Admission to the PhD program in CIS will normally require a recognized master's degree in Computer Science or a closely related discipline obtained with high academic standing. Entrants are expected to have previously studied the following areas in Computer Science:

• Advanced Programming

• Computer Architecture

• Data Structures

• Operating Systems

• Databases

• Software Engineering

• Discrete Mathematics

• Algorithms

• Computer Networks

and the following areas in Mathematics and Statistics:

• Calculus

• Linear Algebra

• Probability and Statistics

• Numerical Analysis

Students who lack sufficient breadth may be required to complete specific courses as a condition of admission. Students entering the program are expected to have demonstrated good research potential, an ability to critically evaluate experimental or theoretical results, and strong communication skills. Evidence for these are normally provided by scholarly publications during and immediately following the master's degree.

The TOEFL is required of all applicants whose first language is not English. For the Internet-Based TOEFL the applicant's overall score should be at least 89, with no individual component less than 21. For the Computer-Based TOEFL the score should be at least 250, and for the Paper-Based TOEFL it should be at least 600. The TOEFL requirement can be waived in exceptional circumstances only (e.g., applicants who have studied full-time for two years in a country where English is the native language AND in a university where English is the language of instruction).

Students who have obtained a Masters degree from a university outside of Canada are required to supply GRE scores (GRE General and/or GRE Subject in CS). Applicants with high GRE scores will be considered favourably in the admission process.

A student who has achieved excellent standing in an honours Computer Science degree (or an equivalent 4-year CS degree) and who wishes to proceed to doctoral study may enrol, in the first instance, in the MSc program. If the student achieves a superior academic record and shows a particular aptitude for research, the student may be transferred into the PhD program without completing the MSc degree. The application for transfer must be made between the end of the second semester and the end of the fourth semester.

A student who has completed an honours Computer Science degree (or an equivalent 4-year CS degree) may apply for direct admission to the PhD program. The successful applicant must have an outstanding academic record, breadth of knowledge in Computer Science, demonstration of research promise, and strong letters of recommendation.

A student who wishes to transfer from another closely related PhD program at the University of Guelph into the CIS PhD program should submit:

• a program transfer application form

• transcripts from all past programs

• a written description summarizing the progress in the previous program including the qualifying examination.

Students may not enter the CIS PhD program as part-time. A full-time PhD student may apply for part-time studies only after the minimum duration for the degree has been completed. The application will not be granted unless the candidate has completed the course requirements and the thesis research is well established.

At least 5 semesters of full-time study must be completed in the doctoral program following completion of a recognized master's degree in Computer Science or a related discipline. At least 7 semesters are required for those who are permitted to proceed from the honours baccalaureate without completing a master's degree. The actual length of the program depends on the academic preparation of the student and the choice of research topic. A typical PhD student (after an MSc) is expected to complete the program in 12 semesters.

Each PhD candidate conducts thesis research by working closely with a thesis advisor. The advisor is a member of the CIS graduate faculty who provides academic guidance and interacts regularly with the student. Moreover, the student is required to have an Advisory Committee containing no few than three members of the graduate faculty (in the selection of whom the student normally participates). The student's advisor chairs the committee. At least one of the committee members must be from another department.

A PhD student, following the completion of a recognized master's degree in Computer Science or related discipline, is required to take CIS*6890 (unless the student has taken an equivalent course in the MSc program) and at least four other graduate courses. Of these four courses, at most one may be co-listed (that is, a combined graduate/undergraduate course), at most one may be a reading course CIS*6660 and at most one may be taken from departments other than CIS.

A PhD student admitted without an appropriate MSc is required to take CIS*6890 and at least eight graduate courses. Out of these eight courses, at most two may be co-listed, at most two may be reading courses CIS*6660, and at most two may be taken from departments other than CIS.

For breadth requirement purposes, the subject matter of computer science is divided into three broad categories, and each category is subdivided into two to three areas:

Each CIS graduate courses falls into one of the eight areas (see http://www.cis.uoguelph.ca/?q=graduate#forms). A student must have sufficient background in five of these areas, including at least one from each category. A student has gained sufficient background in an area if the student:

• has taken a CIS graduate course in the area (with grade of at least 70%), or

• has taken an equivalent course in the MSc program, or

• has extensive industrial experience in the area, or

• has written an MSc thesis in the area.

A student must satisfy the breadth requirement no later than the fourth semester after entering the program, otherwise the student may be required to withdraw from the program. The student, therefore, should develop a plan of study no later than the end of the second semester, and seek approval from the Graduate Coordinator (see the CIS Departmental Handbook for Graduate Students).

A PhD student should give two publicly announced research seminars on his/her PhD thesis research. The first seminar must be presented before the semester when the Qualifying Examination is completed, and no earlier than the third semester after entering the program. The second seminar must be presented after the semester when the Qualifying Examination is completed, during the final year but before the final semester of the candidate. Each seminar should be attended by the student's advisor and at least one other CIS faculty member of the student's Advisory Committee. The quality of the presentation is graded on a pass/fail basis. The PhD seminar requirement is intended for candidates to practice presentation and communication skills and to participate in the process of knowledge dissemination as part of the academic life.

The student must satisfy the breadth requirement before the Qualifying Examination (QE). The QE must be completed no later than the final semester of the minimum duration for the degree (either 5 or 7 semesters). The focus of the examination is to assess the candidate's ability and promise in the selected research area.

Arrangements for the QE should be made at least 6 weeks prior to the anticipated date of the QE oral presentation, and the student must submit a research proposal to the Advisory Committee at least 3 weeks prior to it (see the CIS Departmental Handbook for Graduate Students). The research proposal should contain the following items:

• A survey of appropriate background literature.

• A description of the proposed area of research.

• A statement describing the merits and scholarly value of the proposed research.

• A schedule of the research program that the candidate will follow, including a sequence of milestones and objectives.

The examination consists of an oral presentation by the candidate followed by questions from the Examination Committee.

Arrangements for the PhD thesis defence should be made 12 weeks prior to the anticipated date of the defence, and the student must submit his/her PhD thesis to the Advisory Committee at least 6 weeks prior to it (see the CIS Departmental Handbook for Graduate Students). The examination consists of an oral presentation by the candidate followed by questions from the Examination Committee.