Thesis submission process

Spectrum

Your final submission is through Spectrum, Concordia University’s Research Repository. Your thesis will be made accessible online. You can find more information at the Copyright Guide for Thesis preparation.

Final submission details

Your final submission must be as follows:

• In PDF/A format
• Include your unsigned master’s signature page or unsigned doctoral signature page
• Include any corrections required by your examining committee and the Thesis Office
• File name by degree and convocation cycle:
  • Master’s: LastName_MA_S2024 (for Spring) or LastName_MA_F2023 (for Fall)
  • Doctoral: LastName_PhD_S2024 (for Spring) or LastName_PhD_F2023 (for Fall)

Your thesis will be reviewed by the Thesis Office and may be returned if it does not match the formatting requirements outlined in Step 1. If your submission is returned to you through Spectrum’s email notification system, you must correct your submission with the guided modifications and resubmit as soon as possible.

You will only be processed for graduation when all corrections are completed, and thesis is successfully deposited. After your final submission is approved, your Spectrum status will remain as “Under Review” and will be released once the graduation list is approved by convocation.

Paper copies are not required by the Thesis Office; however, you should be advised if the department has its own requirement for bound paper copies (supervisor(s), departmental copy, etc.).

Embargo

An approved embargo may be placed on the publication of the thesis in Spectrum. The deferment may be approved for up to two years. If an extension of more than two years is required, it may be renewed under exceptional circumstances, and with written justification to the Thesis Office. Check our Thesis Preparation Guide for more information.

Upon final submission of your thesis, you shall be deemed to have granted the University a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce, archive, preserve, conserve, communicate to the public by telecommunication or on the internet, loan, and distribute the thesis worldwide for non-commercial purposes, in any format. Please refer to the University’s Policy on Intellectual Property.

Graduation

You must apply to graduate in order to obtain your Degree, Certificate or Diploma.

Before receiving your diploma, you may request a letter of completion through the Birks Student Center. To receive this letter, you must:

• Submit your final thesis to Spectrum, and have it approved by the Thesis Office
• Have your grades reported to the Office of the Registrar
• Have your department send the committee report to the Thesis Office
• Have no outstanding fees or holds on your student account