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12.3 Doctoral Thesis

The doctoral dissertation must report, in an organized and scholarly fashion, the results of original research. The thesis must be a contribution to knowledge, and must demonstrate the candidate's ability to undertake sustained research and to present his/her findings in an appropriate manner.

Oral Examinations

The thesis must be defended successfully at an oral examination. Please refer to Thesis Specifications, Section 12.5, Doctoral, for submission deadlines.

The doctoral thesis will be examined by a board consisting of at least five members, including the thesis supervisor, the chair of the department concerned, an examiner from a department other than that of the candidate, the members of the candidate's advisory committee, the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research or his delegate, and an external examiner who is a recognized authority on the subject of the thesis.

The Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research will announce the constitution of the examining board; both it and the thesis examination process are defined by guidelines, principles, and practices prescribed by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.

Thesis Weight

Thesis weight (ordinarily about half of the total Ph.D. requirements of 10.0 credits) must be identified at the time of admission. If the thesis weight falls within a range of credit weights, it should be assigned at the time of admission a weight corresponding to the lower bounds of that range. A change in the thesis weight at a later date would require the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.

The work of each Ph.D. candidate will be assisted by an advisory committee of faculty members who will aid him/her in his/her preparation for the final comprehensive examination, and assist in the evaluation of the thesis and oral examinations.

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