For students accepted into the Masters program, there is an option available to convert to a PhD program. The department policy on allowing students, who are accepted into the Masters program, to convert to a PhD stream is as follows:

1. An advisory committee meeting should be held for the student within the first 4 months in order to interview and guide the student.

2. The student will be considered for promotion to the PhD program providing that:

   1. the student wishes to convert to the PhD program,
   2. the supervisor agrees to the conversion,
   3. the student's performance is consistent with Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements:
      - demonstrated research promise,
      - first class academic standing,
      - completion of 12 credits within the first academic year of study,
      
   4. the advisory committee agrees that the student is ready.

3. In EOS the mechanism for requesting conversion is that the research supervisor writes a letter addressed to the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies but directed to the EOS Graduate Secretary. This letter should summarize, in 1-2 pages, the considerations leading to the request. The proposal will then be considered by the EOS Graduate Committee. If approved, the letter will be endorsed by the Graduate Committee and forwarded to the Faculty of Graduate Studies for a final determination.

4. After the official upgrade the "new" PhD student will take a Candidacy exam.