To provide favourable, fair, and safe conditions for all Polytechnique Montréal students, the Academic Affairs and Student Experience Directorate has developed guidelines for thesis presentations and dissertation defences in person or in a hybrid mode, and entirely by videoconference only if required by the government in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Academic Affairs and Student Experience Directorate strongly recommends that doctoral students be physically present for their dissertation defences, except in exceptional circumstances.

• Guide for the Conduct of In-person Dissertation Defences and Thesis Presentations (.pdf)
• Guide for the Conduct of Dissertation Presentations and Thesis Defences via Video Conferencing (.pdf)

The writing and the presentation of a thesis or dissertation must comply with current standards. The Guidefor Presenting Theses and Dissertations (.pdf), which is available on the Library website, is essential to guide you through all the stages of writing your thesis or dissertation. You will also find a variety of other resources to help you write your manuscript.

This guide outlines:

• the steps and procedures for presenting a thesis or defending a dissertation;
• the presentation guidelines that must be observed for theses and dissertations;
• the diploma award process.

When Submitting Your Document

Attach the completed Grille de vérification pour le dépôt de mémoire ou de thèse Checklist for Thesis or Dissertation Submission(.pdf).

Attach the duly completed Non-Exclusive Licence for Thesis or Dissertation (.pdf).

Thesis or Dissertation by Articles

It is possible to write a thesis or dissertation by articles. Students must then follow the procedures in effect for this purpose by completing the Présentation de mémoire ou de thèse par articles (.pdf) form (in French only).

If you have more than three articles, use an additional copy of this form. Attach the acknowledgment of receipt for the articles submitted and accepted that you included in the thesis or dissertation. In the case of conference articles, attach the letter of acceptance and the evaluation reports from the conference review committee.

For more information on the format of theses and dissertations by article, consult the Library guide Publishing a Thesis or a Dissertation.

Reference to Regulations

• Writing and submission of a thesis: article 55.3
• Writing and submission of a dissertation: article 76.3

It is mandatory to use a template. A template is a style sheet that facilitates your work and ensures that Polytechnique publication standards are respected. The templates are available in two formats : Word (in English and in French) and LaTeX (bilingual template) on the Library website.

Publishing a dissertation or thesis in PolyPublie does not prevent the publication of articles derived from it. In most cases, publishers permit this practice. If you have any doubts or require further verification, please contact the Library.

If your research is confidential, please complete and submit the confidentiality form. Otherwise, your dissertation or thesis will be published automatically.

If your research is confidential, you must justify your request in the confidentiality form and submit it to the Registrar's Office. Otherwise, your thesis or dissertation will be published automatically.

• A maximum of 6 months may be granted in the case of work involving NSERC or FRQNT co-funding with an industry partner.
• A maximum of 1 year may be granted in the case of work that does not involve NSERC or FRQNT co-funding with an industry partner.

Confidentiality form for a thesis or dissertation (.pdf) (in French only)

The request for confidentiality of a thesis or dissertation is renewable once and cannot exceed two years.

The Graduate Studies Office has put together a few guides to support you through the dissertation defence process.

These guides aim to define the roles and responsibilities of each member of the doctoral dissertation jury and to clarify the concept of conflict of interest between jury members and the student defending their dissertation.

• Guide for Doctoral Dissertation Jury Members (.pdf)
• Summary of the Guide for an External Examiner of a Doctoral Thesis (.pdf)
• Confirmation absence of conflicts of interest of a doctoral thesis jury (.pdf)
• Confirmation absence of conflicts of interest : 
  • President of a doctoral thesis jury(.pdf)
  • The Direction des études supérieures Representative (.pdf)
  • Member of a doctoral thesis jury (.pdf)
  • External Member of a doctoral thesis jury (.pdf)

Departmental student records officers can provide valuable assistance as needed. Please contact the officer in your department if you need help.