Thesis

You are automatically registered for the Thesis activity every term (fall, winter and summer) from the initial registration to the end of your studies.

The grade obtained for the thesis does not influence the GPA calculation.

Step 1: Responsible conduct of research

Beginning in your first term in the MSc program, you must register for the following workshop:

This workshop does not carry academic credit, but it is mandatory and is a prerequisite for registering for the Research Workshop. A synchronous online information session is held at the beginning of each term for registered students:

  • Fall 2026: Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.
  • Winter 2027: Thursday, January 7, 2027, at 8:30 a.m.
  • Summer 2027: Wednesday, May 5, 2027, at 8:30 a.m.

The following two free workshops are strongly recommended:

Step 2: Research workshop

Before completing 21 MSc course credits, register for the research workshop. Consult the thesis guidelines and requirements (PDF, 750.96 KB) to prepare for this activity and learn about the requirements and the milestones of the thesis.

During this workshop, you must:

  1. register your thesis topic to have it approved in HEC en ligne > Academic Progress > Thesis Portal;
  2. submit your study plan by the end of the term, as stipulated in ZoneCours.

Step 3: Ethics approval

As a researcher member of the HEC Montréal community, you must declare to the Research Ethics Board (REB) (French only) any research thesis involving the participation of human beings or the use of data concerning human beings. With the collaboration of your project director, use this decision-making tool (PDF, 169.05 KB) to determine if you need to submit your project to the REB.

If REB approval is required, be sure to obtain the following two documents. They will be required at the time of final submission:

  1. The certificate of ethics approval
  2. The attestation of completed ethics approval

Step 4: Data collecting and writing

Check out all the resources made available to you in the course outline for this activity in ZoneCours. You will find videos, guides, and slide shows intended to better prepare you and to accompany you in this activity.

Carefully read the thesis guidelines and requirements (PDF, 750.96 KB) to learn about the requirements and the milestones of the thesis.

Are you planning to write your thesis in English?

Justify your request directly in HEC en ligne > Academic Progress > Thesis Portal. This approval is automatic for English specializations.

Are you planning to write your thesis in the form of articles?

Complete the Authorization to write a thesis in the form of articles form (PDF, 828.09 KB) and submit it at the Final Submission.

Writing help tools and thesis models can be found on the library's website.

Step 5: Final submission

Confirmation of enrollment

Make sure you are enrolled in the Master’s program in the term in which you are to submit your thesis, and that you have completed the online research workshop.

If your file is inactive and you have not exceeded the deadline of four years, complete the Short administrative request form. You will have to pay the tuition fees for the term in which you submit your thesis.

If you have exceeded the deadline, please contact your administration program.

Submission process

The submission process, the evaluation of your thesis and the graduation process can take up to 10 weeks. Please take this into consideration if you need to renew a study permit, submit a post-diploma permit application or confirm your attendance at convocation.

Your supervisor's approval must be received by the deadline:

  • Fall: December 10, 2026
  • Winter: April 26, 2027
  • Summer: August 13, 2027

To submit the final version of your thesis:

  1. Log in to the portal.

  2. Complete the form "MSc | Submission of a thesis or supervised project".

  3. After saving the form, submit it from the “My Requests” page of the portal.

The submitted version is the version evaluated by the jury and also made public by the library.

Step 6: Thesis evaluation

Under article 3.4.2 of the academic rules and regulations, the jury may:

  1. Accept the thesis and evaluate it according to the letter-grade system; They may also request minor corrections that you must make within one month.
  2. Return the thesis and ask you for major corrections to be made; In this case, you must return in your submission request, in the portal and submit the corrected report for final evaluation by the jury within six months from the date on which you were informed of the decision.
  3. Reject the thesis.

Guides and tools

Questions?

Contact Zone Info