Thesis submission process
Step 3: Defend your thesis
Learn how to prepare, submit and defend your thesis successfully.
Master’s defence
An oral defence of a master's thesis is not required by the School of Graduate Studies. Programs may elect to have an oral defence as a degree requirement (please see individual program entries in the Graduate Calendar).
Doctoral defence
- The examination normally should not exceed two hours.
- Questions on a thesis by members of the University, other than those on the Examining Committee, must be submitted in writing to the Thesis Office no later than seven days prior to the date of the thesis defence.
Defence presence/participation
In-person participation is required for all participants. Under extenuating circumstances any member of the Examining Committee or you as a PhD candidate may attend the defence remotely pending approval from the Dean of Graduate Studies or their delegate.
Out-of-town Examiners can typically attend remotely in any circumstance without such approval.
- It is the supervisor’s responsibility to make appropriate videoconferencing arrangements if any participant of a doctoral defence has been approved to attend remotely. Only videoconferencing platforms licensed and supported by Concordia University may be used for a doctoral defence.
Upcoming defences
The Thesis Office announces the upcoming defence on the Events Calendar.
Confidentiality
Contractual and/or legal obligations may necessitate that all participants to a thesis defence sign an undertaking of confidentiality.
Your supervisor shall fully inform you of any and all contractual obligation(s), as they may pertain to you, which may affect the public defence and/or publication of your thesis.
Post defence
Following evaluation of the thesis, the Examining Committee renders one of two decisions:
- Accepted: A thesis may be accepted as submitted or accepted with modifications (minor or major). Modifications are defined as revisions which can be made typically within six months and to the satisfaction of the supervisor
- Not Accepted: A thesis may be re-submitted only once no more than 6 months after the initial defence date, to the same Examining Committee. A new defence is scheduled and follows the same procedure as an initial submission. The first decision to Not Accept will not appear on the candidate’s record. Following re-submission and re-defence, a second decision to Not Accept will result in a REJECT notation on record, and the candidate will be withdrawn from the program.
For more information, please consult the Graduate Calendar.
Following evaluation of the thesis:
- When an Examining Committee composed of two faculty members renders a split decision, the Graduate Program Director (or Departmental Chair when appropriate) will adjudicate.
- Once the Examining Committee has arrived at a final decision, it is the responsibility of the Graduate Program to forward to the Thesis Office, generally within three weeks from the initial submission of the thesis, a completed Master’s Examination Committee Report - the one which you will have edited that reflects the final decision of the Examining Committee.
The Examining Committee’s decision is based on both the thesis and the candidate’s ability to defend it. Members of the Examining Committee may not abstain from voting. The Examining Committee can render one of two decisions, subject to a majority vote:
- Accepted: A thesis may be accepted as submitted or accepted with modifications (minor or major). Modifications are defined as revisions which can be made typically within six months and to the satisfaction of the supervisor.
- Not Accepted: A thesis may be re-submitted only once no more than 6 months after the initial defence date, to the same Examining Committee. A new defence is scheduled and follows the same procedure as an initial submission. The first decision to Not Accept will not appear on the candidate’s record. Following re-submission and re-defence, a second decision to Not Accept will result in a REJECT notation on record, and the candidate will be withdrawn from the program.
For more information, please consult the Graduate Calendar.