doctoral program

Admission requirements and prerequisites

• relevant background and preparation such as previous academic specialization, work and personal experience(s).

• field of emphasis, specific study interests, and type of research being sought should be clearly outlined.

• a list of graduate courses the applicant finds interesting and would like to complete.

• a list of Graduate Faculty Supervisors whose research areas parallel the applicant's study interests.

program duration

Students entering the program normally will be required to spend a minimum of two (2) sessions, [an uninterrupted duration of at least eight (8) months such as a winter session], in full-time attendance at UBC. Students are allocated six (6) years from their initial date of registration to complete the entire program. Students who do not complete their Admission to Candidacy Requirements within a period of three (3) years from their initial date of registration will be required to withdraw from the program.

supervisory committee

The Graduate Faculty Supervisor who accepts the applicant as a PhD student will generally act as Chair of the student's Supervisory Committee, and Supervisor of the student’s thesis research. The Supervisory Committee must be formed as soon as the student commences the program and will consist of at least three (3) members, including the Chair. The Chair, and at least one (1) other member, must be from the School of Human Kinetics. The majority of committee members must be from UBC. The Committee is responsible for guiding the student throughout the student's program.  

course requirements

The study for the PhD degree in Human Kinetics is research oriented. The student's Supervisory Committee will recommend course work, and the amount to be taken by the student in relation to the student's background, and to the requirements which are appropriate to the PhD level in the chosen major field of study. A program will be designed for each individual to suit their needs.

comprehensive examinations

Students in the program will complete a Comprehensive Examination following the completion of required course work. The Comprehensive Examination will normally be a two-part examination, which the student's thesis committee will set and judge. The content of the exam will be relevant to the student's general area of study and will include questions covering theory, application, and methodology. Successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination is a prerequisite for the presentation and defense of the formal PhD thesis proposal.

admittance to candidacy

Students normally will be Admitted to Candidacy when they have: (1) completed all required course work; (2) passed the Comprehensive Examination, and (3) had their thesis proposal presented and approved.

thesis and final oral examination

An Examining Committee approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies evaluates the PhD student's thesis and meets for a Final Oral Examination of the thesis presentation and defense. Detailed reference information is available from the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

graduate research areas

The area of research will embrace the broad domain of physiological, biomechanical, behavioral and psychosocial factors influencing human movement and the analysis of social and cultural transformations in the role and functions of physical activity.

program of study outline

Each student's program of study will be tailored to support the student's experience, background and area of thesis research. The PhD program in Human Kinetics is a thesis-based program of study, and as such, is research-driven and not course-driven. Thus, the program for each student will be tailored to that student. For example, a student of biomechanics will have experience in mechanics, physics, mathematics and an understanding of the mechanical features of the human locomotor system. To augment the student's background it may be appropriate to have this student undertake course work within Human Kinetics as well as from the broader spectrum of courses in other departments.

tuition fees

All PhD and DMA students in the first four years of their doctoral program are eligible for a PhD Tuition Fee Award which is equivalent to the tuition fee assessment. Further information may be obtained at http://www.grad.ubc.ca.