university of york phd thesis format

• Subject Guides

Academic writing: a practical guide

Dissertations.

• Academic writing
• The writing process
• Academic writing style
• Structure & cohesion
• Criticality in academic writing
• Working with evidence
• Referencing
• Assessment & feedback
• Reflective writing
• Examination writing
• Academic posters
• Feedback on Structure and Organisation
• Feedback on Argument, Analysis, and Critical Thinking
• Feedback on Writing Style and Clarity
• Feedback on Referencing and Research
• Feedback on Presentation and Proofreading

Dissertations are a part of many degree programmes, completed in the final year of undergraduate studies or the final months of a taught masters-level degree. 

Introduction to dissertations

What is a dissertation.

A dissertation is usually a long-term project to produce a long-form piece of writing; think of it a little like an extended, structured assignment. In some subjects (typically the sciences), it might be called a project instead.

Work on an undergraduate dissertation is often spread out over the final year. For a masters dissertation, you'll start thinking about it early in your course and work on it throughout the year.

You might carry out your own original research, or base your dissertation on existing research literature or data sources - there are many possibilities.

What's different about a dissertation?

The main thing that sets a dissertation apart from your previous work is that it's an almost entirely independent project. You'll have some support from a supervisor, but you will spend a lot more time working on your own.

You'll also be working on your own topic that's different to your coursemate; you'll all produce a dissertation, but on different topics and, potentially, in very different ways.

Dissertations are also longer than a regular assignment, both in word count and the time that they take to complete. You'll usually have  most of an academic year to work on one, and be required to produce thousands of words; that might seem like a lot, but both time and word count will disappear very quickly once you get started! 

Find out more:

Key dissertation tools

Digital tools.

There are lots of tools, software and apps that can help you get through the dissertation process. Before you start, make sure you collect the key tools ready to:

• use your time efficiently
• organise yourself and your materials
• manage your writing
• be less stressed

Here's an overview of some useful tools:

Digital tools for your dissertation [Google Slides]

Setting up your document

Formatting and how you set up your document is also very important for a long piece of work like a dissertation, research project or thesis. Find tips and advice on our text processing guide:

University of York past Undergraduate and Masters dissertations

If you are a University of York student, you can access a selection of digitised undergraduate dissertations for certain subjects:

• History  
• History of Art  
• Social Policy and Social Work  

The Library also has digitised Masters dissertations for the following subjects:

• Archaeology
• Centre for Eighteenth-Century Studies  
• Centre for Medieval Studies  
• Centre for Renaissance and Early Modern Studies  
• Centre for Women's Studies  
• English and Related Literature
• Health Sciences
• History of Art
• Hull York Medical School
• Language and Linguistic Science
• School for Business and Society
• School of Social and Political Sciences ​​​​​​​

Dissertation top tips

Many dissertations are structured into four key sections:

• introduction & literature review

There are many different types of dissertation, which don't all use this structure, so make sure you check your dissertation guidance. However, elements of these sections are common in all dissertation types.

Dissertations that are an extended literature review do not involve data collection, thus do not have a methods or result section. Instead they have chapters that explore concepts/theories and result in a conclusion section. Check your dissertation module handbook and all information given to see what your dissertation involves. 

Introduction & literature review

The Introduction and Literature Review give the context for your dissertation:

• What topic did you investigate?
• What do we already know about this topic?
• What are your research questions and hypotheses?

Sometimes these are two separate sections, and sometimes the Literature Review is integrated into the Introduction. Check your guidelines to find out what you need to do.

Literature Review Top Tips [YouTube]  |  Literature Review Top Tips transcript [Google Doc]

The Method section tells the reader what you did  and why.

• Include enough detail so that someone else could replicate your study.
• Visual elements can help present your method clearly. For example, summarise participant demographic data in a table or visualise the procedure in a diagram. 
• Show critical analysis by justifying your choices. For example, why is your test/questionnaire/equipment appropriate for this study?
• If your study requires ethical approval, include these details in this section.

Methodology Top Tips [YouTube]  |  Methodology Top Tips transcript [Google Doc]

More resources to help you plan and write the methodology:

The Results tells us what you found out . 

It's an objective presentation of your research findings. Don’t explain the results in detail here - you’ll do that in the discussion section.

Results Top Tips [YouTube]  |  Results Top Tips transcript [Google Doc]

The Discussion is where you explain and interpret your results - what do your findings mean?

This section involves a lot of critical analysis. You're not just presenting your findings, but putting them together with findings from other research to build your argument about what the findings mean.

Discussion Top Tips [YouTube]  |  Discussion Top Tips transcript [Google Doc]

Conclusions are a part of many dissertations and/or research projects. Check your module information to see if you are required to write one. Some dissertations/projects have concluding remarks in their discussion section. See the slides below for more information on writing conclusions in dissertations.

Conclusions in dissertations [Google Slides]

The abstract is a short summary of the whole dissertation that goes at the start of the document. It gives an overview of your research and helps readers decide if it’s relevant to their needs.

Even though it appears at the start of the document, write the abstract last. It summarises the whole dissertation, so you need to finish the main body before you can summarise it in the abstract.

Usually the abstract follows a very similar structure to the dissertation, with one or two sentences each to show the aims, methods, key results and conclusions drawn. Some subjects use headings within the abstract. Even if you don’t use these in your final abstract, headings can help you to plan a clear structure.

Abstract Top Tips [YouTube]  |  Abstract Top Tips transcript [Google Doc]

Watch all of our Dissertation Top Tips videos in one handy playlist:

Research reports, that are often found in science subjects, follow the same structure, so the tips in this tutorial also apply to dissertations:

Other support for dissertation writing

Online resources.

The general writing pages of this site offer guidance that can be applied to all types of writing, including dissertations. Also check your department guidance and VLE sites for tailored resources.

Other useful resources for dissertation writing:

Appointments and workshops 

There is a lot of support available in departments for dissertation production, which includes your dissertation supervisor, academic supervisor and, when appropriate, staff teaching in the research methods modules.

You can also access central writing and skills support:

• << Previous: Reports
• Next: Reflective writing >>
• Last Updated: Aug 7, 2024 2:21 PM
• URL: https://subjectguides.york.ac.uk/academic-writing

1. Word limit and structure in a journal-style thesis

1.1 word limit.

The departmental word limit for the equivalent monograph thesis should be viewed as advisory rather than compulsory, given the differing nature of a journal-style thesis. If, however, a journal-style thesis word count is likely to be significantly over or under that set by your school, department or centre then you should notify your Graduate Chair.

1.2 Structure

Although a journal-style thesis must be a coherent and continuous work, there is considerable flexibility in how it can be structured, in order to accommodate differences in approaches to research, and its publication within, and between, disciplines.  

Typically , a journal-style thesis may have the following structure, but you must check if your school, department or centre have set out any specific requirements or guidance on this issue. 

In some theses, it may be appropriate to include the following: 

Alternatively , a single integrative chapter (alongside the substantive research chapters) may be appropriate. If a single integrative chapter is used, it will combine elements of what might otherwise be included in an introductory and a conclusion chapter (see above).

[email protected] +44 (0)1904 325962 Student Hub, Information Centre Basement, Market Square

Content and Style

Thesis formatting (university).

The University has detailed guidance about the style, formatting and sequence of material standards for your thesis. Further information about how to format your thesis can be found linked below.

Since 2019, the University of York has required its PhD postgraduate researchers to submit an e-thesis, rather than a hard copy, printed thesis. This means that you should take particular care to ensure that your thesis is accessible and easy for anyone to read. Guidance on making your thesis accessible has also been created by the Postgraduate Research Administration (PGRA) and can also be found below.

These notes do not replace this guide, but provide an explanation of some key parts of the PhD process as they relate to the Music Department.

Theses are required to be prepared and submitted for examination as specified in the University's requirements (https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/academic/

thesis/format/). It is your responsibility to ensure that the thesis is submitted by the deadline.

The title page should give the following information in the order listed:

the full title, and any subtitle

if there is more than one volume, the total number of volumes, and the number of the particular volume

the author’s full name (in the form in which it appears in the University’s student record)

the qualification for which the thesis or dissertation is submitted (e.g., PhD, MA)

the name of the department or centre in which you were registered (Music)

the month and year of (original) submission

University Guidelines for formatting your thesis

PGRA guidance on making your e-Thesis accessible: Google Document

In addition to online guidance on preparing and formatting your thesis, the University also offers courses to help you through Information Services and through RETT.

Information S ervice s Training

Rett training.

• Research Process
• Manuscript Preparation
• Manuscript Review
• Publication Process
• Publication Recognition
• Language Editing Services
• Translation Services

Know How to Structure Your PhD Thesis

• 4 minute read

Table of Contents

In your academic career, few projects are more important than your PhD thesis. Unfortunately, many university professors and advisors assume that their students know how to structure a PhD. Books have literally been written on the subject, but there’s no need to read a book in order to know about PhD thesis paper format and structure. With that said, however, it’s important to understand that your PhD thesis format requirement may not be the same as another student’s. The bottom line is that how to structure a PhD thesis often depends on your university and department guidelines.

