thesis defense form

The top 10 thesis defense questions (+ how to prepare strong answers)

Crafting a thesis is significant, but defending it often feels like the ultimate test. While nerve-wracking, proper preparation can make it manageable. Prepare for your thesis defense with insights on the top questions you can expect, including strategies for answering convincingly.

Mastering the thesis defense: cultivate a success mindset

Question 1: why did you choose this particular topic for your research, question 2: how does your research contribute to the existing body of knowledge, question 3: what are the key findings of your research, question 4: can you defend your research methodology, question 5: how did you analyze the data and what challenges did you encounter, question 6: what theoretical frameworks or references underpin your research, question 7: how did you address ethical considerations in your research, question 8: in what ways does your research contribute to the field, question 9: how did you ensure your research was free from bias, question 10: where can future research go from here.

Nurturing a success mindset for your defense is pivotal. This means adopting a mental outlook geared towards achieving favorable outcomes during your thesis defense. To truly excel in this pivotal academic moment, it’s imperative to cultivate both confidence and composure.

Confidence enables you to present your research with conviction, while composure allows you to navigate any challenges with grace and clarity.

Remember, you know your thesis best, so trust in your expertise.

In essence, a success mindset encompasses the belief in your abilities, coupled with the ability to remain calm and focused under pressure.

Stay composed and focused, relying on your thorough preparation. If you encounter a question you can’t answer, gracefully guide the conversation back to familiar topics.

Use strategic responses when needed. For example, if a question goes beyond your thesis scope, acknowledge its relevance but steer back to your focused areas. Similarly, if you’re unfamiliar with a theory or literature, admit it but offer related insights or perspectives.

By embracing these principles and staying confident and adaptable, you’ll navigate your thesis defense with ease.

This question delves into the origins of your academic journey, aiming to understand not just what you studied, but the underlying motivations and processes that drove your exploration. It’s not merely about the superficial aspects of your research, but rather about the deeper intellectual curiosity that ignited your quest.

To effectively respond, take the opportunity to elaborate on the intricacies of your journey. Begin by unpacking the specific interests or questions that sparked your intellectual curiosity in the subject matter. What events, experiences, or influences led you to delve into this particular area of study? Providing an anecdote or example that vividly illustrates the genesis of your scholarly pursuit can be helpful.

Moreover, discuss the gaps you identified in the existing literature that motivated you to contribute to your field. What deficiencies or unanswered questions did you observe? How did these gaps inspire you to embark on your research journey with the aim of filling these voids? By articulating the specific shortcomings in the current body of knowledge, you demonstrate a nuanced understanding of your research area and underscore the significance of your work.

Additionally, highlight any personal or academic experiences that played a pivotal role in steering you towards your chosen topic. Whether it was a transformative educational experience, a profound personal interest, or a meaningful encounter, these experiences can offer valuable insights into the origins of your scholarly pursuits.

In summary, when articulating your narrative, consider the following key points:

• Unpack the specific interests or questions that sparked your intellectual curiosity.
• Discuss the gaps in the existing literature that motivated your research.
• Highlight any personal or academic experiences that influenced your choice of topic.

This question delves into the vital role your research plays within the existing body of knowledge, urging you to articulate its significance and impact. It’s not merely about the subject matter you’ve studied, but also about the unique contributions and advancements your research brings to your field. To effectively respond, delve into the intricacies of your work and its implications for the broader academic landscape.

Begin by emphasizing the novelties and breakthroughs your research introduces. Highlight specific aspects of your study that represent advancements in understanding or methodologies. Whether it’s a novel approach to a longstanding problem, the discovery of new phenomena, or the development of innovative methodologies, these contributions underscore the significance of your research within the academic community.

Next, describe how your work engages with or challenges current conversations in your field. Discuss the existing paradigms or theories your research builds upon or critiques. Articulate how your findings contribute to ongoing debates or reshape prevailing understandings. By positioning your research within the broader context of scholarly discourse, you showcase its relevance and impact on the evolving landscape of your field.

Illuminate how your findings could influence future research trajectories. Explore potential avenues for further inquiry that emerge from your research findings. Consider how your work opens up new questions or areas of exploration for future researchers. By identifying these potential research directions, you demonstrate the forward-looking nature of your work and its potential to shape the future trajectory of your field.

In summary, when addressing how your research contributes to the existing body of knowledge, consider the following key points:

• Emphasize the novelties and breakthroughs your research introduces.
• Describe the conversations in your field that your work engages with or challenges.
• Illuminate how your findings could influence future research trajectories.

Addressing the question of your research’s key findings demands skill, as it necessitates succinctly summarizing your work while conveying its significance. To effectively respond, distill your findings into digestible takeaways that encapsulate the essence of your research. Identify the central discoveries or outcomes of your study, ensuring clarity and conciseness in your presentation.

Furthermore, relate these findings to the broader implications they hold for your field. Articulate how your research contributes to advancing knowledge or addressing pressing issues within your academic discipline. Consider the potential impact of your findings on theory, practice, or policy, highlighting their relevance and significance within the larger scholarly community.

Additionally, be prepared to elucidate the nuances and complexities involved in your results. While providing a concise summary of your findings is essential, it’s equally important to acknowledge the intricacies and limitations of your research. Discuss any methodological considerations, unexpected outcomes, or areas for further investigation, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of your work.

In summary, when addressing the key findings of your research, consider the following key points:

• Distill your findings into digestible takeaways.
• Relate the outcomes to the broader implications they hold for your field.
• Be prepared to shed light on the nuances and complexities involved in your results.

Defending your research methodology entails a comprehensive understanding of its rationale, alignment with research objectives, and acknowledgment of potential limitations. It’s not merely about explaining the methods employed but also justifying why they were chosen over alternative approaches. To effectively respond, delve into the intricacies of your methodology and its implications for the study.

Begin by elucidating the reasons for selecting the chosen methodology over alternatives. Discuss the specific advantages or suitability of the selected approach in addressing the research questions or objectives. Consider factors such as feasibility, appropriateness for the research context, and compatibility with the theoretical framework guiding your study.

Furthermore, explain how your chosen methods align with your research objectives. Articulate how the selected methodology enables you to achieve the intended outcomes and contribute to answering the research questions. Discuss how each methodological choice supports the overall research design and furthers the overarching goals of the study.

Be prepared to discuss the limitations inherent in your chosen methodology and how you mitigated them. Acknowledge any constraints or shortcomings associated with the selected approach, such as potential biases, sample size limitations, or data collection challenges. Demonstrate your awareness of these limitations and discuss the strategies implemented to address or minimize their impact on the validity and reliability of your findings.

In summary, when defending your research methodology, consider the following key points:

• Justify the methodology with reasons for selecting it over alternatives.
• Explain the methods’ alignment with your research objectives.
• Be ready to discuss the limitations and how you mitigated them.

Addressing the intricacies of data analysis involves not only outlining the techniques employed but also navigating the challenges encountered and evaluating the reliability and validity of the interpretations drawn. When responding to inquiries about data analysis, it’s essential to provide a comprehensive understanding of the methodologies employed, the obstacles faced, and the strategies utilized to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the findings.

