Computer Science
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Online Theses and Reports Library
![thesis submission university of york Professor Nick Pears](https://www.cs.york.ac.uk/media/computerscience/images/staffpics/Nick-Pears.jpg)
Professor Nick Pears
Deputy Head of Department (Research)
White Rose eTheses Online Repository
http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/
White Rose Etheses Online repository holds electronic doctoral level theses from the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York. York research students registered for their degree in or after October 2009 are required to upload their thesis onto this repository. All CS research students are encouraged to upload their final thesis onto this new repository. Either the departments on-line theses and reports library OR the White Rose eTheses online repository will hold final versions of submitted PhD theses.
Welcome to White Rose eTheses Online
White rose etheses online.
Welcome to White Rose eTheses Online, a shared repository of electronic theses from the University of Leeds, the University of Sheffield and the University of York.
![thesis submission university of york University of Leeds logo](https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/images/WR_Leeds_908x360.png)
Student from the University of Leeds, Sheffield or York? Need to upload your thesis? Start by creating an account , or login to your account
If you are unsure if this is the right place for you, check the FAQs .
Recent additions for Leeds , Sheffield , York or all recent additions .
What is White Rose eTheses Online?
This repository gives access to theses awarded by the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York. The available repository content can be accessed for free, without the need to log on or create an account, as per the instructions of the depositing author. We also make the content available through aggregator sites via harvesting mechanisms.
Thesis/Dissertation Submission
Congratulations on the completion of your thesis/dissertation!
Please follow the steps below to ensure the efficient processing of your thesis/dissertation and conferral of your degree. The Office of Student Records and Registrar Services cannot confer your degree until your thesis/dissertation has been submitted and accepted by the Graduate School.
- Prepare your thesis/dissertation to the appropriate standards
- Submit your thesis/dissertation electronically
- Submit Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) - doctoral students only
- Submit processing fees
- Check your email for notifications
You must complete the first three steps by the thesis/dissertation submission deadline .
1. Prepare your thesis/dissertation to the appropriate standards.
Please consult with your department or faculty advisor to determine whether you should defend your thesis/dissertation before submitting it electronically. Remember to consider the deadlines.
Use the thesis/dissertation formatting guide and sample below to prepare your thesis/dissertation to meet the formatting requirements. All submissions must adhere to the formatting guidelines.
- Thesis/Dissertation Formatting Guide
- Thesis/Dissertation Formatting Webinar Recording
Please note that these are visual aids for your reference. If you need assistance with your word processing software, we recommend using online tutorials designed for your software.
The formatting guide covers the following topics:
- Manual of style
- General page formatting (including page margins, font size and color, hand lettering and corrections)
- Sequence of pages (page order)
- Page numbering
- Tables and figures
- Illustrative materials
- Specific page layouts (title page, copyright notice, committee page, etc.)
Below, please find helpful video tutorials for some of the most commonly asked questions about formatting your thesis/dissertation, including how to set page margins. Please refer to the Thesis/Dissertation Formatting Guide above for complete formatting requirements when preparing your thesis/dissertation.
- Setting page margins for your document
- Setting margins for your title and headings
2. Submit your thesis/dissertation electronically.
Binghamton University archives theses and dissertations electronically through ProQuest/University Microfilms International (UMI).*
Have the following items ready before you begin the submission process:
- Full text of your thesis or dissertation in PDF format in one file. It is generally advisable to convert your own work to PDF format before beginning the electronic submission process. If your manuscript is in Word or RTF format, you may convert it to PDF format on the ProQuest/UMI website.
- ProQuest/UMI abstract. The ProQuest/UMI abstract may be an edited version of the full abstract in the document.
- Optional supplementary files (images, sound, etc.) that are an integral part of the dissertation, but not part of the full text.
Go to the ProQuest/UMI website . Follow the instructions for submitting your document.
- Register at the website.
- Enter basic information about you and your work.
- Complete the non-exclusive publishing agreement.
- Attach your document.
- Click "Submit." The submission is not registered until you click "Submit."
During the submission process, you may request that ProQuest/UMI file on your behalf for copyright for a fee, payable directly to ProQuest/UMI. However, even without registering the thesis/dissertation with the federal copyright office, the copyright notice on the page following the title page is sufficient to effect a copyright for the author.
You may also order bound hard copies of your thesis/dissertation through ProQuest/UMI. Please note that some departments/programs require students to purchase at least one bound hard copy of the thesis/dissertation to be archived with the department. Check with your department for details. See the Graduate School Manual for a list of departments/programs that have informed the Graduate School that they do not require bound hard copies.
3. Submit Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) - doctoral students only.
After submitting your dissertation electronically, please submit the following:
- Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) - mandatory for all doctoral students. Completion of the survey will be emailed to the Graduate School.
4. Submit processing fees.
The thesis/dissertation processing fees cover electronic submission; indexing and abstract services; microfilming and archiving; and digital storage and access. The thesis processing fee is $85 (USD) and the dissertation processing fee is $100 (USD). You will receive an email with a link to pay your processing fee when your thesis/dissertation has been fully accepted by the Graduate School .
5. Check your email for notifications.
The Graduate School will review your thesis/dissertation and will notify you via email if your submission has been accepted or if your submission requires formatting revisions.
If your submission requires formatting revisions, submit revisions electronically on the ProQuest/UMI website. The Graduate School recommends that you submit revisions in a timely manner (within 1 week of receiving the notification of the need for revisions). The Graduate School must receive revisions in order to accept your thesis/dissertation and, ultimately, to confer your degree.
Contact the Graduate School at [email protected] .
Please also refer to the Graduate School Manual .
*Among its many advantages, electronic archival allows students to include multimedia in their projects, revise their theses/dissertations long-distance, spend less on photocopying and storage costs, and—most importantly—reach a larger audience. Prior to electronic archival, most hard copy dissertations only received a few library requests each semester. Now, Binghamton University's theses and dissertations are downloaded electronically hundreds of times each year. By archiving with UMI, all theses and dissertations receive double-protection archiving (microfilm and digital) and FREE full-text access to the Binghamton University community. In addition, the Library of Congress retains full rights to the UMI collection.
UMI will prepare archival digital copies and microfilm copies, both of which are maintained in perpetuity and migrated to new storage media as necessary, in accord with UMI's contract with the Library of Congress. UMI then disseminates your work to various bibliographic databases and indexes and publishes a full-text copy of your work on a website available to the Binghamton University community. Readers outside of Binghamton University may find your dissertation and purchase copies directly from UMI.
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Last Updated: 1/22/24
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- Subject Guides
Copyright: a Practical Guide
- For Researchers (staff and PGRs)
- Copyright law explained
- For Students (Undergraduates and PGTs)
- For Teachers
- Course reading
- Using images
- Gaining permission
- Protecting and licensing your work
Common scenarios
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Your thesis
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Exceptions may apply where other forms of intellectual property (IP) arising from a thesis, such as patentable inventions and software, have been created jointly with members of University staff or where you have a prior agreement to transfer IP to a third party.
Every successful University of York PhD researcher is required to deposit their digital thesis in White Rose E-Theses Online , the University's open access repository where it will be made available to the general public ( Policy on Research Degrees 13.3 ).
Using other people's material in your thesis
Your thesis will most likely incorporate other people's copyrighted work, such as passages of text, music or video material, or images including photographs, figures or illustrations. You may be able to defend your use of other people's material as fair dealing under UK law, for example for the purposes of quotation, criticism, or review .
In order for these exceptions to apply the material must have been made publicly available (i.e. published), you must acknowledge the original author or creator and rights holder of the work (reiterate any copyright statement or licence terms indicated at the source), and your use of the material must be fair and reasonable.
Can you justify the amount of material you have chosen to reproduce for your purpose? Can you justify your selection for its relevance to your argument (in support or oppositional)?
Could your use of the material impact the market value of the original work, or prevent the creator from making use of it in the way they want to? Be mindful that your thesis will become freely available to the public once uploaded to White Rose e-Theses Online.
![thesis submission university of york Polaroid photos](https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2013/07/12/15/55/polaroid-150581_960_720.png)
You should use a lower resolution or cropped version of the image so as not to impact the market value of the original work, and fully acknowledge the rights-holder in your image caption (reiterate any copyright statement or licence terms indicated at the source). See Using images for further guidance on copyright in images and how to acknowledge rights-holders.
Try to plan for this scenario before you submit your thesis. If you cannot defend your use of someone else's copyrighted work as fair dealing, then you should ask the rights-holder for permission to reproduce their material and for it to be made openly accessible through White Rose e-Theses Online. If they grant you permission then you should acknowledge this, for example in your image captions.
If the rights-holder cannot be traced, or is unwilling to grant permission, it may be possible to temporarily embargo your thesis (so it is not made publicly available in White Rose e-Theses Online) or redact the material which is protected by copyright. University of York PhD researchers should refer to the instructions for thesis deposit , and contact PGR Administration with any queries about embargo or redaction.
If you intend to submit your own published work for the award of PhD by Publication, or as an appendix to the main body of your thesis, bear in mind that you may have transferred the copyright to your publisher. Check the terms of your Agreement to Publish, and if necessary, contact your publisher for permission.
Publishing your thesis
Your thesis may have potential for adaptation into a published book or journal article(s). Most publishers do not object to the prior availability of theses in open access repositories and this should not affect your chances of being accepted for publication (see this 2019 survey of publishers from the University of Surrey ), however we advise that you check publisher guidelines for aspiring authors before you submit your manuscript.
You may also be required to place an embargo on access to your thesis if it contains personal or commercially sensitive information. Your research funders may also ask you to restrict access to your thesis. PGR Administration can provide further guidance on embargoes in White Rose eTheses Online.
If your accepted manuscript incorporates direct quotes, images/figures or data from your thesis then your publisher may ask you to obtain your institution's permission to reproduce these. This is not necessary for University of York PhD researchers as you retain the copyright in your original work.
Your publisher may also expect you to obtain rights holder clearance to use other people's images/figures, data or other material (even if their inclusion in your thesis could be defended as fair dealing).
