We will once again be lifting the August oral defence blackout for 2017. Students should be aware, however, that coordinating the schedules of the examiners required for a doctoral examination can prove especially in the summer months. We strongly advise those aiming for summer defences to discuss this possibility with their supervisory committee members well in advance. Students counting on an August oral defence who fail to make the appropriate arrangements with their committee members well in advance may find themselves unable to meet their desired deadlines for program completion. 

Due to scheduled construction in the Graduate Student Centre, our doctoral exam rooms will be unavailable for defences between April 10 and September 1, 2017. Two rooms in the Anthropology and Sociology Building, 6303 North West Marine Drive, will be made available in their place. These two rooms, ANSO 202 and 207, can be booked through the G+PS Doctoral Exams Office in the usual way.  

The deadlines for students aiming to complete their programs this summer are available on our website. Those aiming to finish by the end of the summer session should note the following deadlines: 

·         Friday, April 21, 2016 – Nominations for External Examiner form submitted to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

·         Friday, June 16, 2017 – Doctoral dissertation and supporting documentation submitted to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for external examination.

·         Friday, August 11, 2017 – Last day for final doctoral oral examinations.

·         Thursday, August 31, 2017 – Acceptance of final, approved doctoral dissertation by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. 

We encourage students who are approaching the final examination stage of their program to join us for Tuesday’s Doctoral Exam Preparation sessions, which are being offered in person and by webinar. Copies of the slides and a recording of the webinar will be available on our Tools for Planning page for those unable to attend. 

Warm regards,

Jenn

Jenn Fletcher  MSc
Doctoral Exams Coordinator
Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies | Office of the Dean and Vice Provost
The University of British Columbia | Vancouver Campus
201 – 6371 Crescent Road | Vancouver BC | V6T 1Z2 Canada
Phone 604 822 3989 | Fax 604 822 5802
jennifer.fletcher@ubc.ca | @UBCGradSchool
www.grad.ubc.ca