19. Format of the thesis

19.1  The submission of the thesis for examination should be electronic, by email, directly to the Research Degrees Team.  Students must submit their thesis for examination by emailing one electronic PDF copy of your final thesis, and the completed, signed RDC-Sub submission form, to the Research Degrees Team.

Once all elements of the examination process have been completed satisfactorily, the final approved electronic copy of the thesis must be uploaded to the University’s online repository, RADAR as set out in the RDC-Decl form, before the degree may be awarded.  Students confirm, through the completion and submission of a declaration form RDC-Decl RADAR, that the contents of the final thesis are identical with the version submitted for examination, except where amendments have been made to meet the requirements of the examiners (Section 18).

19.2  Except with the specific permission of the Research Degree Committee the thesis shall be presented in English.  Where a thesis is presented in a language other than English, a summary in English of 1,000 words shall be included in the thesis.

19.3  An abstract of approximately 300 words should be included in the thesis which shall provide a synopsis of the thesis stating the nature and scope of the work undertaken and of the contribution made to the knowledge of the subject treated.

19.4  The thesis shall include a statement of the candidate’s objectives and shall acknowledge published or other sources of material consulted (including an appropriate bibliography or list of citations depending on the discipline) and any assistance received.

19.5  Where a candidate’s research programme is part of a collaborative group project, the thesis shall indicate clearly the candidate’s individual contribution and the extent of the collaboration.

19.6  The candidate shall be free to publish material in advance of the thesis but reference shall be made in the thesis to any such work. Copies of published material should be included in the electronic copy of the thesis.

19.7  The thesis submitted for examination shall remain the property of the University but the copyright in the thesis shall be vested in the candidate.

19.8  The material excluded from the overall maximum word limit includes: 

• the bibliography or reference lists, 
• as well as all supplementary information such as data, including transcribed or original source data; 
• questionnaire responses; 
• computer listings, and 
• previously published work by the candidate. 

All these elements should be included in the Appendices.

The Maximum number of words permitted in the text of a thesis itself should fall between the word-limit ranges set out below. Please note that while the number of words in a thesis submitted for examination may sit between the minimum and maximum limits set out here, they must not exceed the maximum upper-limit for any theses submitted for examination in one of the disciplines, as described below.

To note that following examination where the examiners recommend amendments to the thesis, the additional word count that will result from the revisions requested, falls outside the limits set here.

Where the programme of research involves the candidate’s own creative work, poetry, practice-based work (see regulation 6.4), the written commentary should be within the following range.

To note that absolutely no applications for extension to the maximum word limit would be considered or approved from that listed below:

• for a PhD: 15,000 - 25,000 words
• for an MPhil: 8,000 - 10,000 words

Where the programme of research involves the preparation of a scholarly edition of texts, creative writing or other work (see regulation 6.5), the written thesis should be within the following range:

• for a PhD: 30,000 - 40,000 words
• for an MPhil: 15,000 - 20,000 words 

The documentation of the practical work can be in the form of a material product, but can also be documented in a separate text that shows the stages and the procedures that the candidate has worked through. 

If the documentation of practice is in the form of a text, the maximum word limit for this documentation would be a maximum of 60,000 words bringing the overall maximum count to 100,000 words.

The Critical Reflection/Commentary of the work will follow existing policy (see section 6.5) and should be within 15,000 and 40,000 words depending on whether the thesis will be defined as 

1. involving “the candidate’s own creative work or practice-based work” (maximum 20,000 words)
   
   or
     
2. “where the programme of research involves the preparation of a scholarly edition of texts, creative writing or other work" (Maximum 30,000 – 40,000) words.

19.9  Absolutely no applications for extension to the maximum word limits set out above will be considered or approved. Students and Supervisors must plan the work to ensure that the final maximum word count falls within the approved limit.

19.10  The following requirements shall be adhered to in the format for all submitted theses:

1. Theses shall be in A4 portrait format; the Research Degree Committee may give permission for a thesis to be submitted in another format where it is satisfied that the contents of the thesis can be better expressed in that format;
   
   
2. Electronic copies of the thesis shall be presented in a legible form and the size of character used in the main text, including displayed matter and notes, shall not be less than 10 pt type for capitals and 9 pt. type for lower case;
   
   
3. the electronic thesis submitted for examination should have the margin at the left-hand binding edge of the page shall not be less than 40mm; other margins shall not be less than 15mm;
   
   
4. double or one-and-a-half spacing shall be used in the typescript except for indented quotations or footnotes where single spacing may be used;
   
   
5. pages shall be numbered consecutively through the main text including photographs and/or diagrams included as whole pages;
   
   
6. the title page shall give the following information:
   
   
   1. the full title of the thesis;
   2. the full name of the author;
   3. that the degree is awarded by Oxford Brookes University;
   4. that the thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the award of Master or Doctor of Philosophy, PhD by Published Work or Professional Doctorate;
   5. the Collaborating Establishment(s), if any; and
   6. the month and year that the thesis was first submitted for examination.

19.11  One electronic PhD copy of the final thesis must be uploaded to RADAR and lodged in the University Library.  It should be noted that it is normal practice to provide a final copy of the thesis for the Collaborating Establishment(s), Director of Studies or Faculty.  

The thesis must be presented as follows:

1. the electronic PDF copy of the thesis should be submitted and should be uploaded to the University’s online repository RADAR as set out in the RDC-Decl form and confirmation and the link to the online thesis must be sent by email to the Research Degrees Team.
   
   
2. exceptionally, where final submission for the degree of PhD by Published Work or a Practice based degree cannot be submitted electronically, special arrangements will be made with the Research Degree Team, to receive the final submission in another approved form, such as partially electronic with elements in a hardbound or other form of submission as required.

19.12  Exceptionally, if it is not possible to submit the thesis electronically due to the nature of the work, a hard copy may be submitted with the approval of the Research Degrees Committee.  

The University’s copy may be bound in any colour and shall be presented as follows:

1. the binding shall be of a fixed type so that pages cannot be removed or replaced; the front and rear board shall have sufficient rigidity to support the weight of the work when standing upright and the text may be printed on both sides of the page.
   
   In addition it should be printed:
   
   
2. in at least 24pt embossed type the outside front board shall bear the following:
3. the title of the work;
4. the name and initials of the candidate;
5. the qualification, e.g. PhD; MPhil, PhD on the Basis of Published Work; and
6. the year of submission for the first examination.

The same information (excluding the title of the work) shall be shown on the spine of the work, reading downwards.