LLM/MSL/SJD
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
GRDUATE PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
Coursework LLM
Candidates pursuing a coursework intensive LLM must complete a course of studies and a thesis
which, combined, are valued at a minimum of 24 credits and a maximum of 26 credits.
All LLM students must attend the graduate seminar, Alternative Approaches to Legal Scholarship
(3 credits) This is a full year course. Attendance is mandatory.
Candidates must write a 4 credit thesis (approximately 50 pages or 10,000 words) under the
supervision of a member of graduate faculty.
Candidates must take a further 17 to 19 (4 credit thesis plus 3 credit graduate seminar plus 17 to
19 credits = 24 to 26 credits). Graduate students choose the remainder of their courses from
those available in the JD program. Graduate students usually choose the more senior level
seminar, specialized and intensive courses, which often require preparation of a research paper.
The coursework and the thesis will be graded on the graduate grading scale. Students must
achieve a minimum of B- in all courses and the thesis.
All course selections are subject to approval by the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies.
Thesis Intensive LLM
Candidates pursuing a thesis intensive LLM must complete a course of studies and a thesis
which, combined, are valued at a minimum of 24 credits and a maximum of 26 credits.
All LLM students must attend the graduate seminar, Alternative Approaches to Legal Scholarship
(3 credits). This is a full year course. Attendance is mandatory.
The central requirement of the thesis intensive LLM program is the writing of a 16 credit thesis
(approximately 150 pages or 45,000 words) under the supervision of a member of graduate
faculty.
Candidates must take a further 5 to 7 credits (16 credit thesis plus 3 credit graduate seminar plus
5 to 7 credits = 24 to 26 credits). Graduate students choose the remainder of their courses from
those available in the JD program. Graduate students usually choose the more senior level
seminar, specialized and intensive courses, which often require preparation of a research paper.
The coursework and the thesis will be graded on the graduate grading scale. Students must
achieve a minimum of B- in all courses and the thesis.
All course selections are subject to approval by the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies.
LLM/MSL/SJD
MSL
Candidates attend the law school full-time for one eight month session, beginning in September.
Candidates are required to complete at least 28 and not more than 32 credits.
All students must attend the graduate seminar, Alternative Approaches to Legal Scholarship (3
credits). Attendance is mandatory.
Candidates are further required to take at least three of the following first year subjects: contracts,
torts, property, criminal law, constitutional law (5 credits each).
Candidates in the MSL program also complete a research project of an interdisciplinary nature
during their studies at the law school.
The coursework and the research paper will be graded on the graduate grading scale. Students
must achieve a minimum of B- in all courses and the research paper.
All course selections are subject to approval by the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies.
In no circumstances will courses taken in a MSL program be accredited for the JD program.
Non- Degree Special Students
Non-degree special students enrolled in the graduate program must choose their courses from
those available in the JD program. Graduate students usually choose the more senior level
seminar, specialized and intensive courses, which often require preparation of a research paper.
Students are not permitted to choose first year courses.
The coursework will be graded on the graduate grading scale.
In no circumstances will courses taken in the non-degree special student program be accredited
for the JD program or a graduate degree program.
All course selections are subject to approval by the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies.
Direct- Entry And Regular SJD
Direct-entry SJD candidates must take 8 credits of coursework, including the first term of the
graduate seminar, Alternative Approaches to Legal Scholarship (3 credits). Attendance is
mandatory. Graduate students choose the remainder of their courses from those available in the
JD program. Graduate students usually choose the more senior level seminar, specialized and
intensive courses which often require preparation of a research paper.
Regular SJD students must attend the first term of graduate seminar, Alternative Approaches to
Legal Scholarship (3 credits). Attendance is mandatory. Further coursework is optional.
The central requirement of the program is the completion of a thesis under supervision. You will
be invited to meet with the Associate Dean in late August or early September to discuss potential
LLM/MSL/SJD
supervisors. Normally a SJD thesis is between 300 and 400 pages (approximately 90,000 to
120,000 words). In every case, however, the particular requirements of the thesis are established
in conjunction with the thesis supervisor, and may vary with the subject matter of the thesis.
