*It can take 6-8 weeks to schedule a Proposal Defence once the student's supervisor has notified the Program Assistant that the proposal is complete and ready to defend.
1. A dissertation proposal of approximately 25 pages (excluding bibliography) will include a clear statement of research problem, including its theoretical significance, a review of relevant literature, a statement of the research plan and methods, an outline of chapter headings and sub-headings for the proposed dissertation, and a bibliography of materials most relevant to the proposal.
2. Students whose work involves research with human subjects as defined by the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (questionnaires, interviews, for example) must gain the approval of Trent’s Research Ethics Board(s) after they have defended their proposal. Process and application documents are posted on the Research and Innovation website.
3. All students must complete their comprehensive exams before defending their dissertation proposal.
4. A dissertation proposal must be approved by the members of the student’s Supervisory Committee. The Supervisory Committee will be composed of a Dissertation Supervisor (or two co-supervisors) and two other committee members. The primary supervisor must be a tenured Trent graduate faculty member. Other committee members can be chosen from the Regular or Associate Graduate Faculty. Elders and Knowledge Holders are often appointed to committees as Special Graduate Faculty.
5. Once the Supervisory Committee has approved the dissertation proposal. The Supervisor will notify the Program Director and the Program Assistant and provide a list of internal/external examiners from Trent faculty members. They will also suggest some possible dates for the defence.
6. The Program Assistant will contact and arrange for an external examiner (a faculty member external to the committee) and a chair for the defence.
7. A “Proposal Defence” will be held to examine the dissertation proposal with the student, the Supervisory Committee, the chair and the external examiner. After the successful defence of the proposal, the Dissertation Supervisor will submit a form to the Director of the PhD Program and the Program Assistant. The dissertation proposal should be defended within 6 months of a student completing their comprehensive exams.
8. Proposal Defences can be done in-person, using a hybrid model or virtually. The format will depend on the preference of the student and the committee.
Student & Faculty Responsibilities-Dissertation Proposal Defence
Student
• Ensure each member of the committee has a copy of the latest proposal.
• Provide one copy of the dissertation proposal to the Program Assistant to send to the external examiner.
• Ensure you have PowerPoint or slides of the presentation emailed to yourself or on a USB. The Olive Dickason Reading Room has a PC computer.
• Arrange to be present in-person for the defence. If not, advise the Program Assistant.
Supervisor
• Advise the Program Director and Program Assistant that all committee members have signed off on the dissertation proposal and that it is ready for defence.
• Provide a list of potential external examiners for the defence to the Program Assistant. The first choice of examiners is a Trent faculty member. Those external to Trent will be considered only if the cost is feasible.
• Suggest some potential dates for the defence.
• Communicate with members of the Supervisory Committee regarding their participation in the defence. If they are not going to participate, they may provide questions for the defence to the Supervisor.
• Advise Program Director and Program Assistant if committee members wish to participate remotely.
Program Director
• In collaboration with the Supervisor, identify potential external examiners.
Program Assistant
• Contact and arrange for an external examiner and provide them a copy of the proposal and the program’s dissertation defence procedures.
• Schedule the defence.
• Find a chair for the defence. Send chairing instructions and prepared forms to the chair.
• Send all parties a copy of the dissertation defence procedure.
• Confirm the defence and attendance of all parties (External, chair, supervisor, and committee members) 1 day prior to the defence.
• Ensure the completed dissertation defence report is submitted by the Chair.
• Enter the record of decision and signature form into the student’s file.
• Inform the Director of Studies and the Program Director of the defence results.