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Dissertation layout and formatting

Published on October 21, 2015 by Koen Driessen . Revised on February 20, 2019.

The layout requirements for a dissertation are often determined by your supervisor or department. However, there are certain guidelines that are common to almost every program, such as including page numbers and a table of contents.

If you are writing a paper in the MLA citation style , you can use our  MLA format guide .

Table of contents

Font, font size, and line spacing, tables and figures, referencing, paragraph marks, headers and footers, page numbering, dissertation printing.

Use a clear and professional font. Some examples include Verdana, Times New Roman, and Calibri (which is the default font in Microsoft Word). Font size is best set to 10 or 11.

In scientific articles and theses, a line spacing of 1.15 or 1.5 is generally preferred, as it makes the document more readable and enables your supervisor to post comments between the lines of text.

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Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

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With tables, the number and title should be placed above; with figures and all other illustrations, the number and title should be placed below.

Microsoft Word has a feature that can help you to automatically place these numbers and titles in the correct position. Select the graphic, right-click, and choose “Insert Caption…” In the dialogue box that appears, specify whether it is a table or figure and enter a title. Once you click “Okay,” the number and the title will be generated in the right place.

Another advantage of using this Word feature to label your graphics is that you will later be able to generate lists of tables and figures with a push of a button.

Different heading styles are frequently used to help the reader differentiate between chapters, sections, and subsections of your dissertation. For instance, you may choose to bold all chapter headings but to italicize all lower-level headings.

Once you decide on the scheme you will use, it is important that you apply it consistently throughout your entire dissertation. Using the “Styles” feature of Microsoft Word can be very helpful in this regard. After you have created a heading, just highlight it and select a style (such as Heading 1 or Heading 2) from the home tool bar. Keeping a list may help you keep track of what style to use when.

Citing sources in a correct and appropriate manner is crucial in a dissertation, as failing to do so can make you guilty of plagiarism . It is important that these references follow certain standards.

The APA standard is most commonly used. After realizing how difficult it is to create correctly formatted citations manually, we developed the APA Citation Generator  to assist you. You can use this free and simple tool to easily generate citations that follow the official APA style.

We also recommend that you use a plagiarism scanner to check for unintended plagiarism.

Using the “Show paragraph marks” feature can help you to avoid this scenario. To turn it on, click on the paragraph symbol in your home tool bar (as shown in the above illustration). A black paragraph symbol will then be shown after every paragraph and “hard return” in your document, which allows you to see how the layout is constructed.

This can be very helpful when you are trying to determine the cause of mysterious jumps and other problems.

Headers and footers can give your dissertation a very professional look. They also make it immediately clear to readers what document is before them.

A header or footer can be added by double-clicking respectively at the top or bottom of a page in your document. There are generally no firm rules about what you must include; the following are common choices:

• The name/logo of your home educational institution
• The name/logo of the company or organization where you completed a placement
• The title of your dissertation (which may be shortened if necessary)
• Page numbers

Page numbers are commonly placed in the lower right-hand corner of the page. They can easily be added by simply creating a footer. Bear in mind that a page number is usually not included on the title page of a dissertation.

• To ensure that the page numbering doesn’t start on the cover page, but the numbering begins on page 1, place the cursor on the bottom of the page where you want to start with page numbering (if you want to start on page 2, click at the bottom of the first page).
• Next go to “Page layout” and then “Breaks”. Next, choose the submenu “Next page”.
• Switch to the side, where the numbering should begin (in this case, page 2). In the edit mode of the header or footer, choose “link to previous”, after that click on “Move to footer” and click on the “Link to previous” again.
• Now, to add a page number, click on the “Insert” tab, then on the “Header and footer” group, and then click “Page number”. Now you can also choose where the page number should be (top of the page, bottom of the page or page margins) and you can choose a design.
• Finally select the option “format page number” and enter the page numbers, in what page you want the numbering to begin. After you have pressed “ok”, the page number then begins with the number from the previously selected break.

A clear and well-presented title page is a nice finishing touch for your dissertation. Certain information should be included here by default. We have prepared a separate article on title pages that includes a handy checklist you can use to make sure you don’t forget anything.

Always make sure that everything in your dissertation is in the correct order and placed in the appropriate chapter. More information on how to put your document together can be found in our article on structure a dissertation .

If you are interested in seeing how other students have tackled preparing their theses, you may find it useful to check out these dissertation examples .

The last step is usually to prepare a hardcopy of your final document. There are many issues to think about, such as whether you will make it single- or double-sided.

Before you print, however, we recommend that you check one last time that your document meets all of the below requirements!

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Driessen, K. (2019, February 20). Dissertation layout and formatting. Scribbr. Retrieved June 11, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/tips/dissertation-layout-and-formatting/

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How to Write Dissertation for MBA: Step by Step Guide

• By Ethan Tremblay
• Academic Writing

What is an MBA dissertation, and why is a structured approach vital in writing it? This is the crux of the matter for any MBA student poised to showcase their academic understanding through this capstone project. A dissertation for MBA is a formal document that provides a detailed account of research on a particular topic within the business field. It represents the culmination of your learning process, demonstrating your ability to conduct independent research and present complex ideas in a clear and professional manner.

Adopting a structured approach is not just recommended; it’s essential. It ensures that your research is thorough, your arguments are coherent, and your findings are presented logically. This approach not only streamlines the writing process but also enhances the academic rigor of your work, making it more persuasive and credible to your readers.

Understanding the Requirements for Your MBA Dissertation

Embarking on an MBA program involves a significant milestone: the completion of your dissertation for MBA . This capstone project is not just a formality; it’s a rigorous academic endeavor that demonstrates your expertise and ability to contribute to the field of business administration. To ensure success, it’s crucial to fully comprehend the specific requirements and guidelines set forth by your institution.

• Begin by reviewing the institutional guidelines meticulously. These often include the expected structure, length, and formatting style for your dissertation.
• Understand the evaluation criteria . Knowing what the faculty will be looking for in your dissertation will guide your research and writing process.
• Consider the format requirements. Whether it’s APA, MLA, or another style, adherence to these guidelines is essential for a professional presentation of your work.

