dissertation contents page template uk

Theses: Templates

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Guidance from Quality Handbook :

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There are also examples of the thesis title and abstract pages in submission and completion section of the Quality Handbook .

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Thesis Templates

The University provides templates in Word and LateX which meet the requirements set out in the Regulations.

Training : iSolutions also offer sessions on using Word to work with text, graphics and page layout in your thesis and turning your thesis into a PDF/A. The full course schedule and booking links can be found in the PGR Development Hub

Word or LaTeX?

LaTeX is extensively used by engineers and scientists because it handles maths and equations brilliantly, and by linguists because it can cope with multiple (and obscure) languages. The University now offers Professional Accounts via Overleaf. Sign up for an account via the University of Southampton portal .

Word is the most widely used word processing software in the university. Unless you will be including lots of special character sets or equations, we would recommend using Word.

Whole thesis template

Use this to produce the whole thesis in one long Word document. It contains all of the required sections from title page to bibliography, with refreshable Tables of Contents, Table of Figures and Table of Tables.

Word template help
Always use in conjunction with the Quality Handbook Producing your thesis guidance

Separate Chapter, Front Matter & End Matter templates for Word & Mac

If you don’t wish use the whole document template then use these to create each chapter of the thesis and the front matter. It comes ready made with usable styles that meet the University’s thesis Guidance requirements

Chapter template for Word 2007 /2010 /2013 /2016 (PC) or 2008 /2011 /2016 (Mac)
Front matter template for Word 2007 /2010 /2013 /2016 (PC) or 2008 /2011 /2016 (Mac)
End Matter for Word 2007 /2010 /2013 /2016 (PC) or 2008 /2011 /2016 (Mac)

Copyright Statement coversheet

All e-theses require the University thesis copyright statement is included in front of the main title page in the final e-version submitted. The wording of the statement should not be altered in any way.

The Word template (PC or Mac) above has the statement included but earlier versions did not. Should the statement be missing from your file it should be:

added before creating the final pdf version
located in front of the main title page using the document below
should not be included in the numbering of the thesis.

LaTeX templates currently do not include instruction on how to add the statement so it will need it to be added individually as a single double-sided page. Alternatively, add the pdf version into your final pdf file using Adobe Acrobat Pro.

The statement is not required in the print copies submitted for examination or as a final copy.

Thesis Copyright Statement Thesis copyright statement cover sheet
Thesis Copyright Statement PDF version of the thesis copyright statement to be included in every thesis

The following guides outline how this can be done in Word documents.

Adding copyright statement in Word (PC) Guide to adding the statement in Word on a PC
Adding copyright statement in Word (Mac) Guide to adding the statement in Word on a Mac

Visual guides are also available on YouTube:

Using UoS Thesis Templates

iSolutions have created a training guide to introduce the Word template for theses and show you how to use a range of useful Word features to make creating and working with your thesis easier. These also direct you to relevant LinkedIn Learning.com videos on the use of features in Word.

Thesis guidance

iSolutions also offer sessions on using Word to work with text, graphics and page layout in your thesis. The full course schedule and booking links can be found in the PGR Development Hub

LaTeX Templates

Support for the use of LaTeX can be found on the Overleaf website . LaTeX is also supported by a wide online community - see LaTeX Project .

How to make sure your thesis is an archival PDF/A

Your final University e-thesis must submitted in an accessible and archival format so that it will be readible in years to come, currently this format is PDF/A-3 .

Mac users If you are using Word for Mac then start by using the Save As PDF facility. This produces a really good baseline file to continue working on in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. If for any reason you are not happy with the output as this process, then try converting the file by using Adobe Acrobat Pro's own 'Create a PDF from'. If you are still not happy with the result then contact serviceline to discuss other options.
PC users For PC users the Adobe Acrobat Pro DC facility will produce the best output. You'll find the steps below under the heading Create the PDF for PC below.
LaTeX to PDF/A-3 If you are using Overleaf, the automatic pdf conversion will be create a PDF/A file. Overleaf have created instructions on how to make sure your LaTeX PDF conforms to the archival standards . Please note we would prefer that you chose a-3b (propritising display) or a-3u (prioritising searchability) rather than a-1b. You may find the following paper helpful: Moore, R. (2014). PDF/A-3u as an Archival Format for Accessible Mathematics . In: Watt, S.M., Davenport, J.H., Sexton, A.P., Sojka, P., Urban, J. (eds) Intelligent Computer Mathematics. CICM 2014. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 8543. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08434-3_14 , also available as an ArXiv pre-print .

Checking you PDF/A accessibility: You can check how well your PDF meets the PDF/A accessibility standards using the Abode Acrobat Pro preflight checker and the accessibility checker .

How to download Abode Acrobat Pro: Details of how to access or download Adobe Acrobat Pro DC can be found at iSolutions' How to install Adobe Acrobat DC Advice page .