Begin by outlining the techniques used for data analysis. Describe the specific methods, tools, and software employed to process and interpret the data collected. Whether it involved quantitative statistical analysis, qualitative coding techniques, or a combination of both, provide insights into the analytical framework guiding your study. Additionally, discuss the rationale behind the chosen analytical approach and how it aligns with the research objectives and questions.

Next, share the hurdles faced during the data analysis process and how you overcame them. Reflect on any challenges encountered, such as data cleaning issues, missing data, or unexpected patterns in the dataset. Discuss the steps taken to address these challenges, whether through iterative refinement of analytical techniques, consultation with peers or supervisors, or adaptation of the research design. Highlighting your ability to navigate obstacles demonstrates resilience and resourcefulness in overcoming methodological challenges.

Furthermore, discuss the reliability and validity of your data interpretation. Evaluate the rigor and credibility of your analytical process, considering factors such as data integrity, consistency, and relevance to the research objectives. Discuss any measures taken to ensure the trustworthiness of the findings, such as inter-coder reliability checks, triangulation of data sources, or member checking with participants. By critically examining the reliability and validity of your data interpretation, you provide insights into the robustness of your analytical approach and the credibility of the conclusions drawn.

In summary, when addressing inquiries about data analysis, consider the following key points:

• Outline the techniques used for data analysis.
• Share the hurdles faced during the process and how you overcame them.
• Discuss the reliability and validity of your data interpretation.

Exploring the theoretical underpinnings of your research involves delving into the foundational frameworks and seminal works that informed your study’s conceptual framework and analytical approach. When responding to inquiries about theoretical frameworks , it’s essential to provide a comprehensive understanding of the theories and references that shaped your research, elucidate their influence on your hypothesis and analysis, and reflect on the potential contributions or revisions your study may offer to existing theoretical foundations.

Begin by naming the key theories and seminal works that guided your research. Identify the theoretical frameworks that provided the conceptual scaffolding for your study, as well as the seminal works that shaped your understanding of the research area. Discuss how these theories and references informed your research design, methodology, and analytical approach, providing a theoretical lens through which to interpret your findings.

Elucidate on how these frameworks shaped your hypothesis and analysis. Describe how the theoretical perspectives and insights gleaned from seminal works informed the development of your research questions, hypotheses, and analytical framework. Discuss the ways in which these theoretical frameworks guided your data collection and interpretation, influencing the selection of variables, measures, and analytical techniques employed in your study.

Reflect on how your research may contribute to or revise these theoretical foundations. Consider the implications of your findings for advancing existing theoretical frameworks or revising established paradigms within your field. Discuss how your research extends or challenges current theoretical perspectives, offering new insights, conceptual refinements, or empirical evidence that may enrich or reshape prevailing theories. By critically examining the relationship between your research and existing theoretical frameworks, you provide insights into the broader theoretical implications and contributions of your study.

In summary, when addressing inquiries about theoretical frameworks, consider the following key points:

• Name the key theories and seminal works that guided your research.
• Elucidate on how these frameworks shaped your hypothesis and analysis.
• Reflect on how your research may contribute to or revise these theoretical foundations.

When addressing ethical considerations in your research, it’s essential to demonstrate a commitment to upholding ethical standards and protecting the rights and well-being of participants. Responding to inquiries about ethical protocols involves explaining the steps taken to ensure ethical conduct throughout the research process, describing the consent process and data protection measures implemented, and mentioning any institutional review board (IRB) approvals obtained.

Begin by explaining the ethical protocols you followed. Detail the ethical guidelines, codes of conduct, or regulatory frameworks that informed your research design and conduct. Discuss how these guidelines influenced decisions regarding participant recruitment, data collection methods, confidentiality protocols, and data storage procedures, emphasizing your adherence to ethical principles throughout the research process.

Describe the consent process, if applicable, and how you protected participants’ data. Provide insights into how informed consent was obtained from participants, including the procedures used to inform participants about the research purpose, risks, benefits, and their rights. Discuss any measures taken to safeguard participants’ privacy and confidentiality, such as anonymizing data, securing data storage, and limiting access to sensitive information, ensuring the protection of participants’ identities and personal information.

Mention any institutional ethics review board approvals you obtained. Highlight any formal ethical review processes or approvals obtained from relevant regulatory bodies, such as IRBs or ethics committees. Discuss how the research protocol was reviewed for compliance with ethical guidelines and standards, including considerations of participant welfare, informed consent procedures, and data protection measures. By acknowledging the oversight and approval of institutional review bodies, you demonstrate your commitment to ethical integrity and accountability in conducting research involving human subjects.

In summary, when addressing inquiries about ethical considerations in your research, consider the following key points:

• Explain the ethical protocols you followed.
• Describe the consent process and data protection measures implemented.
• Mention any institutional ethics review board approvals obtained.

When discussing the contributions of your research to the field, it’s essential to highlight the novel insights and potential impact your thesis offers. Responding to inquiries about your research’s significance involves detailing the unique perspectives and fresh understanding it brings to the academic discourse, as well as considering its implications for future research or practice and arguing its relevance within the broader academic community.

Begin by detailing the novel insights your thesis provides. Articulate the key findings, discoveries, or perspectives that distinguish your research from existing literature and contribute to advancing knowledge within your field. Discuss how your study fills gaps in current understanding, challenges established assumptions, or offers innovative approaches to addressing pressing issues, highlighting its potential to generate new avenues of inquiry and broaden the scope of scholarly discourse.

Discuss how your findings might influence future research or practice. Consider the implications of your research for shaping future scholarship, informing policy decisions, or guiding professional practice within relevant domains. Reflect on the potential practical applications, theoretical advancements, or methodological innovations stemming from your findings, highlighting their significance for advancing the field and addressing real-world challenges.

Be prepared to argue the relevance of your research within the broader academic community. Articulate the broader significance of your study within the context of current debates, trends, or priorities within your discipline. Discuss how your research aligns with existing scholarly agendas, contributes to interdisciplinary dialogue, or addresses pressing societal concerns, underscoring its relevance and potential impact on shaping the direction of future research and practice.

In summary, when addressing inquiries about the contributions of your research to the field, consider the following key points:

• Detail the novel insights your thesis provides.
• Discuss how your findings might influence future research or practice.
• Be prepared to argue the relevance of your research within the broader academic community.

When ensuring the integrity of your research and minimizing bias, it’s crucial to maintain objectivity and rigor throughout the study. Responding to inquiries about bias involves discussing the steps taken to uphold objectivity, describing any blind or double-blind procedures employed, and acknowledging and mitigating any unavoidable biases that may have arisen during the research process.

Begin by discussing the steps taken to maintain objectivity and rigor. Detail the strategies implemented to minimize the influence of personal biases, preconceptions, or external factors on the research outcomes. This may include adhering to a predetermined research protocol, using standardized procedures for data collection and analysis, and engaging in peer review or validation processes to ensure the reliability and validity of the findings.

