Masters of Science in Service Management

Thesis Format Guidelines

These guidelines have been prepared to help the students who are following the Masters of Science in
Name in preparing their research thesis for acceptance by the IHRA, University of Colombo.
Candidates have to submit two (02) hard copies of the thesis with the approval of the thesis supervisor
to the examination branch of the Institute of Human Resource Advancement, University of Colombo.
1. Margins
For copying and binding purposes, every page of your thesis must be kept within the following:
Top: 1 Right: 1
Bottom: 1 Left 1.25
All manuscript materials must fit within these margin requirements (including tables, headers and
footers, figures, graphs and page numbers). When full-page prints of photographs are desired, the
image area of the print must conform to the same margins as the text.
2. Spacing
The thesis, including the abstract, dedication, acknowledgements, and introduction, must be 1.5
spaced. Footnotes, bibliographies, long quoted passages, as well as items in lists, tables, and
appendices may be single-spaced. Thesis must be printed on one side of the paper.

3. Pagination
Each page of the entire manuscript must be numbered
The placement of page numbers is bottom centered and numbers must be consistent throughout the
manuscript. Pages should be numbered sequentially throughout the manuscript (See section 8 for
pretext count).
4. Font Size
A single font must be used throughout the thesis the only exceptions being in Tables, Graphs, Figures
and Appendices. Standard font size for text is 12 (no font smaller than 10 will be accepted). Times
New Roman is recommended.
5. Abstract
An abstract of 150 words or less is required (One page). It is to be a succinct description of your work.

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Thesis Format Guidelines for M.Sc Research projects - slsmls.org

6. Title Page
The title page provides a basic introduction to your research. The title for yourwork should be a
meaningful description of your manuscript and include keywords that can be used by modern retrieval
systems.
Title page includes your name, the title of your thesis (Font size 20), the month and year of submission
(font size 12). It will also include a sentence which will state which degree you are applying for (See
the sample coverage given below).

Title (Font size 20)

Master of Science in Name

Institute of Human Resource Advancement
University of Colombo (Font size 16)

Name of the student (Font 12)

Index No. (Font 12)
Year and Month (Font 12)

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Thesis Format Guidelines for M.Sc Research projects - slsmls.org

7. Illustration
Add separate pages for maps and diagrams whenever possible. Follow the same format for maps.
Figure No. Title of the figure, North point, Scale, Outline should be added to the map page.
8. Organization of the thesis
Your thesis must be arranged in the following order.
i.

Copyright Page (Sample I)

Include this page in the pretext page count, but do not place a page number on it.
ii.

Signature Page (Sample II)

Include this page in the pretext page count, but do not place a page number on it.
iii.

Title Page (Sample III)

Include this page in the pretext page count, but do not place a page number on it.
iv.

Dedication and/or Epigraph

Include this page in the pretext page count, but do not place a page number on it.
v.

Acknowledgements and / or Preface

Begin placing pretext lowercase Roman numeral at the bottom of this page, counting all preceding
pretext materials except for the fly page. Page numbers are centered one inch from the bottom of the
page
vi.

Abstract

Continue pretext page numbering with lowercase Roman numerals.

vii.

Table of Contents

Continue pretext page numbering with lowercase Roman numerals.

viii.

List of Tables

Continue pretext page numbering with lowercase Roman numerals.

ix.

List of Figures

Continue pretext page numbering with lowercase Roman numerals.

x.

Text

All pages from the first page to the last page must be numbered consecutively including maps and
diagrams, beginning with Arabic numerals '1' on the first page on the thesis.
xi.

Appendix

Continue page numbering with Arabic numerals.

xii. References
Continue page numbering with Arabic numerals. This is the last page of the thesis and the last page
listed on the Table of Contents.
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Thesis Format Guidelines for M.Sc Research projects - slsmls.org

 Chapter I:
Introduction
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Statement of the problem
1.3 Objectives of the research
1.4 Justification of the study

Chapter II:
Research Design (includes the literature and properly sited)
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Study area
2.3 Methods of data collection
2.4 Data analysis
2.5 Organization of the study

Chapter III:
Results and Discussion
Chapter IV:
Conclusion, Recommendation and Study limitations
References

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Thesis Format Guidelines for M.Sc Research projects - slsmls.org

(Sample I - Copyright page)

Copyright

by

(Full official name)

(Year)

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Thesis Format Guidelines for M.Sc Research projects - slsmls.org

(Sample II - Signature Page)

(No page number on this page)

The thesis supervisor for (Insert your official name) certifies that this is the approved version of the
following thesis.

Title of thesis centered and doubles spacing

APPROVED BY:

Name of the supervisor: (Omitting Ph.D or Dr. Mr.)

Signature.................................................................
Date:.........................................................................

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Thesis Format Guidelines for M.Sc Research projects - slsmls.org

(Sample III - Title page)

(No page number on this page)

Title of Thesis, Centered and Double - Spaced

By

Full Official Name as Appears on your ...........,

Previous AcademicDegrees (B.A.; B.S.; M.A.; etc.)

Presented to the Institute of Human Resource Advancement

of the University of Colombo in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirementsfor the Degree of

Name of Degree

Institute of Human Resource Advancement

University of Colombo
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Thesis Format Guidelines for M.Sc Research projects - slsmls.org

(Sample IV - Abstract)

(No page number on the actual title page)

It should be a concise statement of your thesis. Abstract should be limited to 350 words.

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Thesis Format Guidelines for M.Sc Research projects - slsmls.org