The Guidelines for Theses and Reports, approved by the Academic Council of the School of Graduate Studies, provides the details for the examination process, general form and style of the thesis/report, required forms, number of copies, etc., required under this regulation.

1. Students must submit the thesis/report at least four months before the University Convocation at which the award of the Degree is expected (see www.mun.ca/convocation for exact date). The School of Graduate Studies does not accept any responsibility for completing the prescribed procedure in time for the nearest Convocation unless theses or reports are submitted by the prescribed dates in any current academic year.

2. A thesis/report may not be submitted until the student has fulfilled:

   1. All course requirements, if any

   2. All language requirements, if any

   3. The comprehensive examination, if required, and

   4. All other academic requirements of the academic unit concerned.

1. Final examiners for the thesis/report will be appointed by the Dean on the recommendation of the academic unit. There will be two examiners for a Master's thesis. Examiners shall normally be those who have completed a graduate degree at the doctoral level, including a thesis, in the discipline or cognate area. Those serving as examiners shall not have been involved in the preparation of the thesis/report.

2. Examination of the thesis/report will result in one of the following recommendations by each examiner. The thesis/report is:

   1. acceptable without modifications.

   2. acceptable, modifications are required but the thesis does not have to be re-examined.

      • Modifications may include corrections of typographical errors and errors in nomenclature, improvement in phrasing, or rewriting of sections of the thesis/report. Modifications may be indicated in the text or listed separately.

   3. unacceptable, the thesis/report requires modification and re-examination.

      • Modifications might include (but are not limited to) the rectification of one or more of the following deficiencies: (1) misinterpretation and/or misuse of the matter covered, omission of relevant materials, unfounded conclusions, illogicality of argument, improper analysis of data and the like, (2) bad writing, (3) unacceptable physical presentation. A detailed list of problems should be included with the report.

   4. totally unacceptable, the thesis/report is failed.

      • A detailed list of the reason(s) for failure must be included in the report.

3. If all examiners recommend that the thesis/report is totally unacceptable, then the thesis will be failed, and shall not be re-examined.

4. If an examiner recommends that the thesis/report is unacceptable, and this recommendation is accepted by the Dean, then the student may apply to the Dean for permission to resubmit the thesis for re-examination in one of the following ways:

   1. to submit a modified thesis/report to the original examiners.

   2. to submit a modified thesis/report to new examiners.

   3. to submit the original thesis/report to an Examination Board to be appointed by the Dean.

5. If a thesis/report is re-examined, the student will not be awarded a pass unless all examiners find the thesis acceptable.

6. Under no circumstances may a thesis/report be re-examined more than once.

Students for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy and the Degree of Doctor of Psychology must submit a written dissertation deemed acceptable by the University, and demonstrate their ability to defend their work in a public oral examination. For this reason, the final decision on whether a student will be recommended for the award of the degree is made only at the conclusion of the oral examination (see The Examination Process).

1. Responsibilities of the Thesis Examining Board: The work of each student will be assessed by a Thesis Examining Board. Its first responsibility is to determine whether the thesis successfully demonstrates the student's competence to undertake independent research work. The Board must be satisfied that the work contributes significantly to knowledge in the field of study; that the contribution is of high scholarly merit; that the student is aware of the pertinent published literature; that it is written in a satisfactory style; and that it is free from typographical and other mechanical errors. The second responsibility of the Board is to conduct a final oral examination of the student and to then recommend to the Dean of Graduate Studies whether the student should be awarded the Degree.

2. Composition of the Thesis Examining Board: The members of the Thesis Examining Board will be appointed by the Dean on the recommendation of the Head of the academic unit who will have consulted with the supervisory committee. The Board shall consist of four members. Normally these will be the student's Supervisor (who serves on the Board in a non-voting capacity), two examiners from within the University, and one from outside the University. However, when circumstances warrant, a second external examiner may be substituted for one of the internal examiners with permission of the Dean. Examiners shall normally be those who have completed a graduate degree at the doctoral level, including a thesis, in the discipline or cognate area. Members of the supervisory committee other than the Supervisor are ineligible for appointment to the Board. Those serving as examiners shall not have been involved in the preparation of the thesis/report.

