Procedure for DGA1033 Oral Exam
1. Specific structure
At this stage, the student presents the oral portion of the doctoral exam in front of the jury. The oral exam focuses mainly on the student’s research program and has two parts:
- A dissertation proposal in writing
- An oral presentation in front of the jury
2. Dissertation proposal
In preparation for the oral exam, the student prepares a 30- to 50-page dissertation proposal based on the research proposal developed as part of DGA1031. The proposal must address the following points in detail:
- A description of the problem
- The objectives to be met
- A critical review of the literature that situates the student’s work among other similar work and assesses its originality
- The methodology for meeting the objectives, including the tools needed for the project (materials, software, etc.)
- The type of anticipated results
- The potential benefits to the industry (impacts and implications for the industry or socio-economic benefits)
- A bibliography (list of conference articles, newspaper articles or other sources used to write the research plan)
An activity plan in the form of a work schedule up to the date planned for the defense
The student must also compile a list of scientific, peer-reviewed journals to which he or she intends to submit one or more articles and define the themes of the article(s) that will be submitted. This list is submitted to jury members for acceptance and must reflect the distinctiveness of ÉTS in regards to the applied nature of research conducted here. At least one of the journals must be recognized as being read and appreciated by members of the socio-economic environment from which the problem originated.
The oral exam can take place at any time during the session in which the student is registered for the activity. However, it is the research supervisor’s responsibility to determine the date for the oral exam with the student and jury members. He or she must then inform the Graduate Studies Office of the date.
3. Distribution of the dissertation proposal
The student is responsible for sending his or her dissertation proposal to the research supervisor, jury members and the Graduate Studies Office by email no later than 20 working days before this exam. The research supervisor makes sure that all jury members have received the document. This gives the jury members sufficient time to examine the student’s dissertation proposal.
4. Presenting the dissertation proposal in front of the jury
The student presents his or her dissertation proposal orally on a date that is set by the student and the research supervisor. The jury then questions the student about his or her dissertation proposal. If the jury deems it appropriate, they may ask questions that were already asked during the controlled exam.
5. Jury’s decision
The jury deliberates behind closed doors after the question period. The decision must be unanimous, and it is final. The jury chair communicates the decision to the student immediately, along with the jury’s recommendations. He or she also completes the Doctoral Exam Evaluation and Jury Decision form, which must be signed by all jury members, and sends it to the Graduate Studies Office. The jury must make comments and recommendations. It may suggest that the student take other courses, explore other avenues of research or reorient his or her work.
6. Result
If the student passes the exam, he or she can continue the doctoral program to its end, which is the dissertation defense in front of a jury. If the student fails, he or she will receive notice through his or her ÉTS email account from the Graduate Studies Office that the course can be taken again. If the student has already taken the exam for a second time, he or she is expelled from the program.
Contact Us
For any questions related to these topics, please contact your program's agente de gestion des études (Study Management Officer)
Graduate Studies Hub
Local A-1700
514 396-8954