Area Requirement: Before being allowed to proceed with formal research on a thesis topic, a
candidate must demonstrate competence in a broader area within which the topic falls. An
Individual Area Committee (established by the student and approved by the Associate Dean of
Graduate Studies) assists in framing that area and compiling an appropriate plan for carrying out
the research. The research undertaken by the candidate either culminates in a written exam,
based on the reading list, or else consists of a research project which is either a draft of a chapter
of the thesis, or an overview of the general argument. Both paths lead to an oral exam based on
the written work and the reading list. Normally, a candidate will have satisfied the area
requirement by the end of the first year of registration. A candidate will not be allowed to continue
in the doctoral programme, where, in the opinion of the Area Committee, the candidate is not
capable of demonstrating the capacity for independent legal research and writing at an advanced
level.
SJD Presentation: In order to focus the second year of research, all SJD students are required
to present an abstract of their work in progress in the SJD workshop series. In this series,
students present an abstract of their work in progress - about 15 pages - to an audience of their
peers and interested faculty, in order to get positive feedback and suggestions from a group
larger than their committee
LLM THESIS GUIDELINES
Introduction
The thesis is a major academic requirement of the LLM programme. These guidelines are
designed to inform you of the details of the thesis requirement. At the same time, however, since
each thesis must be tailored to meet the particular needs of each subject, student and supervisor,
there is a substantial flexibility in the guidelines. Every student should raise with his or her thesis
supervisor, or the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies), any questions concerning the application
of these guidelines to his or her thesis.
Timing
The LLM programme is a 12-month programme. As a result the thesis must be completed no
later than August 31 in the year following a September enrolment.
In order to complete the thesis on time, it is essential that you make steady progress on the thesis
throughout the year. As a result you should discuss with the Associate Dean the choice of your
supervisor in early September. Once your supervisor is selected you should arrange regular
meetings to discuss your topic, your outline and your progress.
If you are in the thesis intensive program, you should have finalized a thesis outline by early
December. Indeed, in most cases, not only should your outline be finalized, but also your
research should be well advanced by the end of the fall term.
If you are in the coursework intensive program, you should have prepared an outline for review by
your supervisor by January or February; prepared a timetable for writing the thesis by April and
must complete the thesis by August.
LLM/MSL/SJD
As you complete draft chapters of your thesis, you should submit them to your supervisor both as
evidence of your progress and in order to get comments.
As a general rule it is wise to set yourself a relatively firm schedule for completing your thesis
once the outline is finalized, to communicate this schedule to your supervisor and to endeavour
then to stick to it. This will ensure that you complete the thesis comfortably within the deadline.
Your supervisor will require time to review your completed draft thesis and to make suggestions
for change. You must leave yourself sufficient time to respond to these suggestions. This process
of review and revision takes more time than you might expect. It also takes place during the
summer when people typically take their holidays. Therefore to ensure completion of the review
process by August 31 we suggest that you aim to have a completed draft to your supervisor by
July 1st unless your supervisor agrees that a later date is acceptable. Anyone handing in his or
her completed draft after July 1 must realize that we cannot guarantee that the review process
will be completed before August 31. If significant revisions are required you may need an
extension to complete your degree.
Supervision
After discussing your areas of interest with you, the Associate Dean will advise you of your
supervisor. Normally the final decision on your supervisor will be taken only after you have had a
chance to speak with the faculty member. Once your supervisor is selected, he or she becomes
your primary contact with the Faculty. You should discuss your course selections with your
supervisor in order to ensure a proper balance with your thesis.
Once a supervisor has been confirmed, the student and the supervisor should forward to my
office a programme of work, setting out an outline of the research project, and a proposed
timetable for research and submission of written work. This first report is due by the end of
January 2003. Please bear in mind that the Faculty’s expectation is that LLM students will
complete their theses by August 31. If the student is not regularly handing in written work, it is
incumbent on both supervisor and supervisee to discuss this issue and to inform my office.
