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Introduction

Developing a thesis proposal and then researching, writing, and submitting the thesis are challenging and mandatory components of your MA degree. In order to assist you in the successful completion of these tasks, the procedures and guidelines, as required by the Institute of Islamic Studies and Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), are presented below.

The overall process: Summary

The process of completing a thesis moves from selecting a topic in consultation with your supervisor(s) to developing a suitable proposal, which in turn must be submitted and approved by the Institute Faculty at one of the scheduled staff meetings during the academic year. Once approved, research and writing commences. When the final draft of the thesis is ready, the thesis is submitted on myThesis, which forwards it to the examiners. Once the ExternalÌýExaminer has submitted his/her report with a ‘Pass’, the candidate is required to make any stylistic and/or other minor corrections indicated for the final electronic submission on Minerva.

The overall process: Details

1. MA Thesis
2. Thesis Proposal
3. Nature of the MA Thesis
4. Language of the Thesis
5. Preparation of the Thesis
6. Date of Completion of the Thesis
7. Initial Thesis Submission
8. Examination of the Thesis
9. Final Submission
10. Thesis Examination FailuresÌý

MA Thesis

The MA thesis and is normally expected to consist in research based on secondary sources. However, the use of primary sources is strongly encouraged. It usually comprises about 100 double-spaced typewritten pages, although the length may vary with the nature of the topic, from 80 to 150 pages.

Thesis Proposal

The Institute of Islamic Studies maintains specific procedures for the development and submission of thesis proposals prior to research and writing. Thesis proposals must be submitted by all candidates for approval no later than September of the second year of study. The procedures involve the following:

1. Selection of topic

MA students should begin considering possible thesis topics early in their programmes, in consultation with their supervisor(s). Ideas can be tested by writing papers in your courses to explore the potential of your topic(s).

2. Writing a Thesis Proposal approved by your supervisor(s)

The purpose of your proposal is to demonstrate the viability of your research topic to the Faculty of the Institute. This entails developing a specific research question(s), along with the reasons and importance of the proposed research, suitable methodologies to answer your question(s), an outline and a detailed bibliography. A sample outline is provided below for your guidance, but please consult with your supervisor(s) as to the format they prefer.

Sample outline

• Thesis Title
• Thesis Question(s)
• Reasons and Importance of the Research
• Literature Survey
• Historical Context/Introductory Material in support of thesis
• Methodology
• Outline
• Bibliography

The proposal should state the title of the thesis, and it should answer the following questions:

1. ÌýÌý What is the problem to be discussed?
2. ÌýÌý Why is it of value or importance to discuss this problem?
3. ÌýÌý How will the problem be approached?
4. ÌýÌý What materials will be used?
5. ÌýÌý Are those materials available at ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ?

The answers to questionsÌý(1) through (3) above should constitute a document of 2 to 4 pages. The answer to question (4) should emphasize the source materials (primary and secondary) that are relevant.

Format: The maximum length accepted is 4 pages, excluding bibliography. The proposal must be double spaced, with 1-inch margins, in size-12 font. In addition, all proposals must be typographically, grammatically and diacritically correct. Submissions that fail to comply with these requirements will be rejected.

Please keep in mind that many funding agencies require concise, well thought out research proposals, and that the writing of research proposals will therefore become an integral part of your academic career.

Once your proposal is written and approved for submission by your supervisor, the proposal needs to be approved by the Institute Faculty at one of the scheduled staff meetings during the academic year. Your supervisor will be the sponsor and advocate of the proposal.

3. Completing the Thesis Proposal Form

In addition to your written Thesis Proposal, you need to complete theÌýÌý Thesis Proposal FormÌý, in which you offer a timetable for the completion of your thesis.

4. Submission of the Thesis Proposal and the Thesis Proposal Form to the IIS Office

Please ensure that your written Thesis Proposal and bibliography are completed properly, and that your Thesis Proposal Form is approved and signed. The documents are submitted electronically (PDF format) to the Student Affairs Coordinator one week prior to the monthly staff meeting. Late submissions will be held over for the next staff meeting.

