UNIVERSITY OF MALAWI

Chancellor College

POST GRADUATE PROGRAMMES

GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION AND

PROCESSING OF DISSERTATIONS OR THESES IN

By

1st EDITION
Dr. Dixie Maluwa-Banda
DEAN OF EDUCATION
May 2006
Edited
Prof Ben Kaluwa
 Dean Postgraduate Studies and Research
April 2010

Preface

The following Guidelines to the Preparation and Processing of Dissertations/Theses at Chancellor

College is an audited and edited version of the original one meant for the Faculty of Education by Dr Dixie
Maluwa-Banda. A number of features have changed in the interest of uniformity and in the light of
observations made at committees at different levels. Notable differences include:
 sequencing of the page layout;
 an extension of the page layout menu;
 a standardised declaration;
 noted and allowance for differences in referencing format for English Literature and Law;
 acknowledgement that theses may differ in terms of requirements eg. number of chapters and
their contents
 acknowledgement of the need to allow for variance with regard to need for a viva voce especially
at the Masters degree level.
The purpose of these Guidelines is to assist candidates for postgraduate programme awards with the
preparation, formatting, and submission of dissertations or theses to their respective faculties, the Post
Graduate Committee at Chancellor College, the University of Malawi (UNIMA) wide Postgraduate
Committee and then to Senate for approval before graduation.

To earn a Masters or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree from Chancellor College, you
must write a dissertation or thesis1 in addition to completing the required course
curriculum. A dissertation is a specialized research report that differs significantly from
research or term papers. To fulfill the Faculty’s requirements, you must follow the
specific format outlined in these guidelines.

Completing the requirements for the postgraduate dissertation:

 provides an opportunity to present a problem or issue for advanced study in a
chosen field;
 requires the candidate to develop and implement an original idea or theory
concerning a problem or issue and to personally conduct research on it;
 produces a publication-quality written account of original research;
 presents an academic and intellectual challenge while increasing the general
body of scholarship in a chosen field;
 encourages collaboration, cooperation, discussion and debate of information
among education professionals

These guidelines describe the expectations of Chancellor College Faculties, explain what
is required from you and clearly outline the structure, format and process necessary to
complete the dissertation. By carefully following these guidelines and collaborating with
the research main supervisor, you should be able to produce a written product that meets

1
A thesis is defined as “a long piece of writing completed by a student as part of a uiversity degree based
on their own research” and this can be for a Master’s or PhD degree. Thesis is used both in US and UK
while dissertation (on something) tended to be used in the US especially “in partial fulfilment” after course
work but traditions are changing as “by coursework and research” postgraduate programmes get popular.
Different departments/faculties have their own preference.
the standards and requirements of advanced scholarly research. The completed
dissertation will provide objective evidence of your ability to perform advanced research
and writing at the Masters or doctoral level.

While providing the outline, structure, format and requirements for the dissertation, the guidelines are not
intended to suppress your independence, creativity, and flexibility of thought or advanced synthesis of
thought. Writing a dissertation is intended to enhance and support advanced exploration; research;
formulation of theoretical concepts; the gathering of information; analytical thought; the integration of
ideas and synthesis of information; theories; and abstract interpretation and conclusions. These are to be
developed into novel theory; knowledge and practical application; and the general body of knowledge and
literature in the chosen field of study. In summary, writing the dissertation will assist the candidate in
attaining the highest possible level of scholarly achievement.

It is important that you take care over the proper presentation of your dissertation. A good dissertation is a
piece of work to be proud of, and one which will be of use to future students who want to inform
themselves about the area or topic which you have researched. For both these reasons it is important that it
is well organised, carefully presented, and that you adhere to the usual conventions. These conventional
requirements may sometimes seem rather pedantic, but they are useful because they provide a standard
answer to problems of presentation.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

INTRODUCTION …………..…………………………………………………. 5

WRITING THE DISSERTATION – TECHNICAL…………………………... 6

Style……………………………………………………………………. 6
Typeface………………………………………………………………..
6
Margins …………………………………………………………………
7
Spacing and Indentation………………………………………………... 7
Using Copyrighted Materials in the Dissertation…………………….…. 7
Use of Previous Published Material…………………………………….. 8
Underlining…………………………………………………………….. 8
Photography and Illustrations………………………………………….. 8
Pagination……………………………………………………………… 9
Oversize Pages………………………………………………………… 9
Widows and Orphans…………………………………………………. 9
Footnotes and Head notes…………………………………………….. 9
Title Page……………………………………………………………… 10
Declaration ………………………..……………………………… 10
Approval Page/Certification/Signature Page …………………………….. 10
Copyright (Optional)……………………………………………………….
11
Dedication………………………………………………………………… 11
Acknowledgement(s) and/or Preface……………………………… 12
Abstract………………………………………………………………… 11
Table of Contents……………………………………………………… 12
List of Tables…………………………………………………………… 12
List of Figures or List of Illustrations…………………………………… 12
Appendices……………………………………………………………… 12
List of Abbreviations…………………………………………………… 12
 List of Symbols………………………………………………………… 12
References……………………………………………………………… 13
Appendices…………………………………………………………….. 13
Author Resume………………………………………………………… 13

WRITING THE MAIN TEXT OF THE DESSERTATION………………… 14

Chapter 1 – Introduction to the Problem or Issue…………………….. 14
Chapter 2 – Review of Related Literature and Research………………. 16
Chapter 3 – Research Design and Methodology………………………. 16
Chapter 4 – Results and Discussion of the Study……………………... 18
Chapter 5 – Summary, Conclusion and Implications…………………. 19

EXAMINATION OF THE DISSERTATION……………………………… 20

External Assessment/Examination…………………………………… 21
Viva / Oral Defence Examination……………………………………. 22
Submitting the Dissertation…………………………………………… 22
Distributing the Dissertation………………………………………….. 22

REFERENCES………………………………………………………………… 24

ATTACHMENTS 25
Sample Title Page………………………………………………………. 25
Sample Declaration……………………………………………………. 26
Sample Approval Page………………………………………………….. 26
Sample Copyright Page…………………………………………………. 28
Sample Abstract Page…………………………………………………… 29
Presentation of Supervisory Committee………………………………… 30
Supervisor’s Registration Form………………………………………… 31
Supervisor’s Progress Report 6 Months after Registration……………… 32
Postgraduate Candidate’s Annual Report……………………………….. 33
External Examiner’s Assessment Form………………………………… 36
INTRODUCTION

An important aspect of writing a dissertation or a thesis is making sure it follows the standards
and criteria presented in the most recent edition of the Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association (APA). This Guide abbreviates and simplifies some of the important
criteria provided in the Manual. In addition, it includes criteria specifically required of students
in the Doctoral and Masters Programmes at Chancellor College, University of Malawi. When in
doubt, the Chancellor College criteria take precedence over the APA Manual.

Your dissertation or thesis’ main supervisor/chair and members of your supervisory committee
will work with you throughout the dissertation writing process. They will be available to
regularly monitor and support the progress of your research and writing.

