Resources for Graduate Students

Here is a list of useful resources for biology graduate students at York University!

If you have any suggestions for additional links to include please let us know!

Resources for completing your degree:

Degree requirements:

• Biology Master’s Degree Requirements
  • Faculty of Graduate Studies Master’s Supervisory Committee Requirements
  • Faculty of Graduate Studies Master’s Progress Reports
  • Faculty of Graduate Studies Master’s Thesis
• Biology PhD Degree Requirements
  • Faculty of Graduate Studies PhD Supervisory Committee Requirements
  • Faculty of Graduate Studies PhD Progress Reports
  • Department of Biology Preliminary Exam
  • Faculty of Graduate Studies PhD Dissertation

Enroll in courses including the progress evaluation:

• Registrar’s office course offerings (don’t forget to enroll in the progress evaluation each year!)

Research proposal information (due by the beginning of the winter term):

• Thesis/Dissertation Proposals
• TD1 Form: Thesis/Dissertation Research Proposal <- must be submit with your research proposal in the winter term
• TD4 Form <- required for projects requiring ethics approval (human, animal, biohazards)
• Supervisor and Supervisory Committee Approval Form <- mandatory form

Progress Report Forms:

• MSc Research Progress Evaluation Form
• PhD Research Progress Evaluation Form

**the annual progress report form needs to be brought to the progress report meeting by the graduate student

Resource for defending your thesis/dissertation

• Copyright information (important if you have published ANY of your thesis/dissertation prior to your defense)
• Organization and formatting (technical requirements section: pay close attention to the formatting details to ensure speedy approvals!)
• Master’s thesis defense committees
  • Scheduling Master’s Thesis oral defense
  • Master’s thesis oral exam evaluation guidelines
• PhD Dissertation Exam Committee
  • Scheduling PhD dissertation Defense
  • PhD Dissertation exam evaluation guidelines
• How to submit your final thesis or dissertation

Resources for conducting your research

• Research ethics required for all projects involving human subjects, animals, and biohazards
• Research cost fund and fieldwork cost fund <- grants to support your research
• Graduate student research risk assessment check list <- required for all students conducting research requiring travel abroad

TAing and union information

CUPE 3903 website find information about funding, union contacts, benefits, the collective agreement and more

Funding your studies

There are many sources of funding both internal and external to York. Most of the deadlines are early in the winter term/early spring. Check though the funding and awards link to see if you are eligible and keep track of deadlines!

Also see “resources for conducting your research” for links to the research and fieldwork cost funds. These funds help support the cost of conducting your research

Travelling to a conference? There is the Graduate Development Fund offered through FGS and the Professional Development Fund managed through CUPE 3903.

Health Care

For health plan information (YUGSA – non-CUPE members, CUPE 3903 benefits, and UHIP – international students) see the health plans section on the student services page here

Need to see a doctor? Check out Appletree Medical on campus

Need a dentist? Check out York Lanes Dental

Mental Health Services

Wellness consultations for graduate students are available to help with a variety of needs. For details see this link

Graduate students can also book appointments for counselling with Student Counselling and Development (open to all York Students)

Childcare

Details on childcare spaces and lactation spaces can be found here

Other student groups and clubs

Student Clubs

Sports and Recreation

Student Leadership

Internal Links

Student Support