ECE PhD Graduation Information

Students undergo final oral examinations in which they defend their dissertations as valuable contributions to knowledge in their fields and demonstrate a mastery of their fields of specialization in relation to their dissertations.

Abstract
At least three weeks before the dissertation defense, students must submit the Final Oral Exam Schedule with Abstract Approval form with one copy of the abstract (maximum of 350 words) to the ECE Manager of Academic Programs. The proper heading of the dissertation abstract must be printed at the top of the abstract. A template for the proper formatting can be found here. Prior to submission, the abstract must be read and approved by your major advisor and the Associate Chair of Doctoral Programs. You will be notified of the approval of the abstract or if revisions are required.

Dissertation Formatting
The Mugar Library stipulates that all dissertations submitted at Boston University must have consistent formatting. They have created a Dissertation Formatting Guide that outlines these requirements. Additionally, they have created Samples of Preliminary Pages, which will help to show these requirements in practice.

The library’s website also includes other useful resources such as instructional videos and templates. For further questions or field specific requirements we suggest reviewing recently submitted dissertations by peers as approved examples of the formatting requirements.

At least three weeks before your defense you must submit a draft of your dissertation as a .pdf to theses@bu.edu for a format review. Please follow all formatting requirements stated in the library guide while preparing your dissertation draft, and include all required elements such as the preliminary pages, references, and your CV. You will be notified if the format is approved or if any changes are required. It is advised that all formatting issues be resolved before you defend your dissertation. Following your defense, please allow ample time to complete all requirements and content revisions that are required by your committee.

Following your final oral examination, when all corrections and revisions required by your committee have been completed, submit your final dissertation electronically through the Electronic Theses & Dissertation (ETD) website.

The submission in the ETD will be reviewed by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) Records Office, then forwarded to the Mugar Library ETD Administrator for the final format review. If GRS or Mugar Library notifies you of necessary corrections or changes, those edits must be made immediately. When that review is complete, the dissertation will be submitted to ProQuest/UMI.

Embargoing your Dissertation
Electronic submissions of PhD dissertations and their subsequent availability online has made dissertations readily available to everyone and discoverable using simple online searches. While the granting of a PhD has always involved the open publication of a dissertation, this is now true in practice as well as in theory. There has been discussion in the press of how this change is affecting publication, particularly of scholarly books based on a dissertation, with the result that more PhD candidates are asking for their dissertations to remain unavailable for a period after they graduate. This process is called putting an embargo on the dissertation.

In rare circumstances, a student may not wish for their dissertation to be available from ProQuest or the Digital Common immediately after it is submitted to them. Circulation restrictions (referred to by ProQuest as “embargoes”) are granted only in limited circumstances but may be allowed by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences if the author plans to sell the work to a publisher, apply for a patent, or if the material covers a sensitive subject that cannot be published safely or appropriately at the time.

In such circumstances, you may request a restriction for any period between six months and two years (ProQuest default options are 6 months, one year, or two years.) GRS students may request an embargo of no more than two years. For any time period, you must submit a letter requesting a restriction. The letter must explain the compelling reason for the restriction, the time limit desired, an address where you can be contacted when the time limit expires, and the signed approval of both you and your major advisor. These signatures must be original and in ink. When submitting your dissertation in ETD you must also indicate that you have requested an embargo on your dissertation.

A sample embargo letter can be downloaded here.

These letters are reviewed and if appropriate approved by the Associate Dean. The restriction will start from the date on the letter. Your manuscript will not be available until the restriction is released. No one is permitted to look at your work unless they have your express written permission to do so. Requests to read your manuscript will be forwarded to you. It is your responsibility to respond to them.

For more information, please see the FAQ: Embargoes & Electronic Theses & Dissertations document.

Additional Requirements
In addition to submitting the final dissertation in the ETD, you must complete the PhD Contact Information Form and submit the Library Dissertation Processing Fee. The processing fee is $115 and can be submitted via credit card at the link provided under the Submit Electronically section here: http://library.bu.edu/theses.

You must also submit a paper copy of your dissertation approval page (the third page of your dissertation) with original ink signatures. This form cannot include copies, stamps, or any alternatives to ink signatures. If any readers are not in attendance at the final oral exam you must send this form to that committee member to have their signature included. Once you have obtained signatures from all readers this form can be delivered to the GRS office. Please include a post-it note with your name and BU ID number for easy identification.

Additionally, you will receive a link to a BU Doctoral Exit Survey shortly after submitting your dissertation defense scheduling paperwork. At the conclusion of this survey you will be linked to the second survey, the Survey of Earned Doctorates (managed by the National Science Foundation). Both of these surveys must be completed before your graduation can be processed.

All-University Commencement ceremonies are held once each year in May. Graduates will be contacted directly by the Graduate Programs Office in the spring semester with information on the ENG PhD Hooding Ceremony.

Information on diploma pickup and mailing dates can be found on the Registrar’s website. We encourage you to be sure that your diploma mailing address is up to date on the Student Link to ensure safe receipt of your diploma.

Boston University also offers Certified Electronic Diplomas and Certificates (CeDiploma/CeCertificate). A CeCredential costs $11 and is available as of the January 2020 graduation cycle. For more information about CeCredentials and instructions on ordering one, please visit the Registrar’s CeCredential website.

Certificates of Completion are available if you are in need of an official document stating that you have met all degree requirements before the diploma is dispersed.