Dissertation Supervisory Committee Form and Prospectus

Prior to writing your dissertation, arrange with the Head of Department or Postgraduate
Committee to submit a Dissertation Supervisory Committee Form to the College Post Graduate
Committee for approval. Along with this form, you must also submit a prospectus (or a research
concept paper) of five or more pages detailing the following points:

 Title
 Statement of the problem
 Significance of the study
 Review of relevant research. This may be a brief or extended review. However, it
should show that the candidate understands the key issues in the areas chosen for study
 Research design and Methodology: methods of data gathering, sources of data and the
procedures used to analyze the data
 Limitations of the study: questions it will not address, factors that limit the interpretation
of data and generalizations from the results;
 Tentative timeline for the completion of the dissertation; and
 An initial references indicating major sources of information.

If appropriate, the Faculty’s approval of the research proposal through Faculty Staff/Student
Seminar must be obtained prior to submitting the Dissertation Committee Form and research
proposal to the Dean of Post Graduate Studies and Research for formal approval.

It is the responsibility of the student to seek research grant funding.

PART 1: WRITING THE DISSERTATION - TECHNICAL

1.1 Style

Dissertation text should be double-spaced and printed on a single side of the page. You have full
responsibility for ensuring that all copies of your dissertation are clear, legible and correct in
content and form. Before you submit your complete draft dissertation to the main supervisor of
your dissertation committee, make sure that all pages are present and in the following order:

 Title Page
 Declaration
 Approval Page
 Copyright Page (Optional)
 Dedication
 Acknowledgement(s)
 Abstract
 Table of contents, with page references
 List of Figures or Illustrations with titles and page references
 List of Tables, with titles and page references
 Appendices
 List of acronyms and abbreviations
 List of Symbols
 Text
(a) Chapter 1 – Introduction to the Problem or Issue
(b) Chapter 2 – Review of Related Literature and Research
(c) Chapter 3 – Research Methodology
(d) Chapter 4 – Results and Discussion of the Study
(e) Chapter 5 – Summary, Conclusion and Implications

In some dissertations and especially for PhDs, it is possible to have more than FIVE
chapters. A suitable configuration would have to be worked out in consultation with
supervisors.

Main body (with the larger divisions and more important minor divisions) should be
indicated by suitable, consistent heading(s) and sub-headings.

 References

 Appendices, if any

 Author Resume (for doctoral candidates only)

1.2 Type face

Most graduate students prepare their dissertations on word processors. When choosing a word
processing system, keep in mind that the printer must provide letter quality print with dark black
characters that are consistently clear and dense. The typeface must be legible and the contrast
between the print and the paper must great enough to ensure crisp, clear photocopies. Font types
should be clearly reproducible and similar to Times New Roman. The minimum size of type for
the body of your text is 12 points (equivalent to Times New Roman type) and superscripts and
subscripts (e.g., footnote numbers) must be no more than 2 points or smaller than the font size
used for the body of the text.

1.3 Margins

All copies of a dissertation must have uniform margins as indicated below.

Left
All left-hand margins throughout the dissertation from the first sheet of paper through the last
must be at least one and one half inches (1 ½”). This margin ensures sufficient room for binding
the work.

Right
All right-hand margins must be at least one inch (1”) throughout.

Bottom
The bottom margin must be at least one inch (1”) throughout.

Top
The top margin must be at least one inch (1”) throughout, including the following pages that
make up the front and back material of the dissertation.
(a) DECLARATION
(b) APPROVAL;
(c) COPYRIGHT;
(d) LISTS OF TABLES, ILLUSTRATIONS, ABBREVIATIONS and SYMBOLS;
(e) APPENDICES; and
(f) REFERENCES

The following pages begin two inches (2”) from the top of the page:
(a) TITLE PAGE;
(b) ABSTRACT;
(c) First pages of the DEDICATION, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT(S) and PREFACE (if any)
(d) First page of the TABLE OF CONTENTS;
(e) First page of each CHAPTER (including the introduction, if any); and

1.4 Spacing and Indentation

The dissertation text must appear in a single column and must be printed on a single side of each
page. It should be double-spaced, except for notes, captions, legends and long headings, which
are to be single-spaced with a space between items. Spacing your text two lines apart is
especially important if you use superscript and subscript characters. The spacing of your
dissertation should be uniform throughout.

Indented paragraphs five to seven spaces consistently throughout the dissertation. Blocked
quotations should be indented five to seven spaces from the left margin. Indent the first line of a
blocked paragraph five to seven spaces from the new margin.

1.5 Using Copyrighted Materials in the Dissertation

As the author of your dissertation, you must certify that any previously copyrighted materials
used in your work, beyond brief excerpts, are used with written permission of the copyright
owner and that you will save and hold harmless, the University of Malawi from any damages
which may arise from copyright violations. Three hundred words are the acceptable publishers
standard for “fair use”; anything beyond that requires copyright permission. If your dissertation
included previously copyrighted material beyond brief excerpts, you must secure written
permission or release letters from the copyright holder. Book and journal publishers normally
hold the copyright for all materials they publish. Therefore even if you are the sole or one of
several authors of material in a published book or journal, you must obtain written permission
from the copyright holder if you are including this material in your dissertation. You are
responsible for securing these permissions, paying any permission fees and filing copies of
dissertation. The Post Graduate Committee regards receiving your approved dissertation
equivalent to publishing it.

1.6 Use of Previously Published Material

The Postgraduate Programme permits you to include in your dissertation articles or other
materials that you have published previously or that have been accepted for publication or that
have been otherwise presented to the public. In all such instances the material, if included in the
body of your text, must be rendered in a type face and citation form consistent in all respects with
the body of the text. Simply photocopying material with a different typeface and/or format is
unacceptable. The text must appear in a single column on each page.

If the material is co-authored, the co-author(s) and department must approve its inclusion in your
dissertation. If the material is copyrighted and you are the sole author but the publisher holds the
copyright, you must fulfil the conditions specified in Section 1.05.

1.7 Underlining

When underlining is used within a dissertation, a solid line is acceptable.

1.8 Photography and Illustrations

Photographs used in a dissertation should be of professional quality. Colour photographs are

acceptable. Copied pages should show high resolution and must be printed on 100 percent cotton
paper. Photographs may also be scanned. It is acceptable for only one dissertation copy to
contain colour photographs with the other copies containing black and white reproductions.

1.9 Pagination

Each page of a dissertation must be assigned a page number, although the number may not
always appear. Small Roman numerals are used on all pages preceding the first page of the
introduction or chapter one. This includes the abstract, dedication page, acknowledgement(s),
table of contents, list of tables, etc. While the title, approval, and copyright pages are counted as
pages i, ii, and iii, page numbers are not printed on the page itself. The first page identified with
a number is page iv, the first page of the abstract. Roman numerals should be centred between
the right and left margins at the bottom of the paper, one-half inch (4 lines) from the bottom edge
of the paper.
Arabic numerals (1,2,3,4, etc) begin with the introduction or chapter one and continue throughout
the text, illustrations, notes, references, appendices and resume. You may position page Arabic
numbers in one of two ways:
(a) in the upper right corner of the page, one-half inch (4 lines) from the top of the paper and
one-inch from the right edge; or
(b) centred between the right and left margins at the bottom of the paper, one-half inch (4 lines)
from the bottom edge of the paper.

