GUIDELINES FOR

THESIS PREPARATION & WRITING FOR

POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

LIMKOKWING UNIVERSITY OF CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY

Limkokwing Graduate School
2022
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 General Information ............................................................................................... 4

a. Language ................................................................................................................. 4
b. Number of words ...................................................................................................... 4
c. Page Layout ............................................................................................................. 5
d. Typing Margin ............................................................................................................ 5
Font Type and Size .................................................................................................... 5
Spacing ..................................................................................................................... 6
e. Paragraph ................................................................................................................. 6
f. Page Number ............................................................................................................ 6
g. Hardbound of Thesis ................................................................................................. 6
h. Spine of the Thesis .................................................................................................... 7
i. Type of paper and printing ......................................................................................... 7

2.0 Body of Thesis ......................................................................................................... 7

a. Title Page ................................................................................................................. 7
b. Author’s Declaration ................................................................................................... 7
c. Acknowledgements .................................................................................................... 7
d. Abstract...................................................................................................................... 8
e. Table of Contents ....................................................................................................... 8
f. List of Tables ............................................................................................................. 8
g. List of Figures ............................................................................................................ 8
h. List of Cases .............................................................................................................. 8
i. List of Statutes .......................................................................................................... 9
j. List of Appendices ...................................................................................................... 9
k. List of Measurements ................................................................................................. 9
l. List of Symbols .......................................................................................................... 9
m. List of Abbreviations .................................................................................................. 9
n. Chapter Layout ......................................................................................................... 10
o. Terminology .............................................................................................................. 11
p. Table ........................................................................................................................ 13
q. Figure ...................................................................................................................... 13
r. In-text Citation and References ................................................................................... 13
s. Appendices ................................................................................................................ 15
t. Plagiarism .................................................................................................................. 16
1.0 General Information

i. This guide is intended to assist postgraduate students of Limkokwing

University of Creative Technology (LUCT) in the preparation and writing of
Master project paper, Master dissertation and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
thesis. The guidelines MUST be followed strictly prior to submission for
examination/ Viva voce.

ii. A thesis generally consists of three main parts: preliminary pages; text or
main body (usually divided into chapters and sections); and supporting pages
containing references, appendices etc.

iii. Preliminary pages include:

a. Author’s Declaration
b. Acknowledgements
c. Abstract
d. Table of Contents
e. List of Tables
f. List of Figures
g. List of Cases (if any)
h. List of Statutes (if any)
i. List of Appendices
j. List of Units of Measurements (if any)
k. List of Symbols
l. List of Equations
m. List of Abbreviations

iv. Thesis MUST be bounded in a single volume.

a. Language

Thesis MUST be written in BRITISH ENGLISH.

b. Number of words

i. Master Project Paper (Master by Coursework) – MUST be within the range

of 15,000 words to 20,000 words*.
ii. Master Dissertation (Master by Mixed Mode) – MUST be within the range
of 20,000 words to 30,000 words*.

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 iii. Master Dissertation (Master by Research) – MUST be within the range of
30,000 words to 50,000 words*.
iv. PhD Thesis – MUST be within the range of 80,000 words to 100,000
words*.

* excluded footnotes, excerpts, appendices, formulas, tables, diagrams,

bibliographies, etc.

c. Page Layout

Text MUST be presented in POTRAIT layout including figures and tables EXCEPT
under certain circumstances where LANDSCAPE layout is required.

d. Typing Margin

i. Right-hand margin is 2.5cm.

ii. Left-hand margin (the spine of the thesis) is 3.8cm.
iii. Bottom margin is 3.0 cm.
iv. Top margin of the first page of each chapter is 3.0cm.
v. Top margin of the subsequent page is 3.0cm.

Font Type and Size

i. Text of the thesis including headings, footnotes and page numbers MUST
be written using Times New Roman (font size 12).
ii. Text in tables MUST be written in Times New Roman (font size 10).
iii. Text and footnotes must be justified.
iv. Chapter headings must be written in BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS at the
centre of the page.
v. Headings, sub-headings and sub-subheadings must be written in BOLD
(capitalise each word).
vi. Font size of footnotes is 9-point.
vii. Scientific names, formula and terms in different languages MUST be
italicised.