But, let’s take a look at a general PhD thesis format. We’ll look at the main sections, and how to connect them to each other. We’ll also examine different hints and tips for each of the sections. As you read through this toolkit, compare it to published PhD theses in your area of study to see how a real-life example looks.

Main Sections of a PhD Thesis

In almost every PhD thesis or dissertation, there are standard sections. Of course, some of these may differ, depending on your university or department requirements, as well as your topic of study, but this will give you a good idea of the basic components of a PhD thesis format.

• Abstract : The abstract is a brief summary that quickly outlines your research, touches on each of the main sections of your thesis, and clearly outlines your contribution to the field by way of your PhD thesis. Even though the abstract is very short, similar to what you’ve seen in published research articles, its impact shouldn’t be underestimated. The abstract is there to answer the most important question to the reviewer. “Why is this important?”
• Introduction : In this section, you help the reviewer understand your entire dissertation, including what your paper is about, why it’s important to the field, a brief description of your methodology, and how your research and the thesis are laid out. Think of your introduction as an expansion of your abstract.
• Literature Review : Within the literature review, you are making a case for your new research by telling the story of the work that’s already been done. You’ll cover a bit about the history of the topic at hand, and how your study fits into the present and future.
• Theory Framework : Here, you explain assumptions related to your study. Here you’re explaining to the review what theoretical concepts you might have used in your research, how it relates to existing knowledge and ideas.
• Methods : This section of a PhD thesis is typically the most detailed and descriptive, depending of course on your research design. Here you’ll discuss the specific techniques you used to get the information you were looking for, in addition to how those methods are relevant and appropriate, as well as how you specifically used each method described.
• Results : Here you present your empirical findings. This section is sometimes also called the “empiracles” chapter. This section is usually pretty straightforward and technical, and full of details. Don’t shortcut this chapter.
• Discussion : This can be a tricky chapter, because it’s where you want to show the reviewer that you know what you’re talking about. You need to speak as a PhD versus a student. The discussion chapter is similar to the empirical/results chapter, but you’re building on those results to push the new information that you learned, prior to making your conclusion.
• Conclusion : Here, you take a step back and reflect on what your original goals and intentions for the research were. You’ll outline them in context of your new findings and expertise.

Tips for your PhD Thesis Format

As you put together your PhD thesis, it’s easy to get a little overwhelmed. Here are some tips that might keep you on track.

• Don’t try to write your PhD as a first-draft. Every great masterwork has typically been edited, and edited, and…edited.
• Work with your thesis supervisor to plan the structure and format of your PhD thesis. Be prepared to rewrite each section, as you work out rough drafts. Don’t get discouraged by this process. It’s typical.
• Make your writing interesting. Academic writing has a reputation of being very dry.
• You don’t have to necessarily work on the chapters and sections outlined above in chronological order. Work on each section as things come up, and while your work on that section is relevant to what you’re doing.
• Don’t rush things. Write a first draft, and leave it for a few days, so you can come back to it with a more critical take. Look at it objectively and carefully grammatical errors, clarity, logic and flow.
• Know what style your references need to be in, and utilize tools out there to organize them in the required format.
• It’s easier to accidentally plagiarize than you think. Make sure you’re referencing appropriately, and check your document for inadvertent plagiarism throughout your writing process.

PhD Thesis Editing Plus

Want some support during your PhD writing process? Our PhD Thesis Editing Plus service includes extensive and detailed editing of your thesis to improve the flow and quality of your writing. Unlimited editing support for guaranteed results. Learn more here , and get started today!

Journal Acceptance Rates: Everything You Need to Know

How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation of Your Research Paper

You may also like.

Submission 101: What format should be used for academic papers?

Page-Turner Articles are More Than Just Good Arguments: Be Mindful of Tone and Structure!

A Must-see for Researchers! How to Ensure Inclusivity in Your Scientific Writing

Make Hook, Line, and Sinker: The Art of Crafting Engaging Introductions

Can Describing Study Limitations Improve the Quality of Your Paper?

A Guide to Crafting Shorter, Impactful Sentences in Academic Writing

6 Steps to Write an Excellent Discussion in Your Manuscript

How to Write Clear and Crisp Civil Engineering Papers? Here are 5 Key Tips to Consider

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Traduction Française Indisponible

Theses & dissertations.

Theses and dissertations are extended scholarly essays that incorporate original research on a specific topic. They are usually written as part of the requirements for a graduate degree (e.g. MA or PhD).

Finding a York University thesis or dissertation Most doctoral dissertations and Master's theses completed at York University are available through the Libraries. Law dissertations are held in the Law Library; most others are held in Scott Library. Please note that the library does not normally hold copies of Major Research Papers (MRPs); for these, please check with the appropriate York University department or faculty.

For York dissertations and theses written from 1967 to 2012: Start by searching the Dissertations and Theses @ York University database. You can search by keyword, title, adviser or school. The full-text of most York theses and dissertations submitted between 1967 and 2012 can be downloaded for free.

This service is only available to registered York students and faculty. For York dissertations and theses written between 1967 and the present that were never microfilmed or have some form of embargo restricting access:

• Search the library catalogue . You can search by title, author, or keyword. When you find the entry, note the call number and location. A quick location guide is provided below.

For dissertations and theses written from 2013 to the present, search the library catalogue (NOT the classic catalogue) by title, author, or keyword.

Finding theses from other universities

• Proquest Digital Dissertations and Theses This database contains citations and abstracts of doctoral dissertations and some masters theses from colleges and universities in North America and Europe. Citations are available from 1861 to the present. Abstracts are available for dissertations from 1980 to the present and for masters theses from 1988 to the present. From 1997, sometimes earlier, the full-text of some dissertations and theses may be downloaded for free in PDF format. Please note that this service is only available to registered York students and faculty.
• Theses Canada Portal The Theses Canada Portal provides free access to the full text electronic versions of Canadian theses and dissertations that were published from the beginning of 1998 to the present.
• Index to theses (Great Britain and Ireland) An index to theses accepted in the Universities of Great Britain and Ireland. Covers 1716 – present.
• EThOS (Great Britain) Launched in 2008, the Electronic Theses Online System (EThOS) offers free access to full text versions of British theses. New theses are digitized and added to the database in response to requests from researchers.

Many other periodical indexes and databases include references to dissertations.

Note : Theses and dissertations not available in the Libraries or online can be requested through the Resource Sharing Department.

• Dissertation Templates
• Dissertation Copyright
• Dissertation Embargo Guidelines
• ETD Administrator
• Formatting FAQs
• Sample Dissertation Title Page

Formatting Guide

The  PhD Dissertation Formatting Guide  (updated Spring 2023) is the source of all formatting requirements and guidelines for PhD Dissertations. Make sure to follow the guide when writing your dissertation.

Double check your formatting with the  PhD Dissertation Formatting Checklist  before submission.

LaTeX Template

The University provides a standard LaTeX template that complies with all formatting requirements.    

University of Pennsylvania PhD Dissertation Template in LaTeX

Word Templates

The University provides a standard Word template that complies with all formatting requirements.    

Dissertation Template in Word  (updated Spring 2023)

Example PDF of Proper Formatting

Overleaf LaTeX PDF

Note: You may need to activate your UPenn Overleaf account to view this PDF.  Penn Overleaf account page. 

Additional information is available in our  Formatting FAQs . 

• University Libraries
• Research Guides
• Dissertations & Theses: Guide to Research

Finding UB Dissertations and Theses

Dissertations & theses: guide to research: finding ub dissertations and theses.

• Identifying Dissertations and Theses
• Obtaining Dissertations and Theses
• Information for UB Theses Authors

To borrow a UB dissertation or thesis from our collection, do an author or title search in the UB Libraries Catalog to get a library location and call number.

By Department To find or browse dissertations or theses by department conduct a keyword search in the Library Catalog , search by department name You may also choose to include the year to limit your search.

Example Search:

Dissertation  (in any field)

American Studies (in any field)

Thesis (in any field)

Media Study (in any field)

Dissertations & Theses @ SUNY Buffalo - this database provides title, author, and subject access to University at Buffalo dissertations submitted to ProQuest's Dissertations & Theses database. You can search by department as well.

• << Previous: Identifying Dissertations and Theses
• Next: Obtaining Dissertations and Theses >>

• The Graduate School >
• Succeed at UB >
• Completing Your Degree >

Electronic Thesis & Dissertation (ETD) Guidelines

As a requirement for graduation, master’s students who complete a thesis and all PhD and EdD students must electronically submit their thesis/dissertation to the Graduate School via the ETD Administrator site . Master’s theses and doctoral dissertations are stored electronically and accessible in perpetuity through the UB Institutional Repository (UBIR) and ProQuest's dissertations and theses database .

Deadlines and Required Documents

In addition to your master’s thesis/doctoral dissertation, submit the following:

• Doctoral degree recipients surveys  (two surveys required for PhD students only).
• Embargo form (if requesting delayed release).

Visit the ETD Administrator website to begin.

Required Format for Electronic Thesis & Dissertation

Your thesis/dissertation must adhere to the formatting guidelines detailed below.   Using the ETD Template (although not required) is an easy way to ensure your document is formatted correctly.