1.10 Oversize Pages

When charts, graphs, maps and tables are larger than the standard 8 ½” x 11” page size and
cannot be reduced to fit this standard, carefully fold the page(s) into the manuscript to meet the
standard size page and margin guidelines. Do not fold the page(s) beyond the 1 ½ “ left-hand
margin required for binding your dissertation. If you wish to use pockets for holding large maps,
floppy discs, plates, tapes, drawings, etc., you must purchase a type that is acceptable to the
bindery.

1.11 Widows and Orphans

Most word processing systems have a setting that controls “widows” and “orphans” on a printed
page. A widow is a single line or text at the bottom of a page, with the rest of a paragraph
continuing on the next page. An orphan is a single line of text at the top of a page, with the rest
of the paragraph left behind on the previous page. Because widows and orphans are
unacceptable, be sure to activate the widow/orphan setting that controls page breaks before you
print out the final copy of your dissertation.

1.12 Footnotes and Endnotes

If you choose to use footnotes for citing published or unpublished materials in your dissertation,
allow enough space to place the footnote at the bottom of the page. Footnotes should be
separated form the text by a solid line one or two inches long, beginning at the left hand margin
on the first line below the text. If the footnote is more than one line long, it should be single-
spaced, with the first line indented the same number of spaces as the paragraph indentation used
in the text (five to seven spaces). A double space should separate each footnote when more than
one footnote appears on a page. Consult the most recent edition of the APA Manual. Footnote
format must be consistent throughout the dissertation. Dividing a footnote may be necessary if it
is long and if all of it cannot be accommodated in the space remaining at the bottom of one page.
To maintain the required margins, break the note within a sentence and carry the remainder into
the foot-note area of the next page, where it will precede the footnotes for that page, if there are
any. Do not indicate the continuation of a footnote by a statement such as “Continued on the next
page.”

1.13 Title Page

The title page of your dissertation should appear as follows:

(a) the title of the dissertation, typed in all capital letters, centred two inches below the top of
the page;
(b) The Expected Degree/Programme eg. M.A./PhD (Economics)
(c) The word “By”, centred three quarters of an inch below the previous line;
(d) Author’s Official Name followed on the next line below the name by the previous highest
qualification and awarding university;
(e) the following statement double-spaced two inches below your name:

Thesis submitted in fulfilment or (IF FOLLOWING A COURSEWORK

COMPONENT) partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of XX/Doctor of Philosophy (Area)
(f) “UNIVERSITY OF MALAWI”
(g) “CHANCELLOR COLLEGE”
(h) month and year of submission centred near the bottom of the page

Refer to the sample on page 26 for formatting assistance.

1.14 Declaration

You must declare that the dissertation is your own work. This page must therefore contain the
following signed declaration:

DECLARATION

I the undersigned hereby declare that this thesis/dissertation is my own original work which has
not been submitted to any other institution for similar purposes. Where other people’s work has
been used acknowledgements have been made.

_______________________________
Full Legal Name

_______________________________
Signature

______________________________
Date:

1.15 Approval/Certification Page/Signature Page

The approval page of the dissertation should bear the following information:
(a) The words “Certificate of Approval”, centred one inch below the top of the pageThen
followed by the following words: “The undersigned certify that this thesis represents
the student’s own work and effort and has been submitted with our approval.
(b) Thereafter, there should be signature and date lines and names of the Main Supervisor and
other supervisors.
(c) Each committee member’s highest academic degree followed by academic position e.g
(Senior Lecturer) stated after their typed name.
All signatures on your approval page must be in black ink. Refer to the samples on page 16 for
formatting assistance.

1.16 Copyright

If you wish to copyright your dissertation, you must include a copyright page, following the
approval page, with the following information centered on the bottom half of the page:

Copyright ©…Year by Full Legal Name

All Rights Reserved

1.17 Dedication, Acknowledgement(s), and/or Preface (optional)

A DEDICATION, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT(S), and/or PREFACE page(s) may be included in

the dissertation immediately followed by the ABSTRACT and before the TABLE OF
CONTENTS. The order for these sections (if included) should be:

Dedication (optional)
Acknowledgement (optional)
Preface (optional)
Abstract (required)
Table of Contents (required)

A DEDICATION is a personal statement from the author acknowledging a person or group.

Most dedication are short statements of tribute beginning with “To ….”. No heading is required
on the DEDICATION page. The text of short dedications may be centred between the left and
right margins for a more attractive presentation, at least 2” from the top of the page. The text
may be single-spaced. Humorous dedications often lose effect over time and may be
inappropriate for a work of serious scholarship.

An ACKNOWLEDGEMENT is a statement of the author’s gratitude to and recognition of the

people and institutions that helped the author’s research and writing. A PREFACE is a statement
of the author’s reason’s of undertaking the work or other personal comments, which are not
directly germane to the materials, presented in the literature review and the research methods
chapters of the dissertation. These reasons tend to be of a personal nature. There is no limit to
the length of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT(S) and PREFACE pages should be numbered with
small Roman numerals starting with the page number after the ABSTRACT. The headings
“ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS” or “PREFACE” must be centred between the left and right
margins, 2” from the top of the page. If more than one page is required for the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT(S) or the PREFACE, subsequent pages return to the 1” top margin.
The format of the text of the of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and the PREFACE should be
consistent with the main body of the dissertation text, but it may be single-spaced.

1.18 Abstract

Each copy of your dissertation must include an abstract. The abstract should follow the title,
declaration, approval, copyright, dedication, acknowledgement pages; it will be the first page
listed in the table of contents. The abstract page is double-spaced throughout and must adhere to
the margin guidelines set forth in this Guide. Wording should appear as follows:
(a) the word ABSTRACT is centered two inches (2”) below the top of the paper;

(b) the text of the abstract begins, indented at the left hand margin, on the following line.

An abstract for the Masters dissertation may be 250 to 400 words and for a doctoral dissertation
may be 400 to 500 words; however, the maximum length for abstracts submitted to Dissertation
Abstracts International is 350 WORDS. Prepare and proof-read the abstract carefully. Your
abstract should offer the briefest possible description of your purpose, a brief outline of
methodology and major conclusions.

1.19 Table of Contents

The table of contents must follow the abstract or the preface if you include one. The heading may
simply say CONTENTS or TABLE OF CONTENTS. Type the heading you select in all caps
and centre it two inches (2”) below the top of the page. The table of contents should list all parts
of your dissertation beginning with the abstract and including the references and all appendices.

If the chapters in your dissertation contain subheadings of one or more levels, include them in the
table of contents. The subheading(s) may be indented three to five spaces to the right of the
margin for chapter titles. Information listed in a table of contents must match exactly the
capitalization and wording of titles for the parts, chapters and subheadings used in the dissertation
itself. Page numbers in the table of contents should be located just inside the right hand margin
of the paper with leaders (a line of dots) filling out the space between the entry and the page
number. If an entry takes up more than one line, break up the entry about three-fourths of the
way across the page and place the rest of it on a second line, single spacing the two lines. Double
space between entries.

