phd sociology canada

College of Social & Applied Human Sciences

Sociology PhD

Join graduate students of the highest caliber from across the country and around the world as you delve into the workings of society with a focus on how to improve life. In our program, you'll apply your knowledge, skills and values to examine and engage with current social issues through our four available specializations in environment, food and communities; work and organization; crime and social control; and identities and social inclusion. In addition to our core areas of specialization, our faculty conduct research, supervise and teach in many other fascinating areas of study.

As a self-motivated and talented sociology PhD scholar, you'll find a rewarding array of intellectual and professional challenges through course work, seminars, qualifying examinations, teaching and research assistantships, conference presentations and dissertation writing.

You'll also gain valuable leadership experience and professional development as you build the skills you need to succeed inside and outside of academia, such as advanced theoretical and methodological competence, an ability to conduct research independently at the cutting edge of your chosen field, and the expertise to communicate with precision and confidence while working with world-renowned faculty.

Program Brochure    Meet Our Graduates

Fields of Specialization

Our sociology MA provides the opportunity to specialize in one of four fields where our faculty is well-recognized for its expertise, including:

Environment, Food, and Communities

The field of Environment, Food, and Communities reflects sociological interests in understanding societal-ecological interactions more broadly. The specific focus may include environmental/natural resources/food systems and environmental justice/community sustainability.

Students specializing in this field will be encouraged to draw on established methodologies in the field, including the comparative and historical approach. Attention will be given to the ways in which structure/power/culture and class/gender/race and ethnicity play out in at least one of the substantive topics comprising this field.

Work and Organization

The field of Work and Organization reflects sociological interests in changing patterns of work and employment in comparative contexts, labour markets, gender and work, industrial and organizational change, economic restructuring and work, organizations and protest, education for work, and the regulation of work. These trends are located in the broader processes of globalization, economic restructuring and fundamental shifts in public policy.

Students specializing in this field will be encouraged to focus on the dialectical relationship between the configurations of gender, class, race and ethnicity, and the transformation and re-organization of work.

Crime and Social Control

The field of Crime and Social Control reflects sociological interests in how crime is defined, measured, explained and reacted to by society.

Within this field students will be exposed to scholarly material on a broad range of topics including: cyberbullying, victimization, legal responses to homelessness, intimate partner violence, drug policy, school violence, feminist criminology, critical criminology, restorative justice, sociology of risk, policing, the social construction of crime, inmate re-integration, youth justice, wrongful convictions, and life course criminology.

Identities and Social Inclusion

The field of Identities and Social Inclusion reflects sociological interests in the study of intergroup relations, with special emphasis on struggles over influence and power. Students specializing in this field will acquire a deeper understanding of the complex intersection as well as the overlap of forms of identity and group mobilization based on ethnic, linguistic, regional, class, gender, racial and other forms of social division.

The field also provides students with the opportunity to study Indigenous issues and policies related to multiculturalism, equity and local or regional autonomy.

Collaborative Specialization in International Development Studies

Students can choose to combine their PhD in Sociology with an International Development Studies specialization. The collaborative IDS specialization offers an interdisciplinary framework for the study of international development that combines training in a selected academic discipline with exposure to a broad range of social science perspectives.

More about the IDS specialization

Program Completion Requirements

A minimum of five semesters of full-time study must be devoted to the doctoral program. Normally, the dissertation will be formally submitted within forty-eight months of the completion of the minimum duration.

The PhD program is not offered on a part-time basis. All students are required to register in the program full time.

PhD students are required to successfully complete a minimum of four graduate courses, normally during their first two semesters in the program:

• PhD professional seminar (SOC*6750). This is a two-semester course that consists of a combination of several required and elective components and is expected to be completed within the first year of the program. Some elective sessions may be offered in subsequent years of the program.
• Advanced Topics in Sociological Theory (SOC*6800). This core PhD course is required of all first-year doctoral students and must be taken in the fall semester of the first year of study.
• Advanced Issues in Mixed Research Methodologies (SOC*6200). This core PhD Course is required of all first-year doctoral students and must be taken in the winter semester of the first year of study.
• One required graduate course in one of the four departmental fields of specialization, as determined by the student's area of specialization. Students advancing to the PhD program from the MA program in sociology at the University of Guelph who have successfully completed the existing graduate course in their field of specialization are required to take an elective graduate course offered by the department or a graduate course offered in another department at the University of Guelph (selected in consultation with the student's advisor).

Qualifying Examination

In addition to coursework, students are required to successfully complete one qualifying examination. The qualifying examination has a written and an oral component and covers sociological theory, the student's substantive field of specialization and student's research area.

The purpose of the qualifying examination is to assess a student's knowledge of the relevant subject matter and their ability to critically analyze, integrate and evaluate theoretical, methodological and substantive knowledge, and to assess their preparedness to undertake research for the PhD dissertation and to develop an analysis of their research findings.

As such, students are expected to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the foundations of sociological theories and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the broad literature in the field as well as theoretical and methodological approaches relevant to that specific field.

Dissertation Proposal

The dissertation proposal should be formulated early and presented to the PhD advisory committee.

The dissertation proposal must be formally approved by the advisory committee before the dissertation research can begin. The dissertation proposal provides a framework for the actual research.

Dissertation

Each doctoral candidate is required to submit and orally defend a dissertation, written by the candidate, on research carried out by the candidate on a topic approved by the advisory committee. The dissertation is expected to be a significant contribution to knowledge in its field and the candidate must indicate in what ways it is a contribution.

The dissertation must demonstrate mature scholarship and critical judgement on the part of the candidate, and it must indicate an ability to express oneself in a satisfactory literary style. Approval of the dissertation is taken to imply that it is judged to be sufficiently meritorious to warrant publication in reputable scholarly media in the field.

Graduate Calendar    Course Descriptions

In addition to our core areas of specialization, our faculty conduct research, supervise and teach in many other fascinating areas of study. If you are interested in working with world-renowned faculty on cutting edge topics, please reach out to a faculty member directly through our faculty profiles.

Meet the Faculty

Admission Requirements

Normally, only applicants with a recognized MA degree in sociology and with high academic standing (80% or higher) in their graduate-level studies will be admitted into the program.

Students are expected to have successfully completed master's-level courses in sociological theory as well as master's-level qualitative and quantitative methodology courses in sociology. Normally, students will have taken courses across the breadth of sociology.

Financial Support

The University of Guelph offers many resources to financially support graduate students. Explore your options on the Graduate Studies website .

Help fund your graduate studies by taking advantage of Entrance Awards .

Cost of Tuition and Living

Take the Next Step

Start the application process and explore options for funding your education.

How to Apply

Awards & Scholarships

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PhD Program

• PhD Program Requirements
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The PhD program, offered on a full– and part–time basis, is intended to develop research and teaching scholars who can accomplish major, independent research projects, who are able to advance the substantive and theoretical debates in the discipline through professional discourse and publication, and who are able to teach the basic perspectives in the discipline and at least one specialized field at the undergraduate and graduate levels. All requirements for the PhD must be completed within six years of first registering as a doctoral student. During this period, continuous registration at York must be maintained. Part–time study does not entitle students to extra time. Part–time doctoral study is feasible only if the student can collect data for the dissertation as part of their job, or if the student can switch to full–time study for a year or two.

If a student has not finished at the end of their sixth year (18th term), they will have to withdraw from the program and seek reinstatement when they have completed all outstanding work and have an examinable dissertation. In exceptional circumstances, an extension may be granted, and the student will be required to register as a part–time student. Such an extension requires formal approval by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and is not granted routinely. Students need the support of their committee supervisor and the Graduate Program Director. In addition, students must write a petition outlining why they have been unable to finish within the normal time period and submit a detailed work plan for finishing the dissertation within the requested extension period.

The Graduate Program in Sociology at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis-based program

Program overview.

UCalgary's sociology program prepares globally competitive graduates with the support of one of Canada's top rated research-oriented departments. Our graduate programs ground learning in core knowledge of classical and contemporary social theories, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and supplement this fundamental study with specialized courses of interest. Recent research topics include international health governance, immigration and employment, patterns of offending, gender tranformative youth programming, restorative justice and racialized youth, issues in healthcare and professional work, urban cycling, anime fandom, social inclusion of Black African youth, discourses of sexual assault. Students benefit from a professor/student ratio that guarantees access to support and feedback.

Completing this program

Core Courses: Students take courses in social statistics and advanced methods, in addition to seminars in sociological theory.

Candidacy: Students will complete both oral and written candidacy exams.

Additional Courses:  Topics may include health and illness, ethnicity and racialization, gender, urban sociology, indigenous issues, deviance and social control, and more.

Thesis: Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.

Academic jobs such as professor, instructor and post-doctoral scholar; alternative academic jobs such as researcher, educational consultant, and data analyst; health sector, government, non-profit, researcher, analyst, program evaluation, clinician.

A PhD in Sociology is usually considered a final degree.

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.

Seven courses

Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Classroom delivery

Time commitment.

Four years full-time; six years maximum

A supervisor is required, but it is not necessary to find a supervisor before applying.  PhD supervisors are normally appointed at the end of the second semester.

See the Graduate Calendar for information on  fees and fee regulations,  and for information on  awards and financial assistance .

Virtual Tour

Explore the University of Calgary (UCalgary) from anywhere. Experience all that UCalgary has to offer for your graduate student journey without physically being on campus. Discover the buildings, student services and available programs all from your preferred device.

Supervisors

Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree. Please note: additional supervisors may be available. Contact the program for more information.

Michael Adorjan

Pallavi Banerjee

Alex Bierman

Dean Curran

Ariel Ducey

Erin Gibbs Van Brunschot

Abdie Kazemipur

Scott McLean

Fiona Nelson

Matt Patterson

Admission requirements

A grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale over a master’s program.

Minimum education

Demonstrated competence in sociological theory, social methodology, and social statistics, in addition to a substantive interest.

Work samples

A sample of written work.

A written statement of intent

Reference letters

Test scores, english language proficiency (elp).

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iB T including TOEFL iBT Home Edition)  minimum score of 86 (Internet-based, with no section less than 20).
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)  score of 6.5 (with no section less than 6.0).
• Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency  minimum score of 180.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE)   score of 59 or higher
• Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL)  overall score of 70 (no section less than 60).
• Academic Communication Certificate (ACC)  minimum of B+ in each course.
• Duolingo English Test  obtaining a minimum score of 125 (with no sub-score below 105).

*Please contact your program of interest if you have any questions about ELP requirements.

For admission on September 1:

Canadians and permanent residents:

• Dec. 15 application deadline

International students:

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Are you ready to apply?

Learn more about this program, department of sociology.

Social Sciences Building, Room 956A 618 Campus Place NW Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit the departmental website

University of Calgary 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Visit the Faculty of Arts website

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If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.

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Sociology (PhD)

Program description.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Sociology offered by the Department of Sociology in the Faculty of Arts is a research-intensive program that emphasizes interdisciplinary and comprehensive learning opportunities. The program's objective is to equip students with skills in critical thinking, data collection, and scientific communication to pursue professional opportunities in academia or industry.

The program may also be taken as one of the following options:

Gender and Women's Studies option : designed for student to focus on an interdisciplinary specialization in feminist, women's, and gender studies. The Ph.D. dissertation must be on a topic that significantly engages with issues of gender and/or women and/or feminism.

Population Dynamics option : provides graduate training in demographic methods (including life table analyses) and enhance students’ knowledge of critical population issues. As such, students will be required to take a course on demographic methods and an overview substantive course on the key population issues facing societies today.

Keywords: International Development and Globalization, Medical Sociology, Developmental Studies, Immigration, Emigration, Demography, Quantitative Methods, Policy, Health, Population, Political Sociology, Gender Dynamics, Social Deviance and Control, Social Development and Change, international development, Population dynamics, Gender and Women's studies option.

Unique Program Features

• The Department is recognized as an exceptional place for learning and research and consistently ranks among the best in the world;
• Faculty members are award-winning researchers and teachers with a strong international focus;
• Graduates pursue both academic and non-academic careers in institutions ranging from the University of Chicago and Berkeley to Statistics Canada and CEGEPs.

University-Level Admission Requirements

• An eligible Bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA out of a possible 4.0 GPA
• English-language proficiency

Each program has specific admission requirements including required application documents. Please visit the program website for more details.

Visit our Educational credentials and grade equivalencies and English language proficiency webpages for additional information.

Program Website

PhD in Sociology website

Department Contact

Graduate Program graduate.sociology [at] mcgill.ca (subject: PhD%20in%20Sociology) (email)

Available Intakes

Application deadlines.

Note : Application deadlines are subject to change without notice. Please check the application portal for the most up-to-date information.

Application Resources

• Application Steps webpage
• Submit Your Application webpage
• Connecting with a supervisor webpage
• Graduate Funding webpage

Application Workshops

Consult our full list of our virtual application-focused workshops on the Events webpage.

Department and University Information

Graduate and postdoctoral studies.

Sociology (PhD)

Learn advanced techniques in qualitative and quantitative methods. You’ll pursue coursework and candidacy examinations to supplement your independent research. Your expertise in sociology will help you research and create a dissertation that will add significantly to a field of sociology.

Our research strengths include:

• ecology, global issues and social movements
• gender, racialization and ethnicity
• sociology of crime and law
• health, aging and society

You have the option of combining this program with the interdisciplinary  Cultural, Social and Political Thought  PhD.

Learning outcomes for the PhD program

Learn everything you need to know about  becoming a UVic grad student , from finding a supervisor to submitting your application.

Sociology PhD admission requirements

Graduate admissions FAQ

Meet our current grad students

Past graduate theses

Every year, UVic awards $12 million to help fund graduate students through a combination of:

• UVic fellowships and awards
• teaching assistantships
• research assistantships

Consideration for funding is automatic. A funding offer is normally included with an offer of admission. Doctoral students are normally funded for 4 or 5 years.

Our department offers a limited number of graduate awards and fellowships each year to incoming students. These range from $1,000 to $20,000. Most funding offers include a combination of teaching assistantships, graduate awards and/or fellowships. Sessional teaching may be available for doctoral students in their third or fourth year of study.

Funding and employment for graduate students

Search graduate awards and scholarships

Program options

Regular phd program.

You’ll take 7.5 units of coursework (5 courses) and write a thesis in this program. There is a 3-part candidacy examination.

Cultural, Social & Political Thought option

In this program, you’ll complete coursework from across the university to address key issues in the fields of culture, society and politics.

You can take this interdisciplinary program option in addition to your conventional thesis project.

Participating departments include Anthropology, English, Environmental Studies, French, Germanic and Slavic Studies, History, Political Science and Sociology. 

UVic is home to the largest co-op graduate program in Canada. Learn about combining co-op placements with your PhD on the  co-op for graduate students  site.

Grad students are also eligible for the shorter  Work Experience Program .

Forms & resources

Grad student handbook

Thesis & dissertation

Graduate Studies forms & policies

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PhD in Sociology

Introduction.

The purpose of this handbook is to provide graduate students in the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies with the information they require to navigate the program. This information is mainly available in the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar (Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology) . The Calendar is the official source of regulation and information. If the information in this handbook disagrees with that in the Calendar or other University Policies or regulations, those sources will be taken as correct.

Program length

The PhD is normally 12 terms (4 years). Students may undertake this program full- or part-time. Additional terms can be requested from and must be approved by the department’s Graduate Officer and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies.

Degree requirements

PhD candidates must successfully complete the following.

• Five courses beyond the MA degree. Three of these must be regularly scheduled sociology graduate courses.
• The Professional Development Seminar milestone.
• 2 comprehensive exams.
• A thesis proposal, normally about 25 pages in length, which will be orally defended.
• A thesis, normally between 150 to 250 pages in length, which will be orally defended. Some students may also be required to take additional undergraduate or graduate courses as a condition of admission.

The PhD program requires 5 courses (as above). These 5 courses are normally completed in the first 2 terms of the program. Courses are normally to be chosen from those regularly offered by the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies.

In some circumstances, students can take graduate courses offered by other departments at the University of Waterloo, or by other Ontario universities. This requires permission from the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies, as well as the student’s supervisor and the course instructor. Usually only one external course is permitted in the PhD program.

Students are also able to take a maximum of one “directed readings” course (SOC 789) in their program. This requires identifying a course topic in consultation with a faculty member (normally in the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies). While reading courses are largely discouraged, to be approved it must generally be the case that a) the topic area is not covered by regular offerings, and either b) the topic area directly contributes to the theoretical/methodological background required for their thesis/MRP/dissertation research, or c) degree progress would be hindered by lack of options (e.g., no other courses offered in a term). A written rationale must also be provided. Course 2 instructor, supervisor (where applicable), and graduate committee approval must be obtained. Contact the Graduate Coordinator for required forms.

In order to complete a course satisfactorily, students must complete all course requirements as specified by the instructor and receive a minimum passing grade of 75%. Students may receive a grade of “incomplete” (INC) on a graduate course if there is an agreement with the course instructor that outstanding work will be submitted, normally within one term. Evidence of that agreement should be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator. Grades of INC will revert to “failure to complete” (FTC) after two terms.

If the student does not receive a passing grade of 75% or higher for a course they must retake the course, or complete another available graduate-level course instead.

2. Professional Development Seminar Milestone

The Professional Development Seminar Milestone (ProSem) is required of all PhD candidates. It is graded on a complete/did not complete basis and is usually completed in the first three terms of study. For this seminar, students will complete and earn credit for at least ten modules hosted by the department and other university bodies, such as the Center for Teaching Excellence. The modules provide key information on topics relevant to PhD students, such as scholarship applications, conference presentations, research methodologies, teaching skills, job applications, and academic publishing. The ProSem also provides an opportunity for students to learn about and discuss other research being conducted in the disciplines of Sociology and Legal Studies, as well as to present their own research to the department, larger university community, and beyond.