Choosing a Style Manual

When beginning to construct your thesis or dissertation, the very first step is to choose the style appropriate to your specific discipline. If you are unsure what style is appropriate, confer with your advisor and/or department. Be sure to follow the chosen style consistently throughout the document. Listed below are websites of a few widely recognized style manuals:

• American Psychological Association
• Modern Language Association
• University of Chicago, Chicago Manual of Style

Creating an Accessible Document

The University at Buffalo is committed to ensuring equal access to information that is presented online as per UB's Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) Accessibility Policy . As part of this commitment, university web content must be accessible to everyone, including individuals with physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments, with or without the use of assistive technology.

Refer to Microsoft's Accessibility Guide and the UB's ETD Template to help create an accessible document that includes:

• Alternative text for all visuals, including pictures, graphics and charts.
• Meaningful hyperlinked text.
• Logical semantic (heading) structure.
• Logical table structure with proper table headings.

Formatting the Document

The ETD Template can be used to help format your document. Keep in mind the following:

• Font Size:  Select fonts between 10 and 12 characters per inch. Smaller or larger fonts are generally too hard to read and should be avoided. Use the same font style and print size throughout the document.
• Pagination:  The title page is to be  unnumbered,  but should be counted as “page 1”. With the exception of the title page, all of the pages in your document should be numbered, including the principal text, all tables, diagrams, maps, etc. Roman numerals (I, II, III) should be used on the preliminary pages and Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) are used on the pages that follow the abstract.
• Page Numbering Placement:  Generally the page number is placed in the upper right, lower right or bottom center of the page. Regardless of where you place the page numbers, be sure they are consistent throughout the document.
• Spacing:  Use double-spacing consistently throughout the document, except for long quotations, footnotes and endnotes, which are typically single-spaced. Check your selected style manual for further details on spacing.
• Blank Pages:  There should be no blank pages in your PDF. If you wish to leave a blank page, it must be labeled as follows: “This Page Intentionally Left Blank”.

The Title Page

The  ETD Template can be used to help format your (required) title page. Keep in mind the following:

• Do not number the title page. While it is technically Roman numeral i, the number is not displayed on the page itself. 
• The title page must follow the format in the ETD Template.
• Be sure to use your department's official name and your full legal name.
• The title on your manuscript must match the approved title on your M-form.
• When possible, incorporate word substitutes for formulae and symbols.

Page Order and Page Numbering

The ETD Template can be used to help format your document. Your document should adhere the following prescribed order.

• Title page (required).
• Copyright page (required).  The copyright page is required but you are not mandated to file or pay for a copyright. The date of your defense should be listed on the title page and a copyright page follows the title page in the following format. In the center lower third of the page, just above the bottom margin, type the following (*the Roman numeral ii is to be centered at the bottom of the page).

                        Copyright                   Center your name             Center the conferral year                  All Rights Reserved

                              (ii)*

        For reference, a visual of the Copyright page can be found on page ii of the ETD template.

• Dedication and/or acknowledgments pages (optional).  If you decide to have an acknowledgment section, be sure not to omit any members of your committee. While this section is optional, if included, it should be numbered with Roman numerals.
• Table of contents (required).  The table of contents (TOC) page(s) should also be numbered with Roman numerals. Include the dedication/acknowledgment, abstract and any lists within the TOC. Do not include the title page, the copyright page or the TOC page(s). While a TOC is required, it may follow any format acceptable to your advisor and committee as long as it includes all main divisions and subdivisions within your text and the format is consistent.
• Lists of tables, figures, illustrations, charts and graphs (optional).  Follow the format used for your TOC. Use a separate page for each type of list. Be sure to number with the appropriate Roman numerals.
• Abstract (required).  The abstract page should be numbered with the appropriate Roman numeral. An abstract of your thesis or dissertation is required. It should be a succinct and concise narrative description of your work. Briefly state your topic or problem, describe the procedures and methods you used and summarize your findings or conclusions. Do not use tables, graphs or figures in your abstract.
• Chapters or main divisions of the document (required).  The text should be double-spaced and each page must be numbered consecutively beginning with the number 1. As you turn the content of your research into a professional document, be sure to use a writing style appropriate to your subject and discipline. The document also needs to consistently follow acceptable standards of punctuation, spelling and format. See the "Choose a Style Manual" of this guide for a listing of familiar style manuals. Check with your advisor and department for their recommendation. Be sure chapter titles and subheadings follow your style manual. It is best to include tables or other illustrative materials as necessary in the main body of the document when they are essential to the text.
• Subheadings.  For clarity and flow, it is best not to begin any subheadings or other divisions on separate pages unless the preceding page is filled. If the subheading falls at the very end of a page, move it to the next page unless at least two lines of text can follow the subheading on that page. Be sure to keep subheadings consistent in position and style throughout the document.
• Footnotes/Endnotes.  Place footnotes, if used, at the bottom of the appropriate page, at the end of each chapter or at the end of the document. Refer to the style manual you have chosen. Notes are usually single-spaced. If you group your notes at the end of each chapter, begin them on the first page following the text of that chapter. Also begin the first page in each note section with the heading “Endnotes to Chapter___” or “Notes to Chapter___.”
• Appendix (if applicable).  Appendices are used when you wish to add materials (such as charts, graphs, surveys, etc.) not essential to the text. The appendix is generally placed before the bibliography or references section, and after the last page of the last chapter of text. These pages also need to be numbered. Remember to include a list of appendices in your preliminary pages if you have more than one appendix.
• Bibliography or references (required).  The bibliography or list of references should be single-spaced for each entry and then double-spaced between entries. Group all entries in strict alphabetical order or in another way that seems appropriate to your research and helpful to your readers. Be sure to use the format that is consistent with the format style approved by your advisor and committee. These pages must be numbered as well.

Final Check:  Review your document carefully to be sure it is correctly formatted, that all spelling and grammar is correct, and that the document is totally free of errors. Check that there are no blank pages, omitted paragraphs or missing sections. Be sure the preliminary pages of your document are in the proper order and the pagination is correct.

Converting the Document to a PDF

Electronic submission of your thesis or dissertation in PDF format is mandatory. When you are ready to submit your PDF document, go to the ETD Administrator website .

Write your document as you normally would any other research paper while keeping in mind the following tips on how to format your thesis or dissertation in a PDF-friendly manner, to ensure that your later conversion from MS Word, LaTeX, etc., will go smoothly. Refer to the  ProQuest Support Center  for more tips and helpful hints.

• Spacing and pagination:  Use tabs instead of a series of spaces to align text. Insert page breaks instead of a series of paragraphs to start a new page. Use section breaks to change the format between pages in the document. Use your preferred software for creating tables of contents and cross-references to ensure that pagination is consistent even if the generation of the PDF file causes the pages to shift slightly. 
• Fonts:  We recommend using standard fonts such as Times New Roman or Arial. If using unusual fonts, be sure to use embeddable Type 1 or TrueType fonts. 
• Graphics:  JPEG, TIFF, PNG or other appropriate file formats can be added. When possible, it is best to use a high resolution such as 600 dpi. Avoid using graphic editors that are part of a word processor. 
• Equations:  Microsoft Word users should not use Word's Equation Editor. Instead, use italic Times Roman font and Symbol font, along with superscripts and subscripts to create equations.
• Orientation:  Portrait, rather than landscape, orientation is preferred. Utilize standard 8 ½” x 11” page size. Avoid including multiple book pages on one single PDF page, as this will diminish appearance and printing quality.
• Supplemental files (optional):  Supplemental files (images, data, etc.) that are an integral part of the thesis or dissertation, but not part of the full-text should be uploaded along with your PDF during the submission process. Supplemental files should be titled according to the following naming convention: Supplemental_File_Title (i.e., no spaces or punctuation marks in the file name. You may use dashes or underscores).

Need more help?

The ETD Preparation Workshop explains how to properly format your ETD, how to use the ETD Template, tips for creating an accessible document and more.

I submitted my ETD, what's next?

The Graduate School reviews submissions in the order they are received. You'll receive a decision email from [email protected] within one to two weeks.

Decisions  include "accepted" (which requires no additional action by you) or "minor revisions required" (which requires you to complete the outlined revisions). As long as you have submitted your ETD by the published deadline, you have met the deadline.

Approved ETDs are viewable on ProQuest and in the UBIR approximately 10 to 12 weeks after degree conferral (unless an embargo was approved).

Additional Resources

Etd public access and embargo policies.

Per UB's  Public Access of Theses and Dissertations policy , after your degree is awarded, your thesis or dissertation will be delivered to and available in perpetuity through the  UB Institutional Repository (UBIR)  and to ProQuest, where your document will be microfilmed, indexed and stored in  ProQuest’s dissertations and theses database , the world’s largest recognized repository of graduate student research. When you submit your thesis or dissertation as a requirement for conferral of your degree, you are granting a nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty-free perpetual license to the University at Buffalo, as set forth in the Public Access Agreement, which you will sign during the ETD submission process.

If you wish to delay the release of your thesis or dissertation because it contains proprietary data or has patents pending, you must submit an  Request for Embargo (Delayed Release) of Thesis or Dissertation  to the Graduate School at the time of your ETD submission. Please review the Graduate School's  Embargo (Delayed Release) of Thesis and Dissertation policy  for more information.