1.20 List of Tables

Assign each table in your dissertation an Arabic numeral. You may number tables consecutively
throughout the entire work (Table 1, Table 2, etc), or you may assign each table a two-part Arabic
numerical, the first number designating the chapter in which it appears, followed by a period,
followed by a second number to indicate the consecutive placement in the chapter. Table 3.2, for
example, would be the second table in Chapter Three.

The heading for the list of table should appear one inch (1”) from the top of the page, centred and
in all caps: LIST OF TABLES. Double space between the heading and the first entry. The
number of each table (in Arabic) and its title should be located on the left margin of the paper
with two spaces separating the table number and the title. Page numbers (in Arabic) are located
just inside the right margin of the paper with leaders (a line of dots) filling out the space between
the entry and the page number. Single space a table and its title if it takes up more than one line;
double space between entries within each table. The table number and title in your list of tables
should match exactly the number and title appearing in the dissertation itself.

1.21 List of Figures or List of Illustrations

The heading for the list of figures should appear one inch (1”) below the top of the page, centred
and in all caps: LIST OF FIGURES or LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. The instructions given
above for the list of tables also apply to formatting the list of figures/illustrations.

1.22 List of Appendices (where applicable)

1.23 List of Abbreviations

If you use abbreviations extensively in your dissertation, you should provide a list of
abbreviations and their corresponding definitions. The heading for the list of abbreviations
should appear one inch (1”) below the top of the page, centred and in all caps: LIST OF
ABBREVIATIONS. Arrange your abbreviations alphabetically at the left margin, single space
within each entry and double space between entries.

1.24 List of Symbols

If you use symbols in your dissertation, you may combine them in a list with abbreviations under
the title LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS, or you may set up a separate list of
symbols and their definitions. The heading for the list of symbols should appear one inch (1”)
from the top of the page, centred and in all caps: LIST OF SYMBOLS. Single space within each
entry and double space between entries.

1.25 References

A bibliography of all reference within the body of the dissertation, arranged alphabetically by the
author’s last name, must appear at the end of your dissertation. Spelling of author's names
must be consistent in the text of the dissertation and the citation in the reference section.
Every reference within the body of the dissertation must appear in the reference section and every
reference listed in the reference section must appear in the body of the text. You may use
abbreviations in the references and the footnotes so long as the form is consistent throughout and
your use of abbreviations conforms to the most recent edition of the APA Style Manual.

When listing works in the reference, give complete titles for articles, books and other sources.
Provide the full last name and initials for all authors. Each entry is double spaced and double
spacing is used to separate each entry. The first line of each entry should be flush with the left
margin and all subsequent lines must be indented five spaces. The heading used to identify this
section of your dissertation should be REFERENCES.

1.26 Appendices

The appendices, If any, must conform to the margin regulations specified in Section 1.03 of this
Guide. Not all dissertations have appendices. If you include them, however, certain criteria
apply. Appendices appear at the end of the dissertation, never at the end of the chapter to which
they pertain. Where there is more than one appendix, assign each appendix a number or a letter
heading, (APPENDIX 1, APPENDIX ONE, or APPENDIX A) and a descriptive title. The
heading and title for each appendix should be centred on the page and typed in uppercase. All
heading and titles must in the table of contents. Including photocopied material in the appendices
is acceptable. All appendix pages should be numbered with Arabic numerals using the same
guidelines described in the pagination section of this Guide. Computer printouts used in the
appendices must meet margin requirements discussed in Section 1.03; the paper must be 100 per
cent cotton rag content. Computer printouts used in an appendix do not have to be in the same
typeface as the body of the dissertation, although they must be clean, clear and legible. Computer
printouts with small and indistinct print or very narrow margins are unacceptable because they
will be illegible in microfilm.

1.27 Length of Dissertation

MEd – not normally exceeding 40 000 words (excluding appendices); PhD – not normally
exceeding 80 000 words (including bibliographies/References but excluding appendices).

1.28 Author Resume (optional)

The final page in the dissertation, a brief one-page resume, should be the final listing in the table
of contents. The heading for this page, AUTHOR RESUME, should be centred 2 inches from the
top of the paper. The resume may include the author’s education, work experience, publications
and related information.
PART 2: WRITING THE MAIN TEXT OF THE DISSERTATION

Chapter 1
Introduction to the Problem or Issue

Chapter 1 of the dissertation introduces and clearly states the problem or issue being researched
and explains why this topic was chosen. The Introduction to the Problem or Issue details why this
topic should be studied, the new data or other information needed and how this data and
information will be collected.

Background and History

Once the problem or issue to be researched has been identified, write the Background and History
section of Chapter 1 of the dissertation.

The following steps will help organize this section of the dissertation.

Writing the Background and History

Step 1: Describe specific ways the problem or issue being researched affects people or
society in general.
Step 2: List as many reasons as possible regarding why people need to know more about this
problem or issue. Think of a reason for changing a specific problematic situation or condition
and/or why awareness or understanding concerning a specific issue should be increased.
Step 3: Do preliminary research to find journal articles, books, newspaper articles and other
materials related to the proposed study. (In-depth research will be done after the proposed study
is approved.)
Step 4: Draft a description of the background and history of the problem or issue to be studied,
including the facts, statistics, quotes and other preliminary research information that have been
gathered.
Step 5: Keep revising the description until it clearly and comprehensively describes the
background and history of the proposed study.

Developing the Introduction to the Problem or Issue

Step 1: Make a list of situations, conditions, events, programs or other elements in society of
interest or concern.
Step 2: Choose one topic from the list and consider why it is of interest or concern and what
more can be discovered about it. Formulate questions to be answered and/or list issues
that need to be researched. Also write a sentence concerning how the results of the study
may be used to heighten awareness or understanding of the issue and/or improve a
problematic situation.
Step 3: Draft a statement that clearly describes the problem or issue and explains why it should
be studied.
Step 4: Revise the draft statement until it clearly describes the chosen topic and the reasons for
studying it.

Statement of the Problem or Issue

Using the statement drafted from the previous steps, describe as briefly and precisely as possible
the purpose of the study and how it affects the specific problem or issue chosen for research.
State what the study is to accomplish in terms of emphasizing changes, increasing understanding
of, or enhancing the interpretation of data and other information. This statement concerns the
specific study and should not be combined with the Introduction to the Problem or Issue, which
describes the topic chosen for research.
Purpose of the Study: Research Question(s)/Research Objectives

Provide the purpose statement of the study or state the general objective of the study.

Use the following steps:

Step 1: Draft a purpose statement describing the research goal of the proposed study as
completely and concisely as possible. Ask what should be accomplished with the study.

Step 2: Keep revising the statement until it clearly and comprehensively describes the purpose of
the proposed study.

Then restate the problem or issue to be studied as key research questions or specific objectives to
be answered by the research. The following steps will help formulate the research question(s) or
specific research objectives.

