Thesis proposal guidelines are available in the respective MA Program Information snd PhD Program Information sections of the Graduate Handbook.
Each student must have a supervisor and at least one supervisory committee member to form a supervisory committee. One supervisory committee member may subsequently serve as a Thesis Program Examiner. The MA and PhD sections of the Graduate Handbook provide further details. All procedures and regulations found in the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies' Thesis Regulation Guide must be followed in the completion of the thesis. Students are encouraged to visit Section 8.3 early in the writing process. This section lists all components of a thesis (with a brief description of each) and formatting specifications. Although individual page templates are provided in Section 8.3, the use of the electronic formatting template (the link is provided below) is recommended since it includes all of the individual templates in one continuous document, moving seamlessly from the introductory page numbering to main body content page numbering. You may save the template, then copy and paste your text into it. Note that use of the templates is not mandatory but you must ensure that your thesis meets the SGPS formatting requirements. Click here for electronic formatting templates. The thesis may be submitted in .pdf, .doc, or .rtf format. Students are encouraged to use the Portable Document Format (.pdf) as all documents received through the Scholarship@Western Electronic Thesis and Dissertation repository are automatically converted to .pdf. Using the .pdf format allows the candidate to verify the appearance and organization of the document as it will be presented to the examiners. Notes regarding the Certificate of Examination PhD students are not required to submit a Certificate of Examination. The Certificate is provided to the Chair of the thesis exam by the Thesis Coordinator in Grad Studies. MA students are not required to submit a Certificate of Examination. The Certificate is provided to the Chair of the thesis exam by the Graduate Program Assistant. Students must confirm their thesis title and name, as they wish them to appear, with the Graduate Program Assistant. Bibliography The presentation of references/ bibliographies must be consistent throughout the thesis and conform to a style appropriate to the discipline (i.e., referencing format of the Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology). Click here for Term Deadlines. Thesis Defence Only (TDO) Status Students who are able to submit their thesis for examination by the
Final Date for Candidate to Submit Thesis for Examination to SGPS but
whose supervisor is unable to hold the examination by the Final Date for
Thesis Examination, will be granted Thesis Defence Only (TDO) status. A
student with TDO status pays only part-time ancillary fees (see the
Registrar's web site). The student would graduate at the applicable
convocation after completion of their program requirements (i.e., after
the thesis examination, revisions, and submission of final copy of
thesis). Apply to Graduate You must apply to graduate, via the online Student Centre -
student.uwo.ca - early in the term in which you plan to complete. This
process also includes verification of your name and degree being
awarded. Fee Refunds Depending on when you complete, you may be eligible for a refund. Click here for the Registrar's refund schedule. 1. Submission of Examining Board Information MA - Four weeks before the date of the thesis exam, the thesis supervisor provides, to Denise, the information for the Master's Thesis Examination Board form. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to provide the names and contact information of the two program examiners and the University examiner, as well as the thesis examination date and time agreeable to all. Denise will find a Chair for the thesis exam, complete the form and send it to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) for approval. PhD - Seven weeks before the date of the thesis exam, the thesis supervisor provides, to Denise, the information for the Doctoral Thesis Examination Board form. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to provide the names and contact information of two program examiners, the University examiner, and the External examiner, as well as the thesis examination date and time agreeable to all. Denise will send the form to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) for approval. 2. Preliminary Thesis Submission MA - three weeks before the date of the thesis exam Click here for an overview of the electronic process. Although it is possible to submit hard copies for the examiners, electronic submission is highly recommended. See Denise for details regarding submission of hard copies. Also, at this time, the student and the supervisor sign the respective Master's Thesis Supervisor Approval Form or Doctoral Thesis Supervisor Approval Form and submit the form to Denise. 3. Thesis Defence (sometimes referred to as the Thesis Exam) 4. Revisions It is normal for minor revisions to be required after the thesis defence. Your supervisor(s) will withhold signature on the Certificate of Examination. In the case of an MA, the Certificate will be held in the graduate program assistant's office, pending the supervisor(s) final approval. In the case of a PhD...at the end of your thesis defence, ask the Chair of the defence where the Certificate will be held. 5. Final Thesis Submission Click here for final electronic submission instructions. 6. Certificate of ExaminationGraduate Handbook
Section 09 - Thesis Information
Thesis Proposal
Supervisory Committee
Formatting and Elements of a Thesis
Terms Deadlines and Other Considerations
Steps Leading to Degree Completion
PhD - six weeks before the date of the thesis exam
Graduate Program
Graduate Handbook
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