Each of these elements plays a pivotal role in the planning and execution of your dissertation. By mastering the requirements, you set a solid foundation for your research and ensure that the final product meets the expectations of your MBA program.

Choosing a Topic for Your MBA Dissertation: Ensuring Relevance and Manageability

Choosing a topic for your dissertation for MBA is a pivotal step in your academic journey. It sets the stage for research, determines the direction of your work, and can influence your post-MBA career path. To ensure you select a relevant and manageable topic, consider the following strategies:

• Align with Interests: Reflect on courses and discussions that sparked your curiosity. A topic that fascinates you will sustain motivation over the long haul.
• Industry Relevance: Choose a topic with practical implications for the business sector you aspire to join. This relevance can provide a valuable edge in the job market.
• Scope and Resources: Ensure the topic is narrow enough to explore in depth, yet broad enough to find sufficient resources and data.
• Faculty Guidance: Consult with your professors to leverage their expertise and gain insights on feasible topics.
• Originality: Aim for a topic that contributes new knowledge or perspectives to the field of business administration.

By considering these factors, you’ll be well-equipped to select a dissertation topic that not only meets academic criteria but also enriches your MBA experience and future career.

Conducting Research for Your MBA Dissertation: Best Practices

Best practices for research in your mba dissertation.

Conducting thorough and effective research is a cornerstone of any successful dissertation for MBA . To ensure that your research is up to par, consider the following best practices:

• Identify Clear Research Objectives: Begin by defining what you aim to discover or establish through your research. This will guide your methodology and help you stay focused.
• Choose the Right Research Methods: Quantitative methods involve statistical analysis, while qualitative methods focus on understanding the nuances of human behavior. Mixed methods combine both. Select the one that aligns with your objectives.
• Collect Data Ethically: Ensure that your data collection methods are ethical and that you have the necessary permissions. Anonymity and confidentiality should be maintained where required.
• Use Credible Sources: Whether you are conducting primary or secondary research, the credibility of your sources is paramount. Rely on peer-reviewed journals, reputable publications, and verified data.
• Maintain a Research Log: Keep a detailed record of your research activities. This log will be invaluable when you write your methodology chapter and need to justify your research choices.

By adhering to these practices, you’ll be able to conduct research that not only supports your dissertation but also contributes to the field of business administration.

Crafting a Detailed Outline for Your MBA Dissertation

Creating a robust outline is a pivotal step in the process of writing a dissertation for MBA . An effective outline serves as a roadmap, guiding you through the complex journey of your research. It ensures that your dissertation has a clear structure and that each section logically follows the previous one. To begin, include an introduction that sets the stage for your research question and objectives. Following this, outline a literature review section where you will discuss key theories and existing research relevant to your topic.

• Methodology: Detail the research methods you will use to gather and analyze data.
• Results: Plan for a section where you will present your findings.
• Discussion: Describe how you will interpret the results, linking them back to your research question.
• Conclusion: Summarize your research and discuss its implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research.

Remember to include a section for references and appendices, if necessary. Each section should be broken down into sub-sections with bullet points that highlight the main points you plan to cover. This level of detail will help you stay organized and focused as you write your dissertation for MBA .

Effective Writing Strategies for Your MBA Dissertation

Embarking on the writing phase of your dissertation for MBA can be daunting, but with the right strategies, you can craft a compelling and coherent document. Begin by understanding the structure of a typical MBA dissertation, which includes an introduction, literature review, methodology, findings, discussion, and conclusion. Each section has a unique purpose and requires a specific approach to writing.

For the introduction , set the stage for your research with a clear thesis statement and outline the objectives of your study. The literature review should critically evaluate previous research and establish a framework for your work. In the methodology section, describe your research methods and justify your choices. Present your data in the findings section, followed by the discussion , where you interpret the results in the context of your research question. Finally, the conclusion should summarize your findings and suggest implications or recommendations for practice and future research.

Academic writing demands clarity and precision. Use a formal tone and avoid colloquialisms. Ensure that your argument flows logically from one section to the next, linking back to your research question and objectives. To maintain this coherence, create a detailed outline before you start writing and refer to it often. Additionally, support your arguments with evidence from your research or the literature, and cite your sources appropriately.

Remember, writing is a process that includes drafting, revising, and refining. Don’t expect to write a perfect first draft. Instead, give yourself the time to revise and improve your work. Seek feedback from peers or mentors, and be open to constructive criticism.

Editing and Proofreading Your MBA Dissertation: Ensuring Excellence

After the rigorous process of writing your dissertation for MBA , the editing and proofreading stages are crucial for ensuring clarity, coherence, and academic integrity. To approach these final steps effectively, consider the following strategies:

• Take a Break: Distance yourself from your work for a few days to return with fresh eyes.
• Read Aloud: Hearing your text can help catch errors that you might overlook when reading silently.
• Structure and Content: Review each section for logical flow and relevance to your research question.
• Grammar and Spelling: Utilize software tools, but also manually check for mistakes that technology may miss.
• Consistency: Ensure consistent use of terms, definitions, and formatting throughout your document.
• Feedback: Seek input from peers or advisors, as they may notice issues you’ve become blind to.
• Professional Services: Consider hiring a professional editor, especially if English is not your first language.

Remember, a well-edited dissertation for MBA reflects your attention to detail and dedication to scholarly excellence. It’s not just about correcting typos; it’s about refining your argument to make a compelling and professional presentation of your research.

Concluding Your Dissertation for MBA: A Recap of Your Journey

As we reach the culmination of our guide on how to write a dissertation for MBA , it’s crucial to reflect on the journey you’ve undertaken. From grasping the intricate requirements to selecting a compelling topic, conducting thorough research, and meticulously crafting your outline, each step has been a building block towards creating a substantial piece of academic work.

Your dedication to writing the dissertation demonstrates your commitment to your MBA and your future career. Remember, the skills you’ve honed during this process—critical thinking, data analysis, and coherent writing—will serve you well beyond the confines of academia.