![thesis submission university of york Creative Commons heart icon](https://mirrors.creativecommons.org/presskit/icons/heart.black.png)
Our Creative Commons for Researchers Practical Guide covers the range of Creative Commons legal tools available and the benefits and considerations for both creators and users of licensed works.
Copyright for researchers: protecting your own work and re-using other people’s
This workshop is delivered by the Open Research team to postgraduate research students and staff through the Building Research and Innovation Capacity (BRIC) programme. By the end of this workshop, participants will know:
- what copyright means and how it is applied
- what you can legally do with other people's work
- how to protect your own work
Book your place here: Staff (LMS) / Postgraduate Researchers (SkillsForge)
Research data
If you intend to use someone else's survey to collect your own data, be mindful that reproduction of the survey materials may be restricted by the copyright owners, even though the questions may have already been published in a scholarly context or can be found free-to-view online. See this example reported by Science magazine's Retraction Watch in 2017.
Check any Terms of Use or licence statement, and consider whether you should contact the survey creators or publisher for permission before undertaking your research. Be prepared for a request for payment!
![thesis submission university of york Clip art illustration of a digger](https://libapps-eu.s3.amazonaws.com/accounts/41351/images/if_bulldozer_44889.png)
Certain publishers also offer a licence-based approach which formalises the right to analyse their content, often involving a dedicated API (the University has not purchased any such licences from any publisher).
The subject of TDM rights has recently re-emerged in the scope of debate around intellectual property and AI training and analysis (see: IP Federation: TDM in the UK , a November 2023 letter co-signed by Research Libraries UK).
The University of Cambridge has published a guide for TDM practitioners, librarians and interested researchers, which includes links to national and international projects, tools and case studies .
Social media platforms often allow contributors to retain any copyright in their original material, whilst claiming the right to re-use this content indefinitely (see for example Terms of Service for Twitter ; Facebook ). To reproduce social media content in a scholarly publication, you probably don't need permission from the platform owners, but you may need the content creator's permission.
Research subjects are unlikely to be able to claim copyright over their own spoken words or data . However, you should be mindful of good practice in research ethics and data protection before deciding whether to reproduce these in your own work. Anyone involved in making a recording or creating a database may have a legitimate claim to the copyright in their contribution.
Scholarly networks
Services such as ResearchGate or Academia.edu enable researchers to create a profile and upload copies of their own research output for academic collaborators and the general public. Their terms of service ( ResearchGate ; Academia ) state that the profile owner is responsible for ensuring that they have any rights-holder's permission to share this material: check your Agreement to Publish.
In 2018, some of the largest scholarly publishers have threatened these services with legal action for not doing enough to prevent copyright infringement.
Academic and professional publishers represented by the global trade association STM have endorsed a code of Voluntary Principles for Article Sharing on Scholarly Collaboration Networks , agreeing to tolerate sharing within " research collaboration groups" when not all members are subscribers. STM has developed How Can I Share It? , to help researchers decode publisher terms and identify appropriate sharing platforms. Find the rules that apply to your own papers (or other people's) using the Can I Share It look-up tool.
Sharing other people's work When you download or print an extract from a paywalled publication, you are likely to be asked to accept liability for any infringement of copyright. Activities which potentially infringe copyright include:
- Forwarding your copy by email
- Depositing it in a shared filestore
- Uploading it to the VLE for students
- Opening your reference management library to collaborators.
- Sharing a link does not infringe copyright, providing you have not circumvented any technological protection implemented by the rights-holder or distributor.
Unpaywall and the Open Access Button enable researchers to obtain versions of scholarly publications which are legally free-to-read and copy, by simultaneously searching institutional and subject-based repositories around the world.
By law, an inter-library loan is supplied for private study. If several members of a research team need to read the same publication, it may be more cost-effective to ask your library to purchase a copy rather than borrow it from another institution.
- Interlending and Document Supply for University of York researchers
Publishers and web hosts can remotely monitor patterns of downloading, and may ask the University to block an account or IP address if copyright infringement is suspected. University of York staff and students should be aware that sharing your account details with people who are not members of this university puts you in breach of Regulation 11 , and will lead to disciplinary action if discovered.
Further help
Two guides have recently (2023) been published on copyright and licensing for UKRI-funded authors writing for publication:
- Jisc: Publishing under the UKRI open access policy: copyright and Creative Commons licences
- UKRI and Clare Painter Associates: Managing third-party copyright for research publications
The UK Intellectual Property Office has guidelines to help researchers, support staff and publishers understand the law when using copyright material.
You can also contact the Open Research team if you have any further questions not addressed in this guide.
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Content and Style
Thesis formatting (university).
The University has detailed guidance about the style, formatting and sequence of material standards for your thesis. Further information about how to format your thesis can be found linked below.
Since 2019, the University of York has required its PhD postgraduate researchers to submit an e-thesis, rather than a hard copy, printed thesis. This means that you should take particular care to ensure that your thesis is accessible and easy for anyone to read. Guidance on making your thesis accessible has also been created by the Postgraduate Research Administration (PGRA) and can also be found below.
These notes do not replace this guide, but provide an explanation of some key parts of the PhD process as they relate to the Music Department.
Theses are required to be prepared and submitted for examination as specified in the University's requirements (https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/academic/
thesis/format/). It is your responsibility to ensure that the thesis is submitted by the deadline.
The title page should give the following information in the order listed:
the full title, and any subtitle
if there is more than one volume, the total number of volumes, and the number of the particular volume
the author’s full name (in the form in which it appears in the University’s student record)
the qualification for which the thesis or dissertation is submitted (e.g., PhD, MA)
the name of the department or centre in which you were registered (Music)
the month and year of (original) submission
University Guidelines for formatting your thesis
![thesis submission university of york thesis submission university of york](https://www.gstatic.com/images/icons/material/product/1x/docs_32dp.png)
PGRA guidance on making your e-Thesis accessible: Google Document
In addition to online guidance on preparing and formatting your thesis, the University also offers courses to help you through Information Services and through RETT.
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Information S ervice s Training
Rett training.
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Theses and dissertations
We provide access to University of York PhD/MPhil theses and Masters dissertations for members of the University and visitors to the Library. We can also help you to find theses/dissertations from other institutions.
For all York theses and dissertations, copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise stated. You may copy a modest amount of material from a thesis with full attribution as defined in law. In all other circumstances you should contact the rights-holder for permission.
- Read our practical guide to Copyright law
Search for a York thesis or dissertation
All available University of York theses can be found on YorSearch , including electronic versions held in the Digital Library and White Rose eTheses. You can search YorSearch for the title, author or department and academic year.
What we hold
We hold the University's PhD and MPhil theses, including physical copies up to 2012.
White Rose eTheses holds electronic copies from 2013 onwards, as well as a selection of pre-2013 theses.
University of York Masters dissertations for some subjects are available:
- electronically via YorSearch
- in print via Borthwick Institute for Archives ( Note : booking is necessary)
We also hold a selection of digitised undergraduate dissertations for certain subjects:
- History (selection from 1967 onwards)
- History of Art (selection from 1997 onwards)
- Social Policy and Social Work (selection from 2019 onwards)
Consulting a thesis/dissertation in the Library
Our physical theses and dissertations are kept in a secure store. To consult them you will need to request access via Borthwick Institute for Archives by emailing [email protected] with the details of the thesis and a preferred appointment date.
Note : theses and dissertations can only be consulted in the reading room at the Borthwick Institute and cannot be removed.
If you are an independent researcher and want to consult a York thesis, contact us at [email protected] .
Finding theses from other universities
You can try one of the following services to find theses by students from other institutions.
- Read more about using PhD theses on EThOS (youtube.com)
- White Rose eTheses Online holds electronic, doctoral level theses from the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York
- Index to theses is an index to British and Irish higher degree theses with abstracts (summaries) or brief details of each thesis
- Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations allows you to search for electronic theses from around the world
If you can't access the full text of a thesis you're interested in, please complete our Request Form and we will try to source it for you. Please note the success of this may depend on the holding library's policies, or obtaining the author's permission, but we will let you know if we're unable to source it.
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Traduction Française Indisponible
Theses & dissertations.
Theses and dissertations are extended scholarly essays that incorporate original research on a specific topic. They are usually written as part of the requirements for a graduate degree (e.g. MA or PhD).
Finding a York University thesis or dissertation Most doctoral dissertations and Master's theses completed at York University are available through the Libraries. Law dissertations are held in the Law Library; most others are held in Scott Library. Please note that the library does not normally hold copies of Major Research Papers (MRPs); for these, please check with the appropriate York University department or faculty.
For York dissertations and theses written from 1967 to 2012: Start by searching the Dissertations and Theses @ York University database. You can search by keyword, title, adviser or school. The full-text of most York theses and dissertations submitted between 1967 and 2012 can be downloaded for free.
This service is only available to registered York students and faculty. For York dissertations and theses written between 1967 and the present that were never microfilmed or have some form of embargo restricting access:
- Search the library catalogue . You can search by title, author, or keyword. When you find the entry, note the call number and location. A quick location guide is provided below.
SCOTT-MICR | A microform copy is available in the microtext area on the 1st floor of Scott Library. |
HNES-STOR | Status "In Storage" or "In Process" -- can be requested via the 'Request' button in the catalogue record. |
INTERNET | An electronic version is available. Click on the URL provided in the catalogue record. |
For dissertations and theses written from 2013 to the present, search the library catalogue (NOT the classic catalogue) by title, author, or keyword.
Finding theses from other universities
- Proquest Digital Dissertations and Theses This database contains citations and abstracts of doctoral dissertations and some masters theses from colleges and universities in North America and Europe. Citations are available from 1861 to the present. Abstracts are available for dissertations from 1980 to the present and for masters theses from 1988 to the present. From 1997, sometimes earlier, the full-text of some dissertations and theses may be downloaded for free in PDF format. Please note that this service is only available to registered York students and faculty.
- Theses Canada Portal The Theses Canada Portal provides free access to the full text electronic versions of Canadian theses and dissertations that were published from the beginning of 1998 to the present.
- Index to theses (Great Britain and Ireland) An index to theses accepted in the Universities of Great Britain and Ireland. Covers 1716 – present.
