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1) Setting up supervisory committee

All SEE graduate students must set up their supervisory committee in their second semester. The supervisory committee mentors and helps the student develop a program of study leading to a degree. This committee reports to your school’s graduate program committee annually on your progress. Your supervisory committee is available to you for consultation on a regular basis.

Your committee should include members that complement each other with respect to your experience and areas of research and expertise. Please discuss this with your Senior Supervisor to identify faculty members who may be interested and available to serve on your committee.

Based on the General Graduate Regulations (GGR 1.6.4), in master's degree programs with program requirements as per 1.7.2a and 1.7.2b and any doctoral program, a supervisory committee must be established.

The minimum composition for the supervisory committee consists of the supervisor (or co-supervisors) and at least one committee member chosen in consultation with the student. The committee member must be a faculty member, adjunct professor or research associate at Simon Fraser University. A suitably qualified individual may be eligible to serve as an additional committee member.

Once you have identified your supervisory committee, you will need to complete the Approval of Supervisory Committee form and submitted it to the school’s Graduate Program Assistant (GPA).
 

2) Checking in with your supervisor about your Graduate Progress Report

The Graduate Progress Report (GPR) is an annual review completed by all graduate students in a research-based program. The GPR is a collaborative record of your progress in the program allowing for input from the student, supervisory committee, and Graduate Program Chair.

The GPR has replaced the paper-based Annual Progress Reviews in order to standardize, digitize and consolidate annual reporting on graduate student progress within goSFU.

Once a Graduate Progress Report is generated for a student, the report must be fully completed within six weeks.
 

3) Enrolling in mandatory SEE graduate courses

All SEE graduate students must enroll in SEE 896 (MASc program) or SEE 897 (PhD program) every semester.

*MASc students should also register in SEE 898 - MASc Thesis every semester.

4) Meeting with your supervisor at the beginning of each semester to discuss:

• Funding expectations/arrangements
• Course enrollment
  
  

5) Completing the SEE 890 Qualifying Exam (FOR PHD STUDENTS ONLY)

The student will submit a brief written research proposal and defend it orally to his/her supervisory committee within the first 24 months of admission or transfer to the PhD program. Prior to the qualifying exam, it is expected that students should undergo at least one annual review with their evaluation committee.

The student should register for SEE 890 - PhD Qualifying Exam in the semester in which the research proposal is to be defended. The proposal’s defence will be judged according to the feasibility and scientific merits of the proposed research, and demonstration of a sophisticated understanding of general material in the student's major area of research. This level of understanding is associated with senior undergraduate and first year graduate course material.

The possible outcomes of the qualifying examination are “satisfactory,” “satisfactory with concern,” and “unsatisfactory.” A student with “satisfactory with concern” will be required to re-submit the research proposal and defend it for the second and final time within six months and/or to complete more courses. Failing the qualifying examination will trigger an unsatisfactory progress report which may require program withdrawal as per Graduate General Regulation 1.8.2.
 

6) Meeting program requirements

It is important that you understand and track your program requirements to ensure that you complete your program as scheduled. Do use the below as a reference when you review your academic progress with your supervisor at the beginning of every semester.

MASc Program:
This program consists of course work (12 units) and a thesis (18 units) for a minimum of 30 units. Students who lack the necessary background knowledge may, at the discretion of the supervisor or the supervisory committee, be asked to complete additional courses beyond the program requirements in order to broaden the students' preparation for undertaking thesis work. Students are expected to complete the program requirements within six terms. View the requirements here: www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/programs/sustainable-energy-engineering/master-of-applied-science

PhD Program: 
The PhD program in SEE consist of course work and a thesis for a minimum of 24 units. Those who lack the necessary background knowledge may, at the discretion of the supervisor or the supervisory committee, be asked to complete additional courses beyond the program requirements in order to broaden the students' preparation for undertaking thesis work. Students are expected to complete the program requirements in 4-5 years. View the requirements here: www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/programs/sustainable-energy-engineering/doctor-of-philosophy

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