As you finalize your dissertation, take pride in your accomplishment. This step-by-step approach has not only provided you with a structured path but also instilled a sense of discipline that will benefit you in various professional scenarios.

May this guide serve as a beacon, illuminating your path to academic and professional success. Good luck!

Ethan Tremblay

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Writing your dissertation is a challenging task. It's likely to be your academic career's largest and most important project. As such, you want to ensure that your final draft looks professional and polished. That includes creating a cover page that accurately reflects the contents of your dissertation.

Your dissertation, thesis, or research paper's title/cover page (or front page) should include all of the essential details about your work. Generally, it contains:

• Title of the dissertation
• The degree you are pursuing and the institution at which you are studying
• Date of submission

Example: 1   Review Quality Dissertation Examples for Cover Page Section

Your supervisor's name, student ID number, and university logo are often also included.

Here's a step-by-step guide on creating an effective cover page for your dissertation. This article will also provide you dissertation cover page example for instant inspiration.

You can download the whole dissertation here to get an optimum idea of how to cover everything related to dissertations.

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Step-By-Step Guide on Creating an Effective Cover Page

Step One: Choose a Template

Your first step in creating a cover page will be selecting a template. Most schools will provide templates specific to their institution, so it's best to start there when selecting one for your paper.

The template should include all of the necessary elements required by your school—such as a title and an author name—and any formatting guidelines you need to follow (e.g., font size and margins).

Step Two: Add Your Information

Once you've selected a template, the next step is filling out the information fields with relevant details about you and your paper. It includes adding your name, contact information, degree program, school affiliation, and other pertinent information that should appear on the cover page.

It's important to double-check all of this information before submitting it; misspelling or inaccurate data can lead to problems down the line. 

Step Three: Formatting Tips

Once you have all the necessary elements on your cover page, it's time to format everything correctly according to your school's requirements and standards.

You'll want to focus on ensuring consistent font sizes across all text fields, making sure that titles are capitalized properly, and paying close attention to the spacing between lines and elements on the page itself.

If there are specific formatting guidelines that must be followed (e.g., MLA style), ensure they adhere too; otherwise, you could lose points when it comes time for grading!

Step Four: Proofreading

Once everything is formatted correctly and presentable, proofread it thoroughly before submitting it with your dissertation draft!

Typos or other mistakes can detract from the professionalism of your paper which can negatively impact its overall grade or acceptance into an academic journal or publication later down the line if you plan on publishing it after graduation!

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Cover page format.

Usually, your department will specify exactly what information should be on your title page and how to structure it. Check to see if there are any clear margins, spacing, and font size requirements.

The cover page format for a dissertation is as follows:

• A4 paper size
• 1-inch margins on all sides
• Times New Roman, 12-point font
• Double spaced

The citation style (i.e., APA or MLA) you employ might also affect the structure of your title page. Orientation, page numbering, and required elements can all be subject to guidelines.

Dissertation Cover Page Template

Here's a simple dissertation cover page template that you can use:

[Insert your university logo]

[Insert dissertation title in bold, centered]

[Insert your full name in bold, centered]

[Insert degree program (e.g., Doctor of Philosophy) and department name, centered]

[Insert month and year of submission, centered]

[Insert your university name and location, centered]

[Insert a line for the dissertation supervisor's name and title, centered]

[Insert any other relevant information, such as funding sources or acknowledgments, centered]

You can adjust the font, spacing, and layout according to your university's guidelines. You can check dissertation front page examples from your university library's dissertation section. It will help you understand the specific guidelines of your institution.

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Creating an effective cover page for your dissertation doesn't have to be difficult or time-consuming if you know what steps to take ahead of time! By following this simple guide—selecting a template; adding relevant information; formatting appropriately; and proofreading thoroughly—you'll have an impressive-looking cover page in no time.

If you are looking for more information, navigate to the links below now:

• How to Use Primary Data in Your Dissertation
• 3rd Person Writing: Why It’s Important and How to Do It
• Dissertation Acknowledgements Done Right: A Guide on How to Write Acknowledgement for Dissertation
• How to Write an Engaging Personal Statement for Your Master’s Application
• A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Write a Stellar Abstract for your Thesis

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Cover and Title Page: Everything You Need to Know

Table of Contents

A cover and title page is the first page of your research paper or thesis that contains essential information about your work, such as the title, author’s name, institution name, course name, date of submission, and other relevant details. It is the first thing that your readers will see, and it sets the tone for your entire work.

Why is a Cover and Title Page Important?

A cover and title page is an essential part of your research paper or thesis because it:

• Provides basic information about your work
• Conveys professionalism and attention to detail
• Helps in easy identification and retrieval of your work
• Creates a good first impression on your readers
• Helps you comply with the formatting guidelines of your institution

How to Create a Cover and Title Page?

Here are some essential elements that you should include while creating a cover and title page:

• Title of your work (centered and in bold)
• Author’s name (centered)
• Institution name (centered)
• Course name (centered)
• Date of submission (centered)
• Any additional information specified by your institution (such as a logo, disclaimer, etc.)

Ensure that all the elements are aligned correctly, and the font size and style are consistent throughout the page. Also, follow the formatting guidelines provided by your institution or publisher regarding the margins, spacing, and page numbering.

Tips for Creating an Effective Cover and Title Page

• Keep it simple and professional
• Use a readable font and avoid using fancy or decorative fonts
• Use a high-quality paper for printing
• Double-check for any spelling or formatting errors
• Ensure that the information provided is accurate and up-to-date
• Follow the formatting guidelines provided by your institution or publisher

By following these tips, you can create a cover and title page that not only meets the requirements but also impresses your readers.

A cover and title page is an essential part of your research paper or thesis, and it should be created with care and attention to detail. By following the guidelines provided by your institution or publisher and using the tips mentioned in this blog, you can create a professional-looking cover and title page that sets the tone for your entire work.

