A comprehensive examination is a mandatory component of all Doctoral degrees at Memorial, as well as some Masters degree. Masters students are encouraged to discuss with their supervisors and consult the regulations for their course on the University Calendar to determine if they will be required to undertake a comprehensive examination.

Students are required to be advised of their comprehensive examination and disciplines/sub-disciplines by their Discipline Area at least three months prior to the examination being held. Typically, the examination will occur within the first 7 semesters.

The comprehensive examination process is used to determine a student’s suitability to progress in their degree and typically takes place before a student begins work on their thesis, and typically after the coursework component of their degree has been completed. The examination may have a written and oral component, which will be determined by the Discipline Area.

The Examination Committee shall be determined by the Discipline Area, and will generally have at least three members as well as an uneven number of voting members to avoid a tied recommendation.

If the outcome is Fail or Re-Examination, additional information will be provided to the student and Discipline area.