidate.

Time Limit for a Doctoral Programme

The period allowed from first registration into the Doctoral programme to the final submission of the thesis shall normally be no more than seven years. Requests for extension of the thesis will be considered on a case by case basis.

Language Requirements for a Doctoral Programme

Individual departments may require demonstration of reading knowledge in one or more languages considered a requirement for the conduct of effective research in the particular topic of study.

Graduate Studies - Responsibilities

The Dean of Graduate Studies is responsible to the Principal for the control and direction of all academic matters affecting graduate studies.

In academic matters, the graduate student is responsible directly to their Programme Chair, and thence to the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Every graduate student whose programme includes a thesis is required to review with their supervisor(s) the guidelines outlined in the document entitled student-supervisor relations. These guidelines are intended to provide both the student and the supervisor(s) a framework for their student-supervisor(s) relationship. The document is to be signed by the student and the supervisor(s) and a copy filed with the Division of Graduate Studies (DGS).  In addition, the student and the supervisor(s) are required to complete a progress report as scheduled in the student-supervisor relations document. The progress report provides an opportunity to both the student and supervisor(s) to evaluate the student’s current academic standing and to set objectives to achieve the expected research progress. A copy of the report is to be filed with the DGS.

Full-time military graduate students may be required by the Programme Chair to perform laboratory assistance or tutorial duties (excluding marking) for up to three hours a week.

A civilian and a military Graduate Studies Representative will be appointed annually.

The Senior Civilian Graduate Studies Representative will be chosen by the civilian graduate students in consultation with the Dean of Graduate Studies, the Senior Military Graduate Studies Representative by the Commanding Officer for Post Graduates (CO PG and Mil Fac) in consultation with the Dean of Graduate Studies.

The Senior Military Graduate Studies Representative shall be responsible to the CO PG & Mil Fac for the general control and deportment of the military graduate students, and shall also provide liaison between the military graduate students and the CO PG & Mil Fac and the Dean of Graduate Studies.