Preparing to Defend Your MSc Thesis

Applying for Convocation

You must apply for convocation before you submit your thesis copies to the Thesis Office. Please download the Graduate Information (Convocation) and Graduation Application Form (pdf) at: http://www.johnmolson.concordia.ca/en/graduate-programs/msc-in-admin-program/thesis

Initial Submission of Your Thesis

The copies you submit to the Thesis Office at 2145 Mackay St. will be checked for format only, not content. You must submit 5 copies (1 Thesis Supervisor, 2 for committee members, 1 Defence Chair, 1 MSc Program) to the thesis office. These copies do not have to be printed on bond paper but must be in thesis boxes (available at the Bookstore).

The Thesis Preparation and Thesis Examination Regulations are available online at: http://graduatestudies.concordia.ca/pdf/thesis_guide.pdf. If you need further assistance with format and regulations, please contact Mary Appezzato at 5148482424, ext. 3813.

Scheduling Your Defence

Once you, your supervisor and committee members determine the date and time preferred for your defence, please have your thesis supervisor email either Heather Thomson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Karen Fada at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the date and time of the defence. Please take note that you must allow ten (10) working days between the time of submission of your thesis copies to the Thesis Office and the defence date.

The MSc Program will provide the Chair of the Defence with the required Signature Sheets on bond paper. The title page with the copyright symbol and thesis checklist will be submitted to you the day of your defence. The MSc Program will distribute the defence announcement.

At the Defence

The Defence Chair will be a faculty member from another department. The defence itself should take approximately 60 – 90 minutes. Your presentation should not take more than 20 – 30 minutes.

After the Defence

Your final submission after defence (including revisions as required) must be printed on watermarked bond paper (available at the Bookstore) and submitted in thesis boxes to the Thesis Office.

Your thesis supervisor will notify the MSc Program Office by email once you have completed any required revisions and have submitted the thesis copies to the Thesis Office. The signed Graduate Activity Report will then be submitted to the Office of the Registrar to process so that you will be able to graduate at the next convocation. Please take note that you will not receive a grade on your transcript for the Thesis. It will merely show MSCA 699 – Accepted or Fail.