- EThOS (Great Britain) Launched in 2008, the Electronic Theses Online System (EThOS) offers free access to full text versions of British theses. New theses are digitized and added to the database in response to requests from researchers.
Many other periodical indexes and databases include references to dissertations.
Note : Theses and dissertations not available in the Libraries or online can be requested through the Resource Sharing Department.
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Master's Thesis
Master's general requirements, types of theses.
Master’s theses submitted by students in partial fulfillment of degree requirements must embody the results of original research and must be successfully defended at oral examinations. Master’s theses shall be on a topic approved by the student’s supervisor and supervisory committee, and shall include submission and approval of a thesis proposal, including appropriate ethics review and approval, in accordance with Faculty and program requirements and procedures.
Master’s theses should demonstrate that the student is familiar with and has an acceptable understanding of the literature in the subject of the thesis; that appropriate research methods have been used, and that appropriate levels of critical analysis have been applied. The research embodied in the thesis should make some original contribution to knowledge in the field.
By submitting a thesis or dissertation, a student is making the representation that it is entirely his or her own work and that it has been done while he or she was a graduate student at York University.
If such is not the case, then the student must indicate in a signed, written statement what part of the thesis or dissertation is solely his or her own or co-authored. If co-authored, the candidate must provide an account of its provenance. The supervisor must produce her or his own corroborative written statement.
If a thesis or dissertation is the result of collaborative work, then the nature of the collaboration and the extent of the candidate’s contribution must be described in a written statement signed by the candidate and approved in writing by the candidate’s supervisor. Where there has been collaboration with others in the collection or preparation of data, materials, or documentation included in the thesis or dissertation, then appropriate acknowledgment must be made in the thesis or dissertation.
If a thesis or dissertation—or any part thereof—has been published prior to submission of the thesis/dissertation, then the candidate must disclose this fact in a signed written statement, and the supervisor must approve in writing the inclusion of such work in the thesis or dissertation. In cases where one or more chapters of the thesis or dissertation have been previously published in a journal or book to which the author has assigned copyright, permission to include the chapter(s) in the thesis or dissertation must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Please see the section on Copyright for more details.
A thesis or dissertation containing previously published material of which the candidate is the author and/or co-author should also contain a review of the literature that adequately explains the relationship to the literature of the work undertaken. In addition, it should contain a rationale for the study. These elements may form part of the body of the work – normally an introduction or opening chapter – that leads coherently into the publications. Furthermore, there should be a concluding chapter or section that discusses the body of the thesis or dissertation, including all previously published parts.
A false representation or failure to make a disclosure as outlined above is an academic offence and renders the thesis or dissertation ineligible for consideration of the relevant degree.
The general form and style of a thesis/dissertation may differ from program to program, but a thesis/dissertation should be a coherent work. This means that if a thesis/dissertation contains separate manuscripts, there needs also to be introductory and concluding chapters that explain how these separate manuscripts fit together into a unified body of research. If previously published materials are included, then it should be made clear what exactly is the student’s own work and what is the contribution of other researchers, as outlined above under Originality of a Thesis/Dissertation.
All theses and dissertations must contain a written component. Theses and dissertations may, however, include other components in addition to the written component.
A complex electronic thesis/dissertation is a work with a high reliance on slides, film or videos, electronically interactive word/image-based text on CD-ROM or the internet. For complex electronic theses/dissertations, part of the work can be produced in traditional written form, but key elements of the work depend on direct experience with or interaction with a text whose physical form may be changed as a consequence of the interaction. Students producing a multimedia thesis/dissertation should consult with the Theses Canada Portal on the Library and Archives Canada website for advice on formats supportable for preservation. However, a student may work in or submit work in an unsupported format as part of the oral exam as long as the work is readily accessible by the exam committee and the student submits a written component.
A multimodal thesis/dissertation is a work in which the key component is a performance or piece of art. For multimodal theses/dissertations, part of the work can be produced in traditional written form, but key elements of the work depend on direct experience by the exam committee with, for example, displayed artworks or theatrical productions.
For both electronic and multimodal theses/dissertations, students may wish to include supplementary files as part of their final submission (see Final Submission Tab ).
A thesis or dissertation should be written in English, but approval may be given to a written request from a student for a thesis or dissertation to be written in French or in the language of any Aboriginal/First Nations people in North America, subject to confirmation from the director of the graduate program concerned that relevant supervision and sufficient support for the completion of such written work can be provided.
For theses/dissertation written in English, either American or British spelling is acceptable provided that it is used consistently throughout.
Students preparing their thesis/dissertation should follow a single style guide appropriate to their discipline. The York University Libraries provides links to various style guides for various disciplines.
Thesis Proposals
In accordance with program requirements and procedures, all students should prepare a thesis/dissertation proposal, normally in consultation with their supervisor in advance of commencing their proposed inquiry. Each program should have written guidelines and should communicate them to candidates, as and when appropriate.
At a minimum, the proposal should contain a brief statement in non-technical language on the purpose/goals of the thesis/dissertation research, its relationship to existing work in the area, through an abbreviated literature review, the research question(s), the proposed methodology(ies) with rationale, and the contribution which the researcher hopes to make to the advancement of knowledge in the field. In addition, the proposal includes a title, the name of the supervisor and the supervisory committee. The title should indicate as clearly as possible the area of research, but it is understood that this title may change. The recommended maximum length of a proposal is 3,500 words, but individual programs may require proposals of a greater length. Proposals must be reviewed and approved by a student’s thesis or dissertation committee.
Following approval of the proposal by the supervisory committee, students must submit one or more copies of the proposal to the graduate program director. After confirming that the relevant Faculty and internal program requirements have been satisfied, the program director is responsible for submitting the proposals to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies using the Form TD1: Thesis/Dissertation Research Submission . As indicated on Form TD1: Thesis/Dissertation Research Submission, submission of the proposal to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, includes submission of the relevant research ethics forms and documentation. For more information on required documentation and submission procedures, please refer to the Research Ethics section of this Handbook.
For a master’s thesis, the supervisory committee must review the student’s research proposal and recommend its approval not less than three months prior to the date set for the oral examination.
Please note that the deadlines outlined above are the Faculty’s minimum requirements, and individual graduate programs may have more specific requirements and timelines with respect to the development, review and approval of thesis/dissertation proposals. Students should consult their program for more details. Further, the Faculty deadlines outlined above may not provide the time necessary for ethics approval, if required. More information regarding research ethics is provided below.
Research Ethics
York University is committed to the highest standards of integrity in research. All projects involving the use of human subjects, animals, and biohazardous materials are subject to review by the appropriate University committee. York has formulated policies and procedures for the conduct of research involving all three of these areas.
As indicated on Form TD1: Thesis/Dissertation Research Submission , submission of the thesis/dissertation proposal to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies for approval must include the relevant research ethics forms and documentation.
All research involving human participants is governed by the Senate Policy for the Ethics Review Process for Research Involving Human Participants . The Senate Policy stipulates that all University-based research involving human participants, whether funded or non-funded, faculty or student, scholarly, commercial or consultative, is subject to an ethics review process. The Senate Policy for the Ethics Review Process for Research Involving Human Participants and corresponding review procedures adhere to the published guidelines of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, known as the Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS).
Please note that in accordance with the TCPS and Senate policy, graduate students undertaking research with human participants may not begin that research until their proposal has received approval from the appropriate body . Further, prior to conducting research involving human participants, graduate students are required to complete the complete the TCPS tutorial .
Details regarding the ethics review procedures for thesis/dissertation research involving human participants is available on the Faculty of Graduate Studies research ethics webpage .
Students conducting research with human participants may be required to submit the Form TD2: Human Participants Research Protocol . Additional forms may be required.
Further details regarding the University policies and ethics review procedures for thesis/dissertation research involving animals and biohazardous materials is available on the Office of Research Ethics web page.
Ethics guidelines for other research situations are also available on the Office of Research Ethics web page, including:
- Invasive Procedures
- Health and Safety Checklist
- Surveys and Research in an Online Environment
- Research Conducted by External Researchers
- Research Conducted in Hospital Clinical Settings
- Research in Educational Settings
- Research Involving Minor Age Participants
- Research with People who are Homeless
Students hold copyright to their theses and dissertations, regardless of the method of submission. Consequently, a student is free to publish his or her thesis/dissertation following a successful oral examination. Please note that if a thesis/dissertation includes any work which is copyrighted to another party, permission may be required to publish the thesis/dissertation.
After a successful oral examination the Library and Archives Canada Thesis Non-Exclusive License (.pdf) must be submitted to the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies. The student must also accept the terms of the York University Copyright License as part of the electronic submission of their thesis/dissertation using the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) .
By signing these licenses, a student is confirming that his or her thesis/dissertation is his or her original work, that his or her thesis/dissertation does not infringe any rights of others, and that he or she has the right to make the grant conferred by those copyright licenses. In addition, the student is granting a Licence to York University to make copies including electronically formatted copies, and/or distribute worldwide all or part of the thesis/dissertation, subject to the conditions outlined.
If applicable, the student should submit copies of any required copyright permissions prior to the final thesis/dissertation submission to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies. The student should also retain copies of all copyright permission requests and approvals.
The following sections provide guidance and suggestions with respect to when and how to secure copyright permission. It is, however, the responsibility of the student to confirm that if there is copyrighted material in his or her thesis/dissertation, it either complies with the “fair dealing” provisions of the Canadian Copyright Act or documented permission has been obtained to use the copyrighted material. The Office of the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies cannot offer legal advice as to whether or not copyright permission is required.
Limit of Copyright Protection : Copyright protection applies to original, literary, musical, dramatic or artistic works in a variety of forms, including written materials, computer software, and web-based formats regardless of whether the work in question is published or not and whether someone has made it available to the public or not. This protection expires 50 years after the death of the originator, regardless of who holds copyright at that time.
Public Domain : A work that is freely available to the public is not necessarily in the public domain. For a work to be in the public domain, the originator must have specifically waived copyright to the work, or copyright must have legally expired. Work that is in the public domain can be used by anyone without copyright being violated.
