Confirm Your Thesis Topic

If you are enrolled in a master's program, you must submit your research topic before the end of your second semester. If you are enrolled in a doctoral program, you must submit your research topic before the end of your third term of enrolment.

To verify whether your thesis topic has been submitted:

1. Log in to uoZone.
2. Select Candidate Center from the Applications tab.
3. Navigate to the My Research Projects section.
4. Review the Research Topics and Supervisors information associated with your project. 

Writing and Formatting Guidelines

You may prepare your thesis in one of the following formats:

• A traditional monograph.
• A thesis consisting of one or more articles prepared for publication in peer-reviewed journals. 

Regardless of format, your thesis must meet the same academic, ethical, and quality standards. 

For additional guidance, consult:

• Writing Your Thesis
• Academic Regulation C-7
• Academic Writing Help Centre

Thesis by Articles (BCH, CTM, CMM, MIC, NSC)

If you are enrolled in Epidemiology, consult the Guidance for Thesis by Manuscript document for specific requirements. 

If you are completing a thesis by articles, you must meet the following requirements.

Doctoral students:

• Have at least three manuscripts that are published, accepted, or submitted for publication.
• Have at least two manuscripts that are published or accepted.
• Be first author or co-first author on at least two manuscripts. 

Master's students:

• Have at least one manuscript that has been published or submitted for publication. 

For all thesis-by-article submissions:

• The work must be original and make a significant contribution to the field.
• Review articles do not count toward article requirements.
• You must have made substantial contributions to each manuscript.
• You must have played a significant role in writing each manuscript. 

When preparing your thesis:

• Reformat manuscript chapters to create a consistent thesis document.
• Renumber figures sequentially throughout the thesis.
• Include one continuous bibliography for the entire document. 

Request Permission to Write

Before requesting Permission to Write, you must successfully complete all program requirements other than the thesis. You can see more information on requesting permission to write on our TAC webpage.

Confirm Your Eligibility

Before submitting your thesis, ensure that you have completed all other program requirements. You must also have received Permission to Write from your Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Graduate Office. 

Students in Epidemiology and Applied Health Research are not required to obtain Permission to Write. 

Nominate Your Examiners

Your supervisor is responsible for contacting potential examiners and nominating only those who have agreed to participate in the evaluation process. 

To avoid delays in scheduling your defence, ensure that your supervisor submits the list of examiners before you submit your thesis for evaluation.

External examiners must meet the requirements outlined in Academic Regulation C-7 and must not have any actual or perceived conflict of interest with you or your supervisor. Faculty members affiliated with Carleton University are not eligible to serve as external examiners for Faculty of Medicine theses.

Submit Your Examiner Nomination

When to submit

Submit your examiner nomination at least one month before you plan to submit your thesis for evaluation. 

Submit a Service Request using:

• Category: Research
• Type/Subtype: List of Examiners

Required document

• List of Examiners for the Evaluation of the Thesis form. (Available on our Forms page)

Additional documents required for PhD students

• Thesis abstract
• Student CV
• External examiner's CV

If available, include the external examiner's date of birth to accelerate our ability to begin the evaluation process.

Schedule Your Defence

Before you submit your thesis for evaluation, your supervisor must contact all examiners to confirm their availability for the proposed defence date and time. 

When selecting a defence date:

• Schedule the defence at least six weeks after thesis submission.
• Schedule the defence during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.
• Ensure all examiners and supervisors are available to attend.
• Plan for the defence to take place at Roger Guindon Hall (RGN). 

Include the proposed defence date and time on the Thesis Submission Form. The Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office may require a new defence date if the proposed schedule does not meet institutional requirements or if delays occur during the evaluation process. 

Submit Your Thesis for Evaluation

You must be enrolled in the thesis activity before submitting your thesis for evaluation. 

Once your thesis has been submitted for evaluation, neither you nor your supervisor may communicate directly with the examiners until after the defence has taken place. Direct all questions to the Graduate Office. 

Your thesis is considered officially submitted for evaluation only after all required documents have been received and approved:

• List of Examiners for the Evaluation of the Thesis form (Available on our Forms page)
• Electronic PDF copy of your thesis
• Thesis Submission Form (Available on our Forms page)

How to Submit Your Thesis

Submit a Service Request using:

• Category: Research
• Type/Subtype: Submission of the Thesis for Written Evaluation

Required documents

• Electronic copy of your thesis in PDF format
• Thesis Submission Form (Available on our Forms page)

Your thesis must be approved by your primary supervisor before submission. Forms are available on the Faculty of Medicine Forms webpage under the Research Papers and Theses section. 

