1. The Canadian Doctoral Journey: Promise and Possibility
WELCOME
The Canadian Doctoral Journey: Promise and Possibility
Dr. Thomas G. Ryan, Professor of Education/Graduate Studies – Nipissing University North Bay, Ontario, Canada
Dr. Scott Lowrey, Elementary School Principal – HWDSB, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
CSSE Congress 2014: Brock University – CCGSE Workshop

2. The Doctoral Journey: Perseverance
Thomas G. Ryan – Editor – 13 Doctoral Studies Stories
Funding for graduate studies can come from a variety of sources
Such as Internal Funding like Nipissing University Graduate Scholarships, Fellowships and Assistantships
Provincial Funding, The Ontario Graduate Scholarship
Federal Funding, Tri-Council Agencies,
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
NSERC Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
SOURCE: Ontario Government

3. Dr. Elizabeth Auger Ashworth, (Nipissing) University of Glasgow
Contributors
Dr. Elizabeth Auger Ashworth, (Nipissing) University of Glasgow
Dr. Carolyn Crippen - University of Victoria, British Columbia
Dr. Heather McLeod - Memorial University of Newfoundland
Dr. Verna McDonald, University of Northern British Columbia
Olivia Zhang - Ph.D. Candidate - Simon Fraser Univ, Vancouver, Canada.
Dr. Sherry Peden, Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba
Dr. Scott Lowrey, OISE/University of Toronto
Dr. Kristen Ferguson, (York University) now at Nipissing University
Dr. Ron Phillips, (Ph.D., Arizona, U.S.A.) now at Nipissing University
Dr. David Young, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
Dr. Richard Dominic Wiggers , Executive Director, Research and Programs, for the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO)
Dr. Thomas G. Ryan, (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/University of Toronto) now at Nipissing University
Give your referee plenty of time
Be upfront and ask if they have the time and ability to provide you with a positive reference letter
Provide them with all the information they will need
Copy of your CV or resume
Copy of your transcripts
Copy of your Research Proposal
A list of significant accomplishments you think could be highlighted in your letter.
Like transcripts, new OGS applicants will use the reference letters from their admission applications (3) and current students (2) will be required to get new letters.
For CGS M the reference letters will be uploaded to the Research Portal application by the reviewers. (2)

4. In 2008 over 5,000 people graduated with a Doctoral Degree in Canada; this represents a 40% increase from 2003
University of Toronto awarded the first Canadian doctorate in 1900, in physics
Ontario had more doctoral graduates whose mother tongue was a non-official language (English/French)
NUGS is a scholarship
NURF will mean that you are going to work for a supervisor on research that will be used in your own MRP or Thesis.
Graduate Assistantships means you will work either as Teaching Assistant or as Research Assistant for an assigned faculty member.
The value of Internal Funding will vary
There is no separate application for internal funding, the application for these awards is included in your application for admission. The Admission Selection Committee for your program will recommend or nominate applicants to the SGS.

5. Time taken to complete a doctorate (TTD)
Williams (2011) determined that “on average, it took doctoral students in Canada 5 years and 10 months to complete their studies” (p. 10).
Ontario Graduate Scholarships,
Worth up to $ per year. 10k is provided by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and 5 K is provided by the institution
OGS is administered by Ontario Universities so you will apply through the universities you intend to apply for admissions to.
The deadline and process will also vary depending on where you are apply to make sure to check the processes for the University you intend to apply to!
At Nipissing The OGS application is included in your Admission Application, if you are a current Graduate Student there is a separate application available on the SGS website.
Nipissing deadline is January 15th for new and returning students.

6. AGE
“average age of all full and part-time doctoral graduates, upon completion of their degrees, was 36 years old with 20 per cent in the year old cohort, 24 per cent over the remainder in their thirties” (Williams, 2011, p. 11).
The Tri-Council Masters level awards for SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR have harmonized into 1 Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS M).
There is one application that is available online on the Research Portal. On your application you will be able to select up to 5 universities you would like your application to be considered.
Your application will go directly to the universities to be administered.
Now instead of applying through the university your registered at, you will be apply directly to the university you intend on attending.
That means that the CGS M is no longer portable, so you must attend the university you accepted the award from, if you chose to go elsewhere or leave the program you will forfeit your award.

