Schools may adopt their own guidelines based on these generic guidelines, but they will be subject to annual monitoring and progressive harmonisation at Faculty level.
Preparation: Schools will provide students with information to enable them to prepare the dissertation and will advise them of the specific requirements and submission deadlines that apply in relevant handbooks or online. Students are expected to attend dissertation workshops/seminars, dissertation units and/or specific sessions with their dissertation supervisor. Students should be given access to good examples of Master’s dissertations or dissertation templates while preparing the dissertation.
Students must ensure that their dissertation is their own work and must identify any material which is not their own work by referencing and acknowledgement. The dissertation must NOT incorporate dissertation material which has been used for another degree or plagiarise the work of others.
Number of copies: Two printed copies of the dissertation must be submitted for examination together with an electronic copy, which will be checked for evidence of plagiarism.
Binding: The dissertation should be presented in a secure, temporary binding, with a glued or spiral spine, e.g. ‘perfect binding’ and ‘spring-back binding’. The University’s Print Services can provide this service. Information may be obtained from the relevant School Office.
Preliminary pages: The first five preliminary pages must be single-sided and include: a Title Page, Abstract, Dedication and Acknowledgements (if applicable), Author’s Declaration and Table of Contents.
Title page: At the top of the title page, give the title and, if necessary, the sub-title. The full name of the dissertation author should be in the centre of the page. At the bottom centre should be the following words:
“A dissertation submitted to the University of Bristol in accordance with the requirements of the degree of Master of …(title) by advanced study in …(programme title) in the Faculty of…(Faculty name)’. Under this text, the name of the School and the date that the dissertation was submitted should be provided. The word count should be shown on the title page.
Abstract: Each dissertation copy must include an abstract or summary of the dissertation in not more than 300 words, on one side of A4, which should be single-spaced in font size 10, 11 or 12.
Dedication and acknowledgements are at the discretion of the student.
Author’s declaration
I declare that the work in this dissertation was carried out in accordance with the requirements of the University’s Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Postgraduate Programmes and that it has not been submitted for any other academic award. Except where indicated by specific reference in the text, this work is my own work. Work done in collaboration with, or with the assistance of others, is indicated as such. I have identified all material in this dissertation which is not my own work through appropriate referencing and acknowledgement. Where I have quoted from the work of others, I have included the source in the references/bibliography. Any views expressed in the dissertation are those of the author.
SIGNED: ……………………………………………………………. DATE: ……………..
(Signature of student)
Table of contents, list of tables and illustrative material: The table of contents must list, in sequence and with page numbers, all chapters, sections and sub-sections, the list of references; as well as abbreviations and appendices (if permitted). The list of tables and illustrations should follow the table of contents, listing with page numbers the tables, photographs, diagrams in the order in which they appear in the text.
Further information on the layout of dissertations may be found in British Standard Recommendations on the presentation of dissertations, available in the Arts & Social Sciences Library, Tyndall Avenue and in the Examinations Office.
Sequence: Dissertation material should be organised as follows:
Title Page
Abstract
Dedication and Acknowledgements (if applicable)
Author’s Declaration
Table of Contents, Tables and Illustrative Material
Text – chapters, sections and sub-divisions
Appendices – (if any, including media)
List of references/Bibliography
Word length: A standard dissertation will have a maximum word count of between 10,000–15,000 words. A dissertation based on laboratory work may have a maximum word count of between 6,000–10,000 words. The upper word limits may not be exceeded. References and lists of contents pages may be additional to the word limit, as can be appendices (although these should be reasonable in length). A word count must be shown on the Title Page.
Paper: The dissertation must be printed on A4 (210mm x 297mm) white paper. A3 paper may be used for maps, plans, diagrams and illustrative material. Pages should normally be double-sided (except the preliminary 5 pages which must be single-sided).
Page numbering: Pages should be numbered consecutively at the bottom centre of the page (i.e. the title page is page 1), including appendices.
Text: Text should be in double or 1.5 line spacing; the font size should be chosen to ensure clarity and legibility for the main text and any quotations and footnotes e.g. 12pt. Margins should not be less than 40mm at the left hand (binding) side and not less than 15 mm at the top, bottom and side.
Digital recording media, photocopies and photographs: Appendices may include digital recording media in standard formats and good quality photocopies and photographs as long as such material constitutes the most appropriate method of presenting the information. This material should be clearly labelled and listed in the dissertation’s list of illustrative material. Material must not infringe copyright regulations.
Submission: Students should submit two printed copies of the dissertation to the School Office, together with the signed submission form by the required deadline date and time. Students must also submit an electronic copy of their dissertation via Blackboard or via email to the School Office. Electronic submission of the dissertation enables examiners to check submitted dissertations for plagiarism using plagiarism detection software. In many schools, the dissertation must be submitted by 12.00 noon on the deadline date. One copy will normally be securely stored in the School, in line with data protection guidelines. Students should retain an additional copy of the dissertation in case they are called for an oral examination.
Dissertation submission deadline dates for some part-time and professional programmes may differ from the above deadlines, but they must be clearly stated in school handbooks and enable timely student graduation.
Penalties apply for late submission: See section 20 of the Regulations and Code of Practice. Other than in exceptional circumstances, students must submit their dissertation within the normal study period for the award and in accordance with the programme’s requirements and published University deadline dates for submission:
|
Student mode of attendance |
Dissertation submission deadline date |
Degree Congregation date (when degree conferred if successful) |
|---|---|---|
|
Full-Time |
8 September |
January |
|
Part-time |
8 September |
January |
|
Part-time variable |
Normally by the maximum study date. |
July/January |