No less than 180 credits are required for the PhD degree, requiring three years of full time study. If so advised by the Doctoral Degree Committee, the Faculty can impose limits as to the minimum acceptable progress of study. Should a student fail to meet those limits, the Graduate Studies Committee may revoke the student's enrolment in the programme. The doctoral programme is primarily based on the doctoral candidate's independent research, culminating in the dissertation. However, the candidate's advisor and/or Graduate Studies Committee may require the candidate to take courses in addition to the research. The candidate's advisor will formulate a plan of study and submit it for the Graduate Studies Committee's approval. Some of the required courses may take the form of independent study, for which the Graduate Studies Committee will designate one or more faculty member(s) as supervisor. The faculty member in charge of the independent study will establish the requirements for the course and determine whether they have been fulfilled by the candidate.