PhD Program

Gain specialized knowledge of French literature or linguistics through our Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree program in French Studies at UBC Vancouver.


Degree Requirements

The first 24 months of the PhD program are devoted to coursework, preparing and taking the Comprehensive Examination, and obtaining approval of the Thesis Proposal. The following years are devoted to the writing and defence of the thesis.

In the first 16 months of the program, a minimum of 18 credits of coursework numbered above 500 must be completed, three of which may be taken in another department (six exceptionally). A first-class average is required in these courses. Additional coursework may be required for candidates who have deficiencies in certain areas.

The supervisory committee must meet at least once a year.

PhD candidates who are primarily interested in Linguistics may write a thesis on an aspect of French Linguistics. After consulting with the Graduate Advisor, they may also be permitted to supplement the Linguistics courses offered in the Department itself by taking courses elsewhere at UBC (in the Department of Linguistics or the Faculty of Education, for example), or at other universities under the Western Deans’ Agreement.

Students concentrating in French linguistics will be required to take some courses in French literature to complete their degree. The concentration in linguistics does not entail a purely linguistics degree, but rather an emphasis.

UBC invites doctoral students interested in getting international research experience to consider applying for a Joint PhD (or cotutelle). A cotutelle gives the student an opportunity to work with two supervisors at their respective academic research institutions in two countries and is customized to meet specific research objectives.


Program Overview

The candidate will fill out the Comprehensive Examination Committee approval form.

The candidate will take the comprehensive examination in April of the second year (if your graduate program started in September) or August/September of the second year (if your graduate program started in January).

The candidate will defend the PhD thesis proposal in September of the third year (if your graduate program started in September) or January of the third year (if your graduate program started in January).

The candidate will fill out the Supervisory Committee approval form after passing the PhD thesis proposal defence.

The final doctoral examination is the culmination of years of research and writing. It is the last step toward the conferral of the doctoral degree.

An Annual Progress Report must be submitted by March 1st for every year that the student is enrolled in the program.

On this page