3. Comprehensive Exams

PhD students must complete two comprehensive exams, each in one of our thematic areas, demonstrating mastery of relevant theory and methodology. Students may take more than one comprehensive examination in a thematic area; however, they must be distinct and sufficiently comprehensive to merit the title of comprehensive examination. To learn more about the department’s thematic areas, go to Graduate | Sociology and Legal Studies | University of Waterloo (uwaterloo.ca)

Comprehensive Exam Committees will have three faculty members, all selected by the student. One is selected to serve as the chair of the committee. This chair should be a full-time member of the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies. Ordinarily, the other two members would also be fulltime faculty appointments from the department.

There may be times when the specialized expertise required to mount an appropriate examining committee does not exist within the department. In this and other aspects of the comprehensive examination policy, the department will be guided by the principles that we use in supervising PhD dissertations; i.e., faculty members should be free to set and assess an examination and construct a committee that meets appropriate standards of academic excellence.

It is possible for two of the three committee members to be from either (a) other departments in the university or (b) other universities. Where the student and committee propose having one or more members from outside the department, this must be approved by the Graduate Officer.

Students may take comprehensive exams in one of two formats: (1) a six-hour written examination ; or (2) a take-home examination with oral defence .

Six-hour written examination

• A reading list is negotiated between the student and the committee. It may in no case contain more than 50 items: an item is normally a scientific article or a book chapter.
• The examination is divided into two three-hour sessions – one in the morning and one in the afternoon – with a one-hour break between sessions. Separate sets of questions will be handed out for the morning and the afternoon sessions, with the answer booklets or electronic files collected after each session.
• Normally, students are required to answer two out of four or five questions in each of the two sessions.
• Students may hand write the exam or use a computer provided by the department.
• A member of the examining committee must preside over the administration of the written exam. S/he ensures that suitable space and all examination materials are provided. The committee member must remain in the department for the duration of the examination in case any questions or problems should arise. A staff member may not supervise the exam.

Take-home examination with oral defence

• The comprehensive examination takes the form of a set of questions. The number of questions is agreed upon by the student and the committee.
• Normally, students are required to answer two out of three or four questions. The entire examination (not including references) cannot exceed 40 pages (double-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins).
• The oral defence does not involve a presentation by the student and normally does not last more than two hours.

The first comprehensive exam will be written in the second year of the PhD program, by October 31st. The second comprehensive exam must normally be written by April 30th. Writing the exam on a different timeline would require permission from the Graduate Affairs Committee.

The 18-week timeline for the six-hour written examination is as follows:

• The committee has two weeks to approve the reading list.
• The student has 12 weeks to read the materials (starting between July 24 and August 7 for the October 31 exam or January 23 and February 6 for the April 30 exam).
• The exam will be administered within two weeks of the end of the 12-week period, on October 31 or April 30 (or the following Monday).
• The committee marks the examination and individually submits their assessment within two weeks.

The 18-week timeline for the take-home examination with oral defence is as follows:

• The student is given the examination within two weeks of the end of the 12-week period, on October 31 or April 30 (or the following Monday) and has one week (7 days) to submit the written exam. Failure to submit within this time frame constitutes a failure of the examination.
• The committee schedules the oral defence to take place within two weeks of receiving the written exam.
• The committee marks the examination and notifies the Graduate Officer within two weeks.

Reporting of Results

All comprehensive exams are assessed on a pass/fail basis.

Each of the three examiners will independently assign a grade of (pass or fail) and provide written feedback on each answer, as well as the examination overall. These assessments (grades and comments) will be signed, i.e. are not anonymous. In the case of passing answers, the feedback may be quite brief.

These comments and results will be transmitted in writing to the Graduate Officer (or his/her designate, normally the Chair) within two weeks of the date the examination was taken. Overall passing grades from two out of the three examiners constitute a passing grade on the examination.

In the event that two of three examiners submit overall failing grades for a student, the Graduate Officer (or his/her designate) will convene a meeting of the examining committee to review the decision. Members of the examining committee may change their decision at this meeting.

The Graduate Officer will inform the student in writing of the result of the examination as soon as possible, normally within a week of grade submissions by committee members. The student will be provided with a copy of the examiners’ written comments.

The examining committee decides after the oral defence whether or not the written submission and the oral defence constitute a pass or fail. The decision is made within two weeks of the oral defence. There are no rewrites or revisions. If the examining committee cannot come to a consensus on whether the exam is a pass or fail, then they must vote. Two votes in favour constitute a pass. The Chair of the examining committee will notify the Graduate Officer in writing of the committee’s decision. After receiving the results from the Graduate Officer, a student may request to meet with his/her examiners individually or as a group.

Appeals and retakes

Internal appeals : Students may appeal their grades on procedural grounds to the Graduate Officer and the department’s Graduate Affairs Committee. External appeals : The University of Waterloo’s Student Grievance Policy ( Policy 70 ) describes additional appeal procedures administered outside the department. 

Retakes : A student has one chance to retake a failed comprehensive examination. They must take the examination in the same field and the same area, but they can choose any format and may strike a different examining committee. Students who fail the retake will be forced to withdraw from the program. Any retake of a failed comprehensive examination must be completed within 12 months of the notification that the student failed the first attempt. If registration is interrupted (e.g., if student changes to inactive status), the one-year time period will be based on the total number of months of regular registration from the original notification that the student failed the first attempt.

4. Thesis Supervision and Proposal

Thesis supervision and proposal.

During the initial application process, PhD candidates choose and contact a potential supervisor from the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies. The supervisor is then normally confirmed by both the student and the faculty member in question by the end of the student’s 1st term in the program.

Supervisors are normally regular faculty members with ADDS status in the department. The student can be co-supervised by one regular faculty member of the department with ADDS status and a faculty member from the department without ADDS status, including those from another University of Waterloo or affiliated college department.

For information regarding the department’s thematic areas, faculty members and their research specialties, visit the department’s website .

For more detailed information regarding the PhD supervision process, see: https://uwaterloo.ca/graduate-studies/faculty-and-staff

PhD Dissertation Committee

A Dissertation Committee consists of three members: the supervisor and two members of the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies. Committee members are chosen by the student in consultation with the supervisor. The Graduate Coordinator must be notified by e-mail when the committee selection has been made. It is possible to have a faculty member from another department or university serve as a member of the Dissertation Committee, subject to the approval of the supervisor, the Associate Chair, Graduate Affairs, and the Associate Provost, Graduate Studies.

Thesis proposal

The purpose of the thesis proposal is to present a justification and plan for the thesis research, and to give the thesis committee members, the student and the supervisor an opportunity to discuss, modify and agree to the proposed plan.

The proposal should be written in consultation with the thesis supervisor. The proposal itself is usually about 25 pages in length. It normally includes some introduction to the research problems, a literature review and justification for the proposed research, research questions or hypotheses (as appropriate), a plan for data collection and analyses, and some discussion of the limitations of the research plan. Proposals often include proposed timelines, as well as discussions of ethical issues related to the research. Note that the thesis proposal is normally defended before submission to the Office of Research Ethics.

The thesis proposal is normally submitted by the end of the 7th term (December 31st of year 3).

Thesis proposal defense

The student must orally defend their thesis proposal to their supervisor and the two committee members. The oral defense of the proposal is normally completed one month after the submission of the proposal.

After the supervisor agrees that the proposal can go to a defense, the student should notify the Graduate Coordinator and prepare a Thesis Proposal Form, to be signed by the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies. The Graduate Coordinator can help coordinate the date and time of the defense with the supervisor and other committee members, and to book a room for the defense.

The oral defense usually consists of a short (approximately 20 minutes) presentation by the student, followed by questions from the committee members and supervisor. The supervisor normally chairs the defense. Thesis proposal defenses are normally open to other members of the Department and the University community, and to the public.

At the end of the oral defense, the supervisor and committee members decide in camera whether the proposal and oral defense have 1) passed, 2) passed with revisions, or 3) has not passed. In cases in which the proposal has not passed, it must be re-written and re-defended within a timeframe specified by the supervisor and agreed upon by the student and Graduate Officer.

Once the proposal has passed and any required revisions have been made and approved by the supervisor, a PhD department proposal approval form must be completed. This form is obtained from the Graduate Coordinator.

5. PhD Thesis

The student’s thesis should be completed and defended by the end of the 12th term (August 31st of year 4). The thesis is usually between 150 and 250 pages. It can be in either 3-article or (traditional) book format. The contents of the thesis should be developed in consultation with the thesis supervisor. Other committee members might be involved in various ways as the thesis is being written. This should be discussed with the supervisor.

For university regulations pertaining to the format of the thesis, see: https://uwaterloo.ca/graduate-studies-postdoctoral-affairs/current-students/thesis

Thesis submission and oral defense

Once the supervisor has decided that the thesis is ready to be defended, s/he should notify the Dissertation Committee and the Graduate Coordinator, who will assist with the required forms, arranging a time and booking of a room. The student, in consultation with the supervisor, must also select a faculty member from outside the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies but within the University who will serve as the internal/external examiner, and an external examiner from outside the University of Waterloo (in addition to the members of the Dissertation Committee). Contact the Graduate Chair and Graduate Coordinator to start this process. The Graduate Coordinator should receive an electronic copy of the thesis at least 7 weeks before the date of the defense. The Graduate Coordinator will then send copies to the committee members, and also make a copy available to members of the university community who wish to examine it.

The thesis defense is similar to the proposal defense. It is open to the Department, the University community and the public, and is normally chaired by a faculty member outside the Faculty assigned by the GSO. The student gives a short presentation (approximately 20 minutes), followed by rounds of questions from the committee members, the supervisor, the internal/external examiner and an external examiner. After the defense, the committee members and supervisor decide in camera whether the thesis and oral defense have passed without revisions, passed with revisions required, or has not passed. If revisions or further work to pass are required, the committee will specify the nature of these revisions/work. In the case of revisions, committee members will be responsible for overseeing them, and for the timeframe required. In cases in which the thesis has not passed, it must be re-worked and re-defended within a timeframe specified by the supervisor and agreed upon by the student and Graduate Officer.

Graduation 

Once you have successfully completed your thesis, you must do the following:

• Upload your thesis to UW Space .
• Contact the Graduate Coordinator to request that a Program Completion Form be completed. This certifies that you have met all of the Department’s requirements and are able to graduate.
• Complete the intention to graduate form on Quest.

If you have any further questions regarding the graduation process, please contact the Graduate Coordinator.

University of Waterloo hosts two convocations per year (Spring and Fall), in the Physical Activities Complex (PAC) on campus. The student may select their preferred convocation date in the Intent to Graduate form.

Student funding is described in the offer of admission, provided through Quest. Normally, PhD students receive 4 years of funding, in the form of Teaching Assistantships and scholarships from the University. If a student takes a sessional teaching position in what would normally be a TA term, the sessional stipend will replace the TA+scholarship funding for that term. Funding is conditional on maintaining an average of 80% in graduate program courses. Information on awards and funding is available from the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs office .

Student Financial Services resources .

The Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs office also offers a Research Travel Assistantship to cover expenses related to conference travel.

There are also external doctoral scholarships that students can, and should if eligible, apply for. Below is a non-exhaustive list of the main funding bodies that offer such scholarships:

SSHRC doctoral awards (CGS D)

Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)

Graduate students may combine academic studies with paid work experience through the Department’s graduate co-op programs. Placements for PhD co-op graduate students will normally occur after comprehensive exams, and in some cases may occur after the dissertation proposal has been approved. Students then return to academic study to complete all remaining requirements for their program. The Graduate Co-op Officer will support student efforts at finding a placement. While the Department will make every effort to assist students in finding suitable co-op placements, we cannot guarantee co-op employment. Only Canadian citizens and holders of Permanent Resident status may enroll in graduate co-op programs.

For more information about co-op opportunities, please contact the Department’s Graduate Administrative Coordinator or Graduate Co-op Officer.

Co-op Resources

• Sociology and Legal Studies Graduate Co-op Website
• Co-operative Education Webpage

Teaching as a PhD student

PhD candidates may choose to apply for a sessional teaching position in the later years of their degree. These are normally given only to students who have successfully defended their proposal to ensure that students are both progressing in their degree (teaching will slow your progress in your program) and because comprehensive exams and the proposal process are considered good training for teaching given the breadth and depth of knowledge required to pass those milestones.

Be aware that for students currently within their funding timeline and who are expected to TA in that term, accepting a sessional teaching position means that you will be forfeiting your TA and scholarship funding for that term and instead will receive the sessional stipend. The implication is that, by teaching sessionally, you will be doing substantially more work for close to the same amount of money that you would receive if you were to TA. Teaching sessionally can also impact the amount of scholarship funding you receive in a subsequent term; in the end, you are not likely to receive more than the yearly funding amount noted in your offer letter.

Teaching in a term that you would not have received a TAship is discouraged. It is preferable that these ‘scholarship only terms’ are to be used to progress in your research.

Student Research Presentation Series

The Student Research Presentation Series is a forum for graduate students at any level to present their research in a supportive environment. It can be used as practice for conferences, job talks, or thesis/dissertation defences. It usually runs in the fall and spring terms, with 2-3 presentations per session. If interested in taking part, contact the Graduate Coordinator for further details.

Inactive terms and changing between full- and part-time

Students may change between full- and part-time studies with approval of the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies. Part-time students will normally not receive funding. Students may choose to change their status to “inactive” for a maximum of two terms, with permission from the Associate Chair. Inactive students will not receive funding.

Departmental activities

The department aims to create an environment of ongoing constructive discussion and relevant support regarding its members’ research interests and training. To that end, many scientific activities are organized throughout the academic year, including the departmental seminar series, professional development workshops, TA training, etc. You are STRONGLY encouraged to participate and engage in as many of these activities as possible.

Social, emotional and physical well-being

The overall well-being of graduate students is a top priority for the department. The department as well as the University of Waterloo offers a wide range of resources, most available free of charge, to ensure the continued well-being of its students. Below is a list of some of these key resources:

Graduate Student Association Mental Health Services and Campus Wellness Campus Safety and Security

Department Graduate Coordinator

Quinn Smith Department E-mail: [email protected] Office: PAS 2047 Phone: 519-888-4567, ex. 41953

PhD Sociology

Our PhD program provides students the training necessary to pursue academic as well as non-academic positions. We train our students to become critical researchers through advanced knowledge of theory, methods and developing substantive areas of sociology in Canada and internationally.

The graduate program specializes in the following areas:

• Political Sociology and Social Movements
• Social Inequality
• Social Psychology
• Sociology of Gender, Sexuality and Family
• Sociology of Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration
• Sociology of Work and Occupations

Apply to the PhD Sociology

Ready to join us? Submit your application today!

Program Information

Requirements and timelines.

The requirements of the PhD program consist of

• seven graduate courses beyond the MA These courses must:

(a) meet the methodology requirement (this includes the fulfilment of two methods requirements. Quantitative (Sociol 740) plus either Qualitative (Sociol 742) or Historical (Sociol 743).

(b) meet the theory requirement (Sociol 750 or 751)

(c) include two quarter courses on professional development (Sociol 724 and 725)

(d) include at least two regularly scheduled 700-level courses offered by the Department in addition to those taken to meet the methodology and theory requirements.

(e) optionally include no more than one Sociology supervised research course (Sociol 730 or 731) or a one graduate course offered by another McMaster department or by a Sociology Department in another university.

• no 600 level courses are permitted.
• the completion of two comprehensive examinations
• in some cases, a foreign language proficiency examination
• an approved one-page dissertation abstract
• an approved proposal for a Ph.D. dissertation; and,
• the writing and oral defence of a Ph.D. dissertation consisting of original research.

Admissions and Applications

September 2025 competition.

Application System opens:   October 15, 2024

Deadline:   December 14, 2024.  The deadline is firm.

Entrance period:  September 2025 only

Program is offered full time in person.

Admissions Requirements

• an M.A. degree in Sociology.
• minimum A- average in MA coursework (first-class standing, 80%, 10.0/12.0 or 3.7/4.0).
• demonstration of an excellent record of academic achievement.
• a strong plan for sociological research.
• a research alignment with the expertise of the current faculty members in the Department.

The department will consider applications from those with closely related social scientific degrees.

Note: International applicants must have completed at least  five years full-time study  at the B.A. and M.A. level in Sociology to be eligible for the Ph.D. program.

The admissions process is competitive; meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.  

Due to volume, we cannot pre-assess an applicant’s suitability for our graduate program, nor do we open email attachments. All admissions material must be uploaded to the application system.

English Language Proficiency

English is the language of instruction and evaluation at McMaster University. Hence it is essential that all students be able to communicate effectively in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English will be required to furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language.

• University degree at which English was the language of Instruction.
• TOEFL: minimum score of 92 (internet based), minimum of 20 per band.
• IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score of 6.5, with at least 5.5 in each section.
• CAEL: minimum overall score of 70, with at least 60 per band.
• MELAB: minimum score of 85.
• PTE Academic: minimum score of 63.
• York University course: YUELI Level 6 with a minimum final grade of B.
• University of Toronto course: Academic Level 60 with a minimum final grade of B

This score should not have been obtained prior to January 2024. All results MUST be received no later than February 1, 2025. (Note: The TOEFL institution code for McMaster is “0936”; the Department code is “96”).

Online Application

Applicants apply via an on-line application. Please review  the School of Graduate Studies website  for complete information regarding the application process.

Transcripts

Upload a scan of all post-secondary transcripts to the application system. Include one copy of the legend page from the back of your transcript. Please do not submit an unofficial transcript or “student records print” unless the document includes, your full name, the University name and all courses and grades.

Fall 2024 grades are part of the evaluation. If you apply before these grades are available, it is your responsibility to send an updated scan of your official transcript to [email protected] It is expected that all such documents arrive by January 15 for priority consideration.

If an offer of admission is extended, you will receive directions to submit formal transcripts in institutionally sealed envelopes.

Research Plan

Please upload a one-page, single-spaced proposed plan of research in the “statement of interest” upload portion of the application site. This research plan should be tied directly to the research areas of the department.  Please identify one or more potential faculty supervisors with whom you would like to work.