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Knowledge Base
Dissertation

How to Write a Dissertation | A Guide to Structure & Content

A dissertation or thesis is a long piece of academic writing based on original research, submitted as part of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree.

The structure of a dissertation depends on your field, but it is usually divided into at least four or five chapters (including an introduction and conclusion chapter).

The most common dissertation structure in the sciences and social sciences includes:

An introduction to your topic
A literature review that surveys relevant sources
An explanation of your methodology
An overview of the results of your research
A discussion of the results and their implications
A conclusion that shows what your research has contributed

Dissertations in the humanities are often structured more like a long essay , building an argument by analysing primary and secondary sources . Instead of the standard structure outlined here, you might organise your chapters around different themes or case studies.

Other important elements of the dissertation include the title page , abstract , and reference list . If in doubt about how your dissertation should be structured, always check your department’s guidelines and consult with your supervisor.

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Acknowledgements, table of contents, list of figures and tables, list of abbreviations, introduction, literature review / theoretical framework, methodology, reference list.

The very first page of your document contains your dissertation’s title, your name, department, institution, degree program, and submission date. Sometimes it also includes your student number, your supervisor’s name, and the university’s logo. Many programs have strict requirements for formatting the dissertation title page .

The title page is often used as cover when printing and binding your dissertation .

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The acknowledgements section is usually optional, and gives space for you to thank everyone who helped you in writing your dissertation. This might include your supervisors, participants in your research, and friends or family who supported you.

The abstract is a short summary of your dissertation, usually about 150-300 words long. You should write it at the very end, when you’ve completed the rest of the dissertation. In the abstract, make sure to:

State the main topic and aims of your research
Describe the methods you used
Summarise the main results
State your conclusions

Although the abstract is very short, it’s the first part (and sometimes the only part) of your dissertation that people will read, so it’s important that you get it right. If you’re struggling to write a strong abstract, read our guide on how to write an abstract .

In the table of contents, list all of your chapters and subheadings and their page numbers. The dissertation contents page gives the reader an overview of your structure and helps easily navigate the document.

All parts of your dissertation should be included in the table of contents, including the appendices. You can generate a table of contents automatically in Word.

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If you have used a lot of tables and figures in your dissertation, you should itemise them in a numbered list . You can automatically generate this list using the Insert Caption feature in Word.

If you have used a lot of abbreviations in your dissertation, you can include them in an alphabetised list of abbreviations so that the reader can easily look up their meanings.

If you have used a lot of highly specialised terms that will not be familiar to your reader, it might be a good idea to include a glossary . List the terms alphabetically and explain each term with a brief description or definition.

In the introduction, you set up your dissertation’s topic, purpose, and relevance, and tell the reader what to expect in the rest of the dissertation. The introduction should:

Establish your research topic , giving necessary background information to contextualise your work
Narrow down the focus and define the scope of the research
Discuss the state of existing research on the topic, showing your work’s relevance to a broader problem or debate
Clearly state your objectives and research questions , and indicate how you will answer them
Give an overview of your dissertation’s structure

Everything in the introduction should be clear, engaging, and relevant to your research. By the end, the reader should understand the what , why and how of your research. Not sure how? Read our guide on how to write a dissertation introduction .

Before you start on your research, you should have conducted a literature review to gain a thorough understanding of the academic work that already exists on your topic. This means:

Collecting sources (e.g. books and journal articles) and selecting the most relevant ones
Critically evaluating and analysing each source
Drawing connections between them (e.g. themes, patterns, conflicts, gaps) to make an overall point

In the dissertation literature review chapter or section, you shouldn’t just summarise existing studies, but develop a coherent structure and argument that leads to a clear basis or justification for your own research. For example, it might aim to show how your research:

Addresses a gap in the literature
Takes a new theoretical or methodological approach to the topic
Proposes a solution to an unresolved problem
Advances a theoretical debate
Builds on and strengthens existing knowledge with new data

The literature review often becomes the basis for a theoretical framework , in which you define and analyse the key theories, concepts and models that frame your research. In this section you can answer descriptive research questions about the relationship between concepts or variables.

The methodology chapter or section describes how you conducted your research, allowing your reader to assess its validity. You should generally include:

The overall approach and type of research (e.g. qualitative, quantitative, experimental, ethnographic)
Your methods of collecting data (e.g. interviews, surveys, archives)
Details of where, when, and with whom the research took place
Your methods of analysing data (e.g. statistical analysis, discourse analysis)
Tools and materials you used (e.g. computer programs, lab equipment)
A discussion of any obstacles you faced in conducting the research and how you overcame them
An evaluation or justification of your methods

Your aim in the methodology is to accurately report what you did, as well as convincing the reader that this was the best approach to answering your research questions or objectives.

Next, you report the results of your research . You can structure this section around sub-questions, hypotheses, or topics. Only report results that are relevant to your objectives and research questions. In some disciplines, the results section is strictly separated from the discussion, while in others the two are combined.

