WRITING SYNOPSIS FOR A Ph.D.

RESEARCH PROJECT
Whereas it is essential to encourage and expand Ph.D. research to make it a more active part of the academic life
of the University of the Punjab, it is also important to ensure that a reasonable standard of research is maintained.
The University regulates through its bodies like the oard of !tudies and "dvanced !tudies and #esearch oard
that the Ph.D. research programs are properly planned and executed to maintain the standards.
" research proposal for Ph.D. registration, $hether the area of study belongs to natural sciences, social sciences,
languages, medicine or engineering, should include certain basic components, in $hich a number of %uestions
need to be addressed. Why research on the proposed topic should be undertaken and $hat gains are likely to be
achieved& What has been done previously in this or related areas& What are the objectives of this study and ho$
these $ill be achieved& "re the facilities re%uired for doing the proposed research available& "n extensive initial
exercise should help in designing a sound research project, $hich is likely to make a significant contribution in
successful completion of Ph.D. research.
'omponents of a !ynopsis
The follo$ing components should be provided in a synopsis of a Ph.D. research project. The details may,
ho$ever, vary according to the field of study. "ny alteration to the follo$ing format may be made in a specific
discipline only $ith good justification.
(. Title Page
" title page of the synopsis should include title of the research project, name of
the student )$ith %ualifications*, name of the supervisor)s*, place of $ork and
date )month and year* of submission.
+. Topic
The topic for research should be selected carefully. ,t should be specific and $orded to
sho$ the nature of $ork involved as far as possible.
-. ,ntroduction
,t should provide a brief description to introduce the area of the proposed research $ork.
.. #evie$ of /iterature
" revie$ of the relevant literature sho$ing the $ork done previously in the area
of proposed research is essential to plan further research effectively. The
information given in the revie$ should be supported by references.
0. 1ustification and /ikely enefits
,t is important to provide justification for undertaking the proposed research,
perhaps in the light of previous $ork done. ,t should be possible in most cases to
anticipate the specific and general benefits likely to be achieved as a result of
completion of the proposed research.
2. 3bjectives
road objectives as visuali4ed to be achieved should be clearly outlined and these
should be itemi4ed. These objectives $ill indicate the major aspects of the study
to be undertaken.
5. Plan of Work and 6ethodology
" plan of $ork describing the various aspects of the study in a logical se%uence
along $ith the methodologies to be employed, are the most important aspects of
any research plan. !ufficient details to demonstrate that the researcher has
a fairly good idea about the nature of $ork likely to be involved should be
provided. ,n the case of experimental sciences, e.g., $hich e%uipments and
experimental procedures $ill be used to obtain the results7 in the case of social
sciences $hat resource materials $ill be used7 $hether the re%uired information
$ill be obtained from primary or secondary sources, etc. " time schedule for the
various aspects of the proposed research may be provided $herever possible.
8. Place of Work and 9acilities "vailable
,n order to complete the proposed research some speciali4ed facilities may be
re%uired. 9or example in case of experimental sciences different e%uipments may
be involved or in the case of, may be, a study on a scholar, the relevant literature
may be available in a foreign country. Therefore it is important to identify the
place $here the research $ork $ill be undertaken and $hether the resources and
facilities re%uired for doing the research are available.
:. #eferences and ibliography
!ynopsis should contain at the end a list of references, and a bibliography if
re%uired. These should be $ritten on a standard pattern.
,t $ill be difficult to define an overall length for a synopsis for Ph.D. research in such varied
fields of study. Whereas it should be concise as far as possible and avoid repetitions, it should
also provide sufficient details on the various aspects mentioned above to sho$ that the
research involved has been $ell understood and planned, and it is of an acceptable academic
merit. The total length of a synopsis may run from (,0;; to a fe$ thousand $ords.
PH.D./ M.Phil THESIS
PATTERN
"ll theses presented in typescript for the degree of Ph.D should comply $ith the
follo$ing specifications unless permission to do other$ise is obtained from the relevant
authority < body
SIZE OF PAPER
". si4e be used, no restriction is placed on dra$ings and maps.