Applicants who do not have a BA or MA degree in Sociology should add an additional statement (maximum 500 words) outlining their preparation for graduate study in Sociology, e.g., completed courses with substantial sociological content, sociological research and sociologists that have informed your own work, related research experience, etc.

Department Areas/Supervisor

It is not necessary to arrange for a supervisor as part of the admissions process. However, you should review the  department areas of expertise ,  doctoral comprehensive examination areas  and  course offerings  to determine if your research interests align with those of the department. Supervisors will be assigned to new students in the summer of 2025 just prior to the fall enrolment period.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

McMaster Sociology is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Please review the  Equity and Inclusion Office website  and submit a one-paragraph description of your background and experience with EDI and/or how you could contribute to EDI initiatives.  This paragraph can be added directly into the space provided on the application or it can be uploaded as a separate document.

Writing Sample

Please also upload a sample of written academic work that demonstrates your ability with sociological research and your ability to write. This sample may be a course paper, part of a course paper, a thesis chapter, or a single author publication. Please do not submit an entire thesis. Formatting should be set at least one-inch margins and 12-point type.

Letters of Recommendation

Two confidential reference letters are required  from instructors  most familiar with your academic work. The electronic referencing system will send an e-Reference request on your behalf. Please do not submit letters from employers even if they are academic employers (TA or RA); the reference must be from an instructor who can evaluate your potential as a graduate student.

Curriculum Vitae

PhD applicants should submit a CV that contains all scholarships awarded, all conferences attended and any publications.  It is not necessary to list any non-academic employment.

Application Fee

The system will charge a non-refundable application fee. Please have a valid credit or debit card ready to pay the application fee. The fee will not be refunded or waived.

Financial Information, Scholarships and Awards

Awards and scholarships.

The Department of Sociology at McMaster University offers financial support for incoming graduate students to help them to excel at their studies and to complete their graduate programs in a timely manner. Funding for graduate study usually comprises a combination of monies from graduate scholarships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships.

Many current and incoming graduate students receive additional funding from external agencies.

Domestic Applicants

Ontario graduate scholarship and ontario graduate fellowship.

Eligible Canadian and Permanent residents will automatically be considered for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship ; your application to the program doubles as an application for this award.

Daniel G. Hill Entrance Scholarship

McMaster Sociology has established the Daniel G. Hill Entrance Scholarship to support the graduate education of Black students. All students self-identified as black will be considered for this award.

First Nations, Inuit and Métis Awards

Please apply directly to the following scholarships • Harvey E. Longboat Graduate Scholarship • Ontario Graduate Scholarship for Indigenous Students

Federal and External Scholarships

Canadian applicants:  if eligible, please also apply to the following external scholarship competitions

• Doctoral/CGSD SSHRC Scholarship completion
• Vanier Graduate Scholarship
• Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral scholarships .
• SGS Scholarship website (tabs: external, government, Indigenous) list many other potential scholarship opportunities.

Additional Information

For additional information, please visit the School of Graduate Studies “ Tuition, Fees and Scholarships website.”

International Applicants

Given limited available funding, we accept very few international students. If accepted, you are strongly encouraged to pursue additional funding opportunities from outside of the university.

Resources for international applicants

• Tuition, Fees, and Scholarships
• External Scholarships
• International Student Services
• UHIP (International Students Health Insurance)

Academic Support

Students are assigned a PhD supervisor at the time of their acceptance into the program. The supervisor will be a faculty member of the Department of Sociology. An interim supervisor may sometimes be appointed by the chairperson of the Graduate Studies Committee until an appropriate supervisor is identified. In exceptional circumstances, a student may make a request to the Graduate Chair that they be assigned a different PhD supervisor.

The PhD supervisor acts as the chair of the student’s Supervisory Committee and serves as the student’s primary research and academic advisor through the entire program.

• Sociology Graduate Handbook
• Doctoral Comprehensive Examination Areas
• SGS Graduate Calendar
• School of Graduate Studies Graduate Resources
• Thesis Defence
• SGS Scholarships
• Black Student Success Centre
• Career & Professional Development
• Graduate Students Association
• Indigenous Student Services
• Mental Health Resources

Quick Links

Graduate Supervisors Learn More

Find a graduate supervisor in your area of interest.

Research in Sociology Learn More

Learn more about our recent and ongoing research projects.

Graduate Courses Learn More

View our graduate courses and course descriptions.

Corinne Jehle Administrative Assistant, MA and PhD Programs Email: [email protected] Phone: 905-525-9140 ext. 23613

Office Location

Department of Sociology Kenneth Taylor Hall, 627 1280 Main Street West Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4M4

Campus Map & Driving Directions

Office Hours

Monday – Friday: 9:00AM – 12:00PM & 1:00PM – 4:00PM.

• Graduate School
• Prospective Students
• Graduate Degree Programs

Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD)

Go to programs search

UBC has granted Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in sociology since 1970, although the first sociology course was taught at the university as long ago as 1921. Students in the Ph.D. program in sociology at UBC have the opportunity to specialize in any one or more of the Department's seven major areas of specialization:

• Environment, Community and Social Movements;
• Family and Life Course;
• Gender and Sexuality;
• Health and Healthcare;
• Knowledge, Culture and Power;
• Race, Ethnicity and Immigration; and
• Work, Economy and Globalization.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

UBC sociology has a strong tradition of publishing research that matters. A sample of recent and award-winning books include: Gillian Creese's The New African Diaspora (U. Toronto Press); Amin Ghaziani's There Goes the Gayborhood? (Princeton U. Press), Renisa Mawani's Colonial Proximities(UBC Press), Becki Ross Burlesque West: Showgirls, Sex, and Sin in Postwar Vancouver (U. Toronto Press), and Wendy Roth's Race Migrations (Stanford U. Press).

UBC sociology has a strong history of engaging in community and service oriented learning projects, providing students with hands-on learning experiences carrying out research for partnering organizations in and around Vancouver (e.g. RainCity Housing, SPEC, City of Vancouver, Neighborhood House Association, Be The Change). There is a strong co-op tradition, and the Department also runs the Immigrant Vancouver Ethnographic Field School (in conjunction with the Department of Anthropology).

I honestly feel like sociology is the coolest discipline -- the opportunities are endless, both intellectually and for fostering social change!

Julia Goldman-Hasbun

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, 1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 100

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 7.0

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

2) Meet Deadlines

September 2025 intake, application open date, canadian applicants, international applicants, deadline explanations.

Deadline to submit online application. No changes can be made to the application after submission.

Deadline to upload scans of official transcripts through the applicant portal in support of a submitted application. Information for accessing the applicant portal will be provided after submitting an online application for admission.

Deadline for the referees identified in the application for admission to submit references. See Letters of Reference for more information.

3) Prepare Application

Transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

• Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial Support

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

From September 2024 all full-time students in UBC-Vancouver PhD programs will be provided with a funding package of at least $24,000 for each of the first four years of their PhD. The funding package may consist of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, and graduate academic assistantships. Please note that many graduate programs provide funding packages that are substantially greater than $24,000 per year. Please check with your prospective graduate program for specific details of the funding provided to its PhD students.

Average Funding

• 13 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 13 students was $17,458.
• 7 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 7 students was $8,761.
• 10 students received Academic Assistantships. Average AA funding based on 10 students was $12,112.
• 17 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 17 students was $20,423.
• 3 students received external awards. Average external award funding based on 3 students was $26,111.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

27 students graduated between 2005 and 2013. Of these, career information was obtained for 25 alumni (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016):

Sample Employers in Higher Education

Sample employers outside higher education, sample job titles outside higher education, phd career outcome survey, career options.

There are many places to go with a Sociology degree from UBC. Alumni from our program work with Statistics Canada, with Indian and Northern Affairs, in the provincial health care sector, in an array of public service and non-profit positions, and in a range of private businesses, big and small. Alumni also succeed within academia, securing positions at leading Canadian universities (e.g., University of Toronto, Western University, University of Waterloo), as well as universities abroad.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion Rates & Times

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Abrutyn, Seth (Social theory; Sociology and social studies of health, health systems and health care; Sociological Theory; Youth Suicide; Sociology of Emotion; Culture; Medical/Mental Health; Institutions/Organizations)
• Berdahl, Jennifer (Ostracism, Harassment and Bullying, Gender and Diversity in Organizations, Power and Status in Groups, Harassment, Work-Family Interface)
• Bloemraad, Irene (consequences of migration on politics and understandings of membershi; immigrants become incorporated into political communities; intersection of migration studies and political sociology)
• Cheong, Amanda (Sociology; migration; Citizenship and Legal Status; Statelessness)
• Childress, Clayton (Cultural Production, Reception, and Meaning Making, Taste, Decision Making, Inequality, Organizations, Markets)
• Corrigall-Brown, Catherine (Sociology; social movements; identity; political sociology; social psychology)
• Fu, Qiang (a multidisciplinary perspective on institutional changes, social networks and mental health over the urban space; comparative and temporal analysis of civic engagement and identity; child and youth well-being (e.g., obesity and school bullying); developing)
• Fuller, Sylvia (precarious employment; inequality; work; gender and work; immigration, Work and Labour, Inequality, Gender, Economic Sociology, Social Policy, Welfare state restructuring)
• Ghaziani, Amin (Sociology; Sexualities / LGBTQ studies / Queer studies; Urban sociology; culture / cultural sociology; nightlife)
• Hanser, Amy (Work and employment; gender; consumption/consumerism; contemporary Chinese society, Culture and markets, inequality, gender, consumption, service work, China)
• Hirsh, Elizabeth (Sociology; Law; Structures and Organization; Inequality, Gender and Race Discrimination, Work Organizations, Law)
• Huddart, Emily (Sociology; Environment and Society; Social and Cultural Factors of Environmental Protection; Gender; social class; Sustainable consumption)
• Huyser, Kimberly
• Johnson, Phyllis (Allocation of financial and human resources by families coping with stressful circumstances, including immigration and resettlement, family separation, unemployment, and conflicts between work and family responsibilities)
• Jorgenson, Andrew (Sociology and related studies; Environment and Community; sociology of health; environmental sociology; global political economy; sociology of development)
• Karimi, Aryan (Sociology; migration and refugee flows; role of ethnic and racial boundaries in assimilation practices; lived experiences of racialized refugee and diasporic communities)
• Lauer, Sean (Urban sociology and community studies)
• Lauster, Nathanael (Population, Housing, Urban Studies, Crowding, Home & Housing, Technology & Environment, City Building & Regulation, Family, Demography, Health)
• Maghbouleh, Neda (Migration, Race, and Identity; Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) communities; race; Racialization; Im/migration; identity)
• Mawani, Renisa (Sociology; Colonial Legal History; critical theory; Oceans and Maritime Worlds; Philosophy, History and Comparative Studies; Race and Racism; Time and Temporality)
• McConnell, Kathryn (social dynamics of climate change; intersection of climate hazards, the built environment, and population mobility)
• Nelson, Laura (Social movements, culture, gender, and organizations and institutions, Processes around the formation of collective identities, Social movement strategy in feminist and environmental movements, Continuities between cycles of activism and the role of place in shaping social movement activity, Intersectionality in U.S. women’s movements, Coverage of social movements in news media over time, Ways in which history is recorded and remembered, Gender inequality in startups and entrepreneurship)
• Qian, Yue (Sociology; family; Gender Relationship; Migrations, Populations, Cultural Exchanges; Demography; Family Studies; Gender Studies; sociology)
• Raker, Ethan (Social stratification, Medical sociology, Environmental sociology, Relationship between climate change and inequalities in human health and community well-being)
• Richardson, Lindsey (Sociology of health and illness, substance use, HIV/AIDS, urban health, sociology of work and economic life, health disparities )

Doctoral Citations

Sample Thesis Submissions

• Queer food insecurity : national predictors and urban realities
• Participation amidst precarity : medical research experiences among people who use drugs
• Decoding China’s pink economy : emergence, gendered distinctions, and mainstream companies’ pursuit of pink money
• The social psychology of the free speech and hate speech debate
• Identity work across the gender spectrum : negotiations of membership, healthcare, and resilience in transgender and nonbinary populations
• Unmeasurable phenomenon : Native American students overrepresented in early school leaving but underrepresented in the data
• Care conundrum : experiences of younger adult eldercare providers
• Interracial intimacy : how mixed couples negotiate and narrate their identity and experience
• The impact of black/white interracial relationships on identity formation and trust

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Arts in Sociology (MA)

Further Information

Specialization.

Sociology has specialization in the following core areas of study:

• Environment, community, and social movements;
• Family and the life course;
• Gender and sexuality;
• Health and healthcare;
• Knowledge, culture, and power;
• Race, ethnicity, and immigration; and
• Work, economy, and globalization.

UBC Calendar

Program website, faculty overview, academic unit, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.

Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

Parker Muzzerall

UBC is a globally renowned institution for studying issues related to the environment and climate change, and the Sociology Department in particular has one of the strongest contingents of environmental sociologists in the world. These, paired with the unparalleled access to nature that life in...

Carly Hamdon

I decided to study at UBC for several reasons, but the largest was to work with my supervisor, Dr. Emily Huddart Kennedy. When I came upon her work, I knew immediately that she would be an ideal academic supervisor and mentor for me. Her keen ability to ask questions about things otherwise...

Ryan Stillwagon

Meeting Kaitlyn Jaffe at the University of Chicago during my master’s program drew me to apply to UBC. I knew from the work I did after my master’s degree that I wanted to continue working in the fields of medical sociology and queer sexual health. So, when selecting Sociology Departments, I chose...

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PhD Program in Sociology or Anthropology

Simon Fraser University offers an excellent environment for research and graduate studies. The institution is home to a variety of world-class research facilities, innovative programs, and world-renowned scholars.

Here are some reasons to study with us:

• We offer a firm disciplinary foundation in sociology and anthropology. 
• We provide opportunities and support for community-engaged, collaborative research with diverse populations local, nationally and internationally. 
• We provide outstanding supervision and work collaboratively to tailor the program to our student’s unique goals. 

The work from our students is wide-ranging. Our faculty has particular expertise in social theory, research methodologies, social justice and community-based research, gender and sexuality, political economy, and social control. We provide individualized support for student’s research interests.  Please take a look at the research topics of our current graduate students .

The majority of our PhD graduates have gone on to full-time employment in academia, including tenure-track positions at University of Ottawa, University of Alberta and University of Glasgow, and full-time teaching positions at Douglas College and Capilano University. Learn more about our alumni here .

Visit SFU's  Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies  website for more information.

Department Requirements

•  Language requirements   

Program Overview    

•  Schedule •  Degree requirements •  Cost •  Funding

Finding a Supervisor

•  Contacting potential supervisors

Application Period

How to apply, important application information, interdepartmental program transfer.

Take a look at SFU’s requirements for Doctoral Programs (1.3.7a)

Our specific departmental requirements are:

• For PhD programs you must have a strong background in the discipline that you are applying to.
• Research interest related to a faculty member who will be willing to supervise you. See below for details.

Are you an international or US student?  Visit Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, International Applicants  to find information regarding English requirements and other topics.

Language Requirements

English is the language of communication at the University and instruction in most programs. Students whose primary language is not English must have a demonstrated command of English sufficient to pursue graduate studies.

International applicants will not be required to submit an English-language test if they have completed a degree at an institution where the language of instruction and examination was in English, in a country where English is the primary language. Please see  Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, International & English Language Requirements  for more information.

Please note that English-language waivers/exemptions are very rarely granted and typically only under exceptional circumstances. The applicant’s overall English-language experience must be demonstrably robust in order to be considered.

The following  may  be considered as valid reasons for an applicant to receive a waiver/exemption. Documentation attesting to the below should be uploaded as additional documents to the applicant's online application. Please note that documents received via email prior to an application being started through the proper channels (i.e. through the online application portal) will not be reviewed.

• Extensive experience working/volunteering/living in a predominantly English-speaking country
• Extensive post-secondary English-language schooling in an English-speaking country, but not a full degree
• Publications where the applicant is the first/primary author in peer-reviewed English-language journals
• Publications (book chapters, whole books, similar) in English where the applicant is the first/primary author
• Evidence of expired but well over-minimum English-language test results, along with any of the above (this alone cannot be used for a waiver)

Program Overview

PhD programs in sociology and anthropology offer students a comprehensive foundation in social theory in each discipline, substantive courses in areas of research interest, and rigorous training in research methodologies. The programs are designed to facilitate and support completion of the PhD within six (6) academic years (18 terms).

The first two years of the program (terms 1-6) are devoted to completion of coursework, qualifying examinations, and dissertation prospectus development and defence. The remaining four years (terms 7-18) are spent conducting research and completing the dissertation.

GRADUATE SEMINAR

All graduate students must attend and actively participate in the Graduate Seminar (SA 840) during the first term of their program.

FULL VS. PART-TIME STATUS

Sociology and anthropology students are considered to be full-time students, and must pay full-time fees, regardless of the number of course units for which they are registered.

CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT

Simon Fraser University requires graduate students to be enrolled every term unless they have applied for and received authorization for a leave of absence.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The minimum requirements for completion of the PhD degree program are:

• One (1) term-long required professional development Graduate Seminar (SA 840)
• Two (2) term-long elective courses
• Successful completion of two qualifying examinations (SA 897);
• Preparation and public defence of a dissertation research prospectus; and
• Completion and public defence of an original PhD dissertation (~250-300 pages, inclusive of bibliographies, appendices, and tables).

Elective courses (2) should be chosen in consultation with the student’s supervisor and be appropriate to the anticipated dissertation research and the student’s discipline.

Regular full-time tuition fees for the research-based PhD program is $2,107.43   CAD per term for the 2024-2025 academic year. International graduate students pay the same fees as domestic students.

For further details, refer to  Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Tuition and Fees.

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology has a small budget of funds for entrance awards to assist students during their time in the program. Within the confines of this budget, the department is committed to providing minimum funding ($28,000 per year for four years) towards incoming PhD Students. Scholarships may be available and graduate students may apply to be a TA/TM each term.

