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4. Presentation of the Thesis

You should receive advice from your supervisor(s) and your Department or Centre on the presentation of the thesis in a format appropriate to your academic discipline. In addition to this advice, you must ensure that your thesis conforms to the University’s requirements for presentation which are set out below. If your thesis does not meet these requirements it may not be accepted for examination.

4.1 Typing of Theses and Proofreading
4.2 Library Declaration and Deposit Agreement
4.3 Title and Title Page
4.4 Table of Contents
4.5 Acknowledgements
4.6 Declaration and Inclusion of Material from a Prior Thesis
4.7 Additional requirement relating to theses submitted within the Faculties of Medicine and Science
4.8 Inclusion of Published Work (excluding PhD by Published Work)
4.9 Summary or Abstract
4.10 Abbreviations
4.11 Tables and Illustrated Material
4.12 Research Training
4.13 Length of Thesis
4.14 Bibliography
4.15 Thesis Submission Declaration Checklist
4.16 Thesis Submission Checklist (PhD by Published Work only)
4.17 Covid-19 Impact Statement


4.1 Typing of Theses and Proofreading

Theses should be word-processed or typed on good quality A4 paper (29.7 x 21 cm) with a margin of at least 4 cm on the left hand side. Adequate margins should also be left on the other three edges, so that the bound volume can be trimmed after binding. Page numbers should be typed at least 1.5 cm (0.5”) into the page. Pages should be single-sided and in 1.5 spacing. Double-sided printing is acceptable for the final hard bound version for the Library. All copies must be of good legible quality. Offprints submitted must be bound in with the thesis or as a separate volume, as appropriate.

Candidates are advised that they will be required to correct any typographical errors to the satisfaction of the internal examiner before the award of the degree is approved by the Senate. Candidates should therefore carefully proof read their thesis for typographical errors and correct them before submitting the thesis. The University understands that, in the course of producing a high-quality piece of work for assessment, students may wish to receive input from a third party prior to submission. The proofreading policy sets out what the University considers to be appropriate in regards to proofreading and what checks should be in place when proofreading is undertaken.

Guidance from Disability Team, Wellbeing Support Services - May 2021

We would expect all students to take some care in proof reading their work but acknowledge that it is more challenging for students with Specific Learning Differences (SpLD) to recognise their own errors.

We encourage students to use the technology available to them to assist with this. Texthelp Read and Write is often used - it has an enhanced spell and grammar check and also reads aloud text which can help with proof reading.

The Library has information on useful technology tools which we encourage students to use, especially those doing theses.

For PhD students whose work needs to be of a standard for publication, we would encourage them to use various means to assist them with proof reading - whether that is specialist study skills, technology or proof reading services. We encourage supervisors to be aware of any students with a SpLD and to provide constructive feedback on drafts where more work is needed on language or structure. They should be aware that this may be a challenging area for the SpLD student.

4.2 Library Declaration and Deposit Agreement

The Library Declaration and Deposit Agreement (Form 5.), which is available from the Doctoral College website, should be completed and bound in with the hardbound thesis immediately prior to the title page.

4.3 Title and Title Page

The title should describe the content of the thesis accurately and concisely.

The title page of every volume shall give the following information in the order listed (see model title page, Appendix A pdf):

4.3.1 The full title of the thesis and the subtitle, if any.
4.3.2 The total number of volumes if more than one and the number of the particular volume.
4.3.3 The full name of the author, followed, if desired, by any qualifications and distinctions.
4.3.4 The full name of the qualification for which the thesis is submitted (i.e. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics)
4.3.5 The name of the University and of the department, school or centre in which the research was conducted.
4.3.6 The month and year of submission.

You will be required to provide a correct version of your title page if it does not meet the requirements as listed above.

4.4 Table of Contents

The table of contents shall immediately follow the title page. It shall list in sequence, with page numbers, all relevant subdivisions of the thesis, including the titles of chapters, sections and subsections, as appropriate; the list of references; the bibliography; the list of abbreviations and other functional parts of the whole thesis together with any appendices. The table of contents should be followed by the list of illustrations and tables (see Section 4.11).

If a thesis comprises more than one volume, the contents of the whole thesis shall be shown in the first volume and the contents of each subsequent volume in a separate contents list within that volume.

4.5 Acknowledgements

Any acknowledgements shall be on the page following the table of contents and list of illustrations and tables.

4.6 Declaration and Inclusion of Material from a Prior Thesis

The acknowledgements should be followed under a separate heading by a declaration in which the author indicates any material contained in the thesis which s/he has used before or which the author has had published. The declaration shall state that the thesis is the candidate’s own work except where it contains work based on collaborative research, in which case the nature and extent of the author’s individual contribution shall be indicated.

