Other guidance on dissertation presentation

 

It is highly likely that your individual institution will have very specific criteria as to how your paper should be presented. We have included here some of the typical criteria that are required.

Paper and Text

The dissertation must be printed or typed on A4 size white bond paper within 70 g/m2 to 100 g/m2) Dot matrix printers should not be used for the final reproduction of the dissertation. Paper of a larger size up to A3 may be used for maps, plans, diagrams and illustrative material forming part of the dissertation. The pages should be numbered consecutively. The preferred position for the page number is typed at the bottom centre of the page. The text should be in double or 1.5 line spacing in a font size between 10 and 12 inclusive. Headings should be in a font size no larger than 14. Quotations and footnotes can be in single spacing in a font size between 8 and 10 inclusive. Pages may be single-sided or double-sided.

Margins

Margins at the binding left hand side should be not less than 40mm. Top, bottom and side margins should be not less than 15mm.

Additional materials

Appended computer disks should be of 3.25 inch size and IBM-compatible and there should be a declaration in the dissertation of the programming language used and the size of the file. Similarly any videotape appendices should be of VHS tapes using the PAL system, the British (and University) standard as distinct from the standard used in the USA and Japan. Good quality photocopies (black and white or coloured) and good quality photographs (black and white or coloured) can be used.

Preliminary pages

The five preliminary pages of dissertations must be: Title Page, Abstract, Dedication and acknowledgements, Author's Declaration, Table of Contents.  These, unlike the text, should be single-sided.

Abstract

A summary of not more than 300 words, which must fit on to one side of an A4 page, should be placed immediately after the title page. This can be typed in single spacing in a font size between 10 and 12 inclusive (+read more about abstracts).

Dedication and acknowledgements

are at the discretion of the author.

Author's declaration

A signed declaration is required stating how far the work contained in the dissertation is the candidate's own work and how far it has been conducted in collaboration with, or with the assistance of, others. An example is given below:

AUTHOR’S DECLARATION

I declare that the work in this dissertation was carried out in accordance with the Regulations of the University of Bristol. The work is original except where indicated by special reference in the text and no part of the dissertation has been submitted for any other degree. Any views expressed in the dissertation are those of the author and in no way represent those of the University of Bristol. The dissertation has not been presented to any other University for examination either in the United Kingdom or overseas.

SIGNED: .............................................................

DATE:..........................

Table of contents, list of tables and illustrative material

The table of contents must list in sequence, with page numbers: all chapters, sections and subsections; the list of references; the bibliography; list of abbreviations; and any appendices. The list of tables and illustrations must follow the table of contents, and should list, with page numbers, all the tables, photographs, coloured photocopies, diagrams, etc., in the order in which they appear in the text (+read more about the table of contents).

For more guidance on the presentation of your dissertation, reference can be made to the British Standard Recommendations on the Presentation of Dissertations BS4821:1990.

Last Page: Sourcing Materials | Next Page: Dissertation Abstract