For example, for qualitative methods like in-depth interviews, the presentation of the data will often be woven together with discussion and analysis, while in quantitative and experimental research, the results should be presented separately before you discuss their meaning. If you’re unsure, consult with your supervisor and look at sample dissertations to find out the best structure for your research.

In the results section it can often be helpful to include tables, graphs and charts. Think carefully about how best to present your data, and don’t include tables or figures that just repeat what you have written – they should provide extra information or usefully visualise the results in a way that adds value to your text.

Full versions of your data (such as interview transcripts) can be included as an appendix .

The discussion is where you explore the meaning and implications of your results in relation to your research questions. Here you should interpret the results in detail, discussing whether they met your expectations and how well they fit with the framework that you built in earlier chapters. If any of the results were unexpected, offer explanations for why this might be. It’s a good idea to consider alternative interpretations of your data and discuss any limitations that might have influenced the results.

The discussion should reference other scholarly work to show how your results fit with existing knowledge. You can also make recommendations for future research or practical action.

The dissertation conclusion should concisely answer the main research question, leaving the reader with a clear understanding of your central argument. Wrap up your dissertation with a final reflection on what you did and how you did it. The conclusion often also includes recommendations for research or practice.

In this section, it’s important to show how your findings contribute to knowledge in the field and why your research matters. What have you added to what was already known?

You must include full details of all sources that you have cited in a reference list (sometimes also called a works cited list or bibliography). It’s important to follow a consistent reference style . Each style has strict and specific requirements for how to format your sources in the reference list.

The most common styles used in UK universities are Harvard referencing and Vancouver referencing . Your department will often specify which referencing style you should use – for example, psychology students tend to use APA style , humanities students often use MHRA , and law students always use OSCOLA . M ake sure to check the requirements, and ask your supervisor if you’re unsure.

To save time creating the reference list and make sure your citations are correctly and consistently formatted, you can use our free APA Citation Generator .

Your dissertation itself should contain only essential information that directly contributes to answering your research question. Documents you have used that do not fit into the main body of your dissertation (such as interview transcripts, survey questions or tables with full figures) can be added as appendices .

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Dissertations and Theses guidance

Popular pages on the Skills website

You may need to complete a dissertation for your course, these guides take you through how to approach this large piece of written work, how to complete your literature review, structure your writing and format your work.

The Library has created a reading list featuring various online resources to help you complete your dissertation.

Approaching your dissertation

What is covered:

the importance of choosing the right topic
how to narrow the scope of your research
how to write your research proposal
an introduction to research methods.

Estimated duration is 15 minutes.

Writing your dissertation
how to get started
how to work with your supervisor
how to structure your dissertation.

Estimated duration is 30 minutes.

Approaching your literature review

planning your search
finding literature
evaluating and organising your material
writing your review.

Estimated duration is 60 minutes.

Writing a research proposal
Formatting your dissertation
Depositing your thesis in USIR
Copyright for theses

Formatting your work

Styles: Using the 'Normal' style

Styles are the foundation of a Word document. And it begins with the 'Normal' style. Change its attributes to suit the requirements of dissertation/thesis.

Watch the video: Word's Styles: Using the 'Normal' style

Styles: Using 'Heading' styles

Apply 'Heading' styles to the headings and sub-headings in your document, and save yourself lots of effort. Use them to control the appearance of your headings (the font type, size and colour), to create an automatic Table of Contents, and introduce multilevel numbering to your headings.

Watch the video: Word's Styles: Using 'Heading' styles

Using Multilevel numbering for headings

Want to introduce a numbered hierarchical structure to your document? Then add Multilevel numbering to the 'Heading' styles that you have applied to the headings in your document. For example, 1. 1.1, 1.2, 2., 2.1, 2.1.1

Watch the video: Word's Multilevel lists: Numbering your Heading styles

Working smarter

Let Word do the hard work for you. Once you have applied 'Heading' styles to your document, you can create an automatic Table of Contents with a few mouse clicks. Update the listing at any time as you continue to edit your work.

Watch the video: Word's Table of Contents

Achieve consistent looking numbered labels for your figures and tables by using the Caption tool. You can save huge amounts of time and effort by then creating an automatic listing for them.

Watch the video: Word's 'Caption' tool

Page Breaks

Why use them? Well, do you use the Enter key to make a heading appear at the top of a new page, only to find that as you continue to edit your document the heading moves up or down the page? Not with Page Breaks!

Watch the video: Word's Page Breaks

Structuring your work

Section Breaks: Changing page numbering

A dissertation/thesis typically has different types of page numbering in its footers. To feature a title page with no page numbering, then a series of pages with small Roman numerals, followed by your main document displaying standard Arabic page numbering – you need Section Breaks.

