While it’s not ideal, it is possible to commute to Kingston. The potential complications of doing so will depend on when the courses you want to take are being offered. The graduate timetable is released towards the end of June each year, so planning your commute, and the number of times you will need to commute, must wait until July to be confirmed. All first year MA and PHD students are required to be on campus for our weekly colloquium, which is scheduled on Wednesdays from 2:30 to 5:30. For students wanting to complete the 1-year MA, it’s important to note that the Capstone course is offered in May and June and typically is scheduled 3 days/week.
No. All graduate level courses are taught on campus, in person, with group discussions being an integral part of the pedagogy in the program.
Full-time students are expected to maintain geographic availability to the university so that regular interaction can take place between the student and supervisor and the student can effectively use the resources available at Queen's. This guideline has considerable flexibility, but the central notion is that a full-time student is participating effectively in the academic life of the community. This includes being available to fulfill any employment expectations included as part of the annual funding package (i.e., Teaching or Research Assistant positions requiring proximity to campus; remote positions cannot be guaranteed). Students have the option to decline a TA position, but in doing so, they are considered to be declining that portion of their funding arrangement – although we can try to find an alternate position, remote work cannot be guaranteed.
Both the MA and PhD degree options can be completed on a part-time (PT) basis. PT students are not eligible to receive funding. Generally speaking, PT students are expected to progress at half the speed of full-time (FT) students. You will take 1 course per term (instead of 2) plus the weekly colloquium. Tuition fees are assessed at 50% of FT fees. This PT MA option is primarily for students intending to complete the 2-year thesis-based MA. Students interested in completing the 1-year MA on a PT basis should contact the program directly.
Per the SGSPA’s Admission and Registration policy, a full-time graduate student is expected to engage in their studies on a full-time basis. It is expected that a full-time student will limit paid employment unrelated to the student's research to a total of ten hours per week (average); students wishing to exceed this level should consult their supervisor and graduate coordinator. A student who fails to meet program requirements or who fails to maintain progress consistent with full-time status may be required to withdraw from their program (or request a transfer to PT status; refer to Question 4 above). Under no circumstances will a student be permitted to register as a full-time student while maintaining full-time employment (more than 30 hours a week) elsewhere. Full-time students employed as teaching assistants are limited to a maximum of ten hours a week (average) in this capacity. This is the total time spent by the full-time student in this position and includes time spent on preparation, reading assignments, and marking tests and examinations.