Your graduate program

Expectations

All graduate students are expected to be familiar with the rules of the Graduate Supervision Policy. The policy outlines formal rules, general expectations about the standard of your work, and what it means to be a graduate student.

Additionally, the graduate calendar has sections on:

• Standards for Master's Degrees
• Standards for Doctoral Degrees
• Student Responsibilities

The department of chemistry has its own statement of expectations:

Ethics & academic integrity

Equity and Human Rights

The University promotes a safe, respectful and supportive learning, working, and living environment. University policies prohibit discrimination, harassment, and sexualized violence. The Equity and Human Rights office (EQHR) is a resource for all Uvic community members, including students. 

When issues and concerns arise, EQHR can assist community members and help guide them through the range of available options such as dispute resolution, investigating human rights complaints, and providing information and support in cases of sexualized violence. 

Academic and Research Integrity

Graduate students are responsible for adhering to the Academic Integrity Policy. This policy covers topics like plagiarism, cheating and manipulating data.

Other resources

• Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) by the Panel on Responsible Conduct of Research (PRCR)
• Policy on Scholarly Integrity

Your supervisor

Your supervisor is a mentor who will guide you to successful completion of your degree. Most chemistry research groups hold regular meetings where you present and discuss your work with your supervisor and peers. Many supervisors also meet individually with graduate students, ensuring frequent contact.

While the department of chemistry has no rules on the frequency you meet your supervisor, the Graduate Supervision Policy (5.9d) requires that your supervisor meet with you at least twice per term.

Your supervisor may ask you to write reports, drafts or research papers or other text. The supervisor is expected to give you timely feedback on papers, theses and other written material. 

Supervisory committee

Your supervisory committee oversees all aspects of your graduate program. The committee will be involved in all formal decisions involved in your program, including any problems that arise.

You have the right to call a supervisory committee meeting to discuss any conflicts or supervisory issues that arise. Read the full policy on graduate studies committees, advisers, and supervisors.

MSc committees have at least two members:

1. Your supervisor
2. A co-supervisor or member. Usually this second person is from the Chemistry Department, though they may come from another UVic department.
3. Optional third member (can be from Chemistry or another UVic department)

PhD committees have at least three members:

1. Your supervisor
2. Co-supervisor/member (a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry)
3. Outside member (a faculty member from another department at UVic)
4. Optional fourth member.

When it is time for your final defence, your examining committee will be your supervisory committee plus your examiner. At least one of the examining committee must be from a department or institution outside chemistry. If you have a member on your supervisory committee from outside the department of chemistry, then it is possible for your examiner to be from the department.

Courses

The graduate calendar lists all course requirements for the MSc program and PhD program respectively.

For further help organizing your courses, reach out to the graduate secretary.