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Research Methodology for Management Decisions

1 Research Methodology: An Overview

• Meaning of Research
• Research Methodology
• Research Method
• Business Research Method
• Types of Research
• Importance of business research
• Role of research in important areas

2 Steps for Research Process

• Research process
• Define research problems
• Research Problem as Hypothesis Testing
• Extensive literature review in research
• Development of working hypothesis
• Preparing the research design
• Collecting the data
• Analysis of data
• Preparation of the report or the thesis

3 Research Designs

• Functions and Goals of Research Design
• Characteristics of a Good Design
• Different Types of Research Designs
• Exploratory Research Design
• Descriptive Research Design
• Experimental Research Design
• Types of Experimental Designs

4 Methods and Techniques of Data Collection

• Primary and Secondary Data
• Methods of Collecting Primary Data
• Merits and Demerits of Different Methods of Collecting Primary Data
• Designing a Questionnaire
• Pretesting a Questionnaire
• Editing of Primary Data
• Technique of Interview
• Collection of Secondary Data
• Scrutiny of Secondary Data

5 Attitude Measurement and Scales

• Attitudes, Attributes and Beliefs
• Issues in Attitude Measurement
• Scaling of Attitudes
• Deterministic Attitude Measurement Models: The Guttman Scale
• Thurstone’s Equal-Appearing Interval Scale
• The Semantic Differential Scale
• Summative Models: The Likert Scale
• The Q-Sort Technique
• Multidimensional Scaling
• Selection of an Appropriate Attitude Measurement Scale
• Limitations of Attitude Measurement Scales

6 Questionnaire Designing

• Introductory decisions
• Contents of the questionnaire
• Format of the questionnaire
• Steps involved in the questionnaire
• Structure and Design of Questionnaire
• Management of Fieldwork
• Ambiguities in the Questionnaire Methods

7 Sampling and Sampling Design

• Advantage of Sampling Over Census
• Simple Random Sampling
• Sampling Frame
• Probabilistic As pects of Sampling
• Stratified Random Sampling
• Other Methods of Sampling
• Sampling Design
• Non-Probability Sampling Methods

8 Data Processing

• Editing of Data
• Coding of Data
• Classification of Data
• Statistical Series
• Tables as Data Presentation Devices
• Graphical Presentation of Data

9 Statistical Analysis and Interpretation of Data: Nonparametric Tests

• One Sample Tests
• Two Sample Tests
• K Sample Tests

10 Multivariate Analysis of Data

• Regression Analysis
• Discriminant Analysis
• Factor Analysis

11 Ethics in Research

• Principles of research ethics
• Advantages of research ethics
• Limitations of the research ethics
• Steps involved in ethics
• What are research misconducts?

12 Substance of Reports

• Research Proposal
• Categories of Report
• Reviewing the Draft

13 Formats of Reports

• Parts of a Report
• Cover and Title Page
• Introductory Pages
• Reference Section
• Typing Instructions
• Copy Reading
• Proof Reading

14 Presentation of a Report

• Communication Dimensions
• Presentation Package
• Audio-Visual Aids
• Presenter’s Poise

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What To Know About The Dissertation Cover Page Format

When writing your dissertation, you will probably have to include some form of cover page. However, it is worth noting that there might be occasions when you do not need to include one and, therefore, you need to double check before you produce one.

Ultimately, it is relatively easy to produce a good cover page, as long as you follow any instructions. In fact, you do not necessarily need to include all that many details, and most of the work is relatively self-explanatory. Nevertheless, there are various different approaches that you can take and, therefore, it is important that you still do things the correct way.

Ensure that you follow any formatting rules from an official style guide

Ultimately, there are many different formatting style guides that you can use. As mentioned, it is possible that some of these style guides will not necessarily require you to include a cover page. However, of the style guides that will require you to include a cover page, some of them will require you to do things slightly differently. For example, the precise details you include may vary, as might the layout that you use.

As a result, it is particularly important that you check with the official style guide so as to ensure that you know what you’re doing.

Of course, it is entirely possible that you do not need to use a particular formatting guide; in which case, you should follow any instructions that you might have been given by your supervisor. Alternatively, if you have been given no instructions whatsoever, then you are probably free to choose how you create the work, in which case, you may wish to look at some other samples to give you a better idea and inspiration of how to create your own.

What details you might expect to include

You will probably need to include a variety of details, including your name, the title of the work, the name of the institution that you are studying with, the course that you are studying, the date the work was produced, and a range of other details.

As mentioned, the precise details can vary, so be sure to check exactly which details you will have to include on your cover page. Ultimately, it is important that you do get things right, as it will be the first thing that most people will see of your work.

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Dissertation Structure & Layout 101: How to structure your dissertation, thesis or research project.

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) Reviewed By: David Phair (PhD) | July 2019

So, you’ve got a decent understanding of what a dissertation is , you’ve chosen your topic and hopefully you’ve received approval for your research proposal . Awesome! Now its time to start the actual dissertation or thesis writing journey.

To craft a high-quality document, the very first thing you need to understand is dissertation structure . In this post, we’ll walk you through the generic dissertation structure and layout, step by step. We’ll start with the big picture, and then zoom into each chapter to briefly discuss the core contents. If you’re just starting out on your research journey, you should start with this post, which covers the big-picture process of how to write a dissertation or thesis .

*The Caveat *

In this post, we’ll be discussing a traditional dissertation/thesis structure and layout, which is generally used for social science research across universities, whether in the US, UK, Europe or Australia. However, some universities may have small variations on this structure (extra chapters, merged chapters, slightly different ordering, etc).

So, always check with your university if they have a prescribed structure or layout that they expect you to work with. If not, it’s safe to assume the structure we’ll discuss here is suitable. And even if they do have a prescribed structure, you’ll still get value from this post as we’ll explain the core contents of each section.  

Overview: S tructuring a dissertation or thesis

• Acknowledgements page
• Abstract (or executive summary)
• Table of contents , list of figures and tables
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Literature review
• Chapter 3: Methodology
• Chapter 4: Results
• Chapter 5: Discussion
• Chapter 6: Conclusion
• Reference list

As I mentioned, some universities will have slight variations on this structure. For example, they want an additional “personal reflection chapter”, or they might prefer the results and discussion chapter to be merged into one. Regardless, the overarching flow will always be the same, as this flow reflects the research process , which we discussed here – i.e.:

• The introduction chapter presents the core research question and aims .
• The literature review chapter assesses what the current research says about this question.
• The methodology, results and discussion chapters go about undertaking new research about this question.
• The conclusion chapter (attempts to) answer the core research question .