Step 1: Determine the kinds of questions or specific objectives that can be answered based on the
type of research being performed and draft as many appropriate research questions or specific
research objectives as possible.

Step 2: Keep revising the research question(s) or specific research objective(s) until it/they
focus(es) the research and yield the desired information.

Hypothesis(es)
Hypotheses are educated guesses concerning specific answers to research questions. For certain
kinds of studies (such as evaluations and descriptive studies) hypotheses cannot be specified in
advance with much clarity or precision. Depending on the type of research conducted, the
hypothesis(es) may need to be stated in a general form until preliminary data is collected and
analyzed. It should be borne in mind that hypotheses are not necessary in qualitative studies.

Use the following steps to clearly and succinctly state what is hoped to be learned from the
research study. If a clinical study is chosen, consult with the research advisor regarding specific
formats for writing the hypotheses for an analysis of statistical data.

Determining Hypothesis(es)
Step 1: List the specific results expected from the study.
Step 2: Determine how each result relates to the problem or issue being researched.
Step 3: Draft the research hypothesis(es) based on the information in the first two steps. If a
clinical study is chosen, draft the null and research hypotheses.
Step 4: Keep revising the research hypothesis(es) until it/they is/are appropriate for the study.

Significance of the Study

As the following steps are completed, remember that the purpose of this section of Chapter 1
of the dissertation is to clearly and accurately describe the study, not the problem or issue
being studied.

Step 1: List as many reasons as possible concerning why the study is important to society.
Consider the difference it can make in helping to improve a problematic situation or raising
awareness of an issue.
Step 2: Draft a statement describing the importance of the study and why it should be done.
Step 3: Keep revising the statement until it clearly and accurately describes the significance of
the study.
Definition of Terms
The Definition of Terms section of the dissertation should include clear, accurate definitions of
word and phrases related to the specific field of research as well as any common words or
phrases that might have a different meaning outside the context of this research.

Defining Terms
Step 1: List all of the key words in the dissertation that need clarification.
Step 2: Consult dictionaries, encyclopedias and other standard reference materials for the precise
definitions of these words. List the source reference at the end of each definition. Be sure to
properly cite all definitions of words and phrases in quoted material.
Step 3: Review Chapter 1 entirely and clarify or revise as necessary.

Chapter 2
Review of Related Literature and Research

Chapter 2 of the dissertation links the original research to similar studies on the same or related
problem or issue completed recently (usually within the last five years). The Review of Related
Literature and Research should provide a comprehensive listing, but it does not necessarily list
every related study.

Review of Related Literature and Research

Step 1: List as many topics as possible related to the problem or issue being researched.
Step 2: Use appropriate resource materials, including publication indexes and Internet
searches, to locate related studies.
Step 3: Select the studies that most closely relate to the study; support the motivation for
studying the specific problem or issue; and have yielded results and conclusions similar to the
ones anticipated from the proposed study.
Step 4: Revise and clarify the literature review as necessary.

Chapter 3
Research Design and Methodology of the Study

Chapter 3 of the dissertation details how the problem or issue will be researched. The Design of
the Study describes the specific data-collecting and/or information-gathering instruments and
methods that will be used; how the data or information gathered will be evaluated, assessed or
analyzed; the human population, documents or other materials that will be studied; the underlying
assumptions of the data analysis; and the scope and limitations of the study.

The study may yield results similar to other studies on the same or related topic, but the specific
design of it makes it original research. The perspective, or methodology, used when approaching
and investigating the problem or issue and how conclusions are drawn from the results help
distinguish it from similar studies.

Formulate the Appropriate Methodology

Step 1: Determine whether it would be best to approach the problem or issue being studied from
a past, present or future viewpoint. Consider studying an event or situation that occurred in the
past with the goal of better understanding it, studying a present-day event or situation with the
goal of better understanding it and how it changes, or studying a present-day event or situation
with the goal of changing it in some way in the future.

Step 2: If studying the topic from the perspective of the past will yield the desired information,
consider using a historical or causal-comparative research methodology (see page 27). If taking a
present perspective would yield more desired results, consider using a developmental,
descriptive, correlational or experimental methodology (see page 28). If the study is to improve a
situation in the future, consider using an evaluation or action research methodology (see pages
28-29).

Step 3: After determining what perspective is most appropriate for studying the topic, determine
the logical sequence of steps and the techniques to be used for gathering and analyzing the data
and/or other information. List these specific steps and techniques.

Step 4: Consult the research advisor concerning the perspective and techniques to be used. Refine
the design of the study until it is the most appropriate methodology to obtain the needed
information.

Underlying Assumptions
Personal beliefs, ideologies, values, world view and philosophy of research will lead the
candidate to make some assumptions regarding various aspects of the study. For instance, if the
candidate believes that objective data-gathering techniques provide more accurate information
than subjective techniques, then he or she may use laboratory tests rather than one-on-one
interviews in the study. To help validate the results of the study, clearly state the assumptions
underlying its design.

Determining Underlying Assumptions

Step 1: State as clearly as possible why the perspective (past, present or future) is the most
appropriate one for the study.
Step 2: List the specific techniques for gathering data and collecting other information and state
as clearly as possible why they are the most appropriate choices.
Step 3: List the specific techniques to be used when analyzing the data and information and state
as clearly as possible why they are the most appropriate choices.
Step 4: Consult the research advisor concerning the underlying assumptions of the study.
Modify the statements until they state these assumptions as clearly as possible.

Scope and Limitations

Remember that no one study can comprehensively investigate all aspects of a particular
problem or issue. This research will probably build on the results of previous studies of the
problem or issue being studied, and the results should provide additional information on the topic
that will lead to future studies. By focusing and carefully designing the study, it will be more
likely to yield accurate, valid and usable information that will increase understanding of the topic
and contribute to the general body of scholarship related to it.

Use the following steps to identify and clearly state the factors that will determine the scope and
limitations of the study.

Determining Scope and Limitations

Step 1: Determine the amount of time allocated to complete the research project based on time
devoted to family, work and other responsibilities; any preset deadline for completing the
dissertation; or any other time constraints.

Step 2: Determine what resources are available to complete the study, including the availability
of subjects, written materials needed for background information or data collection, data
collection and management tools, statistical techniques, etc.

Step 3: Determine the inherent limitations of the specific methods to be used for collecting data
and gathering other information and of the specific techniques and tools to use for analyzing and
evaluating the data and information.

Step 4: State as clearly and precisely as possible the scope and limitations of the study based on
available time, available resources and research techniques.

Step 5: If necessary, modify the study design until the scope and limitations are reasonable and
the study will probably yield valuable results.

Chapter 4
Results and Discussions of the Findings

Chapter 4 of the dissertation contains an analysis of the data collected or information gathered, a
statement of the findings and a summary statement of the study. Also state whether the results
and findings support the expected conclusions and stated hypothesis(es), failed to support them or
are more or less equivocal. Provide a factual report of the results and findings in narrative form
with appropriate tabular or graphic documentation. Report the results of the statistical analysis (if
appropriate) at the beginning of the chapter and then convert the information to narrative and
commentary form.

