Ready to Defend?
READY TO DEFEND? HERE'S WHAT TO DO.
It is recommended that every student start the writing process early, and:
1. Use the Thesis Resources provided by the library
2. Use the thesis template and instructions provided by the library
3. Book an appointment with the Assistant for Theses, attend a workshop, and/or review online tutorials for help with thesis formatting and submission questions
4. After your defence, follow the instructions to upload your thesis to the library by the deadline listed
There is more information in the Completing + Graduation section at the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies webpage. For all Masters students, they also include information about thesis guidelines (use of a proofreader, postponement of publiction, and thesis corrections), and preparing for the oral examination.
Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies estimates 6-8 months for writing and completing edits prior to booking your defence. When your defense draft is approved by your supervisor and committee members, then the defence booking process begins.
Booking Your Defence
This information and your thesis draft (in PDF form) should be submitted no later than 5 weeks before the proposed defence date. The Graduate Studies deadline for final submission of defence paperwork is 4 weeks prior. It can take a week to secure a defence chair, and obtain all required signatures.
The Graduate Program Assistant will distribute the thesis draft to the examining committee once the required forms are complete and submitted to Graduate Studies. Neither the student nor the supervisor should distribute the thesis draft to the examining committee.
Information needed to book a defence (5-6 weeks before defence)
- Student name
- Student email
- Thesis title
- Thesis abstract
- Proposed defence date and time
- Has this date and time been confirmed with the entire defence committee by your supervisor, including the examiner?
- Type of defence (Hybrid Defence Info for the Department of Archaeology):
- In person (all members present with no remote connection needed)
- Fully hybrid (committee and audience split between online and in person)
- Partially hybrid (supervisor, student, and chair in-person, examiner online)
- Fully online (all members are connecting remotely with no room booking needed)
- Examiner's name and email address - Student cannot select the examiner, and should not have any contact with the examiner prior to the defence.
(If the Examiner is not from SFU, a 2-page bio is required, as well as their phone and email contact.) - List your committee members, including their current email addresses
- Attach a copy of your Academic Progress Report (APR). If any requirements are displaying “Not Satisfied”, contact the Graduate Assistant as soon as possible.
- Confirm and attach any research ethics (Thesis Resources link) or animal care approvals (if required) (Animal Care has an Animal Care Protocol Approval Form - For Thesis Submission form available on their website.)
Once they receive this information, your Graduate Program Assistant will prepare the required forms, source a chair if the Graduate Program Chair is not available, and track down signatures. This information should be provided as early as possible, as sometimes it's difficult to track people down for signatures.
The Graduate Program Assistant will distribute the thesis draft to the examining committee once the required forms are complete and submitted to Graduate Studies. Neither the student nor the supervisor should distribute the thesis draft to the examining committee.