Doctoral Oral Defence

The Doctoral Oral Defence allows a student to complete a 15–25 minute presentation (usually with visual aids) to provide a summary of the work contained in the thesis. The three examiners will then each ask a question, and a minimum of two rounds of questions are required. Typically, each examiner would require 15 – 20 minutes to ask their questions and have them answered. The School of Graduate Studies will also appoint a Chair to oversee the defence examination process. The presentation and question and answer session are open to the public, but only the examination committee members are permitted to ask questions.

Once the Chair has determined that the student has been appropriately examined, the student and audience will be asked to leave the room, and the deliberation will take place with the examining board, supervisory team and Department Head or Representative (if relevant). The student will then be invited back to be advised of the recommended outcome of their defence. If positive, the audience will also be invited back to congratulate the student.

The oral defence can be held completely online, or in a hybrid format with attendees both in person and online. If hybrid, the meeting will be held in the Beatrice Watts Boardroom (Room IIC-2014) at the Bruneau Centre, as well as on-line.

After the session, the Chair will then advise the Dean of Graduate Studies as to the outcome.

 

Process Summary

Please see below for the high-level process to be followed. Please note this process commences once the examination recommendations have been received and the student has been approved to progress to the oral defence:

1. SGS would have already booked the defence and provided meeting links
2. Prior to the defence, the Examination Committee will meet to discuss the process, order of questions and other general items
3. At the defence, the student will give a presentation and respond to questions
4. The Examination Committee will deliberate
5. The recommended outcome may then be delivered to the student, or the Committee may seek further advice.
6. SGS will communicate the final outcome to the student

 

 

Oral Defence Outcomes

Upon review of the Examiner’s reports and the Oral Defence recommendations by the Dean, School of Graduate Studies, a final outcome will be provided to the student. The possible outcomes are:

• Pass with or without modifications to the satisfaction of the Supervisory Committee, Academic Unit and Dean of Graduate Studies.
• Pass Subject to Conditions - this recommendation is made only if there are significant flaws in the candidate’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.
• Pass with modifications that do not require re-examination
• Re-examination required
• Fail (must be unanimous)

 

When the outcome is communication to the student, further information on next steps will be provided by the SGS.