Thesis/Dissertation & Project Paper

Briefing
By
Prof. Dr. Obiyathulla Ismath Bacha
Head, Graduate Studies Department
GSD
Proposal Process
• Student identifies topics consults lecturers
identifies/suggests main and co-supervisor.

• Submits draft proposal on acceptance

submits 3 copies to suggested supervisors.

• Both suggested supervisors sign all three copies, one copy

to GSD for Thesis Committee (TC) endorsement.

• GSD conduct TC meeting TC reviews TC approves

proposal & supervisors TC appoints main/co-supervisor.

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Thesis Committee
GSD

Establishment of Thesis Committee

• To enhance and improve the quality of research proposals

and the quality of supervision.
• Members:
 Prof. Datuk Dr. Syed Othman Alhabshi (Chairman)
 Prof. Dr. Obiyathulla Ismath Bacha
 Prof. Emeritus Datuk Dr. Mohamed Ariff
 Prof. Dr. Mansur Masih
 Prof. Dr. Mansor H. Ibrahim
 Prof. Dr. Shamsher Mohamad Ramadili

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GSD
Roles and Responsibilities of TC
i. Evaluate the research topic to ensure it will be able to
produce a reasonably good PhD Thesis (and Masters
project paper).
ii. Recommend changes to the proposal as may be needed.
iii. Identify the appropriate Internal Examiner.
iv. Based on Internal Examiner’s Report, Thesis Committee
will decide on:
• Whether the thesis is ready for submission to External
Examiner, or if it needs improvement prior to being sent
out.
• Identify the External Examiner, taking into consideration
recommendations from the supervisors.

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GSD
Roles and Responsibilities of TC
v. Evaluate the external examiner’s report.
vi. Identify the next course of action, including scheduling
viva.
vii. Ensure the proper conduct of the viva voce and that all
parties do the necessary to ensure that the final thesis is
of a quality acceptable to INCEIF.
viii. Where there is a member supervising, there must be
abstention.

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Research Proposal
GSD
Process of Research Proposal
• Student identifies topics consults lecturers
identifies/suggests main and co-supervisor.

• Submits draft proposal on acceptance

submits 3 copies to suggested supervisors.

• Both suggested supervisors sign all three copies, one copy

to GSD for Thesis Committee (TC) endorsement.

• GSD conduct TC meeting TC reviews TC approves

proposal & supervisors TC appoints main/co-supervisor.

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GSD

Process of Research Proposal

• Supervisor/Candidate writes progress report based on ‘PhD
Semi-Annual Progress Report’ template.

• The Semi Annual Progress Report to be submitted to GSD

for its record.

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GSD
Research Proposal Format
The proposal is limited to a maximum of 10 pages
(approximately 3000 words) and must contain the
following:
 What : Topic of study
 Why : Justification/ Motivation
- based on lit review, what knowledge gap needs to
be filled?
 How : Methodology
 Expected Results (based on theory/ previous studies)
 Policy Implications and/or potential application for findings.
 What is the contribution of the proposed study to the body
of knowledge
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GSD

PhD Semi Annual Progress Report

• Supervisors/Student maintain the report.

• Records
- Reporting Period
- Details of progress made by the student in the last 6
months
- agreed course of action until next meeting.

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 Expectation of Thesis/
Dissertation/Project Paper
GSD

PhD by Coursework & Dissertation

(24 Credit Hours of Dissertation)
(40,000 -50,000 words)
PhD by Research
(42 Credit Hours of Dissertation)
( minimum 60,000 words)
GSD

Masters Coursework & Dissertation

(21 Credit Hours of Dissertation)
• Should NOT exceed 40,000 words

Masters by Coursework
(6 Credit Hours of Project Paper)
• (Approximately 10,000 – 15,000 words)
Credit Hours Requirement
GSD

Full Time Candidate

Minimum: 9 Credit Hours
Maximum: 12 Credit Hours

Part Time Candidate

Minimum: 6 Credit Hours
Maximum: 12 Credit Hours
Relationship of Field and
Specialization
Supervisor
GSD

1. Main Supervisor
2. Co- Supervisor
(could be an external supervisor)
Format of Thesis
GSD

Part 1: Address What and Why

What is the topic of study?

Introduce the topic/issue
Provide background information

Why is it important?
Motivation/justification
GSD

Part 2: Literature Review

• For 24 Credit Hours Thesis – Minimum of 50 Relevant
articles/journals cited.

• Should be linked to your intended research questions/

hypotheses
GSD
Part 3: Research Questions and Testable
Hypothesis
• Research Methodology
• Experiment design
• Description of Econometrics model
• Are you alternative models as a check; for eg. Non
parametric models.
• Justification for model.
• Description of data and data sources
• Connect testable hypothesis and research questions to your
justification and motivation in Part 1.
GSD
Part 4: Reporting and Analysis of Result

• Present and analyze the result according to your research

questions.
• Graphs/ charts and analytical write up.
• Don’t just describe your results; always ask why?
• Are the results consistent with each other?
• Are the results consistent with previous studies cited in your
literature review?
• If there are contradictions why do you think this is the case?
(this has be answered for each research question?
GSD
Part 5: Summary and Conclusion

• Begin with summary of your result.

• What can we learn from your result?
• How does your findings contribute to the existing knowledge
base in the areas/topics
• What policy implications can we deduce?
• Limitations of your research.
• Direction for your future research.
• What is the contribution of the proposed study to the body of
knowledge
Thank you