This document outlines the requirements and structure for a Master's dissertation. It notes that a dissertation represents the culmination of a two-year Master's program and requires independent research under faculty supervision. The standard dissertation length is 15,000-18,000 words while an extended format allows up to 30,000 words. The dissertation must include sections on the introduction, literature review, methodology, analysis, and conclusion at a minimum. It provides guidance on the expected content and questions to be addressed in each section.

1. By Dr. Md Nazeer Hussain
Assistant Professor
D/O- Political Science, USTM India
© Dr Md Nazeer Hussain

2. 1. General
 Culmination of the two-year Master programme
 Independent writing
 Under faculty supervision
 Addresses either a single or a set of research
question(s)
 Solid grasp on the topic of research
 Formal knowledge of the relevant literature
 Understanding of concepts and methods used to
address the research question(s)
© Dr Md Nazeer Hussain

3. 2. MA Dissertation (Standard
Format)
 15,000 to 18,000 words, including footnotes and
bibliography
 Critical discussion of a specific question
 Overview of how relevant disciplines have addressed a
given research question
 Analysis of how this research question has been
addressed in the literature
 Original empirical or theoretical analysis
© Dr Md Nazeer Hussain

4. 3. MA Dissertation (Extended
Format)
 19,000 to 30,000 words, including footnotes and
bibliography
 Besides the requirements of standard format, students
are encouraged to conduct original research and
analysis that can draw on a variety of methodologies
that best correspond to the objectives of the research.
© Dr Md Nazeer Hussain

5. 4. Content, Sections and Structure
 Abstract (optional): 150 words; topic of the thesis;
methods used; main results or conclusions
 Table of Contents (mandatory): list of the main
sections/chapters with possible sub sections
 List of Figures, Illustrations and Tables
(optional): list should contain the respective page
numbers
© Dr Md Nazeer Hussain

6. 4. Content, Sections and Structure
 Introduction (mandatory): summarises the context
and issues; answer the following questions:
What is the topic of study?
How is the topic of study significant in terms of
current questions?
What is the question to be examined regarding this
phenomenon?
What is the overall structure of the MA dissertation?
© Dr Md Nazeer Hussain

7. 4. Content, Sections and Structure
 Literature review (mandatory): locate the topic of
investigation within the existing literature ; typically
answer the following questions:
How is the question addressed in the existing
literatures?
What does the existing scholarly literature say about
the research topic and in what ways?
Does it fall short of satisfactorily addressing the
research question, and how?
© Dr Md Nazeer Hussain

8. 4. Content, Sections and Structure
 Methodology (mandatory): methodological approach,
including potential strengths and limitations; discuss data,
sources, general indicators, units of analysis, sampling, etc.;
discuss data collection through interviews, questionnaires,
field research, etc.
 Analysis (mandatory): Findings based on the primary
and secondary sources will be analysed here; typically
answer the following questions:
 What does evidence suggest with regard to the hypotheses
(if applicable)?
 How does it relate to the existing literature and on-going
scholarly debates?
 What does evidence say about current questions?
© Dr Md Nazeer Hussain

9. 4. Content, Sections and Structure
 Conclusion (mandatory): something useful and
creative about the wider/future implications
 Bibliography (mandatory): include all the primary
and secondary sources consulted with proper
referencing
 Appendix (optional): may include additional
documents such as:
 Reports
 Photos
 Questionnaire etc.
© Dr Md Nazeer Hussain