Fair Dealing : A student is allowed to use copyrighted material in his or her thesis/dissertation provided it falls under the Canadian Copyright Act's definition of "fair dealing". Information on York University’s Fair Dealing Guidelines can be reviewed at York University—Copyright .
While it is required academic practice to cite sources, proper citation does not remove the obligation to obtain documented permission to use copyrighted permission that is not covered under the “fair dealing” provisions of the Canadian Copyright Act. If a thesis/dissertation includes any of the following elements, the student should seek copyright permission. (Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. If you require additional information on York’s Copyright Policy or Fair Dealing Guidelines contact the Copyright Office at [email protected] ).
- Material or parts of material written by the thesis/dissertation author which have been previously published in a journal and to which the author has assigned copyright
- Material co-authored with another author(s) who share copyright
- Tables, figures, and all forms of images including photos, maps, graphs, drawings, logos etc. that have been obtained from a copyrighted source, including websites, newspapers, journals, books, brochures, professors' lecture notes, etc.
- Scripts and recordings of any performance
In cases where a student is not certain that his or her use of copyrighted material is covered under the "fair dealing" provisions of the Canadian Copyright Act, documented permission from the copyright holder(s) must be obtained in order to include the material in the thesis/dissertation. Since securing copyright permission may take some time, it is strongly recommended that students being this process sooner rather than later. Please note that the copyright holder must be aware of and agree to the terms of the York University Copyright License and Library and Archives Canada Thesis Non-Exclusive License.
If seeking permission from a journal, a good first step is to check the journal’s website, which may provide information with respect to copyright, including advance permission to journal authors who have signed over copyright, how to request permission, and uses that are specifically prohibited. There are also a number of websites that may be helpful in determining the copyright policies of particular journals/publishers, including Sherpa Romeo and EPrints . Some journals and publishers provide (on their website or on request) a policy statement granting copyright permission to the author of a thesis/dissertation who signed over copyright to the journal/publisher. In such cases, retain a copy of that policy statement as evidence of documented permission.
Alternatively, a student should contact the copyright holder. Sample text for a copyright permission request is included below. Although email proof of permission is acceptable, please note that an original, signed letter on the copyright holder’s letterhead is the best protection against accusations of copyright violation.
Students should provide copies of any required copyright permissions prior to submission of their final thesis/dissertation to the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies. Students should also retain copies of all copyright permission requests and approvals.
[Date] [Name] [Address] Re: Request for Permission to Use Copyrighted Material in a Thesis/Dissertation Dear: I am a York University student preparing my thesis/dissertation for submission as part of the requirements of my master’s/doctoral degree in [program]. The title of my [thesis/dissertation] is: […] The reason I am writing is to ask permission to include the following material in my thesis/dissertation: [Provide standard reference information for the material, including figure/table number, if any, and page numbers. If appropriate, you can also briefly describe the manner/context in which the material will be used in thesis/dissertation.] The material will be fully cited in my thesis/dissertation. In the interest of facilitating research by others, my thesis/dissertation will be available on the internet for reference, study and/or copy. The electronic version of my thesis/dissertation will be accessible through the York University Libraries website and catalogue, and also through various web search engines. I will be granting Library and Archives Canada a non-exclusive license to reproduce, loan, distribute, or sell single copies of my thesis by any means and in any form or format. These rights will in no way restrict republication of the material in any other form by you or by others authorized by you. Could you please confirm in writing or by email that these arrangements meet with your approval. If you do not solely control the copyright in the material, please let me know as soon as possible. I would also appreciate any information you can provide about others to whom I should write to request permission. If you would like to confirm permission in writing, you can do so by signing and completing the information below and returning this signed and completed letter in the enclosed self-addressed stamped envelope by [date]. If you would like to confirm permission by email, my email address is […]. Sincerely, [Your Name and Signature] I, the undersigned, hereby represent and warrant that I have authority to grant the permission requested and do grant the permission. Signature: Name:
Students must include full citations for any copyrighted material used in their thesis/dissertation regardless of source, including photos, pictures, charts, graphs and tables.
Each citation must include the copyright symbol, name of the copyright holder (who may or may not be the author), and, if applicable, a statement that the use of the material or adaptation (in the case of adapted graphics) is by permission of the copyright holder.
In cases where use of copyrighted material is not covered under the "fair dealing" provisions of the Canadian Copyright Act and a student is unable to secure permission from the copyright holder (or there is a charge for obtaining permission), the material in question must be removed from the thesis/dissertation. In its place, the student should indicate that the material has been removed because of copyright restrictions.
Depending upon the nature of the material, the student may want to include additional information. In the case of a figure or image that has been removed, a description of the missing material and a full citation of source material and where it can be found (including, if possible, a link to an online source) would be helpful to those reading the thesis/dissertation. In the case of a chapter that was previously published in a journal, an abstract of the chapter content and link to the journal website where the article can be found could be provided.
Intellectual Property
The Faculty of Graduate Studies recognizes the mission of the university to seek, preserve, and disseminate knowledge and to conduct research in a fair, open, and morally responsible manner. In such regard, the Faculty of Graduate Studies believes that intellectual property rights are divided among several interests, and that the rights and obligations of various claimants should be specified, fairly regulated, and that disputes arising may be mediated. All parties (students and faculty) are expected to behave in an ethically appropriate manner beyond their immediate graduate student/supervisory relationship, to encompass intellectual property rights, dissemination of research data, and in making decisions on authorship and publication of joint research. Because of the varied cultural aspects and practices that differ among the graduate programs, each program is responsible for enacting and enforcing this policy of appropriate ethical practices on intellectual property rights, in compliance with the Faculty Policy on Intellectual Property for Graduate Programs . Programs that choose not to enact their own specific policy are bound by the Faculty Policy on Intellectual Property for Graduate Programs.
Organization & Technical Requirements
Although the form, style, sections, etc. of main body (text) of the thesis/dissertation may differ from program to program, all theses/dissertations must include the following components in the following order.
The front matter of the thesis/dissertation must be numbered with lower case Roman numerals. The page number should be not be included on the title page, although the title page is considered page i. Numbering must be included starting with the abstract, as page ii, and continue until the end of the front matter, as follows:
Title Page | No number appears |
Abstract | Numbered as: ii |
Dedication (optional) | Numbered as: iii |
Acknowledgments (optional) | Numbered as: iv |
Table of Contents | Numbered as: v |
List of Tables, if appropriate | Numbered as: vi |
List of Figures, if appropriate | Numbered as: vii |
List of Illustrations, if appropriate | Numbered as: ix |
The main body of the thesis/dissertation, starting with the introduction or chapter one, must be numbered with Arabic numerals, beginning with the number 1. Each chapter of the main body must begin on a separate page. Footnotes and/or endnotes are considered part of the main body of the thesis/dissertation.
The back matter of the thesis/dissertation includes references (or the bibliography), as well as any appendices, glossaries, indexes, where and as applicable. The back matter must be numbered with Arabic numerals, which should follow from the last page of the main body of the thesis/dissertation.
Each appendix must be assigned an alphabetical letter and title, (e.g., Appendix A: Title). Appendices are ordered in the same sequence as they are referred to in the body of the text; that is, the appendix first mentioned in the text is assigned the letter A, the second is B, etc. Materials in the appendices that are copied from other sources must meet the same requirements as the body of the paper, for example, copies or scans from books, maps, etc., must be clear and legible, and must maintain the same margins.
Technical Requirements
A sample title page is provided below. The title page should include the following information:
- Thesis/Dissertation Title: The title should provide a concise and meaningful description of the thesis/dissertation. It is recommended that the title include key words to make the thesis/dissertation more easily searchable. It is also recommended that formulas, Greek letters, symbols and abbreviations be avoided in the title, and that they be written out as words instead.
- Student Name: The name on the title page must be the one under which the student is registered at York University.
- All title pages must include the following statement: A Dissertation* submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy* [*For a master’s thesis, replace “Dissertation” with “Thesis”, and indicate the master’s degree designation (e.g. Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Fine Arts) in place of “Doctor of Philosophy”]
- Program and Institution: Name of Program [e.g. English, Biology, Music], York University, Toronto, Ontario
- Date: The month and year that the Chair of the Examining Committee confirmed successful defense of the thesis/dissertation
- Copyright: The universal copyright symbol ©, followed by the student name (which must be the name under which the student is registered at York University) and year that the Chair of the Examining Committee confirmed successful defense of the thesis/dissertation.
The information on the title page may be centered, as long as all margins are at least 1 inch (25 mm). The font of the title page need not be the same as that used in the sample title page provided below.
Each thesis or dissertation must contain an abstract. The abstract is expected to give a succinct account of the thesis/dissertation so that a reader can decide whether to read the complete work.
For master’s theses, the abstract cannot exceed 150 words, while, for doctoral dissertations, the abstract cannot exceed 350 words. An abstract contains a statement of the problem, the procedure or methods used, the results and the conclusions.
The abstract should be inserted immediately following the Title Page, and should be numbered "ii".
An acknowledgements page may be included.
The Table of Contents, List of Tables and List of Figures, where applicable, should follow the abstract (or acknowledgements, if any). Curriculum vitae, list of student-authored publications, or conference presentations do not form part of the contents of the thesis/dissertation. A truncated version of the Table of Contents should not precede each chapter.
The document must be formatted using letter-sized pages (8.5 x 11 inches).
The same font type (e.g. Arial or Times New Roman) should be used throughout the thesis/dissertation, particularly the main body.
The font size of the main body of the thesis/dissertation must be a minimum of 10 points, with smaller font sizes permitted for endnotes/footnotes, graphs, formulae, appendices, etc. A font size larger than 12 points is not recommended for the main body of the thesis/dissertation.
The line spacing must be at least one-and-a-half (1.5) spaces or double-spaced. Single spacing may be used for long quotations and foot/endnotes.
All margins must beat least 1 inch (25mm). Margins may be wider but not narrower than the stated requirements. For example, the first page of every chapter may have a top margin of 2.5 inches.
Running headers to put title, name, chapter, etc., on each page are not acceptable.
All page numbers should be in a consistent location, that is either centre bottom, centre top, right top corner, or right bottom corner. They must fall at the 1 inch (25 mm) margin. There should be no blank pages or large blank spaces within the thesis or dissertation.
