The Examination Process

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:

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.
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.
that the student should be failed.

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

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:

to submit a modified thesis to the original examiners.

to submit a modified thesis to new examiners.

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

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:

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

that the student should be failed.

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.

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.

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:

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.
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.
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.
Failed