The author shall also confirm in the declaration that the thesis has not been submitted for a degree at another university.

4.7 Additional requirement relating to theses submitted within the Faculties of Medicine and Science

Candidates should note that they may incorporate work already submitted for another degree (e.g. a Master’s) into the current thesis as long as the material concerned is indicated clearly in the text and the declaration refers to the incorporation of this material. Such material may provide support for a thesis but it will not be taken into account in evaluating the achievement of the requirements for the degree for which the thesis is being examined.

Candidates should be aware of the following resolution of the Board of Graduate Studies relating to the submission of all theses within the Faculties of Medicine and Science. Any research results included within a thesis, which have derived from collaborative work, or elements of a thesis previously published by the candidate, must be acknowledged using the following wording:

‘This thesis is submitted to the University of Warwick in support of my application for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. It has been composed by myself and has not been submitted in any previous application for any degree [(if parts previously used add:) apart from the background material in sections XXX which was previously submitted for YYY degree.]

‘The work presented (including data generated and data analysis) was carried out by the author except in the cases outlined below:

‘List of data provided and/or analysis carried out by collaborators.

‘Parts of this thesis have been published by the author:

‘List of publications including submitted papers.'

4.8 Inclusion of Published Work (excluding PhD by Published Work)

Candidates should be aware of the following Senate resolution on the publication of research material, which does not apply to theses submitted for the award of PhD by Published Work. They may include in a thesis any material arising from work on the thesis which had appeared in print before the thesis was completed or examined. Work published or submitted for publication before the beginning of a candidate’s period of study may be included within a thesis, provided that it is clearly acknowledged in the declaration and set apart from the main body of the thesis (e.g. in an appendix) but this work should not in itself form part of the material to be examined for the degree.

4.9 Summary or Abstract

There shall be a summary or abstract of the thesis, which should not exceed 300 words, bound in after the acknowledgements and declaration. The summary should not extend beyond a single A4 side, and to facilitate this, single spaced typing is permitted for the summary only. The summary shall provide a synopsis of the thesis and shall state clearly the nature and scope of the research undertaken and of the contribution made to the knowledge of the subject treated. There should be a brief statement of the method of investigation where appropriate, an outline of the major divisions or principal arguments of the work and a summary of any conclusions reached.

4.10 Abbreviations

Where abbreviations are used a list of definitions shall be provided at the beginning or end of the thesis and the location of the list should be clearly indicated in the table of contents. Abbreviations may be used at the discretion of the author. For an abbreviation not in common use, the terms shall be given in full when the abbreviation is first used followed by the abbreviation in brackets.

4.11 Tables and Illustrated Material

Any photocopies, photographs, diagrams, graphs and tables of data should be inserted where they appear in the text. Where you are unable to insert digital media directly into the thesis for printing, any additional materials should be mounted on good bond paper where they appear in the text; copy paper is unsuitable for this purpose. Additional costs may be charged for preparation work. If your thesis requires the inclusion of any maps or diagrams larger than A4, these must be folded well inside the front edge of the thesis.

The lists of tables and illustrations shall follow the table of contents but be placed before the acknowledgements and should include all tables, photographs, diagrams, etc., in the order in which they occur in the text.

4.12 Research Training

It is permissible for a thesis to include information on the research training undertaken by the student during her/her period of study if the candidate and supervisor feel this to be appropriate.

4.13 Length of Thesis

Theses should be written clearly and concisely. You should not feel that your thesis must necessarily be as long as the maximum word limit allowed within your Faculty for the degree concerned. You should discuss the appropriate length for your thesis with your supervisor(s) in view of the nature of the work you have undertaken. The word length permitted for each research degree is given in Section 3. Theses which exceed the word limit may not be accepted for examination.

4.14 Bibliography

Theses submitted for any higher degree by research shall contain a full bibliography and references.

4.15 Thesis Submission Declaration Checklist

Candidates should complete the Thesis Submission Declaration Checklist (Form 3.) prior to submission.

4.16 Thesis Submission Checklist (PhD by Published Work only)

Candidates submitting a thesis for the award of PhD by Published Work should submit a completed PhD by Published Work Thesis Submission Checklist (Form 4.) to the Doctoral College with their thesis for examination.

4.17 Covid-19 Impact Statement

Candidates may wish to submit a Covid-19 impact statement to inform examiners of the impact of any Covid-19 related disruption on their research

Next = SECTION: 5 - Binding and Submission to the Doctoral College
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