Each diagram and table should be numbered. Page numbers should appear in the same position on the page as they appear elsewhere in the body of the text. Tables may be horizontal or vertical as long as the required margins are used. Diagrams must be generated by graphic software.
All images included in the thesis or dissertation should be of high quality and sufficient resolution.
- Sample Title Page (.pdf)
- Sample Table of Contents (.pdf)
- Sample List of Tables (.pdf)
Oral Examination
Master’s thesis exam committees.
A thesis examining committee shall consist of at least three voting members, including the Chair, as follows:
- two graduate faculty members chosen from the program and/or supervisory committee, at least one of whom must be from the supervisory committee;
- one graduate faculty member at arm’s length from the thesis 1 , and for whom there is no conflict of interest 2 .
The Chair of the examining committee shall be chosen from among the voting members. Members of the student’s thesis supervisory committee may be members of the examining committee, but the principal supervisor may not serve as the Chair of the examining committee.
These are minimum requirements with respect to the composition of and quorum for thesis examining committees. Individual graduate programs may include one additional voting member on examining committees, in accordance with program requirements and procedures.
In exceptional circumstances, the Dean may approve a program director’s recommendation that a York University faculty member who is not a member of the graduate faculty serve as a member (but not the Chair) of an examining committee. Such recommendations are to be accompanied by a brief rationale and an up-to-date curriculum vitae, which may be attached to the Recommendation for Oral Examination Form .
In addition to the voting members, the thesis examining committee may include the following ex-officio members (non-voting, unless present as one of the voting members named above): Vice-President Academic & Provost, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies or their representative, Graduate Program Director.
The examination may be conducted in person, remotely by videoconference, or in hybrid format, the student’s preference of which is to be considered.
External examiners who would otherwise require local lodging will be asked to participate remotely via videoconference unless there is a demonstrable benefit to in-person participation. Local members of the examination committee are expected to participate in person, on campus.
1 “Arm’s length” refers to a relationship which is “conducted between parties that have no corporate or other direct connections, familial or financial relationships with each other, and thus act each in its own self-interest.”
2 Individuals in the Faculty of Graduate Studies are responsible for ensuring that they do not have a real, perceived, or potential conflict of interest that may impact the integrity of their activities, particularly, involving assessment and evaluation arising from current, previous, or foreseen future relationships. See Conflict of Interest Disclosure with Respect to Graduate Student Education for more information.
The membership of each master’s thesis exam committee, including designation of the Chair, must be recommended by the appropriate graduate program director for approval and appointment by the Dean of Graduate Studies as soon as possible and no later than 15 business days before the date set for the oral examination.
Copies of the master’s thesis approved by the supervisory committee must be provided to the members of the examining committee no less than 15 business days before the date of the oral examination.
Prior to the establishment of a master’s thesis exam committee, the student’s supervisory committee must read the thesis and agree that the version read is ready to proceed to oral examination.
Following agreement by the supervisory committee that the thesis is ready to proceed to oral examination, recommendation for membership of a master’s thesis exam committee (as well as the date and location of the oral exam) is formally initiated by the graduate program director via submission of a Recommendation for Oral Examination Form to the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies.
Final approval of master’s thesis exam committee membership recommendations rests with the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Scheduling of Master’s Thesis Oral Exams
In consultation with the student and the members of the exam committee, the graduate program director will recommend the date, time and location of an oral exam via submission of a Recommendation for Oral Examination Form .
Oral examinations for master’s theses shall be held normally no less than 15 business days from the date on which copies of the completed thesis approved by the supervisory committee are sent to each member of the examining committee.
The student must be registered as active for the term in which the oral exam is scheduled to take place.
Number of Copies The number of copies of a thesis required for an oral exam depends upon the number of members on the exam committee. A thesis exam committee consists of at least three voting members, including the Chair. However, it is often the case that more than three copies of the thesis are required for an oral exam. The thesis supervisor or program director will inform the student how many copies of the thesis are required for the exam.
Nature of Copies The student is responsible for ensuring that all members of the exam committee have an e-copy of the thesis, unless prior approval has been received for the submission of a paper copy. (If paper copies are submitted for the oral exam, the pagination and formatting of each page of the paper copies and the e-copies must match.)
For a complex electronic thesis, the student is responsible for ensuring that all members of the exam committee have an e-copy of the written component of the thesis, unless prior approval has been received for the submission of a paper copy. (If paper copies are submitted for the oral exam, the pagination and formatting of each page of the paper copies and the e-copies must match.) For the remaining component of the work, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the work produced for the thesis can be examined by the examining committee. Students producing a multimedia thesis should consult with the Library and Archives Canada website for advice on formats supportable for preservation. However, a student may work in/submit work in an unsupported format as part of the oral exam as long as the work is readily accessible by the exam committee and the student submits a written component.
For a multimodal thesis, the student is responsible for ensuring that all members of the exam committee have an e-copy of the written component of the thesis, unless prior approval has been received for the submission of a paper copy. (If paper copies are submitted for the oral exam, the pagination and formatting of each page of the paper copies and the e-copies must match.) For the remaining component of the work, it is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements for the exam committee to view/engage in the non-written component.
Note: If an examining committee member requests a paper copy of the written component(s) of the thesis, it is the graduate program's responsibility to make arrangements once an e-copy has been provided by the student.
Before an oral examination can be convened, a majority of the exam committee members must agree that the thesis is examinable. The graduate program director shall poll the members of the exam committee five business days before the scheduled date for the oral. If the student does not receive a majority vote, the members of the examining committee who do not agree that the thesis is examinable are required to give their reasons in writing to the student, the supervisor, and the Dean within five business days after the poll. In such cases, the oral shall be postponed for a period not to exceed 12 months. However, the student has the right to insist that the oral proceed as planned.
External examiners who would otherwise require local lodging will be asked to participate remotely via videoconference unless there is a demonstrable benefit to in-person participation. Local members of the examination committee are expected to participate in person, on campus. For doctoral oral examinations, if more than two participants in the examination in total wish to participate remotely via videoconference, then the candidate and supervisor must consent, with a rationale provided to the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies for approval. The wishes of the examination candidate are paramount to the Dean’s decision.
With the consent of the voting members of the examination committee, the program director and the student, the Dean may approve a recommendation that an oral examination be rescheduled due to exceptional circumstances.
The use of audio-visual (AV) equipment at oral exams is governed by the following principles:
- AV equipment may be used for oral exam presentations but the Faculty of Graduate Studies is not responsible for ordering supplies or equipment (e.g., overhead projectors).
- Audio-taping or videotaping of oral exams is not permitted.
The oral exam is a public academic event. Faculty members, graduate students and others may attend oral exams at the discretion of the Chair of the exam committee. They may, at the discretion of the Chair, participate in the questioning. Only members of the exam committee may be present for the evaluation and for the vote at the conclusion of an oral exam.
Master’s Thesis Oral Exam Evaluation Guidelines and Reporting of Results
- Master’s theses submitted by students in partial fulfillment of degree requirements must be successfully defended at oral examinations. The oral examination will centre on the thesis.
- the committee accepts the thesis with no revisions; or,
- the committee accepts the thesis with specified revisions.
- Specified revisions could range from typographical errors or changes of a minor editorial nature, to specified insertions or deletions which do not radically modify the development/argument of the thesis. The committee must specify such changes with precision. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that all such changes are made and the Chair will confirm that this is the case. Specified revisions must be completed within six months of the date of the oral examination.
- In cases where there is one vote for major revision, specified revisions are expected.
- the committee agrees that the thesis requires substantive changes in order to be acceptable; or,
- there are a minimum of two votes for major revision; or,
- there is one vote for failure.
- the committee will reconvene within twelve months to continue the oral examination; or,
- the revised thesis will be circulated within twelve months to all members, who will inform the Chair whether they feel the stipulated requirements have been met.
- Detailed reasons for referring pending major revisions must be supplied in writing by the Chair to the Dean, the program director and the student within 10 business days.
- After an adjournment and when the major revisions have been completed, the thesis is failed if there are two or more votes for failure. A thesis cannot be referred for major revisions more than once and no further adjournment is permitted. In the event of failure, detailed reasons must be supplied in writing by the Chair to the Dean, program director and student within 10 business days.
- A thesis is failed if there are a minimum of two votes for failure. In the event of failure, detailed reasons must be supplied in writing by the Chair to the Dean, program director and student within 10 business days.
The results of the oral exam, as determined by the exam committee in accordance with the evaluation guidelines described above, are reported to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, via the Oral Examination Report Form . The form should be signed by the Chair of the exam committee and should include, where appropriate, details regarding any required revisions under “comments”.
In accordance with the evaluation guidelines described above, the Oral Examination Report Form requires that the committee reach one of the following four decisions:
- Accepted with No Revision
- Accepted Pending Specified Revisions The nature of the revisions should be agreed to by the exam committee and reported in detail on Oral Examination Report Form under “comments”. Specified revisions must be completed within six months of the date of the oral exam. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that all of the specified revisions are made and the Chair will confirm that this is the case. Approval of specified revisions should be reported to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, via the Revisions Approved Memorandum or via email to the appropriate Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator .
- Referred Pending Major Revisions In cases involving a referred pending major revisions decisions, one of the following procedures, agreed upon by the committee before the examination is adjourned, must be used to finalize the oral results: a) the committee will reconvene within twelve months to continue the oral examination, or b) the revised thesis will be circulated within twelve months to all members, who will inform the Chair whether they feel the stipulated requirements have been met. Please note that a clear consensus must be reached by the committee as to the extent and nature of the revisions required. Detailed reasons for referring pending major revision must be supplied in writing by the Chair of the exam committee to the Dean, the program director and the candidate concerned within 10 business days. Approval of major revisions should be reported to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, via the Revisions Approved Memorandum or via email to the appropriate Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator .
- Failed In the event of failure, detailed reasons must be supplied in writing by the Chair of the exam committee to the Dean, program director and candidate within 10 business days.