When written work is handed in, the student may reasonably expect that it is returned with oral
and written comments within 2-3 weeks. Obviously, the work might be handed in at a very bad
time for the supervisor and supervisees have to be sensitive to this fact. In such cases, the
supervisor must give the student a firm commitment to a later meeting. When a student is
approaching the throes of finishing, he/she must meet with the supervisor well before to establish
a feasible schedule for feedback under more time constrained conditions.
Students must keep in mind that the longer the draft submitted, the more time one has to allow
before one can expect feedback.
Before a candidate may hand in a final LLM thesis, the supervisor must confirm in writing to the
student and to the graduate office that they have reviewed the thesis and that is satisfactory. In
the case of thesis intensive students, a second reader must also read and approve the thesis.
The supervisor must submit a grade for the thesis to the Graduate Office before August 31.
If a problem arises with supervision, please contact the Graduate Office.
Research leaves, including sabbaticals and teaching relief, are not regarded by the University as
breaks from one’s supervisory obligations. Regular supervision should be continued through email.
Length
LLM/MSL/SJD
If you are in the thesis intensive program, the 16 credit thesis should be approximately 150 pages
or 45,000 words. If you are in the coursework intensive program, the 4 credit thesis should be
approximately 50 pages or 15,000 words. In all cases, however, the length must fit the particular
subject and the nature of the analysis adopted. The length of your thesis is therefore a matter to
be discussed and settled with your supervisor in light of your particular topic.
Grading
The thesis will be graded in accordance with the SGS Graduate Grading Scale.
Deadline for Completion of Thesis
The LLM degree is a one-year (12-month) programme, and students should complete the
coursework and thesis by August 31st.
Format
Details concerning the general format, required by the School of Graduate Studies, are provided
in the Guidelines for Preparation of Theses published infra.
Footnotes must be at the bottom of each page unless your supervisor specifically permits you to
list them at the end of each chapter. All citation must be in proper form in accordance with the
standards of the Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation.
Problems
If you are having any difficulties in the preparation of your thesis, raise them with your supervisor
at an early date. Do not allow yourself to get discouraged or behind schedule. IF YOU HAVE ANY
PROBLEMS IN COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR SUPERVISOR OR IN GETTING FEEDBACK,
PLEASE INFORM THE ASSOCIATE DEAN AT AN EARLY DATE.
SJD DISSERTATION GUIDELINES
Introduction
The thesis is the central academic requirement of the SJD programme. To qualify for the
SJD degree, the thesis must, in the opinion of the Faculty, constitute a distinct contribution to
legal research or scholarship. These guidelines are designed to inform you of the details of the
thesis requirement. At the same time, however, since each thesis must be tailored to meet the
particular needs of each subject, student and supervisor, there is substantial flexibility in the
guidelines. Every student should raise with his or her thesis supervisor, or the Associate Dean
any questions concerning the application of these guidelines to his or her thesis.
Timing
The Faculty of Law expects candidates to complete the academic requirements in three calendar
years. The Faculty does not guarantee any financial support beyond the first three years.
However, the University permits completion of a doctorate within 5 years of the date of enrolment.
In order to complete the thesis on time, it is essential that you make steady progress on the thesis
throughout the three year period. As a result you should discuss with the Associate Dean the
choice of your supervisor immediately upon joining the programme. Once your supervisor is
selected you should arrange regular meetings to discuss your progress.
LLM/MSL/SJD
Area Requirement
Before being allowed to proceed with formal research on a thesis topic, a candidate must
demonstrate competence in a broader area within which the topic falls. An Individual Area
Committee (established by the student and approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate
Studies) assists in framing that area and compiling an appropriate plan for carrying out the
research. The research undertaken by the candidate either culminates in a written exam, based
on the reading list, or else consists of a research project which is either a draft of a chapter of the
thesis, or an overview of the general argument. Both paths lead to an oral exam based on the
written work and the reading list. Normally, a candidate will have satisfied the area requirement
by the end of the first year of registration.
Generally, you should prepare an outline of your thesis at the start of the second year. The
outline, when prepared, should be submitted for approval to the informal committee of faculty
members interested in your area of research. This procedure will reduce the possibility of an
outline being later judged by the doctoral examination committee to be deficient.