Be careful in this chapter to focus on factually reporting and documenting results related to the
research question(s) stated in Chapter 1. Do not elaborate on extraneous points. Review the stated
research question(s) and hypothesis(es), if any, to determine what is or is not important regarding
the findings of the study. Include as many subheadings, tables, figures and/or graphs as necessary
to fully describe and support the findings.

Remember to be an impartial researcher and objective reporter and report all findings of the study
that relate to the stated research question(s) and hypothesis(es), if any. It is not appropriate to
report only those findings that support the premises and ideas of the study. Also remember that
the task in writing a dissertation is not to prove the hypothesis(es), but rather to research and
uncover data that supports or fails to support the stated hypothesis(es). The dissertation does not
defend research question(s) and hypothesis(es) — it is research to discover and offer additional
information concerning the problem or issue being studied.

Use the following steps to write the results and findings of the study.

Step 1: List the results of the study.

Step 2: State as clearly and precisely as possible what the results indicate in relation to the stated
research question(s) and hypothesis(es), if any.
Step 3: List the results of the analysis of the data and other information gathered during the
study. Determine what visual illustrations (graphs, charts, etc.) will best report the
factual results of the study.

Step 4: State as clearly and precisely as possible what the results of the interpretation of
information or data analysis indicate in relation to the stated research question(s) and
hypothesis(es).

Step 5: Describe as clearly and precisely as possible how the results of the research may impact
the problem or issue being studied.
Step 6: When in doubt consult your main research supervisor concerning the results and
findings of the study and how to clearly and precisely report them, including appropriate
graphic illustrations.

Chapter 5
Conclusions, Implications and Recommendations

Chapter 5 of the dissertation requires the candidate to state as comprehensively and clearly as
possible the conclusions and implications of the results of the study and offer recommendations
for practice and further research on the topic. Restate why the study was significant and how the
results of the study contribute to the body of scholarship on the topic.

This chapter is more flexible in format and creativity, which allows for personal thoughts on
conducting the study and ways to modify the study design in follow-up research projects. Be sure
to comment on all implications, both positive and negative, of the study. Remember that the
dissertation does not defend the study — it only provides information that will be of value for
future research.

Use the following steps to write the conclusions, implications and recommendations for further
research:

Step 1: List all conclusions that can be logically drawn from the results of the study.

Step 2: Describe the possible impact(s) the conclusions listed in Step 1 might have on
understanding the problem or issue being studied, the potential improvement of the
problematic situation, the overall benefit to society, etc.

Step 3: List the implications the study has for future research on the same or related topic.

Step 4: List specific recommendations for the topic as well as the study design for future
research.

Step 5: State the conclusions, implications and recommendations as clearly and concisely as
possible.

Step 6: Review, clarify and revise until the draft statement is clear, concise and accurate.
PART 3: WRITING THE ABSTRACT

The abstract is a brief summary designed to provide a synopsis of the dissertation that
will allow other researchers to quickly review it and determine if the study is relevant to
their work. It should highlight the main reason for the study; concisely describe the
content, scope and limitations of the study; and review the dissertation in abbreviated
form.

The abstract should succinctly and clearly state the problem or issue studied as well as the
methodology, results and conclusions of the study. Start by stating the purpose of the study and
provide a brief description of the study population, if any; followed by a brief discussion of the
research question(s) and objectives, if any; the results and findings; and the conclusions,
implications and recommendations for further research.

Although the abstract will be placed at the beginning of the completed dissertation, it will be the
last item written since it is a summary of the entire dissertation. The following steps and tips will
help create an effective abstract.

Writing an Effective Abstract

Step 1: Review the dissertation and list the main ideas in each chapter.

Step 2: Use an introduction/body/conclusion format to describe the dissertation's purpose, results,

conclusions and recommendations. Follow the chronology, structure and logic of the dissertation
and provide logical connections and transitions between the information and ideas presented.

Step 3: Remember the following tips when writing the abstract:

o Do not add any new information — only summarize the information in the
Dissertation.
o Try to summarize the information without copying key sentences or using the
same phrases — use different words and summary statements whenever possible.
o Make the wording easy to understand so that anyone reading the abstract can
immediately understand the purpose of the dissertation.
o Write as succinctly, concisely and clearly as possible and avoid wordiness.

Step 4: After completing the first draft, continue to refine the wording until it summarizes the
entire dissertation clearly and concisely.
PART 4: EXAMINATION OF THE DISSERTATION

4.01 External Assessment/Examination

With the approval of the College Postgraduate Committee or its Chair, the Department shall
propose an external examiner and an internal assessor and an internal examiner.

The external examiner shall be appointed at least 2 months before the submission of the final
draft dissertation or thesis for assessment/examination. This guideline is only in the interest of
logistics and can be waived. The external examiner must be from an institution other than the
University of Malawi, and be of proven academic ability, qualified to be a supervisor and an
expert in the field to be examined. Former members of the University of Malawi can only be
external examiners after 2 years have elapsed.

The internal examiner must be from any Constituent college of the University of Malawi, is a
senior member and qualified to be a supervisor. Furthermore, he/she must have some aspects of
command in a field to be examined.

According to current Chancellor College Postgraduate Rules and Regulations, the main
supervisor shall be the second internal examiner.

The internal assessor must be from another Department of the University of Malawi, not
necessarily a specialist in the discipline to be examined, and must have supervisory experience.

The specific task of the examiners/assessors are:

i) The external examiner: to check that the dissertation is of sufficient international
standard.
ii) The internal examiners: to check the dissertation from the point of view of the
Department and the disciplines taught within the Department.
iii) The internal assessor: to look at the dissertation from the point of view of
maintaining the standards of the University of Malawi and to check for possible
insights from related disciplines.

Each examiner and assessor will examine independently.

Each dissertation shall be read carefully and thoroughly; and then assessed with due regard to the
following criteria:
i) clear statement of the problem being addressed.
ii) adequate grasp of relevant methodological and theoretical issues.
iii) logical presentation and sound analysis of data.
iv) use of clear and relevant illustrations.
v) mastery of applicable writing skills.
vi) competent use and manipulation of language.

The examiners submit the required Form PG9 and a written report to the Department.

Each examiner can recommend:

i) pass as is
ii) pass as is (with minor technical corrections)
iii) pass, after specified amendments have been made to the satisfaction of the Head of
Department.
iv) referred, resubmission welcome after not more than 12 months.
v) failed, no resubmission.
Each examiner shall recommend a numerical grade for the MASTERS LEVEL thesis BUT
there is no need for a grade for a doctoral dissertation.

4.2 Viva or Oral Examination (VARIED)

Candidates for postgraduate degrees shall be subject to a viva details of which arrangement
and timing shall be the departments’ responsibility but with reports of the same to the
Postgraduate Committee.

The panel for vivas shall consist of: the Dean of Faculty (Chair), the external examiner (if
present), internal examiner, main and other supervisors, internal assessor, representative of the
Postgraduate Committee, members of the Department, qualified students and interested members
of the public.

