Toronto Metropolitan University will be closed from the end of the day on December 20, 2024 to January 5, 2025 (inclusive). Program staff will respond to inquiries upon their return on January 6.
During the closure, applicants who have started their application process can continue uploading documents. New applicants can complete the first part of their application (external link, opens in new window) but will only receive an email with follow-up instructions to upload their documents until the university reopens in January.
Thesis & Supervisor
Thesis
A student’s thesis reports the hypotheses and study results of their research program and exposes the work to scholarly criticism. It represents a single body of work, put together with craftsmanship, with integrated material.
Although students are not required to start writing their thesis until Term 3, they should begin planning their project as soon as they enter the program. MScM core courses expose students to various research methodologies that help refine a student’s research design in order to effectively answer their research questions. Students work closely with their supervisors to ensure the elective courses they take expose them to topics and publications relevant to the area of a student’s research interest.
Once the required coursework is completed (usually by Term 3), students begin to work on their thesis. The methodologies used for data collection will vary from student to student based on their research interests and areas of study, and may include: secondary data analysis, survey research, experiments, simulations or qualitative field studies involving ethnographic techniques.
Oral defense
To prepare for an oral defense in the final term of a student’s studies (Term 4), the supervisor will appoint an examining committee. The examining committee will read the written thesis prior to the defense. The oral defense consists of a presentation by the student of the main contributions and conclusions of the work and a Q&A period.
The master’s thesis requirements are met when:
- A student has passed the oral examination
- A student’s written work receives a passing grade
- A student submits the final copy of the thesis to the program in accordance with YSGPS guidelines
MScM Thesis Defense Timeline
(opens in new window)
| Start of Term | 6-8 weeks prior | 2-4 weeks prior | 2 weeks prior | Defense Day | 2 weeks after | 3 months after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supervisor: determine if thesis is ready for oral defense. (google doc) Defense deadlines (external link, opens in new window) |
Supervisor: i) Establish Committee ii) Send form #1 (external link, opens in new window) iii) Set date & time |
Student: Send thesis to committee |
Supervisor:
(google doc) Thesis Announcement form (external link, opens in new window) |
Chair: OR Post Defense (google doc) Email (external link, opens in new window) & Best Thesis Award (google doc) Nomination form (external link, opens in new window) |
Student: Supervisor/ Committee: |
Thesis is available in Library |
Finding a supervisor
The Master of Science in Management program is thesis-based. When applying to the program, students must provide a statement of interest that outlines a research topic for a thesis and identifies two to three potential supervisors. Finding a supervisory match is a part of the successful application to the MScM program; students who cannot be matched with a supervisor, will not be admitted to the program.
Since the MScM program is thesis-based, we emphasize ensuring strong matches between applicants and potential supervisors before they are admitted to the program.
The easiest way to browse through TRSM faculty and their research interests is via the Faculty Supervisors list. You can sort through faculty members based on the department or school they are affiliated with and visit their profiles to learn more about their expertise. Make sure to read recent faculty publications to make sure you are aware of their interests and capabilities.
After finding a supervisor
Once in the program, you will work closely with your supervisor to define your program of study, ensure you take the right elective courses, refine your research question, track your progress in the program, and write and defend your thesis on time. To learn more about working with a supervisor, please visit the YSGPS Supervision and Advising guidelines.
Finding a supervisory match is a part of the successful application to the MScM program.