Watch the video: Word's Section Breaks - Changing page numbering

Section Breaks: Changing page orientation

You can change the page orientation within your document by using Section Breaks. You can then switch from portrait to landscape to accommodate e.g. a large image, and then switch back to portrait orientation for the remainder of the document.

Watch the video: Word's Section Breaks - Changing page orientation

Endnote Reference Management Software

Finding information, writing at university, find dissertations and theses.

You can access past Salford theses and previous dissertations and theses from other institutions. Looking at past dissertations can help give you an idea of what other research has been done in your subject area and can also help give you an idea of what a dissertation looks like. Find out how to search for dissertations and theses

Dissertations & projects: Literature-based projects

Research questions
The process of reviewing
Project management
Literature-based projects

On these pages:

“As a general rule, the introduction is usually around 5 to 10 per cent of the word limit; each chapter around 15 to 25 per cent; and the conclusion around 5 per cent.” Bryan Greetham, How to Write Your Undergraduate Dissertation

This page gives guidance on the structure of a literature-based project. That is, a project where the data is found in existing literature rather than found through primary research. They may also include information from primary sources such as original documents or other sources.

How to structure a literature-based project

The structure of a literature-based dissertation is usually thematic, but make sure to check with your supervisor to make sure you are abiding by your department’s project specifications. A typical literature-based dissertation will be broken up into the following sections:

Abstract or summary

Acknowledgments, contents page, introduction, themed chapters.

Bibliography/Reference list

Use this basic structure as your document plan . Remember that you do not need to write it in the order it will finally be written in.

For more advice on managing the order of your project, see our section on Project Management.

If you use the template provided on our Formatting page, you will see that it already has a title page included. You just need to fill in the appropriate boxes by typing or choosing from the drop-down-lists. The information you need to provide is:

Type of assignment (thesis, dissertation or independent project)
Partial or full fulfilment information
Subject area
Your name (and previous qualifications if applicable)
Month and year of submission

This may not always be required - check with your tutor.

It is independent of the rest of the report - it is a mini-report, which needs to make sense completely on its own.
References should not be included.
Nothing should appear in the abstract that is not in the rest of the report.
Usually between 200-300 words.
Write as a single paragraph.

It is recommended that you write your abstract after your report.

Contents page with list of headings and page numbers

If you choose not to use the template, then you will need to go through the document after it is written and create a list showing which heading is on which page of your document.

Purpose: To thank those who were directly involved in your work .

Do not confuse the acknowledgements section with a dedication - this is not where you thank your friends and relatives unless they have helped you with your manuscript.
Acknowledgments are about courtesy, where you thank those who were directly involved in your work, or were involved in supporting your work (technicians, tutors, other students, financial support etc).
This section tends to be very brief , a few lines at the most. Identify those who provided you with the most support, and thank them appropriately.
At the very least, make sure you acknowledge your supervisor!!

Purpose: To state the research problem and give a brief introduction to the background literature, provide justification for your research questions and explain your methodology and main findings.

Explain what the problem you will be addressing is, what your research questions are, and why they will help address the issue.
Explain (and justify) your methodology - where you searched, what your keywords were, what your inclusion and exclusion criteria were,
Define the scope of the dissertation, explaining any limitations.
Lay out the structure of the dissertation, taking the reader through each section and providing any key definitions.
Very briefly describe what your main findings are - but leave the detail for the sections below.

It is good practice to come back to the introduction after you have finished writing up the rest of the document to ensure it sets the appropriately scene for subsequent sections.

Should you have a separate literature review chapter?

Not usually , as your project is basically a big literature review, it isn't necessary to have a separate chapter. You would normally introduce background literature in your introduction instead.

However, if your supervisor suggests a separate chapter then it could go at this point, after the main introduction (which would then not include background literature).

For more advice on writing a literature review see the Literature Review pages on this guide.

Purpose: To present the themes you have identified in your research and explain how they contribute to answering your research questions

You will typically have 3-5 themed chapters. Each one should contain:

An introduction to the theme - what things it means and what it incorporates.
How the theme was addressed within the literature - this should be analytical not just descriptive.
A conclusion which shows how the theme relates to the research question(s).

Ensuring your themed chapters flow

Choosing the order of your theme chapters is an important part of the structure to your project. For example, if you study History and your project covers a topic that develops over a large time period, it may be best to order each chapter chronologically. Other subjects may have a natural narrative running through the themes. Think about how your reader will be able to follow along with your overall argument.

Although each chapter must be dedicated to a particular theme, it must link back to previous chapters and flow into the following chapter. You need to ensure they do not seem like they are unrelated to each other. There will be overlaps, mention these.

Some literature-based projects will focus on primary sources. If yours does, make sure primary sources are at the core of your paragraphs and chapters, and use secondary sources to expand and explore the theme further.

