Dissertation Handbook · 2020-01-18 · Submission of dissertation for assessment Once your dissertation is finalised, you are to submit four physical spiral-bound dissertations in

Version 1.0

Dissertation Handbook

2

Institute for Education,

Martin Luther King Road,

Pembroke PBK 1990

Academic Language ............................................................................................................................ 3

Format of Dissertation ........................................................................................................................ 4

Length ............................................................................................................................................... 4

Language .......................................................................................................................................... 4

Font .................................................................................................................................................. 4

Pagination ........................................................................................................................................ 4

Layout and Paper ............................................................................................................................. 5

Chapter Headings and Sub-Headings ............................................................................................... 5

Figures and Tables ............................................................................................................................ 5

Images .............................................................................................................................................. 5

Captions............................................................................................................................................ 5

Footnotes and endnotes .................................................................................................................. 5

Supplementary Material .................................................................................................................. 6

Dissertation Content ........................................................................................................................ 6

Title Page .......................................................................................................................................... 6

Abstract Page ................................................................................................................................... 6

Dedication and Acknowledgement .................................................................................................. 6

Author’s Declaration of Authenticity ............................................................................................... 7

Table of Contents, List of Tables & Figures and Supplementary Material ...................................... 7

References ........................................................................................................................................ 7

Bibliography ..................................................................................................................................... 7

Appendices ....................................................................................................................................... 7

Submission of Dissertation ................................................................................................................. 8

Submission of Dissertation for Assessment ..................................................................................... 8

Viva-Voce.......................................................................................................................................... 8

Final Version ..................................................................................................................................... 8

Alternative formats .......................................................................................................................... 8

Table of Contents

3



Pembroke PBK 1990

Academic language

Dissertations submitted to the Institute for Education should be written in accordance with academic

discourse and rigour befitting of a qualification conferred at higher education level.

Academic Language

4



Pembroke PBK 1990

Format of Dissertation

Length of Thesis

Level Length of thesis Comments

Bachelor’s 15,000 ± 10% Excluding list of references, appendices and bibliography

Master’s 25,000 ± 10% Excluding list of references, appendices and bibliography

Language

The language of the dissertation is ordinarily

English, although some dissertations whose

subject matter involves foreign languages

may be accepted in a language other than

English, subject to the approval by the

dissertation board.

Font Your thesis must be presented in a

permanent and legible form, in black ink,

using as fonts Arial, Calibri or Times New

Roman. Font size to be used is 12.

The font used in the body of text must also

be used in headers, page numbers and

footnotes. Exceptions are made only for

tables and figures created with different

software and inserted into the document.

Pagination (numbering) All pages must be numbered in continuous

sequence from the title page to the last page

of the dissertation, in single sequence

numerals from 1 onwards. Page numbers

must be aligned at the bottom right hand

side.

5



Pembroke PBK 1990

Layout and paper

Page size must be A4 (210x297mm) using paper of weight 70 gsm to 100 gsm. If paper larger than A4 is

required, this needs to be fixed securely within the binding.

Printing should be single page / one-sided.

Line spacing must be 1.5. Alignment should either be left aligned or justified.

The margin on the binding edge must be 40 mm and other margins must be 15 mm.

(blank pages if necessary)

Chapter headings and

subheadings

A new page should be used for each new

chapter heading.

Chapter headings and subheadings may have a

font size larger than 12, but no more than 16.

Images

Pictures, diagrams and other images should

wherever possible be printed directly onto the

paper and clearly legible.

Figures and tables Figures and tables should be inserted,

captioned and referenced in line with your

chosen referencing style (APA or Harvard).

Captions Captions should be inserted in line with your

chosen referencing style (APA or Harvard).

Footnotes and endnotes A consistent policy should be used to insert the

notes either at the foot of the page, or at the

end of the chapter or at the end of the

dissertation.

6



Pembroke PBK 1990

Dissertation content

The order of the dissertation should be as follows:

Supplementary material

Should any supplementary material, such as

recorded media, photocopies, photographs,

and research data, be included in the

dissertation these should be provided either

on a usb in a pocket at the back of the

dissertation.

In the case of physical artefacts these must be

submitted to the Institute for Education

together with the dissertation.

Title Page

Abstract Page

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Author’s Declaration of Authenticity

Table of Contents

List of Tables and Figures

Glossary / List of abbreviations

Introduction

Chapters

References

Bibliography

Appendices

Title page At the top of the title page the dissertation

should give the title. The full name of the

author and their ID card number should be in

the centre of the page. At the bottom centre

should be the words “A dissertation submitted

to the Institute for Education in accordance

with the requirements for award of the degree

of … .” At the bottom in the centre should be

indicated the month and year of submission.

Abstract page The abstract should be on a separate page. It

should provide a summary of approximately

250 words highlighting the research topic,

aims and results. Keywords should be

indicated underneath the abstract (no more

than 5 keywords).

Dedication and acknowledgement

These sections are optional and should be each

on separate pages.

7



Pembroke PBK 1990

Bibliography

The bibliography should list all works used in

preparation for your dissertation. They should be

in line with the chosen referencing style (APA or

Harvard).

Author’s declaration of

authenticity

This page should include the following

statement by the author(s) of the dissertation:

“I/We declare that the work in this dissertation

was carried out in accordance with the

requirements of the Institute for Education

and that it has not been submitted for any

other academic award. Except where indicated

by specific reference in the text, the work is the

candidate’s/s’ own work. Work done in

collaboration with, or with the assistance of,

others, is indicated as such. Any views

expressed in the dissertation are those of the

author(s).

Signed: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

Table of contents, list of tables and

figures and supplementary material

The table of contents must list, with page

numbers, all chapters, sections and

subsections, the list of references,

bibliography, glossary / list of abbreviations

and appendices, if applicable. The list of tables

and figures should follow the table of contents,

listing with page numbers the tables, figures,

photographs, diagrams, etc. in the order in

which they appear in the text.

References

The references should list all works cited in

your dissertation. They should be in line with

the chosen referencing style (APA or Harvard).

Appendices

The appendices constitute the supplementary

material. These should include any data or

material that the examiners may wish to refer

to.

8



Pembroke PBK 1990

Submission of dissertation for assessment

Once your dissertation is finalised, you are to submit four physical spiral-bound dissertations in

accordance with the Dissertation Writing Guidelines and a digital version submitted through Turn-it In.

These are to be received by the second Friday of May of the final year of study. The following copies and

formats are to be submitted:

4 copies (3 copies for the panel and 1 supervisor)

Spiral-bound and one electronic version submitted through Turnitin.

Viva-voce

If applicable, the course participant will be asked to present the dissertation in a viva voce forming part

of the dissertation assessment.

Final version

Following the publication of results and any amendments arising from the assessment, the dissertation

is to be submitted in the following format:

The thesis shall be bound in strong, waterproof cloth/bound, covered solid. The binding shall be in hard

cover of a fixed kind in which leaves are permanently secured. The colour of the binding shall be:

Bachelor: Dark blue

Master: Burgundy

Lettering on bound copies shall be in gold. Lettering on the spine shall include:

Top: degree

Middle: name of author (initials and surname)

Foot: year of graduation.

Lettering on the front cover shall include:

Top: Dissertation title

Middle: The full name of the author

Bottom: Institute for Education, Degree, Month and Year

Alternative formats

Should you wish to submit your thesis in any other format than that described above, prior approval

must be sought from the dissertation board.

Submission of Dissertation

Documents

Dissertation Handbook · 2020-01-18 · Submission of dissertation for assessment Once your dissertation is finalised, you are to submit four physical spiral-bound dissertations in