In other words, the dissertation structure and layout reflect the research process of asking a well-defined question(s), investigating, and then answering the question – see below.

To restate that – the structure and layout of a dissertation reflect the flow of the overall research process . This is essential to understand, as each chapter will make a lot more sense if you “get” this concept. If you’re not familiar with the research process, read this post before going further.

Right. Now that we’ve covered the big picture, let’s dive a little deeper into the details of each section and chapter. Oh and by the way, you can also grab our free dissertation/thesis template here to help speed things up.

The title page of your dissertation is the very first impression the marker will get of your work, so it pays to invest some time thinking about your title. But what makes for a good title? A strong title needs to be 3 things:

• Succinct (not overly lengthy or verbose)
• Specific (not vague or ambiguous)
• Representative of the research you’re undertaking (clearly linked to your research questions)

Typically, a good title includes mention of the following:

• The broader area of the research (i.e. the overarching topic)
• The specific focus of your research (i.e. your specific context)
• Indication of research design (e.g. quantitative , qualitative , or  mixed methods ).

For example:

A quantitative investigation [research design] into the antecedents of organisational trust [broader area] in the UK retail forex trading market [specific context/area of focus].

Again, some universities may have specific requirements regarding the format and structure of the title, so it’s worth double-checking expectations with your institution (if there’s no mention in the brief or study material).

Acknowledgements

This page provides you with an opportunity to say thank you to those who helped you along your research journey. Generally, it’s optional (and won’t count towards your marks), but it is academic best practice to include this.

So, who do you say thanks to? Well, there’s no prescribed requirements, but it’s common to mention the following people:

• Your dissertation supervisor or committee.
• Any professors, lecturers or academics that helped you understand the topic or methodologies.
• Any tutors, mentors or advisors.
• Your family and friends, especially spouse (for adult learners studying part-time).

There’s no need for lengthy rambling. Just state who you’re thankful to and for what (e.g. thank you to my supervisor, John Doe, for his endless patience and attentiveness) – be sincere. In terms of length, you should keep this to a page or less.

Abstract or executive summary

The dissertation abstract (or executive summary for some degrees) serves to provide the first-time reader (and marker or moderator) with a big-picture view of your research project. It should give them an understanding of the key insights and findings from the research, without them needing to read the rest of the report – in other words, it should be able to stand alone .

For it to stand alone, your abstract should cover the following key points (at a minimum):

• Your research questions and aims – what key question(s) did your research aim to answer?
• Your methodology – how did you go about investigating the topic and finding answers to your research question(s)?
• Your findings – following your own research, what did do you discover?
• Your conclusions – based on your findings, what conclusions did you draw? What answers did you find to your research question(s)?

So, in much the same way the dissertation structure mimics the research process, your abstract or executive summary should reflect the research process, from the initial stage of asking the original question to the final stage of answering that question.

In practical terms, it’s a good idea to write this section up last , once all your core chapters are complete. Otherwise, you’ll end up writing and rewriting this section multiple times (just wasting time). For a step by step guide on how to write a strong executive summary, check out this post .

Need a helping hand?

Table of contents

This section is straightforward. You’ll typically present your table of contents (TOC) first, followed by the two lists – figures and tables. I recommend that you use Microsoft Word’s automatic table of contents generator to generate your TOC. If you’re not familiar with this functionality, the video below explains it simply:

If you find that your table of contents is overly lengthy, consider removing one level of depth. Oftentimes, this can be done without detracting from the usefulness of the TOC.

Right, now that the “admin” sections are out of the way, its time to move on to your core chapters. These chapters are the heart of your dissertation and are where you’ll earn the marks. The first chapter is the introduction chapter – as you would expect, this is the time to introduce your research…

It’s important to understand that even though you’ve provided an overview of your research in your abstract, your introduction needs to be written as if the reader has not read that (remember, the abstract is essentially a standalone document). So, your introduction chapter needs to start from the very beginning, and should address the following questions:

• What will you be investigating (in plain-language, big picture-level)?
• Why is that worth investigating? How is it important to academia or business? How is it sufficiently original?
• What are your research aims and research question(s)? Note that the research questions can sometimes be presented at the end of the literature review (next chapter).
• What is the scope of your study? In other words, what will and won’t you cover ?
• How will you approach your research? In other words, what methodology will you adopt?
• How will you structure your dissertation? What are the core chapters and what will you do in each of them?

These are just the bare basic requirements for your intro chapter. Some universities will want additional bells and whistles in the intro chapter, so be sure to carefully read your brief or consult your research supervisor.

If done right, your introduction chapter will set a clear direction for the rest of your dissertation. Specifically, it will make it clear to the reader (and marker) exactly what you’ll be investigating, why that’s important, and how you’ll be going about the investigation. Conversely, if your introduction chapter leaves a first-time reader wondering what exactly you’ll be researching, you’ve still got some work to do.

Now that you’ve set a clear direction with your introduction chapter, the next step is the literature review . In this section, you will analyse the existing research (typically academic journal articles and high-quality industry publications), with a view to understanding the following questions:

• What does the literature currently say about the topic you’re investigating?
• Is the literature lacking or well established? Is it divided or in disagreement?
• How does your research fit into the bigger picture?
• How does your research contribute something original?
• How does the methodology of previous studies help you develop your own?

Depending on the nature of your study, you may also present a conceptual framework towards the end of your literature review, which you will then test in your actual research.

Again, some universities will want you to focus on some of these areas more than others, some will have additional or fewer requirements, and so on. Therefore, as always, its important to review your brief and/or discuss with your supervisor, so that you know exactly what’s expected of your literature review chapter.