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 Spacing

i. Text of thesis must be written with 1.5 SPACING.

ii. Spacing between headings and sub-headings, subheadings and paragraph,
paragraph and paragraph MUST be SINGLE ENTER.

iii. Spacing between text and subsequent sub-headings MUST be DOUBLE

ENTER.
iv. iv. Text in preliminary pages MUST be written with SINGLE SPACING.

e. Paragraph

i. The first paragraph in each chapter MUST NOT be indented; however, the
second and consecutive paragraphs MUST be indented.

f. Page Number

i. Pages MUST be numbered consecutively throughout the thesis including

pages containing tables, figures, and appendices.
ii. Page number of preliminary pages MUST be written in ROMAN NUMERALS
(e.g. i, ii, iii).
iii. Page number MUST be placed with a right-aligned at the bottom of page.

g. Hardbound of Thesis

i. Student MUST ensure all corrections suggested by the Viva-voce Committee

are made accordingly before final submission upon approval by the
Supervisor/ Main Supervisor/ Chairman of the Supervisory Committee.
ii. Thesis submitted for final copy (after the necessary corrections are
completed) MUST be bound using hard cover and the details mentioned on
the cover page MUST use gold hot stamping.
iii. Colour of thesis cover MUST be:
a. Project Paper and Dissertation (Master): Maroon
b. Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy): Black
iv. Student MUST submit FIVE (5) copies of hardbound thesis to Limkokwing
Graduate School (LGS).

5
 h. Spine of the Thesis

i. Spine of thesis MUST include:

a. Full name of author written in English with a maximum of 40
characters, or family/surname in full with initials of the given names.
b. Degree (e.g. PhD/ MA for Social Science and MSc for Science)
c. Year of submission (e.g 2020)
d. Abbreviation of the institute’s name (e.g. LUCT)

i. Type of paper and printing

i. Thesis MUST be laser-printed in single-sided on white A4 size paper (210 mm

× 297mm), weighted 80 gsm. ii. Coloured figures MUST be printed in colour.

2.0 Body of Thesis

a. Title Page

The title page MUST include the following:

i. Full title of thesis

ii. Full name of student
iii. Name of degree
iv. Full name of institution (e.g LIMKOKWING UNIVERSITY OF CREATIVE
TECHNOLOGY)
v. Month and year of thesis submission

b. Author’s Declaration

Declaration page MUST contain author’s declaration of the originality of work in

preparing thesis.

c. Acknowledgements

i. Acknowledgements MUST be brief, without flowery language, and giving

recognition without sentimentality.
ii. Acknowledgements MUST be written in ONE (1) page.

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d. Abstract

i. Abstract MUST be written in TWO languages (Malay AND English).

ii. If the thesis is written in English, the English version of the abstract MUST
appear first and vice versa.
iii. The translation version of the abstract need to be written in italic.
iv. Abstract MUST not exceed 250 words in ONE paragraph and contain:
Introduction (Brief synopsis of study)
Objectives and Methodology (Nature and scope of work)
Results and Discussions (Major outcomes)
Conclusions (Particular contribution to knowledge in the field)

e. Table of Contents

All headings, sub-headings and sub-subheadings MUST be listed in sequence with

their respective page numbers.

f. List of Tables

List MUST shows the exact titles or captions of all tables in text and appendices and
MUST be listed in sequence according to respective chapters.

g. List of Figures

This list is specifically for figures including graphs, maps, charts, engineering
drawings, photographs (plates), sketches, printed images, and any other form of
illustration that is not a table.

h. List of Cases

i. Case cited in writing is a legal matter that has been decided in a court e.g.
civil or criminal case.
ii. List of cases MUST contain:
Name of case
Year of case
Volume
Name of law journals or reports
Page number

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 iii. Cases MUST be arranged according to alphabetical order.
iv. Pages where the case appears in thesis MUST also be
mentioned.

i. List of Statutes

i. Statute is a written law passed by the federal or state government. It includes

acts of parliament, enactments, codes, rules, regulations, order etc.

ii. List of statutes MUST consist the following:

Name of statute
Year of statute

iii. Statute MUST be arranged according to alphabetical order.

iv. Pages where the statute appears in thesis MUST also be mentioned.

j. List of Appendices

List of appendices consists of relevant appendix.

k. List of Measurements

List of measurements consists of relevant measurement.

l. List of Symbols

List of symbols consists of relevant symbols.

m. List of Abbreviations

Abbreviations are short forms of word or phrase.

8
n. Chapter Layout

Headings, sub-headings and sub-subheadings MUST be treated as content

GUIDELINES only. Actual title MUST depend on suitability of research contents.
Conclusion for each chapter is OPTIONAL.