Purpose: To present the conclusion that you have reached as a result of both the background literature review and the analysis in your thematic chapters

A conclusion summarises all the points you have previously made and it should not include any evidence or topics you have not included in your introduction or themed chapters. There should be no surprises.

It should be about 5-10% of your word limit so make sure you leave enough words to do it justice. There will be marks in the marking scheme specifically allocated to the strength of your conclusion which cannot be made up elsewhere.

Some conclusions will also include recommendations for practice or ideas for further research. Check with your supervisor to see if they are expecting either or both of these.

Reference list

It is good practice to develop a reference list whilst writing the project, rather than leaving it until the end. This prevents a lot of searching around trying to remember where you accessed a particular source. If using primary sources, it also allows you to monitor the balance between primary and secondary sources included in the project. There is software available to help manage your references and the university officially supports RefWorks and EndNote.

For more advice on reference management, see our Skills Guide: Referencing Software

Transcriptions
Correspondence
Ethical approval forms

If you have information that you would like to include but are finding it disrupts the main body of text as its too cumbersome, or would distract from the main arguments of your dissertation, the information can be included in the appendix section. Each appendix should be focused on one item.

Appendices should not include any information that is key to your topic or overall argument.

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Writing your dissertation - structure and sections

Posted in: dissertations

In this post, we look at the structural elements of a typical dissertation. Your department may wish you to include additional sections but the following covers all core elements you will need to work on when designing and developing your final assignment.

The table below illustrates a classic dissertation layout with approximate lengths for each section.

Hopkins, D. and Reid, T., 2018. The Academic Skills Handbook: Your Guid e to Success in Writing, Thinking and Communicating at University . Sage.

Your title should be clear, succinct and tell the reader exactly what your dissertation is about. If it is too vague or confusing, then it is likely your dissertation will be too vague and confusing. It is important therefore to spend time on this to ensure you get it right, and be ready to adapt to fit any changes of direction in your research or focus.

In the following examples, across a variety of subjects, you can see how the students have clearly identified the focus of their dissertation, and in some cases target a problem that they will address:

An econometric analysis of the demand for road transport within the united Kingdom from 1965 to 2000

To what extent does payment card fraud affect UK bank profitability and bank stakeholders? Does this justify fraud prevention?

A meta-analysis of implant materials for intervertebral disc replacement and regeneration.

The role of ethnic institutions in social development; the case of Mombasa, Kenya.

Why haven’t biomass crops been adopted more widely as a source of renewable energy in the United Kingdom?

Mapping the criminal mind: Profiling and its limitation.

The Relative Effectiveness of Interferon Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C

Under what conditions did the European Union exhibit leadership in international climate change negotiations from 1992-1997, 1997-2005 and 2005-Copenhagen respectively?

The first thing your reader will read (after the title) is your abstract. However, you need to write this last. Your abstract is a summary of the whole project, and will include aims and objectives, methods, results and conclusions. You cannot write this until you have completed your write-up.

Introduction

Your introduction should include the same elements found in most academic essay or report assignments, with the possible inclusion of research questions. The aim of the introduction is to set the scene, contextualise your research, introduce your focus topic and research questions, and tell the reader what you will be covering. It should move from the general and work towards the specific. You should include the following:

Attention-grabbing statement (a controversy, a topical issue, a contentious view, a recent problem etc)
Background and context
Introduce the topic, key theories, concepts, terms of reference, practices, (advocates and critic)
Introduce the problem and focus of your research
Set out your research question(s) (this could be set out in a separate section)
Your approach to answering your research questions.

Literature review

Your literature review is the section of your report where you show what is already known about the area under investigation and demonstrate the need for your particular study. This is a significant section in your dissertation (30%) and you should allow plenty of time to carry out a thorough exploration of your focus topic and use it to help you identify a specific problem and formulate your research questions.

You should approach the literature review with the critical analysis dial turned up to full volume. This is not simply a description, list, or summary of everything you have read. Instead, it is a synthesis of your reading, and should include analysis and evaluation of readings, evidence, studies and data, cases, real world applications and views/opinions expressed. Your supervisor is looking for this detailed critical approach in your literature review, where you unpack sources, identify strengths and weaknesses and find gaps in the research.

In other words, your literature review is your opportunity to show the reader why your paper is important and your research is significant, as it addresses the gap or on-going issue you have uncovered.

You need to tell the reader what was done. This means describing the research methods and explaining your choice. This will include information on the following:

Are your methods qualitative or quantitative... or both? And if so, why?
Who (if any) are the participants?
Are you analysing any documents, systems, organisations? If so what are they and why are you analysing them?
What did you do first, second, etc?
What ethical considerations are there?

It is a common style convention to write what was done rather than what you did, and write it so that someone else would be able to replicate your study.

Here you describe what you have found out. You need to identify the most significant patterns in your data, and use tables and figures to support your description. Your tables and figures are a visual representation of your findings, but remember to describe what they show in your writing. There should be no critical analysis in this part (unless you have combined results and discussion sections).