The PhD minimum funding policy can be viewed here . Financial commitments are made on an individual basis and the terms of funding support will be set out in the offer or admission letter that student receive.

With respect to financial support, department policy and practice is to make financial awards available to the largest number of students possible. Thus, all students who meet the eligibility critera for an award are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants are encouraged to review the  Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Scholarships and Awards  website for additional information.

The following sources of entrance funding are available for eligible incoming students:

SPECIAL GRADUATE ENTRANCE SCHOLARSHIPS (SGES)

A small number of entrance scholarships are available annually for incoming students. These are competitive awards given to the best incoming graduate students for full-time graduate study.

GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS (GF)

GFs are one-term grants from Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies that are awarded to qualifying students based on status in the program, availability of other funding, and merit. As a practice, the department tries to ensure that all eligible MA students receive at least one GF over the course of their studies.

TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS (TA)/TUTOR MARKER POSITIONS (TM)

All graduate students in the department are eligible to be employed as TAs and/or TMs. Employment as a teaching assistant is a valuable opportunity for professional development that graduate students are encouraged to take advantage of. PhD students are assured of one TA/TM position during their studies. While many graduate students work as TA/TMs throughout their studies, employment during any particular term is not guaranteed. TA/TM positions are available in the fall and spring terms, however TA/TM positions are limited for summer terms.

For more information, please visit  Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Entrance and Scholarships Awards.

PhD applicants are strongly encouraged to contact faculty members whose research interests align with their own. While you do not have to secure a supervisor prior to applying the program, there must be a faculty member available who has similar research interests and is willing to supervise you as a graduate student.

• Please note that securing a supervisor does not guarantee an offer of admission. Applicants must meet all other university and departmental requirements.
• All applications are assessed individually and offers of admission are based on the strength of each application, faculty expertise and availability, and departmental resources.

Contacting a Potential Supervisor

Once you've identified one or two potential supervisors, you should contact them by email.

Here are some items to include in your initial brief contact email:

• Ask them specifically if they are accepting new graduate students for the coming academic year
• Why you wish to pursue graduate studies
• Academic background (your CGPA must be over 3.25, or equivalent)
• Academic awards or highlights
• Research experience
• Make it clear that you are familiar with their work and how their research interests mesh with your own (if there is a research idea in one of their papers that you would like to explore in your work, explain that briefly)
• A research proposal, if appropriate

goGRAD  is currently closed for applications.  Late applications are not accepted . 

The application deadline for the Fall 2025 cohort is  JANUARY 17th, 2025 .

goGRAD will open for Fall 2024 applications on October 1st 2024.

*PhD programs in Sociology and Anthropology are designed to be completed within 18 consecutive terms (or six full academic years) commencing in the Fall of each year. Applications to start the PhD program out-of-cycle (i.e. in the spring or summer terms) are not possible.

Ready to Apply?

You will be asked to submit the following information and documents to your online application:

• Your  curriculum vitae  (CV), including scholarly work
• A statement of interest and prospective research topic (~1 page in length, clear and concise)
• An academic writing sample (e.g. an academic paper or article for which you are the first author)
• Contact information for three (3) academic references
• All post-secondary transcripts

Upon receiving an offer of admission: 

If you receive an offer of admission, you will be required to submit any official academic transcripts sent directly from the institution to  Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies , either by mail or email.

c/o Central Stores Mail Room, for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Maggie Benston Student Services Centre 1100 Simon Fraser University 8888 University Drive Burnaby, British Columbia Canada V5A 1S6

SFU's email address for receipt of electronic transcripts is  [email protected]

IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION

• Please note that we are unable to provide information as to the “chances” of any potential applicant receiving an offer of admission in the absence of a complete application submitted through the proper channels (i.e. through the online application portal, NOT via email).
• It is the responsiblity of the potential applicant to determine if they meet the admission requirements prior to submitting an application and paying the application fee.

* Requests to have the application fee waived will not be granted.

SFU INTERDEPARTMENTAL PROGRAM TRANSFER

SFU students who wish to transfer to the PhD program in sociology and anthropology must:

• Have an SA faculty member who agrees to supervise them;
• Submit a statement of their proposed PhD research (as well as their courses/CGPA in their current programs, if applicable);
• Work with their SA supervisor to develop a study plan.

The supervisor, in consultation with the GPC, will determine if additional courses are required.

The student's time in their current program will count towards the program length in SA. Funding is not guaranteed if extra terms are needed to meet the SA program requirements.

Finally, the transfer requires approval from the GPC and the department.

Transfer Application Form

Want to talk to a current Sociology & Anthropology graduate student? Check out the  SFU Sociology & Anthropology  community on Discord. Connect with other members and enjoy free voice and text chat.

If you have any questions that are not answered on our website, please contact the Program Assistant by email at [email protected]. Long distance phone calls will not be returned.

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University of Manitoba

University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, R3T 2N2

Sociology (PhD)

Students in the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the Sociology program will choose from specialized training in criminology and social justice; culture and social relations; population health and wellness; power, privilege and resistance; global sociology; and social policy and social change.

Program details

Admission requirements.

• Faculty of Arts • Faculty of Graduate Studies

• PhD in Sociology

Expected duration

Study with us.

The low graduate student/faculty ratio creates an informal learning environment in which students receive considerable individual attention. Faculty members are actively involved in research, including many projects that readily lend themselves as the basis for student theses and dissertations.

Research affiliations

Members of our department have affiliations with other research institutes, centres, facilities and groups such as:

• Centre for Human Rights Research
• Centre on Aging
• Centre for Social Science Research and Policy
• Immigration Research West
• Institute for the Humanities
• Manitoba Centre for Health Policy
• Manitoba Research Alliance
• National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
• Qualitative Research Group
• RESOLVE (Prairie Research Network on Family Violence)
• Statistics Canada Research Data Centre at UM

Discover our financial supports

Several scholarships, fellowships and awards are available for graduate students in sociology and criminology.

Learn more about our financial supports.

The Department of Sociology and Criminology offers programs of study leading to a PhD in Sociology.

Expected duration: 4 years

The PhD program consists of a combination of coursework and a thesis component.

Tuition and fees:  Tuition fees are charged for terms one and two and terms four and five. A continuing fee is paid for term three, term six and each subsequent term. (Refer to Graduate tuition and fees .)

In addition to the minimum course requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section , students must complete:

• 3 credit hours in theory
• 6 credit hours in research methods
• Two comprehensive examinations
• Preparation and successful defense of the thesis proposal
• Preparation and successful defense of the completed thesis

Areas of specialization

Criminology and Social Justice

Criminology is the study of the nature and causes of and responses to crime in society. The concern for social justice broadens the investigation to ask whether our institutions—including law and the criminal justice system—are organized and implemented in ways that realize human rights and equality for all members of society.

Culture and Social Relations

Culture and social relations is concerned with the ways in which social identities and relations are shaped, reproduced, and reconfigured through various socio-cultural processes and institutions.  The individual in society is a subject of research for faculty specializing in the areas of symbolic interactionism, socialization, and social psychology. Faculty in this cluster also extend the socio-cultural approach to the study of class, gender, and ethnic relations, as well as to aspects of the media, consumer culture, and other institutions.

Population Health and Wellness

According to the World Health Organization, health is “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”  The teaching and research activities within this area are informed by the 12 social determinants of health, as defined by Health Canada. The emphasis is on the social determinants of health, including both structural and behavioural factors.

Power, Privilege and Resistance

This area examines the dynamics of power and the relations of ruling. It is particularly attentive to the way that class, sex/gender, race/ethnicity, sexuality and other forms of social differentiation are created and organized and how these operate to produce power and resistance.  Faculty who specialize in this area seek to understand how power is expressed through movements, institutions and structures.

Global Sociology

The global sociology area is distinguished by the scale of its analysis, rather than by its specific substantive content. Researchers in this cluster examine relations, structures, institutions and flows that transcend the usual unit of social-scientific research, the nation state. The cluster emphasizes the movement of people, ideas, culture, capital and commodities as they form webs of connection, difference and inequality across the globe.

Social Policy and Practice

The state and its various policy domains are the focus of the social policy and practice area. Research and teaching in this area emphasize that the state and its policies are products and sites of struggle. Faculty members undertake analysis of social and public policy and corresponding practice.

Sample course offerings

• SOC 7120: Seminar in Sociology of Education (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7190: Seminar in Selected Topics in Sociological Theory (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7280: Seminar in Theoretical Criminology (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7300: Seminar in the Sociology of Law and Social Control (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7320: Seminar in Political Sociology (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7340: Seminar in the Sociology of the Family (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7370: Issues in Health Care Seminar (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7390: Survey Research Methods (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7400: Advanced Quantitative Research Methods (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7440: Seminar in Contemporary Sociological Theory (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7480: Social Inequality (3 credit hours)

For full course descriptions, please visit the  Academic Calendar .

The following are minimum requirements to be considered for entry into the program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

Admission decisions are based on the qualifications of the applicant as well as the ability of the Department of Sociology and Criminology and the University of Manitoba to serve the applicant’s intended program of study and area of specialization.

In addition to the admission requirements described here, all applicants must meet the minimum  admission and English language proficiency requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies .

To be considered for admission to the PhD in Sociology program, you must have:

• A Master's degree in Sociology or a closely related cognate field that includes substantial sociological content
• A minimum GPA of 3.5 (or the equivalent) based on the last 60 credit hours (or two full years or equivalent) of university study
• A strong foundation in sociological research methods and theory

Sociology uses the FGS English Language Test requirements, with the following exceptions:

• IELTS: The minimum score must be 6.5 in each of the test bands
• TOEFL: Minimum thresholds must be 600 on the paper test and 100 overall on the internet-based test (with a minimum speaking/writing of 22)

How to apply

The PhD in Sociology program accepts applications for the Fall term. Applications must be completed online and include several parts:

• Application fee (non-refundable)
• Unofficial copies of transcripts and degree certificates
• Statement of intent ( Guidelines for Writing a Statement of Intent )
• Three letters of recommendation (must be requested from within the application)
• Proof of English language proficiency , if required

Please read the  Faculty of Graduate Studies online application instructions  before beginning your application.

Application deadlines

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Architecture reviews applications in March.

Applications open up to 18 months prior to start term.

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated.

Start or continue your application

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for City Planning reviews applications in March.

Winter applications are accepted on a case-by-case basis.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Design and Planning reviews applications in March.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Interior Design reviews applications in March.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Landscape Architecture reviews applications in March.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Anthropology reviews applications in March/April.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . Please contact the department for admission committee review timelines.

Applications open September 1 of year prior to start term.

Applications open   up to 18 months prior  to start term.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for History reviews applications in February.

Applications are reviewed on a  rolling basis .

Applications open July 1 of year prior to start term.

Applications are reviewed on a  Committee basis . The Committee for German and Slavic Studies reviews applications in February/March.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis .

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Management reviews applications in February / March.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Physical Therapy reviews applications in April / May.

Applications open  August 1 of the year prior to start term.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . Please contact the department for admission committee review timelines.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Orthodontics reviews applications in August/September and holds interviews in September/October.

Program currently undergoing review, applications will not be opening at this time.

Select Preventive Dental Science in the Program drop-down on the application form.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Educational Administration, Foundations and Psychology reviews applications in March / April.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Education reviews applications in February / March.

Applications are reviewed after the deadline, with decisions issued in March - April.

Currently not accepting applications to this program.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . Please contact the department for admission committee review timelines.

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated. Applications received by the March 1 deadline for a September start-date will receive first consideration for any available funding. Late applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis for any available funding, please contact the department for further information.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Human Rights reviews applications in January - March.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Law reviews applications in January - March.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Nursing (MN) reviews applications in April / May.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Nursing PhD reviews applications in February / March.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee reviews applications as per the timelines noted below each table.

Winter applications reviewed in October Summer applications reviewed in February Fall applications reviewed in June

Winter applications reviewed in June Summer applications reviewed in October Fall applications reviewed in February

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated. This includes having the support of a faculty supervisor before you apply.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Natural Resources Management reviews applications in March - June.

After the annual application deadline (see below), applications are reviewed on a committee basis by the Faculty of Social Work internal admissions committee. Once this process is complete, decisions are sent to all applicants in March / April. 

Applications open  July 1 of year prior to start term.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Social Work reviews applications in March / April.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Music reviews Fall term applications in December / January, and Winter term applications in July.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Occupational Therapy reviews applications in May / June.

Master of Occupational Therapy regular program  applications open September 15 of the year prior to deadline .

Master of Occupational Therapy accelerated program  applications open October 1  of the year prior to deadline .

The name of your confirmed supervisor is required at the time of application. To identify a prospective thesis research supervisor on your application, please  contact Immunology Faculty members .

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Community Health Sciences reviews applications in March / April.

Canadian, US and International applicants

The name of your preferred supervisor is required at time of application.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . Students selected for in-person interview will be notified in February.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Physician Assistant Studies reviews applications in April.

Offers of admission will be released to successful applicants on May 17, 2024 from the University of Manitoba Master of Physician Assistant Studies, the same day as the University of Toronto BScPA Program and McMaster University Physician Assistant Education Program. The three institutions are pleased to provide applicants their offers on the same day to help with the decision-making process.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Pharmacology and Therapeutics reviews applications one month after the application deadline.

Applications for Pathology MSc are reviewed on a  rolling basis .

Applications for Pathologist Assistant are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Pathologist Assistant reviews applications in April / May. 

The Pathologist Assistant program only admits Canadian and US students every two years. The next intake is tentatively scheduled for Fall 2026.

Canadian and US applicants

International applicants

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Statistics reviews applications in March / April.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Biological Sciences reviews applications one month after deadline.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Indigenous Studies reviews applications in February and June.

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated. For those who wish to be considered for scholarships, applications must be received by January 15 of the year in which you're seeking admission.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions Committee for Applied Human Nutrition reviews applications in February.

Les demandes d’admission sont évaluées par un comité . Le comité d’admission évalu les demandes durant les mois de Mars et Avril.  

Les demandes peut être surmise jusqu’à concurrence de 18 mois avant le début de premier trimestre.

Toute demande d’admission en ligne doit être déposée, avec documents à l’appui, au plus tard aux dates indiquées.

Soumettre ou continuer votre application

Tuition and fees

Learn about tuition and fee requirements for graduate studies at UM.

Financial aid and awards

Find the variety of awards and funding options available to help you pay for school as a sociology and criminology graduate student.

Department of Sociology and Criminology

Our department is home to award-winning teachers and researchers who specialize in a variety of areas within the discipline.

Explore program requirements and detailed descriptions for required and elective courses throughout the sociology and criminology program.

Explore the Faculty of Arts

Discover the wide-ranging opportunities in humanities, social sciences and interdisciplinary studies offered by the Faculty of Arts.

• Arts research
• Programs of study
• Student experience
• Arts financial aid and awards

Explore the Faculty of Graduate Studies

Discovery happens here. Join the graduate students and researchers who come here from every corner of the world. They are drawn to the University of Manitoba because it offers the opportunity to do transformational research.

• Funding, awards and financial aid
• Graduate student experience

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Examine the processes of social and cultural life in human societies through our undergraduate programs.

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UBC Sociology offers graduate students the opportunity to specialize in one or more of our seven different research areas.

The Department of Sociology at the University of British Columbia is internationally renowned as a leading centre for sociological research and training.

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Graduate Collaborative Specializations

Students in our MA and PhD programs have the opportunity to earn a specialization in one of the following collaborative specializations.  Application to a collaborative specialization should be made early in the first term of study.

Migration and Ethnic Relations

Transitional Justice & Post-Conflict Reconstruction

• Timing of Degree Requirements

In September of each year, students are expected to develop a plan with the graduate chair indicating how and when they will meet the requirements of their program. This plan includes timing for all course work and other requirements. While the graduate chair has the formal role of establishing the student's program of study, students are encouraged to speak to various faculty members for advice on courses and on their program.

PhD candidates are normally required to take 8 courses, including:

• Three required courses: Sociology 9003 (Research Methods), Sociology 9007 (Advanced Multivariable Statistical Analysis), and either Sociology 9002 (Sociological Perspectives) or Sociology 9005 (Contemporary Social Theory).
• PLUS a minimum of five additional courses beyond the theory and methods requirements, at least two of which will be related to the student's two chosen areas of specialization. Students are required to complete at least one course in each chosen area of specialization before writing a comprehensive exam in that area (subject to availability). It should be noted that specific courses can often serve for more than one area of specialization. Students must consult the graduate chair to make a final determination of the requirements.
• Students normally take 3 courses each term (Fall, Winter).
• Students may take up to two courses from other departments . Students in collaborative programs should consult the respective web pages to determine required courses for the specialization (see side bar for links).  For more information on various course regulations please click on course information.
• In exceptional circumstances, permission to take a reading course may be granted at the discretion of the graduate chair. Exceptional circumstances may include that there is no course being offered in the student's area of study (broadly, rather than narrowly considered) in a given year (not a given term) or that a student wishes to take additional courses beyond those that are required. Normally, students will be permitted to take a maximum of one reading course.
• Note: A candidate’s course load may be reduced (by a maximum of two) in a case where 9002, 9003, 9005, 9007 or equivalent has been taken previously. For example, a student who has taken one of these courses (or its equivalent) previously may have the required number of courses reduced to a minimum of seven; a student who has taken two of these courses (or its equivalent) previously may have the required number of courses reduced to a minimum of six. To request a waiver of 9002, 9003, 9005, or 9007, provide the graduate chair with a copy of the outline for the course you have taken previously. Your outline will be reviewed by the instructor of the course in question and your request is subject to his/her approval.

Research Apprenticeship

The Research Apprenticeship Milestone (formerly Sociology 9689) consists of roughly 60 to 100 hours spent working closely with a faculty member on a research project (either paid work on a grant-funded project or an unpaid research collaboration) and is designed to mentor students in the research process and provide hands-on research skills in preparation for dissertation work. This Milestone should be completed during the first or second year of the program.