SJD Presentation
In order to focus the second year of research, all SJD students are required to present an
abstract of their work in progress in the SJD workshop series. In this series, students present an
abstract of their work in progress – about 15 pages - to an audience of their peers and interested
faculty, in order to get positive feedback and suggestions from a group larger than their
committee.
As you complete draft chapters of your thesis, you should submit them to your supervisor both as
evidence of your progress and in order to get comments.
As a general rule it is wise to set yourself a relatively firm schedule for completing your thesis
once the outline is finalized, to communicate this schedule to your supervisor and to endeavour to
stick to it. This will ensure that you complete the thesis in a timely fashion.
Advisory Committee
Within six months, the student and the supervisor should discuss and decide upon two to three
faculty members who are interested in the candidate’s area of research. The supervisor and these
faculty members will serve as the Advisory Committee. The role of the Committee is to meet and
review the proposed thesis topic, to advise the student on the proposed plan of research and
timetable of activity and to monitor the progress of the student. The Advisory Committee must meet
at least once per year.
Supervision
A preliminary decision regarding your supervisor will have been made prior to your arrive. The
final decision on your supervisor will be taken only after you have had a chance to speak with the
faculty member. Once the selection of your supervisor is finalized, he or she becomes your
primary contact with the Faculty. You should discuss your course selections, if any, with your
supervisor in order to ensure a proper balance with your thesis. Furthermore, you may look to
your supervisor generally for academic guidance throughout your period of enrolment.
Once a supervisor has been confirmed, the student and the supervisor should forward to the
graduate office a programme of work, setting out an outline of the research project, a proposed
timetable for research and submission of written work, and proposed timetable for supervisory
meetings. This first report is due by the end of the first term. Please bear in mind that the
LLM/MSL/SJD
Faculty’s expectation is that students will complete their dissertation in three years. If the student
is not regularly handing in written work, it is incumbent on both supervisor and supervisee to
discuss this issue and to inform the graduate office.
When written work is handed in, the student may reasonably expect that it is returned with oral
and written comments within 2-3 weeks. Obviously, the work might be handed in at a very bad
time for the supervisor and supervisees have to be sensitive to this fact. In such cases, the
supervisor must give the student a firm commitment to a later meeting. When a student is
approaching the throes of finishing, he/she must meet with the supervisor well before to establish
a feasible schedule for feedback under more time constrained conditions.
The relationship between supervisee and the other members of the committee is more difficult to
formalize. This relationship is best worked out between the supervisor and the other members on
formation of the supervisory committee, so that there are clear expectations. The other members
might want to wait until there is a full draft of the thesis or to comment on chapters as these are
produced. In the latter case, there is a lot to be said for revising in the light of one set of
comments before submission to someone else, as this allows for progressive improvement.
Students must keep in mind that the longer the draft submitted, the more time one has to allow
before one can expect feedback. But in the ordinary course of events, the same 2-3 week period
applies for feedback on drafts.
Research leaves, including sabbaticals and teaching relief, are not regarded by the University as
breaks from one’s supervisory obligations. Regular supervision should be continued through email.
Monitoring the Progress of the SJD Student.
The student, the supervisor, and the Advisory Committee each have a responsibility to monitor the
progress of the SJD candidate. The Advisory Committee meets with the student at least once per
year to assess the student’s progress in the program and to provide advice on future work. Each
August, the student and the supervisor must complete an SJD Annual Report. Copies of the report
will be given to the student and filed with the graduate unit. Continued financial support may be
withdrawn if the Annual Report is not filed.
By the end of the first year, the student should have obtained a supervisor (September) created an
advisory committee (January) and completed the area exam (June).
By the end of second year, the student should have presented their work in progress at an SJD
workshop and met with the advisory committee.
During the third year, the student and supervisor should prepare a plan for finalizing the thesis and
discussed a date for the oral examination.
Length of Thesis
SJD theses are normally between 300 to 400 pages (approximately 90,000 to 100,000 words).