Now that you’ve investigated the current state of knowledge in your literature review chapter and are familiar with the existing key theories, models and frameworks, its time to design your own research. Enter the methodology chapter – the most “science-ey” of the chapters…

In this chapter, you need to address two critical questions:

• Exactly HOW will you carry out your research (i.e. what is your intended research design)?
• Exactly WHY have you chosen to do things this way (i.e. how do you justify your design)?

Remember, the dissertation part of your degree is first and foremost about developing and demonstrating research skills . Therefore, the markers want to see that you know which methods to use, can clearly articulate why you’ve chosen then, and know how to deploy them effectively.

Importantly, this chapter requires detail – don’t hold back on the specifics. State exactly what you’ll be doing, with who, when, for how long, etc. Moreover, for every design choice you make, make sure you justify it.

In practice, you will likely end up coming back to this chapter once you’ve undertaken all your data collection and analysis, and revise it based on changes you made during the analysis phase. This is perfectly fine. Its natural for you to add an additional analysis technique, scrap an old one, etc based on where your data lead you. Of course, I’m talking about small changes here – not a fundamental switch from qualitative to quantitative, which will likely send your supervisor in a spin!

You’ve now collected your data and undertaken your analysis, whether qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods. In this chapter, you’ll present the raw results of your analysis . For example, in the case of a quant study, you’ll present the demographic data, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics , etc.

Typically, Chapter 4 is simply a presentation and description of the data, not a discussion of the meaning of the data. In other words, it’s descriptive, rather than analytical – the meaning is discussed in Chapter 5. However, some universities will want you to combine chapters 4 and 5, so that you both present and interpret the meaning of the data at the same time. Check with your institution what their preference is.

Now that you’ve presented the data analysis results, its time to interpret and analyse them. In other words, its time to discuss what they mean, especially in relation to your research question(s).

What you discuss here will depend largely on your chosen methodology. For example, if you’ve gone the quantitative route, you might discuss the relationships between variables . If you’ve gone the qualitative route, you might discuss key themes and the meanings thereof. It all depends on what your research design choices were.

Most importantly, you need to discuss your results in relation to your research questions and aims, as well as the existing literature. What do the results tell you about your research questions? Are they aligned with the existing research or at odds? If so, why might this be? Dig deep into your findings and explain what the findings suggest, in plain English.

The final chapter – you’ve made it! Now that you’ve discussed your interpretation of the results, its time to bring it back to the beginning with the conclusion chapter . In other words, its time to (attempt to) answer your original research question s (from way back in chapter 1). Clearly state what your conclusions are in terms of your research questions. This might feel a bit repetitive, as you would have touched on this in the previous chapter, but its important to bring the discussion full circle and explicitly state your answer(s) to the research question(s).

Next, you’ll typically discuss the implications of your findings . In other words, you’ve answered your research questions – but what does this mean for the real world (or even for academia)? What should now be done differently, given the new insight you’ve generated?

Lastly, you should discuss the limitations of your research, as well as what this means for future research in the area. No study is perfect, especially not a Masters-level. Discuss the shortcomings of your research. Perhaps your methodology was limited, perhaps your sample size was small or not representative, etc, etc. Don’t be afraid to critique your work – the markers want to see that you can identify the limitations of your work. This is a strength, not a weakness. Be brutal!

This marks the end of your core chapters – woohoo! From here on out, it’s pretty smooth sailing.

The reference list is straightforward. It should contain a list of all resources cited in your dissertation, in the required format, e.g. APA , Harvard, etc.

It’s essential that you use reference management software for your dissertation. Do NOT try handle your referencing manually – its far too error prone. On a reference list of multiple pages, you’re going to make mistake. To this end, I suggest considering either Mendeley or Zotero. Both are free and provide a very straightforward interface to ensure that your referencing is 100% on point. I’ve included a simple how-to video for the Mendeley software (my personal favourite) below:

Some universities may ask you to include a bibliography, as opposed to a reference list. These two things are not the same . A bibliography is similar to a reference list, except that it also includes resources which informed your thinking but were not directly cited in your dissertation. So, double-check your brief and make sure you use the right one.

The very last piece of the puzzle is the appendix or set of appendices. This is where you’ll include any supporting data and evidence. Importantly, supporting is the keyword here.

Your appendices should provide additional “nice to know”, depth-adding information, which is not critical to the core analysis. Appendices should not be used as a way to cut down word count (see this post which covers how to reduce word count ). In other words, don’t place content that is critical to the core analysis here, just to save word count. You will not earn marks on any content in the appendices, so don’t try to play the system!

Time to recap…

And there you have it – the traditional dissertation structure and layout, from A-Z. To recap, the core structure for a dissertation or thesis is (typically) as follows:

• Acknowledgments page

Most importantly, the core chapters should reflect the research process (asking, investigating and answering your research question). Moreover, the research question(s) should form the golden thread throughout your dissertation structure. Everything should revolve around the research questions, and as you’ve seen, they should form both the start point (i.e. introduction chapter) and the endpoint (i.e. conclusion chapter).

I hope this post has provided you with clarity about the traditional dissertation/thesis structure and layout. If you have any questions or comments, please leave a comment below, or feel free to get in touch with us. Also, be sure to check out the rest of the  Grad Coach Blog .

Psst... there’s more!

This post was based on one of our popular Research Bootcamps . If you're working on a research project, you'll definitely want to check this out ...

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36 Comments

many thanks i found it very useful

Glad to hear that, Arun. Good luck writing your dissertation.

Such clear practical logical advice. I very much needed to read this to keep me focused in stead of fretting.. Perfect now ready to start my research!

what about scientific fields like computer or engineering thesis what is the difference in the structure? thank you very much

Thanks so much this helped me a lot!

Very helpful and accessible. What I like most is how practical the advice is along with helpful tools/ links.

Thanks Ade!

Thank you so much sir.. It was really helpful..

You’re welcome!

Hi! How many words maximum should contain the abstract?

Thank you so much 😊 Find this at the right moment

You’re most welcome. Good luck with your dissertation.

best ever benefit i got on right time thank you

Many times Clarity and vision of destination of dissertation is what makes the difference between good ,average and great researchers the same way a great automobile driver is fast with clarity of address and Clear weather conditions .