Exam Committee Roles and Responsibilities
Before an oral examination can be convened, a majority of the exam committee members must agree that the dissertation is examinable. The graduate program director shall poll the members of the exam committee five business days before the scheduled date for the oral. If the student does not receive a majority vote, the members of the examining committee who do not agree that the thesis is examinable are required to give their reasons in writing to the student, the supervisor, and the Dean within five business days after the poll. In such cases, the oral shall be postponed for a period not to exceed 12 months. However, the student has the right to insist that the oral proceed as planned.
For master’s theses, the Chair of the exam committee shall be chosen from among the voting members. Members of the student’s thesis supervisory committee may be members of the exam committee, but the principal supervisor may not serve as the Chair of the exam committee.
The Chair of the exam committee normally participates fully in the questioning of the candidate, the discussion and the vote.
In general, the role of the Chair of the exam committee is to ensure:
- that the process of oral exam is fair and orderly,
- that the student is truly being examined and challenged, and
- that high standards of scholarship are met.
Prior to the formal start of the oral exam, the Chair should:
- verify that all members of the exam committee are present. (If any member is not in attendance, the examination shall be postponed. Only under rare, exceptional and compelling circumstances can an oral examination proceed in the absence of the external examiner. Please see Role of the External Examiner below for more details.)
- verify that the members of the exam committee are agreed that the thesis/dissertation is “examinable”. (If the thesis/dissertation is found to be unexaminable at this time, the oral exam may be postponed for a period not to exceed 12 months. However, the student has the right to insist that the oral proceed as planned.)
- discuss with the members of the Committee the expected length of the examination, and the order in which the exam committee will question the student.
At the outset of and during the oral exam, the Chair should:
- clarify to both the exam committee and the student the procedures to be followed,
- determine the point at which further questioning will not produce additional useful information for the consideration of the exam committee, and
- monitor the procedures throughout the oral exam.
After the candidate and any observers have left the room, the Chair should:
- assess the committee’s opinion from the discussion, including whether the exam committee considers the work sufficiently outstanding to merit nomination for the Faculty of Graduate Studies Thesis/Dissertation Prize.
- If there is no consensus, the Chair should call for a vote to determine the outcome of the oral exam. The outcome of the vote shall be governed by the master’s thesis oral exam evaluation guidelines.
- In cases of accepted pending specified revisions, the Chair should ensure the nature of the on the Oral Examination Report Form under “comments”. A clear consensus must be reached by the committee as to the extent of the revisions required.
- the revised dissertation will be circulated within twelve months to all members, who will inform the Chair whether they feel the stipulated requirements have been met.
After the exam committee has reached a decision, the Chair should:
- recall the candidate to convey the decision, including a description of any required revisions, as appropriate, and
- inform the program director if the thesis/dissertation has been nominated for the Faculty of Graduate Studies Thesis/Dissertation Prize, where applicable.
If the thesis/dissertation was accepted with no revisions , the Chair should:
- ensure that a properly completed and signed Oral Examination Report Form, is returned to the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies.
If the thesis/dissertation was accepted pending specified revisions , the Chair should:
- ensure that a properly completed (including a clear description of the required revisions) and signed Oral Examination Report Form is returned to the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that all of the specified revisions are made and the Chair will confirm that this is the case. Specified revisions must be completed within six months of the date of the oral exam.
- Approval of specified revisions should be reported to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, via the Revisions Approved Memorandum or via email to the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator .
In cases of referred pending major revisions , the Chair should:
- ensure that a properly completed (including a clear description of the required revisions) is returned to the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, and
- provide detailed reasons for the exam committee’s decision in writing to the Dean, program director and student within 10 business days of the oral exam.
When major revisions have been completed satisfactorily as decided by the exam committee, the Chair should:
- Report approval of the major revisions to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, via the Revisions Approved Memorandum or via email to the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator .
In cases of failure , the Chair should:
- ensure that a properly completed and signed Oral Examination Report Form is returned to the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, and
The exam committee members have the responsibility of ensuring that high standards of scholarship are met.
The “at arm’s length from the thesis/dissertation” committee member has a particular responsibility of ensuring that these high standards of scholarship are met from a perspective broader than that of the student’s own program. Such exam committee members who are appointed to the student’s program should be especially mindful of this responsibility.
Note: The following description of external examiner roles and responsibilities applies to those master’s programs that require an external or outside examiner on their exam committee.
External examiners are expected to be established academics, normally members of a graduate Faculty at another university. The assessment of the dissertation provided by the external examiner should be treated as the yardstick by which to measure the quality of the candidate’s work relative to standards at other universities. The external examiner is a voting member of the Committee and must have been at arm’s length from the dissertation. The external examiner does not have a formal power of veto, but the exam committee must have substantial reasons for not accepting an external examiner’s recommendation, especially if the recommendation is negative. The external examiner’s written comments will be provided to the other members of the exam committee prior to the oral exam and, where the exam committee deems advisable and the external examiner agrees, may be made available to the student at the end of the oral exam.
Only under rare, exceptional and compelling circumstances can an oral examination proceed in the absence of the external examiner, and only with the express permission of the Dean. In such circumstances, the following conditions must be met:
- the external’s absence must be unplanned and unavoidable (i.e. it must have been the initial intent that the external would be present);
- a written assessment of the dissertation must be received before the scheduled examination, including certification that the dissertation is examinable, and identification of any areas that need revision, or questioning and clarification at the oral exam. However, if the external examiner feels that the result of the examination depends upon the oral exam, then the external examiner shall be present or the oral exam will be postponed until the external examiner can be present or an alternative external examiner is appointed.
In addition to the voting members, the Vice-President Academic & Provost and Graduate Program Director may along with the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies or his/her representative, participate as ex-officio members (non-voting, unless present as one of the voting members) on master’s thesis exam committees.
As the oral examination is the culmination of a graduate student’s study and advances the mission of York University as a whole, the inclusion of these positions as ex-officio members of the thesis and dissertation exam committees recognizes and emphasizes the importance of the oral exam. Due to the nature of the workload of the incumbents in these positions, they are not expected to attend every oral exam. When they do attend in their capacity as ex-officio members, they are encouraged to be active participants, but they do not vote.
- For those master’s programs that require an external or outside examiner, the written comments provided by the external examiner will be made available to the committee prior to the oral exam.
- At the oral exam, the student may be given the opportunity to present an oral summary of his or her work. If this procedure is followed, the Chair of the exam committee will inform the student and indicate the time available.
- Normally, the first round of questions will refer to general aspects of the work. Subsequent questions will deal with more detailed matters. For all doctoral dissertation oral exams and for those master’s programs that require an external or outside examiner, the external examiner will normally begin each round of questioning and will be followed by the other members of the committee in an order agreed upon before the exam.
- The Chair of the exam committee will ensure that each member of the exam committee has an equal opportunity to pose questions. After the formal rounds of questioning, general discussion and order of further questioning will be at the Chair’s discretion.
- The question period should normally run its natural course, with members of the exam committee indicating when they are satisfied. The Chair of the exam committee will, however use his/her discretion as to the appropriate closing point. For a master’s thesis, a general guideline for the length of the oral exam is approximately 10 to 20 minutes for presentation (if applicable) and 1.5 hours for questioning. For a doctoral dissertation, a general guideline for the length of the oral exam is 20 to 40 minutes for presentation (if applicable) and 2 hours for questioning.
- After the candidate and any observers have left the room, the exam committee will discuss the work and the oral defense of that work, the discussion beginning with the external examiner’s remarks.
- The Chair of the exam committee will then assess the committee’s opinion from the discussion.
- If there is no consensus, the Chair of the exam committee will call for a vote to determine the outcome of the oral exam. The outcome of the vote shall be governed by the master’s thesis oral exam evaluation guidelines and doctoral dissertation oral exam evaluation guidelines.
- In cases of accepted pending specified revisions , the nature of the revisions will be agreed to by the exam committee and reported in detail by the Chair in the “comments” section of the Oral Examination Report Form.
- In cases of major revision , the Chair of the exam committee will confirm which of the following two procedures, agreed upon by the committee before the exam is adjourned, will be used to finalize the oral results: a) the committee will reconvene within twelve months to continue the oral examination; or, b) the revised dissertation will be circulated within twelve months to all members, who will inform the Chair whether they feel the stipulated requirements have been met.
- After the exam committee has reached a decision, the candidate will be recalled and informed by the Chair of the outcome of the examination. Should revisions be required, their exact nature will be transmitted to the student by the Chair.
- The written comments of the external examiner will, with his or her permission, be provided to the student and program director.
- In cases of accepted pending specified revisions , it is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that all of the specified revisions are made and the Chair will confirm that this is the case. Specified revisions must be completed within six months of the date of the oral examination. Approval of specified revisions should be reported to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, via the Revisions Approved Memorandum or via email to the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator .
- In cases of referred pending major revisions or failure , the Chair will provide detailed reasons for the exam committee’s decision in writing to the Dean, program director and student within 10 business days of the oral exam. When major revisions have been completed satisfactorily as decided by the exam committee, the Chair should report approval of the major revisions to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, via the Revisions Approved Memorandum or via email to the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator .
Final Submission
Following a successful oral exam (including confirmed approval of any specified revisions or major revisions), submission by the student of the final approved thesis/dissertation is a requirement for graduation and convocation.
The thesis or dissertation is submitted electronically using York University’s Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) platform. The Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, will check that the thesis/dissertation meets the Faculty’s organizational and technical requirements, and has the right to refuse any unacceptable document until it is submitted in acceptable form.
Once the submission is approved and all requirements for graduation are met, the thesis/ dissertation will be transferred to YorkSpace, York University's institutional repository of research outputs, where it will be accessible to Library and Archives Canada as well as major search engines and other repositories.
The degree completion date is NOT based on the date of the oral examination; it is based on the date of submission to the Electronic Thesis & Dissertation Tool (ETD) and to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies of the acceptable final approved copy. Students are responsible for active registration and all tuition fees until the final copy is submitted to and approved by the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies.
Submission deadlines with respect to convocation can be found under Important Dates .