In all cases, however, the length must fit the particular subject and the nature of the analysis
adopted. The length of the thesis is therefore a matter to be discussed and settled with your
supervisor in light of your particular topic.
Format
Details concerning the general format, required by the School of Graduate Studies, are provided
in the Guidelines for Preparation of Theses published in this volume.
LLM/MSL/SJD
Footnotes must be at the bottom of each page unless your supervisor specifically permits you to
list them at the end of each chapter. All citation must be in proper form in accordance with the
standards of the Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation.
Oral Examination
Each SJD candidate must pass an oral examination on his or her thesis. The oral examination is
conducted according to procedures similar to those applicable to Ph.D. oral examinations
elsewhere in the University. The examining committee consists of both internal and external
examiners from law. As your thesis is nearing completion, you should discuss arrangements for
the oral examination with the Associate Dean. Typically, it takes at least eight weeks to schedule
the exam and the exam itself may not be held for 2-3 months depending on the time of year.
Please contact Julia Hall a couple of months before your proposed oral examination. While the
Law Faculty will pay for an external examiner to be brought to the Law Faculty, the graduate
office must be consulted prior to any approach to prospective candidates. The exam should take
place at a time when the supervisor and the committee are in Toronto. School of Graduate
Studies regulations do allow the use of a speaker phone.
Problems
If you are having difficulties in the preparation of your thesis, raise them with your supervisor at
an early date. Do not allow yourself to get discouraged or behind schedule. IF YOU HAVE ANY
PROBLEMS IN COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR SUPERVISOR OR IN GETTING FEEDBACK,
PLEASE INFORM THE ASSOCIATE DEAN AT AN EARLY DATE.
LLM/MSL/SJD
MICROFILMING AND BINDING
THESES THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO THESE GUIDELINES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY
THE SCHOOL OR BY THE NATIONAL LIBRARY FOR MICROFILMING
For inquiries:
Doctoral Degrees (416) 978-5258
Master's Degrees (416) 978-2377
(07/98)
CONTENTS
Section A.
Section B.
Section C.
Section D.
Section E.
Section F.
Section G.
Section H.
Copies Required
Technical Requirements
Title Page
Abstract of Thesis
Previously Copyrighted Material
Binding
Major Reasons for Rejecting a Thesis for Microfilming Section
Forms:
Non-Exclusive License to Reproduce Theses
UMI Subject Categories
Authority to Distribute
Sample of Title pages
INTRODUCTION
These guidelines cover general requirements regarding all theses submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies. In addition to the regulations posted in the SGS Calendar, candidates should
also check with their individual departments for specific requirements as to style. Close attention
to the regulations will expedite the receiving and processing of theses and eventually the
dissemination of information about theses in scholarly publications.
A. COPIES REQUIRED (MINIMUM)
MASTER'S STUDENTS
(a)
One unbound copy (see Section B. Technical Requirements) is to be submitted to the
Graduate Office.
(b)
Two bound copies (see Section F. Binding) to be submitted to the Faculty of Law.
The deadlines for submission of the master's theses to the School are the same as those for
submission of "Degree Recommendation Forms" (see SGS Calendar). The thesis title on the
"Degree Recommendation Form" should be identical to that on the title page of the thesis.
Master's students will be required to pay $37.00 for microfilming when they submit their theses to
the School (students should confirm the cost with the graduate department). Certified cheques
and money orders should be made payable to the University of Toronto.
DOCTORAL STUDENTS
LLM/MSL/SJD
(a)
One unbound copy (see Section B. Technical Requirements) is to be submitted to the
Graduate Office, along with a binding fee of $15.00.
(b)
The student is responsible for submitting two bound copies (see Section F. Binding) to
the Faculty of Law.
B. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
The unbound copy submitted to the School of Graduate Studies should be an original or superior
copy of the thesis. Characters should be black, evenly spaced, neat, and dense. Faint or broken
lettering will not reproduce on microfilm. For best reproduction results, use a laser printer or a
letter-quality printer where the dots cannot be seen with the naked eye. Correcting liquid and
other impermanent methods of correction should not be used. Good-quality white bond paper,
thick enough to be opaque, should be used (20 lb. base is acceptable). The opacity is important
to prevent the typing on the following page from showing through when filmed.
