Delaying Publication of Your Thesis

You may wish to request that publication be delayed if any of the following circumstances apply:

Time is required for completion and submission of a significant manuscript or patent application for a device or idea that might emerge from the thesis research.
The thesis describes something of considerable monetary potential which could, if you were given an opportunity to develop it, benefit you or the University.
Funding for the research was provided by a commercial company which has requested a delay in publication.
The thesis deals with a potentially dangerous product or process, or potential cure for a disease, for which you need more testing time before public release of the information.
The duration of the Request for Confidentiality of a Thesis will be 12 months from the date the request is approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. Extensions will be granted only in exceptional circumstances and will require a new Request for Confidentiality of a Thesis form to be submitted at least one month prior to the completion of the current agreement.

The student needs to submit the Request for Confidentiality of a Thesis form and provide evidence to justify the delay in the publication of a thesis. The request will be considered by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research who will notify the student and supervisor of the decision. When submitting the final version of the thesis, the student needs to provide a copy of the Dean’s approval.