Chapter Item
1. Introduction
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Background of Study
1.3 Statement of Problem
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Objectives of Study
1.6 Significance of Study
1.7 Scope of Study
1.8 Research Theoretical/Conceptual Framework
1.9 Operational Definitions
1.10 Conclusion

2. Literature Review
2.1 Introduction (Sub-heading 1)
2.2 Sub-heading 2
2.3 2.3 Sub-heading 3
2.4 Sub-heading 4
2.4.1 Sub-subheading 1
2.4.2 Sub-subheading 2
2.4.3 Sub-subheading 3

2.5 Sub-heading 5
2.6 Sub-heading 6
2.7 Conclusion (Sub-heading 7)

3. Methodology
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Research Approach and Design
3.3 Location of the Study
3.4 Population and Sampling
3.5 Research Instruments
3.6 Data Collection and Procedure

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 3.7 Pilot Study
3.8 Conclusion

4. Results and Discussions

4.1 Introduction (Sub-heading 1)
4.2 Sub-heading 2
4.3 Sub-heading 3
4.4 Sub-heading 4
4.5 Sub-heading 5
4.4.1. Sub-subheading 1
4.4.2. Sub-subheading 2
4.5.3. Sub-subheading 3
4.6 Sub-heading 6
4.7 Conclusion

5. Conclusion and Recommendations

5.1 Conclusion of Study
5.2 Recommendations of Study

References
Appendices

o. Terminology

Preface / Introduction

This section is an introduction to issues related to the study / research in general.

The descriptions should provide an initial overview of the scope of the study to be
conducted by candidates.

Background of Research

This section describes generally about the intended study. Details and elaborations
of this section are the importance of the research's ideas.

10
Problem Statement

This section describes the issues/ problems to be studied in the research.

Candidates need to explain the needs of the research based on the related
arguments and evidence.

Objective of Study

Objective of study should be specific, measurable, accessible, realistic and suitable

to the duration of the study. Objective writing needs to be in the form of verbs,
related to the field and their respective research level.

Research Question

This section includes the questions need to be answered in the study. Research
questions are usually formed based on the objective of the study and must be
related to the problem statement.

Research Hypothesis (if necessary)

This part of the study states early expectations about the possible results of the
study. One of the important characteristics of hypotheses is the ability to show the
correlation between the variables in the study that are specific, clear and
measurable.

Conceptual Framework of Research and/or Theoretical Framework of

Research (if necessary)

This section explains the aspects related to theories and/ or concepts that underline
the study based on reliable resources from scholars/ experts/ researchers in the
field. If necessary, this framework could also be presented in a form of diagrams.

Operational Definition

The operational definition / term definition explains the key concepts based on the
context of the study.

11
 Limitations of Study

This section describes the limitations of the study conducted.

Importance of Research

This section will detail clearly the impact of the study and the benefits of the
findings and results to organizations, communities, countries, related agencies and
also the development of knowledge in that particular field of study.

p. Table

i. Tables MUST be labelled according to the chapter in which they appear. For
example, tables in Chapter 3 are numbered sequentially as Table 3.1, Table
3.2 and so on.
ii. Caption of table MUST be written in Times New Roman (10 point) and
placed at center, above table.
iv. Citation MUST be written after caption of table (if any).
v. iv. If the table occupies more than one page, continued table on the following
page MUST indicate that it is a continuation. For example: ‘Table 3.7:
continued’. The header row MUST also be repeated.

q. Figure

i. Figures MUST be labelled according to the chapter in which they appear. For
example, figures in Chapter 3 are numbered sequentially: Figure 3.1, Figure
3.2.
ii. Caption of figure MUST be written in Times New Roman (10 point) and
placed at center, below figure.

iii. Citation MUST be written after caption of figure (if any). iv. If the figure
occupies more than one page, continued figure on the following page MUST
indicate that it is a continuation: for example: ‘Figure 3.7: continued’.

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r. In-text Citation and References

In-text citation and references MUST follow American Psychological Association

(APA) latest style (7th Ed), 2020

Journal Article
Wilens, T. E., & Biederman, J. (2006). Alcohol, drugs, and attention
deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A model for the study of addictions in youth.
Journal of Psychopharmacology, 20(4), 580- 588.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881105058776

How to cite this work in-text:

Parenthetical: (Wilens & Biederman, 2006)
Narrative: Wilens and Biederman (2006)
Direct quote: (Wilens & Biederman, 2006, p. 581)

Book
Vogel, C. G. (1999). Legends of landforms: Native American lore and the
geology of the land. Millbook Press.