Font size must be a minimum of 10 points and 10-15 characters per inch. You may use a smaller
font size for graphs, formulas, and appendices (avoid italics). The spacing of the printed lines
must be at least one-and-a-half spaces, on one side of the paper only. Single spacing may be
used for long quoted passages and footnotes. Decisions as to the form and location of footnotes
and the presentation of references and bibliography are to be made by the student and the
supervisor at an early stage in the writing of the thesis. The preferred location for footnotes is
either at the bottom of the page or at the end of the chapters to which they refer. Style manuals
should be consulted in conjunction with the Guidelines. For questions not answered in either the
Guidelines or any style manual, students are urged to use their discretion and to maintain a
consistent style. The size of the pages should be 8 1/2" x 11" (21.5 cm x 28 cm), the text reading
across the 8 1/2" (21.5 cm) dimension. The left-hand margin should be at least 1 1/4" (32 mm),
and the remaining three margins should be at least 3/4" (20 mm) to the main text.
Check that all pages are present, in sequence, and correctly numbered. Each and every page in
the thesis must be numbered. The preliminary portion of the thesis should be numbered with
small Roman numerals placed in the centre of the page, about half an inch from the bottom.
Numbering begins with the Abstract as ii (the Title Page counts as i, but the number does not
appear). The remainder of the thesis, starting with the first page of the Introduction or Chapter
One, should be numbered with Arabic numerals. Preferred placement of the Arabic numerals is in
the upper right-hand corner (about half an inch from each edge) with the exception of the first
page of every chapter, including the first page of the references or bibliography and appendices.
For these, the page numbers should be placed in the centre, half an inch from the bottom edge of
the page.
Illustrations should be positioned the same as the main text, if possible. Illustrated material will
reproduce well if drawn in dark, opaque ink. Colours will appear as varying shades of grey on a
microfilm; therefore, labels and symbols rather than colours should be used to identify the lines of
graphs. Cross-hatching rather than colours will provide a sharper contrast for shaded areas.
For microfilming purposes, black-and-white photographs, with a matte, non-glossy finish, are
recommended for submission with the unbound thesis; all photographs should be dry-mounted/
permanently fixed within the thesis. If necessary, black-and-white photographs may be reprinted
by a photographer from colour photographs used in the bound copies of the thesis.
(Black-and-white photographs with a full range of contrast reproduce well; those with limited
contrast reproduce satisfactorily only on positive microfilm.) Photographs with dark backgrounds
should be avoided. Slides are not acceptable.
LLM/MSL/SJD
Charts, graphs, maps, and tables that are larger than the standard page should be avoided
unless absolutely necessary as they complicate microfilming. Oversized pages shall be
microfilmed in sections, with sections numbered and arranged so that they read from left to right,
top to bottom. It is recommended that oversized pages (large charts, graphs, and plates) be
reduced, if possible, but notations or writing on them must be easily legible and no smaller than
12 characters per inch. Transparent overlays must be carefully aligned with underlying maps or
charts. The underlying sheet will be filmed first and then the overlay and the underlying sheet
together.
The accepted order within the preliminary sections of the thesis is as follows:
1.
2.
Forms)
3.
Forms)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
C.
"The National Library of Canada Non-Exclusive Licence to Reproduce Theses Form"
(unbound copy only - see Section H. Forms)
"The UMI Subject Categories Form" (unbound copy of dissertations only - see Section H.
"The University of Toronto Authority to Distribute Form" (all copies - see Section H.
Title Page (see Section C. Title Page)
Abstract (see Section D. Abstract of Thesis)
Acknowledgments (where applicable)
Table of Contents
List of Tables (where applicable)
List of Plates (where applicable)
List of Figures
List of Appendices (where applicable)
TITLE PAGE
See the "Sample of Title Page" in this Graduate Handbook for layout. On the title page should
appear the words "A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of (state
full name of degree), Graduate Department of (state name of graduate department), in the
University of Toronto", along with the thesis title (in capital letters), student's name, and the
universal copyright notice (the date will be the year the degree will be conferred). The universal
copyright notice must appear on one line, as indicated in the "Sample of Title Page" at the end of
these guidelines.
