Presenting Your Thesis
The rules for the presentation of print thesis, other examinable print works and the written componenets of examinable non-print works.
Rules for Presentation
Print Materials
Format - Word Processed Document
The print thesis, other examinable print work or written component of an examinable non-print work shall be a word processed or typescript paper document. The text shall be in a consistent font throughout (12 point), with any footnotes being in a smaller font. A print thesis, other examinable print work or written component of an examinable non-print work shall not be submitted in an electronic format.
Text
Text is normally to be double-sided, with the pages numbered consecutively throughout the print thesis, other examinable print work or written component of an examinable non-print work. The following minimum margins are to be observed: Gutter margin - 4cm. All other margins are to be 2cm. Text is to be spaced either double or space-and-a-half with the exception of quotations, footnotes, references and table and figure captions, which are to be single spaced.
Non-print Materials - Format
Non-print materials shall be reproduced in a format suitable for storage and retrieval and must be appropriately packaged. Photographic representation, photo reduction, microforms, etc should be used.
Content and Style - Title Page
The first page of the print thesis, other examinable print work or written component of an examinable non-print work is to identify it as a thesis or other examinable work submitted to Charles Sturt University for the [name of degree]. The candidate's name, qualifications held, the full title of the thesis or other examinable work, and the month and year of submission are to be recorded on the title page.
If the work is one of joint authorship, a statement indicating the contribution made by the submitting candidate shall be given on the title page.
Table of Contents
The print thesis, other examinable print work or written component of an examinable non-print work is to include a table of contents after the title page.
Certificate of Authorship
On the first page after the table of contents the certificate of authorship signed by the candidate certifying the original authorship of the thesis or other examinable work is to appear which states: "I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at Charles Sturt University or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgment is made in the thesis [ or dissertation, as appropriate]. Any contribution made to the research by colleagues with whom I have worked at Charles Sturt University or elsewhere during my candidature is fully acknowledged. I agree that this thesis be accessible for the purpose of study and research in accordance with the normal conditions established by the Executive Director, Library Services or nominee, for the care, loan and reproduction of theses."
Acknowledgments - Theses and Professional Doctoral Portfolios
Where appropriate, a brief acknowledgment of any substantial assistance received shall be included on a separate page inserted in sequence. The acknowledgment should list the names of all those persons who have provided substantial assistance with the research and the nature of that assistance which may relate, for example to the:
- sponsorship of the research;
- collection of data;
- processing of the data including the selection and use of particular statistical techniques;
- interpretation of the results of the statistical analysis;
- editing of the thesis;
- use of graphics in the thesis;
- word processing of the thesis.
If any of the assistance was provided for a fee, this fact should also be recorded.
Dissertations and Master Portfolios
Where appropriate, a brief acknowledgment of any substantial assistance received shall be included on a separate page inserted in sequence. Where paid editorial assistance has been obtained, the name of the editor and a brief description of the services provided must be given.
Intellectual Property Rights
If there is material in the thesis or other examinable work which could or does have implications for the intellectual property rights of the candidate, the University, a sponsor of the research or some other person or body, those implications shall be stated under the heading "Intellectual Property Rights" either on the same page as the acknowledgments or on the next page in sequence.
Ethics, Biosafety and/or Radiation Safety Approval
If the thesis or other examinable work reports on research involving humans or human biological materials or involving animals, a page containing the name(s) of the relevant University and/or other ethics committee and the approval number(s) shall be inserted in sequence in the soft-bound copies of the print thesis, other examinable print work or written component of an examinable non-print work.
Confidential Material
If there is material in the thesis or other examinable work which is confidential for commercial or other reasons either for a specified period or indefinitely, the confidential material, the period of its confidentiality and the reasons for its confidentiality shall be specified under the heading "Confidential Material" on a separate page inserted in sequence. In addition, the following statement shall appear on the cover of the soft-bound copies of the print thesis, other examinable print work or written component of an examinable non-print work: "This thesis [ or dissertation] contains confidential material as described on page [insert page number]. The thesis [ or dissertation] shall not be given to anyone who is not directly involved in the examination of the thesis [or portfolio or dissertation]."24
Paid Editorial Assistance
If paid editorial assistance was obtained by the candidate during the conduct of the research and the production of the examinable work (and written permission granted before obtaining the assistance, the name of the editor and a brief description of the services provided must be specified in the thesis or other examinable work under the heading "Professional Editorial Assistance" on a separate page inserted in sequence. If the professional editor's current or former area of academic specialisation is similar to that of the candidate, this too should be stated in the prefatory matter of the thesis or other examinable work.
Professional editing of a candidate's thesis or other examinable work is limited to formatting, grammar and style (Australian Standard for Editing Practice ASEP Standard D - Language and Illustrations, ASEP Standard E - Completeness and Consistency) and must not alter or improve the substantive content or conceptual organisation of the thesis. Where a professional editor provides advice to a candidate on matters of structure (ASEP Standard C - Substance and Structure) exemplars only should be given.
Abstract
Next in sequence, there is to be an abstract of the work not exceeding 500 words in length for theses and professional doctoral portfolios or 350 words in length for dissertations and master portfolios.
Body of the Print Work
Next in sequence is the body of the print thesis, other examinable work or written component of an examinable non-print work.
References
The print thesis, other examinable print work or written component of an examinable non-print work is to include a list of references at the end which shall list alphabetically the sources acknowledged in the body of the print thesis, other examinable print work or written component of an examinable non-print work. Advice regarding bibliographic standards is to be obtained from the Principal Supervisor of the Faculty responsible for the program or, for dissertations and master portfolios, from the Supervisor of the School responsible.