Fees Associated With the ETD Submission Process

There is no fee for ETD submission and cataloging through the UBIR.

Traditional publishing through ProQuest is free. If you select the ProQuest Open Access publishing option and/or request that ProQuest file copyright on your behalf, there will be associated fees. Open access publishing is $95, copyright filing is $75. Payments will be made via credit card directly to ProQuest during the online ETD submission process.

ProQuest Publishing Options

For publishing with ProQuest, you may choose traditional publishing or open access publishing.

• Traditional publishing  gives ProQuest the right to sell copies of your published thesis and to provide you (the author) with royalties from such sales.
• Open access publishing  provides the broadest means of free and complete access of the thesis or dissertation to students and scholars worldwide. For a comparison of these options, see the  ProQuest Publishing Options Guide .

Copyrighting:  You can choose whether or not to copyright your thesis or dissertation. Copyrighting protects your rights as the author. These rights include the ability to make copies of the work, to distribute them, to make derivative works or to perform or display the work. By copyrighting your thesis or dissertation, you can control the rights to it or may authorize others (i.e., a publisher) to exercise those rights. The copyright will be in effect for your lifetime plus an additional 50 years. You should consult with your advisor and discuss this issue before making your decision.

ProQuest can act as your agent with the Library of Congress Copyright office when your thesis or dissertation is submitted. This is done only if you specifically request such services from ProQuest when you submit your ETD. Please note that it is only mandatory to digitize your thesis or dissertation, while copyrighting is optional. Alternatively, you may apply for copyright registration by filing directly through the  U.S. Copyright Office .

Since theses and dissertations involve considerable effort on the part of the major professor (and sometimes other faculty members) as well as the student, you should make arrangements for publication and/or copyrighting only after consulting with your major professor and committee members.

If you have questions about the ETD submission process or the ETD template, please contact us by phone at 716-645-2939 or by email at [email protected] .

• Current Students
• News & Press
• Register as a student
• Student Portal
• Applying for a Student Visa
• Your Responsibilities
• INTO Newcastle Students
• Undergraduate Students
• Postgraduate Taught Students
• Postgraduate Research Students
• Change of Circumstances
• Standard Visitor Visa
• Your Visa and Right to Study
• Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
• Bringing your Family to the UK
• Travelling Outside of the UK
• Lost/stolen passport, visa and BRP
• Graduate Route
• Working in the UK after your studies
• EU, Swiss and non-EU EEA students
• Register with the Police
• Access External Visa Advice
• Guide to your Visa
• Registration
• Learning agreement
• Faculty Research Training
• Project Approval
• Meeting Records
• Attendance Engagement
• Annual Progression Review
• Examination
• Council Tax
• Publications and Regulations
• Forms and Policies
• Covid-19 Mitigations
• Doctoral College
• Personal Extenuating Circumstances (PEC)
• Regulations
• Student Procedures
• Student Charter

• Guidelines for the Submission and Format of Theses
• Newcastle University
• Student Progress

On this page

Length of thesis.

The normal length of a thesis, inclusive of notes, but excluding references and appendices, has been determined as follows:

There are different word limits for the following Practice-Based research degrees in Arts and Humanities and these are detailed in the Handbook for Examiners of Research Degrees:

• Fine Art and Digital Cultures PhD
• Film Practice PhD
• Theatre/Performance PhD
• Creative Writing PhD
• Architecture, Planning and Landscape MPhil and PhD
• Creative Practice PhD in Museum, Gallery and Heritage Studies

If your thesis exceeds the maximum limit detailed in the handbook you will need to apply for approval from the Dean of Postgraduate Studies beforesubmission, via your Graduate School.

English must be used unless special permission for an alternative language has been granted by the Dean of Postgraduate Studies. Approval for submission in a language other than English must have been sought at the time of application to study for thedegree.

• All text should be in a clear font such as Arial, Times New Roman, Verdana, Calibri or Trebuchet MS.
• All text should be 12-point except for headings (see below).
• Margins should be set to mirrored, the inside margin (Binding edge should be 3cm) all other margins should be 2cm.
• Text should be in a single column and may beeither left-aligned or justified.
• One and a half spacing between lines, including appendices and references, but excluding Updated May 2023 quotations, footnotes or captions, which may be single-spaced
• Number pages consecutively throughout the thesis from the Introduction, including all pages whether textual or otherwise.
• Page numbers should be Arabic numerals, i.e. 1, 2, 3.
• Numbers should be located centrally at the bottom of the page.
• Preliminary pages(e.g. Contents)should be numbered using lower case Roman numerals, i.e. i, ii, iii.

Chapter headings and sub headings

• Begin new chapters on a freshpage.
• Chapter headings should be in Title case, centre of the page, bold 14-point font, preceded by “Chapter” and the appropriate number. For example: 

Chapter 1.Title of chapter

• Section headings should be in Title case, bold 12-point font, left-aligned. For example:

1.1 Title of section

• Sub-section headings should be italicised, bold 12-point font, left-aligned:

1.1.1 Title of sub-section

• All headings should be consistent, providing a clear indication of changes in content and emphasis. No further section subdivisions other than those described above should be used.

Photographs, photocopies, maps etc.

• Material should be scanned or provided in copyright-cleared, high quality digital format of at least 300dpi.

Figures and tables

• Number consecutively either throughout the thesis (Table 1, Figure 2) or within individual chapters (Table 1.2 , Figure 2.3), but not within sections or sub sections.
• Refer to figures/tables within the text as table 1, figure 2, etc.
• Numbers and captions should appear at the bottom of the table/figure.
• The top of tables/figures printed sideways should align to the left of the page.

Footnotes and/or endnotes

• Notes can be placed at the bottom of each page (Footnotes) or at the end of the main thesis (Endnotes).
• Wherever you refer to another source of information, you need to reference it.
• This makesit clear if there is any work that is not your own and indicates where the information Updated May 2023 comes from.
• You should insert a citation and expand on this in your footnote or endnote.

The order of the thesis should be as follows:

Preliminary Pages (not included in the word count):

Title page – please state the following:

• The full title of the thesis and any subtitle as approved by the Dean of Postgraduate Studies.
• The total number of volumes(if there ismore than one), and the number ofthe particular volume.
• Your full name.
• The qualification for which the thesis is submitted, e.g. Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated), Doctorate in EducationalPsychology.
• The name of the School or Institute in which the research was conducted.
• The month and year ofsubmission.

Thesis Restriction (optional)

here the thesis requires an Extended Restriction, a page can be added into your thesis indicating that it is subject to an Extended Restriction and the Graduate School will review for such a page on submission.

• The abstract should be no longer than 300words.

Dedication (if any) Acknowledgements

• Use this page to acknowledge those who have assisted you with yourwork.
• In the case of any work done jointly, or in wider collaborations, or under direction, it is important that the extent of your own contribution, and that made by others, is made clear both under Acknowledgements and at relevant points within the thesis. Where you have worked as part of a team, please state the name of individual team members and specify their contributions and yours.

Table of Contents

• The Table of Contents must list in sequence all relevant chapters, sections and subsections; appendices, references and bibliography, and any other supporting material, with the relevant page numbers.
• If a thesis comprises more than one volume, the Title page, Abstract and Table of Contents of the whole thesis must appear in eachvolume.

Lists of tables, figures, etc.

• Items should be in the order in which they appear in thetext.

Main Thesis Chapters (included in the word count)

Additional reference information (not included in the word count).

• The following styles of referencing are acceptable: Harvard and alternative styles asdirected by your School or Institute. Updated May 2023
• Users of EndNote will find the Newcastle Harvard Style included on all University networked PCs. Further information about EndNote and Harvard at Newcastle can be found here.
• Students are encouraged to visit ASK Academic Skills Kit webpages for further resources.
• Supporting material of considerable length, lists, commentaries, questionnaires etc., which would interrupt the main text, should be included asappendices.
• Label appendices as A,B, etc and treat as additional chapters after the main text.
• Style must be consistent with the text of the mainthesis.

Index (if any)

• There is no requirement to provide an index.

Thesis Submission for Examination

One electronic copy of your thesis is required for the first examination and for any subsequent resubmission. This electronic copy should preferably be a PDF file normally via one of the following methods:

• USB memory stick labelled with your name and studentnumber
• [email protected]  (HaSS and SAgE students)
• [email protected]  (FMS students)

Final Submission and Deposit in the University Library

On recommendation of the award, and only when instructed by your Graduate School, the following will be required:

• USB memory stick labelled with your name and student number
• A completed Library Thesis Deposit Licence *

*Where your thesis requires an Extended Restriction beyond the standard 6-months, please contact the Graduate School for an Extended Restriction Licence. If your thesis is subject to an Extended Restriction, your thesis will be retained within the Graduate School until this restriction is removed.

