Dissertation and Convocation Awards & Prizes

Maximum one nomination per category per unit.

1. A dissertation in any discipline in engineering, medical sciences, & natural sciences completed and accepted by the Graduate School in the previous calendar year (date on certificate of acceptability of thesis).
2. A dissertation in any discipline in the fine arts, humanities, & social sciences completed and accepted by the Graduate School in the previous calendar year (date on certificate of acceptability of thesis).

Submit documents to the academic unit 

Nominations to GPS are made by the academic unit

Documents to be submitted by student to Unit:

1. A letter from the student’s supervisor or program director describing the reasons for the nomination, and why the dissertation constitutes a significant piece of original work.
2. A copy of the external examiner's pre-defence report. The examiner’s report must be dated and signed or otherwise authenticated by the Dean of Graduate Studies.
3. A ONE page abstract of the dissertation, not exceeding 350 words, written by the candidate in non-technical language.
4. An up-to-date c.v. of the nominee.

For information please consult: Canadian Association for Graduate Schools

Maximum one application per category per unit.

1. A dissertation in any discipline in the social sciences & humanities completed and accepted by the Graduate School in the previous calendar year (date on certificate of acceptability of thesis)
2. A dissertation in any discipline in the natural sciences & engineering completed and accepted by the Graduate School in the previous calendar year (date on certificate of acceptability of thesis)
3. A dissertation in any discipline in the health sciences completed and accepted by the Graduate School in the previous calendar year (date on certificate of acceptability of thesis)

• Submit documents to the academic unit
• Nominations to GPS are made by the academic unit

• ADESAQ Application Form
• A complete and updated curriculum vitae
• A ONE page abstract of the thesis in lay terms (maximum 350 words)
• A letter from the Head of the department or program, supporting the nomination (3 pages maximum) with reference to each of the four criteria; originality, quality, impact of the dissertation on the discipline, and potential contribution to the development of society
• A copy of the external referee’s report of the thesis (and on the defense, if applicable)
• A presentation of the external referee of 20 lines maximum (including name and affiliation) and the reasons why this person was chosen to evaluate the thesis.

1. Biological Sciences/Life Sciences: biology; botany; zoology; ecology; embryology; entomology; genetics; nutrition; plant pathology; plant physiology; anatomy; biochemistry; biophysics; microbiology; pathology; pharmacology; physiology; and related fields. Also included are agriculture, forestry, and related fields.
2. Humanities and Fine Arts: history; philosophy; language; linguistics; literature; archaeology; jurisprudence; the history, theory and criticism of the arts; ethics; comparative religion; and those aspects of the social sciences that employ historical or philosophical approaches.
3. If a dissertation is multi- or interdisciplinary in nature, a significant portion of the work must be comprised by at least one of the 2023 fields of competition.
4. The effective date of degree award, or the completion of doctoral degree requirements and dissertation, must fall in the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023 inclusive.

1. Each nominee must prepare an abstract (not to exceed 5 pages) of his or her dissertation, typed double-spaced on 8-1/2" x 11" white paper.
2. In addition, appendices containing nontextual material, such as charts or tables, and/or references, may be included. The pages should be numbered, and each should bear the name of the nominee. (not to exceed 5 pages)
3. Letters from three referees selected by the nominee, evaluating the significance and quality of his or her dissertation work, are to be included in the nomination materials.
   • One of these letters is to be from the nominee's dissertation supervisor, another from a member of the nominee's dissertation committee, and the third from a person of the nominee's choice
4. The nominee’s curriculum vitae (not to exceed 5 pages)

Nominees must have received the doctoral degree within five years preceding the year of competition (completed all requirements for the degree [GPS approved final e-thesis] after January 1, 2019)

Nominees must have received the master's degree within three years preceding the year of competition. (completed all requirements for the degree [GPS approved final e-thesis] after January 1, 2021).

Required Documents

How to apply