Describe any blind or double-blind procedures employed in the study. Explain how blinding techniques were used to prevent bias in data collection, analysis, or interpretation. This may involve withholding certain information from researchers or participants to minimize the potential for conscious or unconscious bias to influence the results. Discuss how these procedures were implemented and their impact on enhancing the credibility and impartiality of the research outcomes.

Acknowledge any unavoidable biases that may have emerged during the research process and discuss how they were mitigated. Reflect on the inherent limitations or sources of bias in the study design, data collection methods, or participant selection criteria. Discuss the steps taken to minimize the impact of these biases, such as conducting sensitivity analyses, controlling for confounding variables, or triangulating data sources to corroborate findings.

In summary, when addressing inquiries about bias in your research, consider the following key points:

• Discuss steps taken to maintain objectivity and rigor.
• Describe any blind or double-blind procedures employed.
• Acknowledge any unavoidable biases and discuss how they were mitigated.

When considering the potential trajectory of your research topic, it’s essential to identify areas where further investigation could yield valuable insights, discuss unexplored questions that emerged from your research, and reflect on the limitations of your study as starting points for future research endeavors. Responding to inquiries about the future direction of research involves suggesting fruitful areas for further investigation, highlighting unresolved questions, and leveraging the limitations of your study as opportunities for future exploration.

Begin by suggesting areas where further investigation could be fruitful. Identify specific gaps, ambiguities, or unanswered questions within the existing literature that warrant additional inquiry. Consider emerging trends, advancements in technology or methodology, or pressing societal issues that may inform potential research directions. Propose research topics or hypotheses that build upon the findings of your study and extend the boundaries of current knowledge within your field.

Discuss unexplored questions that arose from your research. Reflect on any unexpected findings, anomalies, or areas of ambiguity that emerged during the course of your study. Consider how these unanswered questions or unresolved issues could serve as catalysts for future research endeavors, prompting further investigation into related phenomena, alternative explanations, or novel research methodologies.

Reflect on the limitations of your study as starting points for future research. Acknowledge any constraints, biases, or methodological shortcomings that may have influenced the outcomes or interpretations of your study. Discuss how these limitations provide opportunities for future research to refine methodologies, address confounding variables, or explore alternative theoretical frameworks. Consider how addressing these limitations could enhance the validity, reliability, and generalizability of future research findings within your field.

In summary, when addressing inquiries about the potential trajectory of your research topic, consider the following key points:

• Suggest areas where further investigation could be fruitful.
• Discuss unexplored questions that arose from your research.
• Reflect on the limitations of your study as starting points for future research.

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How to prepare an excellent thesis defense

What is a thesis defense?

How long is a thesis defense, what happens at a thesis defense, your presentation, questions from the committee, 6 tips to help you prepare for your thesis defense, 1. anticipate questions and prepare for them, 2. dress for success, 3. ask for help, as needed, 4. have a backup plan, 5. prepare for the possibility that you might not know an answer, 6. de-stress before, during, and after, frequently asked questions about preparing an excellent thesis defense, related articles.

If you're about to complete, or have ever completed a graduate degree, you have most likely come across the term "thesis defense." In many countries, to finish a graduate degree, you have to write a thesis .

A thesis is a large paper, or multi-chapter work, based on a topic relating to your field of study.

Once you hand in your thesis, you will be assigned a date to defend your work. Your thesis defense meeting usually consists of you and a committee of two or more professors working in your program. It may also include other people, like professionals from other colleges or those who are working in your field.

During your thesis defense, you will be asked questions about your work. The main purpose of your thesis defense is for the committee to make sure that you actually understand your field and focus area.

The questions are usually open-ended and require the student to think critically about their work. By the time of your thesis defense, your paper has already been evaluated. The questions asked are not designed so that you actually have to aggressively "defend" your work; often, your thesis defense is more of a formality required so that you can get your degree.

• Check with your department about requirements and timing.
• Re-read your thesis.
• Anticipate questions and prepare for them.
• Create a back-up plan to deal with technology hiccups.
• Plan de-stressing activities both before, and after, your defense.

How long your oral thesis defense is depends largely on the institution and requirements of your degree. It is best to consult your department or institution about this. In general, a thesis defense may take only 20 minutes, but it may also take two hours or more. The length also depends on how much time is allocated to the presentation and questioning part.

Tip: Check with your department or institution as soon as possible to determine the approved length for a thesis defense.

First of all, be aware that a thesis defense varies from country to country. This is just a general overview, but a thesis defense can take many different formats. Some are closed, others are public defenses. Some take place with two committee members, some with more examiners.

The same goes for the length of your thesis defense, as mentioned above. The most important first step for you is to clarify with your department what the structure of your thesis defense will look like. In general, your thesis defense will include:

• your presentation of around 20-30 minutes
• questions from the committee
• questions from the audience (if the defense is public and the department allows it)

You might have to give a presentation, often with Powerpoint, Google slides, or Keynote slides. Make sure to prepare an appropriate amount of slides. A general rule is to use about 10 slides for a 20-minute presentation.

But that also depends on your specific topic and the way you present. The good news is that there will be plenty of time ahead of your thesis defense to prepare your slides and practice your presentation alone and in front of friends or family.

Tip: Practice delivering your thesis presentation in front of family, friends, or colleagues.

You can prepare your slides by using information from your thesis' first chapter (the overview of your thesis) as a framework or outline. Substantive information in your thesis should correspond with your slides.

Make sure your slides are of good quality— both in terms of the integrity of the information and the appearance. If you need more help with how to prepare your presentation slides, both the ASQ Higher Education Brief and James Hayton have good guidelines on the topic.

The committee will ask questions about your work after you finish your presentation. The questions will most likely be about the core content of your thesis, such as what you learned from the study you conducted. They may also ask you to summarize certain findings and to discuss how your work will contribute to the existing body of knowledge.

Tip: Read your entire thesis in preparation of the questions, so you have a refreshed perspective on your work.

While you are preparing, you can create a list of possible questions and try to answer them. You can foresee many of the questions you will get by simply spending some time rereading your thesis.

Here are a few tips on how to prepare for your thesis defense:

You can absolutely prepare for most of the questions you will be asked. Read through your thesis and while you're reading it, create a list of possible questions. In addition, since you will know who will be on the committee, look at the academic expertise of the committee members. In what areas would they most likely be focused?

If possible, sit at other thesis defenses with these committee members to get a feel for how they ask and what they ask. As a graduate student, you should generally be adept at anticipating test questions, so use this advantage to gather as much information as possible before your thesis defense meeting.

Your thesis defense is a formal event, often the entire department or university is invited to participate. It signals a critical rite of passage for graduate students and faculty who have supported them throughout a long and challenging process.

While most universities don't have specific rules on how to dress for that event, do regard it with dignity and respect. This one might be a no-brainer, but know that you should dress as if you were on a job interview or delivering a paper at a conference.

It might help you deal with your stress before your thesis defense to entrust someone with the smaller but important responsibilities of your defense well ahead of schedule. This trusted person could be responsible for:

• preparing the room of the day of defense
• setting up equipment for the presentation
• preparing and distributing handouts

Technology is unpredictable. Life is too. There are no guarantees that your Powerpoint presentation will work at all or look the way it is supposed to on the big screen. We've all been there. Make sure to have a plan B for these situations. Handouts can help when technology fails, and an additional clean shirt can save the day if you have a spill.