Research Apprenticeship Form

Comprehensive Examinations

PhD candidates are required to pass  two comprehensive examinations , normally  in the second year of study . Comprehensive examinations require students to demonstrate a broad understanding of the literature and debates within two substantive areas. The comprehensive examination process provides students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in literatures that will inform their dissertation work. Further, they help students with the degree-level learning outcomes, including those related to depth and breadth of knowledge, communication skills, research and scholarship, and professional capacity. The process helps to develop an ability to present and discuss ideas clearly and articulately and engage in scholarly discussion and debate. In addition, the comprehensive exams provide the opportunity for doctoral students to develop transferable skills.

Comprehensive exams may be written in the following 5 core areas, which align with the department’s strengths in research and graduate teaching:

• Aging and the Life Course
• Health and Health Inequality
• Inequality, Power, and Social Regulation
• Social Demography
• Work, Occupations, and Professions

Comprehensive exams may also be written in:

• Migration and Ethnic Relations (for students enrolled in the MER Collaborative Specialization)
• Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction (for students enrolled in the TJ Collaborative Specialization)

Reading lists:

The Graduate Assistant will email students a reading list not later than four months preceding a given examination. Each area has an associated reading list reviewed and updated annually by the area committee. Past reading lists may be viewed in OWL (SOCGRADS INFO site, under  Resources ).

Reading lists can be found on the Grad Intranet .

The comprehensive examination  typically takes the form of a three-day take-home examination.  However, the precise nature of the format will be at the discretion of the comprehensive examining committee.

Evaluation:

Examination committees develop and evaluate the examinations and are composed of a Chair and at least two other members of faculty nominated by the graduate chair. The committee decision is based on a majority vote.

The exams are viewed as a  test of competency  in the area. Passing an area exam requires: 1) a coherent, concise and accurate synthesis and discussion of relevant literature that reflects specificity and depth and 2) the display of an intelligent and critical perspective on pertinent readings in response to a given exam question (and which explicitly addresses all parts of the question asked). Committee members need to see that the student comprehends the key issues and can think coherently about them. Answers must do more than summarize the arguments of all who have written on a given topic. They must utilize the works contained in the reading list to make an argument that is directly relevant to the question being asked. A good comprehensive examination answer demonstrates not only comprehensive knowledge of a field, but understanding of the key issues and debates, and generally, the ability to think critically about these issues and debates.

Exam answers, including answers to fulfill a conditional pass, will be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism.

Students can receive either a pass, pass with distinction (those who demonstrate both competence and excellence), conditional pass, or fail . Exams with one failing answer in the presence of an otherwise passable exam can be awarded a “conditional pass”. Students who receive a conditional pass will be given one opportunity to rewrite the failed question in the form of a written essay of no longer than 15 pages, to be submitted to the committee within two weeks of the evaluation decision .

Students who fail an examination will be given a written explanation, and they may seek further information and advice from Committee members.  Students will generally retake the comps at the next sitting. Students who fail an examination for a second time will normally be asked to withdraw from the program. 

Relationship with coursework:

Students should think about their potential comprehensive exam areas upon entering the doctoral program and plan their coursework accordingly. Courses related to each of the comprehensive exam areas are typically taught every year, and students are expected to take these courses as partial preparation for a comprehensive exam. The intention is that the comprehensive examinations build upon the knowledge base established in the coursework.

The comprehensive examinations should be written in the  second year  of the program, before the completion of the dissertation proposal.

Graduate Assistant emails first-year students on the last day of classes of the winter term to declare both comprehensive exams. Students have a week to make their choice after consulting with their supervisor(s) and Graduate Chair, if necessary. The Graduate Committee will organize the order of the exams (October and February). Students will be notified by mid-May of the schedule for both exams. 

Comprehensive examinations are scheduled to start the second Tuesday of February and October. The reading list is provided 4 months prior to the writing date.  

* An additional date available is June (second Tuesday).  Students need to declare by December 1 and will be approved on a case-by-case basis *

• Students must declare their intention to take both comprehensive exams within a week after the last day of classes of the winter term.
• 4 months prior, the graduate program assistant will email the reading list to the declared students.
• With the exception of medical emergencies, students must inform the Graduate Chair in writing if they have decided to postpone taking an exam at least 3 weeks prior to the date of the exam or the exam will be considered a fail.
• Students may request an accommodation under extenuating circumstances such as caregiving by emailing the Graduate Chair at least 3 weeks prior to the date of the exam: we may grant extended time to complete an exam up to 5 days duration.  Decisions will be made on case-by-case basis.

Information for Faculty:

• Committee members review and update reading lists annually.
• The Graduate Committee will monitor reading lists to enhance consistency.
• Each Comp Committee Chair will be responsible for setting questions and grading the examination in consultation with the other committee members.
• The Comp Committee Chair will email the student the exam adjudication and comments. 
• Students receive the emailed notification normally within three weeks of the examination.
• All correspondence concerning the comprehensive examinations should be copied to the graduate program assistant and graduate chair so that an appropriate record is made and kept on file.

Preparation:

• Students should think about their potential comprehensive exam areas early in their doctoral program and plan their coursework accordingly.
• Preparation necessary to pass the exam is substantial and usually requires months of intensive study.
• Students are encouraged to talk to the examination committee members about their expectations for the examination and ask questions about the literature they are reading.
• Students are also encouraged to review old examinations in the area (available from the graduate program assistant).
• Note that when writing the exam, you are not limited to the reading list.  Yours answers should draw primarily on material from the reading lists but you are also encouraged to bring in outside/additional readings and materials if they help answer a question better.

Comprehensive Exam Studying/Writing Tips

Year 1 - Dissertation Supervisor

By the end of the first year of study, the student must have chosen a supervisor. To serve as a PhD supervisor, the faculty member must be a member of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) and be approved to supervise PhD dissertations.  That faculty member must also be a member of the main campus Sociology Department at Western.  Click here for the Finding A Supervisor web page. The student and the supervisor(s) complete Part A and the names of the supervisory committee of the Supervisory Committee Member and Proposal Milestone Report form and submit it to the graduate program assistant by the end of year 1.

SGPS Graduate Supervision Handbook

Year 2 - Supervisory Committee Member and Proposal Milestone

A doctoral Supervisory Committee consists of the supervisor and at least one supervisory committee member from our program. On rare occasions, a faculty member from outside the department can be a supervisory committee member (as a subject expert or due to the requirements of Collaborative specializations or as necessary for restricted data access). See the graduate chair for further information of this process.

The purpose of the dissertation proposal milestone is for the candidate to demonstrate the requisite theoretical and methodological background as well as the necessary writing skills to proceed to concentrated thesis work. The dissertation proposal provides an opportunity for the student to interact with their thesis supervisor and supervisory committee member in a focused way. The submission of the proposal represents a commitment by the student to pursue the thesis upon completion of the thesis proposal. Typically the proposal would be completed and approved in the summer (at the end of year 2) or the fall (beginning of year 3), following the completion of year 2 comprehensive exams.

PhD students are required to complete the proposal under the supervision of the faculty member selected to be the thesis supervisor. The proposal requires:

1) The selection of a supervisory committee member. The expectation is that the supervisory committee member will serve as a "reader," providing feedback beginning at the proposal stage and throughout the writing process, and will read the thesis in its entirety before preliminary submission. A supervisory committee member must be a member of SGPS with at least non-core limited membership status (see the graduate program assistant for further details).

2) Approval of the proposal by both the supervisor and the supervisory committee member.

3) An informal oral presentation of the approved proposal to which faculty and students are invited to attend. Presentations are held twice a year, in March and November. Dates for 2023-2024 year are set for November 10, 2023 and March 8, 2024.

4) Completion of the Part B of the Supervisory Committee Member and Proposal Milestone Report .

Points to consider:

• Please consult the Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Guidelines which provide details such as what should be included and questions to consider in the preparation of your proposal. A proposal typically provides key background literature, methods/methodology, and expected contributions. Further, the candidate must clearly describe the plan of study - what will be done, how, and when.
• Format - The content and structure of the proposal should be developed in consultation with the supervisor before writing. Clearly identify one of the two SGPS approved formats i) monograph or ii) integrated-article. If the dissertation will be integrated-article format, the student needs to clearly identify each of the manuscripts along with the individual problems, questions, and methods involved with each. See Dissertation Format, below, for further details.
• Ethics Approval - Students planning to conduct research involving human participants (e.g., survey, participant observation, interviews) need to obtain Ethics approval from the University's Non-medical Research Ethics Board . This is not a simple process and, since from start to finish the Ethics process could take up to 3 months , the student and supervisor need to plan accordingly.
• In order for completion of the proposal milestone to be recorded, the signed Dissertation Proposal Report must be submitted.

Helpful link: Research Data Centre

Dissertation Format

Students may submit their dissertation in either monograph or integrated-article format. Listed below are components required in the main body of the thesis. Students should consult Section 8.3 of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies' (SGPS) Thesis Regulation Guide  for a complete list of components and formatting details. PhD Dissertations in Sociology typically range from 150-250 pages, but should not be shorter than 100 pages excluding appendices. 

Following SGPS guidelines , it is expected that a thesis following an integrated article format will include the following components in the body of the thesis:

An introductory chapter that introduces and establishes the relevance of the broader dissertation topic that is addressed by the separate articles; A literature review chapter that sets the broader theoretical, conceptual, and methodological context for the separate articles to follow (alternatively the literature review can be incorporated into each of the three article chapters); A minimum of three articles; A concluding chapter that relates the separate articles to each other and integrates and discusses the findings within the context of the broader field of study; A separate bibliography should be included at the end of each chapter and article.

Further, following the SGPS guidelines, it is expected that a thesis following a monograph format will usually include the following components in the body of the thesis:

An introductory chapter that introduces and establishes the relevance of the broader dissertation topic; A literature review chapter that sets the broader theoretical, conceptual, and methodological context for the dissertation; A methodology chapter that describes the analyses conducted; One or more results chapters; A concluding chapter that discusses the findings within the context of the broader field of study; A bibliography.

Thesis Examination

The examination committee  typically   consists of a chair (determined by SGPS), two examiners from sociology ( one of which can be the Supervisory Committee Member ), a university examiner (i.e., someone from outside sociology who was not on the supervisory committee), and an external examiner (arms-length, almost always from another university).  All examiners must be arms-length from the student and supervisor   and   must not have been a collaborator on the thesis research . The student and supervisory are encouraged to consider diversity of representation on the committee  (e.g., gender)  when choosing from a pool of qualified examiners.  Note that the university examiner is meant to bring an interdisciplinary perspective to the examination; thus, scholars from a sociology department at one of Western’s affiliate colleges are not usually acceptable.  Please confer with the Graduate Chair if you have questions regarding the suitability of a potential examiner. ​ The student should not be in contact with the university or external examiners . For this reason, the supervisor, not the student, should contact university and external examiners to determine whether they are willing to be an examiner and their availability.  Once a date has been determined, provide a completed  Doctoral Exam Request Form  signed by both the supervisor and student to Graduate Program Coordinator. The Graduate Chair will then request that an exam be scheduled. Please remember that final approval of the Examination Committee is by SGPS.

Doctoral Exam Request Form SGPS Thesis Guide and Forms

Graduate Professional Seminar

The Professional Seminar Series is designed to introduce students to aspects of the professional life of the Sociologist. Our purpose is to add to students' professional training in practical ways that will help them successfully compete for both academic and non-academic positions, adjust to academic life in new departments, and be productive scholars that secure tenure. The seminar series is a required Milestone for PhD candidates. 

PROSEM held on Tuesdays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. SCHEDULE to follow soon 

Summary of Requirements

*Any of Soc. 9002, 9003, 9005, or 9007 may be waived if they or their equivalent have been taken previously. The requirement for a total of 6 half-courses still remains, however.

Additional Courses and Professional Involvement

While the MA and PhD programs define a minimum number of courses, students may take more than the minimum, possibly in other areas or possibly as audits. Students are also encouraged to take part in the various colloquia and professional occasions that occur in the Department, in the University, and in professional associations.

OWN your Future is Western's doctoral professional development program offered by SGPS in collaboration with various units across campus.

Professional Development 

Graduate Program in Sociology Social Science Centre, Room 5312 London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5C2 Tel: 519-661-2111 ext 85144 [email protected] Privacy | Web Standards | Terms of Use | Accessibility

Society of Graduate Students

Graduate Student Professional Development

Network for Economic and Social Trends

Centre for Research on Social Inequality

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Sociology in Canada

Why Study Sociology in Canada

• Studying Sociology in Canada is a great choice, as there are 26 universities that offer PhD degrees on our portal.
• Over 323,000 international students choose Canada for their studies, which suggests you’ll enjoy a vibrant and culturally diverse learning experience and make friends from all over the world.
• We counted 6 affordable PhD degrees in Canada , allowing you to access quality higher education without breaking the bank. Moreover, there are 487 available scholarships you can apply to.

42  Sociology PhDs in Canada

Sociology - Gender and Women's Studies The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Sociology - Gender and Women's Studies offered by the Department of... Faculty of Arts Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Sociology The Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology at the University of Toronto prepares students for careers in teaching... University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Sociology The substantive focus of the PhD Sociology program at Carleton University is the organization and... Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Women and Children's Health Sciences The goal of the graduate program in Women and Children's Health Sciences at University of British... University of British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Organizational Behavior The emphasis of the PhD Program in Organizational Behavior at University of British Columbia is on developing... University of British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Social and Political Thought A truly interdisciplinary approach, this Social and Political Thought program at York University aims to... York University Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Study in Canada

Canada is one of the most popular study destinations in the world due to its high focus on the quality of its universities and its emphasis on attracting international students who can later immigrate. Canadians are very welcoming to international students and they invest a lot into making sure students are safe, treated fairly, and enjoy their stay in the country. Study in one of the strongest economies in the world while enjoying a high living standard and a flexible study environment. Classes have smaller student groups ensuring everyone gets the attention they need, and encouraging group assignments and debates.

Is Canada the right place for you?

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Explore your Sociology degree

Sociology is the study of human societies, investigating their structures, patterns, and relationships. It aids in understanding social problems, informs policies, and explores ways to create equitable societies. Specialisations include social theory, social stratification, medical sociology, urban sociology, and criminology. Courses cover topics like sociological theory, social research methods, and gender and society. Sociology equips students with critical thinking, empathy, and analytical skills, finding applications in social work, public policy, and human resources. Graduates can work as social researchers, community development workers, policy analysts, or youth workers.

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Programs and courses

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Doctorate in Philosophy Sociology

The School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies offers the following programs: Master of Arts (MA) and PhD in sociology; Master of Arts (MA) in anthropology. In addition, the School participates in the following collaborative programs: women's studies (master's level) and Canadian studies (doctoral level). 

The MA in sociology is offered as a full-time and a part-time program, in French and in English. In English, the maximum number of annual admissions is fixed according to the procedure explained in the "Admission Requirements" section. In accordance with the University of Ottawa regulation, students may write their assignments, research papers, theses and examinations in either English or French.

Two options are available for the master's program: the MA with thesis and the MA with research paper, to which admissible students may add the co-op option. Students in both options are eligible for admission to the collaborative program in women's studies. For more information, see the section " Apply for Admission ."

The PhD in sociology is offered as a full-time program only, in English and in French. However, both required seminars are offered in French exclusively. The doctoral program aims to train sociologists capable of conducting research on the social relations that define the conditions of existence and the transformations of contemporary societies, while using the most up-to-date theoretical and methodological tools. The program’s two main fields of research are minorities and culture, and political sociology. Students in the doctoral program are eligible for admission to the collaborative program in Canadian studies. For more information, see the section " Apply for Admission ."

Professors in the School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies conduct research in a number of areas. For a more complete understanding of the breadth of research being undertaken at the School, students are encouraged to consult the list of professors and their areas of interest, which extend well beyond the fields of research mentioned above.

The programs are governed by the  general regulations  in effect for graduate studies.

For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines, language tests and other admission requirements, please visit the  specific requirements  webpage.

To be admitted to the PhD program, applicants must hold a master's degree in sociology (or equivalent) and have an overall average of at least 75% (B+), calculated in accordance with graduate studies guidelines. A student who has a master’s degree with the required average in a related discipline may be considered. He or she will be asked to take a number of additional master's courses. The number of extra courses required is determined by the Graduate Studies Committee, upon examination of each candidate's file.

Admission to the doctoral program also depends on the possibility of finding a supervisor and a committee specialized in the student’s field of interest.

In addition to transcripts and letters of recommendation, the application for admission to the doctoral program should include a letter that specifies:

• the proposed research area;
• the specific research topic for the doctoral thesis;
• the preferred supervisor;
• the candidate's language skills (English and French). The applicant must also include a sample of written work.

All students must be able to read and understand texts written in French and in English. Students must indicate in their application the language in which they plan to take the majority of their courses. The School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies reserves the right to require a language test for either language.

Fast-Track from Master's to PhD

Students enrolled in the MA program in sociology at the University of Ottawa who meet the condition indicated below may be allowed to transfer to the PhD program without completing the master’s thesis or research paper.

The conditions for transfer are as follows:

• successful completion of at least five graduate courses (15 units), with a minimum grade of A- in each;
• written approval of the research paper or thesis supervisor as well as members of the thesis committee;
• approval of the Graduate Studies Committee of SSAS. The Committee makes its decision on the basis of written reports on the student's research skills, from the student's research paper or thesis supervisor.

The transfer must be requested within 16 months of the student's initial enrollment in the master's program and the transfer must be approved before the end of the fourth term such that students enroll in the PhD program in the fifth term. Following transfer, students must successfully complete four courses (12 units), in addition to the five courses (15 units) already completed, the qualifying exams (within 24 months after transfer), the thesis proposal, and the doctoral thesis.

The requirements of the PhD program are as follows:

These courses are normally chosen among the graduate courses in sociology, but one of them may be from another discipline.

