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Faculty of Technology
CEPT University
Ahmedabad
THESIS GUIDELINES
September, 2017
THESIS GUIDELINES 2
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 3
2. The Thesis ........................................................................................................................... 3
2.1. The Thesis Proposal...................................................................................................... 4
2.2. The Thesis Documentation ........................................................................................... 5
3. Thesis Guidance .................................................................................................................. 5
4. Evaluation ........................................................................................................................... 6
5. Format for Thesis Document .............................................................................................. 6
6. Plagiarism ........................................................................................................................... 6
7. Submission Schedule and Requirements ............................................................................ 7
APPENDIX ..................................................................................................................................
Frequently Asked Questions .......................................................................................... 8
Suggested readings for research methodology .............................................................. 9
Students Proposal Form .............................................................................................. 10
Guide Proposal Form ................................................................................................... 12
Work Progress Form (continous working document) .................................................. 13
Master of Technology
Faculty of Technology, CEPT University
THESIS GUIDELINES 3
1. Introduction
The award of the degree of Master of Technology (M.Tech) at the Faculty of Technology
requires the completion of a thesis after the 3rd semester. Students can undertake either a
research-based thesis or a project-based thesis. Within this document the research thesis or
the project thesis undertaking will referred to as the thesis.
Project Thesis
A project thesis identifies a problem and focuses on developing a solution to the problem.
The literature research can be review of case studies and other relevant literature. Its basis is
project rigor and creativity, developing iterations and alternatives, using performance-based
testing and decision-making to converge towards a solution to the problem.
In order to complete the thesis requirements, the student must fulfil the following as per the
thesis schedule provided.
1. Submit a proposal, students proposal form, guides proposal form
2. Complete interim review milestones
3. Submit a thesis document along with abstract (4 pages - in form of research paper)
4. Undertake a viva voce examination
5. Submit the supporting documents:
a. Thesis Submission form
b. Thesis Front page template
Master of Technology
Faculty of Technology, CEPT University
THESIS GUIDELINES 4
The proposal must be accompanied by the requisite forms for submission as per the thesis
schedule provided.
Master of Technology
Faculty of Technology, CEPT University
THESIS GUIDELINES 5
3. Thesis Guidance
The student is encouraged to discuss his/her thesis topic with the internal faculty members
while formulating the proposal. He/she should consult the Area Chair (when applicable) and
the Program Coordinator for selection of the Guide. It is, however, the students
responsibility to select the Guide.
Any internal faculty member, with the matching research interest, may be approached by the
student with a request to guide the thesis.
An external expert may be selected as a Guide or Co-guide, provided he or she has extensive
professional or research experience in the topic area. All external or internal guides shall be
approved by the Program Coordinator and the Area Chair (when applicable) to guide the
thesis, and recommended to the Dean for final approval. For approval, a detailed curriculum
vitae of the proposed Guide and/or Co-guide must be submitted by the student as per the
thesis schedule provided. On approval, a Guide approval letter will be issued by FT.
Master of Technology
Faculty of Technology, CEPT University
THESIS GUIDELINES 6
The student is responsible for maintaining regular contact with the Guide, and keep him/her
informed about the reviews, feedback and general progress of the thesis. The thesis project is
the students prerogative and obligation and he/she must drive it at all times. The student
must ensure that the research meets the ethical standards applicable for the methodology
used. He/she must write the thesis in good English using appropriate formatting styles. It is
not the responsibility of the Guide to check for typological, grammatical and formatting
errors. The student must present his/her work at all the scheduled reviews and abide by all the
other deadlines and submission requirements.
It is mandatory for each student to submit the Work Progress forms as per the thesis schedule
provided.
4. Evaluation
The thesis proposal will be evaluated in the beginning of the fourth semester. Progress during
the fourth semester will be evaluated based on interim reviews. Timely submission of the
requisite forms will also be counted towards the grading.
The primary criterion for evaluation of the thesis is the fulfilment of the thesis aims and
outcomes as outlined in Section 1 of this document.
The thesis evaluation will be done by a combination of Guide, Co-guide, the Internal
Examiner and an External Examiner, and the weightage per stage is as follows:
Detail Weightage
Thesis Proposal 10%
Interim Reviews 40%
Thesis Documents 30%
Thesis Viva 20%
6. Plagiarism
Any attempt to pass off someone elses work as ones own will be dealt with strictly. It will
be considered an offense and will incur severe penalties, ranging from re-submission of the
plagiarized sections to registering for another semester and re-doing the entire thesis, based
on the extent of plagiarism.
All M.Tech theses must comply with the plagiarism policy at CEPT University.
Master of Technology
Faculty of Technology, CEPT University
THESIS GUIDELINES 7
Spring Semester
No. Deliverables Submission Dates Grading
Requirements Weightage
1 Review 1: Finalized Thesis MS Word document finalized 6th January 10%
Proposal from Student proposal with all the sections as
per the Thesis Guidelines
document
2 Review 2: Outline and mock-up MS Word document, and 3rd Feb. 10%
of PowerPoint Presentation
Thesis document, final literature
review (as thesis chapter), and
25% methodology complete.
3 Review 3: Thesis interim MS Word document, and 24th Feb 15%
review, 50% methodology PowerPoint Presentation
complete
4 Review 4: Thesis interim MS Word document, and 31st March 15%
review, 100% methodology PowerPoint Presentation
complete
5 Final thesis document Thesis document with Guide's 20th April 30%
submission for approval signature/approval
6 FT to send Thesis to Internal Within a
Examiner week of
submission
7 FT receives Thesis from Internal Within 2
Examiner weeks of
Sending
8 Student addresses Examiner's Within 2
comments weeks after
receiving the
document
9 FT to send Thesis to External Immediately
Examiner after student
resubmits
Master of Technology
Faculty of Technology, CEPT University
THESIS GUIDELINES 8
Master of Technology
Faculty of Technology, CEPT University
THESIS GUIDELINES 9
APPENDIX
Master of Technology
Faculty of Technology, CEPT University
THESIS GUIDELINES 10
12. http://www.paulgerhardt.com/homework/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGY_EXPLAIN
ED_FOR_EVERDAY_PEOPLE.pdf
13. http://www.scribd.com/doc/6827685/TYPES-OF-RESEARCH-METHODS
14. http://www.siks.nl/RM%20M%20nov%202006/RMintroHans%20Weigand.PDF
15. http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/statmethods.html
Master of Technology
Faculty of Technology, CEPT University
THESIS GUIDELINES 11
Date:
Accompanying documents:
Thesis Proposal document
Guides Proposal Form
I confirm that I have cleared all backlog and I am eligible to submit the thesis proposal and
undertake the thesis.
I confirm that I have read the thesis guidelines for research and will comply with them.
I understand that it is my responsibility to ensure that adequate contact is maintained with
my Guide and/or Co-guide.
Signature: .
Master of Technology
Faculty of Technology, CEPT University
THESIS GUIDELINES 12
Date:
Contact Number:
Address:
Signature: ..
Date:
Master of Technology
Faculty of Technology, CEPT University
THESIS GUIDELINES 13
Master of Technology
Faculty of Technology, CEPT University