7. Destination
2/3 (65%) of Ontario graduates pursued a Ph.D., to become university professors.
As a Nation Canada consistently is given a ‘D’ grade whereas countries like Switzerland and Sweden are granted ‘A’ grades for their financial support of doctoral programs (The Conference Board of Canada 2013).
Enrolled or intend to apply for admissions to an eligible graduate program at a Canadian University with a CGS-M allocation. The Harmonized CGS M website lists all of the universities and their allocations.
A first class average at Nipissing is 80% in your last 2 years of full-time studies, not including BEd marks.
Not have previously held a CGS-M, CGS is non renewable you can only hold one
Cannot take the CGS M aboard, you have to attend a Canadian University. There is a Canada Graduate Scholarships—Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements (CGS-MSFSS) available for CGS recipients who do research aboard for a period of 3 -6 months.

8. Financial support
Programs based only on course work are not eligible since they do not include a significant research component.

9. Path-making
“doctoral programs need to position their domestic students to become mobile and capable of functioning anywhere in the world — as PhDs in business, industry, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and academe” (Nerad, 2010, p. 3).
Applications must be submitted on the Research portal by December 1st at 8:00 p.m. EST
All of the results will be posted using the Research Portal on April 1st (no sooner). You will see your applications and if there is an offer or not
Applicants will have 3 weeks from the time that the offer was made to accept or decline. Offers that have not been accepted by this date will be automatically declined.

10. Student ~ Supervisor
Admittedly, relationships such as the student-professor supervisory relationship remain important elements that can impact both the economics and the time to completion for all doctoral students.

11. In sum, “holders of the doctoral degree must have demonstrated a high degree of intellectual autonomy; an ability to conceptualize, design, and implement projects for the generation of significant new knowledge and/or understanding; and an ability to create and interpret knowledge that extends the forefront of a discipline, usually through original research or creative activity” (Council of Ministers of Education Canada, 2013, p. 1).

12. Doctoral Journey Process Components
Application Process
You’ve been accepted! Begin with the end in mind.
Course Work: Mandatory and Elective
Comprehensive Exam
Proposal Hearing and Ethics Review
Research and Thesis Writing
Thesis Defense
Graduation!

13. Personal Reflections: Lessons Shared and Lessons Learned
One, research the doctoral programs that best meet your learning needs and life situation.
Two, establish and commit to timelines recognizing that you do not control all factors as it relates to time.

14. Three, be disciplined with your time allocation for your studies, but remember to keep it in balance with your commitments to family and your partner.
Four, go into your program of study with a good idea of what your dissertation is going to be.
Five, establish a strong relationship with your thesis supervisor and follow most, not all, of their advice.

15. Six, seek the wisdom of many including professors and your classmates
Six, seek the wisdom of many including professors and your classmates. Read critically.
Seven, do your assigned readings. Reflect upon them. Always seek deep, critical understanding of what you read.
Eight, methodology courses are your friend.

16. Nine, understand that people are genuinely interested in your work and its outcomes.
Ten, the doctoral journey takes time, but it should not take forever.

17. References
Conference Board of Canada. (2013). How Canada performs: PH.D. graduates - key messages. Author. Retrieved from
Council of Ministers of Education Canada (CMEC) (2013). Statement on quality assurance for degree education in Canada, Retrieved from
Desjardins., L., & King., D. (2011). Expectations and labour market outcomes of doctoral graduates from Canadian universities. Ottawa, ON: Statistics Canada Catalogue no M No Statistics Canada and Human Resources and Social Development Canada.1-60.
Desjardins., L. (2012). Profile and labour market outcomes of doctoral graduates from Ontario universities. Ottawa, ON: Statistics Canada Catalogue no M No Statistics Canada and Human Resources and Social Development Canada
King, D., Eisl-Culkin, J., & Desjardins, L. (2008). Doctorate education in Canada: Findings from the survey of earned doctorates, 2005/2006. Ottawa, ON: Statistics Canada Catalogue no MIE Statistics Canada and Human Resources and Social Development Canada.1-75.
Above all else, consult your faculty members. Have them review your proposed research, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

18. Thank you!