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

VIII. Dissertation Defense

A. final exam (dissertation defense) timeline.

The final exam (Dissertation Defense) may not be held until the session after satisfactorily completing the comprehensive exam; however, a student must pass the final exam no later than five years after passing the comprehensive exam. Failure to meet this deadline will result in reexamination of the student to determine their qualifications for taking the final exam. In the final semester, doctoral students may register for Doctoral Final Registration (GRAD:6003), which requires a 1 s.h. tuition and fees payment, or appropriate course work. See section O of the Graduate College Manual .

B. Registering for Dissertation Credits

Once a student has passed the comprehensive examination, they can register for dissertation credits.

C. Completing the dissertation

Completing the dissertation includes nine key steps: (1) preliminary planning, (2) forming a PhD dissertation committee, (3) developing a proposal document, (4) conducting the PhD dissertation proposal meeting, (5) completing the research, (6) conducting the dissertation defense, (7) formatting the approved final dissertation, (8) submitting the final document to the Graduate College, and (9) publishing manuscripts based on the dissertation. Each of these steps is described in detail below.

1. Preliminary Planning

Three key items must be accomplished in this period.

• Reviewing Graduate College Requirements. Prior to beginning the dissertation, students should review the Graduate College requirements related to the dissertation at https://www.grad.uiowa.edu/academics/thesis-and-dissertation.
• Selecting a PhD Dissertation Chair. The first issue to clarify is whether the student’s advisor or a different graduate faculty member will be the Chair of the student’s dissertation committee. In most cases, they are the same. However, in cases where interests have evolved, the advisor and Chair may be different people. Typically, one’s dissertation Chair is a faculty member whose research is well-aligned with that of the student.
• Selecting a PhD Dissertation Format. The College of Nursing has two approved formats for the dissertation: a traditional dissertation and a three-paper dissertation. A flowchart depiction of the nine steps is provided in Figure 1, highlighting key differences between the traditional dissertation and the three-paper dissertation.

The student and PhD Dissertation Chair should determine which dissertation format is best suited to the student’s pedagogical needs and planned research. The format chosen impacts the proposal and final document format. The discussion to decide which dissertation format to use should include an assessment of the student’s preparedness within their proposed content area, including their course work, grant writing, research experiences, and prior papers or presentations. A student with significant background within a particular content area may be well positioned to successfully complete a three-paper dissertation. Students still developing expertise in their content area may be better suited to a traditional dissertation. Other considerations in choosing the format include the type of study the student is proposing to conduct (i.e., qualitative mixed methods, or quantitative).

Traditional Dissertation Format

This format typically has five chapters:

• Chapter 1 provides an introduction and establishes the problem significance,
• Chapter 2 provides an in-depth literature review,
• Chapter 3 describes the planned methods for the study,
• Chapter 4 summarizes the results, and
• Chapter 5 discusses the study’s findings.

This formatting option provides students with the following:

• A standard and common approach to addressing a research problem.
• An opportunity for in-depth exploration and examination of the scientific literature in a comprehensive review of the literature.
• An opportunity for in-depth presentation of qualitative data, analysis, and interpretation.

Three-Paper Dissertation Format

This formatting option may increase the opportunity for students to publish papers from their dissertation work in a timelier manner and to form a coherent body of research in a particular scholarly area. The three papers must represent a single coherent research topic, not a series of unconnected topics. However, the three papers must be distinct. They may either address two or three separate research aims or, if they address only one, aims must differ in significant fashion, such as in theoretical perspective, approach, methodology, sample, and/or dataset. At least one paper must be data-based. The other two may be a literature synthesis or a conceptual/theoretical or methodological paper. At the Dissertation Proposal Meeting and/or at the time of the Dissertation Defense, at the discretion of the PhD Dissertation Committee, up to two of the three papers may have been previously written, submitted, and/or published by the student if they meet the following criteria:

• The student is first author on the paper, unless there are compelling circumstances for second authorship.
• The student clearly indicates their contributions to the paper for a coauthored paper. (The coauthors should be listed in an acknowledgement at the end of the dissertation chapter).
• The work was completed while the student was enrolled in the PhD program; and
• The PhD Dissertation Committee agrees that the papers are consistent with the criteria for a three-paper dissertation.

If the Dissertation Committee allows a previously published or in-press article to be part of the dissertation, the student must clarify and follow the journal’s guidelines and policies for reproduction of the article in the student’s dissertation. The PhD Dissertation Committee is under no obligation to accept previously published, accepted, or submitted papers as meeting the requirement of the dissertation. For the papers to be accepted as part of the dissertation, the Dissertation Committee must agree at the time of the Dissertation Defense that the papers are of potential publishable quality in a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal approved by the student’s Dissertation Committee.

2. Forming a PhD Dissertation Committee

The PhD Dissertation Committee guides and evaluates the student’s dissertation. The specifications regarding the formation of the PhD Dissertation Committee are the same for both dissertation formats. The following steps are required:

•  Selecting PhD Dissertation Committee Members. In consultation with the Dissertation Chair, the student needs to identify and form a Dissertation Committee. It is the student’s role to formally invite the Dissertation Committee members.
• Ensure Appropriate PhD Dissertation Committee Composition. The PhD Dissertation Committee is comprised of at least five graduate faculty members (i.e., tenure track) holding professorial rank (Assistant Professor or above). At least two members should be CON faculty. At least one member of the committee should be faculty from a discipline other than nursing. The student and Chair should consult with the PhD Director if they feel an exception is warranted. The student and the Chair of the PhD Dissertation Committee select the membership of the PhD Dissertation Committee. If a proposed PhD Dissertation Committee member is outside the University of Iowa or is not a graduate faculty member at the University of Iowa (e.g., CON clinical track faculty or UIHC staff), the student must obtain the individual’s curriculum vitae and meet with the PhD Program Administrator to obtain approval from the Graduate College. This approval must be obtained prior to scheduling the proposal meeting.

The Dissertation Committee could be the same as the DRP and Oral Exam Committee, especially if a Non-CON Faculty Member is included on the DRP and Oral Exam Committee.

3. Developing a Proposal Document

The student will work closely with the PhD Dissertation Committee Chair to develop the proposal document. The format of this document varies with the two options. Both types of dissertation formats must conform to the Graduate College guidelines.

• Chapter 1 includes an introduction and establishes the importance of the topic; a brief review of background and problem to be addressed; and a clear purpose that includes specific aims, questions, or hypotheses. Conceptual and operational definitions are often specified.
• Chapter 2 includes the background, typically an in-depth literature review and synthesis that establishes what is known, identifies gaps i science to be addressed in the study, and the theoretical framework that guides the study, if appropriate.
• Chapter 3 describes the planned methods for the study, including design, sample, measures, intervention (if appropriate), procedures, data collection, and analysis.

Three-Paper Dissertation Format:

• Chapter 1 provides a brief introduction and establishes the importance of the topic. This focused review should provide a cohesive synthesis of the background and problem. In addition, the purpose and specific aims, questions, or hypotheses to be addressed in the proposed research should be described. It is appropriate for this chapter to be 10-15 pages in length for this format.
• Chapters 2, 3, and 4 each describe a planned paper, which may be subject to change depending on how the research unfolds. For the proposal document, an overview of each paper is provided for these three chapters. The overview of each paper should include purpose and scope of the paper, methodologies to be employed, and discussion of how the paper is integrated to represent a coherent body of research. For the data-based papers, a 1- to 2-page outline and summary similar to Figure 2 may be useful. Also included should be the student’s suggestions and rationale of journals to which each paper will be submitted for publication.

4. Conducting the PhD Dissertation Proposal Meeting

The PhD Dissertation Proposal Meeting, for both dissertation formats, includes the student and the PhD Dissertation Committee. It is held to approve the student’s proposed research project. It is generally completed within one semester of successful completion of the Oral Exam.

• Logistical Arrangements. It is the student’s responsibility to contact members of the committee and arrange the date, time, and location of the Proposal Meeting. The student will ensure that all members of the PhD Dissertation Committee receive the final written proposal at least two weeks prior to the scheduled proposal meeting.
• Conduct of PhD Dissertation Proposal Meeting. The Committee meets privately before the defense begins to overview the process and focus of the defense. The student is then invited to join the committee to discuss the proposed research. Some PhD Dissertation Committees choose to have a brief (15-minute) presentation by the student on the background of the problem and proposed research. For the three-paper format, a discussion of the planned papers is required in the presentation. The Dissertation Committee Chair then leads a discussion of each section of the proposal document so that committee members may raise questions or concerns. The goal of the discussion is agreement among the committee members on what the student will do to complete their proposed dissertation research. It is recommended that the PhD Dissertation Committee Chair or designee (who should NOT be the student) take notes of the discussion and key points so the student is able to focus on the discussion.
• Expected Outcomes of the PhD Dissertation Proposal Meeting. The expected outcome of the proposal meeting is an agreement among the PhD Dissertation Committee members and the student on the proposed dissertation research. If the PhD Dissertation Committee members do not agree on the proposed research, another PhD Dissertation Proposal Meeting may be necessary. If the PhD Dissertation Committee members do agree on the proposed research, it is recommended that the Dissertation Chair should document this meeting. This memo should be sent to committee members and the student, and a copy should be forwarded to the PhD Program Administrator to be placed in the student’s file. The content of the memo should outline any substantive changes to the proposal document and be agreed on by each PhD Dissertation Committee member within two weeks of the proposal meeting. If agreement cannot be reached between the student and PhD Dissertation Chair or other committee members, then the Director of the PhD program should be consulted.