D.
ABSTRACT OF THESIS
All theses must have an abstract included. Most importantly, the following technical guidelines
must be followed for the production of the abstract in the unbound copy which is used for
microfilming by UMI the National Library of Canada's production and sales agent, and then
reproduced in Dissertation Abstracts International and Master's Abstracts International at
University Microfilms Inc. (UMI), Ann Arbor, Michigan:
Font size must be a minimum of 10 points and 10-15 characters per inch and the lines of
text must be double-spaced, on one side of the paper only. The abstract must not exceed 350
words for a doctoral thesis or 150 words for a master's thesis. The size of the page(s) should be 8
1/2" x 11" (21.5 cm x 28 cm), the text reading across the 8 1/2" (21.5 cm) dimension. The
left-hand margin should be at least 1 1/4" (32 mm), and the remaining three margins at least 3/4"
(20 mm) to the main text.
The student's thesis title, degree and year of convocation, full name, name of graduate
department, and name of university must appear on the top of the first page of the abstract (this
information is not included in the 350/150-word count).
LLM/MSL/SJD
Symbols, as well as foreign words and phrases, must be clearly and accurately
displayed.
-
Do not include graphs, charts, tables, or illustrations in the abstract
E.
PREVIOUSLY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL
This includes questionnaires and surveys appearing in the appendices and chapters that may (i)
be multiauthored with the student as the primary author and/or (ii) have been previously
published. A written authorization to produce copyrighted material beyond a brief excerpt must be
obtained from the copyright owner (e.g., journal publisher) and co-author(s) and submitted with all
copies of the thesis. Such permission letters should not only allow inclusion of the material in the
thesis but should specify the use made of the thesis by National Library (i.e., to reproduce, lend,
distribute, or sell copies of the thesis by any means and in any form or format). Within the thesis,
a statement of the authorization can either be included in the author's acknowledgements or at
the beginning of the section in which the material is used (e.g., on the first page of a
section/document that is more than one page in length).
F.
BINDING
The binding of the thesis should be of good quality with a hard cover, preferably buckram. Gold
lettering should be used. Since individual departments may have preferred colours for the
binding, students should enquire at their departments before making a final selection. The thesis
title, author, and year of convocation (the year the degree will be conferred upon the student)
should appear on the front cover; the author's name and year of convocation on the spine. The
first page of all bound copies must be a completed University of Toronto Authority to Distribute
form which should be bound into the thesis rather than separately attached.
G.
MAJOR REASONS FOR REJECTING A THESIS FOR
MICROFILMING
Theses that do not conform to these guidelines will not be accepted by the School, and the
candidates will have their graduation deferred. Theses have been rejected by the National Library
for the following reasons:
Presence of substantial copyrighted material that is not accompanied by a letter of
authorization from the copyright owner. (See Section E. Previously Copyrighted Material)
Missing or incorrectly numbered pages.
Poor legibility of print (e.g., faint or broken lettering) which will not produce a quality
micro-image.
"Non-exclusive Licence to Reproduce Theses" form (see Section H. Forms) missing,
altered, unsigned, or signed by a person other than the author.
H.
FORMS
The "National Library of Canada Non-exclusive Licence to Reproduce Theses" form is to be
completed and signed by the author, granting permission to the National Library of Canada to
microfilm the thesis and to make microfiche copies available for sale on demand. The author will
receive no remuneration for sale of the thesis. Microfilming by the National Library fulfils the
doctoral degree requirement that theses must be published but does not prohibit publication of
theses by any other means. The author's full name, the thesis title, and the year the degree will
be conferred should be identical on the title page of the thesis and on the National Library form.
Microfiche copies of theses will be deposited in the Microtext Department of the University
LLM/MSL/SJD
Library. By adding theses to the national collection, they become more accessible to the research
community outside the University of Toronto.