I guess Great researcher = great ideas + knowledge + great and fast data collection and modeling + great writing + high clarity on all these

You have given immense clarity from start to end.

Morning. Where will I write the definitions of what I’m referring to in my report?

Thank you so much Derek, I was almost lost! Thanks a tonnnn! Have a great day!

Thanks ! so concise and valuable

This was very helpful. Clear and concise. I know exactly what to do now.

Thank you for allowing me to go through briefly. I hope to find time to continue.

Really useful to me. Thanks a thousand times

Very interesting! It will definitely set me and many more for success. highly recommended.

Thank you soo much sir, for the opportunity to express my skills

Usefull, thanks a lot. Really clear

Very nice and easy to understand. Thank you .

That was incredibly useful. Thanks Grad Coach Crew!

My stress level just dropped at least 15 points after watching this. Just starting my thesis for my grad program and I feel a lot more capable now! Thanks for such a clear and helpful video, Emma and the GradCoach team!

Do we need to mention the number of words the dissertation contains in the main document?

It depends on your university’s requirements, so it would be best to check with them 🙂

Such a helpful post to help me get started with structuring my masters dissertation, thank you!

Great video; I appreciate that helpful information

It is so necessary or avital course

This blog is very informative for my research. Thank you

Doctoral students are required to fill out the National Research Council’s Survey of Earned Doctorates

wow this is an amazing gain in my life

This is so good

How can i arrange my specific objectives in my dissertation?

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Format and manage your dissertation

The following resources were created to help you format and manage long documents, such as a dissertation or thesis. If you have any questions or need further help, please email [email protected]

The most common topics related to long documents are:

• Using page breaks and section breaks
• Using different page number formats in different sections
• Applying and modifying styles
• Adding automatic numbering to chapter headings
• Inserting an automatic table of contents
• Using the Navigation Pane
• Adding captions to tables and illustrations and inserting an automatic table of figures/tables
• Using bookmarks and cross-references to navigate in a long document
• Inserting and formatting footnotes and endnotes.

For concise instructions to all these tasks, download the Format and manage your dissertation quick guide

For more detailed instructions and examples, download the Format and manage your dissertation workbook . You can also download the exercise file for this workbook to practice.

You can find detailed video guides and short written guides for the topics below.

Click a title to see the guides available in the topic.

Styles and headings

Apply and modify styles

Find out: what styles are, advantages of using styles, how to open the Navigation Pane, how to apply a style, how to modify a style.

Video 1: Apply a style to a heading

Written guides :  Apply a style ,  Modifying a style

Apply numbering to headings

Find out how to: apply automatic numbering to headings, change the level of a heading, use the Navigation Pane to reorder text.

Video 2: Apply numbering to headings

Table of Contents

Insert and update a table of contents

Find out how to: insert a table of contents, delete a table of contents, update a table of contents.

Video 3: Insert and update a Table of Contents

Written guides : Creating a table of contents

Format a table of contents

Find out how to: format the table of contents, add or remove heading levels, format heading levels in the table of contents.

Video 4: Format a Table of Contents

Captions and table of figures

Find out how to: add captions to illustrations, insert a table of figures.

Video 5: Add captions and a Table of Figures

Written guides : Adding captions to images and tables , Creating a table of figures

Breaks and page numbering

Page numbering and section breaks

Find out how to: insert section breaks, format page numbers in different sections.

Video 6: Page numbering and section breaks

Written guides : Using section breaks ,  Page numbering , Formatting different sections

Further help

You can find more computer skills guides on the Computer Skills self-help guides page. 

There is further guidance and tips on writing your dissertation on the Academic Writing self-help guide page.

You can browse all Study Hub resources on the A-Z page

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UCB 7035 MBA Leadership and Sustainability Dissertation Final

ABSTRACT Background: Since Rio, formally United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro, from 3rd to 14th June 1992 and informally referred to as The Earth Summit, a practical way forward has eluded leadership specifically in regards to an accountability process. High Instructions have been evaded and postponed by actors on the international economic front not due to the lack of vision, clarity or agency infrastructure, indeed, due to a missing link in the chain at follow through. This missing link in the follow through chain, an initiative created by this writer, is the topic of this dissertation. Purpose: This dissertation investigates the viability of an accountability initiative, Accountability Asset Recovery: the process, created by this writer and in the capacity as project developer, whereby specific assets, that qualify, are recovered from wherever they have been accumulated into the respective Public Treasury. This dissertation sets out to answer the question: How can Public Private Partnership facilitate accountability driven asset recovery? And tests the Hypothesis: Existing Legislation and Legal Statute can streamline Accountability Asset Recovery into a function of the Executive Branch, also referred to as Head of State, Office of the President, High Instructions and Summit Level of leadership. Methodology: An action research framework, functioning as a relay, to move the topic forward while simultaneously unveiling its hidden component parts and receiving signals as to which documents are relevant for the research, utilizing outgoing email, a url at Google and LinkedIn as an outgoing echo chamber with minimal feedback and dialogue based public diplomacy providing the official feedback loop. Findings: As of the cutoff date, 03 January 2017, the action research process has yielded substantial data and forward movement of the topic, the missing link in the chain at summit leadership follow through, integrating knowledge with movement. Further, proves that dialogue based public diplomacy competence is the key to collaboration with summit leadership when instigating geo-political economic macro initiatives correspondent to the practice of Public Private Partnership within the vast confines of a participatory democracy. Discussions: Positioned in the media and via internet and electronic sources, signals, visuals and language cues provided by certain leaders are utilized as building blocks in conjunction with summit level leadership directives toward inclusive participation, (by citizenry not typically referred to as elites). This encouraging exploration opens the door to introduction of the initiative within the framework of an Institution for Collaboration in Leadership and Sustainability Strategy and Competitiveness and as a proposal for doctoral post graduate action research.