One of the scariest aspects of the defense is the possibility of being asked a question you can't answer. While you can prepare for some questions, you can never know exactly what the committee will ask.

There will always be gaps in your knowledge. But your thesis defense is not about being perfect and knowing everything, it's about how you deal with challenging situations. You are not expected to know everything.

James Hayton writes on his blog that examiners will sometimes even ask questions they don't know the answer to, out of curiosity, or because they want to see how you think. While it is ok sometimes to just say "I don't know", he advises to try something like "I don't know, but I would think [...] because of x and y, but you would need to do [...] in order to find out.” This shows that you have the ability to think as an academic.

You will be nervous. But your examiners will expect you to be nervous. Being well prepared can help minimize your stress, but do know that your examiners have seen this many times before and are willing to help, by repeating questions, for example. Dora Farkas at finishyourthesis.com notes that it’s a myth that thesis committees are out to get you.

Two common symptoms of being nervous are talking really fast and nervous laughs. Try to slow yourself down and take a deep breath. Remember what feels like hours to you are just a few seconds in real life.

• Try meditational breathing right before your defense.
• Get plenty of exercise and sleep in the weeks prior to your defense.
• Have your clothes or other items you need ready to go the night before.
• During your defense, allow yourself to process each question before answering.
• Go to dinner with friends and family, or to a fun activity like mini-golf, after your defense.

Allow yourself to process each question, respond to it, and stop talking once you have responded. While a smile can often help dissolve a difficult situation, remember that nervous laughs can be irritating for your audience.

We all make mistakes and your thesis defense will not be perfect. However, careful preparation, mindfulness, and confidence can help you feel less stressful both before, and during, your defense.

Finally, consider planning something fun that you can look forward to after your defense.

It is completely normal to be nervous. Being well prepared can help minimize your stress, but do know that your examiners have seen this many times before and are willing to help, by repeating questions for example if needed. Slow yourself down, and take a deep breath.

Your thesis defense is not about being perfect and knowing everything, it's about how you deal with challenging situations. James Hayton writes on his blog that it is ok sometimes to just say "I don't know", but he advises to try something like "I don't know, but I would think [...] because of x and y, you would need to do [...] in order to find out".

Your Powerpoint presentation can get stuck or not look the way it is supposed to do on the big screen. It can happen and your supervisors know it. In general, handouts can always save the day when technology fails.

• Dress for success.
• Ask for help setting up.
• Have a backup plan (in case technology fails you).
• Deal with your nerves.

• Translators
• Graphic Designers

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17 Thesis Defense Questions and How to Answer Them

A thesis defense gives you the chance to show off your thesis work and demonstrate your expertise in your field of study. During this one- to two-hour discussion with the members of your thesis committee, you'll have some control over how you present your research, but your committee will ask you some prodding questions to test your knowledge and preparedness. They will all have read your thesis beforehand, so their questions will relate to your study, topic, methods, data sample, and other aspects.

A good defense requires mastery of the thesis itself, so before you consider the questions you might face,

1. What is your topic, and why did you choose it?

Give a quick summary in just a few sentences on what you've researched. You could certainly go on for hours about your work, but make sure you prepare a way to give a very brief overview of your thesis. Then, give a quick background on your process for choosing this topic.

2. How does your topic contribute to the existing literature? How is it important?

Many researchers identify a need in the field and choose a topic to bridge the gaps that previous literature has failed to cover. For example, previous studies might not have included a certain population, region, or circumstance. Talk about how your thesis enhances the general understanding of the topic to extend the reach beyond what others have found, and then give examples of why the world needs that increased understanding. For instance, a thesis on romaine lettuce crops in desert climates might bring much-needed knowledge to a region that might not have been represented in previous work.

3. What are the key findings of your study?

When reporting your main results, make sure you have a handle on how detailed your committee wants you to be. Give yourself several options by preparing 1) a very general, quick summary of your findings that takes a minute or less, 2) a more detailed rundown of what your study revealed that is 3-5 minutes long, and 3) a 10- to 15-minute synopsis that delves into your results in detail. With each of these responses prepared, you can gauge which one is most appropriate in the moment, based on what your committee asks you and what has already been requested.

4. What type of background research did you do for your study?

Here you'll describe what you did while you were deciding what to study. This usually includes a literary review to determine what previous researchers have already introduced to the field. You also likely had to look into whether your study was going to be possible and what you would need in order to collect the needed data. Did you need info from databases that require permissions or fees?

5. What was your hypothesis, and how did you form it?

Describe the expected results you had for your study and whether your hypothesis came from previous research experience, long-held expectations, or cultural myths.

6. What limitations did you face when writing your text?

It's inevitable — researchers will face roadblocks or limiting factors during their work. This could be a limited population you had access to, like if you had a great method of surveying university students, but you didn't have a way to reach out to other people who weren't attending that school.

7. Why did you choose your particular method for your study?

Different research methods are more fitting to specific studies than others (e.g., qualitative vs. quantitative ), and knowing this, you applied a method that would present your findings most effectively. What factors led you to choose your method?

8. Who formed the sample group of your study, and why did you choose this population?

Many factors go into the selection of a participant group. Perhaps you were motivated to survey women over 50 who experience burnout in the workplace. Did you take extra measures to target this population? Or perhaps you found a sample group that responded more readily to your request for participation, and after hitting dead ends for months, convenience is what shaped your study population. Make sure to present your reasoning in an honest but favorable way.

9. What obstacles or limitations did you encounter while working with your sample?

Outline the process of pursuing respondents for your study and the difficulties you faced in collecting enough quality data for your thesis. Perhaps the decisions you made took shape based on the participants you ended up interviewing.

10. Was there something specific you were expecting to find during your analysis?

Expectations are natural when you set out to explore a topic, especially one you've been dancing around throughout your academic career. This question can refer to your hypotheses , but it can also touch on your personal feelings and expectations about this topic. What did you believe you would find when you dove deeper into the subject? Was that what you actually found, or were you surprised by your results?

11. What did you learn from your study?

Your response to this question can include not only the basic findings of your work (if you haven't covered this already) but also some personal surprises you might have found that veered away from your expectations. Sometimes these details are not included in the thesis, so these details can add some spice to your defense.

12. What are the recommendations from your study?

With connection to the reasons you chose the topic, your results can address the problems your work is solving. Give specifics on how policymakers, professionals in the field, etc., can improve their service with the knowledge your thesis provides.

13. If given the chance, what would you do differently?

Your response to this one can include the limitations you encountered or dead ends you hit that wasted time and funding. Try not to dwell too long on the annoyances of your study, and consider an area of curiosity; for example, discuss an area that piqued your interest during your exploration that would have been exciting to pursue but didn't directly benefit your outlined study.

14. How did you relate your study to the existing theories in the literature?

Your paper likely ties your ideas into those of other researchers, so this could be an easy one to answer. Point out how similar your work is to some and how it contrasts other works of research; both contribute greatly to the overall body of research.