How to cite this work in-text:

Parenthetical: (Vogel, 1999)
Narrative: Vogel (1999)
Direct quote: (Vogel, 1999, p. 100)

Article in a Book
Hartley, J. T., Harker, J. O., & Walsh, D. A. (1980). Contemporary issues and new
directions in adult development of learning and memory. In L. W. Poon (Ed.),
Aging in the 1980s: Psychological issues (pp. 239-252). American
Psychological Association.

How to cite this work in-text:

Parenthetical: (Hartley et al., 1980)
Narrative: Hartley et al. (1980)
Direct quote: (Hartley et al., 1980, p. 241)

Conference paper published in proceedings

Tavits, M., & Pérez, E. O. (2019). Language influences mass opinion toward
gender and LGBT equality. Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences, 116(34), 16781–16786. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1908156116

13
 How to cite this work in-text:
Parenthetical: (Tavits & Pérez, 2019)
Narrative: Tavits and Pérez (2019)
Direct quote: (Tavits & Pérez, 2019, p. 16782)

Newspaper and non-scientific magazines article

Smith, J.B. Pollution problems. Time, August 22, 2005, pp. 3-4

Report with no named author

Air quality aspects of the development of offshore oil and gas resources;
California Air Resources Board: Sacramento, CA, 1994

PhD dissertation
Wong, T.L. (2005). Changes in Chinese negotiation skills. Unpublished doctoral
dissertation, University of Nottingham, Malaysia.

Internet citation
Stolberg, S.G, 1997. Bid to absolve saccharin is rebuffed by US panel,
http://www.junkscience.com/news/sac2.html Brown, T. A.. (2004) (2nd ed.).
Blackwell.

s. Appendices

i. Appendices are a section that gives extra details at the end of a book, part of
a book, or document. It is not part of the text in calculating number of total
words.
ii. All appendices MUST have labels.
iii. Typical appendices include:
i. Data-collecting instruments used during the investigation, such as
tests, questionnaires, observation, and interview schedules.
ii. Examples showing how the instruments have been used, such as a
completed interview schedule.
iii. Raw data which does not find its way into the main body of the thesis.
iv. Computer software developed as part of the research to be
submitted as part of the thesis/dissertation/academic project.
v. A complete record of a practical work.
vi. Technical terms with specialised meanings or applications within the
context of the research.
vii. vii. Lists of equipment used or observed, lists of schools, firms. viii.
Appendices are numbered sequentially.

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t. Plagiarism

Plagiarism refers to the use of an idea, work or data taken from other people which
is placed in the main text of the dissertation / thesis without giving credit to the
original author and use that information as if it belongs to the candidate. Those
works include:
i. Words or ideas from printed materials such as journal articles, magazine
articles, books, newspapers, websites, computer programs, and others.

ii. Diagrams, tables, illustrations, charts, maps, photographs or other visual

materials; and

iii. Information from interviews and etc.

Candidate can be considered plagiarising if:

i. Directly copy a sentence or paragraph from a reference obtained and write

as if the result is the result of the students themselves; and
ii. Using the original text from a source without using quotation marks (") or
indent, although the source is acknowledged.
iii. Paraphrasing without recognition/ acknowledgement.

Plagiarism is a very serious crime in the world of academia and is not accepted by
academic scholars. Therefore, if any dissertation / thesis is found to have
plagiarism, the dissertation / thesis will be considered as FAILED and the candidate
will be terminated from the study program. Candidates are advised to always refer
to the original author when using ideas or words from the work of the authors or
others to avoid plagiarism.

A method for avoiding plagiarism is to make sure that the credit should be given
when using the work of other authors. Candidates need to do this even if the
original source had been paraphrased or summarized. When quoting a statement
that is tele-casted even orally, it must be identical to the original and must be
attributed to the original author.

15
APPENDICES
 LUCT/LGS-TW/DWO/0

Please tick (√):

Project paper

Dissertation

Thesis

LIMKOKWING GRADUATE SCHOOL

DECLARATION OF WORK ORIGINALITY

This declaration is made on the ____________(Day) ____________(Month) ____________(Year).

i. Student’s Declaration:

I, _________________________________________(Name); _________________(Student ID.);

_________________________________________(Faculty) hereby truthfully declare that the
dissertation/ thesis for ____________________________________________(Programme Name)
entitled _________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
is my original work. I have not plagiarised from any other scholars’ work and all sources that
contained copyright have been cited properly for the permitted meanings. All quotations, excerpts,
references or re-publications from or any works that have copyrights have been clearly and well
cited.

__________________
(Signature of student)

ii. Supervisor’s Declaration:

I, _________________________________________(Name) hereby certify that the work entitled

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
was prepared by the student mentioned above, and was submitted to the Limkokwing Graduate
School as a partial/ full fulfilment for the conferment of
____________________________________________________________ (Programme Name), and
the aforementioned work, to the best of my knowledge, is the student’s work.

