Thesis-Based Students
Carefully review the forms, guidelines and reference information regarding your culminating activity. It is critical for you to orient yourselves to the process. Refer to the School of Graduate Studies Policies and Procedures and the Graduate Studies Calendar and Course Catalogue for detailed information.
All students should review the School of Graduate Studies Policies & Procedures and Thesis/Project Submission Regulations to familiarize yourself with the formatting regulations. These resources will help you properly shape your thesis/project/capstone document to prepare it for submission.
Thesis route
School of Graduate Studies Policies and Procedures
This is normally completed about two months prior to your defence. See the School of Graduate Studies Policies and Procedures for details
Your supervisor will arrange for an External Examiner if one is required or will optionally participate in your Final Thesis or Project Examination.
Your supervisor will need to obtain:
- a curriculum vitae of the proposed External Examiner
- a Conflict of Interest form, completed and signed by the proposed External Examiner
Final Thesis/Project Examination Request
The Final Thesis/Project Examination Request takes time to complete due to the number of signatures and scheduling requirements. The Final Thesis/Project Examination Request must be approved a minimum of five weeks (master’s level) or six weeks (doctoral level) prior to the date of the defence. You should plan to submit your online request at least a week and up to three to four months in advance of the deadline to allow time for review and approval from your Thesis / Project Examination Committee members.
To prepare this form you will need to:
a) Confirm that your supervisor has selected internal/external examiners and a defence chair
b) Set a defence date that works for all parties
c) Book the room and equipment needed for the thesis defence
d) Ensure the PDF of your thesis is ready to be uploaded with your Final Thesis/Project Examination Request
d) Ensure the form is submitted sufficiently in advance to the deadline to acquire the signatures of all Thesis Examination Committee members, including all internal/external examiners and the defence chair before the deadline.
Refer to the School of Graduate Studies Policies and Procedures and Thesis/Project Submission Regulations for detailed information.
If you wish to delay the publication of your thesis in the University’s Institutional Repository, you must also submit the Embargo on Publication of Graduate Thesis Request before submission of the PDF copy of your manuscript via the e-thesis/e-project submission system.
Now that the proper forms and thesis drafts have been submitted, begin preparing for your thesis defence. To learn more about how a thesis defence is conducted and assessed, review the relevant sections in the School of Graduate Studies Policies & Procedures. Keep in mind that your program is not finished after your defence as the next 3 steps will show.
Assessment of Readiness to Defend
See the School of Graduate Studies Policies and Procedures for details. Applies to graduate students who complete a Final Thesis or Project Examination.
For master's students, the Assessment of Readiness to Defend forms are submitted at least one week before your defence by the members of your Thesis/Project Examination Committee.
For doctoral students, the Assessment of Readiness to Defend forms are submitted at least two weeks before your defence by the members of your Thesis/Project Examination Committee.
Thesis / Project Examination Report
Applies to graduate students who complete a Final Thesis Examination. This form is completed by the Chair of your Final Thesis or Project Examination immediately following your defence.
Recommendation of the Award of the Degree form
Once your thesis is revised and the corrections are approved, your supervisor will submit the Recommendation of the Award of the Degree upon completion of all degree requirements. It is advisable to confirm with your supervisor that the form has been submitted.
When your changes are approved:
- Your supervisor (or one of your co-supervisors) will need to submit the Recommendation of the Award of the Degree form
Refer to the School of Graduate Studies Policies and Procedures for detailed information. Students who do not have final approval and have not completed all degree requirements will be required to register for the next term.
Submit the final version of your Thesis document to OPUS (Open ULethbridge Scholarship) after your Recommendation of the Award of the Degree form receives final decanal approval and you've submitted your up-to-date CV and current working copy of your ULethbridge transcripts, you will receive an email to your ULethbridge account (e.g., name@uleth.ca) indicating that you may register for an e-thesis/project account.
When your OPUS account is set you, you then submit the PDF copy of your Thesis via the e-thesis submission system. See the Thesis/Submission Regulations page for details.