15. What is the future scope of this study?

This one is pretty easy, since most theses include recommendations for future research within the text. That means you already have this one covered, and since you read over your thesis before your defense, it's already fresh in your mind.

16. What do you plan to do professionally after you complete your study?

This is a question directed more to you and your future professional plans. This might align with the research you performed, and if so, you can direct your question back to your research, maybe mentioning the personal motivations you have for pursuing study of that subject.

17. Do you have any questions?

Although your thesis defense feels like an interrogation, and you're the one in the spotlight, it provides an ideal opportunity to gather input from your committee, if you want it. Possible questions you could ask are: What were your impressions when reading my thesis? Do you believe I missed any important steps or details when conducting my work? Where do you see this work going in the future?

Bonus tip: What if you get asked a question to which you don't know the answer? You can spend weeks preparing to defend your thesis, but you might still be caught off guard when you don't know exactly what's coming. You can be ready for this situation by preparing a general strategy. It's okay to admit that your thesis doesn't offer the answers to everything – your committee won't reasonably expect it to do so. What you can do to sound (and feel!) confident and knowledgeable is to refer to a work of literature you have encountered in your research and draw on that work to give an answer. For example, you could respond, "My thesis doesn't directly address your question, but my study of Dr. Leifsen's work provided some interesting insights on that subject…." By preparing a way to address curveball questions, you can maintain your cool and create the impression that you truly are an expert in your field.

After you're done answering the questions your committee presents to you, they will either approve your thesis or suggest changes you should make to your paper. Regardless of the outcome, your confidence in addressing the questions presented to you will communicate to your thesis committee members that you know your stuff. Preparation can ease a lot of anxiety surrounding this event, so use these possible questions to make sure you can present your thesis feeling relaxed, prepared, and confident.

Header image by Kasto .

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Plan your Defense

Thesis and dissertation defenses are public events and are advertised throughout the university. Your graduate coordinator can answer any questions on how you should prepare. Please complete the following steps before you may hold your defense:

• To watch a video tutorial on how to set up your ProQuest account, click here: How to set up a ProQuest Account
• Don’t worry—you will need to click ‘submit’ several times during the account set-up. You are NOT sending your document to ProQuest; the Graduate School does that after the Registrar verifies all requirements for your degree are finalized.
• If you feel you need to delay the release of your thesis or dissertation, please see the ISU Embargo Policy .
• Here is information about ordering bound copies of your thesis/dissertation from Milner library if you wish to do so. Binding flyer .
• Any changes to your committee composition since your proposal requires a Committee Change form to be submitted to Hovey Hall 208 or [email protected] .
• Complete the Right to Defend form and return it to Hovey Hall 208 or [email protected] at least 10 days before your planned defense date. Students must wait at least 7 business days after approval of the Right to Defend to hold their defense. Be sure you check deadlines for the last date to hold your defense.
• If any changes have been made to your copyright checklist, complete section 5 of the Proposal Approval form and submit it to the Graduate School with your Right to Defend form.
• Please notify the Graduate School of the defense date and other details.

Thesis & Dissertation Format Check

After you have submitted your Right to Defend form, and as you wait for your defense date, you may want to schedule an optional thesis/dissertation format check to ensure your document is formatted correctly.

• Step One: Submit an electronic draft of your entire thesis/dissertation to ProQuest . (this is done as part of completing the Right to Defend process)
• Step Two: E-mail [email protected] to schedule your format check. You do not need to be present during the format check, but you do need to reserve a time.
• Format checks are done on a first come first served basis, and a limited number of reservations are available. No optional format checks will be scheduled after the oral defense deadline as final reviews will have begun.
• Due to time limitations only one format check can be done prior to submission of final deposit materials

Thesis/Dissertation Defense and Revisions

• Typical defense format: The student presents the results of the research in 15-30 minutes, followed by questions from the audience and committee. Once the questions and answers are complete you and the audience are then asked to leave the room while the committee members discuss the defense. The committee will then ask the student to return to hear the result.
• Since thesis/dissertation defenses are open to the public, you may want to attend a defense or two to see the format and process and learn what to expect.
• Committee members commonly ask for revisions based on points that come up at the defense. Keep careful notes so that you are clear on which revisions are required by your committee. You must complete all required changes and have them approved by your committee chair before you can deposit your thesis/dissertation.
• Once your final thesis/dissertation has been approved by your committee, the members will sign the Outcome of Defense form . This certifies to the Graduate School that you have satisfactorily completed the requirements of the department for the thesis/dissertation.

Submit the Final Deposit

Once the committee has signed the Outcome of Defense :

• Upload a final copy in ProQuest and submit the Outcome of Defense form and Final Deposit Checklist to Hovey Hall 208 or electronically to [email protected] .
• The Graduate School will review your final draft for compliance with formats. If any changes are required to the final draft, you will need to make them in time to meet the Registrar’s Office deadlines for finalizing graduation. Our staff reviews final deposits in the order they are received. So, it may take some time to hear about your corrections.
• Check your ISU e-mail account daily until your thesis/dissertation has been finalized.
• If you are unable to make all corrections in time to meet the Registrar’s Office deadlines, your graduation date will move to the next semester. Providing that you have already completed all required thesis/dissertation credit hours and have maintained continuous enrollment since your proposal was accepted, you will not be charged additional tuition or fees for the new semester as long as your final deposit is approved before the first day of classes.
• Your graduation will be finalized once all Graduate School requirements are completed and the Registrar’s Office reviews and approves all graduation requirements.

Doctoral Students only:

Submit a completed Graduation Announcement Form to [email protected] or the Graduate School if you wish the university to notify press of your graduation.

If you are a doctoral student and you have completed your degree, the Graduate School requests that you fill out the online national Survey of Earned Doctorates .

Additional Links

• Apply to Graduate School
• Our Graduate Programs

University Resources

• Directories

Thesis Defense Rules

Colorado School of Mines Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) requires all thesis-based students to follow the Thesis Defense Rules. Students who do not follow the rules may put themselves in jeopardy of receiving a failing vote at the defense.

Please read and follow all the following steps to ensure you:

• Have completed all the steps necessary to defend,
• Have all your members in attendance
• Avoid failing votes
• Understand the upload and formatting rules
• Graduate on time

Required Forms/Apply to Graduate: Must be Completed Prior to Defending

All thesis-based students must submit the required forms before applying to graduate and defend.

Thesis Committee and Advisor Assignment Request form : Required for all thesis-based  students (commonly referred to as the Advisor/Committee form)

• Master’s student should establish a committee and submit the form by the end of the second semester of study.
• PHDs should establish a committee and submit the form by the end of the second year of study.
• Students who make changes to an OGS approved committee must submit another form and have the changes approved by OGS. It is   NOT ACCEPTABLE to receive departmental approval only or to state that you have changed your committee.   Your committee may only be changed if OGS approves it.
• Two failing votes means that the student has failed the defense, so it is imperative that students get any committee changes approved by OGS.   

Degree Audit Form : Required for all students

Master’s students:   you must submit a Degree Audit form to OGS before applying to graduate in Trailhead and you must apply to graduate before defending.

