Instructions for Preparing the PhD Proposal Package

The Medical Sciences Graduate Program Committee (MSGPC) requests the proposal package consist of the following information, in the following order:

  1. Student's academic record, both U of A transcripts and other institutions if applicable.
  2. The proposal form (DOC, 60 KB)) must be completed, stating
    • Supervisory Committee Members
    • Project Title
    • Student's completed and proposed coursework
    • Project's source of funding, including the name, duration and amount.
    • Supervisor's source of funding, including the name, duration and amount.
    • Student Publications
    • Student Honours and Awards
    • Timeline of the PhD program, indicating supervisory committee meetings, proposed month of the candidacy examination and final oral examination
  3. A statement (maximum 200 words), written by the supervisor, outlining the potential contribution to science of the student's PhD project.
  4. A proposal outlining the scope of the proposed research, using the following guidelines and including:
    • A written proposal which does not exceed four (4) pages (not including appendices), single spaced, size 12 Times New Roman font, and 1.0 inch or 2.5 cm margins. The proposal,
      • Must be written independently by the student
      • Must clearly and precisely illustrate the students role in the proposed research
    • Appendices - should be restricted to figures, legends, references, questionnaires and tables
    • A sign-off page with the supervisor, supervisory committee members and departmental graduate coordinators' signatures approving the proposal

    As a general guideline, the proposal will contain:

    • a review of the pertinent literature
    • the research hypothesis
    • the specific objectives of the research
    • a review of the relevant work done previously by the student or the research group on the subject
    • a detailed presentation of the planned experimental approach, and
    • the significance of the anticipated results.

    Please Note: Anything exceeding these guidelines will be returned to the student and not be included for review.
  5. Curriculum vitae form for the supervisor and/or co-supervisor must be submitted on the common CV format with a maximum of 6 pages.

The information in the PhD proposal package will help the MSGPC to assess the:

  1. Student's background and readiness
  2. Supervisor and research environment
  3. Supervisory committee and their contributions to the development of the student
  4. Scope, rigor and quality of the research project.

If the Committee approves the proposal, the Graduate Coordinator, Supervisor and Student are notified in writing. If the Committee has concerns about any aspect of the proposal package, further clarification will be requested.

Proposals submitted must be accompanied by a list of 5 potential reviewers outside the student's department in a sealed envelope. This information is to be supplied by the Department Graduate Coordinator and will not be accepted if brought by the student unless it is in a sealed envelope signed by the Graduate Coordinator.

Submit an original paper copy of the complete PhD Proposal Package including CVs to:
MSGPC, Office of Research
Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry
2J2.11 WMC
780.492.9721
Janis Davis