Editing Postgraduate education (section)

===Degree requirements===
Graduate certificates require between eight and sixteen months of study. The length of study depends on the program. Graduate certificates primarily involve coursework. However, some may require a research project or a work placement.

Both master's and doctoral programs may be done by [[coursework]] or [[research]] or a combination of the two, depending on the subject and [[Faculty (division)|faculty]]. Most faculties require both, with the emphasis on research, and with coursework being directly related to the field of research. 

Master's and doctoral programs may also be completed on a [[Part-time student|part-time]] basis. Part-time graduate programs will usually require that students take one to two courses per semester, and the part-time graduate programs may be offered in online formats, evening formats, or a combination of both. 

Master's candidates undertaking research are typically required to complete a [[thesis]] comprising some original research and ranging from 70 to 200 pages. Some fields may require candidates to study at least one foreign language if they have not already earned sufficient foreign-language credits. Some faculties require candidates to [[thesis defence|defend their thesis]], but many do not. Those that do not, often have a requirement of taking two additional courses, at minimum, in lieu of preparing a thesis.

Ph.D. candidates undertaking research must typically complete a thesis, or [[dissertation]], consisting of original research representing a significant contribution to their field, and ranging from 200 to 500 pages. Most Ph.D. candidates will be required to sit [[comprehensive examination]]s—examinations testing general knowledge in their field of specialization—in their second or third year as a prerequisite to continuing their studies, and must defend their thesis as a final requirement. Some faculties require candidates to earn sufficient credits in a third or fourth foreign language; for example, most candidates in modern Japanese topics must demonstrate ability in English, [[Japanese language|Japanese]], and [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]], while candidates in pre-modern Japanese topics must demonstrate ability in English, Japanese, [[Classical Chinese]], and [[Classical Japanese]].

At English-speaking Canadian universities, both master's and Ph.D. theses may be presented in English or in the language of the subject ([[German language|German]] for [[German literature]], for example), but if this is the case an extensive abstract must be also presented in English. {{citation needed span|text=In exceptional circumstances |date=March 2021}}, a thesis may be presented in French.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} One exception to this rule is McGill University, where all work can be submitted in either English or French, unless the purpose of the course of study is acquisition of a language.<ref>{{cite web|title=McGill Charter of Students' Rights|url=https://www.mcgill.ca/secretariat/files/secretariat/charter-of-students-rights.pdf|access-date=10 August 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007061728/http://www.mcgill.ca/secretariat/files/secretariat/charter-of-students-rights.pdf|archive-date=7 October 2016}}</ref> 

French-speaking universities have varying sets of rules; some (e.g. HEC Montreal<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hec.ca/en/programs_training/phd/admission/index.html|title=HEC Montréal – Admission – Ph.D.|work=hec.ca|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716104612/http://www.hec.ca/en/programs_training/phd/admission/index.html|archive-date=2010-07-16}}</ref>) will accept students with little knowledge of French if they can communicate with their supervisors (usually in English).

The Royal Military College of Canada is a bilingual University, and allows a thesis to be in either English or French, but requires the abstract to be in both official languages.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rmc-cmr.ca/en/academic-wing/thesis-preparation-guidelines |title=Thesis Preparation Guidelines |date=8 April 2015 |access-date=2020-05-29 |archive-date=2021-03-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321121006/https://www.rmc-cmr.ca/en/academic-wing/thesis-preparation-guidelines |url-status=live }}</ref>