project report thesis

Master Thesis/Project Report Format

Guidelines for preparation of master thesis/project report, overview of the steps.

• Select master project/thesis advisor.
• Select a project topic.
• Select a committee.
• Obtain approvals for committee, advisor.
• Register for the master project/thesis course with thesis advisor. (A section number will be provided to you by your project/thesis advisor.)
• Start Research on your master project.
• (Optional)  Present a thesis proposal to the committee during mid-way of the thesis.
• Write project report/thesis.
• Present your master project and/or defend thesis.
• Submit your master project report, or publish thesis.

Project/Thesis Option

Discuss with your master project advisor at the beginning to decide whether your master project will be more suited for the project or thesis option.

Questions to ask when evaluating your master project topic:

• Is there current interest in this topic in the field?
• Is there is a gap in knowledge that work on this topic could help to fill?
• Is it possible to focus on a manageable segment of this topic?
• Identify a preliminary method of data collection that is acceptable to your advisor.
• Is there a body of literature is available that is relevant to your topic?
• Do you need financial assistance to carry out your research?
• Is the data necessary to complete your work is easily accessible?
• Define the project purpose, scope, objectives, and procedures.
• What are the potential limitations of the study?
• Are there any skills called on by the study that you have yet to acquire?

Master level project involves:

• Analyzing the problem or topic.
• Conducting extensive research.
• Summarizing findings from the research investigation.
• Recommending additional research on the topic.
• Drawing conclusions and making recommendations.
• Documenting the results of the research.
• Defending conclusions and recommendations.

Pre-Thesis Planning

When you’re contemplating a thesis topic, you should discuss your interests with as many people as possible to gain a broad perspective. You will find your faculty advisor knowledgeable and willing to offer excellent suggestions and advice regarding an appropriate thesis topic.

Give considerable thought to the identification and planning of a thesis topic. Review literature related to your interests; read a variety of research papers, abstracts, and proposals for content, methods and structure. Looking at completed master’s theses will be a useful activity toward expanding inquiry skills and thought processes.

After the thesis advisor is selected, you may register on-line for a thesis section. You will need to see your thesis instructor to obtain the thesis section number.

Suggested Master Project/Thesis Completion Timeline

Below please find a suggested timeline. Individual timelines may vary from one student to another.

Required Deadlines

• The approval page with all signatures must be submitted to the graduate advisor prior to the last day of the semester.
• The thesis must be submitted electronically prior to the last day of classes. The last day of class can be identified in the on-line Academic calendar.

Scholarship Possibilities

Funding is usually available to students with expertise to the specific area. You will want to research scholarship options during the pre-project planning as many scholarship applications are due months before the award is granted.

• Research assistantship with a faculty advisor related to the topic of research
• Teaching assistantship to teach an undergraduate laboratory
• Check with  Career Center  for on-campus positions
• Attend all career fairs that would be of interest to consider summer internships
• SPIE (The International Society for Optics and Photonics)
• ISA (International Society of Automation)

More opportunities exist; you will need to search for scholarships based on your topic of research.

Citing Sources

The Technology Division at the Cullen College of Engineering* does not mandate citation styles, but you must cite your sources and cite them consistently. Here are some helpful links to assist you with citation:

• Landmark's Son of a Citation Machine
• Wikipedia Citation Templates

*The   Human Development Consumer Science department   prefers you to use the APA style. Please consult with your thesis advisor when choosing a citation style .

Thesis Quality

The Technology Division at the Cullen College of Engineering has significant expectations with regard to thesis quality. Poor or average level theses will not receive college approvals. It is the joint responsibility of the student and the committee to ensure that the thesis is of acceptable quality. Ultimately, the task is one borne by the student as the thesis is a reflection of the quality of their work. The thesis committee can direct the student to seek assistance if quality issues are noticed as the chapters are developed. The student should take quality feedback seriously and not wait until the end to attempt to fix this type of problem as it can result in significant delays and postponement of graduation. When you write and defend your thesis, keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Shows a cursory examination of the topic.
• Makes little use of existing data sources.
• Fails to examine primary sources.
• Shows little comprehension of crucial texts or research in the subject matter.
• Lacks adequate organization.
• Treats the topic in a competent, straightforward way.
• Shows a good grasp of the material.
• Makes use of existing data sources in a competent fashion or shows a good acquaintance with primary sources and current research.
• Shows a solid comprehension of research in the subject matter
• Sustains a line of argumentation throughout the thesis
• Shows all of the above qualities of a quality thesis as well as some measure of originality in research. Originality is defined as developing new data; treating existing data in an original or particularly compelling way; developing new or particularly compelling theoretical arguments; interpreting existing research in an original or particularly compelling way; or bringing primary or secondary materials and research together to sustain a new, comprehensive or compelling interpretation. In general, a thigh quality thesis either shows some measure of originality in its argument or empirical base; or is in some other way striking or new.