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Kenneth W. Abbott

ABSTRACT Available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1966730. Negotiators preparing for the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio 20) are missing an important opportunity. Reforming the institutional framework for sustainable development is a central part of the Rio 20 agenda. In the run-up to Rio 20, negotiators have extensively discussed institutional reforms, but have focused almost exclusively on inter-governmental organizations such as UNEP and the Commission for Sustainable Development. At the same time, however, private sustainability governance (PSG) is flourishing. Since 1992, numerous organizations created by business, civil society groups, multi-stakeholder coalitions and other private actors, as well as diverse public-private partnerships, have adopted important regulatory standards and implemented significant operational programs, including financing and project support. Rio 20 negotiators remain almost wholly disengaged from these innovations.This public-private engagement gap is both puzzling and troubling. PSG has arisen primarily in response to the inadequacies of inter-state governance; it has provided momentum on many environment and development issues while inter-state negotiations have stalled. Embracing PSG would bring this valuable engine of activity into the international system. Indeed, public engagement would be even more beneficial than this 'comparative statics' analysis suggests: supportive engagement would enhance the ability of PSG – and thus of the system as a whole – to address the daunting challenges of sustainability.This paper first contrasts the inter-state focus of Rio 20 preparations (Section 1) with the growth of PSG (Section 2). Section 3 examines the public-private engagement gap in practice and in scholarship. Section 4 considers why states and international organizations (IGOs) have been loath to engage more actively with PSG. Section 5 identifies six broad benefits of public engagement: helping IGOs to carry out their sustainability missions; improving the distribution of PSG schemes; maintaining the incentives that support PSG; managing fragmentation; promoting experimentation; and enhancing participation and democracy. Finally, section 6 outlines workable mechanisms to strengthen public engagement, under the headings of orchestration and regulatory cooperation. These techniques can move the international system towards truly global sustainability governance.

UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs - Division for Sustainable Development

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Liliana Andonova , Dario Piselli

Partnerships for Sustainability in Contemporary Global Governance investigates the goals, ideals, and realities of sustainability partnerships and offers a theoretical framework to help disentangle the multiple and interrelated pathways that shape their effectiveness. Partnerships are ubiquitous in research and policy discussions about sustainability and are important governance instruments for the provision of public goods. While partnerships promise a great deal, there is little clarity as to what they deliver. If partnerships are to break free from this paradox, more nuance and rigor are required for understanding and assessing their actual effects. This volume applies its original framework to diverse empirical cases in a way that could be extended to broader data sets and case studies of partnerships. The dual contribution of this volume, theoretical and empirical, holds promise for a more thorough and innovative understanding of the pathways to partnership effectiveness and the conditions that can shape their performance. The broad range of crosscutting analyses suggest important practical implications for the design of new partnerships and the updating of existing initiatives. This interdisciplinary book will be of great interest to researchers, students, and practitioners within international relations, political science, sociology, environmental studies and global studies, as well as the growing number of scholars in public policy, global health and organizational and business studies who are keen to gain a deeper understanding of the pathways and mechanisms that influence the outcomes and effectiveness of cross-sector collaboration and transnational governance more broadly.

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raymond saner

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The Dissertation Title Page

• By DiscoverPhDs
• August 12, 2020

The title page of your dissertation or thesis conveys all the essential details about your project, including:

• The title of your project
• Your full name (including student number if required)
• Clarification of whether this is a dissertation or thesis document
• The name of your academic department
• The name of your university
• The degree name that the dissertation or thesis has been written for (e.g. Doctor of Philosophy)
• The date (month and year) that you will submit the document
• The name of your supervisor(s)

This page can also be referred to as the dissertation cover page when your degree program is at the undergraduate or Masters level.

Format of the Title Page

Your university will provide you with the exact formatting requirements of your dissertation title page. This will include how to present the above information but also the font size to use, line spacing and the size of margins. For example, a graduate school may require the title to be in all caps, all text to be double-spaced and margins on the binding side to be 4cm. Don’t include the page number and have all text centred. You may also need to include the university logo. The APA style is commonly referred to for guidance on how to format research documents. This guide from University College London on their requirements is also an interesting read.

Example of a Dissertation Title Page

The example below is what a dissertation title page would usually look like for a Masters degree project in the UK. You can use this as a template when writing your own title page. The format presented here is also applicable for a doctoral dissertation or thesis title page.

The title page may be followed by an approval page, signed by the project chair and any other committee members. After this comes your abstract, presented on a separate page and then your table of contents. Some institutions may also require a copyright page to be included. Whilst the title page doesn’t have a page number, pages after this may use Roman numerals with the traditional page number format starting after your table of contents.

The term partial fulfillment means that this research document was one of several requirements for you to obtain your degree. For a Master’s degree, the other requirements will typically include exams and coursework.

Follow the advice in this guide to ensure your title page is in the correct format before final submission of your research project. This will be a normal part of undergraduate and graduate study.

This article will answer common questions about the PhD synopsis, give guidance on how to write one, and provide my thoughts on samples.

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Dr Cesário has a PhD in Digital Media from the University of Porto. She’s now pursuing an academic career as a Postdoc in HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) as part of an EU project. She’s also aiming to teach in subjects including User-Centered Design and Interactive Media Design.

Dr Dillon gained her PhD in Molecular Cancer Studies at the University of Manchester in 2015. She now works at a biotech company called HairClone, optimising treatments for androgenic alopecia.

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Sample Title Pages

A few examples.

• Division of the Biological Sciences and the Pritzker School of Medicine
• Division of the Humanities
• Division of the Physical Sciences
• Division of the Social Sciences
• The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice
• The Divinity School
• The Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies
• The Law School
• The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
• The University of Chicago Booth School of Business

This is a work in progress. Additional examples are available on request.

The font on your title page should be the same as the font used in the rest of your dissertation. Settings should be the same also: double line spacing, 0 pt spacing before and after paragraphs, one inch margins on all sides, and 12-point font size. Text on the title page should use upper case and should not be bold. The title page counts as page "i" but the number should not be entered on the page.

Use your diploma name on the title page.

The last line on the title page should be the month and year of the end of the quarter you receive your degree and graduate, with no date and no comma. If you will receive your degree this spring, your degree date is JUNE 2024. Your options for the next academic year are:

• AUGUST 2024
• DECEMBER 2024