Here you show the significance of your results or findings. You critically analyse what they mean, and what the implications may be. Talk about any limitations to your study, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of your own research, and make suggestions for further studies to build on your findings. In this section, your supervisor will expect you to dig deep into your findings and critically evaluate what they mean in relation to previous studies, theories, views and opinions.

This is a summary of your project, reminding the reader of the background to your study, your objectives, and showing how you met them. Do not include any new information that you have not discussed before.

This is the list of all the sources you have cited in your dissertation. Ensure you are consistent and follow the conventions for the particular referencing system you are using. (Note: you shouldn't include books you've read but do not appear in your dissertation).

Include any extra information that your reader may like to read. It should not be essential for your reader to read them in order to understand your dissertation. Your appendices should be labelled (e.g. Appendix A, Appendix B, etc). Examples of material for the appendices include detailed data tables (summarised in your results section), the complete version of a document you have used an extract from, etc.

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Thesis & Dissertation Title Page | Free Templates & Examples

Thesis & Dissertation Title Page | Free Templates & Examples

Published on May 19, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on July 18, 2023.

The title page (or cover page) of your thesis , dissertation , or research paper should contain all the key information about your document. It usually includes:

Dissertation or thesis title
The type of document (e.g., dissertation, research paper)
The department and institution
The degree program (e.g., Master of Arts)
The date of submission

It sometimes also includes your dissertation topic or field of study, your student number, your supervisor’s name, and your university’s logo.

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Title page format, title page templates, title page example, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions.

Your department will usually tell you exactly what should be included on your title page and how it should be formatted. Be sure to check whether there are specific guidelines for margins, spacing, and font size.

Title pages for APA and MLA style

The format of your title page can also depend on the citation style you’re using. There may be guidelines in regards to alignment, page numbering, and mandatory elements.

MLA guidelines for formatting the title page
APA guidelines for formatting the title page

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We’ve created a few templates to help you design the title page for your thesis, dissertation, or research paper. You can download them in the format of your choice by clicking on the corresponding button.

Research paper Google Doc

Dissertation Google Doc

Thesis Google Doc

A typical example of a thesis title page looks like this:

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The title page of your thesis or dissertation should include your name, department, institution, degree program, and submission date.

Usually, no title page is needed in an MLA paper . A header is generally included at the top of the first page instead. The exceptions are when:

Your instructor requires one, or
Your paper is a group project

In those cases, you should use a title page instead of a header, listing the same information but on a separate page.

The title page of your thesis or dissertation goes first, before all other content or lists that you may choose to include.

In most styles, the title page is used purely to provide information and doesn’t include any images. Ask your supervisor if you are allowed to include an image on the title page before doing so. If you do decide to include one, make sure to check whether you need permission from the creator of the image.

Include a note directly beneath the image acknowledging where it comes from, beginning with the word “ Note .” (italicized and followed by a period). Include a citation and copyright attribution . Don’t title, number, or label the image as a figure , since it doesn’t appear in your main text.

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George, T. (2023, July 18). Thesis & Dissertation Title Page | Free Templates & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved August 5, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/title-page/

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Formatting Resources

Formatting your dissertation in Word

We have compiled a brief guide to help you format your dissertation more efficiently, see the link in the Documents panel. Please read on for a description of what it contains.

Long text documents, such as dissertations, can be difficult to control and format correctly. It is far easier as a task, as well as far less likely to go horribly wrong, if you have a methodical approach to both the formatting and document structuring from the start.

The key to effective formatting in Word is the use of Styles . A Word Style is a pre-defined set of formatting instructions that can applied in a single operation. The styles that are particularly useful for structuring long documents are the Heading styles as so many of Words powerful tools are based on them. Using styles to format your document lends consistency. It also makes maintaining the document easier as changes to the style definition are applied globally across the document. In addition to styles, there are many other features and tools in Word that will aid in producing a long complex document such as a dissertation. A downloadable tutorial guide has been created to help make you aware of some of these features.

This short guide, Formatting your dissertation in Word , is not intended as a comprehensive training tutorial, but gives tips and basic information on these important features and includes links to online Microsoft resources where you can learn more. The topics contained therein should benefit anyone starting to format their dissertation and will also give pointers to those that are having trouble managing an existing document by highlighting features that you may want to address. The guide is based on Word for Windows but most of the features are equally applicable to Word for Mac 2016.

Topics included are:

Using document styles
Working with the navigation pane
Create distinct document sections by using section breaks
Insert more advanced headers, footers, and pagination
Create a Table of Contents
Create a Table of Figures
Favourite Keyboard Shortcuts

Download the guide from the links in the Documents side panel above.

Free Download

Dissertation/Thesis Template

The fastest (and smartest) way to craft a winning dissertation that showcases your study and earns you marks.