PAPER SPECIFICATION
!ix copies on good %uality paper )minimum 8; gsm* be submitted.
METHOD OF PRODUCTION
The text must be type$ritten in acceptable type face and the original typescript )or
copy of e%ual %uality* must normally be submitted as the first copy. The second and
subse%uent copies may be produced by means of other acceptable copying methods.
LAYOUT OF SCRIPT
Typescript should appear on one side only, lines7 at least one=and=a=half spaced.
9ootnotes, %uotations, references and photographic captions may be single spaced.
Where appropriate, these should contain lists giving the locations of figures and
illustrations.
FONT SIZE
Title Page (8=++
>eadings < subheadings (.=+;
Text (;=(+
9ootnotes 8=(;
9ootnotes be given on the same page $here reference is %uoted
TYPE STYLE
Times ?e$ #oman < "rial < 'ourier ?e$ < Univers
MARGINS.
"t least (@ =(A inches )-.(5=-.8(cm* on the left=hand side, -<. = ( inch )+ =+.0.cm*
at the top and bottom of the page, and about A = ;.50 inches )(.+5 = (.:;cm* at the
outer edge. The best position for the page number is at top=centre or top right A
inch )(.+5 cm* belo$ the edge. Pages containing figures and illustration should be
suitable paginated.
FOLLOWING IS THE PREFERABLE LAYOUT OF THE THESIS
o Title Page
o "bstract < !ummery
o "ckno$ledgements
o "bbreviations not described in the text
o 'ontents
o /ist of Tables )$here applicable*
o /ist of 9igures )$here applicable*
o ,ntroduction )including literature revie$* or
,ntroduction
#evie$ of /iterature
"s separate chapters as per re%uisite of the subject
o 6aterial and 6ethods
o #esults
6ay comprised of one chapter or a number of chapters depending upon the subject
matter< re%uirements
o Discussion )including 'onclusion<s, #ecommendation<s $here applicable*
o #eferences < ibliography < /iterature 'ited
o "ppendices )$here applicable*
o "ny other information specific to the respective discipline
TITLE PAGE.
"ll theses must contain a title page giving the title of the thesis, the authorBs name,
the name of the degree for $hich it is presented, the department in $hich the author
has $orked or the 9aculty to $hich the $ork is being presented, and the month and
year of submission.
LENGTH OF THESIS
Whilst the regulations do not contain a clause relating to the maximum length of
theses, it is expected that $ork presented for the degree of Ph.D should normally
bet$een .;,;;; = (+;,;;; $ords of text. 'andidates $ishing to greatly exceed these
si4es should discuss the matter $ith their supervisors
PUBLISH WORK
Published $ork from the theses be included as appendix )#eprints< proof < preprint*.
BINDING
"ll final theses and published $ork presented for higher degrees must be bound in a
permanent form or in a temporary )hard binding $ill be provided after defense of
the thesis* form approved by the "dvanced !tudies and #esearch oard7 $here
printed pamphlets or off=prints are submitted in support of a thesis, they must be
bound in $ith the thesis, or bound in such manner as inderies may advise. 9ront
cover should give title of the thesis, name of the candidate and the name of the
,nstitute< Department< 'entre< 'ollege through $hich submitted, in the same order
from top to bottom. The lettering may be in boldface and properly spaced. Their
si4es should beC title +. pt., name of the candidate (8 pt. and the name of the
department< institute< centre< college (8 pt. The colour of binding for different
degrees in the !cience subjects and !ocial !ciences is as follo$sC
SCIENCE SUBJECTS SOCIAL SCIENCES
Ph.D. Dark 6aroon< Dark Dray /ight 6aroon< /ight Dray
6.Phil Dark green< lack /ight Dreen< lack
!pine of the thesis should sho$ EPh.D thesisE on top across the $idth of spine,
name of the candidate in the middle along the length oiB spine, and the year of
submission across the $idth at the bottom. /ettering on spine should be in (8 pt.
and may be in boldface.