Finishing your Master’s thesis is huge. You’ve sweated over research questions, rewritten sections until your brain melted, and maybe even survived a borderline traumatic viva. So, when is your thesis approved? That’s a moment worth celebrating, but it’s also the start of a whole new set of steps you need to take next.
“After your Master’s thesis is approved” isn’t just a moment; it’s the beginning of the next leg of your academic or professional journey. Let’s walk through what comes next in a friendly, practical way (with some real‑world advice too).
What “Approved” Really Means
Before diving in, it’s worth clarifying what approval involves.
Approval usually means your committee or exam board has signed off on your final document. But it doesn’t always mean the degree is officially conferred yet. There are extra steps after that sign‑off.
Depending on your university, you might have to do things like upload your thesis to a central repository, submit forms to the registry, or finish administrative tasks before your degree can be awarded. University College Dublin
Quick Overview: Your Post‑Approval Roadmap
Here’s the sequence that most students go through:
- Finalise your document (formatting, revisions)
- Official submission to the university systems
- Archiving and repository upload
- Apply to graduate and complete admin tasks
- Celebrate, but strategically
- Think about publishing your research
- Update your profile and launch your next chapter
Now, let’s unpack each of these with practical tips and questions you should be asking yourself.
SEE ALSO: Top 20 Master’s Thesis Defense Questions (and Exactly How to Answer Them)
1. Finalize Your Thesis (Even After Approval)
You might think approval = done. But often you’ll still need to:
- Incorporate final revisions suggested by your examiners
- Check formatting guidelines carefully (margins, numbering, captions)
- Update the abstract or acknowledgements if necessary
- Generate a clean, print‑ready PDF for archives
Even small issues like inconsistent headings or missing page numbers can delay final acceptance. Having a checklist (or even a peer to proofread) can save a lot of stress.
2. Submit Your Thesis to University Systems
Most institutions require you to upload your final version through an online portal (some call it an ETD system). Here’s what usually happens next:
| What’s submitted | Where it goes | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Final PDF of thesis | University repository | Official academic record |
| Signed approval/acceptance forms | Registry office | Confirms completion |
| Optional hard copies | Department/Supervisor | Keeps a physical archive |
Make sure you upload the final version. Once it’s archived, edits aren’t always permitted.
3. Archive Your Thesis (And Consider Embargoes)
After thesis approval, your work is often archived in:
- A university repository
- National thesis databases
- International indexing services (optional)
Open Access vs. Embargo
You may have the option to make your thesis open access — visible to the whole world — or to place it under embargo (delayed public access) if you’re planning to publish it or want extra privacy.
Pro tip: Putting your thesis under embargo can buy you time if you’re planning to submit parts of it to journals or conferences.
4. Final Administrative Steps: Apply to Graduate
Even after approval, your degree won’t be officially awarded until you complete certain admin tasks:
- Apply for graduation (usually via your student portal)
- Check fees and holds on your account
- Submit any outstanding transcripts or documents
- Confirm your conferral term (often not tied to the ceremony date) University of Waterloo
Missing these steps could delay your degree conferral, and that email saying “Your Master’s has been conferred!” is extra sweet the first time you see it.
SEE ALSO: Tips and Strategies for a Successful Master’s Thesis Defense
5. Celebrate (Really!)
Seriously. You earned this.
Whether it’s a quiet dinner with family, meeting friends, or scheduling a night off from your academic persona, take time to savor it. A Reddit thread I saw recently brought this home with a bunch of relatable reactions, from naps to meals with loved ones to a much‑deserved break from screens and citations. Reddit
6. Turn Your Thesis Into Something Publishable
Once your Master’s thesis is approved, one of the most valuable next steps, if you’re heading into research or a PhD, is publication.
Why Publish?
- Boosts your academic profile
- Helps with applications to PhD programmes
- Expands your professional network
You usually have two main routes:
- Journal articles: Split your thesis into shorter publishable pieces
- Conference papers: Great for early career exposure and feedback
Publishing isn’t essential for every grad, but many supervisors expect at least one submission before graduation, so it’s worth discussing plans with them early.
7. Update Your Professional Presence
Don’t let all that hard work sit forgotten. After your thesis is approved:
Update your CV
Include:
- Thesis title
- Supervisor name
- Link to repository
Update LinkedIn and research profiles
Platforms like:
- ResearchGate
- ORCID
- Google Scholar
These can help recruiters or collaborators find your research easily.
SEE ALSO: 20 Reasons Students Fail Master’s Project Defense (and How to Fix Them)
Conclusion
Being told your thesis is approved is a major milestone. But as you’ve seen, “after your Master’s thesis is approved” opens up a set of practical steps, choices, and opportunities that shape what comes next — whether that’s graduating with peace of mind, stepping into a job, or heading into further research.
So take a breath, follow these steps, and then look forward. You’re not done growing yet.
Please, share your thoughts in the comments section.