PhDs   must submit a Degree Audit form either before submitting the Admission to Candidacy form or with the form.

• All forms may take up to two weeks to process
• Students who do receive an email should check with your department to see if the form has been returned due to inaccuracies.   If you miss a deadline because you completed the form wrong,  then you missed the deadline and OGS cannot guarantee that we will be able to process your form in time to meet a deadline.
• Make sure to view the   deadlines   to ensure you submit your forms in time.

Admission to Candidacy Form :   Required for all PhDs

• Each department has different requirements, so please consult with your department for details.
• After this form has been processed, PhDs my apply to graduate in Trailhead.

Apply to Graduate in Trailhead :  Required for all students

After all forms are submitted, all students must apply to graduate in Trailhead. Failure to apply to graduate by the   deadline   will delay your graduation.

Thesis Defense Form

All thesis-based students must bring the Thesis Defense form to the defense and have it signed by all committee members and the department head/division director.

Where can the form be found?   After students have applied to graduate in Trailhead, they will be enrolled in a CANVAS Graduation Check-Out course. The first quiz of that course goes over:

• registration requirements
• the Thesis Defense Rules and
• the Thesis Formatting

At the end of the first quiz, you will be given a link to the   Thesis Defense form . So, it is important to complete the first quiz before you defend.   If you are not sure that you will be able to meet the deadlines to graduate, you may want to wait to complete any of the check-out quizzes. In the event that your graduation needs to be moved to the next semester, then we will have to enroll you in a new check-out course and any quizzes completed under the old graduation term will need to be repeated. 

Since students must be enrolled in the  CANVAS Graduation Check-Out course, under no circumstances should students share the link with any other students, faculty or staff. Students who access the link inappropriately could jeopardize their graduation term.

Students will be enrolled in the CANVAS Graduation Check-Out course at certain times of the year.

• December graduates will be enrolled early August through mid-September
• May graduates will be enrolled early December through late January
• August graduates will be enrolled in late April

If you have applied to graduate, but have not been enrolled yet, please refer to the time frames above.

Schedule Your Defense

• Please consult with your department to determine how far in advance you need to schedule the defense.
• OGS recommends that you defend at least 1 week prior to the upload deadline to ensure time for content revisions, but if your department/ committee tells you that you need to defend   more than 1 week   before the upload deadline, then you must follow those guidelines.
• To view the deadlines, visit the Graduation Deadline page

What to do if all Members Cannot Attend the Defense in Person

You must defend to all OGS approved committee members at one time. Remember, if you have changed a committee, it must be approved by OGS. No other means of approval are acceptable.

If an OGS approved member cannot attend the defense in person, you have a few options. The member who cannot attend may:

• Attend the defense virtually (Skype, etc.)
• Proxy for advisor:  Advisor must attend the defense, so no proxy may be selected.
• Proxy for co-advisor:  Proxy should be advisor. If advisor cannot be the proxy, then the chair.
• Proxy for committee member:   Proxy should be committee chair
• If the PhD has more than the required members and one of the  extra members is outside the department, then that member could be the proxy.
• If there are not extra members and/or the extra members are not outside the department, then the committee chair may select another faculty member meeting the  requirements of a PhD committee chair and have that faculty member act as the proxy.
• Proxy for Minor representative : Proxy should be committee chair.
• Member who cannot attend will create a list of questions and give to the proxy prior to the defense
• Proxy will ask the questions on behalf of the member and vote on behalf of the member
• OGS recommends that changing a committee only be used as a last resort just prior to defending and only be used if the member cannot attend virtually or get a proxy.
• Failure to get the change approved by OGS prior to the defense could result in a failing vote.

Defense Rules

Students must defend to the entire OGS approved committee at one time.  Students may not defend to one group or individual at one time, then another group or individual at another time.   If a member cannot attend the defense, please go to the section “What To Do If a Member Cannot Attend The Defense”.

Members will vote to either:

• Pass the student’s defense
• Two failing votes means that the student has failed the defense.   Remember, for every OGS approved committee member not in attendance at the defense (in person, virtually or via proxy), the student will receive a failing vote.  
• Students who fail a defense twice will be subject to   mandatory dismissal . 
• Departments that need to dismiss students for failing to successfully defend the thesis after two attempts must notify OGS.
• Abstain votes indicate that a member in attendance at the defense does not want to pass or fail the student.
• Members not in attendance at the defense MAY NOT cast an Abstaining vote . If a member does not attend and has not followed the rules on what to do if a member cannot attend the defense, then the student will receive a failing vote.

Upload Rules

To graduate in a particular semester, students must upload the content approved thesis in ProQuest by no later than the designated upload deadline.

To meet the upload deadline, students must:

• After students have applied to graduate in Trailhead, they will be enrolled in this course.   Please see the tab ” Required Forms/Apply to Graduate” for information on the time frame for each graduation term when students will be enrolled.   
• Submit the signed Thesis Defense form by the deadline 
• The student’s signature on the form indicates that the student understands the Thesis Defense Rules and the Thesis Formatting Rules.
• completed all credits for the degree,
• if the student has used any regulated materials that all materials have been disposed of properly,
• the research for the thesis has been completed,
• the student has passed the defense (may have 1 failing vote) and
• all content revisions are complete.
• If any of the above items don’t apply, then the form should not be signed.    
• Upload the content approved thesis in ProQuest and submit it by the deadline.

If the student does not complete all of these items by the deadline, then the student has missed the deadline and will have to delay graduation, which could mean registering for an additional semester.

Thesis Formatting Rules

All thesis-based students are required to follow the Mines thesis formatting rules, which can be found on our Thesis Writer’s Guide page. Templates in both Latex and Word are available there, along with details of the thesis preparation, upload and revision process.

Office of Graduate Studies

Alderson 451

[email protected]

Oral Examinations

If you have questions about oral examinations, contact us at [email protected] .

Once your dissertation is nearing completion, it’s time to schedule your defense—your final oral examination.

You should begin making arrangements for your defense at the beginning of the semester (especially during the summer) in order to accommodate the schedules of your committee members.

Students must be currently enrolled in the dissertation course for the semester in which the defense is scheduled and held.

Committee Changes

Any changes to your dissertation committee must be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. Changes should be approved at least 30 days prior to the date of the oral examination so that all new members have ample time to become familiar with your dissertation.

Defense Attendance

You, the student, and your supervisor, in negotiation with the dissertation committee members, should determine a time and date for the defense. Each member of your committee must receive a copy of your dissertation at least four weeks prior to your dissertation defense date. A defense cannot be held within two weeks of the last class day of the semester, unless the committee has consented to hold the defense within those last 2 weeks.

Request for Final Oral Examination Form

You must schedule the dissertation defense with the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to the defense date by completing the Request for Final Oral Examination form. All members of your committee must sign your request form indicating their intent to be present at your final oral. Your graduate adviser must also sign this form to indicate you have been approved to defend.

It is expected that all members of the committee attend the defense. The Graduate School does not distinguish between physical attendance or electronic/virtual attendance of the defense. One non-supervisory committee member may be absent from the defense in if necessary, but all members must read the dissertation and, when satisfied, sign the Report of Dissertation Committee form.

