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Dissertation and Convocation Awards & Prizes

CAGS/Proquest Distinguished Dissertation Awards

The CAGS-ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award recognizes Canadian doctoral dissertations that make unusually significant and original contributions to their academic field. They were established in 1994 and are presented annually by the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS), with sponsorship support provided by ProQuest

To be eligible, dissertations must be disseminated in full text format via the ProQuest Dissertation & Thesis Global database (PQDT Global), prior to jury selection. Upload instructions may be foundÌý

Deadline

Contact your academic unit to learn more about deadlines

Eligible Dissertations (two categories)

Maximum one nomination per category per unit.

  1. A dissertation in any discipline inÌýengineering, medical sciences, & natural sciencesÌýcompleted and accepted by the Graduate School in theÌýprevious calendar yearÌý(date on certificate of acceptability of thesis).
  2. A dissertation in any discipline in theÌýfine arts, humanities, & social sciencesÌýcompleted and accepted by the Graduate School in theÌýprevious calendar yearÌý(date on certificate of acceptability of thesis).

How to Apply

Submit documents to the academic unitÌý

Nominations to GPS are made by the academic unit

Required Documents

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 theÌýdissertation 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 otherwiseÌýauthenticated 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:


ADESAQ

Prix D'excellence de L'Association des doyennes et des doyens des études supérieures au Québec (ADESAQ)

The Fonds de recherche du Québec offersÌýa $2500 prize for the best thesis in each of the categories outlined below.

Deadline

Contact your academic unit to learn more about deadlines

Eligible Dissertations (three categories)

Maximum one application per category per unit.

  1. A dissertation in any discipline in theÌýsocial sciences &ÌýhumanitiesÌýcompleted 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 theÌýnatural sciencesÌý&ÌýengineeringÌýcompleted and accepted by the Graduate School in the previous calendar yearÌý(date on certificate of acceptability of thesis)
  3. A dissertation in any discipline in theÌýhealth sciencesÌýcompleted and accepted by the Graduate School in the previous calendar yearÌý(date on certificate of acceptability of thesis)

How to Apply

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

Required Documents

  • 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.

Council of Graduate SchoolsÌýCGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award

First presented in 1981 and sponsored jointly by CGS and ProQuest Dissertations Publishing (a Division of ProQuest Information and Learning), these awards are made each year to individuals who, in the opinion of the award committee, have completed dissertations representing original work that makes an unusually significant contribution to the discipline.

Two CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards, each consisting of an award of $2,000 and a certificate of recognition, will be presented at the CGS Annual Meeting Awards Luncheon in December 2023, in Washington, DC. Reasonable travel expenses of award recipients will be covered. Only the winners and the nominating deans will be notified of the outcomes of the competition prior to the Awards Luncheon.

Deadline

Contact your academic unit for information on document submission deadline.

Eligible Dissertations (two categories)

  1. Biological Sciences/Life Sciences:Ìýbiology; 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:Ìýhistory; 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,Ìýa 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 ofÌýJuly 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023Ìýinclusive.

Required Documents

  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.Ìý(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)

For information please consult: Ìý


Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools Dissertation and Thesis Awards

Each yearÌýNAGSÌýrecognizes an outstandingÌýmaster’s thesisÌýandÌýan outstanding doctoral dissertationÌýthat has been produced by a student at one of its member institutions.

The $1,000 awards will be presented at the NAGS annual meeting which will be an in-person event to be held on Friday, April 11, 2025, at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco in Baltimore, MD.ÌýThe recipientsÌýwill be invited to attend the meeting as a guest of the Association andÌýmust be present to receive the award.

Deadline

Mid Fall semester; Contact your academic unit to learn more about deadlines

EligibleÌýDoctoralÌýDissertationÌý2025-ÌýArts & Humanities

Nominees must have received the doctoral degree within five years preceding the year of competition (completed all requirements for the degreeÌý[GPS approved final e-thesis]Ìýafter January 1, 2020)

Required Documents

  1. Copy of Thesis
  2. Lay abstract maximum 300 words
  3. Three (3) letters of evaluation evaluating the significance and quality of the nominee’s dissertation work.
    • 1 letter is to be from the nominee’s dissertation supervisor,
    • 1 letter is to be from a member of the nominee’s dissertation committee,
    • 1 letter is to be from a person of the nominee’s choice.
  4. The nominee’s curriculum vitae (not to exceed five (5) pages).

How to apply

Nominations are made to GPS by the academic unit. Please contact your academic unit for further information.

EligibleÌýMaster's ThesisÌý2025- Agricultural, Biological & Health

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]Ìýafter January 1, 2022).

Required Documents

  1. Copy of Thesis
  2. Lay abstract maximum 300 words
  3. Three (3) letters of evaluation
  • 1 letter is to be from the nominee’s thesis supervisor,
  • 1 letter is to be from a member of the nominee’s advisory committee,
  • 1 letter is to be from a person of the nominee’s choice.

How to apply

Nominations are made to GPS by the academic unit. Please contact your academic unit for further information.

NAGS - For information please consult your academic unit and theÌý


Convocation awards and prizes

Nominations are made to GPS by the academic unit. Please contact your academic unit for further information.

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