Link to the Dissertation Proposal Meeting Memo of Agreement

5. Completing the Research

Once the proposal is agreed on, the student must secure Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and then begin data collection. Students continue registering for dissertation hours or continuous enrollment hours until the dissertation is successfully defended. Note that the student can start registering for dissertation credits during the semester that the student has completed the comprehensive exam. The minimum number of dissertation credits is 11; there is no maximum. Completion of the dissertation involves implementing the data collection, data analysis, and interpretation as described in the proposal document as well as preparing the results and discussion sections. The three-paper format requires completion of preliminary final drafts of three manuscripts. The traditional format requires completion of Chapter 4: Results. Both format options include Chapter 5, “Discussion and Implications for Research, Education, Practice and Policy.” The time to complete the dissertation varies, and the deadline for completion is negotiated between the student and the PhD Dissertation Committee Chair.

6. Conducting the Dissertation Defense

The Dissertation Defense (also referred to as “Final Examination” by the Graduate College) is an oral presentation and defense of the dissertation. If a Chair has any reservations about the defense, they should discuss their concerns with the Director of the PhD Program as soon as possible and prior to the defense date.

The following are guidelines regarding the scheduling and arrangement of the dissertation defense:

After the Comprehensive Examination

The dissertation defense cannot be held until the semester after satisfactorily completing the comprehensive examination. The student must pass the final dissertation defense no later than five years after satisfactorily completing the comprehensive examination.

During the Academic Year

The dissertation defense should be scheduled during the academic year (i.e., between the beginning of regular registration for the fall semester and the close of examination week in the spring semester). Only in very unusual circumstances will the faculty consider requests for exceptions to this rule.

Administered On Campus Unless Circumstances Warrant Otherwise

The dissertation defense is expected to be administered on campus. However, circumstances may warrant that the dissertation defense be administered via Zoom.

Student Responsibilities – Arranging a PhD Dissertation Defense Meeting.

The student must:

• Contact members of the PhD Dissertation Committee to arrange the date and time the PhD Dissertation Defense.
• Notify the PhD Program Administrator when the PhD Dissertation Defense meeting date is determined who can help with securing a room (and/or zoom link if needed); this should be no later than five weeks prior to the defense date.

NOTE: The PhD Program Administrator will submit a formal request to the Graduate College. The request for the PhD Dissertation Defense must be submitted at least four weeks in advance of the date set for the defense to allow for public notice of the defense.

Student Responsibilities – Circulating the PhD Dissertation Document.

The student is responsible for providing a copy of the dissertation to the committee members at least two weeks in advance of the PhD Dissertation Defense meeting . The copy may be either hard copy or electronic, per the preference of the faculty members. See the format for each dissertation option described in section 7 below.

Attendees and Procedures

The PhD Dissertation Defense is open to the public; anyone is welcome. We strongly encourage College of Nursing faculty and graduate students to attend. Similar to the PhD Dissertation Proposal Meeting, the PhD Dissertation Committee meets in private prior to the defense meeting. The student and guests are then invited to join the committee for the student’s public presentation of their dissertation. This presentation should be no longer than 30 minutes, which also includes time for the candidate to take questions from the audience (non-dissertation committee members). After the public presentation, the Dissertation Committee Chair will inform the audience that the formal oral defense will begin and give the audience the option to remain or leave. During the formal oral defense, only the PhD Dissertation Committee is allowed to ask questions of the PhD candidate. The defense includes critical questions about the purpose, method, and results presented in the dissertation, and questioning on areas of knowledge consistent with the context of the dissertation. An oral defense of the dissertation evaluates the candidate’s ability to communicate the specific research project and the implications of the research.

Grading and Reporting of the PhD Dissertation Defense

At the completion of the defense, the student and guests are required to leave while the PhD Dissertation Committee discusses the defense. The PhD Dissertation Committee evaluate the Dissertation Defense, with each member indicating a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory rating. The overall report will be regarded as Unsatisfactory if there are two unsatisfactory ratings from two members. A brief written evaluation of the candidate’s performance is prepared by the PhD Dissertation Committee Chair and is placed in the student’s file. The PhD Dissertation Committee’s overall decision is conveyed to the student immediately following the Committee’s deliberations by the PhD Dissertation Committee Chair. The report of the defense, signed by all PhD Dissertation Committee members, is due in the Graduate College within 48 hours after the defense. Successful defenses are noted publicly by an announcement in the College of Nursing. In the case of an Unsatisfactory decision in the final defense, the candidate may not present herself/himself for reexamination until the next semester. The PhD Dissertation Defense may be repeated only once.

7. Formatting the Approved Final Dissertation

This format consists of five chapters, as outlined by the Graduate College.

• Chapters 1, 2, and 3 are the revised versions based on the feedback provided in the PhD Proposal Meeting, and they incorporate any changes required related to updates of the literature, changes in tense of the verbs, and changes related to implementation.
• Chapter 4 presents the results of the study.
• Chapter 5 is the discussion of the results and, as such, should synthesize the knowledge that has been gained by the study; link the results to previous literature; discuss the limitations of the study; provide future research directions; and discuss implications for education, practice, and/or policy, as appropriate.

This format integrates three publishable papers into the standard Graduate College five-chapter dissertation format.

• Chapter 1 provides the overview of the research as laid out in the proposal.
•   Chapters 2, 3, and 4 are the three papers, which may include an analytical review of the literature or a meta-analysis, a methodology paper, and a data-based paper or multiple data-based articles with the literature review integrated into each paper. At the discretion of the Dissertation Committee, one of the three papers may be a detailed discussion of the conceptual model for the dissertation research. The length of these three chapters, which are intended to be potentially publishable papers, to the extent possible, should conform to page-length constraints required by the specific scholarly journal(s) identified by the student and approved by the Dissertation Committee. Therefore, these three chapters may be expanded or supplemented by appendices, as necessary, particularly if there is additional data, analyses, or Tables that are not allowed due to journal restrictions.
• Chapter 5, the concluding chapter, should summarize and integrate the major findings. This concluding chapter should synthesize the knowledge that has been gained by the research as presented in the three papers; discuss the limitations of the body of research; and enumerate future research and implications for education, practice, and/or policy, as appropriate for the dissertation type.

8. Submitting the Final Document to the Graduate College

Regardless of format, the final written report of the dissertation must meet the standards defined by the Graduate College. Thus, for both the Traditional Dissertation format and the Three-Paper Dissertation format, pagination must be continuous, there must be a common table of contents, and one integrated bibliography must serve for the whole document.

9. Publishing Manuscripts Based on the Dissertation

Approved electronic dissertations are forwarded to ProQuest for digital archiving; the doctoral abstracts will be published in Dissertation Abstracts International. Once published, any other publications (e.g., manuscripts) cannot use sections of the dissertation in total without breaching copyright. Thus, students can opt to delay publication of the dissertation by the Graduate College for one to two years (referred to as a period of embargo), at or before the single thesis deposit deadline. This is an important step to allow time for publishing the papers in a three-paper dissertation. Students are encouraged to publish the dissertation within a year.

There must be no presumption that serving on a Dissertation Committee constitutes grounds for co-authorship of a student’s paper, even if the committee member provides significant feedback on a paper. Eventual authorship on papers should be negotiated between the student, their faculty advisor, and the Dissertation Committee members. Dissertation Committee members may be named as co-authors on submitted papers if they have made a substantial contribution to the paper consistent with academic standards and journal submission requirements. Journal requirements vary, but at a minimum, all authors must have contributed substantially to conception and design or analysis and interpretation of the data, contributed to drafting or revision of content, and approved the final version.

D. Figure 1: Flowchart and Comparison Table

Flow Chart and Comparison Table

E. Figure 2: Data-based Manuscript Planning Table

Data-based Manuscript Planning Table

F. Forms to Be Completed by the PhD Graduate Coordinator

Request for final examination (request for dissertation defense).

The PhD Program Administrator will submit this form to the Graduate College no later than 3 weeks prior to the defense. The PhD Program Administrator will need the following information from the student:

• Names of committee members
• Official thesis title
• Date and time of defense

The PhD Program Administrator will reserve a room once the date and time are provided.

REPORT OF FINAL EXAMINATION (Report of dissertation defense)

Within a week prior to the dissertation defense date, the PhD Program Administrator will deliver this form to the Dissertation Committee Chair. Within 24 hours after the defense, this form must be signed by all committee members and returned to the PhD Program Administrator by the Dissertation Committee Chair. The PhD Program Administrator will file the form with the Graduate College.

G. Statistical Support for Dissertation Work

The Office of Nursing Research and Scholarship (ONRS) has partnered with the College of Public Health Biostatistics Consulting Center, which employs a team of biostatistics PhD students who are available to consult with College of Nursing (CON) PhD students doing their dissertation work (not coursework). The amount of support provided by the CON is 10 hours per PhD student during their dissertation phase. If you choose to consult with one of the Biostatistics Consulting Center students, please note the process below:

• Submit a request for consultation.
• The Biostatistics Consulting Center will contact the ONRS to verify that you are a current CON PhD student; they will then assign you to one of their student consultants. If you need additional consultation after starting a project, they will make every attempt to match you with the person you worked with earlier.
• The Biostatistics Consulting Center will send an invoice to the ONRS to pay for the hours of assistance. If you continue to work with the student consultant after 10 hours, you will need to pay for those services.

