Master's thesis
Handbook and guidelines
- Master's Thesis Handbook (currently under construction): Describes the individuals involved in the master’s thesis process, as well as the required steps and forms.
- Guidelines for Chairs of Graduate Examining Committees: A set of guidelines for the Chair of an Examining Committee to follow before, during and after a thesis defence.
- Master’s Transfer to Doctoral program (Doctoral Candidacy Handbook)
Note: For an alternative format of any form or document on this thesis webpage, contact gradstudies@ontariotechu.ca.
Templates and formatting
The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) requires discipline-specific standards with respect to thesis format (including electronic format), organization, manuscript (co)authorship and any other requirements.
For more information on these specific requirements and to ensure standards are met, refer to the Thesis Checklist and Formatting Guidelines (PDF).
A thesis template (.docx format) has also been created for your ease of use and/or reference.
Students are responsible for informing themselves of any special formats or standards required by their program or discipline.
If you need assistance, there are many resources available to assist you with your writing.
Note: For an alternative format of any form or document on this thesis webpage, contact gradstudies@ontariotechu.ca.
Timelines and deadlines
There are master’s thesis deadlines each term in order to guide students through each step of the master’s examination process. The objective is to help students meet requirements for specific program end dates or for graduation ceremonies.
If you are a master’s student or research supervisor looking to plan a final examination within the next year, please use the following material for guidance. First, review the Master’s Thesis Handbook, which describes each step in the examination process, and then prepares a plan of action using our example timeline and checklist.
- Timeline and checklist (under construction): example master’s timeline of what must be done and when prior to oral defence.
- Deadlines list of master’s deadlines in order to complete all program requirements by the end of an academic term.
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Master’s Thesis Deadline Calculator (updated in 2021): Use this calculator to determine when specific tasks should be completed in order to defend your thesis by a particular examination date.
Note: For an alternative format of any form or document on this thesis webpage, contact gradstudies@ontariotechu.ca.
Faculty forms
- Form 1 - Establishment of Supervisory Committee*: Form is completed by the graduate program director (GPD) in consultation with the student and the research supervisors(s), normally to be completed by the end of the student’s second semester.
- Research Progress Reports*: The student completes the research progress form with the supervisor and/or supervisory committee member(s). Research progress is evaluated at the end of each semester for every student in a program with a thesis, project or major paper, starting when the student is engaged with research.
- Confidentiality Disclosure Agreement (CDA) (revised June 2023): Agreement may be used in order to protect certain confidential information related to the student’s research.
- Supervisory Committee Declaration of Thesis Readiness: The student’s supervisory committee must sign this form to confirm that the thesis is ready for oral defence.
- Form 2.1M - Master’s Thesis Examiner Nomination (optional): This form is used to appoint up to two thesis examiners for a master’s examination. The form must be signed by the supervisor(s) and the GPD and submitted to the Dean of SGPS for approval. If this form is not used, an examiner must be nominated and submitted for approval on Form 2.2M.
- Form 2.2M – Master’s Request to Schedule Oral Examination: Form must be submitted to SGPS to obtain approval to book a master’s oral examination and if not done so on Form 2.1M, nominate a thesis examiner.
- Form 3 - Thesis Defence Examiner Report: Thesis Examiner must submit this online form to SGPS for approval at least 10 Calendar Days prior to the examination date.
- Chair's Report on Thesis Examination: The Chair of the Examination Committee will prepare an online report recording the overall decision of the defence and it is to be submitted to SGPS no later than one week after the examination date.
- Request for Approval to Withhold a Thesis from Publication* (revised June 2023): The supervisor(s) and student must complete this form and obtain necessary signatures if they would like to request a delay in publication of the thesis (embargo) on the library website.
- Master's Certificate of Approval: A student’s examination committee must sign the Certificate of Approval to confirm the thesis is ready for final, post-defence submission to SGPS.
*Form also found under student forms; can be initiated by faculty member or student.
Note: For an alternative format of any form or document on this thesis webpage, contact gradstudies@ontariotechu.ca.
Student forms
- Form 1 - Establishment of Supervisory Committee*: Form is completed by the graduate program director (GPD) in consultation with the student and the research supervisors(s), normally to be completed by the end of the student’s second semester.
- Research Progress Reports*: The student completes the research progress form with the supervisor and/or supervisory committee member(s). Student research progress is evaluated at the end of each semester for every student in a program with a thesis, project or major paper, starting when the student is engaged with research.
- Confidentiality Disclosure Agreement (CDA)* (revised June 2023): Agreement may be used in order to protect certain confidential information related to the student’s research.
- Checklist for Final Thesis Package (revised May 2023): Completed checklist submitted with final thesis package to School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS). SGPS checks the contents of packages against a checklist for any missing components or obvious formatting errors.
- Submission of Master's or PhD Thesis: Students must complete this form and submit to SGPS with the final, post-defence thesis package.
- Theses Non-Exclusive License: Students must complete this form. It is a license to allow the thesis to be reproduced by the National Library of Canada.
- ProQuest Publishing Agreement: Library and Archives Canada submit an electronic thesis for processing to ProQuest, to become available online on AMICUS. ProQuest requires a separate license form. It is a free publishing service and has potential royalties.
- Request for Approval to Withhold a Thesis from Publication* (revised June 2023): The supervisor(s) and the student must complete this form and obtain necessary signatures if they would like to request a delay in the publication of the thesis (embargo) on the library website.
- Thesis Binding: Students/Faculty who would like a thesis bound can submit their thesis to an outside company. Details are available on the Library website.
*Form also found under faculty forms; can be initiated by student or faculty member.
Note: For an alternative format of any form or document on this thesis webpage, contact gradstudies@ontariotechu.ca.