An ETD record will be created for each student by the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies once all of the following have been received:
- Oral Examination Report (passed)
- Revisions Approved Memorandum, if applicable
- Library and Archives Canada Theses Non-Exclusive License form, signed and dated
- Copies of copyright permissions (if applicable)
Once an ETD record is opened, the student will receive an email with instructions on how to log in and complete their submission. Students should ensure that they have followed the organization and technical requirements for theses/dissertations prior to making a submission to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies through the ETD platform . If, after reading the Organization & Technical Requirements section of this handbook, students have any questions concerning formatting and preparation, they should direct these questions to the appropriate Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator . Instructions for the use of the ETD platform are available at Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) below.
By signing the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) Theses Non-Exclusive License form, the student authorizes LAC to reproduce, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, communicate to the public, loan, distribute and sell the thesis/dissertation for commercial or non-commercial purposes. Further information about the Non-Exclusive License and the Library & Archives Canada thesis program is available on the Library and Archives Canada website.
The student must also accept the terms of the York University Copyright License as part of the electronic submission of their thesis/dissertation using the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) application.
If required, students should provide copies of any needed copyright permissions prior to the final thesis/dissertation submission. Students should also retain copies of all copyright permission requests and approvals.
As a publicly funded institution, York University has an obligation to ensure that research produced by its graduate students is available for the benefit of the public, particularly by making successfully defended theses and dissertations available through York University Libraries and Library and Archives Canada. With that in mind, there is normally no restriction on the publication of and access to successfully defended theses and dissertations. However, in some exceptional instances it may be detrimental to the author or sponsor of the thesis/dissertation research to have the thesis/dissertation publicly available immediately following a successful defence. Valid reasons to delay publication/restrict access to a successfully defended thesis/dissertation may include:
- approved intellectual property contract between a research sponsor and the University that specifies a period of confidentiality;
- that public distribution of the thesis/dissertation would invalidate a patent application;
- that public distribution of the thesis/dissertation would invalidate a publication contract; and,
- that public distribution of the thesis/dissertation would pose a risk to the personal safety of the author.
Prior to submission of the final version of their thesis being accepted on the Electronic Thesis & Dissertation Tool (ETD), students may request to delay (or to extend a previously approved delay) publication of/restrict access to their thesis/dissertation for a maximum of three years. Requests for embargo must be made to the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, through the Request for a Delay of Publication (Embargo) on a Thesis or Dissertation form , prior to the submission of the final version of the thesis/dissertation. Requests will only be considered with the recommendation of the student’s supervisor and graduate program director. If approved, the body of the thesis/dissertation will be withheld from York University Libraries and Library and Archives Canada for the approved period. At the end of the approved period, the body of the thesis/dissertation will be released to York University Libraries and Library and Archives Canada via YorkSpace. To submit a request for an embargo/delay of publication, including extension requests, please do so using the Request for a Delay of Publication (Embargo) on a Thesis or Dissertation Form . Your request will be reviewed by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and a decision will be communicated to you by email. For more information on the Delay of Publication/Embargo Processes, please contact the Graduate Record & Enrolment Coordinator for your Faculty.
Students who wish to have personal copies of the thesis/dissertation bound must make their own arrangements.
How to Submit
Submitting your thesis/dissertation using York University's Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) application is a quick and easy process.
The instructions below outline the step-by-step process of using the application. Please refer to the Thesis, Dissertation and Submission Guidelines above for details on the policies and process leading up to the point of final submission, including formatting and other requirements. To view the York University ETD collection, visit the Faculty of Graduate Studies section on YorkSpace .
You can access the ETD application from any computer with an internet connection. Recommended browsers include Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Opera.
Instructions for converting your thesis to a PDF file are available on the YorkSpace Resources Site .
An ETD record will be set up for you by a staff member in the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS). FGS will need to receive the following before you will be able to access your record:
- Oral Examination Report (normally provided by the Dean’s representative on your Examining Committee as soon as possible following your defense);
- Revisions Approved Memorandum, if applicable (if your thesis/dissertation was approved with specified revisions). A blank form is usually provided to you by FGS prior to your defense. You will need to ensure it is completed and returned to FGS;
- Library and Archives Canada Theses Non–Exclusive License form (.pdf) , signed and dated;
- Copies of copyright permissions, if applicable.
Once all of the above items have been received, you will receive an email from a Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator letting you know that your ETD record has been created and inviting you to log in using your Passport York ID . Click on the link provided in the email to take you to etd.library.yorku.ca .
You’ll notice that there is a navigation bar across the top of the screen. You can click on any of the “tabs” to move back and forth through the process.
![thesis submission university of york](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/wp-content/uploads/sites/184/2021/04/etd-navigation-bar.jpg)
At the bottom right of each screen there are also arrows you can click on to move on to the next step (or move back).
![thesis submission university of york image showing the location of the navigation arrows for ETD upload process](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/wp-content/uploads/sites/184/2021/04/etd-navigation-arrows.jpg)
You will not lose data by moving back and forth.
You can stop and save your work at any point in the process, and resume your submission simply by logging back in. To save your work, click on the navigation arrow at the bottom right of your screen. The information you have entered will be stored until you log back in.
As long as the status of your ETD record is “Open”, you can continue to make edits, updates and changes. Only once you have clicked on “I accept and send for review” on the “Submit for Review” tab will your record be closed.
If for some reason you need to request that your submission be re-opened (for example if you notice a mistake or forgot to add something), please email a Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator .
If you’d like more information or instructions for any of the fields you are being asked to fill out, just click on the question mark icon next to the field.
![thesis submission university of york](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/wp-content/uploads/sites/184/2021/04/etd-help.jpg)
If you still have questions, you may wish to contact:
- A Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies;
- Your Graduate Program Assistant.
Step by Step Instructions
On the first screen you will find welcome text, along with the title of your thesis/dissertation and some other information from your student record (such as your degree name and program).
To begin entering your details, click on the title of your thesis/dissertation. Alternatively, you can click on the “Update Details” button on the bottom right, or on the “Update Details” tab in the navigation bar.
![thesis submission university of york screenshot highlighting the title of the work](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/wp-content/uploads/sites/184/2021/04/etd-begin-submission.jpg)
On the second screen, “Update Details”, you’ll notice that there are some fields already filled in, and others that you will need to complete.
![thesis submission university of york screenshot highlighting the pre-filled fields in the ETD details](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/wp-content/uploads/sites/184/2021/04/etd-update-details.jpg)
The fields that are already filled in are automatically pulled from your Student Information System (SIS) and Graduate Event Module (GEM) records. You cannot edit these fields yourself, so if you notice an error, please contact a Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator at a Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator . In the second section, you’ll find the following fields for you to complete:
Language : Click on the arrow to see the drop down menu. You will be able to select English, French, or Other (a thesis or dissertation normally should be written in English, but approval may be given to write in French or the language of any Aboriginal/First Nations people in North America).
![thesis submission university of york screenshot highlighting the language drop-down menu](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/wp-content/uploads/sites/184/2021/04/etd-language.jpg)
Abstract: Copy and paste your abstract into this field (the abstract must be provided in English regardless of the language of your thesis or dissertation). Please note the maximum number of words allowed (Master’s thesis 150 words; doctoral dissertation 350 words). Subjects: Click on the arrow to see the drop down menu. You must select at least one subject that best describes the overall subject of your thesis or dissertation. You have the option of selecting up to two additional secondary subjects from the other drop down menu boxes.
![thesis submission university of york screenshot highlighting the Search by Subject search bar and drop-down menu](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/wp-content/uploads/sites/184/2021/04/etd-subject.jpg)
Keywords: Enter as many terms or search phrases as you like. Please use a comma to separate each keyword or string of keywords. Tip: the more terms you provide, the more likely it is that users will find your work in their searches.
![thesis submission university of york screenshot highlight the keyboards text box](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/wp-content/uploads/sites/184/2021/04/etd-keywords.jpg)
When you are finished updating your details, click “Save Details” on the bottom right to move to the next screen, or to save and return later to make further updates.
![thesis submission university of york screenshot highlighting the Save Details button](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/wp-content/uploads/sites/184/2021/04/etd-save-details.jpg)
Uploading Files
Before uploading your files, you will need to save your thesis or dissertation as a PDF file (.pdf), which must be compatible with Adobe Acrobat version 5.0 or higher
This PDF document should contain the full body of your thesis/dissertation, including:
- title page;
- dedication (optional);
- acknowledgements (optional);
- table of contents;
- list of tables, figures and illustrations (if applicable);
- all chapters and written body of the thesis/dissertation;
- references or bibliography;
- all appendices.
You may upload only ONE PDF file.
Your document must be saved using the following naming convention:
Lastname_Firstname_MiddleInitial_yearofcopyright_PhDORMasters
Replace “Lastname” with your last name and “Firstname” with your first name. So, for example, if Jane Smith completed her PhD in 2014, she would save her documents as
Smith_Jane_E_2014_PhD.pdf
The “year of copyright” refers to the date that appears on the title page of your thesis/dissertation (this is the year you successfully defended).
To upload your file, simply click on the “upload primary file” button.
![thesis submission university of york screenshot highlighting the Upload Primary File button](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/wp-content/uploads/sites/184/2021/04/etd-upload.jpg)
A box will open giving you the option to choose a file from your computer or a disk, USB key or other source.
![thesis submission university of york screenshot highlighting the upload primary file browse button](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/wp-content/uploads/sites/184/2021/04/etd-upload-browse.jpg)
Once you have chosen the file, click on “upload.”
In addition to the PDF of your thesis or dissertation, you may have supplementary files to add. Supplementary files refer to items that are part of the approved, examined thesis/dissertation that cannot be included in the PDF, such as multi–media, sound, video or hypertext
A list of acceptable file formats includes:
- Documents: Portable Document Format (.pdf), Text (.txt), Hypertext Markup Language (.html, .htm), Open Document Format (.odt, .odp, .ods);
- Images: Portable Network Graphics format (.png), Tagged Image File format (.tif), JPEG (.jpg);
- Data: Comma–separated values (.csv) or other delimited text, Extensible Markup Language (.xml);
- Video: 8–10 bit uncompressed AVI (.avi);
- Audio: Free Lossless Audio Codec or WAVE (.flac or .wav).
