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    21st March 2005 Producing a Ph.D thesis 1

    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/
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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!