Comprehensive Exam

The comprehensive exam aims to test your understanding and application of core course material.

When can I take the exam?

The exam is typically held in mid-April to mid-May. All students must have completed, or will complete all core MHSc courses by the time they take the exam.

What can I expect?

The exam is open book, but with no Internet access allowed. The exams are designed to be completed in three hours. This is a comprehensive exam that is intended to measure your integration of knowledge from the core courses you have taken while in the MHSc program, and therefore your answers should not be limited to the content of any one course, but should reflect the body of knowledge that you have acquired during your program. Questions may ask for short answer or longer answers. Some questions will involve reading an article that is handed out and answering questions related to this article. Some questions will involve designing a new medical research study. All the questions will relate to the core courses of the MHSc.

How is it marked?

Students receive a percentage grade for each of the three examination days. The final outcome of the exam is based on the percentage grade of all the questions, and results in a decision of “Pass” or “Fail”.

A Pass is awarded for achieving 68% or higher average across all the questions. An Honours is awarded for achieving a grade of 90% or higher.

A Fail is given for grades of lower than 68%.

Photo Credit: Paul Joseph / UBC Communications & Marketing