Formatting & Required Copies

Format requirements are specified in the Thesis and Dissertation Manual available from the Graduate School 862-3000 or access via their web-page: www.gradschool.unh.edu. You will need to submit a copy for format review to the Academic Counselor of the Graduate School.  Please note that you cannot submit a thesis for binding until review and approval of the format has been given by the Graduate School.

• An original and one approved copy of the thesis are required for the Graduate School and one approved copy is required for the Research Director. This totals 3 copies that you are required to make, and then there will be your personal copies.
• Various drafts of the thesis should be proofread by several people (i.e. members of your research group or other graduate students) for content, clarity, grammar and style before giving it to the committee. The candidate should consult with his/her research advisor regarding procedures to be followed in preparing the thesis. The role of the student’s committee is to assess the science and not to serve as proof readers.
• The Administrative Manager must be notified of the time, date and title of the thesis defense at least two weeks prior to the defense date to issue a memo to the Graduate School. At that time, the Administrative Manager will also issue a memo to the department inviting all to attend. 
• Copies of the completed thesis must be distributed to the committee at least TWO WEEKS prior to the date of the public presentation; otherwise the final defense will AUTOMATICALLY be rescheduled to take place at least two weeks later to comply with graduate school regulations. The candidate must also notify the Administrative Manager at the time the thesis has been distributed to the committee so that the defense can be rescheduled if necessary. 
• The public presentation will be in the form of a seminar lasting 40 - 50 minutes followed by questions and discussion from the audience. The committee will question the candidate further in a closed session immediately afterwards.

Deadlines and Notes:

• The presentation of the thesis must take place at least two weeks before commencement.
• The Administrative Manager must be notified of the time, date and title of the thesis defense at least two weeks prior to the defense date to issue a memo to the Director of the Graduate School.
• L1 in the Iddles Auditorium, Parsons Hall, is commonly used for the presentation, but other conference rooms can be arranged if L1 is unavailable. Please see the Administrative Manager for scheduling assistance. Presentations may last two to three hours, so please give yourself ample time when scheduling.
• The copies of the completed thesis must be distributed to the candidate's committee at least TWO WEEKS prior to the date of the public presentation. These are to be distributed by the candidate to each faculty member.

Binding Your Thesis

Once the defense has taken place and the final version of the thesis has been approved, copies must be made in preparation for binding. Binding arrangements are made through the Graduate School. The number of bound copies is as follows:

• one for the advisor
• two for the library/Graduate School
• personal copies