Degree Requirements

MSc Degrees

Both the Astronomy and Physics programs offer MSc degrees. The funded length of each program is 2 years, although many students complete more quickly.  Both the Physics and Astronomy MSc degrees require the completion of 4 graduate courses and either a research
project or research thesis. As part of their 4 course requirement, Physics students must complete at least 2 of the 3 core physics courses (Classical Electrodynamics [Phys 9302], Quantum Mechanics [Phys 9203], and Statistical Physics [Phys 9404]). Astronomy students must complete Classical Electrodynamics [Ast 9620] as part of their 4 course requirement.  An MSc thesis is defended by an oral exam organized internally by the Physics & Astronomy Department. An MSc research project is evaluated and graded by the student's supervisor and Advisory Committee. The decision to complete either an MSc thesis or research project is made by the student in conjunction with his or her supervisor.

Direct transfer from the MSc physics degree to the PhD degree is allowed.  A student can request this transfer any time after 2 terms of MSc study, and the decision is made by the student's Advisory Committee. Superior performance in coursework and tangible evidence of research ability is required for the transfer to be approved. There is no direct transfer option in the Astronomy program.

PhD Degrees

Both the Astronomy and Physics programs offer PhD degrees. The funded length of each program is 4 years. Both require the completion of coursework (2 courses in the case of Physics, and 2 courses in the case of Astronomy), a comprehensive examination, and a research thesis.

The comprehensive exams differ between the Physics and Astronomy programs, and the individual regulations are discussed in a subsequent section. The PhD thesis is orally examined under the direction of Western's School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The examination committee consists of two members of the department, an extra-departmental examiner, and an external examiner from another institution.

Student Advisory Committees

All students (MSc and PhD) are assigned an Advisory Committee consisting of two faculty members plus their research supervisor(s). The Advisory Committee usually meets twice per year and is charged with reviewing the academic and research progress of the student. Each meeting results in a written report (from the committee) that is communicated to the student
and placed in the student's file.

Comprehensive Examinations

Both the Astronomy and Physics PhD degrees require the completion of a comprehensive exam, usually taken towards the end of the first year of (PhD) study. For example, a student entering in September would write the comprehensive exam the following June. The Physics exam is a six-hour written test (done in two 3 hour sessions) covering the following aspects
of physics: Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Thermodynamics & Statistical Physics, Electricity & Magnetism, and Optics & Waves. Students have two attempts to pass the exam. Failure on the second attempt results in expulsion from the PhD program.

The Astronomy comprehensive exam consists of two parts: a six-hour written exam covering common areas of astronomy and a written review paper concerning the student's research field. As with the Physics exam, two attempts are allowed to pass. Once the written exam has been passed, the student begins work on a review paper to be submitted a few months after the written test. This review paper may form the basis for the introductory chapter of the student's thesis. The written document is read and examined by a committee of three astronomer faculty members