Initial enrollment in  SOC 9910  occurs in the student’s third term. If a comprehensive exam is failed, it may be rewritten once. A second failure is regarded as final, and the candidate will be withdrawn from the program.

During the first term of the program, the supervisor should be determined. During the second term, two additional professors will join the Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC). It is expected that these professors are sociologists. This committee is responsible for approving the Comprehensive Exam. A fourth TAC member will join in anticipation of the dissertation proposal submission (in year 2). At least one member of the thesis committee, must NOT be from the School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies.

Successful completion of the comprehensive exam is a prerequisite for proceeding to  SOC 9930 . The thesis proposal must be approved by the thesis committee. A student whose proposal is not accepted on the first submission may be allowed to submit it a second time. A student whose proposal is rejected a second time will be withdrawn from the program.

Minimum Standards

The passing grade in all courses is C+. Students who fail two courses (equivalent to 6 units), the thesis proposal, or whose research progress is deemed unsatisfactory are withdrawn from the program.

Duration of the Program

The program is designed as a four-year program, and students are expected to complete it within four years. All requirements other than the thesis must be fulfilled by the end of the sixth term of enrollment. The maximum time permitted for completing the program is six years from the date of initial enrollment in the program, or seven years in the case of students fast-tracking from the master's to the PhD.

Thesis Advisory Committee

The thesis advisory committee (TAC) will be formed over the course of the first two years in the program, starting with the supervisor in the first term and two additional members in the second term (in anticipation of the Comprehensive examination). The Committee’s membership will be determined by the specific interests of the candidate. It will be composed of the supervisor and 3 additional professors. At least one member of the thesis committee, in addition to the supervisor, must be from the Faculty of Social Sciences. The TAC is responsible for providing guidance to the student throughout the program, including course selection, the comprehensive examination, thesis proposal and thesis defense. The thesis examining board will include a fifth member who is not from the University of Ottawa.

Research at the University of Ottawa

Located in the heart of Canada’s capital, a few steps away from Parliament Hill, the University of Ottawa ranks among Canada’s top 10 research universities. Our research is founded on excellence, relevance and impact and is conducted in a spirit of equity, diversity and inclusion.

Our research community thrives in four strategic areas:

• Creating a sustainable environment
• Advancing just societies
• Shaping the digital world
• Enabling lifelong health and wellness

From advancing healthcare solutions to tackling global challenges like climate change, the University of Ottawa’s researchers are at the forefront of innovation, making significant contributions to society and beyond.

Research at the Faculty of Social Sciences

The Faculty of Social Sciences represents a place of excellence in knowledge creation, research and training. Driven by both disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives, research at the Faculty is rich, innovative and varied, contributing to the depth of understanding and breadth of discussions on a variety of issues nationally and internationally.  This research, whether it be fundamental, theoretical, applied or action-oriented, is generated by our renowned expertise, ultimately culminating in applications designed to influence individual communities and the betterment of society.

We have identified five research themes which collectively represent a large proportion of the research undertaken at the Faculty of Social Sciences:

• International Studies
• Francophonie
• Public Policy
• Health, Well-Being
• Justice, Society

Facilities, Research Centres and Institutes at the Faculty of Social Sciences

Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Citizenship and Minorities (CIRCEM) , Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) , Centre for Public Management and Policy , Centre for Research on Educational and Community Service (CRECS) , Centre on Governance (COG) , Human Rights Research and Education Centre (affiliation) , Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies and Institute for Science, Society and Policy .

For more information, refer to the list of faculty members and their research fields on Uniweb . 

IMPORTANT: Candidates and students looking for professors to supervise their thesis or research project can also consult the website of the faculty or department of their program of choice. Uniweb does not list all professors authorized to supervise research projects at the University of Ottawa.

SOC 6101 Research Design in Sociology (3 units)

Training in advanced sociological research. Topics addressed are the relationship between theory and empirical research; identification of research problematics and the formulation of research questions; choosing a methodology.

Course Component: Seminar

SOC 6501 Problématique de recherche sociologique (3 crédits)

Former les étudiants à la recherche avancée en sociologie. Seront abordés : le lien entre théorie et recherche empirique, la formulation d'une question et d'une problématique de recherche, la sélection d'une méthodologie.

Volet : Séminaire

SOC 7101 Citizenship and Rights (3 units)

Explores the relationship between citizenship and rights, focusing on structural and discursive conditions of citizenship, and struggles for recognition and equality, e.g., the rights of women and minorities.

SOC 7102 Migration and Mobility (3 units)

Examines different forms of migration and mobility, as well as the multiple factors that favour, channel, or circumvent the movement of individuals and populations based on their gender, race/ethnicity, and social class.

SOC 7103 Society and Nature (3 units)

Examination of human-nature relationships, including environmental problems and conflicts, environmental degradation and conservation, urban/rural dynamics, agricultural and food systems, and natural disasters. Application of sociological theories about society and nature from the fields of environmental sociology, conservation social sciences, science and technology studies, the sociology of consumption, and food systems.

SOC 7104 Technology and Society (3 units)

Examination of the role and impacts of technology on society, including technologies of production, communication, social media and social networks. Investigation of inequalities of access to and usage of technology, impacts of technology on social relationships and social organization, and the governance of emerging technologies.

Course Component: Lecture

SOC 7106 The Lifecourse, Relational Dynamics, and Families (3 units)

The lifecourse as object, theory, methodology. Sociological analysis of links between individual and structural conditions. Exploration and critique of normative ideas of life stages. Analysis of family, household, intimate relations; division of labour, policies.

SOC 7107 Sociology of religion: new configurations of religion (3 units)

Examination of classic and contemporary sociological theories of religion. Analysis of new cultural, political and social issues concerning religion. Study of new configurations of religion in the 21st century. Topics will include comparative regimes of religiosity and secularism, immigration, diversity and religious freedoms, links between religion and politics throughout the world, new forms of individual and community religiosity/spirituality, secularization and the rise of the non-religious, gender and religion, tensions within established religions, analysis of the positive/negative relationship of populations towards religion and its influence on public policies.

SOC 7108 Sociology of Health and Health Care (3 units)

Examination of the social determinants of health, population health, health systems, and approaches to healthcare. Investigation of inequalities including physical and mental health outcomes, access to and organization of healthcare. Individual and group experiences of health, illness and healthcare.

SOC 7109 Language, discourse and power: the case of Francophonie (3 units)

Study of the role that languages, linguistic practices, and discourses on language play in establishing solidarity and conflict and contribute to producing or challenging inequalities. Analysis of the case of la Francophonie to understand linguistic minoritization and the effects of power relations on speakers as they enter and circulate in francophone spaces.

SOC 7110 Contemporary Sociological Theories (3 units)

In depth examination of the main theoretical currents in sociology.

SOC 7112 Selected Topics in Contemporary Sociology (3 units)

In depth examination of an issue or question linked to new trends or research areas in sociology.

SOC 7113 Sociology of Culture (3 units)

Considering the prevalence of the term culture across social life, this course investigates how to study culture sociologically. It offers a survey of sociological theorisations of culture, from notions of cultural capital to contemporary understandings of culture as an object of representation, social action and belonging. It follows the role of culture in the structuration or transformation of social inequalities, focusing on contemporary cultural productions.

SOC 7114 Social Change (3 units)

Analysis of transformations, transitions, emerging social phenomena; social changes (macro and micro). Concepts, theories, case studies.

SOC 7115 Sociological approaches to data literacy, analysis and synthesis (3 units)

Identification, evaluation and analysis of qualitative and quantitative date published in various formats. Synthesis and presentation of the main empirical and sociological conclusions that can be drawn from the data analysis. Proficiency of spreadsheet and of Statistics Canada tools for the analysis of statistical tables.

SOC 7116 Research design, identification and synthesis of relevant data (3 units)

Prepare a research proposal in collaboration with a client; negotiation of a research contract (deliverables, calendar). Learning how to synthesize literature and data after having selected material relevant to the research goals. Managing meetings. Develop the capacity to produce meeting proceedings and briefing notes. Develop capacity for team work.

SOC 7117 Knowledge transfer for social action (3 units)

Use relevant data to inform social action by producing strategic guidelines, recommendations and tools for evaluation. Work in a team to write a 25-30 page synthesis document that satisfies requirements of a research proposal, under the responsibility of the professor(s) in charge of the course, and present the highlights in public. Write executive summaries and action plans.

SOC 7140 Advanced Quantitative Methodology (3 units)

Overview of advanced methods of quantitative analysis of data, including multivariate analysis. Examination of use of these methods in the sociological literature. Application of these methods in a research project; definition of a research question and determination of a theoretical framework, selection of a quantitative approach, research ethics, development of data collection tools, collection of data.

SOC 7141 Advanced Qualitative Methodology (3 units)

Creation of a research project and selection of a fieldwork site appropriate for qualitative methodologies: definition of a research question and determination of a theoretical framework, selection of a qualitative approach, research ethics, development of data collection tools, collection of data, use of data organization software, vertical and horizontal analysis, submission of a final report.

SOC 7151 Social Inequalities (3 units)

Study of classic and contemporary approaches to social differentiation, the constitution of groups as well as the power relations within and accross them. The course will be based on case studies that focus on, among others, indigeneity, immigration, nationhood and nationalism, gender, racialisation, sexuality. Critical analysis of the concurrent uses of the notion of diversity.

SOC 7156 Sociology of Gender and Sexualities (3 units)

Sociological approaches to the study of gender including intersectional theories of race, class, and gender; gender stratification; gender as a social construction; gender spectrum; sexualities; bodies.

SOC 7160 Developing Societies – Critical Approach to Dominant Paradigms (3 units)

Examination of the development paradigm as a social fact. The concept of development is approached as a set of practices and knowledge constructed by diverse actors and relating to diverse socio-cultural contexts going beyond the binary “North-South” vision. Analysis of social change as carried out from a developmental perspective by questioning the dominant models included in major international programs: demographic paradigm, sustainable development, restrictive vision of culture and normative frameworks. The methodological and ethical challenges inherent to research carried out in this area will be examined from the angle of epistemic justice and the decolonization of methodologies.

SOC 7170 Political Sociology (3 units)

Examines relations between state and non-state actors, as well as the ways power is exercised and resisted. Potential topics include democracy, social movements, national minorities, transnational diasporas.

SOC 7501 Citoyenneté et droits (3 crédits)

Analyse des relations entre la citoyenneté et les droits, mettant l'accent sur les conditions structurelles et discursives de la citoyenneté, les luttes pour la reconnaissance et l'égalité, par exemple, les droits des femmes et des minorités.

Volet : Cours magistral

SOC 7502 Migration et mobilité (3 crédits)

Étude des différentes formes de migration et de mobilité, les aspects sociaux qui favorisent, orientent ou entravent la migration ou la mobilité d’individus et de populations en fonction de leur genre, race/ethnicité et classe sociale.

SOC 7503 Société et nature (3 crédits)

Examen des relations entre les humains et la nature, y compris les problèmes et les conflits environnementaux, la dégradation et la conservation de l'environnement, la dynamique urbaine/rurale, les systèmes agricoles et alimentaires et les catastrophes naturelles. Application des théories sociologiques sur la société et la nature dans les domaines de la sociologie de l'environnement, des sciences sociales de la conservation, des études de la science et la technologie, de la sociologie de la consommation et des systèmes alimentaires.

SOC 7504 Technologie et société (3 crédits)

Examen du rôle et des impacts de la technologie sur la société, y compris les technologies de production, de communication, les médias sociaux et les réseaux sociaux. Enquête sur les inégalités d'accès et d'utilisation de la technologie, les impacts de la technologie sur les relations sociales et l'organisation sociale, et la gouvernance des technologies émergentes.

SOC 7506 Le parcours de vie, dynamiques relationnelles, et les familles (3 crédits)

Le parcours de vie comme objet, théorie, méthodologie. Analyse sociologique des liens entre conditions individuelles et structurelles. Exploration et critique des idées normatives des étapes de la vie. Analyse de la famille, du ménage, des relations intimes ; division du travail, politiques.

SOC 7507 Sociologie des religions : les nouvelles configurations du religieux (3 crédits)

Examen des théories classiques et contemporaines de la sociologie sur la religion. Analyse de nouveaux enjeux culturels, politiques et sociaux concernant les religions. Étude des nouvelles configurations du religieux au 21e siècle. Seront abordés : régimes de religiosité et de laïcité comparés, immigration, diversité et libertés religieuses, liens entre la religion et la politique à travers le monde, nouvelles formes de religiosité/spiritualité individuelle et communautaire, sécularisation et essor des sans-religions, genre et religion, tensions au sein de religions institués, analyse du rapport positif/négatif des populations face au religieux et son influence sur les politiques publiques.

SOC 7508 Sociologie de la santé et des soins de santé (3 crédits)

Examen des déterminants sociaux de la santé, de la santé de la population, des systèmes de santé et des approches en matière de soins de santé. Enquête sur les inégalités, y compris les résultats en matière de santé physique et mentale, l'accès aux soins de santé et leur organisation. Expériences individuelles et collectives de la santé, de la maladie et des soins de santé.

SOC 7509 Langues, discours et pouvoir : le cas de la francophonie (3 crédits)

Étude du rôle que jouent les langues, les pratiques linguistiques et les discours sur les langues dans les rapports de solidarité et de conflits et la production ou la transformation d’inégalités. Analyse du cas de la francophonie pour comprendre la minorisation linguistique et les effets des rapports de pouvoir sur les locuteurs et locutrices qui entrent et circulent au sein des espaces francophones.

SOC 7510 Théories sociologiques contemporaines (3 crédits)

Examen approfondi des principaux courants théoriques sociologiques.

SOC 7512 Thèmes en sociologie contemporaine (3 crédits)

Analyse approfondie d'une problématique ou d'une question liée aux nouvelles tendances en recherche ou aux nouveaux thèmes de recherche.

SOC 7513 Sociologie de la culture (3 crédits)

Considérant la prévalence du terme culture dans toutes les sphères de la vie sociale, ce cours propose un questionnement sur la culture comme objet d’étude sociologique. Il offre un survol de la théorisation de la culture, des notions de capital culturel à ses compréhensions contemporaines comme objet de représentation, d’action sur le monde et d’appartenances multiples. Étude de la structuration ou la transformation des inégalités à partir des productions culturelles contemporaines.

SOC 7514 Changement social (3 crédits)

Analyse des transformations, transitions, formes de vie sociale émergentes, changements sociaux (macro et micro). Concepts, théories, études de cas.

SOC 7515 Lecture, analyse et synthèse des données à caractère sociologique (3 crédits)

Identification, évaluation et analyse des données qualitatives et quantitatives publiées sous une forme ou l'autre. Synthétiser et présenter les principales conclusions empiriques et sociologiques qu'on peut tirer de leur analyse. Maîtrise d'un tableur et des outils de Statistiques Canada pour l'analyse des tableaux statistiques.

SOC 7516 Élaboration d'un devis de recherche, identification et synthèse des données pertinentes (3 crédits)

Préparation d'un devis de recherche à partir de rencontres avec un.e client.e; négociation d'un contrat de recherche (livrables, échéancier). Synthèse d'une littérature et des données. Animation de réunions. Rédaction de comptes rendus de réunion et de notes de breffage.

SOC 7517 Mobilisation et transfert des connaissances pour l'action sociale (3 crédits)

Développer des orientations/recommandations fondées sur les données pertinentes pour orienter l'action sociale et guider la formulation de politiques publiques et leur évaluation. Rédaction d'un document de synthèse conforme aux exigences d'un devis, et présenter les grandes lignes en public. Rédaction de résumés analytiques (executive summary) et des plans d'action.

SOC 7540 Méthodologie quantitative avancée (3 crédits)

Apprentissage des méthodes avancées d'analyse quantitative des données, notamment, les analyses multivariées. L'emploi de ces méthodes dans la littérature sociologique. Applications et projet de recherche; établissement d'une problématique et d'un cadre théorique, choix d'une approche quantitative, éthique de la recherche, construction d'outils de collecte de données.

SOC 7541 Méthodologie qualitative avancée (3 crédits)

Modélisation d'un projet de recherche et terrain d'enquête selon la méthodologie qualitative : établissement d'une problématique et d'un cadre théorique, choix d'une approche qualitative, éthique de la recherche, construction d'outils de collecte de données, collecte, systématisation des données à l'aide de logiciels, analyses verticales et horizontales, rédaction d'un rapport final.

SOC 7551 Inégalités sociales (3 crédits)

Études des approches classiques et contemporaines à la différentiation sociale, à la constitution des groupes et aux diverses relations de pouvoir qui les traversent à partir d’études de cas qui portent, entre autres, sur l’autochtonie, l’immigration, le nationalisme, les relations interethniques, le genre, la racialisation, la sexualité. Analyse critique des usages concurrents de la notion de diversité.

SOC 7556 Sociologie du genre et des sexualités (3 crédits)

Approches sociologiques de l'étude du genre, y compris les théories intersectionnelles de la race, de la classe sociale et du genre ; stratification par sexe; le genre comme construction sociale ; spectre de genre; sexualités; corps.

SOC 7560 Sociétés en développement – Approche critique des paradigmes dominants (3 crédits)

Examen du paradigme du développement en tant que fait social. Le concept de développement sera appréhendé comme un ensemble de pratiques et de savoirs construits par une diversité d’acteurs et portant sur des contextes socio-culturels diversifiés dépassant la vision binaire « Nord-Sud ». Analyse du changement social telle qu’opérée selon une perspective développementaliste en questionnant les modèles dominants inscrits dans les grands programmes internationaux : paradigme démographique, développement durable, vision restrictive de la culture et des cadres normatifs Les défis méthodologiques et éthiques inhérents aux travaux scientifiques menés dans ce domaine seront examinés sous l’angle de la justice épistémique et de la décolonisation des méthodologies.

SOC 7570 Sociologie politique (3 crédits)

Examen des relations entre les acteurs étatiques et non-étatiques ainsi que de l’exercice du pouvoir et de la résistance. Les thématiques potentielles incluent la démocratie, les mouvements sociaux, les minorités nationales, les diasporas transnationales.