5. Faculty approval of Thesis and recommendation of an external thesis examiner

The Faculty will communicate approval of your thesis proposal in writing. You will then work closely with your supervisor on the completion of your thesis. When you have completed writing the thesis, you and your supervisor will decide on the name ofÌýone possible external examiner who is a specialist in your field and whose service as your thesis examiner would present no conflicts of interest.Ìý

Nature of the MA Thesis

Purpose: The purpose of an MA thesis is to show that the student is able to assimilate and present with competence a certain body of knowledge in the field of Islamic Studies, and thereby to demonstrate whether he/she is competent to undertake research at the doctoral level.

Scope: An MA thesis should address a well-defined problem, offer an adequate review of previous work relating to that problem, analyze the data critically and sufficiently, and draw logical conclusions that relate to the problem under discussion

Expected Performance: The content should reflect an understanding and control of the subject, a skill in orderly exposition, and an ability to marshal and organize evidence and draw logical conclusions. Although the thesis may be based on secondary sources, the use of primary sources is strongly encouraged.

Bibliography: The bibliography should contain all works cited and used in the research, omitting no important contributions to the topic discussed.

Language of the Thesis

Theses may be submitted in either English or French. Grammatical correctness is required, and felicity of expression is among the criteria involved in judging a thesis.

Preparation of the Thesis

All thesis submissions must adhere to the guidelines set by GPS. For more information, please consultÌýGPS’ Thesis Guidelines.

Submission to Supervisor

Please be aware that Professors need a reasonable amount of time to read and provide comments on your thesis. This process of submission and feedback should be an on-going activity based on the thesis timeline that was agreed upon by you and your supervisor(s). If you fail to submit chapters or other sections of your thesis by the agreed upon timeline, he/she may not be able to ensure that your thesis can be submitted by a certain deadline. You must consult your supervisor well in advance about dates and availability.

Date of Completion of the Thesis

1. The MA thesis should normally be completed during the Winter term of the second year.

2. Students registered for a third year of MA studies are normally permitted to register only for continuing language courses and thesis research.

Initial Thesis Submission

Once the thesis has been written, corrected by your supervisor, revised as appropriate and approved for submission, the candidate may submit the thesis and thesis forms on myThesis, following the instructions online.

Thesis submission deadlines:Ìý

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A checklist needs to be submitted with the initial thesis.

See the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies'Ìý webpage for the form and information.

IfÌýthe research for the thesis involved human participants, you should have obtained Research Compliance Certificates fromÌýthe Research Ethics Board.ÌýA copy of the certificatesÌýmust be provided together with the Thesis forms.

Once submitted, the thesis is forwarded by GPS to the External Examiner, who will, in due course, send a report (approximately one month). Based on this report, there may be additional corrections or changes to be made to the thesis before final submission.

Examination of the Thesis

Theses are read byÌýan externalÌýexaminer. Following discussions with the student, the supervisor will submit 2-3 names for approval to theÌýGPD and Director. Once approved by theÌýGPD and Director, the student submits the contact information in myThesis for GPS to contact them. If theÌýGPD is the supervisor of the student, the final approval of the externals will be made by the Director; if the Director is the supervisor of the student, the final approval of the externals will be made by the GPD.

It is advisable that the process in myThesis be initiated 2 months before the intended date of submission.

Final Submission

For the MA thesis, once all corrections are completed based on the external examiner's report, you submit your final copy electronically through on Minerva.ÌýÌý

Thesis Examination Failures

In the case of a thesis judged unsatisfactory byÌýthe ExternalÌýExaminer, the student can either revise -resubmit or ask for a new examiner at a Hearing Committee for bias, error or misrepresentation or both. Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies details the process and procedures on its website.Ìý