Available in Google Doc, Word & PDF format 4.9 star rating, 5000 + downloads

Step-by-step instructions

Tried & tested academic format

Fill-in-the-blanks simplicity

Pro tips, tricks and resources

What’s Covered In The Template?

This dissertation template is based on the tried and trusted best-practice format for formal academic research projects. The template structure reflects the overall research process, ensuring your document has a smooth, logical flow. Here’s how it’s structured:

The title page/cover page
Abstract (sometimes also called the executive summary)
Table of contents
List of figures /list of tables
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Literature review
Chapter 3: Methodology
Chapter 4: Research findings /results
Chapter 5: Discussion /analysis of findings
Chapter 6: Conclusion
Reference list

Each section is explained in plain, straightforward language , followed by an overview of the key elements that you need to cover within each section. We’ve also included practical examples to help you understand exactly what’s required in each section.

Download The Template

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I agree to receive the free template and other useful resources.

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FAQs: Dissertation & Thesis Template

Faqs: dissertation template, what format is the template (doc, pdf, ppt, etc.).

The dissertation template is provided as a Google Doc. You can download it in MS Word format or make a copy to your Google Drive. You’re also welcome to convert it to whatever format works best for you, such as LaTeX or PDF.

What types of dissertations/theses can this template be used for?

The template follows the standard best-practice structure for formal academic research projects such as dissertations or theses, so it is suitable for the vast majority of degrees, particularly those within the sciences.

Some universities may have some additional requirements, but these are typically minor, with the core structure remaining the same. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to double-check your university’s requirements before you finalise your structure.

Will this work for a research paper?

A research paper follows a similar format, but there are a few differences. You can find our research paper template here .

Is this template for an undergrad, Masters or PhD-level thesis?

This template can be used for a dissertation, thesis or research project at any level of study. It may be slight overkill for an undergraduate-level study, but it certainly won’t be missing anything.

How long should my dissertation/thesis be?

This depends entirely on your university’s specific requirements, so it’s best to check with them. As a general ballpark, Masters-level projects are usually 15,000 – 20,000 words in length, while Doctoral-level projects are often in excess of 60,000 words.

What about the research proposal?

If you’re still working on your research proposal, we’ve got a template for that here .

We’ve also got loads of proposal-related guides and videos over on the Grad Coach blog .

How do I write a literature review?

We have a wealth of free resources on the Grad Coach Blog that unpack how to write a literature review from scratch. You can check out the literature review section of the blog here.

How do I create a research methodology?

We have a wealth of free resources on the Grad Coach Blog that unpack research methodology, both qualitative and quantitative. You can check out the methodology section of the blog here.

Can I share this dissertation template with my friends/colleagues?

Yes, you’re welcome to share this template. If you want to post about it on your blog or social media, all we ask is that you reference this page as your source.

Can Grad Coach help me with my dissertation/thesis?

Within the template, you’ll find plain-language explanations of each section, which should give you a fair amount of guidance. However, you’re also welcome to consider our dissertation and thesis coaching services .

Additional Resources

If you’re working on a dissertation or thesis, be sure to also check these resources out…

1-On-1 Private Coaching

The Grad Coach Resource Center

The Grad Coach YouTube Channel

The Grad Coach Podcast

Online Study Tool Kit: Dissertations & Theses

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Online Dissertation Resources

We have a range of online resources to help plan, write and finish your dissertation. Although this is aimed primarily at 3rd Year Undergraduates and Postgraduate Taught students, it contains information that can be useful to Postgraduate Research Students.

Sage Research Methods (Library Database) Provides a range of useful tools including a Project Planner, which breaks down each stage of your research from defining your topic, reviewing the literature to summarising and writing up.
Literature Reviews Checklist - Handout
Components of a Dissertation (document) A useful guide to the central components of a dissertation. By the end you should be able to: --Understand the core elements that should be in your dissertation --Understand the structure and progression of a strong dissertation
Dissertation Workshop - Handouts Includes a planning template and outline
Dissertation Workshop Slides
Writing Your Dissertation Guide - Handout

Other Resources

Reading Strategies (PDF document) An interactive document on reading at university.
How To Write A Literature Review Video - Queen's University Belfast 10 minute video
Start to Finish Dissertations Online Webinar from Manchester
A to Z of Literature Reviews - University of Manchester 20 minute tutorial
Appendices A short example of how to use and cite appendices in your dissertations, essays or projects

Dissertations

Check out these recordings to help you through your Dissertation writing process, from start to finish.

