- •Master's thesis methodical guide Regulations on procedures for preparation, presentation and defense of master’s thesis
- •Contents
- •1 General Issues
- •2 Master’s Thesis Writing and Defense
- •2.1 Selection of Master’s Thesis Topic
- •2.2 Approval of Thesis Topic and Supervisor
- •2.3 Responsibilities of Master Student and Thesis Supervisor
- •2.4 Individual Plan of Master Student Work
- •2.5 Certification and Interim Evaluation of Master’s Thesis
- •2.6 Final evaluation of Master’s Thesis by Supervisor
- •2.8 Reviewing of Master’s Thesis
- •2.9 Submission of Master’s Thesis by Head of Department
- •2.10 Preparation to Master’s Thesis Defense
- •2.11 Defense of Master’s Thesis
- •3 Reference Guide for Content and Formatting Thesis
- •3.1 General Formatting Rules
- •3.2 Abstract
- •3.3 Contents
- •3.4 Symbols and abbreviations
- •3.5 Introduction
- •3.6 Body text
- •3.7 Visual Content in Text
- •Figure 2.1 — State expenses on education in eu, million euro
- •3.8 Summary
- •3.9 Bibliography
- •3.10 Appendices
- •Appendix a Nomination of Thesis Title and Supervisor form
- •Theoretical foundations of strategic trade policy
- •The commercial disputes in the world information market
- •Dispute Settlement Process
- •Appendix g Formatting Requirements to Thesis
- •Appendix j Abstract sample
- •Abstract
- •Appendix к Table of Contents sample
- •Table of contents
- •Appendix l Symbols and Abbreviations sample symbols and abbreviations
- •Appendix м Specimen of Tables and Figures Formatting
- •Figure м — Share of tourism in total governmental expenditures in developing countries during 2000-2009
- •Appendix n References sample
- •Appendix p Bibliography sample bibliography
- •Appendix q Certificate of Adoption of Master’s Thesis Findings form
2.8 Reviewing of Master’s Thesis
The master’s thesis accepted for defense is sent by the relevant Department to the official reviewer no later than 10 days before the defense.
Official reviewers may be appointed among specialists working at scientific and industrial establishments; or among specialists with scientific titles and working at this university or other universities.
The official reviewer, after analyzing the thesis, prepares a review statement and presents it to the student (appendix E). The review should reflect the relevance of the topic, the newness of its results, and respond to the demanded requirements.
The thesis can be presented to the defense along with copies of reviews of the official reviewer and consent of the student no later than 5 days before the defense. The official reviewer is responsible for the quality and impartiality of his (her) review. Moreover, he (she) remains responsible for delivery of the review to the student within the defined period of time.
The master student get acquainted with the review statement and should prepare replies to observations if needed.
2.9 Submission of Master’s Thesis by Head of Department
The thesis is discussed at the meeting and presented to the Head of the Department along with the statement of the thesis supervisor and official review (no later than 15 days before defense). The Dean of faculty makes a decision on the admission of the thesis to defense and makes relevant notes in the title page of the thesis.
At this stage the master’s thesis must meet the following requirements:
be bound in hardback and signed on the back in upper-case letters – the year of defense, student’s full name;
have 3 student’s signatures on: the cover (with indication of date), the abstract, the last page of the thesis (at the end of summary);
be signed on the cover by the supervisor (with indication of date), inspector (with indication of date), on the back of last page of master’s thesis by examiner after pre-defense: «Pre-defense. Date. Signature. Full name of examiner»);
be accompanied by the statement of the thesis supervisor, which has student’s note «Get acquainted with statement. Signature. Date. Student’s full name» (not bounded to thesis, just enclosed in a separate file);
be accompanied by the official review, which has student’s note «Get acquainted with review. Signature. Date. Student’s full name» (not bounded to thesis, just enclosed in separate file);
be accompanied by the approbation certificates, if applicable (bounded at the end of thesis);
be registered by the Department manager.
Master students who don’t respect the deadline are not admitted to defense.
2.10 Preparation to Master’s Thesis Defense
While preparing for the thesis defense the master student makes: some digital (for demonstration during oral defense) and printed (4 copies for examiners) slides of its presentation in PowerPoint; statement for speech (for private use) compounding it with supervisor; think out responses to observations and remarks made in the statement of supervisor and official review.
The digital presentation is to be made with PowerPoint. Slides must include: a cover slide; second slide with main object, subject, aim of work; other slides reflecting the most substantial findings and effects of presenting thesis such as revealed problems and the student’s concrete recommendations; graphic material (tables and figures from thesis necessary to substantiate student’s point of view). The master’s thesis must contain all materials presented during defense. Pagination of table and figures may be the same as in the thesis. Font size must be above 24 pt. An approximate length is 9 to 10 slides.
The printed presentation includes a title (appendix F), an abstract, a table of contents, either presentation slides of PowerPoint (except first two) or identical material, and a bibliography. It is to be printed and bound 4 times for each examiner, and given to them before the oral defense. An approximate length is 8 to 10 pages. Pagination is obligatory.
The text of the speech is usually composed based on summary of the thesis including: a short presentation of the thesis (topic, aim of work, object, subject), main results and effects of research, revealed problems, substantial recommendations on problems solution worked out by candidate, targeting (who will implement those recommendations), perspective or received effects of findings adoption.
Try to avoid description of theoretical statements and methodological approaches from books or other sources – they are not the points for defense. Draw attention to personal findings. Recommended ratio between time spent on presentation of three parts (chapters, sections) of thesis is 1:2:3.
The theses of oral defense must be connected with and related to the master thesis presentation (both digital and printed one). References to tables and figures, presentation pages may make the speech shorter; focus the attention on the most important aspects such as findings and recommendations.