- •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
3.2 Abstract
The abstract should be the last part to be written. It should show the reader both the context and content of the work and must include the purpose of the work, embracing any hypothesis to be tested or major question asked; the approach used; the main findings; and the conclusions.
The abstract must not include internal headings or author citations.
Mathematical formulas, diagrams, and other illustrative materials must be avoided at all costs.
An abstract has a typical form and must include the following elements:
total thesis volume (number of pages including bibliography and appendices), number of figures (diagrams, schemes, graphs), tables, sources, appendices;
key words (5-10 words, not phrases in upper-case characters);
object, subject, purpose, methodology of master research;
enumeration of elements of scientific innovation made during research;
characteristics of obtained results from the point of view of scientific newness (originality of topic, idea, problem formulation etc.);
area of the possible practical applications (spheres of economics where obtained results are applicable what kind of results they are, the quantity and quality of results and prospective receiver of it);
approbation (information about conferences where student reported his (her) research results; recommendations or developments adopted in practice; show the perspective or achieved economic effects);
implementation’s results are indicated if there is a certificate of adoption (noticing the economic effect resulted from student’s research);
economic and social significance of implemented developments must be demonstrated separately;
at the end, the master student should confirm the correct use of all cited sources by signature.
See the sample of abstract in appendix J.
3.3 Contents
The Table of Contents contains chapter titles, headings within chapters, and appendices. The wording of each entry in the Table of Contents must exactly and completely match that in the text, including heading numbers. Page numbers must be specified for all entries.
Formalization is exactly as shown on sample pages (appendix K).
The Table of Contents must reflect the outline and organization of the thesis. Headings included in the Table of Contents must be worded exactly as stated in the document in lower-case characters. Page numbers in the Table of Contents must correspond to the page sequencing in body text.
The last word of each heading connected with corresponding page number with the leading. Use leader dots characters (in MS Word 2007: Page layout > Paragraph > Indent and spacing > Tabs > Leader 2, dots) to create leader dots for page numbers. These dots are already formatted correctly in the online templates.
The heading TABLE OF CONTENTS is centered by upper-case characters in bold 14-point font. The text starts after 2 spaces.
After all corrections have been made to the final document, recheck the wording and page numbers for all Table of Contents entries to make sure they exactly match those in the text; 90% of corrections needed in final documents are associated with the Table of Contents.