M.Sc. Degree Program Timeline and Benchmarks

This page summarizes the timeline and benchmarks for the M.Sc. degree program at the Faculty of Dentistry. Links have been embedded within the page to forms you may need at different times during the degree program.

Advisory Committee	At least 3 members, including the supervisor (full or associate SGS member), co-supervisor (if applicable), and 1 to 3 committee members.
1st Committee meeting	Year 1 (download the Graduate Advisory Committee Form and the Student/Research Supervisor Memorandum of Agreement).
Scientific merit	None required if the project is funded by a federal agency (e.g. CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC, etc.). Otherwise, a faculty member external to the research group must approve the project for Scientific Merit.
Core coursework	DEN 1101H Introduction to Research Methods & Dissemination, DEN 1001H Graduate Research Dissemination Seminars (see pages 16 and 17), DEN 1010H Research Ethics, DEN 1015H Biostatistics, PLUS 1.0 full course equivalents (FCE) to be determined by the student and supervisor.
Transfer to PhD	Transfer examination between 12 and 24 months. Please submit a completed M.Sc. to Ph.D. Transfer Examination Booking Request Form. The Transfer examination is completed in lieu of the Qualifying examination.
Committee meetings	At least once per academic year (July 1 to June 30), but no later than 12 months following the most recent meeting of the Committee. Please submit a completed Graduate Advisory Committee Form.
Defense paperwork	Completed paperwork submitted to the Student Services Office 6 weeks prior to the proposed oral defense date (download Request to Book M.Sc. Thesis Defense Form).
Thesis copies for defense	Submit an electronic copy of the completed thesis to the Student Services Office with the Request form. Distribute the thesis to the Examining Committee members a minimum of 3 weeks prior to the oral defense date.
Examining committee	Four members, including the supervisor, co-supervisor (if applicable), Advisory Committee (1 member), external to research group (1 member) and external to the Faculty (1 member). NB: The Examining committee member who is external to the Faculty cannot have co-authored a manuscript with the Supervisor in the previous 5 years.
The examination may also be attended by:	Any member of the graduate faculty of this University who, on the invitation of the Examination Chair, may participate in the questioning of the Candidate. A qualified observer (someone associated with the research, who is not a member of the graduate faculty, may attend the examination as an observer) with the permission of the Associate Dean, Graduate Education.
Approvals	Approval of the Examining Committee and the external examiner (external to the Faculty) by the Associate Dean, Graduate Education.
Oral examination blackout	August.

Useful Graduate Department Forms Cabinet https://www.dentistry.utoronto.ca/forms/graduate-forms