Skip to main content

Dissertation and Thesis Preparation

Refer to the graduate academic calendar for the regulations and procedures governing a master’s thesis or a doctoral dissertation, which includes the requirements concerning the structure of the advisory committee, the examining committee, and the guidelines for conducting the oral defence. See illustration of doctoral advisory and examining committees.

Successfully defending your thesis or dissertation can be one of your proudest achievements.

If your program requires an oral defence of a master’s thesis or dissertation, please follow the guidelines below to ensure that the coordination of your defence goes smoothly. We advise that you work with your academic advisor and graduate coordinator to ensure the necessary forms are completed throughout this process.

Scheduling and Submitting a Doctoral Dissertation

Please give at least nine weeks’ notice to the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies before your proposed defence date. At nine weeks, the office should receive a completed PhD Dissertation Defence scheduling form.

Nine Weeks Before Proposed Defence Date

Your advisor must complete and submit the PhD Dissertation Defence Scheduling form to the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

The form must include:

  • Signatures from all committee members;
  • Proposed dates and times for the oral examination (be specific);
  • Three proposed external examiners;
  • The CV of the first recommended external examiner; and
  • The signature of the graduate coordinator.

Seven Weeks Before Proposed Defence Date

Submit three (3) copies of your dissertation to the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The three copies of your dissertation are provided:

  • To the external examiner;
  • To the defence chair; and
  • For public display in the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Students are responsible for providing copies of their dissertations to their committee members (including the internal/external member of the committee).

Submit an abstract of the dissertation (300-400 words) to shhowse@wlu.ca.

An electronic copy of the dissertation will also be requested.

Review the oral examination policies and procedures, and dissertation style guide, in the academic calendar.

After Your Successful Defence: Submission of Dissertation

Complete and submit the following forms (to be provided at your defence by the chair):

Upload the final approved version of your dissertation to Scholars Commons @ Laurier. You must not upload your dissertation until the final document has been approved by your supervisor and until all paperwork (see above) has been sent to the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Related Forms

Scheduling and Submitting a Master’s Thesis

Scheduling

After Your Successful Defence: Submission of Thesis

Complete and submit the following forms (to be provided at your defence by the chair):

Upload the final approved version of your thesis to Scholars Commons @ Laurier. You must not upload your thesis until the final document has been approved by your supervisor and until all paperwork (see above) has been sent to the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Related Forms