Important Deadlines

Refer to the University's Academic Dates and Deadlines webpage for thesis submission deadlines. Review the applicable term under the Reports, Major Research Papers and Theses (Graduate Studies) section. 

Important Note About Enrolment and Funding

Submitting your thesis by the official deadline automatically initiates the process of ending your enrolment in the program. This may affect your eligibility for government-funded scholarships, awards, or other funding opportunities.

Before submitting your thesis, review the potential impact on your funding and notify the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office if you have any concerns regarding your enrolment status or awards. 

Defend Your Thesis

Once all examiners have submitted their evaluations, their comments and recommendations will be shared with the defence participants. If all examiners recommend proceeding to defence, your defence will be confirmed and will proceed as scheduled.  

Defence Format

Master's Defences

You will deliver a 10 to 15-minute presentation of your research followed by a question period.  

PhD Defences

• Epidemiology

  You will deliver a 10 to 15-minute presentation followed by questioning.  

• BCH, CMM, MIC, NSC, and CTM

  You will deliver a 45-minute presentation followed by questioning. This requirement differs from the University's general guideline, which suggests a shorter presentation.  

Following Your Presentation

After your presentation, a short break of five to ten minutes will be provided before questioning begins. This allows you to prepare for the question period and provides an opportunity for members of the public to leave the room if they do not wish to remain for the defence.  

Note: Thesis defences are open to the public unless the thesis is confidential or special arrangements have been approved.  

Receive Your Verdict and Complete Any Revisions

Following the defence, you can access your Jury Report through uoZone/Candidate Centre under Research Topic > Thesis Evaluations. 

If You Receive Verdict 1 or Verdict 2

You must complete all required revisions and submit the final version of your thesis within 120 calendar days of your defence. 

If your revised thesis is submitted and approved within 30 calendar days of the defence, you will not be required to re-enrol.

If the final version is not submitted and approved by day 31, you will be enrolled for an additional term and required to pay the associated tuition and fees. 

Once your supervisor has approved your revisions, submit the final thesis through a Service Request. 

Submit Your Final Thesis

Submit a Service Request with:

• Category: Research
• Type/Subtype: Final Thesis Submission

Required documents

• Final thesis in PDF format
• Embargo Request Form (optional) (Available on our Forms page)

If You Receive Verdict 3

A Verdict 3 requires you to revise your thesis and repeat both the evaluation and defence processes before the same jury. A Verdict 3 is considered a failure and will appear on your transcript as NS (Unsatisfactory).

You must submit the amended thesis within three consecutive terms (one year) of the original defence date. During this period, you must remain enrolled and demonstrate satisfactory academic progress. 

Failure to submit the amended thesis within the required timeframe, or failure to maintain enrolment, will result in a second NS grade and closure of your file. 

Submit a Revised Thesis Following Verdict 3

Submit a Service Request with:

• Category: Research
• Type/Subtype: Revised Thesis Submission 

Required documents

• Revised thesis in PDF format
• Response to Examiners document
• Thesis Submission Form (Available on our Forms page)

All required revisions must be completed to the satisfaction of your supervisor before submission. 

Request an Embargo

If you need to delay public access to your thesis, submit a completed and signed Embargo Request Form when submitting the final version of your thesis. 

Common embargo periods are:

• Six months
• One year

A two-year embargo requires additional justification, and a three-year or more embargo requires approval from the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. 

You cannot request an embargo after your thesis has been submitted and approved online.

Obtain Your Degree

Submit Your Final Thesis to uO Research

After your supervisor approves your final thesis and your Service Request has been reviewed by the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office, you will receive an automated email confirming that your thesis is eligible for final submission to the uO Research Library.  

Step 1: Prepare Your Thesis

Before submission, ensure that your thesis meets the formatting requirements outlined by uO Research and that it has been consolidated into a single PDF document.  

Step 2: Submit Your Thesis

To complete your degree requirements, submit your final thesis through the uO Research portal. Your submission must be approved by the University Library.  

Do not submit your thesis to uO Research before receiving approval from the Faculty of Medicine Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office. Early submissions may be rejected and require resubmission.  

Apply to Graduate

You must apply for graduation through uoZone/Candidate Centre to be eligible to graduate and receive your diploma.

All graduating students must register for graduation during the designated registration period. Registration opens once per term. Review the Students About to Graduate webpage for important dates and deadlines.  

If you are eligible to graduate, you will receive an email notification at your @uOttawa.ca email address when registration opens.