Finishing students
Thesis preparation
Please consult the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) guidelines for the preparation and submission of the Thesis before you begin the process of writing your Thesis.
- Regulations and Guidelines for the Preparation and Submission of Graduate Theses and Reports
- Procedures for the Submission and Assessment of Ph.D. Thesis
- Calendar of Academic Dates (deadlines for eligibility to graduate at convocation, and for avoiding further tuition fees)
Please note: procedures differ slightly between the M.Sc. and Ph.D. Check the guidelines that apply to your degree before you begin the examination and defence process.
Thesis submission
The first step is to work with your supervisor(s) until your thesis draft is ready for review by supervisory committee. In consideration of efficiency of effort, please ensure that the supervisor approves the copy that goes to the committee. This form should accompany the thesis copies that go to the supervisory committee members, with a copy to the DoGS.
Note: Supervisory committee members may, at their discretion, offer to review parts or whole thesis drafts before this stage, but are generally not expected to comment on early drafts.
• Supervisory committee reviews thesis, suggesting or requiring changes as appropriate. Because this may take more than one iteration , there is no time limit on this stage. Once the supervisory committee approves the thesis and a list of potential examiners (MSc, PhD), they sign off on the thesis approval form, submitting it to the Director of Graduate Studies.
• Director of Graduate Studies verifies with potential examiners that they are able and willing to serve on the examining committee, and finalizes the committee membership.
• Student provides the required number of hard copies (or electronic copies, if so requested by the examiners) which the Director of Graduate Studies distributes along with covering memos of instructions to the committee.
• Examining committee returns a decision on the thesis, as to whether or not it may proceed to defence, within 3 weeks of receipt. Once the thesis is approved to proceed, the Director of Graduate Studies (in consultation with the examining committee and student) will schedule a thesis defence for not less than one week later.
• Once successfully defended, student and supervisor sign off on the sheaf of forms provided by the Graduate Secretary.
All graduate students must submit a vita along with their thesis. The layout of the vita section is as follows:
- Candidate's full name
- Universities attended (with dates and degrees obtained)
- Publications
- Conference presentations
Thesis examination and defence
There are a number of strict guidelines that apply to the examination of the Thesis. Please note that the procedures differ slightly between the M.Sc. and Ph.D., and it is the student's responsibility to be aware of the guidelines that apply to their degree before they begin the examination and defence process.
