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Thesis submission process

Step 1: Prepare your submission

Deadlines

The first step in preparing your thesis submission is to consider the series of deadlines to submit, defend and graduate successfully.

Spring convocation

  Master's Doctoral
Apply to graduate:
January 15 January 15
Final thesis submission: April 1 April 1

Fall convocation

  Master's Doctoral
Apply to graduate:
July 15 July 15
Final thesis submission:  September 1 September 1

Review your thesis

Need a visual aid for what your thesis should look like?

Please review the Thesis Mock-Up document, an annotated example thesis which illustrates most common formatting issues.

Thesis formatting in detail

All written components of a thesis must meet the scholarly requirements of the research discipline and be formatted in accordance with the Thesis Preparation Guide

Page Format

It must be:

  • Single spaced, unless otherwise required by your department
  • A standard font, preferably Times New Roman size 12, Arial size 11, or similar
  • 1.0-inch (2.5 cm) margin all around. Where the size of drawings, charts, and computer tables does not remain within the normal margins to be used, the margins may be reduced to 0.5 inch on the right and 0.5 inch on the left

Page Numbering

Pages must be:

  • Numbered consecutively, barring Title and Signature pages (which should be counted but not paginated)
  • Pagination should begin with the Abstract, which must be page iii roman numerals and ends with the last page of your List(s)
  • The Introduction must begin with page 1 (Arabic numerals)

Components

Component

Information

Common problems

File Name of Thesis (PDF/A document)

Mandatory

  • Must be saved as PDF/A document*
  • Must be named as LastName_Degree_ConvocationYear
    Example Master's: LastName_MA_S2022 (for Spring) or LastName_MA_F2022 (for Fall)
    Example PhD: LastName_PhD_S2022 (for Spring) or LastName_PhD_F2022 (for Fall)

    *Adobe Acrobat is available at the Library
      Click here for instructions
  • Incorrect file name and PDF format

Title Page

Mandatory
  • Page is counted as lower-case i roman numeral, but page number does not appear on page
  • Do not include in Table of Contents
  • The date must be month and year of the initial thesis submission (no date required)
  • Incorrect degree or program
  • No copyright symbol
  • Capitalization is inconsistent
  • Incorrect date
  • Page number included 

Signature Page

Mandatory

  • Lists:
    • Name and thesis title
    • Degree sought
    • PhD only: Examining committee
    • Names of your GPD and Faculty Dean
    • Date of defence 
  • Page is counted as lower-case ii roman numeral, but page number does not appear on page
  • Do not include in Table of Contents
  • Not following templates
  • Listed in Table of Contents
  • Page number included

Abstract

Mandatory

  • Page is always numbered lower-case iii (roman numeral)
  • Abstract must include: 
    • Title of the thesis
    • Name of author
    • Text not exceeding 250 words 
  • Do not include in Table of Contents
  • Incorrect page number
  • Missing information (name, title, etc.)

Summary

Applicable if you have written your thesis in a language other than English or French

  • Must be written in English or French
  • The summary must be between 3-6 pages for Master’s as appropriate
  • The summary must be between 10-20 pages for doctoral as appropriate
  • Page is numbered consecutively with lower-case roman numerals 
  • Not included
  • Provides insufficient information

Acknowledgments

Optional

  • Page is numbered consecutively with lower-case roman numerals 
  • Do not include in Table of Contents
  • Insufficient or incorrect information

Dedication

Optional

  • The dedication is a personal rather than an academic recognition 
  • Page is numbered consecutively with lower-case roman numerals 
  • Do not include in Table of Contents
  • Placed out of order
  • Listed in Table of Contents

Contribution of Authors

If applicable

  • If your thesis is a manuscript-based thesis, a Contribution of Authors page must be included
  • Page is numbered consecutively with lower-case roman numerals 
  • Do not include in Table of Contents
  • Placed out of order
  • Listed in Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Mandatory

  • Page is numbered consecutively with lower-case roman numerals 
  • Include chapter headings and levels of subheadings from your thesis body
  • Page numbers not accurate
  • Listed in Table of Contents

 

List of Figures

Mandatory if you have tables in thesis

  • Page is numbered consecutively with lower-case roman numerals 
  • Include in Table of Contents, before Introduction
  • No page numbers given for location
  • Not listed in Table of Contents

List of Tables

Mandatory if you have tables in thesis

  • Page is numbered consecutively with lower-case roman numerals 
  • Include in Table of Contents, after List of Figures (if applicable)
  • No page numbers given for location
  • Not listed in Table of Contents
List of Symbols, Abbreviations, Glossary or other

Optional

  • Each list must start on a separate page 
  • Pages are numbered consecutively with lower-case roman numerals 
  • Include in Table of Contents, after List of Tables (if applicable) 
  • No page numbers given for location
  • Not listed in Table of Contents

 

Body of Thesis

Mandatory

  • Includes the Introduction
  • First page is always numbered with Arabic numeral "1" 
  • Pages are numbered consecutively thereafter, including landscape-oriented pages 
  • Page numbers not consistently placed
  • Page numbers out of sequence
  • Does not begin with page 1

Bibliography or References

Mandatory

  • Pages are numbered consecutively with body 
  • Include in Table of Contents
  • Page numbering not in sequence with body
  • Not listed in Table of Contents

 

Appendices

Optional

  • Pages are numbered consecutively with body 
  • Include in Table of Contents
  • Page numbering not in sequence with body
  • Not listed in Table of Contents

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