Date: ____________________ _____________________________

(Signature and stamp of Supervisor)
 APPENDIX A: HARDBOUND COVER (OUTER COVER)

Note: Not Actual Size

 APPENDIX B: TITLE PAGE COVER (INNER COVER)

Font: Times New

Roman, Font Size: 14
UPPERCASE, Single
spacing, BOLD

Font: Times New Roman,

Font Size: 14 UPPERCASE,
Single spacing, BOLD

Font: Times New Roman,

Font Size: 14
UPPERCASE, Single
spacing, BOLD

Font: Times New Roman,

Font Size: 14
UPPERCASE, Single
spacing, BOLD

Note: Not Actual Page

APPENDIX C: SPINE OF THE THESIS

3.0 cm

Arial Narrow,
Gold Hot stamping,
Font size 16ppt,
Bold, UPPERCASE,
In One Vertical Line

Arial Narrow,
Gold Hot stamping,
Font size 16ppt,
Bold, UPPERCASE,
In One Vertical Line

3.0 cm

Colour:
BLACK (Doctoral), MAROON (Master)
 APPENDIX D: AUTHOR’S DECLARATION

Top Margin: 3.0 cm

Font: Times New
Roman,
Font Size: 14
UPPERCASE,
Left Margin: Right Margin:
Enter TWO (2) Times Singlespacing, BOLD
3.8 cm 2.5 cm

Bottom Margin:
3.0 cm

Note: Not Actual Size

 APPENDIX E: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Note: Not Actual Size

 APPENDIX F: ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH

Note: Not Actual Size

 APPENDIX G: ABSTRACT IN MALAY

Note: Not Actual Size

 APPENDIX H: TABLE OF CONTENTS

Note: Not Actual Size

 APPENDIX I: LIST OF TABLES

Font: Times New Roman,

Top Margin: 3.0 cm Font Size: 14
UPPERCASE,
Singlespacing,
BOLD
Right
Left Margin: Enter TWO (2) Times Margin:
3.8 cm 2.5 cm

Font: Times New Roman,

Font Size: 12
TITLECASE, Single-
spacing

Bottom Margin:
3.0 cm

Note: Not Actual Size

 APPENDIX J: LIST OF FIGURES

Note: Not Actual Size

 APPENDIX K: LIST OF APPENDICES

Font: Times New

Roman,
Top Margin: 3.0 cm Font Size: 14
UPPERCASE,
Singlespacing,
Right BOLD
Enter TWO (2) Times Margin:
Left Margin: 2.5 cm Font: Times New
3.8 cm
Roman,
Font Size: 12
TITLECASE, Single-
spacing

Bottom Margin:
3.0 cm

Note: Not Actual Size

 APPENDIX L: LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

Font: Times New Roman,

Top Margin: 3.0 cm
Font Size: 14
UPPERCASE,
Singlespacing,
BOLD
Enter TWO (2) Times
Left Margin: Right
3.8 cm Margin:
2.5 cm
Font: Times New Roman,
Font Size: 12
TITLECASE, Single-
spacing

Bottom Margin:
3.0 cm

Note: Not Actual Size

 APPENDIX 15: CHAPTER PAGE

Note: Not Actual Size

 APPENDIX 16: FIGURE IN TEXT

Top Margin: 3.0 cm

Right
Left Margin: Margin:
3.8 cm 2.5 cm

to be
Figure need
CENTERED

Figure Caption New

Font: Times
Roman
Font Size: 10
CENTERED,
BELOW Figure

Bottom Margin:
3.0 cm

Note: Not Actual Size

 APPENDIX 17: TABLE IN TEXT

Top Margin:
3.0 cm

Table Caption
Font: Times New Roman
Font Size: 10
CENTERED
Left Right ABOVE Table
Margin Margin: Table need to be centred
: 2.5 cm
3.8 cm

Bottom
Margin:
3.0 cm

Note: Not Actual Size

 APPENDIX P: EQUATION IN TEXT

Top Margin: 3.0 cm

Left Margin: Right Margin:

3.8 cm 2.5 cm

Font: Times New Roman

Font Size: 12 Equation
need to be
LEFT-ALIGN

Numbering of Equation
need to follow the chapter
RIGHT -ALIGN number
and

Bottom Margin:
3.0 cm

Note: Not Actual Size

 APPENDIX Q: REFERENCES

Note: Not Actual Size