Contact for Questions

Email the Graduate School at the link above with any questions concerning defense attendance.

Format Check Requirements

When you submit the Request for Final Oral Examination form to the Graduate School, you should include one copy each of the dissertation abstract, title page and the committee membership page for a format check in separate PDF. You do not need to include the instructions page.

After the Defense

The official recommendation of your committee and your program is communicated to the Graduate School on the Report of Dissertation Committee. The Dean of the Graduate School depends on this document to determine your eligibility to receive the doctoral degree so it is essential that it be completed and returned in a timely fashion. A passing report signifies that your committee unanimously agrees that you have completed a dissertation that is an independent investigation in your major field.

In the event that revisions to your dissertation are necessary before your committee members approve your dissertation, the report will be retained by your supervisor until all revisions have been completed. After successful completion of your defense and any required revisions to your dissertation, the Report of Dissertation Committee should also be signed by all members of your committee and must be submitted to the Graduate School.

After you’ve made required or requested revisions to your dissertation, if any, check it carefully for grammar, spelling, punctuation, content and format, then convert it to the required PDF format and upload it.

Do not submit your report/thesis/dissertation via email . Final reports, theses and dissertations MUST be uploaded to the Texas Digital Library before your final paperwork and pages will be reviewed. After submission, no revisions or corrections will be allowed except for those required by the dean of the Graduate School.

Upcoming Oral Examinations

Doctoral students’ final oral examinations are open to all members of the University community and the public unless attendance is restricted by the Graduate Studies Committee. Scheduled oral examinations are published on the UT Grad School website.

The Graduate College at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Thesis/dissertation approval form.

Note: Use of Adobe Reader to access and complete the TDA form is strongly recommended (form fields may not function as intended when used with a preview app).

There are separate versions of the Thesis/Dissertation Approval (TDA) form for master's and doctoral students. This form must be completed and fully signed prior to submission to the Graduate College.

• Master's TDA form (This is a fillable PDF; please type in the required information including the names of the adviser/committee.)
• Doctoral TDA form (Use the pre-filled version provided to your department.)

Required TDA content

• The student's UIN
• The student's name
• The correct degree for which the thesis is being submitted
• The name of the student's department or program
• The required number of signatures

Required signatures for the master's TDA form = student's adviser (at least one signature in the adviser approval section or additional approval section must be that of a graduate faculty member) + department head or Director of Graduate Studies. 

Required signatures for the doctoral TDA form = director of research (adviser) + all voting committee members who voted to pass the student at the final exam (defense) + the department head or Director of Graduate Studies. .

All signatures must be on the same form. Signatures of off-site committee members may be obtained through faxing or scanning and emailing the form prior to the department head signing it. Authorized departmental faculty and staff should submit a scanned copy of the TDA form via the appropriate secured link on the Graduate College website .

Do not use correction fluids or tapes on this form. Do not modify the PDF file.

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards

Thesis Forms

This page provides quick access to all the forms you will need throughout the thesis process. For details about how to complete each form and additional details about each stage of the thesis process, please visit the following webpages:

• How to Apply
• Thesis Timeline
• Defense and Graduation

Prospective Students

• Current Students
• Staff Directory

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Disclaimer: By accepting admission to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, graduate students acknowledge they are ultimately responsible for adhering to the policies and procedures that govern their education at the university. That responsibility requires that all graduate students know where to find the academic policies of the Graduate School and any additional requirements of their specific programs. All academic policies are published annually in the  Graduate Catalog .

Academic Forms

Academic Petition

The Graduate Academic Petition system is available only to  active  graduate students at UNC Charlotte.

Course Revalidation  

If you do not anticipate finishing the program of study within the allotted time, you must meet with your Graduate Program Director to determine whether out-of-date courses must be retaken or revalidated. If the Graduate Program Director determines that the out-of-date courses can be revalidated, a plan must be prepared and approved by the Graduate Program Director that outlines how this will be accomplished. This plan must be submitted to the Graduate School for review and approval. The student and Graduate Program Director will be notified if the plan is approved by the Graduate School. Once the plan has been accomplished, the student, through the Graduate Program Director, must notify and document this fact to the Graduate School. This notification must also include the term in which the student intends to graduate. Often course revalidation can be done by taking an exam or through writing a paper.

Early Entry  

Early Entry can be found in the Graduate Academic Petition system.

Special Request  

Used only by students who do not have access to the online Graduate Academic Petition. All current students have access to and are required to use Graduate Academic Petition. 

Suspension Appeal  

Suspension Appeal can be found in the Graduate Academic Petition system.

Doctoral Student Forms

Doctoral Student Forms are submitted electronically through DocuSign unless otherwise noted.

• To begin a new form simply click the link, follow the instructions on the Powerform Signer to enter names and NON-ALIAS email address for your advisor/committee chair, committee members and graduate program director, depending on the requirements of the form.
• Enter your NinerNet credentials when prompted and then follow the instructions for data entry, etc. on the form.
• You can track your form within DocuSign by logging into docusign.charlotte.edu using your non-alias @charlotte.edu email address and NinerNet credentials and follow the instructions for managing envelopes.
• If you have questions or need to make a change after submitting, please contact your college liaison .
• For more information about DocuSign you may find the FAQ  helpful.

Exam Report of Comprehensive/Qualifying Examination for Doctoral Students

For reporting completion of comprehensive or qualifying exam.

Appointment of Doctoral Dissertation or Scholarly Project Committee  

Programs and students may elect to appoint co-chairs for the committee provided both faculty chairs hold a graduate faculty appointment. One chair must hold regular graduate faculty membership. A check-box to specify the co-chair will appear on the form next to the second member listed after all of the name fields have been filled. The co-chair should also be listed in the program.  If a Graduate Faculty Representative has been chosen, please be sure to add their name to the appropriate field. Otherwise, the Graduate School will appoint a Graduate Faculty Representative. Note:  The Appointment Form must be submitted to and approved by the Graduate School well in advance of the proposal defense being scheduled.

Please note: You must complete this Exceptions Form if the individual you are requesting to serve on a Master's thesis or Doctoral committee does not possess the terminal degree for your program.   Please enter the data on the form, print and sign.  You can scan the document and forward as a pdf and subsequent approvers can add their signatures using Adobe.  At present, this is not an online form, nor formatted for Docusign.     

Research Projects Involving Human Subjects (IRB)

Guidelines and forms to assist graduate students and faculty in IRB review/approval process for research projects involving human subjects are available on the  Human Subjects in Research  website.

Proposal Defense Report for Dissertation  

For reporting the outcome of a proposed doctoral dissertation or scholarly project.

Final Defense Report for Dissertation or Scholarly Project  

For reporting the outcome of a doctoral dissertation defense or scholarly project.

Doctoral Dissertation Submission and ETD Form

This form should be submitted to the Graduate School when the student submits his/her dissertation to ProQuest.  Payment for the Submission Fee and optional Copyright must be made through the online  Payment Portal .