Organization of Thesis

The original and copies of the thesis MUST include the following items  IN THE ORDER LISTED :

• Blank sheet of bond paper at the beginning of each copy submitted.
• Copyright page (optional).
• Title Page (must show month and year of graduation - see example).
• Signature page (see example). All three required copies must have ORIGINAL SIGNATURES of the committee and the student. Signatures must be in black ink. This page should be omitted from the electronic thesis.
• Acknowledgment (optional).
• Abstract Title Page (optional - must show month and year of graduation - see example).
• Abstract (optional - University Microfilms, Inc. requires abstracts be no longer than 150 words.).
• Table of Contents.
• References.

Style Requirements

Although there is no prescribed style for the completed thesis, there are several style manuals available which may prove helpful. The student should contact the thesis advisor to discuss the style manual to be used.  Above all, it is important to be consistent throughout the entire thesis.  Decide how you wish to structure your manuscript and be consistent throughout it.

Steps in the Submission of Electronic Dissertation/Thesis

• Write your thesis per Technology Division at the Cullen College of Engineering thesis guidelines.
• Successfully defend your thesis. Make corrections per the thesis committee.
• Committee signs the approval page.
• Submit a copy of the final thesis version to the Associate Dean for Research for Graduate Studies or your graduate advisor for formatting review a minimum of two weeks prior to the end of the semester.
• Wait for formatting approval before beginning electronic submission process.

Electronic Submission

• Create a single pdf file of the thesis. The signature page is NOT included in the online submission.
• Submit the signed approval page to your graduate advisor. Approval page is stored in the student’s file. ET students must also submit rubric sheets, one for each committee member.
• Please note you will be asked if you would like to embargo your work, request a journal hold or a patent hold. Be sure to check with your committee chair about these features and whether your committee chair will approve them.
• Uploading the thesis requires an active Cougarnet account and log in. If you have not used your Cougarnet account in more than 90 days, please contact the ETD administrator for assistance.
• You will receive an e-mail confirming your upload to TDL. Please forward this email to your graduate advisor.
• Wait for confirmation from your faculty chair and graduate advisor that your document has been accepted.
• Email your committee chair requesting approval of your submission. Also request approval of the embargo, if applicable.

Specifications

The font should be Times New Roman, 12 pt. font

The margins should be one inch (1") each

Electronic Copy Submission

All CCE Technology Division theses submitted in an electronic format may be hosted on the College webpage. You must submit an electronic copy of the thesis in pdf format that accurately represents the printed version of the final document.

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Project Report Writing and Presentations

• First Online: 20 September 2022

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Ajimotokan, H.A. (2023). Project Report Writing and Presentations. In: Research Techniques. SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13109-7_5

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Theses and Capstone Projects: Writing your thesis or capstone project report

When a final project includes a written document of some sort, students are expected to follow the appropriate MSOE style guide. There are separate style guides for undergraduate and graduate work.

The applicable style guide can be found here:

• MSOE Graduate Student Documentation and Style Guide For Technical Documents
• MSOE Undergraduate Documentation and Style Guide

Thesis and Capstone Reports

MSOE librarians work closely with graduate students and their advisers during the thesis and capstone report phase of their education. The following resources, documents and information will help you complete your final project.

Graduate Thesis and Capstone Report Format Checks

In compliance with Graduate Programs Council (GPC) Policy 4.3.009, the library is responsible for verifying that all MSOE Graduate Thesis and Capstone Report documents comply with MSOE’s format requirements.

Graduate Thesis and Capstone Report Completion

• Graduate Thesis and Capstone Document Process This document walks through the process of completing a masters thesis or capstone document, including the library publication approval check and other considerations.
• Graduate Thesis and Capstone Publication Approval Form Complete this form and submit it to the library along with the thesis or capstone project to be reviewed.
• MSOE Electronic Thesis and Capstone Project Report Permission Form Use this Form to grant MSOE permission to electronically publish a graduate degree thesis or a graduate degree capstone project report or other independent graduate degree final report or essay.
• Library “Non-Circulation Status” Request Form Complete this from to request access restrictions for a thesis or capstone report.

Personal Thesis/Capstone Bindery Request

The library offers a bindery service for graduate students interested in having copies of their thesis or capstone report bound in a durable, sturdy, and attractive hardcover binding. Students are charged a fee per volume for the service. To request binding of a thesis or capstone report, please send an email to [email protected] .

Electronic Publications at MSOE

• Electronic Publications at MSOE A selection of theses and final capstone project reports completed by graduate students at MSOE that have been approved for electronic dissemination.

