Before submitting your Master's or Doctoral thesis
Before making your initial submission, there are some key steps you need to take. It is important to ensure that your initial deposit is complete and that it respects rules of presentation.
If information or documents are missing, processing of your initial submission will be needlessly delayed.
Pre-submission checklist
Before submitting your Master's or Doctoral thesis, make sure you have checked each of the following points:
- You are registered for the current session and for the entire session of your initial submission:
- in your degree program OR
- in ongoing research OR
- in a course* from another program to which you have been admitted at Université Laval.
*Professional Skills Development (DVP) courses do not meet this requirement.
- The title of the Master's or Doctoral thesis listed on your transcript in Capsule is identical to the title of the document you are about to submit to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
If it is not, contact academic advising of your program to have it corrected.
- You have written your Master's or Doctoral thesis in accordance with the FESP presentation rules (Academic Regulations, section 12).
- You have submitted your Student Declaration on research ethics (SRV-101) to Academic Advising of your program.
- You have completed and signed all required forms applicable to your situation in the following section.
Required forms for initial submission
Several forms must be filled out when you submit your Master's or Doctoral thesis. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have completed and signed all applicable forms before making your initial submission.
Required forms for all students:
- Non-Exclusive License to Disseminate a Master's or Doctoral thesis (PDF, 92 KB) (FESP-102), even if you request a restriction on release
- Information sheet on the format of your manuscript:
- document written in Word or ODT (PDF, 144 KB)
- document written in LaTeX (PDF, 139 KB)
One or the other of these forms is required as per your situation:
Your manuscript has at least one chapter written in a language other than French:
- Authorization to Submit a Master's or Doctoral thesis in a Language Other than French (PDF, 190 KB) (FES-101)
This form must be signed by you and your program director.
Your manuscript includes one or more coauthored papers. You must fill out an authorization form for each paper:
- Coauthor Authorization for Inclusion of an Article in a Master's or Doctoral thesis (PDF, 241 KB) (FES-100)
This form must be signed by you and the coauthor(s).
You are requesting a restriction on release:
- Request to Restrict Release of a Master's or Doctoral thesis (PDF, 227 KB) (FES-106)
This form must be signed by you and your supervisor.
- Request to Extend Restriction on Release (PDF, 228 KB) (FES-106b)
This form must be signed by you and your supervisor.
Important dates
Registration for the semester of your initial submission
You must be registered for the semester in which you make your initial submission:
- For an activity in your degree program
- For an ongoing research activity
- For a graduate program at Université Laval (e.g., a doctoral program subsequent to your master’s program)
Important: Professional skills development (DVP) courses do not meet this requirement.
Semester start dates
Summer 2021 | Fall 2021 | Winter 2022 | Summer 2022 |
May 3 | August 30 | January 10 | May 2 |
Initial submission deadline
The deadline for the initial submission of your Master's or Doctoral thesis is the semester end date on the university calendar.
During your initial submission, be sure to send a complete evaluation file to the FESP, i.e. your Master's or Doctoral thesis as well as all the required documents and forms. If your initial deposit is not complete and the deadline has passed, you will need to register for the next session and maintain your registration for the entire session.
If you make your initial submission after the end of the semester, you will be required to register for the following semester and remain registered throughout.
Semester | Make your initial submission by (11:59 p.m.): | If the initial submission is made on or after: | You must register for the following semester: |
Winter 2022 | April 22 | April 23 | Summer 2022 |
Summer 2022 | August 12 | August 13 | Fall 2022 |
Fall 2022 | December 16 | December 17 | Winter 2023 |
Winter 2023 | April 21 | April 22 | Summer 2023 |
International students: Registration for additional semesters after initial submission
Depending on the situation, students with study permits may be required to register for the subsequent fall and winter semesters after the semester of initial submission, right up until final submission.
Registration required if:
- You remain in Canada and must maintain full-time student status in order to meet your legal obligations and retain the following benefits:
- Membership in the group health and hospitalization insurance plan for international students
- Dental insurance provided by AÉLIES
- Access to library services
- PEPS membership
- Student rate in campus residences
- Maintaining an employment contract at the University or a part-time job off campus
Registration is not required if:
- You leave Canada permanently.
- You leave Canada and come back for your defence only.
- You remain in Canada, but change status (become a permanent resident, etc.).
For more information, please write to immigration@reg.ulaval.ca.