Doctoral Dissertation Embargo Request Form

This form must be submitted and approved in order to withhold public release of a dissertation.   Students may request an embargo or delayed submission of their thesis or dissertation when a patent is pending or when submission of the work could jeopardize intellectual property.  Future publication is not an acceptable reason for an embargo, with rare exceptions.

Master's Student Forms

Master's Student Forms are submitted electronically through DocuSign unless otherwise noted.

• You can track your form within DocuSign by logging into docusign.charlotte.edu using your non-alias @charlote.edu email address and NinerNet credentials and follow the instructions for managing envelopes.
• If you have questions or need to make a change after submitting, please contact your college liaison.
• For more information about DocuSign you may find the  FAQ  helpful.

Master's Capstone Report for Comprehensive Exam, Portfolio Presentation, Study Report, and Project

For reporting completion of comprehensive exam, portfolio presentation or study report for Master’s students.

Appointment of Master's Thesis Committee  

This form is for the appointment of the master's thesis committee and is due at least 1 week prior to the proposal defense. Committee chairs should be tenured faculty.  When that is not possible, a tenured faculty member may be appointed as a co-chair.  All committee members must hold graduate faculty appointments. One chair must hold regular graduate faculty membership in the student's program or department. Co-chairs should be listed on the committee form and on the title page.

Please note: You must complete this  Exceptions Form  if the individual you are requesting to serve on a Master's thesis or Doctoral committee does not possess the terminal degree for your program.   Please enter the data on the form, print and sign.  You can scan the document and forward as a pdf and subsequent approvers can add their signatures using Adobe.  At present, this is not an online form, nor formatted for Docusign.     

Proposal Defense Report for Master's Thesis 

For reporting the outcome of a proposed master's thesis.

Final Defense Report for Master's Thesis

For reporting the outcome of a master's thesis.

Master's Thesis Submission and ETD Form

This form should be submitted to the Graduate School when the student submits his/her thesis to ProQuest.  Payment for the Submission Fee and optional Copyright must be made through the online  Payment Portal .

Master's Thesis Embargo Request Form

This form must be submitted and approved in order to withhold public release of a thesis. Students may request an embargo or delayed submission of their thesis or dissertation when a patent is pending or when submission of the work could jeopardize intellectual property.  Future publication is not an acceptable reason for an embargo, with rare exceptions.

Graduation Application

To apply to graduate with a doctoral or master's degree, or a graduate certificate: Log into  my.charlotte.edu , select Banner Self-Service, Student Services, Student Records, and Online Graduation Application. Click "Continue" if this is the first time a graduation application has been submitted, or "Create a New Application" if one has been submitted previously. After completing all sections, click the "Submit" button.

Florida State University

FSU | The Graduate School

Main navigation Pulldown

The graduate school.

• Current Students
• Thesis, Treatise, and Dissertation

Manuscript Clearance Deadlines

The Manuscript Clearance Portal will automatically calculate a student's deadlines once the " Defense Announcement Form " is submitted. Students in the manuscript clearance process should be familiar with both types of deadlines:  Semester and 60-Day.

Summer 2024 Manuscript Clearance Semester Deadlines

Initial, pre-defense doctoral deadline, june 17, 2024.

Last day for doctoral students to submit doctoral dissertation or treatise for pre-defense format review. 

Initial, Pre-Defense Masters Deadline

June 24, 2024.

Last day for master’s students to submit master's thesis for pre-defense format review. 

Final, Post-Defense Deadline (All degrees)

July 8, 2024.

Last day for the post-defense, final content-approved manuscript (all degrees) and required Manuscript Clearance Portal forms to be submitted. 

Formatting Deadline

july 30, 2024

Last day for students (all degrees) to receive an email from Manuscript Clearance Office confirming final clearance. 

Manuscripts must be submitted by 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) of the listed deadline date. Forms must be completed by the same time on the deadline date.

Explanation of Manuscript Clearance Deadlines

Initial, Pre-Defense Deadline

• The relevant pre-defense (initial) format review deadline is the date by which students must submit their manuscript to the Manuscript Clearance Advisor for a pre-defense (initial) formatting review. Manuscripts will not be reviewed and counted as an initial submission under the following conditions: 1) not submitted via the ProQuest ETD website; 2) poorly formatted based on The Graduate School's guidelines, or 3) otherwise appears incomplete (e.g., multiple sections omitted). While it is understood that content will likely change after the defense, it is expected that manuscripts submitted for the pre-defense (initial) format review are at least 90% complete and have been formatted in full accordance with the criteria in the most recent version of The Graduate School's formatting guidelines.

Final, Post-Defense Deadline

• The post-defense deadline indicates the date by which students must submit the post-defense, final content-approved version of their manuscript to ProQuest ETD and ensure completion/signatures of all required manuscript clearance forms in The Graduate School's Manuscript Clearance Portal by 11:59 p.m. ET (except "Official Final Clearance"). Although students cannot complete all forms in the Manuscript Clearance Portal directly, they are ultimately responsible for ensuring their committee has completed the needed approvals. 
• *If there are no content changes requested by the student's supervisory committee or made to the manuscript after the defense, a resubmission of the final, content-approved manuscript is still required in ProQuest ETD by this deadline. A pre-defense manuscript submission in ProQuest ETD is not sufficient in meeting this deadline. 
• Additional formatting revisions are often required after this date in order for final manuscript clearance to be completed, but content changes are prohibited .
•  The Formatting Deadline is the date by which any post-defense formatting revisions (only those required by the Manuscript Clearance Office) should be completed and "Official Final Manuscript Clearance" should be granted in the Manuscript Clearance Portal. 

Academic units may set their own deadlines in advance of these manuscript clearance deadlines. Students must adhere to their unit's deadlines in addition to those established by The Graduate School. Please consult with your Graduate Program Coordinator, if you are unsure of your academic unit's requirements.

In the absence of additional deadlines set by academic units, we strongly recommend students defend at least 1 week prior to the post-defense deadline . Missing a semester deadline will result in the student automatically becoming ineligible to graduate in the current term. While students may be allowed to defend until the semester's post-defense deadline, they should understand that ALL content changes must be completed AND approved in the Portal by their committee prior to the deadline. The finalized manuscript must be submitted to ProQuest ETD by the deadline as well.  Extensions will not be granted for students who defended late and were unable to complete any content changes in time.

60-Day Deadline  

No later than 60 days after a successful defense :

• Post-defense, final content-approved manuscript must be submitted.
• Required forms (through Final Content Approval) must be completed in the Portal.

No later than 1 week after the 60-day deadline :

• All requested formatting corrections must be complete. (Multiple reviews may be required.)
• Official Final Manuscript Clearance must be achieved in the Portal.

This deadline applies to students who :

• Defend early in their semester of expected graduation.
• Defend in a semester prior to their expected graduation.
• Missed a semester deadline after defending (resulting in delayed graduation).

University closures are not excluded from the 60 days, but deadlines may be adjusted (forward or backward) if they fall on a weekend or a day the university is closed. The deadline will be automatically adjusted in the Portal.

Future Manuscript Clearance Semester Deadlines

Summer 2024.