Deans of faculty in consultation with the heads of department shall determine the members of the
panel that will constitute examiners panel. The panel will deliberate on the results, taking into
account the viva, examiners' reports and internal assessor’s report. After the deliberations have
been concluded, the panel shall call back the candidate to inform her/him about the results of the
examination.

4.03: Submitting the Dissertation

When recommendations have been incorporated, the student delivers the final draft dissertation
for certification by the Main Supervisor of the Supervisory Committee. The Main Supervisor
will read the dissertation and return it to the candidate with format and editing suggestions.
These are the final changes that will be made in the document.

Once all revisions have been completed, you will return the corrected dissertation along with the
original dissertation and a signed signature page. After this final review, you will be given
clearance to make the five official copies of your dissertation for binding.

All five copies should be on high quality 8 ½ x 11” 100% paper. Print should appear only on one
side of each sheet. The FOUR copies and a diskette/CD should be in a big envelope. That
envelope must have a label containing the following information:
(a) your name
(b) program and degree

The submission of a dissertation is the last step in a program leading to the award of a graduate
degree. The manuscript is a scholarly statement of the results of the student’s research and related
preparation. It is made available for public use in the University Library.

Thereafter, the Department is expected to make a presentation to the College postgraduate

Committee with the following:
 Four bound copies of the dissertation/thesis
 Copy of thesis on Diskette/CD
 External Examiner’s Report
 First Internal Examiner’s Report
 Second Internal Examiner’s report
  Internal Assessor’s Report
 Main Supervisor’s Report confirming that corrections have been made
 Minutes of the viva

4.04: Distributing the Dissertation

Normally, processing time for binding and cataloguing is several months. When returned, the
four bound copies are required to be distributed as follows:
(a) Dissertation Committee Chairperson;
(b) University Library;
(c) Department; and
(d) Graduate Studies.

You may have as many personal copies of your dissertation bound as you wish. You may
consider having copies bound for dissertation committee members. The Dean of Postgraduate
Studies and Research will distribute the bound copies on campus.
References

Berry, R. (1996). How to write a Research Paper. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

Bolker, J. (1998). Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day. New York: Henry Holt
and Company, Inc.

Bell, J. (1993). Doing your Research Project: a guide for first-time researchers in education and
social science. Buckingham: Open University Press.

Chissom, B. S., McLean, J. E. and Hoenes, R. L. (1980). A Student Guide for Educational
Research. Tuscaloosa: Capstone College of Education Society.

Creme, P. and Lea, M. R. (1997). Writing at University: a guide for students. Buckingham: Open
University Press.

Cuba, L. and Cocking, J. (1997). How to Write about the Social Sciences. London: Longman.

Dunleavy, P. (1986). Studying for a Degree in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Basingstoke:
Macmillan Education. (Ch. 5: "Writing Dissertations")

Fairbairn, G. J. and Winch, C. (1996). Reading, Writing and Reasoning: a guide for students.
Buckingham: Open University Press.

Horner, W. B., Webb, S. S. and Miller, R. K. (1998). Hodges' Harbrace Handbook. Fort Worth:
Harcourt Brace College Publishers.

Jordan, B. K. (1993). Dissertation, Thesis, and Research Project Workbook: A step by step
writing guide for success. Abbeville: Jordan.

Kane, E. (1985). Doing Your Own Research: How to do basic descriptive research in the Social
Sciences. London: Boyars.

Miller, R. K., Webb, S. S. and Horner, W. B. (2001). The Writer's Harbrace Handbook. Fort
Worth: Harcourt College Publishers.

Pirie, D. B. (1985). How to Write Critical Essays: a guide for students of literature. London:
Methuen. (This book is not specifically on dissertations but it has many useful ideas on
the general approach to take).

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. (1996). Washington, D.C.:

American Psychological Association.

Race, P. (1999) How to get a GOOD Degree: making the most of your time at university.
Buckingham: Open University Press. (Again, not specifically about dissertations, except
pages 119-122, but an excellent companion to "working smart".)
 UNIVERSITY OF MALAWI

Chancellor College

POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES

GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION AND

PROCESSING OF DISSERTATIONS OR THESES

SAMPLES OF FORMATS AND PAGE SEQUENCING

 (Cover Page: NB. Formating has changed. University of Malawi and Chancellor College given
more prominence)

TITLE OF YOUR DISSERTATION APPEARS HERE IN ALL CAPITALS:

TITLE CONTINUES TO THE NEXT LINE IF NECESSARY

M.A./PhD (Subject Area eg. Economics) Thesis/Dissertation (IN CAPITALS)

AUTHOR’S FULL LEGAL NAME

UNIVERSITY OF MALAWI

CHANCELLOR COLLEGE

MONTH, YEAR of submission

(NB.The cover is followed by a blank page)

(Title Page: NB. Formating has changed. University of Malawi and Chancellor College
given more prominence)

TITLE OF YOUR DISSERTATION APPEARS HERE IN ALL CAPITALS:

TITLE CONTINUES TO THE NEXT LINE IF NECESSARY

M.A./PhD (Subject Area eg. Economics)

By

AUTHOR’S FULL LEGAL NAME

Highest Educational Qualification

Thesis submitted to the Department of XXX, Faculty of YYY, in

partial (if one component is coursework)/ fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of XX/Doctor of Philosophy (Subject Area)

UNIVERSITY OF MALAWI
CHANCELLOR COLLEGE
 Month and year of submission

DECLARATION(NB. Wording has changed)

I the undersigned hereby declare that this thesis/dissertation is my own original work which has
not been submitted to any other institution for similar purposes. Where other people’s work has
been used acknowledgements have been made.

_______________________________
Full Legal Name

_______________________________
Signature

______________________________
Date:
 Certificate of Approval/Certification

(NB.Wording and presentation have changed. Where the programme is a

split-site or sandwich involving supervisors from other universities, the
latter should be provided for)

The undersigned certify that this thesis represents the student’s own work and effort and
has been submitted with our approval.

Signature:_________________________Date:_________________________

NAME (Highest Qualification eg. PhD then in brackets Title eg. “(Senior Lecturer)”
Main Supervisor

Signature:_________________________Date:_________________________
NAME (Highest Qualification eg. PhD then in brackets Title eg. “(Senior Lecturer)”
Member, Supervisory Committee

Signature:_________________________Date:_________________________
NAME (Highest Qualification eg. PhD then in brackets Title eg. “(Senior Lecturer)”
Member, Supervisory Committee

Signature:_________________________Date:_________________________
NAME (Highest Qualification eg. PhD then in brackets Title eg. “(Senior Lecturer)”
Member, Supervisory Committee
Dedication
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 ABSTRACT

The first line of your abstract text appears here. Length should be between 250 and 400 words;

however, those that will be published in Dissertation Abstracts International are limited to 350

words.
 UNIVERSITY OF MALAWI
Chancellor College

PRESENTATION OF THE SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE FOR HIGHER

DEGREES IN THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION

To be filled in by the Head of Department and to be endorsed by the Dean of Faculty

1. Name of Candidate: ……………………………………………….……….……………………………..

2. Degree and Field of study (e.g. M.Ed in Policy, Planning and Leadership):
………………………………………………………………………….………………………………….

3. Proposed topic of study (if already identified):

……………………………………………………………………….……………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………
4. Recommended Supervisors or Supervisory Committee (if a member is from outside the Chancellor
College, please provide CV). Please note that the P G Committee may require a written consent by the
members of the supervisory committee.

