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Producing a Ph.D. Thesis
Patricia de Winter
Kings College London
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The majority of
Arts/Humanities theses are written chapter
by chapter throughout the PhD programme
Scientific theses are written once the data
have been collected at the end of the PhD
programme
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At least four months before
submission Obtain a PhD examination entry pack from BBK registry
Complete the following and return to the Registry:
examination entry form (including approved title)
two address labels (home or parents address)
description of thesis (300 words) - NOT abstract
Your supervisor must nominate two examiners, oneinternal and one external
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What happens next?
Registry forwards documents to Senate House
You should receive acknowledgement that Senate
House has received your forms (but this doesnt always
happen) - go to Room 1.62 if necessary
Senate House examinations office sends the nominationof examiners and the description of thesis to the Subject
Area Board for approval of examiners
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Information on the PhD degree and thesis can be
obtained in pdf format at:
http://www.lon.ac.uk/Services/Academic/phd/regulations/regs.asp
- Instructions and notes on submission and format of
thesis
- University of London Regulations for the degrees of
Ph.D and M.Phil
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The University states that the
Ph.D. thesis must be the candidates own account of their
research
be original (discovery of new facts and/ordemonstration of independent critical power)
be an integrated whole and present a coherent
argument (a series of papers is not acceptablebut published papers may be adapted)
give a critical assessment of the literature
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describe the method of research (reproducible) discuss results and demonstrate how they
advance the subject
be written in English include a full bibliography and references
demonstrate relevant research skills
be of publishable quality
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Word limit
100,000 words except for certain subjectareas where the limit is lower
See subject list in exam entry pack orcheck with your supervisor or research
degrees co-ordinator for the limit for yoursubject
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The University does NOT stipulate
the font type or size to use
(best to use a serifed font for body text and a
plain font for figures such as graphs)
specific chapter or thesis formats
(but best to use scientific format forscientific theses)
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The University stipulates that:
theses must be typed or printed on goodquality A4 paper and on one side only
line spacing should be double or one-and-half
the binding edge margin must be at least 40
mm and other margins at least 20 mmphotographs etc. must be permanentlymounted and bound in with the theses
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the use of sellotape or similar is prohibitederrors must be corrected before submission
all pages must be numbered, including any
bound in materialthe thesis must include a title page, an
abstract, a table of contents and a list oftables and figures
collaborative work must acknowledged andcertified by supervisor
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Hints on producing a thesis
It is advisable to have a general introduction
as the first chapter (review the literature
here) and a general discussion as the last (topull together the conclusions from previous
chapters)
Save each chapter as a separate file andback up all work (save to the BBK server if
possible as this is backed up daily)
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Figures and tables should preferably not beinserted into text - put them on individual
pages
Save figures and tables as separate files and
either print separately or insert into chapteronly when you are about to print
Inserting figures into (borderless) text boxesanchors them on a page and makespositioning them easier (MS Word)
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Use reference management software (e.g.Endnote, Reference Manager) to insert citations
and create a bibliography/reference list BUT
manually check all your references in the
completed thesis (MS Word).
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Thesis Contents Title page (numbered page 1)
Officially approved thesis title
Candidates full name
Name of College or Institute
Degree for which thesis is submitted andmonth/year of submission
It is assumed that submission of the thesis impliesit is entirely your own work and not plagiarised.
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Intracellular Signalling and Phagocytosis
by Haemocytes of Manduca sexta Larvae
Maria Patricia de Winter
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
Birkbeck, University of London
Submitted for the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy of the University of London
November, 2004
1
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Abstract of Thesis
Follows the title page
300 words maximum
Summarises context, methods, results and
conclusions contained in the thesis
A duplicate Abstract must be submitted to
Senate House with the thesis
Published in ASLIB Index of Theses
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Acknowledgements
Optional, but most people include them and
acknowledge those who supported and
helped them throughout their Ph.D. If included keep acknowledgements to one
side of A4
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Table of Contents
Follows Abstract, or Acknowledgements whereincluded
Must include all headings and subheadings and
their page numbers Does not include Figures or Tables
MS word can create a TOC for you if you mergeall your chapters into one document or you can
generate your own (make a two-column tablewithout borders)
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Chapters
Each chapter must be numbered sequentially
Usually theses contain an Introduction, three orfour research/experimental chapters and a
general discussion
In Biology theses each experimentalchaptercontains its own specific intro, methods, results,
discussion and conclusions Give completed draft chapters to your
supervisor for comments
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References
Use a reference system that is recognised by
your discipline.
Examiners are fond of checking for missingreferences so check reference list manually
against references in the main text (this is
really boring and takes hours)
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Appendices
Include extra material that does not need to
be in the body of the thesis
Copies of publications that arose from the
thesis can be placed here
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Production time
Allow at least a WEEK to assemble, check,print and correct last-minute errors that youhave missed
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Printing
Allow at least TWO days just to print andcheck your thesis - it really does take thislong
Print a draft copy first and check for errorsbefore printing final copies - get a friend orpartner to proof-read the thesis to check for
typos Buy lots of extra print cartridges and good
quality (90 gsm) paper in advance
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For a 300 page thesis buy 4 reams of paper
(to allow for printing errors). Search the
internet for good deals - you should be able
to get this for about 16 + P&P
If you have photos to print check out
www.inkclub.com for glossy paper - 20
sheets cost about 4 + P&P
www.inkcycle.co.uksell very cheap
cartridges by mail order (from about3 fora black inkjet cartridge
http://www.inkclub.com/http://www.inkcycle.co.uk/http://www.inkcycle.co.uk/http://www.inkclub.com/8/3/2019 Producing Thesis
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Print one chapter at a time - dont try to merge thethesis into one document and print it as a whole
Check each thesis copy to ensure that all the pagesare numbered sequentially
Senate House initially requires two copies, eithertwo soft-bound or one soft and one hard-bound
Make an extra copy for yourself, which youshould take with you to the viva
Dont make any extra copies at this stage - there
are bound to be corrections to make If you submit two soft-bound copies, you will
have to submit a hard-bound copy after the viva.
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Binding The spine of the thesis should have the
degree, your initials and surname and theyear of the award in gold lettering
University of London theses are bound inmedium blue cloth
Hard bound copies currently cost 25 eachandsoft bound copies cost 16 each at ThePrinting Centre in Store Street (two dayservice)
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Submitting the Thesis
Take two copies of the thesis together with
the completed Abstract of Thesis form to
the PhD Examinations Office in SenateHouse
The title of the thesis must correspond
EXACTLY to the title on the exam entryform previously submitted
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Although you should make every effort to
correct mistakes prior to submission, you
will inevitably find a few after youve
submitted
Youll even find them in the corrected
version submitted after yourviva - I still do!