Preparing for Your Oral Examination

The defense is a public presentation and discussion of the findings of the research program are conducted before a committee of selected faculty. This event marks the first time that the candidate truly expounds on and defends the meaning and significance of his or her research and knowledge of the discipline to peers and colleagues alike. Normally, it is open to attendance by all members of the Queen's community.

The master's thesis should demonstrate that the candidate is capable of original and independent work; that of a doctoral student must be original and be of such value as to merit publication.

The designated person in the student’s home department (the candidate, the  supervisor, the graduate coordinator or graduate assistant)  will schedule the Oral Thesis Examination by filling out the Oral Thesis Examination Form (Ph.D.; Master's). This form outlines the composition of the Thesis Examining Committee and the other details of the thesis examination.

• For doctoral students, the completed and signed form must reach the School of Graduate Studies no later than 25 working days before the tentative examination date.
• Master’s students must contact the Graduate Assistant or Graduate Coordinator in the Department for this deadline.

In preparation for the oral thesis examination, the candidate must submit one copy of the thesis, to each member of the Thesis Examining Committee including the Chairperson.

Distribution of the thesis copies to the examining committee must follow the same deadlines as outlined above.

Doctoral students:  A PDF copy of the thesis must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies (thesis@queensu.ca) to be reviewed for formatting. The student will be notified of any required corrections. Please note: if the thesis is too large to send by e-mail, go to the link below for instructions on how to give access to the Thesis Coordinator to review your thesis on QSHARE.

Please click here for instructions on how to share thesis (1.5 MB)

Oral Thesis Examination: Doctoral Students

Composition of the Thesis Examining Committee — Doctoral Programs:

• Chairperson - (selection made by the Thesis Coordinator)
• Head of the Department (or delegate)
• Supervisor(s)
• At least one other member of the Department
• At least one faculty member from another Department
• An external examiner from outside Queen's University

With the exception of the Chairperson for Doctoral Programs, it is the responsibility of the Department to select, verify eligibility, and invite all members of the Thesis Examining Committee.

Important: Final approval of the Thesis Examining Committee members lies with the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

Confidential Report Form: The Thesis Coordinator circulates the oral examination particulars and confidential report forms to each member of the Thesis Examining Committee by e-mail.

The reports must be submitted (in confidence), to the Thesis Coordinator for circulation to the Chairperson of the committee by the deadline date indicated. Each member of the Thesis Examining Committee must indicate whether the examination should be held, and if the candidate is permitted to defend the thesis.

Oral Thesis Examination Outcome Categories: At each oral thesis examination, the examining committee will reach one of the three outcome categories below:

1. Passed
2. Referred
3. Failed

These outcome categories are outlined in full detail in the Graduate School Regulations. 

Oral Thesis Examination Form - Ph.D (PDF, 113 KB)

After reading the covering information provided ( Copying and Microfilming Your Thesis (13 KB) ), complete and sign these forms, and submit to the Graduate Assistant in your Department, or give them to the Chairperson at your oral examination for inclusion in your file.

1. Permission of Co-Authors Form (if applicable): Any co-author(s) designated in your thesis under a section entitled "Co-Authorship", must sign this "Permission of Co-Authors" Form, granting their permission to microfilm the portion of your thesis to which they contributed. The National Library of Canada will not microfilm your thesis without the permission of the designated co-authors. Faxed copies are acceptable.
2. Microfilming Permission Form (Library and Archives Canada) (88 KB)
3. UMI Form for Humanities & Social Sciences (PDF, 281KB)
4. UMI Form for Sciences & Engineering (PDF, 198KB)