Home
FUTURE STUDENTS ask.UWindsor SUPPORT UWINDSOR
Faculty of Graduate Studies

Research Guidelines Summary

The following regulations summarized from the graduate calendar are set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and apply to research graduate students in all academic programs. Students are advised to consult their research supervisor, graduate coordinator, or graduate program office regarding their program's specific research requirements.  

The candidate's reseach requirement will be considered complete after the candidate has deposited with the Graduate Studies office their final Committee-approved post-defence document. A summary of the research process from Committee formation to post-defense deposit with the Office of Graduate Studies can be found in the Master's Timeline tracker (PDF) and the PhD Dissertation timeline.

  • Research undertaken by a doctoral or Master's student is directed and advised by a doctoral or Master's Committee.

  • The Master's / Doctoral committee must be approved by the end of the first term of registration in the thesis, creative writing project, or dissertation (course number XXXX-8960, XXXX-8970 or XXXX-9980). For committee composition and approval process refer to the Master's / Doctoral committee guidelines. 
  • After the Committee has been approved, the student begins writing their document under the Committee's guidance and following the Faculty of Graduate Studies Format requirements.
  • Research students are to consult with their academic department's graduate program office and to follow their program's interim requirements leading to the final oral defence (e.g. proposal presentations, etc.) as well as the departmental policies regarding determination when they are ready to proceed to the final oral defence. Review the final oral defence guidelines.
  • The Doctoral Committee will be supplemented by an independent External Examiner at the final oral defence. Refer to the PhD External Examiner Guidelines.
  • Prior to the final oral defence, the student submits their document to their Committee as well as to the graduate studies office for format checking. Review the pre-defence guidelines.
  • Notice of the final oral defence must be submitted by the Department and received in the Faculty of Graduate Studies at least eight days prior to the defence.
  • The final oral defence is to be completed at least three weeks prior to the Convocation at which the candidate expects to receive the degree.
  • Upon completion of the final oral defence, the student obtains final Committee approval and deposits the final approved document to the online thesis repository. Review the graduate studies final submission ("deposit") requirements.
  • Upon receipt of confirmation of deposit by the Graduate Studies office the Thesis/Dissertation research requirement is considered complete.

 

 

  • Research undertaken for completing a major research paper is directed and advised by a Committee
  • the Committee for a Major Research Paper is approved internally by the academic department and does not require formal approval by graduate studies.
  • The Major Research Paper is a scholarly essay/research project that shows evidence of critical analysis and understanding on a topic approved by the student’s supervisor and acknowledged by the program area.
  • The Major Research Paper Committee is approved by the Department and will include a supervisor, who is a member of graduate faculty, and one other program faculty member. Additional members may be added with the approval of the program/department.  
  • After the Major Research Paper Committee has been approved, the student begins writing their document under the Committee's guidance and following the Faculty of Graduate Studies Format requirements.
  • Students are to consult with their academic department's graduate program office and to follow their program's interim requirements leading to the final oral defence (e.g. proposal presentations, etc.) as well as the departmental policies regarding determination when they are ready to proceed to the final oral defense. Review the final oral defence guidelines.
  • Prior to the final oral defence, the student submits their document to their Committee as well as to the graduate studies office for format checking. Review the pre-defence guidelines.
  • Notice of the final oral defence must be submitted by the Department and received in the Faculty of Graduate Studies at least eight days prior to the defence.
  • The final oral defence is to be completed at least three weeks prior to the Convocation at which the candidate expects to receive the degree. 
  • Upon completion of the final oral defence, the student obtains final Committee approval and deposits the final approved document to the online Major Paper Repository. Review the graduate studies final submission ("deposit") requirements.
  • Upon receipt of confirmation of deposit by the Graduate Studies office the Major Paper research requirement is considered complete.

If the research involves human ethics, the faculty supervisor is responsible for the conduct of the study, the ethical performance of the project, and the protection of the rights and welfare of human participants. With the signed approval of the faculty supervisor, the graduate student submits an application to the Research Ethics Board. Research involving human subjects, including secondary use of data, cannot begin until ethics clearance has been obtained.

If the research involves animal care or biohazards, the supervisor of the dissertation is responsible for obtaining prior approval from the respective committees governing the above topics. Consult the Office of Research Services for details.