The "UMI Subject Categories" form is to provide a subject code for the publication of an abstract
of the dissertation in Dissertation Abstracts International and Master's Abstracts International
which are distributed on a subscription basis. The form must be completed and placed with the
unbound copy (see Section B. Technical Requirements).
The "University of Toronto Authority to Distribute" form certifies that the author either wishes to
have the thesis published immediately or delayed temporarily. It is the intention of the University
of Toronto that there be no restriction on the distribution and publication of theses. However, in
exceptional cases, the author, in consultation with the thesis supervisor and with the approval of
the Chair of the department, shall have the right to postpone distribution and publication by
microfilm (but not by abstract) for a period of up to two years from the date of acceptance of the
thesis. This form must be signed and accompany each copy of the thesis; it must be bound as the
first page before the title page in the bound copy.
LLM/MSL/SJD
SAMPLE OF TITLE PAGE
(Note: Space is approximate on 8.5" x 11" page)
(2" from top of page)
THIS AREA IS RECOMMENDED FOR THE THESIS TITLE ONLY
(1.5")
by
(1.5")
Jane Ann Doe
(2")
A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements
for the degree of (state degree)
Graduate Department of (state department)
University of Toronto
(1.25")
c Copyright by Jane Ann Doe (state year of graduate)
(1.25" from bottom of page)
LLM/MSL/SJD
DELIVERY OF THESIS
Please pick up the following forms from Julia Hall. Forms are also available on-line at
http://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/current/studentforms/index.asp.
a.
U of T Authority to Distribute Form (3 copies)
b.
Abstract Only Agreement (UMI)
c.
National Library Form (Non-Exclusive Licence to Reproduce Theses)
LLM Students
Please submit to Julia Hall by August 31:
A.
a binding fee of $37.00 - certified cheque or money order ONLY. Please
make your cheque payable to the University of Toronto. No cash can be accepted!
B.
One unbound volume (single-sided) to be submitted with the one copy of
the U of T Authority to Distribute Form, the Abstract Only Agreement (UMI) and the
National Library Form.
C.
One bound volume for the law library. Please have the U of T Authority to
Distribute Form bound into the thesis as the first page (do not number). Please print
on both sides of the page where appropriate. Students may use buckram (like a
book) or cerlox (spiral) binding as preferred.
D.
One bound volume for your supervisor(s). Please have the U of T Authority
to Distribute Form bound into the thesis as the first page (do not number). Please
print on both sides of the page where
appropriate. Students may use buckram
(like a book) or cerlox (spiral) binding as preferred.
E.
an extra copy of the abstract (by email) for entry into the Bora Laskin
Library of Thesis Abstracts.
LLM/MSL/SJD
Doctoral Students
Please submit to Julia Hall following any corrections made following the oral examination:
A.
a binding fee of $15.00 - certified cheque or money order ONLY. Please
make your cheque payable to the University of Toronto. No cash can be accepted!
B.
One unbound volume (single-sided) to be submitted with one copy of the
Authority to Distribute Form, the Abstract Only Agreement (UMI) and the National
Library Form.
C.
One bound volume for the law library. Please have the U of T Authority to
Distribute Form bound into the thesis as the first page (do not number). Please print
on both sides of the page where appropriate. Students may use buckram (like a
book) binding only.
D.
One bound volume for your supervisor(s). Please have the U of T Authority
to Distribute Form bound into the thesis as the first page (do not number). Please
print on both sides of the page where
appropriate. Students may use buckram
(like a book) binding only.
E.
An extra copy of the abstract (by email) for entry into the Bora Laskin Library
of Thesis Abstracts.
LLM and SJD Students
Please remember that you are responsible for the submission of all of the correct forms and copies.
All copies should be delivered to the Graduate Programme Office. At the time of delivery all your
keys are to be returned, and any outstanding fines and debts must be paid or the law school will be
unable to submit a recommendation and your thesis to SGS.
Binding
Binding can be done at most copy shops or University binding shops.
Print materials/ 2005 Graduate academic and dissertation rules