Below is a typical timeline of the UBC Political Science doctoral program. It includes information about expectations, funding, and milestones students will achieve.
- Read and familiarize yourself with the Graduate Student Handbook.
- Create your CWL account.
- Contact your initial academic supervisor and plan coursework for your Year 1 Fall and Spring semesters.
- Register for Year 1 Fall and Spring courses in June.
- Attend the SSHRC Workshop (online) if applying for Tri-Agency Awards;
- Attend the Math Camp (if taking POLI 572A).
- Contact the department if you are changing your email address.
International students: Familiarize yourself with the International Advising Office and the “Before Arrival” checklist.
Expectations
- Complete the methods coursework requirements (if required by your selected subfield). Check the Graduate Handbook for specific field requirements.
- Take your major and minor core seminar courses.
- Attend the PhD Pathways Workshop.
- Apply for SSHRC if eligible
Funding
- For most students, a fellowship is provided with no work obligation in the first year.
- At the end of the spring semester, students will begin the search for Teaching Assistant (TA) positions for their second academic year (fall and spring semesters). They may also take up Research Assistant (RA) positions in the summer.
Expectations
- Take up a Research Assistant or Teaching Assistant position.
- Consult with supervisor on research papers that may be submitted for publication.
- Optional: Take advanced summer methods courses if available.
Funding
Summer funding is provided only for those PhD students who successfully complete the first academic year. Other sources of funding include TA or RA positions.
Students must complete their remaining coursework in their second year to meet the 36-credit PhD coursework requirement.
Expectations
- Complete the core major and minor requirements.
- Complete the TA training modules.
- TA for one full semester.
- Attend Professional Development Workshops.
- Meet with supervisor to discuss potential committee selection and qualifying paper topic for comprehensive exams.
- Attend and present at relevant field colloquiums.
Funding
Funding continues for second-year students showing academic progress. Second-year students are also funded as Teaching Assistants, and research assistant positions are also available for PhD students in their second year.
Expectations
- Begin to form research agenda, to identify the topic of your prospectus defence, and to select the members of your supervisory committee.
- Prepare for comprehensive exam and inform the program when you are taking the exams (in the Fall or Spring semester of Year 3). Schedule the written and oral comprehensive exam dates.
- Complete all methods or advanced methods courses.
Funding
Summer funding is provided only to those PhD students who successfully complete the second academic year. Second-year students may also take RA positions in the summer.
Students must successfully complete all first-year core subjects and the second-year courses by this point.
Expectations
- Write a qualifying paper (option for two-question comprehensive exams).
- Pass the written and oral comprehensive exams.
- Assemble a provisional committee for your prospectus.
- Form a 3-member supervisory committee at least two months before the date of the prospectus defence.
- Have your committee approve your prospectus.
- Successfully present the 649 prospectus.
- Advance to candidacy.
- Present and attend a major conference.
- Pass the prospectus defence by the end of the spring semester. Students who do not successfully defend may apply for extension at the discretion of UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and the UBC Political Science Graduate Studies Director (with support of their supervisor).
Funding
Students are funded as TAs, RAs , or Graduate Assistants (GAs).
Expectations
- Attend summer methods schools.
- Continue with fieldwork, research assistant positions, or teaching assistant positions.
- Submit publications or co-publish with your supervisor.
Funding
Summer funding is provided only for those PhD students who successfully complete their third academic year. Students may also apply for research funding or conference funding.
Years 4 and up are focused on fieldwork and dissertation writing, preparing for and entering the job market, and completing and defending the dissertation. It also is a time to apply for postdoctoral or academic job positions
Expectations
- Continue with fieldwork and dissertation writing.
- Turn in a draft of your paper into an academic journal article.
- Present the draft of your paper in a colloquia or conference.
- Attend the Academic Job market workshop.
- Meet with your advisor to formulate/evaluate your academic and career plans.
- If you plan to go on the Job Market in your next year, then you must:
- Complete draft Job Market CV;
- Create a personal website;
- Secure three reference letter writers;
- Create an Interfolio account.
Funding
Students are funded as TAs, GAs, or RAs. Some may be continually funded through 4YF or Tri-Agency Awards.
Expectations
- Work on dissertation.
- Sessional teaching (optional).
Funding
Students are funded by teaching summer courses or through 4YF or Tri-Agency Awards.
Summer funding is provided only for those PhD students who successfully complete their fourth academic year. Students may also apply for research funding or conference funding.
Expectations
- Enroll in a workshop for Academic Job markets.
- Sign up for a Practice Job Talk.
- Work on job market paper and dissertation.
- Enroll in a workshop and a research seminar (lunch group) in both the fall and the spring semesters.
- Discuss with your advisor whether you are going to go on the job market.
If you are going on the job market this year:
- Finish job market paper early in the fall semester;
- Present your job market paper early in the fall semester;
- Go on the job market;
- After the job market, complete and defend dissertation.
If you plan to go on the Job Market in your next year, then by June 1 you must:
- Update Job Market CV;
- Update personal website;
- Secure three reference letter writers.
Academic Year Funding
Students are funded as TAs, GAs, or RAs.
Summer Funding
Students are funded by teaching summer courses or through 4YF or Tri-Agency Awards.
Summer funding is provided only for those Ph.D. students who successfully complete their fourth academic year. Students may also apply for research funding or conference funding.
Expectations
- Complete your fieldwork and dissertation.
- Finalize and schedule your dissertation defence date.
- Submit all requirements to G+PS to complete your PhD program.
- Discuss with your advisor whether you are going on the job market.
- Apply for Postdoctoral Positions.
If you are going on the job market:
- Finish job market paper early in the fall semester;
- Present your job market paper early in the fall semester;
- Go on the job market;
- After the job market, complete and defend dissertation.
If you are not going on the job market, note that departmental funding is not provided beyond the sixth year.
Academic Year Funding
Students are funded as TAs, GAs, or RAs.
Summer Funding
Summer funding is not guaranteed after the sixth academic year. Students may also seek experiential opportunities such as teaching a summer course, working as an RA or as a GA, or working in an internal or external internship.