If you wish to upload a type of file that you do not see on this list, please email Digital Initiatives @ York .
Keep in mind that a supplementary file is NOT an appendix. Regular appendices can be included in the PDF document of your thesis/dissertation.
To upload your file, simply click on the "upload supplementary files“ button.
![thesis submission university of york screenshot highlighting the Upload Supplementary Files button](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/wp-content/uploads/sites/184/2021/04/etd-upload-supplementary.jpg)
A box will open giving you the option to choose a file from your computer or a disk, USB key or other source. You may upload as many files as necessary, but no single file can exceed 500 MB. If you have a file that exceeds this size, please contact a Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator.
![thesis submission university of york screenshot highlighting the upload supplementary files browse button](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/wp-content/uploads/sites/184/2021/04/etd-supplementary1.jpg)
Once you have chosen the file, click on “upload.” To upload more than one file, simply click on the “upload supplementary files” button as many times as necessary.
When you have finished uploading all files, click “Review Details” on the bottom right to move to the next screen, or to save and return later to make further updates.
This is an opportunity for you to do a final confirmation that all of the details are accurate and your record is complete. Please make sure that all uploaded files are attached (they will be listed at the bottom of this screen).
As always, you can use the navigation bar at the top or arrows in the bottom right corner to go back and update any information.
When you are certain that all the information is correct and complete, click on “Submit for Review” at bottom right.
The final step in submitting your thesis or dissertation is agreeing to the York University Copyright License.
By clicking on “I Accept and Send for Review,” you are confirming that your thesis/dissertation is your original work, that your thesis/dissertation does not infringe on any rights of others and that you have the right to make the grant conferred by this copyright license. In addition, you are granting a license to York University to make copies, including electronically formatted copies, and/or distribute worldwide all or part of your thesis or dissertation, subject to the conditions outlined.
You retain copyright to your thesis/dissertation and may make it available on a personal website and pursue other sources of publication as well.
If you have questions or concerns about this license, please contact your supervisor or a Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Faculty of Graduate Studies. You can then log back in to agree to the terms and make your submission once any queries you have are resolved.
Please carefully read this information and click on “I Accept and Send for Review” to send your thesis/dissertation to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Congratulations! You have completed your submission.
What Happens Next?
Once you send your thesis/dissertation for review, the status of your ETD record will change from “Open” to “Under Review” and you will not be able to make further changes. You will receive a confirmation email letting you know it is being reviewed.
If for some reason you realize you have made an error or forgotten to add something, you can email a Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator to request that your record be re–opened. Please remember to include your student ID number in all correspondence
After your submission has been reviewed by a Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in FGS, you will receive an email notifying you of one of two outcomes:
- Your submission has been approved and will be deposited in YorkSpace upon conferral of your degree; or,
- Your submission has formatting or other errors and has been returned to you for modification.
If your submission is returned to you for modification, your ETD record will be reopened to enable you to make the required changes and resubmit. The required changes will be outlined in the email you receive from the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator. If you are asked to make changes to your PDF thesis/dissertation document, simply replace the previously uploaded file with the updated one. Make sure you click on “I Accept and Send for Review” on the “Submit for Review” tab to resubmit your thesis/dissertation to FGS.
At any time you can log in to your ETD record to check on the status of your submission. Simply click on the “Check Status” tab in the navigation bar.
YorkSpace is York University’s Open Access Institutional Repository (IR). It is a platform that enables York community members to post, organize and preserve their research online in an institutional context. It showcases the scholarship of the York University community through the use of a special standards–based software platform that collects usage statistics and promotes visibility on the web.
Once your submission is approved by the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator and all required forms received and fees paid, your thesis/dissertation will be deposited in YorkSpace at the time of conferral of your degree, according to the publication date listed on your ETD record (normally either November 1 or July 1).
Once the thesis/dissertation is deposited in YorkSpace, it will be available for harvesting by Library and Archives Canada (LAC) Theses Portal , other Open Archives Initiative (OAI) metadata harvesters, and major search engines such as Google Scholar . You retain copyright to your thesis/dissertation and may make it available on a personal website and pursue other sources of publication as well.
Students who wish to have personal copies of their thesis/dissertation bound must make their own arrangements. One options availabe includes:
- Wallaceburg Bookbinding
Please note that you may be required to make minor formatting adjustments to your document to prepare it for binding. For example, many binders will require that the top and left margins are at least 1.5 inches.
Graduate students who are members of CUPE 3903 (Unit 1) may submit reimbursement requests for thesis, dissertation or MRP production costs to the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, using the Reimbursement of Thesis/Dissertation Production Costs Form .
- Theses Canada
- Theses and Dissertations in YorkSpace
Connect with FGS
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IMAGES
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Late submission - or failure to deposit your thesis - constitutes failure of your degree. In cases where exceptional circumstances exist, you may apply for an extension to your submission deadline in advance of your deadline; a pending extension request is not sufficient.. The submission and deposit of theses is governed by Regulation 2.7 and section 12 and section 13 of the Policy on Research ...
the qualification for which the thesis is being deposited (for example PhD or MA by Research) the name of the University; the name of the School, Department or Centre in which the research was conducted. You must refer to the list of approved names on the submit your thesis web page; the month and year the thesis was first submitted for ...
Dissertation submission guidance. Students submitting their dissertations and independent study modules are required to submit an electronic copy (in a single file) to the relevant Turnitin submission point on the VLE. ... University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK Tel: work 01904 321321 ...
A dissertation is usually a long-term project to produce a long-form piece of writing; think of it a little like an extended, structured assignment. In some subjects (typically the sciences), it might be called a project instead. Work on an undergraduate dissertation is often spread out over the final year. For a masters dissertation, you'll ...
The University has detailed guidance about the style, formatting and sequence of material standards for your thesis. Further information about how to format your thesis can be found linked below.. Since 2019, the University of York has required its PhD postgraduate researchers to submit an e-thesis, rather than a hard copy, printed thesis. This means that you should take particular care to ...
You must submit your thesis by the final deadline, though it is a good idea to plan to submit long before that, in order to give yourself time to deal with unexpected events in both your research and your personal life. You can see your submission deadline in your SkillsForge account.. Should you have a request for an extension to submission pending at the time of your deadline, you are ...
The University has detailed guidance about the style, formatting and sequence of material standards for your thesis. Further information about how to format your thesis can be found linked below.. Since 2019, the University of York has required its PhD postgraduate researchers to submit an e-thesis, rather than a hard copy, printed thesis. This means that you should take particular care to ...
There are lots of other sources of help across your department and the University, including: Your department might provide timetabled classes to support the Dissertation module. You should attend these to get an overview of the process and specific support for the research and writing of your dissertation.
Either the departments on-line theses and reports library OR the White Rose eTheses online repository will hold final versions of submitted PhD theses. Contact us. Professor Nick Pears. Deputy Head of Department (Research) ... University of York York YO10 5DD United Kingdom +44 (0) 1904 320 000
Your thesis and viva. As a postgraduate researcher you will be assessed entirely, or almost entirely, on your final thesis. Depending on your course you may also have to defend your work in an oral examination, known as a viva. pgr-administration @york.ac.uk. +44 (0)1904 325962. Student Hub, Information Centre Basement, Market Square.
Programs will specify the dissertation and thesis formats allowed in their programs in the academic calendar as well as working to make this information available to students and faculty members.. Graduate programs seeking to update the types of theses and dissertations they support must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) through the York University Quality Assurance Procedures (YUQAP).
Submitting Your YorkU Thesis or Dissertation The Faculty of Graduate Studies manages the submissions process for Theses and Dissertations. Learn more about the process by visiting their pages: Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection As of September 2013, York University Electronic Theses and Dissertations are hosted in the YorkSpace repository. Frequently Asked Questions Found a typo […]
You should discuss your submission plans with your supervisor, though ultimately it is your decision when to submit your thesis for examination. About two months before you expect to submit your thesis, you should complete the 'Intention to Submit' Form. Completing this allows the department to make the necessary arrangements for your ...
What is White Rose eTheses Online? This repository gives access to theses awarded by the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York. The available repository content can be accessed for free, without the need to log on or create an account, as per the instructions of the depositing author. We also make the content available through aggregator ...
Master's theses and doctoral dissertations submitted by students in partial fulfillment of degree requirements must embody the results of original research and must be successfully defended at oral examinations. Dissertations shall include submission and approval of a dissertation proposal, including appropriate ethics review and approval, in accordance with Faculty and program requirements ...
2. Submit your thesis/dissertation electronically. Binghamton University archives theses and dissertations electronically through ProQuest/University Microfilms International (UMI).* Have the following items ready before you begin the submission process: Full text of your thesis or dissertation in PDF format in one file.
Dissertation and thesis printing. We are here to help you get your thesis and dissertation printed, bound and ready for submission. We understand how important this is for you and can deliver quality printing and binding with quick turnaround times. In consultation with the University of York Students' Union, the University is funding free ...
University of York PhD researchers should refer to the instructions for thesis deposit, and contact PGR Administration with any queries about embargo or redaction. If you intend to submit your own published work for the award of PhD by Publication, or as an appendix to the main body of your thesis, bear in mind that you may have transferred the ...
The University has detailed guidance about the style, formatting and sequence of material standards for your thesis. Further information about how to format your thesis can be found linked below.. Since 2019, the University of York has required its PhD postgraduate researchers to submit an e-thesis, rather than a hard copy, printed thesis. This means that you should take particular care to ...
Consulting a thesis/dissertation in the Library. Our physical theses and dissertations are kept in a secure store. To consult them you will need to request access via Borthwick Institute for Archives by emailing borthwick-institute @york.ac.uk with the details of the thesis and a preferred appointment date. Note: theses and dissertations can ...
The full-text of most York theses and dissertations submitted between 1967 and 2012 can be downloaded for free. This service is only available to registered York students and faculty. Search the library catalogue. You can search by title, author, or keyword. When you find the entry, note the call number and location.
As indicated on Form TD1: Thesis/Dissertation Research Submission, submission of the proposal to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, includes submission of the relevant research ethics forms and documentation. ... Submitting your thesis/dissertation using York University's Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) application is a quick ...