Name: Highest Qualification Area of specialization:

1.
2.
3.
4.

……………………………………. …..………………………….
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT DATE

…………………………………….………………
Endorsed by the Dean of Faculty
PG5
Chancellor College Postgraduate Committee

Supervisor's Registration Form

To facilitate the consideration and assigning of supervisors, please fill in this form:

Name in Full : ……………………………………………………………………………………

Department: ………………………………………………….…………………………………

Academic degrees and where obtained:

Name and Location of Institution Degree Date Major

Give a brief summary of your professional career:

(If you are not a member of the University of Malawi, please indicate here your institution and
attach a full CV.)

Your discipline of teaching (like applied chemistry, educational planning, educational psychology
etc.)

Your area(s) of specialization:

Your interests that may touch another discipline:

Signature:________________________________ Date:__________________________
 Chancellor College Postgraduate Committee
PG 6
Supervisor's Progress Report 6 months after registration

This report must be filled in by the main supervisor of the student and be sent to the Chair of the
Chancellor College Postgraduate Committee after 6 months of registration to assess the student‘s
performance so far and to decide if any warning must be issued.

1. Name of student ………………………………………………………………...

2. Registered for which degree? …………………………………………………..

3. Type of registration:
By research.............................................
By course work.......................................
By course work and research..................

4. Registration date………………………………………………………………..

5. Supervisor‘s report

6. Did the student do the work required? (Yes No Partially)

7. (a) Describe in a few words the work done so far:

(b) Were there any external circumstances (like illness or others) that might account for any delay in the
work? If so, describe.
PLEASE USE A SEPARATE PAGE FOR THIS

8 Supervisor‘s recommendation:

 Continue …………………………..

 Continue with a light warning (briefly give reason)

 Continue with a serious warning (give reason)

If there is no improvement, the consequence of a serious warning may be discontinuation after one year‘s
registration.

Name of supervisor:................................................................................

Department:.............................................................................................

Supervisor‘s signature:............................................................................
 Chancellor College Postgraduate Committee
PG7

Postgraduate Candidate's Annual Report for the year .............................................................

Section 1: To be completed by the candidate

 Name:

 Registration number:

 Date of registration: ...................................... Qualification sought:.......................................

 Department..................................................... Faculty.................................................

 Supervisors 1....................................................................................................

2....................................................................................................

3....................................................................................................

 Programme/Proposed research topic (if applicable)........................................................................

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

 When do you expect to complete your research?

Month ............................................Year............................................................

 When do you expect to submit your thesis?

Month .............................................Year............................................................

Please make a brief report (approximately 200-500 words) on a separate sheet and attach it to this form.
Include major achievements and any difficulties encountered.

Signature: Date:

On completion of this section forward the form to your main supervisor within seven days of receipt.

SECTION II: (To be completed by the main supervisor within seven days of receipt from student).

1. Has the candidate diligently and effectively

applied himself/herself to his/her work? Yes No
2. To what extent has illness, if any at all, affected her/his work

3. How many formal meetings did you have during the last 12 months?
1 2 3 4 5 6 more

4. When do you estimate:

(a) completion of the research programme? Month Year

(b) submission of the thesis? Month Year

6. On the basis of the candidate's progress do you recommend continuation of his/her postgraduate
studies? Yes No

7 Briefly evaluate the work done by the candidate during the last year (use separate sheet)

Signature: Date:

SECTION III: Comments by the Departmental Postgraduate Coordinator (can be continued on a separate
paper)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Signature: Date:

SECTION IV: To be completed by the Head of Department

On the basis of the candidate's progress, the Department recommends (tick one of the following):

1. Continuation of candidature

2. Continuation of candidature, but with reservations (give reasons)

3 Withdrawal of candidature (give reasons)

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………….………………………………………………………………

Other comments: (Attach additional sheet if necessary)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Signature: Date:

Please return completed report to Chancellor College Postgraduate Committee

 University of Malawi

Chancellor College Postgraduate Committee

Telephone: 524 222

P.O. Box 280, Zomba, Malawi

Department of ..........................................................................................................
Reply address: ...........................................................................................................
Reply email: .............................................................................................................
Telephone: .................................................................................................................
Degree: ……………………………………………………………………

Examiner's Report and Recommendation (This same Form is used by Internal Examiner and Internal
Assessor)

Candidate's Name:
………………………………………………………………………….

Title of Thesis :
……………………………………………………………………………………

This thesis is submitted with a view to graduation in the year 20__ ……

The defense is scheduled for …………………………….………………………

For this reason the Examiner's Report and Recommendation should be available before
the date of the defense. If you send it by email, send a paper copy as well by air mail or
fax.

Notes to External Examiner

(i) The University is anxious to maintain a high standard for its Higher Degrees and with
this object in view desires that the examiners will, in addition to answering questions,
give a reasoned report of the candidate's work.
(ii) A candidate will submit to an oral examination on the subject of his thesis.
(iii) This report should be returned through the Department (see return address) to the
Chair of the Chancellor College Postgraduate Committee.

Each dissertation shall be read carefully and thoroughly; and then assessed with due regard to the following
criteria:
(a) clear statement of the problem being addressed.
(b) adequate grasp of relevant methodological and theoretical issues.
(c) ogical presentation and sound analysis of data.
(d) use of clear and relevant illustrations.
(e) mastery of applicable writing skills.
(f) competent use and manipulation of language.

The External Examiner can give the following recommendations:

1. Pass as is.
2. Pass with minor technical corrections required.
3. Pass with some improvements required (to be made to the satisfaction of the Head
of Department)
4. No pass, but resubmission allowed.
5. Rejected.

Each examiner shall recommend a numerical grade for the Masters degree thesis using the
"quality scale" which has the following values:
0-39% Undoubted failure
40-49% Marginal failure
50-54% Poor pass
55-59% Fair pass
60-64% Credit
65-69% High Credit
70-74% Distinction
75-80% High Distinction
Grades above 80% can be awarded for genial work

There is no grade given for PhD.

External Examiner's Report

1. Please write a substantial assessment of the thesis on a separate sheet.

2. Does the work of the candidate constitute a distinct contribution to the particular branch of knowledge
by the discovery of new facts or the exercise of independent critical power?

3. Should the degree be awarded? Yes No

Indicate on a separate sheet any required corrections.

4. If not, should permission be given for re-submission? (Where the examiner recommends that the degree
not be awarded, she/he may recommend that permission be given for re-submission, for reasons which
are to be stated. Such re-submission will be after an interval of not more than twelve months).

Examiner's Name (s) in Full.......................................................................................

Examiner’s Position...................................................................................................

Examiner's Signature..................................................................................................
Date............................................................................................................................
Examiner’s Addresses:
Postal
Email
Telephone: ___________________________________________________________________