Additional resources can be found in the document “Statistical Support at UI” by clicking on this link: Statistical Support at UI .

University of Iowa College of Nursing Graduate Student Handbook Copyright © 2024 by University of Iowa College of Nursing. All Rights Reserved.

Share This Book

Recommended pages

• New staff intranet
• Student Welcome
• Online registration
• MyUoB mobile app
• Campus maps
• Lecture timetables
• Study spaces
• Student digital services
• Student support
• Student printing
• Car parking
• Room bookings
• Core systems
• Staff development

Presenting your thesis

 formatting your thesis.

Please refer to Regulation 7.4.2 for important information on how to format your thesis.

The Library Services guide 'Presenting your thesis' has been written as the standard for all theses presented for research degrees in the University of Birmingham. 

It offers guidance on the practicalities of producing your thesis in a format that is acceptable for examination and for deposit in the library. This guide does not deal with the content and academic standard required of a thesis and on these matters you are advised to consult University Regulations, your supervisor and guidance issued by your School.

Please also see the  Getting your thesis ready workshop webpage .

 Thesis word limit

On submitting your thesis for examination you are required to complete a declaration form confirming the word length of your thesis. You should therefore be aware of the maximum word length for your thesis. See  Regulation 7.4.2 (d).

The stated maximum number of words excludes tables, diagrams (including associated legends), appendices, list of references, footnotes and endnotes, the bibliography and any bound published material. For information on referencing styles see the  iCite – referencing at the University of Birmingham  webpages.

A thesis that exceeds the maximum number of words will not be accepted for examination unless permission to exceed the stated word count has been granted by the Research Progress & Awards Sub Panel. Permission to exceed the stated word count is only granted in exceptional circumstances. If you consider that you will not be able to meet the stated word limited, you are advised to discuss this with your supervisor at an early stage.

 Language of your thesis

 acknowledging collaborative work.

If any material is included in your thesis which is a result of collaborative working, you must include details of how much of the work is your own and how much is that of other people. See Regulation 7.4.1 (h).

It is also important to seek the prior agreement of those other people to make your thesis available in the University eTheses Repository. 

 Previously published or submitted work

You may include work that has already been published providing the work is properly integrated, either in the thesis or as an appendix to which reference is made - see  Regulation 7.4.1 (g). It must be adequately referenced and you are advised to consult with your supervisor if you are unsure about the inclusion of any previously published work in your thesis. 

For additional information please refer to the Copyright for Researchers web page

You may not include material for assessment which has already been submitted for another degree awarded at this or any other University, unless all of the conditions set out in Regulation 7.4.1 (f) are satisfied.

If you are considering including published papers in your thesis, please read the alternative format thesis guide (Word - 22KB).

 Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a form of cheating and is a serious academic offence. It arises where work submitted is not the student's own and has been taken from another source. The original material is then hidden from the marker, either by not referencing it properly, by paraphrasing it or by not mentioning it at all.

For further information see the University’s Guidance on plagiarism for students .

All theses submitted for examination are checked through plagiarism detection software.

 Editorial help for PGR theses

A thesis submitted for examination at the University of Birmingham must be solely the postgraduate researcher’s own work (except where University Regulations permit the inclusion of appropriately referenced collaborative research or work – see Regulation 7.4.1 . A postgraduate researcher must not employ a ‘ghost writer’ to write parts or all of the thesis, whether in draft or as a final version, on his/her behalf.

Editors, whether they are formal supervisors, informal mentors, family or friends or professional, need to be clear about the extent and nature of help they offer in the editing of University of Birmingham PGRs theses and dissertations. Supervisors of PGRs also need to be clear about the role of the third party editors as well as their own editorial role.

PGRs may use third party editorial assistance (paid or voluntary) from an outside source.  This must be with the knowledge and support of supervisors and the use of third party editorial assistance must be stated in the thesis acknowledgement page.

A ‘third party’ editor cannot be used :

• To change the text of the thesis so as to clarify and/or develop the ideas and arguments;
• To reduce the length of the thesis so it falls within the specified word limit;
• To correct information within the thesis;
• To change ideas and arguments put forward within the thesis; and/or
• To translate the thesis into English.

A ‘third party’ editor can be used to offer advice on:

• Spelling and punctuation;
• Formatting and sorting of footnotes and endnotes for consistency and order;
• Ensuring the thesis follows the conventions of grammar and syntax in written English;
• Shortening long sentences and editing long paragraphs;
• Changing passives and impersonal usages into actives, vice versa as may be appropriate;
• Improving the positioning of tables and illustrations and the clarity, grammar, spelling and punctuation of any text in or under tables and illustrations; and
• Ensuring consistency of page numbers, headers and footers.

Where a third party editor is used it is the PGR’s responsibility to provide the third party editor with a copy of this statement (Word - 20KB)  and ensure they complete the Third Party Editor Declaration Form (Word - 32KB)  confirming their compliance with this statement.

When submitting the thesis the PGR must record in the Acknowledgements page the form of contribution the ‘third party’ editor has made, by stating for example, “this thesis was copy edited for conventions of language, spelling and grammar by ABC Editing Ltd”.

Please also see the Code of Practice on Academic Integrity .

 Intellectual property rights

These rights generally belong to the student, but if your work is considered to be commercially significant students may be required to assign their rights to the University. 

For further information please see:

• University Regulation 5.4 covering Intellectual Property
• Regulation 3.16 covering Patents and The Exploitation of Inventions
• The Copyright for Researchers webpage

 Can't find what you're looking for?

• College of Arts and Law
• College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
• College of Life and Environmental Sciences
• College of Medicine and Health
• College of Social Sciences

Professional Services

• Academic Services
• Campus Services
• Development and Alumni Relations
• Executive Support
• External Relations
• Human Resources
• IT Services
• Legal Services
• Research Strategy and Services

• Colleges & Degrees
• Academic Calendar
• International Education
• Graduate Studies
• Accreditation
• Tuition and Fees
• Parking & Maps
• Careers with CSULB
• Alumni Home
• Alumni Volunteering
• Alumni Giving

Campus Life

• Centers & Organizations
• Commencement
• Student Life
• Office of the President
• Office of the Provost
• Administration & Finance
• Student Affairs
• University Relations & Development
• Information Technology
• Beach Shops
• Campus Directory
• Enrollment Services
• Financial Aid
• Schedule of Classes
• Student Records
• 49er Foundation
• Research Foundation
• University Policies

1250 BELLFLOWER BOULEVARD LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA 90840 562.985.4111

Thesis and Culminating Project Information

Culminating Activities

A main degree requirement on all students in graduate programs in the College of Liberal Arts is the completion of a culminating project, such as a thesis and oral defense thereof, a final comprehensive examination, a portfolio, or a non-thesis project.

Master's theses are original academic disquisitions on a problem or issue of disciplinary interest. Compositionally, they explain the significance of the undertaking, normally by stating the major assumptions and reviewing the relevant literature, and then elaborate on the methods of data collection and analysis of evidence, develop and critique the appropriate logical inferences and argumentation, and offer conclusions or recommendations for future work. The average length of the body of a Master's thesis is around 70 double-spaced pages. 

A non-thesis project is an artistic or technical endeavor that is appropriate for the fine and applied arts or to more professional or vocational fields. Examples could include an ethnographic film, a novel or body of creative writing, or a significantly original software program. Non-thesis projects should include a project report. The average length of the body of a project report is around 30 double-spaced pages. Non-thesis projects need not be submitted for college review.

Students may not enroll in thesis or exam coursework until advanced to candidacy . For further information about theses, course units, and committee membership, including chairpersons or directors, please review the university thesis requirements . For further information about comprehensive examinations, portfolios, or non-thesis projects, please review the university exam requirements. For information about enrollment in GS700B, please review AS policy 18–03 and contact the Director of Graduate Studies with any additional questions.

Oral Defense

By Title V §40510 , an oral defense of the thesis is required of those students who pursue the thesis option for their culminating activity. For students who pursue the non-thesis project option, an oral defense is recommended but not required.

Thesis Deadlines

All theses from the College of Liberal Arts must ultimately be approved by all thesis committee members and Professor Sarah Schrank, Director of Graduate Studies, before being submitted to the University's Thesis Office. Theses submitted to the college for review must be in their finalized form, with all copyediting and formatting completed. The theses and signature pages are to be sent to Professor Sarah Schrank, Director of Graduate Studies ( [email protected] ). The college deadlines for theses submissions can be found here:

CSULB Thesis & Dissertation Office

The University's Thesis & Dissertation Office is housed on the 5 th floor of the CSULB Library in Room 501. There are numerous resources to help graduate students with the composition of their theses. Most importantly, please consult the University's formatting guidelines , as it details all formatting rules and requirements, and includes protocols for electronic submission . Various templates have also been provided, including the template for the thesis signature page , as well as Department-specific style guides . The Thesis Office also offers consultations for students prior to submission.

