At UBC , the Final Doctoral Examination is an integral part of the PhD. It is an inherently complex process to navigate.

You can reduce stress for yourself and everyone else involved in your examination by being well-informed and well-organized.

How to use this guide

If you are a Doctoral Candidate and will be completing your dissertation within the next year, then the information contained in this guide will help you to effectively plan for your Final Doctoral Exam.

Please start by reading this guide completely (even the Frequently Asked Questions). Then prepare a timeline and a plan of action for yourself (using our Planning Tools), and discuss these with your Research Supervisor.

It would also be wise to communicate your expectations to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. That way, if there are foreseeable problems with your plan, we can make this clear and you can adjust accordingly.