MSOE electronic publication provides the broadest possible method of disseminating your work. With electronic publication, the full text of your electronic thesis, capstone project report, or final independent report or essay is freely accessible world-wide on the Internet. Electronic publication of your document typically results in more recognition of your research work, wider dissemination of scholarly information, and acceleration of research.

The MSOE Library invites MSOE graduate students who have completed an approved master's thesis, capstone project report, or other independent final report or essay to submit their work to the MSOE Institutional Repository. In order to participate, graduate students must complete and submit a Permission Form in order to enable MSOE to electronically publish their work.

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What’s Included: The Dissertation Template

If you’re preparing to write your dissertation, thesis or research project, our free dissertation template is the perfect starting point. In the template, we cover every section step by step, with clear, straightforward explanations and examples .

The template’s structure is based on the tried and trusted best-practice format for formal academic research projects such as dissertations and theses. The template structure reflects the overall research process, ensuring your dissertation or thesis will have a smooth, logical flow from chapter to chapter.

The dissertation template covers the following core sections:

• The title page/cover page
• Abstract (sometimes also called the executive summary)
• Table of contents
• List of figures /list of tables
• Chapter 1: Introduction  (also available: in-depth introduction template )
• Chapter 2: Literature review  (also available: in-depth LR template )
• Chapter 3: Methodology (also available: in-depth methodology template )
• Chapter 4: Research findings /results (also available: results template )
• Chapter 5: Discussion /analysis of findings (also available: discussion template )
• Chapter 6: Conclusion (also available: in-depth conclusion template )
• Reference list

Each section is explained in plain, straightforward language , followed by an overview of the key elements that you need to cover within each section. We’ve also included practical examples to help you understand exactly what’s required in each section.

The cleanly-formatted Google Doc can be downloaded as a fully editable MS Word Document (DOCX format), so you can use it as-is or convert it to LaTeX.

FAQs: Dissertation Template

What format is the template (doc, pdf, ppt, etc.).

The dissertation template is provided as a Google Doc. You can download it in MS Word format or make a copy to your Google Drive. You’re also welcome to convert it to whatever format works best for you, such as LaTeX or PDF.

What types of dissertations/theses can this template be used for?

The template follows the standard best-practice structure for formal academic research projects such as dissertations or theses, so it is suitable for the vast majority of degrees, particularly those within the sciences.

Some universities may have some additional requirements, but these are typically minor, with the core structure remaining the same. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to double-check your university’s requirements before you finalise your structure.

Will this work for a research paper?

A research paper follows a similar format, but there are a few differences. You can find our research paper template here .

Is this template for an undergrad, Masters or PhD-level thesis?

This template can be used for a dissertation, thesis or research project at any level of study. It may be slight overkill for an undergraduate-level study, but it certainly won’t be missing anything.

How long should my dissertation/thesis be?

This depends entirely on your university’s specific requirements, so it’s best to check with them. As a general ballpark, Masters-level projects are usually 15,000 – 20,000 words in length, while Doctoral-level projects are often in excess of 60,000 words.

What about the research proposal?

If you’re still working on your research proposal, we’ve got a template for that here .

We’ve also got loads of proposal-related guides and videos over on the Grad Coach blog .

How do I write a literature review?

We have a wealth of free resources on the Grad Coach Blog that unpack how to write a literature review from scratch. You can check out the literature review section of the blog here.

How do I create a research methodology?

We have a wealth of free resources on the Grad Coach Blog that unpack research methodology, both qualitative and quantitative. You can check out the methodology section of the blog here.

Can I share this dissertation template with my friends/colleagues?

Yes, you’re welcome to share this template. If you want to post about it on your blog or social media, all we ask is that you reference this page as your source.

Can Grad Coach help me with my dissertation/thesis?

Within the template, you’ll find plain-language explanations of each section, which should give you a fair amount of guidance. However, you’re also welcome to consider our dissertation and thesis coaching services .

Formatting - Master's Projects and Theses

Congratulations on moving one step closer to completion of your graduate degree and graduation! Master's theses and projects are representative of Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) scholarship and are considered University records. The University Library keeps a digital, permanent, copy of theses and projects within the Bronco ScholarWorks institutional repository and retains non-exclusive rights to the work as a matter of record.

Master's Theses OR Project (Full Report)

All Master’s Theses submissions (as opposed to projects) must submit the full document. In some cases, the full report of a Master’s Project is submitted.

In order to support the submission process, the University Library will work with students to review their document. Prior to submitting their final thesis or project to Bronco ScholarWorks students are required to have it reviewed for formatting errors and to ensure that it meets the University’s standards for publication in the institutional repository. Please review this sample guide BEFORE requesting a formatting review appointment.

Abstract Submission

Certain departments have been authorized to submit project abstracts only, due to circumstances including but not limited to copyright, patents, proprietary information, and privacy. If your department and committee have authorized this style of submission, you will only be required to submit an abstract. These submissions do not require a formatting review. They are submitted electronically by filling out the form in step #10 in the Graduate Studies Checklist.

