An applicant is eligible for admission to the PhD program at the discretion of the director. In general, an applicant must possess the qualifications listed for the MSc program, together with a master of science degree comparable to those awarded by North American universities and suitable references from the institution at which the MSc degree was awarded. However, direct admission to the PhD program is available to applicants with an overall A standing in an Honours BSc degree.

A student who is registered in (GWC)2 as a master's candidate may be permitted under certain circumstances to transfer to a PhD degree without writing an MSc thesis. The following guidelines are used in deciding whether a student will be recommended to the appropriate university authorities to transfer directly to the PhD program.

• The request must be initiated by the student no later than the end of the third semester in the MSc program. Transfers will be made no later than the fourth semester.

• The applicant should have a superior academic record at both the undergraduate and graduate level, with a first class standing and above average performance in a minimum of two graduate courses and MSc Seminar, CHEM*7940.

• The applicant must have demonstrated an oral and written communication ability appropriate for a PhD-level student, and there must be clear evidence of research productivity and promise.

• The request for direct transfer should be accompanied by supporting documentation from the advisor, the advisory committee, and another faculty member familiar with the student's research record.

A student is encouraged to apply to the PhD co-operative option if he/she has an honours bachelor of science degree, or the equivalent, with a minimum overall A standing.

Students in the PhD program must successfully complete three semester-long courses beyond those required for the master of science degree. One of these courses will be PhD Seminar, CHEM*7950. Students must also pass an oral qualifying examination, CHEM*7960, in their major field, and submit and defend an acceptable thesis.

Students admitted directly to the PhD program from a BSc must successfully complete one semester-long course beyond those required for the master of science degree. In addition, students must also complete CHEM*7950 (Ph.D. Seminar), pass an oral qualitying examination, CHEM*7960, in their major field, and submit and defend an acceptable thesis.

Students registered in the PhD program may proceed to that degree under the co-operative option. Under this option four of the six required semester-long courses (including CHEM*7950) must be completed within the first two academic semesters of study in the centre. After successful completion of these two semesters of course work, the candidate will spend three semesters (one year) working in an industrial or government laboratory. On completion of the work year, a student will be required to submit a work report which will be evaluated by the centre and the career services unit at the student's home campus. Following successful completion of the work year, the student will return to the centre to continue work on a PhD research project and complete the regular PhD requirements.