Institutional Guidelines

(Research Proposal, Dissertation, Viva Voce

and Presentation)
Nelum Uttamadasa
PIR8219: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
• Two (02) credits
The main objectives of the workshops are (as per your course outline):
i. To introduce students to the art of conducting research in the field of
International Relations.
ii. To explain major components of a research proposal.
iii. To demonstrate the scientific way to conduct research.
iv. To develop an understanding of different methodologies used to conduct
of research.
v. To make students aware of the ethical issues in conducting research.
vi. To encourage them to use technology and other instruments to carry out
the research.
• Programme Learning Outcomes:
(as per your course outline)
At the end of the workshop, students will be able to:
i. Understand how to conduct research in the field of international
relations.
ii. Explain the key components of a research proposal.
iii. Select a suitable research methodology that will enable them to carry
out their research effectively.
iv. Develop skills in collecting and analysing data
v. Understand the importance of ethics and responsibilities in research
 Evaluation

• Participation/ Attendance – 50% of the overall mark

• Submission of Research Proposal – 25% of the overall mark

• Presentation of Research Proposal – 25% of the overall mark

 Dissertation Timeline
# Description Deadline

1. Research Methodology Workshop February 19 & 26, March 05 & 12 2023

2. Student submission of Research Outline March 30, 2023

3. Comments/ suggestions for revisions of the research outline April 30, 2023

4. Presentation of the Research Proposal to the panel July 9, 2023

5. Supervisors identified and consultations to begin From September 01, 2023

6. Submission of the final dissertation March 23, 2024

 Post-Graduate Diploma in International Relations -2021-2023
Research and Dissertation Outline
• Writing the ‘Research and Dissertation Outline’ is the most important step, after formulating your
Dissertation Topic. It enables you to organize your thoughts about the research project as well as the
dissertation.

• Your ‘Research and Dissertation Outline’ will have the key components of a research proposal and help you
organize your thoughts.

• The following are the components of the outline:

1. Introduction: Please state briefly what your research project/dissertation is about. This can be a brief
description of your dissertation topic. (One or two paragraphs).

2. Importance of your research: Why is a study of this topic/theme is important? What kind of contribution it
can make to knowledge? (Two paragraphs).

3. Disciplinary Relevance: Is this research relevant to the field of International Relations? If so, how? (One
paragraph).
4. Thematic breakdown of your research: A breakdown of your dissertation topic in to three to five sub-topics
will help you to organize your research as well as structure your dissertation. Formulating your research
questions on a thematic basic will help you achieve this task. It will guide your journey to collect data and
information needed for the dissertation. Describe each sub-topic briefly.

5.How will you get your data and information?

Primary and Secondary data
Through field research; Interviews; From libraries and archives; From Internet
Are your data primary data, or secondary data, or both? Where will the data/information available, Which
libraries? Which archives? ? In case of field work and interviews, where?

6. Tentative chapter headings: Thinking about chapter headings will help you to systematically organize your
dissertation in accordance with sub themes. Usually, a dissertation will have an ‘Introduction’ chapter, several
sub-thematic chapters, and a ‘Conclusion’ Chapter. Since you will be writing a dissertation for Diploma, your
chapter do not need to be long ones. But they have to be substantive chapters based on the information and
data obtained from your research. It is easy to formulate your chapter headings based on the sub-topis you
have already identified.
Research Proposal & Presentation
• Students are expected to submit a research proposal incorporating
the comments received after the submission of a research outline.
• Presentation of the research proposal (8-10 minutes presentation)
 Supervisors Report

Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations

Academic Year 2022 A

Supervision of Dissertation

Name of Student:
Student Registration No. :
Name of Supervisor:
Designation & Address of Supervisor:

Title of Dissertation:

Date Remarks by the Signature of Student Signature of

supervisor Supervisor
Dissertation Guidelines
• It must be noted that the dissertation should be the result of the candidate’s own effort
and that it is a satisfactory contribution to knowledge. However, it should be borne in
mind that what is required at the level of the Postgraduate Diploma is competent
examination, assessment and analysis of existing source materials.
• In selecting a subject area for the dissertation, candidates are advised to select a
topic which has an International dimension and relevant to the field of
International Relations. The topics in which extensive field surveys will be involved
are not accepted.
• The word count for the dissertation is between 12,000 - 15,000 words.
• The dissertation can be submitted for evaluation, once the assigned supervisor authorizes the final
submission. Two soft-bound copies should be submitted to the BCIS before the stipulated dead-line. The
BCIS will forward these to designated examiners.
The format of the thesis includes three categories of materials; the preliminaries, the text of the
dissertation and the reference materials. The components under the three major categories occur in the
following order, although not every dissertation includes all the items listed.

1. Preliminaries 2. Text of the dissertation

• Title page • Introductory chapter or
chapters
• Declaration • Reports of the study,
• Preface and /or Abstract appropriately divided into
• Acknowledgements (if desired) chapters and sections
•
• Table of contents Summary/conclusion
• List of Tables (if any) chapter or chapters
• List of Figures or Illustrations (if
any) 3. Reference materials
Bibliography (in some dissertations the
Appendix precedes the Bibliography.
However, the order presented here is
recommended by BCIS).
Appendix or appendices (if any)
Index (if any)
 Title page should include the title of the dissertation, the full name of the candidate together with
his/her title and/or degree/s, the full name of BCIS - to which the dissertation is submitted, the
diploma for which it is presented, supervisor with his designation and the month and year in which the
dissertation is submitted to BCIS, preferably in the following format (suitably spaced & aligned).

TITLE OF THE DISSERTATION (as approved by the Board of Studies)

A dissertation presented by

NAME OF THE CANDIDATE (together with his/her title, degree/s) to the

BANDARANAIKE CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the

award of the

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

SUPERVISOR

NAME OF THE SUPERVISOR (together with his/her title)

Designation of the supervisor

Official address

Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) Sri Lanka

Month, Year
Style Guide
• Follow BCIS Style Guide in writing the dissertation
• All sources of all quotations as well as data, arguments and ideas borrowed from
secondary sources should be duly and comprehensively acknowledged
• Plagiarismis considered as a serious academic misconduct. If a candidate were to
be found guilty of such misconduct during a programme of study, he/ she will be
treated according to the examination offences and the consequences detailed in
the Code of Student Conduct (CSC) And BCIS Examination By-Laws.
Evaluation
Dissertation – 200 marks
• The written component of the
Dissertation will award 130 marks.
• Viva Voce – 70 marks
• To be called for the viva voce
examination candidate has to receive
at least 45 percent of the 130 marks
allocated for the written component.
• In the allocation of marks for various aspects of the dissertation,
consideration will be given to the following;

(i) Standard of the work accomplished

(ii) Quality of the Bibliography and the sources consulted
(iii) Presentation - format and style, language, grammar, spelling,
footnotes, referencing, bibliography etc.
(iv) Use of primary and secondary sources.
(v) Additional credit for innovative conclusions and
recommendations