PhD in Educational Studies

Dissertation Process

The final dissertation defence must take place no later than five (5) years after successful completion of the comprehensive portfolio presentation, unless an extension was granted by the IDAC (The Inter-university Doctoral Advisory Committee) and Acadia University.

Key Steps

  • Read the instructions
    As you begin your dissertation writing, please consult the Instructions and Preparation of the Dissertation (PDF) document to ensure you are formatting your document according to the guidelines.

  • Completion of the Dissertation Defence Form
    The PhD Supervisor and Supervisory Committee will complete the Dissertation Defence Form (PDF) approximately one (1) month from you submitting a final approved dissertation draft. The Dissertation Defence Form will be submitted to the IDAC who will then contact the Graduate Studies Officer with the rank ordered list of External Examiners to contact for your dissertation defence.

  • Send your approved final dissertation draft before your defence
    You or your Supervisor are required to submit an electronic copy of the dissertation to the Graduate Studies Officer. The Graduate Studies Officer will arrange for the External Examiner to receive a copy of the dissertation along with a copy of the External Examiner’s Review and Approval of Dissertation for Defence Form (PDF). The Supervisor is responsible for ensuring the Committee Members receive a copy.

  • Review of the dissertation by the External Examiner
    When the timeline for review and detailed comments is confirmed with the External Examiner, the Graduate Studies Officer will send you and your Supervisor the details.

  • Graduate Studies Officer appoints a Chair to oversee the dissertation defence process
    When the Graduate Studies Officer has appointed an Acadia faculty member to facilitate the defence proceedings, they will be provided with a copy of the Guide for Chairing a PhD defence (PDF) and a copy of the Dissertation Defence Assessment Form (PDF).

  • Dissertation Defence Modality and Promotion of the Defence
    The dissertation defence will take place virtually over MS Teams. The Graduate Studies Officer will create the meeting link and send it in an outlook meeting invite to you and the Examining Committee. To promote the research our graduate students are conducting, the Graduate Studies Officer, with your permission, will post an announcement of the defence on the Graduate Studies website. Please submit a personal picture and a brief personal bio (10 sentences max) to be used for a poster to announce the defence to the Graduate Studies Officer.

  • Submit your final dissertation
    You will upload your final dissertation (after defence and revisions), and the signed Dissertation Declaration Form (PDF), to the Library website.

    IMPORTANT NOTE: Upon submission, your dissertation sits in a queue to be available to the public at a later date through the Library website. The Library does an upload of dissertations in January and June of each year. Therefore, if you graduate in October, your dissertation will not be available for viewing until January. If you graduate in May, your dissertation will be available for viewing in June.

Deadlines: apply to graduate and final dissertation submission

Deadlines to apply to graduate:

  • Fall 2026 - September 11th, 2026
  • Spring 2027 - January 15th, 2027
  • Fall 2027 - September 10th, 2027
  • Spring 2028 - January 14th, 2028

Please login to Colleague Self-Service to apply to graduate. If you miss the deadline listed above for the time period that you wish to graduate, please contact the Registrar's Office.

Deadlines to submit final dissertation:

  • Fall 2026 Graduation - September 25th, 2026
  • Spring 2027 Convocation - April 12th, 2027
  • Fall 2027 Graduation - September 24th, 2027
  • Spring 2028 Convocation - April 10th, 2028

Contact Us

The Graduate Studies Office can be reached Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. AST.

Please send admission inquiries to:

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Mailing Address
Acadia University
Graduate Studies
Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6
Canada
Courier Address
15 University Avenue
Acadia University
Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6
Canada
Ph. 902.585.2201
Staff

Dr. Kate Ashley
Vice-Provost Academic Policy & Graduate Studies

Theresa Starratt
Graduate Studies Officer
Horton Hall, Room 214

Students

Acadia Graduate Student Association (AGSA) represents current Graduate Students