SOC 7930 Lecture dirigée / Directed Studies (3 crédits / 3 units)

Cours individuel ayant pour objectif d'approfondir les connaissances de l'étudiant dans un domaine particulier ou de lui permettre de se familiariser avec un nouveau domaine. Le sujet est déterminé et développé en consultation avec le professeur responsable et en conformité avec les directives du département. Le travail remis dans ce cours doit être différent de ce qui a pu être soumis dans d'autres cours, y compris le projet de thèse ou de mémoire, le mémoire ou la thèse. Il y a une limite d'un cours de lectures dirigées par étudiant. / Individual course aimed at deepening a student's knowledge of a particular area or at gaining knowledge of a new area. The topic is selected and developed in consultation with the supervising professor in accordance with departmental guidelines. The work submitted for this course must be different from that submitted for other courses, including the thesis or research proposal, the master's research paper or the thesis. Maximum of one directed readings course per student.

Volet / Course Component: Cours magistral / Lecture

Préalable : moyenne de A-. / Prerequisite: average of A-

SOC 7940 Mémoire de recherche / Research Paper (3 crédits / 3 units)

Mémoire Noté S (satisfaisait) ou NS (non satisfaisant). Research paper. Graded S (Satisfactory) or NS (Not satisfactory).

Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research

SOC 7990 Projet de thèse / Thesis Proposal

Rédaction d'un projet de thèsee. Soumission du projet au comité de thèse. Noté S (satisfaisant) ou NS (non satisfaisant). / Drafting of a thesis proposal. Submission of proposal to the thesis committee. Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory).

SOC 8510 Séminaire de doctorat (3 crédits)

Le séminaire aborde une thématique sociologique contemporaine qui touche plusieurs champs de la discipline. La thématique est abordée dans ses dimensions théoriques, méthodologiques et/ou épistémologiques de même que par le biais des enjeux de recherche qu'elle soulève.

SOC 85101 Séminaire de doctorat (Partie 1 de 2)

Le séminaire aborde une thématique sociologique contemporaine qui touche plusieurs champs de la discipline. La thématique est abordée dans ses dimensions théoriques, méthodologiques et/ou épistémologiques de même que par le biais des enjeux de recherche qu'elle soulève. (Partie 1 de 2)

SOC 85102 Séminaire de doctorat (Partie 2 de 2) (3 crédits)

Le séminaire aborde une thématique sociologique contemporaine qui touche plusieurs champs de la discipline. La thématique est abordée dans ses dimensions théoriques, méthodologiques et/ou épistémologiques de même que par le biais des enjeux de recherche qu'elle soulève. (Partie 2 de 2)

Préalable : SOC 85101

SOC 8511 Séminaire avancé de recherche sociologique (3 crédits)

Le séminaire aborde certaines préoccupations fondamentales de la discipline, dont le raisonnement sociologique et les méthodes de travail essentielles pour mener à bien des recherches doctorales. Il comporte également un travail collectif sur les projets de thèse.

SOC 85111 Séminaire avancé de recherche sociologique (Partie 1 de 2)

Le séminaire aborde certaines préoccupations fondamentales de la discipline, dont le raisonnement sociologique et les méthodes de travail essentielles pour mener à bien des recherches doctorales. Il comporte également un travail collectif sur les projets de thèse. (Partie 1 de 2)

SOC 85112 Séminaire avancé de recherche sociologique (Partie 2 de 2) (3 crédits)

Le séminaire aborde certaines préoccupations fondamentales de la discipline, dont le raisonnement sociologique et les méthodes de travail essentielles pour mener à bien des recherches doctorales. Il comporte également un travail collectif sur les projets de thèse. (Partie 2 de 2)

Préalable : SOC 85111

SOC 9910 Examen de synthèse de doctorat / PhD Comprehensive Examination

L'examen de synthèse, administré par un comité d'examen, consiste d'un travail écrit portant sur chacune de deux questions qui ciblent des domaines sociologiques distincts. Il comporte également une épreuve orale. L'inscription à SOC 9910 se fait normalement à la troisième session. L'examen est noté S (satisfaisant) ou NS (non satisfaisant). / The comprehensive exam, administered by the examination committee, consists of a written essay on each of two questions, which targets distinct sociological domains. It also includes an oral exam. Registration in SOC 9910 is normally done in the third session. Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory).

SOC 9930 Projet de thèse de doctorat / PhD Thesis Proposal

Préparation, supervisée par le directeur ou la directrice de thèse, du projet de thèse, qui doit être approuvé par le comité de thèse. Noté S (satisfaisant) ou NS (non satisfaisant). / Preparation, under the direction of the thesis supervisor, of the thesis proposal and submission for approval by the thesis committee. Graded S (Satisfactory) or NS (Not satisfactory).

Undergraduate Studies

For more information about undergraduate studies at the University of Ottawa, please refer to your faculty .

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

For more information about graduate studies at the University of Ottawa, please refer to your academic unit .

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Department of Sociology & Anthropology

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• Social and Cultural Analysis (PhD)

Doctorate (PhD)

Program overview.

The PhD in Social and Cultural Analysis combines elements of anthropology and sociology to examine a range of social questions. The program has a unique bi-disciplinary structure that allows you to carry out independent research projects on issues related to topics such as social inequality, gender, technology, food, environment, urban development and the politics of representation.. Our large faculty is active in multiple  research centres and groups , such as the Milieux Institute for Arts, Culture and Technology and Quebec’s first-ever  Research Chair on Gambling . Our faculty and students conduct research around the world, as well as at home in Montreal's diverse communities, neighbourhoods, and orgnaizations.

Program Details

Admission requirements, admission requirements.

• MA in sociology or in anthropology, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00, from a recognized university.
• Proficiency in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate that their knowledge of English is sufficient to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field. Please refer to the English language proficiency page for further information on requirements and exemptions.

Degree requirements

Degree requirements.

Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete a minimum of 90 credits.

Please see the Sociology and Anthropology Courses page for course descriptions.

Social and Cultural Analysis PhD (90 credits)

Application process

Your completed application will include:

• Application form and Fee
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Three Letters of Reference and assessment form
• Your subject of interest,
• The question which you will pose,
• The methods that you will use,
• A short presentation of relevant debates and theoretical engagements with which your work will correspond and use,
• The name of a potential supervisor whose research area complements your own, and with whom you have communicated and would like to work
• Sample of writing
• Transcripts  for all post-secondary institutions attended
• Proof of Canadian citizenship (if applicable)
• Applicants whose primary language is not English, are required to submit  official language test scores , unless exempted.

Please apply  online . Read the  how-to guide  for application procedures. 

Application deadlines

All doctoral students will be considered for a teaching assistantship, valued at approximately $3,200 per semester. Research assistant positions also exist for funded research but cannot be guaranteed. Individual faculty members determine if work opportunities are available based on their own research initiatives.

Doctoral students who have completed their comprehensive exams and defended their thesis proposal are also eligible to teach undergraduate courses in their area(s) of expertise.

The Cary Boucock Memorial Award provides financial support for students engaged in research travel. Conference travel funding is also available through the department and faculty. 

Successful applicants are automatically considered for Entrance Awards and Open Competition Awards.  Please consult Concordia’s  graduate funding  page, specific funding provided by the department and Financial Aid and Awards .

Faculty research interests

Faculty members are involved with research initiatives at the local, national and international levels. As world experts in a variety of emerging and established fields, their findings are well represented in a number of recent book publications .

Their research interests include:

• Community, Migration, Travel, Transnational links, Elites, Youth
• Feminisms, Ethnography, Histories of Anthropology
• Imperialism, Neoliberalism, Political Anthropology
• Environment and Infrastructure, Politics, Bureaucracy
• Legal Anthropology, Muslim Feminisms
• The Body and Senses, Law and Society, Culture and Commerce, Art and Aesthetics
• Creolization, Language and Culture, Food
• Indigenous studies, ethnography, participatory research
• State Violence, Racialization, Citizenship
• Political Economy, Marxist Theory, Cultural and Critical Theory
• Family, Suicide, Sociological Theory, Modernity
• Emotions, morality, suffering and wellbeing, culture
• Risk, Surveillance, Social Justice
• Demography, History of Quebec/Canadian Population, Family
• Food and Sustainability, Social Economy, World-System Studies
• Youth, Addictive Behaviours, Population Health
• Self, Body, Gender, Sexuality, Popular Media, Cultural Theory
• Environmental governance and neoliberalism; Eco-citizenry; Post-humanism
• Social and cultural theory, Journalism and media studies
• Medicine, Gender, Racialization
• Sex Industry, Mixed Methodologies, Social Justice, Policy Research
• Digital Culture, Science and Technology, Social Theory
• Social theory, Deviance, Sociology of Law
• Men, Bodies, Senses
• Quebec, Social Movements, Political Sociology,
• Sociology of the economy, social and alternative economies

Emerging ideas – student projects

Review an inspiring list of thesis topics and read about some of our exceptional graduate students .

Doctoral students have also been published in a multitude of peer-reviewed journals, including Anthropology in Action, Anthropologica, Anthropologie et Sociétés, and Social Anthropology.

Student Initiatives

The Sociology and Anthropology Graduate Students’ Association (SAGSA) represents the collective interests and promotes the general welfare of graduate students in the department.

SAGSA also hosts an annual interdisciplinary student conference in March. Previous editions have seen students from across Quebec and Canada present their research and foster dialogue across disciplines. Keynote speakers from past conferences have included Dr. Charmaine A. Nelson, Dr. Alexandrine Boudreault-Fournier and Dr. Daniel Dagenais.

Your professional future

Our alumni are well positioned to find success in a wide range of professional careers in government statistics, human resources, development work, international relations, media and research.

Recent graduates have received prestigious postdoctoral fellowships from institutions around the world. Their research areas include:

• Social, political and cultural impact of globalization
• Comparative urban cultures
• Men and masculinities
• Digital culture and video games
• Citizenship and transculturalism
• Sociology (MA)
• Social and Cultural Anthropology (MA)
• Cary Boucock Memorial Award

Key resources

• Tuition and fee estimator
• Graduate funding
• Graduate calendar

Join the conversation

• Concordia Recruitment

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Related links

• inDisicipline Journal
• Sociology and Anthropology Graduate Students’ Association

Email : Kris [email protected]

Tel .: 514-848-2424 ext. 2161

Location: 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd W.,  H 1125-44 Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1M8

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Graduate Studies

Sociology is the study of social life, from small groups to large-scale institutions. It considers the impact of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, and social class on privilege and social relations.

Faculty of Social Sciences

Program Contact

Degree Options

Sociology (ma).

The MA in Sociology offers a graduate experience that fosters close mentorship with faculty members who are leading scholars in our six areas of specialty. The department offers four pathways to complete the program:

• thesis (2 years)
• major research paper (1 year), and
• two coursework options (1 year).

The MA coursework stream in Social Psychology gives students the opportunity to focus their studies on a particular area within sociology that concerns itself primarily with social processes and the interaction between individuals and society.

Areas of Research

• Social inequality
• Sociology of gender, sexuality and family
• Sociology of work and occupations
• Social psychology
• Sociology of race, ethnicity and immigration
• Political sociology and social movements

Sociology (PhD)

The department of Sociology offers the PhD degree in six areas of specialty, fostering close mentorship with faculty members who are leading scholars. The program emphasizes the importance of good scholarship and trains students in current developments in the field of sociology in Canada and internationally.

Alvin Irwin Ogilvie Graduate Scholarship $$

This scholarship was established in 1984 and is available to students registered in Ph.D. programs in the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences. The award is valued at $6,000 and is made annually by the Scholarships Committee of Graduate Council on the basis of departmental nominations.

Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS) Varied values

Varied values

ACUNS established its scholarship program, the Canadian Northern Studies Trust (CNST) in 1982 to advance knowledge and understanding of Canada’s North. The purpose of the CNST is to develop a cadre of scholars and scientists with northern experience and, at the same time, to enhance the educational opportunities available for northern residents.

For a list of scholarships and funding available, as well as eligibility criteria, award values, application details, and deadlines, visit the ACUNS website.

Autism Scholars Award $$$

Deadline Date:

December 2, 2024

With the support of the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities, a scholar awards program in autism has been established to ensure that Ontario attracts and retains pre-eminent scholars. The community of autism scholars fostered by this awards program will excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge concerning child autism, and its translation into improved health for children, more effective services and products for children with autism, and increase the province’s capacity in diagnosis and assessment of autism and a strengthened treatment system.

One one-year award at the master’s level and up to two one-year awards at the doctoral level will be made by the COU:

• Master’s Award: $18,000 ($6,000 per term beginning September 2025)
• Doctoral Award: $20,000 ($6,666 per term beginning September 2025)

Bev Bayus Graduate Scholarship $$

Established in 2018 by Bev Bayus, B.A./B.P.E (Class of ’75). To be awarded by the School of Graduate Studies to a student within the Faculty of Science or Faculty of Social Sciences.  Preference will be given to a student pursuing graduate studies in either of the Department of Kinesiology, the Department of Sociology, or the School of Earth, Environment & Society. 

Canada Graduate Scholarships – Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements $$

September 19, 2024

The CGS-MSFSS supports high-calibre Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences abroad. By accessing international scientific research and training, CGS-MSFSS recipients will contribute to strengthening the potential for collaboration between Canadian and foreign institutions.

Please review eligibility and criteria for more information about this travel award.

If you wish to apply, please contact your department graduate administrator.

Canada-U.S. Fulbright Program

The bi-national program is an educational exchange, with a mandate to enhance mutual understanding between the people of Canada and the people of the United States of America. Available to graduate students, faculty, professionals and independent researchers, successful applicants conduct research, lecture, or enroll in formal academic programs in the United States. Fulbright Canada offers various scholarship awards within this program, with further information on the various award opportunities made available through the Canada-US Fulbright Program website.

For eligibility criteria, award values, application details and deadlines, visit the Fulbright website.

Canadian Japanese Mennonite Scholarship $

April 1, 2023

A scholarship sponsored by the National Association of Japanese Canadians and the Mennonite Central Committee Canada. For students engaged in research that assists the protection of minority or human rights in Canada. More information and upcoming deadlines on their website.

For eligibility, award values, application details and deadline, visit the Mennonite Central Committee Canada website.

CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s (CGS-M) $$$

The CGS M Awards Program supports students in all research disciplines and is administered jointly by Canada’s three federal granting agencies: the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The selection process and post-award administration are carried out at the university level, under the guidance of the three agencies.

CSA Group Graduate Scholarship $$

March 31, 2024

The purpose of the CSA Group Graduate Scholarship is to support graduate students in the pursuit of knowledge generation related to standards. Full-time graduate students at the Masters level studying at a publicly funded, accredited Canadian university are eligible to apply.

The research can be conducted in any field (e.g. engineering, social sciences, health sciences) and must include standards as a component of the research. The topic does not need to be related to an area in which CSA Group already has standards. The research may investigate aspects of an existing standard or may explore an area for future standards development.

Dr. J. A. Campbell Young Investigator Award $$

April 30, 2023

The Dr. J. A. Campbell Young Investigator Award of $5,000 for any kind of research into celiac disease and / or gluten sensitivity is available to students and those who have recently completed degrees.

Eligibility criteria, application details and deadlines available on the Canadian Celiac Association website.

Fulbright Canada Student Awards $ – $$$

November 15, 2023

Traditional Fulbright Canada Student awards are intended for Canadian citizens who are graduate students, prospective graduate students, or promising young professionals who wish to study and/or conduct research in the United States. Awards may be held at any university, research centre, think tank, or government agency in the United States.

For eligibility criteria, award values, application details and deadlines, visit the Fulbright Canada website.

GSA Travel Award $

The GSA Travel Assistance Grants are funded from the proceeds of the Graduate Students Association Development Fund, which receives contributions from graduate students and the University. The GSA Travel Assistance Grants fund is administered through the School of Graduate Studies. The GSA Travel Assistance Grants are designed to enable graduate students to travel to undertake research or present at conferences relevant to their field of study. There are a fluctuating number of awards available each semester.

The successful recipients will be determined randomly by selecting one recipient from each faculty (Health Sciences, Engineering, Science, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Business) and the balance of the awards left in a given period will be randomly selected from a list of the remaining applicants from all faculties combined.

Application dates:

• Fall competition for September to December travel: Opens September 1, 2023 and closes October 2, 2023
• Winter competition for January to April travel: Opens January 2, 2024 and closes February 5, 2024
• Summer competition for May to August travel: Opens May 1, 2024 and closes June 3, 2024

H.G. Hilton Master’s Scholarship $$

The H.G. Hilton Master’s Scholarships were established by the income from a bequest in the estate of Hugh G. Hilton, at one time Chief Executive Officer of Stelco and member of the McMaster Board of Governors support a Master’s scholarship. The scholarship is tenable for one year, and is awarded annually to incoming Canadian citizens, permanent residents or, international students from departments which offer full-time Master’s graduate studies. Priority will be given to students intending research in Canadian industry or industrial problems. Other things being equal, preference will be given to deserving children of employees or former employees of Stelco Ltd.

Harry Lyman Hooker Sr. Fellowships $$$-$$$$

The Harry Lyman Hooker Sr. Fellowships are made possible through a bequest from the estate of Harry Lyman Hooker. These awards are given to Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents who are ENTERING their first year of a master’s or doctoral program, at McMaster University in those disciplines that receive funding primarily from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

These fellowships will be distributed between the four Faculties – Business, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Science.

Harvey E. Longboat Graduate Scholarship $$-$$$

March 14, 2024

The Harvey E. Longboat Graduate Scholarship for First Nation, Inuit, and Métis Students was established in 2009 in honour of Harvey E. Longboat, and in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to McMaster University and to the broader community. The School of Graduate Studies, in consultation with the Indigenous Studies program and the Indigenous Education Council, will award the scholarship annually to a First Nation, Inuit, or Métis student(s) who has demonstrated high academic achievement and exceptional promise.