3. The Examination Process

   1. The voting members of the Board shall submit written reports on the thesis containing an assessment of the quality of the written work and a recommendation as to whether the student should be permitted to proceed to an oral examination and defence of the work. An examiner may recommend:

      1. that the student be allowed to proceed to the oral defence of the thesis.

         • Any suggested corrections or revisions should be outlined in the examiner's report. It is understood that it will be the responsibility of the Supervisory Committee to discuss the suggested changes with the student, to determine which should be incorporated in the thesis before its final submission.

      2. that the student not be allowed to proceed to the oral defence at this time.

         • This recommendation reflects the examiner's opinion that further research, re-analysis of data, or thorough rewriting of the material is required. The thesis may, however, be re-submitted for examination.

      3. that the student should be failed.

   2. If all examiners recommend that the student should be failed, then the thesis shall not be re-examined.

   3. If an examiner recommends that the student not be allowed to proceed to the oral defence, and this recommendation is accepted by the Dean, then the student may apply to the Dean for permission to resubmit the thesis for re-examination in one of the following ways:

      1. to submit a modified thesis to the original examiners.

      2. to submit a modified thesis to new examiners.

      3. to submit the original thesis to an Examination Board to be appointed by the Dean.

   4. No student will be permitted to re-submit a thesis more than once. In case of a re-submitted thesis an examiner may recommend only:

      1. that the student be allowed to proceed to the oral defence of the thesis; or

      2. that the student should be failed.

   5. After receiving the reports from all three voting members of the Board the Dean will consider the recommendations and determine whether an oral defence of the thesis will be scheduled.

   6. The Final Oral Examination and Defence of Thesis will take place at a time and place to be determined by the Dean of Graduate Studies and will be chaired by the Dean or delegate. The presence of all members of the Examining Board is normally required.

   7. Following the defence, the Board will meet in camera to render a final assessment of the thesis and the student's ability to defend the their work. The Board may recommend one of the following outcomes:

      1. Passed

         • This recommendation may have attached to it the requirement that the student complete certain specified revisions to the satisfaction of the Supervisory Committee, the Head of the academic unit and the Dean. These revisions must have been specified in the written appraisal submitted prior to the Oral Examination.

      2. Passed Subject to Conditions

         • This recommendation is made only if there are significant flaws in the student’s work that come to light during the oral defence. Such flaws must be separate from, or in addition to, anything noted or specified in the written appraisals submitted prior to the oral defence. The flaws must also be of such importance that the main conclusions of the thesis are deemed invalid as a result of their existence. This recommendation must have the details attached and cannot include the option of re-examination.

      3. Re-examination required

         • The members of the Thesis Examination Board may attach to this recommendation a list of any requirements which they feel are appropriate.

      4. Failed

         • Re-examination not permitted.

   8. If the members of the Board are unanimous in their recommendation, the Chair of the Examination may accept this recommendation and inform the student of the decision. In any other case, however, the delivering of any final decision shall be deferred pending further consultation within the School of Graduate Studies.

   9. No student shall be permitted more than two Oral Examinations.

The final version of Master's, Ph.D., and Psy.D. theses/reports found acceptable with or without corrections shall be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies within 6 months of the date on which the thesis/report and the student's examiners' reports are returned to the student's academic unit. If a corrected thesis/report is not submitted within 6 months the student is considered to have withdrawn from the program. After this time, the student must apply to be readmitted.

Master's, Ph.D., and Psy.D. theses/reports requiring re-examination shall be resubmitted to the School of Graduate Studies within 12 months of the date on which the thesis/report and the examiner's reports are returned to the student. Students requiring resubmission and re-examination of theses/reports must maintain their registration during this period. Failure to resubmit the revised thesis/report within 12 months will result in termination of the student's program.

Note:

Please refer to Registration for regulations governing program registration.

Publication of material before submission of the thesis/report for examination is permitted. The School of Graduate Studies and Supervisor should be informed of such publication.