• Skip to Main
• Master's Programs
• Ph.D. Programs
• Global & Online Programs
• Library and Information Science Dual - Degree Program
• Certificate Programs
• Application Resource Center
• Financial Aid
• Admissions Events
• Campus Tours
• Newly-Admitted Students
• Message from the GSAS Dean
• Academic Calendar

Inter-University Doctoral Consortium

• Submitting Your Dissertation
• Fellowships and Awards
• Fellowships & Awards
• Alumni Features
• Public Humanities Initiative
• New Student Orientation
• GSAS Convocation
• The Master's College
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• OASA Room Reservations
• Graduate Student Council
• Graduate Student Clubs
• Student Resources
• Doctoral Alumni Association
• Senior Administration
• Dean's Office
• Policies and Procedures
• Directors of Graduate Studies & Program Directors
• Standing Committees
• History of GSAS
• Dean's Conference Room
• Administrative Resources
• Dean's Advisory Council
• Research in GSAS
• Give to GSAS
• NYU/Axinn Foundation Prize
• Event Calendar
• TELL GSAS Doctoral Research Days

We will be accepting IUDC registration for Fall 2024 starting July 8, 2024.

We are processing IUDC forms via email. Students must use the writable pdf IUDC form on this page and their official home institution email address. No hand written form or non-school email address will be accepted.  

The Inter-University Doctoral Consortium (IUDC) offers eligible doctoral students the opportunity to take graduate courses at distinguished universities throughout the greater New York area. The IUDC has been in existence for over 30 years and offers students an enormous array of courses and opportunities for contact with faculty and other students in their fields.

The IUDC is open to doctoral students from participating schools who have completed at least one year of full time study toward the Ph.D. Terminal masters students and doctoral students not enrolled in the participating schools/divisions are not eligible. Only courses offered and conducted during either the fall or spring term may be applied for.

Participating schools are: Columbia University, GSAS Princeton University - The Graduate School CUNY Graduate Center Rutgers University Fordham University, GSAS Stony Brook University Graduate Faculty, New School University Teachers College, Columbia University New York University, GSAS, Steinhardt

Registration Instructions for NYU Students

Complete the Inter-University Doctoral Consortium Registration Form

Fill out all areas of the form clearly and legibly for accurate registration and grade reporting. Be sure that you have provided your full address, including zip code, as well as a phone number and email address at which the host school can reach you in addition to all course information

Obtain signatures in the following order only (signatures will not be given out of order): NYU Department Chair, Director of Graduate Studies, or Advisor NYU IUDC Coordinator Host School Course Instructor Host School Dean / IUDC Coordinator

Register at both schools: At NYU-- If you are a GSAS student, register in Albert for one section of the GSAS consortium "dummy" course, GSAS-GA 2000, for each course you are taking through the IUDC in the term. Be sure to register for exactly the same number of points as the course is worth at the host school. If you are a Steinhardt student, please contact the Steinhardt Office of Doctoral Studies for permission first.  Steinhardt Registration Office will enroll you in Steinhardt's IUDC "dummy" course. Steinhardt students are also required to fill out and have signed an internal Steinhardt permission form to take courses through the IUDC. At Host School -- Give one copy of the form to the IUDC Coordinator at the host school after you have collected the other three signatures. It is your responsibility to find out about registration procedures specific to the host institution.

The completed registration form may be returned to the NYU IUDC Coordinator. If you choose not to do this, be sure to keep a copy for your records until your grade is posted at NYU. All registration at NYU must be completed within the first 3 weeks of classes for the term Tuition is calculated by and paid to NYU only.  If you are on a MacCracken fellowship, your tuition will be covered for your IUDC course. Additional charges may be assessed by host institutions for lab fees if applicable. If you need to drop your IUDC course, please be sure to drop both the consortium "dummy" course at NYU as well as the real course at the host school. Member schools send each other final grades approximately four weeks after the end of each semester. If you have completed your course and your grade has been posted at the host school by that time you need not do anything else to get your grade at NYU. If you have not completed your course or your grade has not been posted by the time of the grade exchange, then it is your responsibility to take actions that will get your grade to NYU. Once a grade has been posted at the host school, contact the host school IUDC Coordinator and request that a transcript be sent to the NYU IUDC Coordinator. The host school IUDC Coordinator will then have a new transcript sent to NYU at no cost to you. Host school rules on course completion apply, so if you do take an incomplete for a course, be sure you are familiar with those rules if you do not intend to complete the course right away.

Registration Instructions for Students Visiting NYU

Complete the Inter-University Doctoral Consortium Registration Form Fill out all areas of the form clearly and legibly for accurate registration and grade reporting. Be sure that you have provided your email address, including zip code, as well as a phone number and email address at which we can reach you in addition to all NYU course information. All courses with course number ending in --GA or --GE are eligible to be taken through the IUDC. Also eligible are Cinema Studies, CINE-GT, and Performance Studies, PERF-GT, courses. No other NYU courses will be offered for IUDC enrollment. NYU does not accept registrations for audit or "R-credit" status. Couses offered or conducted during January or Summer term are also not eligible regardless of course number. Obtain signatures in the following order only (signatures will not be given out of order): Home School Department Chair, Director of Graduate Studies, or Advisor Home School Dean/IUDC Coordinator NYU Course Instructor NYU IUDC Coordinator Send your form to the NYU IUDC Coordinator only after having obtained the first 3 signatures. NYU will accept an email from the course instructor which gives explicit permission to join the class in lieu of a physical signature. Instructor permission to join a class does not constitute guaranteed enrollment in the course. Visiting students may be denied enrollment or placed on a wait list if the course is closed. You will be contacted if there is a registration issue. NYU needs two to three days to process your registration and enrollment. You must email your form as a pdf file to the [email protected] email address. Once we have finished with the form, you will be notified by email. We attach important information to your form that we want to be sure you have seen. Due to FERPA regulations, we will only email your form to your home school email address. Information will be attached to your approved IUDC form concerning the obtaining an NYU ID card, which will in turn allow you to gain access to NYUHome and the NYUBrightspace system. All registration at NYU must be completed in the first three weeks of classes . If you need to drop your IUDC course, please contact the NYU IUDC Coordinator. If you want to drop after the first two weeks, you will receive a W grade for withdrawal. You may only drop your course through the first nine weeks of the semester. After that you will receive a final grade. We will send your grade to your home school approximately four weeks after the end of the term in which you took your course. If you have not received a grade at NYU by that time, please contact the NYU Registrar's office at [email protected] when you grade has been posted in our Albert system, and they will send your transcript to your home school. At NYU, all incompletes must be resolved by one year from the beginning of the term in which you took the course. If you need a further extension of your incomplete, please contact the NYU course instructor and the offering department for assistance. For further questions,  please contact the consortium office of either the home or host school as applicable.

Contact Information

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, GSAS Sophia Cheng, Assistant Director of Student Affairs [email protected] Office of Student Affairs 107 Low Memorial Library 535 West 116th St Phone: (212) 854-5972 New York, NY 10027 Columbia IUDC Website CUNY GRADUATE CENTER Matthew Schoengood, Vice President for Student Affairs Vincent J. DeLuca, Registrar [email protected] Office of Vice President for Student Affairs 365 Fifth Avenue, Room 7301 New York, NY 10016 Phone: (212) 817-7409 CUNY IUDC Website FORDHAM UNIVERSITY, GSAS Sarah Lehman, Assistant Dean, GSAS Academic Operations Carmela Menta, Senior Executive Assistant, GSAS Academic Operations [email protected] Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Keating Hall, Rm. 216 441 E. Fordham Rd. Bronx, NY 10458 Phone: (718) 817-4406 Fordham IUDC Website NEW SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH Ryan Gustafson, Assistant Dean of Academic and Student Affairs [email protected] 6 East 16th St, Room 1007 New York, NY 10003 Phone: (212) 229-5712 New School IUDC Website NEW YORK UNIVERSITY Li Cao, Assistant Director, Academic Affairs [email protected] New York University 6 Washington Square North, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10003 Phone: (212) 998-3716 NYU IUDC Website PRINCETON UNIVERSITY Jenny Smith, Academic Affairs Coordinator [email protected] Office of Academic Affairs The Graduate School 111 Clio Hall Princeton, NJ 08544 Phone: (609) 258-3168 Princeton IUDC Website RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, NEW BRUNSWICK Benjamin Arenger, Senior Program Administrator [email protected] Office of the Dean, School of Graduate Studies Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey 25 Bishop Place New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1181 Phone: (848) 932-6588 Rutgers IUDC Website STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY Melissa Jordan, Assistant Dean for Records and Admissions [email protected] Office of the Dean, The Graduate School Stony Brook University 2401 Computer Science Building Stony Brook, NY 11794-4433 Phone: (631) 632-9712 Stony Brook IUDC Website TEACHERS COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Christopher Nieves, Registrar [email protected] Office of the Registrar 525 West 120th Street New York, NY 10027 Phone: (212) 678-4055 Teachers College IUDC Website