The scholarship is tenable for one year, although previous award winners may re-apply.

Incoming students are eligible to apply.

Health Research Postdoctoral Opportunities

A comprehensive list of funding sources and agencies for postdoctoral fellows in the Faculty of Health Sciences and those doing health-related research can be found in McMaster’s funding database.. On the site, you will find a variety of filters to help you in your search.

Hugh C. Morris Experiential Learning Fellowship $$$$

The Hugh C. Morris Experiential Learning Fellowship, valued at $40,000 Cdn, is open to any graduate student studying in Canada who is working in a field related to

• earth, geosciences
• environment
• alternative energy
• climate change
• sustainability

or the social impact, social sciences or design sciences related to these areas, and is designed to provide a unique experiential, international travel program designed by the student to engage diverse sectors, advance their research, learn from a range of contexts and cultures, and bring their learning back to Canada.

Review deadlines and all associated information on the Kimberley Foundation website.

Iranian Student Memorial Scholarship $

Established in honour of McMaster Faculty of Engineering PhD students Iman Aghabali and Mehdi Eshaghian, and a former Faculty of Health Science Post-Doctoral Fellow, who lost their lives on the downing of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight PS752. To be awarded by the School of Graduate Studies, on the recommendation of the Associate Deans responsible for graduate studies, to international graduate students from Iran who demonstrate academic excellence.

John Charles Polanyi Prize $$$

In honour of the achievement of John Charles Polanyi, recipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Government of the Province of Ontario has established a fund to provide annually up to five prizes to outstanding researchers in the early stages of their career who are continuing to postdoctoral studies or have recently started a faculty appointment at an Ontario university.

Lyle Makosky Values and Ethics in Sport Fund $

April 30, 2024

This award is through the True Sport Foundation of Canada. Open to applicants who are

• high-performance athletes enrolled at a Canadian university, community college or other post-secondary educational institution.
• post-secondary students active in sport at a non-high-performance level.
• sport practitioners active/working in sport as an official, administrator or high-performance coach.
• educators working in a sport, sports sciences, sport management/administration or other applicable discipline.

All questions should be directed to the True Sport Foundation of Canada.

Visit their website for all details and contact information.

MacDATA Graduate Fellowship $$

March 15, 2021

The advent of large collection of data and ensuing development in data analysis techniques has made collaboration between data scientists and content experts necessary for cutting-edge research. Furthermore, there is a need for trainees to be exposed to both aspects of such research, namely for data science trainees to learn about real life practical projects and for content expert trainees to gain experience in data analysis and management. The aims of the MacDATA Graduate Fellowship Program are:

• To provide trainees with an opportunity to acquire practical and theoretical skills in data science.
• To facilitate exchange of expertise and knowledge in data science across faculties.

Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarships $$-$$$

February 3, 2025

The Mackenzie King Scholarships were established as an independent charitable trust under the will of the late Rt. Hon. William Mackenzie King (1874-1950).

Two classes of Mackenzie King Scholarship are available. Both are to support graduate study by graduates of Canadian universities. Those whose previous degrees are from outside Canada are ineligible to apply, notwithstanding that they seek support for doing graduate studies in Canada.

Manulife Life Lessons Scholarship Program $$

March 31, 2023

Manulife has introduced the first Life Lessons Scholarship Program in Canada, for students who’ve experienced the death of a parent or guardian with little to no life insurance. The Scholarship Program helps combat the financial burden of paying for post-secondary education during an emotional time and recognizes the perseverance that so many youth show in such adversity.

The next application call for this scholarship opens on February 1, 2024. Visit the Manulife website for details on that date.

Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security $$$

February 23, 2024

Four scholarships open to master’s and PhD students who are conducting research on determinants, impacts, and policy or program interventions into food insecurity in Canada.

Visit Maple Leaf Centre for Food Insecurity to learn more and apply.

Questions can be directed to [email protected] .

Mary Buzzell Graduate Scholarship for Resilient Aging $

December 1, 2024

The Mary Buzzell Graduate Scholarship for Resilient Aging will be awarded to an outstanding student enrolled in any Master’s Degree program at McMaster University who is preparing for a career in the multidisciplinary field of Aging. This award is sponsored by Hamilton Aging in Community.

About Mary Buzzell

Mary Buzzell, a McMaster University faculty member in Nursing, was recognized by McMaster with an honorary doctorate as a pioneer in resilient aging, especially through innovative educational and community programs.

McMaster Graduate General Bursary $

What is a bursary.

A bursary is based solely on financial need. In most cases, information from your OSAP application is used to determine your financial need (some students who don’t receive OSAP can still apply for a bursary).

The McMaster Graduate General Bursary Program application opens mid-August in AwardSpring. Funding is paid out in mid-February.

Who can apply?

Graduate students who demonstrate financial need can apply for the McMaster Graduate General Bursary Program.

Please note: The McMaster Graduate General Bursary Program is not open to international students enrolled in graduate studies, MBA, medicine or physician assistant programs.

Bursary eligibility requirements:

• Be enrolled at McMaster
• Submit a completed application by the bursary deadline
• OSAP students who receive an income update request must complete it by the income update deadline
• Continue to demonstrate financial need throughout the study period
• Indigenous students
• students with OSAP government aid restrictions include:
• academic progress restriction
• income verification restriction
• provincial and/or federal default restriction
• credit check restriction
• students with a disability taking a reduced course load
• students with out-of-province student aid
• part-time students
• students receiving social assistance

McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA) Postdoctoral Fellowship $$$$

July 15, 2020

Prospective postdoctoral fellows are invited to submit a research plan that focuses on interdisciplinary, impact-driven approaches in the study of optimal aging through one or more of the following research areas:

• the impact of exercise on mobility;
• the interrelationship between psychological function and social function;
• causes and consequences of multimorbidity, frailty, and polypharmacy;
• the role of caregiving, equity, economics and transportation in optimal aging;
• the understanding of the biological mechanisms of diseases of aging;
• evaluating approaches to knowledge translation to improve optimal aging; and
• the use of technology to promote optimal aging and aging in place.

The applicant and principal supervisor are expected to involve at least two other researchers from two different McMaster faculties (outside of the principal supervisor’s faculty) as mentors in the development of an interdisciplinary research plan.

MIRA and Labarge Scholarships in Aging Research $$$

February 28, 2002

The MIRA and Labarge Scholarship program offers awards at the master’s and PhD level in two distinct streams. The Labarge Mobility Scholarship supports applicants whose research on aging includes a focus on mobility. The MIRA Scholarship in Aging Research supports interdisciplinary aging research in one of MIRA’s identified areas of focus.

The scholarships are open to master’s students beginning a new McMaster graduate degree in the 2022/2023 school year and PhD students entering year one or two of their studies. Interested candidates must develop and submit a research proposal in collaboration with a MIRA supervisor and an interdisciplinary mentor from outside the primary supervisor’s Faculty. MIRA requires confirmation that the supervisor and/or program will commit to matching the minimum level of support for the recipient for the duration of the graduate degree. See call for proposals and application form for more information.

MIRA Graduate Student Travel Awards $

March 15, 2020

The McMaster Institute for Research on Aging funds up to 10 graduate student travel awards per year – five in each round – valued at $500 each for students working with MIRA researchers.  Graduate students travelling to an academic conference to present an accepted abstract in aging research are eligible for up to $500 in travel funding.

For details about this and other funding opportunities, visit MIRA .

Deadlines for 2020: March 15 and September 15

OGS for Indigenous Graduate Students $$$

Two OGS-I scholarships are awarded to Indigenous graduate students at McMaster University who face significant financial hardship, with particular priority given to women with family responsibilities.

This criteria has been established in consultation with the Indigenous Education Council (IEC) and is adjudicated by a committee chaired through the Indigenous Studies Program.

Ontario Graduate Fellowships $$$

Ontario Graduate Fellowships (OGF) provide funding to full-time students in graduate studies at the masters and doctoral level. It’s a merit-based scholarship for students with an A- or above.

Value: $12,000 ($4,000 per term)

Duration: 1 year

Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarships in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) $$$

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and The Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) programs provide funding to full-time students at the master’s and doctoral levels. They are merit-based scholarships for students with an A- or above average.

Ontario Graduate Scholarship – International $$$

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship for International Students is by nomination only. Applicants to this award must contact their department for application instructions

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship $$$$

December 1, 2023

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship is a three-year program designed to train Engaged Leaders, equipping outstanding doctoral candidates with the skills to translate their ideas into action. for the betterment of their communities, Canada, and the world. Up to 20 doctoral Scholars are selected each year and receive generous funding for their studies in addition to leadership training.

The annual value is up to $60,000 per Scholar–$40,000 (to cover tuition, and reasonable living expenses) and $20,000 (for research, networking, travel allowance, and possibly for the learning of languages).

Applications are now made directly to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation .

Deadline: 5:00 p.m. ET, December 1, 2023

Rainbow Fund $

To be granted to graduate students enrolled in any program who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ students and demonstrate financial need.

Ronald Bayne Gerontology Award $

The Ronald Bayne Gerontology Award was established in 1999 by Barbara Bayne to honour Dr. Ronald Bayne’s valuable contribution to the study of gerontology at McMaster University. To be awarded by the School of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of the director of the office of gerontological studies to any graduate student in the Faculties of Humanities or Social Sciences conducting research in the field of aging.

Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada Graduate Student Award of Merit $$

At least three awards, each in the amount of $4000, will be awarded annually to the women graduate students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the university or general community while maintaining exemplary academic records.

Women registered in master’s or PhD programs within a designated region. Regions and number of awards rotate each year. SWAAC has designated Ontario as the region for this 2023 competition. There are five awards available for this competition. Each university may nominate one person for the award.

Read about McMaster PhD student Liza-Anastasia DiCecco, who received the 2023 SWAAC Award of Merit .

SSHRC Doctoral scholarships $$$-$$$$

October 1, 2024

SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral and the SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships support high-calibre students engaged in doctoral programs in the social sciences and humanities. This support allows scholars to fully concentrate on their doctoral studies, to seek out the best research mentors in their chosen fields and to contribute to the Canadian research ecosystem during and beyond the tenure of their awards.

Both the SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships and the Canada Graduate Scholarships—Doctoral Program (CGS D) are offered through one annual national competition. Applicants need to submit only one application to be considered for one or both awards. As each award has notable differences, applicants must read the descriptions for each award carefully to determine if they are eligible to apply for and hold each award. Applicants eligible for both the SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships and CGS D Scholarships will automatically be considered for both awards.

SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship $$$$

September 12, 2024

These fellowships support the most promising Canadian new scholars in the social sciences and humanities, and assist them in establishing a research base at an important time in their research careers.

The purpose of these fellowships is to provide stipendiary support to recent PhD graduates who are:

• undertaking original research;
• publishing research findings;
• developing and expanding personal research networks;
• broadening their teaching experience;
• preparing for research-intensive careers within and beyond academia; and
• preparing to become competitive in national research grant competitions.

For eligibility criteria, award values, application details and deadlines, visit the SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships website.

Please note: There is no internal process for this award; applicants should apply directly to the agency.

The Alfred Hunter Memorial Award $-$$

The Alfred Hunter Memorial Award was established in 1995 in memory of Dr. Alfred A. Hunter, professor at McMaster from 1984 to 1993 and chair of the sociology department from 1986 to 1993, by his family and friends. The award will be presented at the fall convocation by the School of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of the chair of the department of sociology to a PhD graduate in recognition of academic excellence.

The Barkleys of Avonmore Scholarship $

The Barkley’s of Avonmore Scholarship was established in 1977 through the generosity of Fred Barkley to assist a student from a developing country to pursue advanced studies at McMaster University.  Each year the Dean of Graduate Studies will identify a worthy graduate student from one of the developing countries to receive the award.

The Brooke and Irene Townsend Scholarship (Social Sciences) $$

Established in 2022 through the estate of Brooke Townsend ’57, in honour of Brooke and his wife Irene ’57. To be awarded by the School of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of the Deans in consultation with the Associate Deans Graduate Studies of the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Social Sciences to graduate students in these Faculties who demonstrate academic excellence and innovative research. The annual allocation available from the endowment is to be split equally between both Faculties.

The Dr. Colin Webber Graduate Scholarship $$

Established in 2013 to honour the memory of Dr. Colin Webber, McMaster University professor, physicist, radiation safety expert, teacher, mentor, and leader in the field of bone research. To be awarded by the School of Graduate Studies to master’s or doctoral students. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate interest in bone research.

Value: Minimum $1,600

The E.B. Ryan Scholarship $

The E.B. Ryan Scholarship was established in 1997 using funds raised by a performance of the play Letter from Wingfield Farm, this scholarship is to be awarded to in-course graduate students from the faculties of Social Sciences and Health Sciences conducting research on aging. This award, valued at a maximum of $2,000, is awarded by the School of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of a committee comprised of at least the director and the co-ordinator of the Office of Gerontological Studies.

The Edna Howard Bursary $

Established in 2022 by the family of Edna Howard, this bursary honours the support Edna offered graduate students through her work as a cook at The Phoenix Bar and Grill, owned and operated by the Graduate Students Association. Her food warmed the hearts of the McMaster campus community for many years until her retirement. To be granted by the School of Graduate Studies to full-time students in any program who demonstrate financial need.

The Graduate Students Association Bursary $

The Graduate Students Association Bursary was established in 1999 by the Graduate Students Association at McMaster University under the McMaster Student Opportunity Fund initiative. To be granted to a full-time or part-time graduate student in one of the following faculties: Engineering, Health Sciences, and Humanities, Science, Social Sciences, or the PhD program in Business. The bursary will be awarded annually by the School of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of the Graduate Students Association.

The Gwen George Graduate Bursaries $

The Gwen George Graduate Bursary was established in 1997 in loving memory of Gwen George by her family and friends under the McMaster Student Opportunity Fund initiative. Preferences to be given to second year Master’s students in any graduate program leading to a PhD in the faculties of Humanities or Social Sciences at McMaster who have demonstrated financial need.

The H. Vincent Elliott Memorial Travel Bursary $

The H.Vincent Elliott Memorial Travel Bursary was established in 2010 by Dr. Susan J.Elliott (MA `97 and PhD`92), esteemed former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, professor of Geography and Earth Sciences, and senior research fellow at the United Nations Institute on Water (UNU-IWEH), Environment and Health, in memory of her father, H.Vincent Elliott. To be granted by the School of Graduate Studies on the recommendation on the program director of ‘Water Without Borders’ to students registered in a Master’s or PhD program will be given to students in financial need.

The Howard P. Whidden Graduate Scholarship $$

The Howard P. Whidden Graduate Scholarship was established in 1987, and is open to non-Canadian students from countries of the British Commonwealth. This prestigious award is open to students who qualify for admission into any graduate program that extends to the doctorate, although the student’s initial registration may be at the Master’s level. The award is once renewable contingent upon satisfactory academic performance. It will be awarded at the discretion of the School of Graduate Studies.

The James F. Harvey and Helen S. Harvey Travel Scholarships $

Established in 1995 with funds from the estate of Helen S. Harvey.  James F. Harvey was a member of the first McMaster graduating class in Hamilton in 1935.  This travel scholarship will enable students to engage in research requiring travel.  To be awarded by the School of Graduate Studies to graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence.

The John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport Bursary $

The John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport Bursary was established in 1997 by The John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport. To be granted to graduate students in the faculties of Business, Engineering, Science or Social Science who demonstrate financial need. Preference will be given to graduate students who are conducting research related to commercial transportation issues and policy, specifically the role of transportation in stimulating regional economic development and trade.

The Lambda Scholarship Foundation Canada Graduate Award

Established in 2022 by the Lambda Scholarship Foundation Canada. To be awarded by the School of Graduate Studies to a graduate student who is currently enrolled in their first year of any program who identifies as a member of the queer, trans community and is Black, racialized, or Indigenous.

The Myra Baillie Academic Grant $

Established in 2005 by the Surgical Associates in memory of Myra Baillie. To be granted to a graduate student in any degree program who attains and “A” average and demonstrates financial need. Preference will be given to a female graduate student.

Award Value: 2 awards of $1,000 each

The Robert John Morris Graduate Studies Bursary $

The Robert John Morris Graduate Studies Bursary was established in 1996 by family, friends and colleagues of Robert John Morris. To be granted to graduate students in good academic standing who demonstrate financial need. Whenever possible, preference will be given to Engineering students studying in the area of nuclear engineering or advanced energy systems or, students in the Faculty of Humanities or Faculty of Social Sciences.

The School of Graduate Studies Grant in Aid for Research Travel $-$$

March 8, 2024

The SGS Grant is intended to be a grant in aid of research; students should not expect the grants to cover the full cost of travel or field work.

The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Grant is not intended for conference or course work travel .

It is not meant to replace sources of funding already available from the tri-agencies (CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC), other external granting sources, or internal scholarships and bursaries.

It is not intended to fund the research itself, but the travel to do the research.

Application Date

The application will open in Mosaic on January 8, 2024, and close on March 8, 2024.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship-Doctoral $$$$

September 4, 2024

The Vanier CGS program aims to attract and retain world-class doctoral students to establish Canada as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning. Vanier Scholars demonstrate both leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and/or engineering and health.

It is valued at $50,000 per year for three years during doctoral studies.

Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents of Canada, and foreign citizens are eligible to apply for this scholarship.

Wilson Leadership Scholar Award $$-$$$

March 28, 2022

The Wilson Leader Scholarship Award for graduate students is different. Valued at $12,000 in direct funding and up to $2,000 for experiential funding, it’s a leadership development and career launcher program that builds on your studies. It involves about 15 hours/month, including time for synchronous group events between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET.

Awarded to up to three graduate students annually.

Yates Scholarship $

The Yates Scholarship Fund (up to $500) was established in 1963 by the bequest of William Henry Yates. This fund support upper-level doctoral students with research activities and conference travel when a paper is being delivered. Applicants must have completed their comprehensive exam.

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