Those submitting only an abstract are verified to do so on their Report of Culminating Experience (RCE). If you are required to submit a full project report to Bronco ScholarWorks, please follow the steps indicated in the section above.

Additional information

The University Library has prepared an additional guide with resources to assist students in formatting theses and full projects, which you can access it here .

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Master of science non-thesis final project report guidelines.

Write the M.S. Final Project Report using the general guidelines below: 

• Abstract Page
• Approval Page
• Acknowledgements (optional)

Table of Contents

• List of Figures
• List of Tables
• List of Appendices

Introduction

Materials and methods, summary and conclusions, general guidelines, number of copies.

Submit digital copies of your Final Report to your major professor and to each committee member. 

Paper, Font and Spacing

The Scientific Report, not including pre-text pages, references, or appendices, should be a minimum 40-60 pages in length double-spaced. 

If printed as a hard copy, the Final Report must be printed on standard size, white, 8-1/2 x 11 inch paper. 

Use regular, unadorned print (e.g., New Times Roman or Arial), 10-12 point size for text. Scientific names of genera and species should be underlined or printed in true italics.

Every page of the internship report must be kept within a minimum margin of 1-1/2 inches (for binding purposes) on the left side of the page; 1 inch at the right side; 1-1/4 inches at the top and bottom of the page.

All pages except the title page are numbered. This includes full-page photographs, charts and graphs, the bibliography, and appendices. For the pretext pages, use small Roman numerals (ii, iii, etc.). Page i is the abstract page, but the page number is not printed on this page.

The first item on the Table of Contents list should be the Abstract. This will be followed by the title page, the approval page and any dedication or acknowledgment section you may wish to include. This is numbered in the small Roman series, with the page numbers displayed. The remainder of the internship report is numbered with Arabic numerals (1, 2, etc.).

The page numbers that are displayed must be centered at the bottom of each page, within the bottom margin.

Writing Your Pretext Pages

Abstract, title and approval pages.

Download the format example (.doc)

Describe where your project was conducted and under whose supervision. Summarize your project goals, activities, and accomplishments, highlighting key knowledge or skills gained. How did this project benefit you, and how did it benefit the body of scientific knowledge?

The abstract is limited to 350 words in length. It should be 1.0 line-spaced, and should be within the report margin requirements (see above).

Acknowledgments

If you wish, you may include a page with a brief note of dedication or acknowledgment of help received from particular individuals.

Project reports are expected to have a Table of Contents for the convenience of the reader. If figures or tables are scattered throughout the text, a separate List of Figures or List of Tables should be included after the Table of Contents.

Writing the Scientific Report

Use Arabic numerals (1, 2, etc.) to number these pages. Start with the first page of the introduction as page 1 and end with the last page of your final report; either your Literature Cited or Appendices.

The format for the scientific report should include:

The introduction is a concise statement of the research problem and an outline of the scope, aim, and nature of your project. A review of the literature pertinent to the subject should be included and used to provide context for the project report.

The purpose of this section is to recount, in a concise manner, the materials and methods used to approach the project. It should include sufficient information so that the study could be repeated. Care should be exercised not to include superfluous information. 

The results reflect the findings of your investigation only, not the findings of other researchers in the area. This is a summarized form of extensive data that may appear in the figures, tables and/or appendices.

The discussion section provides an analysis of the data acquired. In this section, you may draw comparisons with findings of other researchers in the field as well as suggest additional research.

The final section draws together the objectives and findings of the entire research project, with emphasis on the value added of your research.

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Thesis/Project Report 

At the conclusion of your project, you will write a formal thesis or project report to be kept on file at the Engineering Department office. The thesis or report must conform to the format guidelines provided (below). The thesis or report must include a cover sheet conforming to the template provided and bear signatures for both you and your supervisory committee. The thesis or report is to be submitted both electronically (.pfd format) and on good quality, acid-free paper. The printed copy must not be bound.

For the cover sheet, download the template and replace those portions in red with the title, author, date, committee, etc. for your report. Change all text to black and print the cover sheet on acid-free paper prior to your final design review or defense. After you have secured all signatures, scan the cover sheet and add it to the electronic copy. Submit the electronic copy by e-mail to  [email protected]  and submit the paper copy, including the original cover sheet, to the Department Admin.

Thesis or project defense presentations must be conducted no less than three weeks before the last day of the semester. Work closely with your thesis/project advisor and committee to ensure you meet this deadline. For all other semesters, work with your advising committee to schedule a status report presentation during the last week of the semester

Download Approved Cover Sheet Template (Word)

Download Thesis/Project Report Formatting Requirements (pdf)

Download Thesis/Project Template (docx)