Getting Started

On this page: Student Affairs Office | University Communication Policy | Registration | Adding/Dropping Course[s] | Academic Integrity | Grading & Grade Point Averages [GPA] | Missed Exams | Failure Policy

Welcome to our graduate program. This webpage gathers into one place some of the information (departmental-specific and university-wide) that you will need over the course of your program.

ADVISING, COURSE SELECTION

Purvis Hall, Monday August 30, 2010. Attendance mandatory for new students.

Choose your courses in consultation with program advisor.

As per official McGill policy, auditing is not permitted. Only those students who are registered for a course are permitted to attend and participate in that course.

Exemption from a required course is subject to the approval of the program advisor and the course instructor. A detailed outline of the proposed equivalent course previously completed is required to determine if the course content is equivalent to the McGill course. This is to be submitted along with a written request for an exemption.

A student who wishes to take a course at another university for credit towards the McGill degree should first obtain the approval of the program advisor.

• For courses taken at another university within Quebec: students must complete an inter-university agreement form on the CREPUQ website.
• For courses taken at a university outside of Quebec: students should contact the Student Affairs Office for additional information.

A maximum of one-third of required program credits may be completed at another institution.

The Department also offers intensive courses during the months of May and June. Topics in this Summer Session range from general epidemiology and biostatistics to more specialized topics, such as pharmaco-epidemiology and clinical trials. Many of the courses offered in the 2008 summer session will be offered again in summer 2009: check the web page for updates.

REGISTRATION

After consulting the advisor, register for your courses via MINERVA using 9-digit student ID number and PIN. For first log-in, PIN = birthday (YYYYMMDD). Whilst logged in, please update your contact information.

All new students accepted for the Fall 2010 term must confirm that they accept their offer of admission on Minerva before they can register in their program of admission. They must then register on Minerva for both the Fall 2010 and Winter 2011 terms by adding the registration confirmation course before September 1 to avoid a late registration fee.

New and returning students who have not registered by September 1, 2010 may still access MINERVA to register late ($150.00 late fee) from September 02 to September 14, 2008.

ADDING/DROPPING COURSE[S]

Done via MINERVA. 

Deadline: September 14, 2010 (Fall); January 18, 2011 (Winter).

Late fees apply if register for course after this date.

If withdrawal from a course occurs after this date, transcript will show a ‘W’ (withdrawn).

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

McGill University and the Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Occupational Health demand the highest ethical conduct from each student. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the code of conduct and to act according to these ethical principles in all aspects of academic life including research and course work. McGill’s Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures appears in the Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities. PDF files may be downloaded from the McGill web site. The document is available in English and French. Ignorance (not knowing or not understanding) will be no excuse. If you are uncertain, consult your program advisor.

GRADING AND GRADE POINT AVERAGES (GPA)

Grades A (85-100%) through B- (65-69%) are termed satisfactory passes, and F(0-64%) a failure. Certain courses have been approved for Pass/Fail (P/F) grading. Students must obtain grades of B- or better in all courses used to fulfill program requirements.

Please review the following section of the 2008/09 Postdoctoral Studies: General Information, Regulations & Research Guidelines Calendar:

• Chapter 6, Section 8: Grading and Grade Point Averages (GPA).

MISSED EXAMS

A student who is absent from a mid-term or final examination without deferred status i.e., a legitimate medical note, another confirmed reason such as death or major disease in the family, or another similar major valid reason (as approved by the GSPO), will receive a mark of zero for that exam.

A mark of J (Absent) will be recorded for a student who did not write the final examination and had not been granted deferred status, or who did not complete an essential part of the course requirements without a valid reason. This is a failure and is calculated in the GPA as a failure. The student may appeal the assignment of the grade of J, but circumstances such as appearing at the incorrect time for an examination would not be sufficient reason for this grade to be replaced by a deferral. A student who has earned sufficient marks to pass the course even though the final examination is not written, may opt to have the grade based on the record to date.

FAILURE POLICY

[taken from Calendar, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies 2010-2011 - General Information, Regulations and Research Guidelines, section 6.14].

A student who has failed one course required by their department while registered as a graduate student may automatically write one supplemental examination, if the departmental policy permits, or retake that course or substitute an equivalent course. For the purposes of this policy, "required course" includes either a course required by the student's program of study, or a course that has been designated by the department for an individual student's program of study. A student with any further failures in that course, including the supplemental, or a failure in any other course, will be required to withdraw from the program. When a student retakes a course, he/she is required to pay the fee charged for the course in question. Ph.D. students and Master's students in thesis programs may also be required to withdraw from their program of study for documented lack of performance in research.

The failure policy does not pertain to the failure of comprehensive examinations, doctoral oral defenses, or thesis failures. In the case of a failed thesis or defense, the Thesis Failure Policy, detailed in the Thesis Guidelines, applies. In the case of a failed comprehensive examination, the Ph.D. Comprehensives Policy applies.

The procedure in cases of initial failure is as follows: the failing grade is recorded and a letter is sent to the Graduate and Postdocoral Studies Office indicating that a supplemental examination is to be given under the Failure Policy. If the supplemental is passed, the second grade will be submitted. The same procedure applies for a recommendation of a retake or a substitution.

In the event of a failure of a supplemental exam, the department will request, in writing, that the student withdraw (with a copy of said letter forwarded to the GPSO). Similarly, in the event of a failure in a second course, a written request for withdrawal (copied to the GPSO) will be sent to the student.