Dissertation Planning and Writing Series

Starting Your Dissertation (Video) 46 minutes This webinar recording will help you with the early stages of planning, researching and writing your dissertation. By the end you should be able to: --Understand the challenges and opportunities of writing a dissertation --Move towards refining your subject and title --Know what steps to take to progress with your dissertation
Writing Your Dissertation (Video) 52 minutes This webinar recording will help guide you through the middle stages of writing your dissertation. By the end you should be able to: --Identify the key parts of a high quality dissertation --Understand how to structure your dissertation effectively --Know how to increase the fluency and strength of your argument across an extended piece of writing
Finishing Your Dissertation (Video) 59 minutes This webinar recording aims to guide you through the final stages of writing your dissertation. By the end you should be able to: --Identify key features that should be included in your dissertation --Know how to ensure your dissertation has a strong and cohesive structure --Proofread your work.
Using Word to Format Long Documents (Video) 1 hour and 22 minutes A video tutorial on how to format long documents such as Essays and Dissertations using Word. By the end you should be able to: --Create a Table of Contents --Know how to insert page numbers --Be familiar with how to use the various auto-formatting and styles functions to manage longer documents

Useful links to online dissertations and theses

A selection of external sources that would be of particular use to 3rd Year Undergraduate students and Postgraduate students.

Please note that the Library does not hold Undergraduate or Masters Dissertations. For information on print and online doctoral theses please see below information on University of Roehampton Thesis Collection

National thesis service provided by the British Library which aims to maximise the visibility and availability of the UK's doctoral theses. NOTE: EthOS is currently unavailable due to ongoing issues following a serious cyber security incident at the BL (January 2024).

EBSCO Open Dissertations is an online thesis and dissertation database with access to over 800,000 electronic theses and dissertations worldwide.

DART-Europe E-theses Portal Free access to nearly 800,000 open access research theses from 615 universities in 28 European countries.
Open Access Theses and Dissertations OATD.org aims to be the best possible resource for finding open access graduate theses and dissertations published around the world. Metadata (information about the theses) comes from over 1100 colleges, universities, and research institutions. OATD currently indexes 5,153,410 theses and dissertations.

University of Roehampton Theses & Masters Dissertations

The university holds a selection of theses and master dissertations awarded by the University of Roehampton.

2013 onwards, Digital Theses

Roehampton Research Explorer - Student Theses

Theses subject to an embargo are not accessible digitally or in hard copy until the embargo period elapses. Embargoes may be applied to protect the rights of the author whilst they explore opportunities for publication, or where sensitive information is held within the thesis.

Please note that there is a short delay in recently submitted theses appearing on our repository. If you cannot find the thesis you are looking for, please contact the Research Office .

2004-2013, Print Theses & Masters Dissertations

The University holds a print Theses Collection (including some Masters dissertations) on the 2 nd Floor of the Library. The holdings are not complete as the criteria for inclusion was set by academic departments, and threshold varied between department. Not all student work would be made available to view. The selected works were intended to provide examples of work for students. Some examples were kept in-house, used for teaching purposes, and not available within the library. Library print holdings were usually kept for up to 10 years and reviewed for relevance.

To search for print theses and masters dissertations use UR Library Search to search for a title or topic and filter by Format > Book > Theses, Dissertation.

1985-2004, Roehampton Institute of Higher Education (RIHE)

Dissertations and theses published between 1985-2004 were awarded by the University of Surrey. The holdings are not complete as the criteria for inclusion was set by academic departments, and threshold varied between department. Not all student work would be made available to view. The selected works were intended to provide examples of work for students.

To search for digitised copies of RHIE theses go to the University of Surrey’s Open Research repository .

Using a thesis held in the Roehampton repository in your own work

You may re-use material from a thesis in the same way you would any other source, i.e. by providing a full citation to the thesis in question, and by not re-using material in a way that may breach the rights of the author.

If you feel your own copyright has been affected by content held in the University of Roehampton repository, please refer to our take down policy and contact us immediately.

Government Guidance on exceptions to copyright Details of the exceptions to copyright that allow limited use of copyright works without the permission of the copyright owner.
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Dissertation Template - Yours to download for free!

Our expert dissertation writers have put together this free dissertation template example for you to use.

You can download this dissertation template in the .doc MS Word format here

There is a brief outline of what the Word template contains below

The purpose of this template is to provide you with an overview of the type of structure and form to be used when preparing your successful dissertation. It is based upon a general undergraduate research project, which combines the use of secondary and primary data and can vary between 10,000 to 20,000 words. The template is divided into three sections as follows:

Section 1 - Structure of a typical dissertation template with accompanying notes on each section and chapter
Section 2 - Other notes and advice
Section 3 - An example table of contents

This dissertation template has in-depth notes on each chapter, the full layout of a typical dissertation and a full example table of contents. The basic structure is:

Table of contents
List of figures
List of tables
Introduction
Literature review
Research methodology
Research findings
Discussion and analysis of findings
Conclusion and recommendations

The dissertation template doc then has some notes on presentation, spelling, grammar and writing style. The final section contains a useful example table of contents.

Skills for Learning : Dissertations & Literature Reviews

Dissertations are extended projects in which you choose, research and write about a specific topic. They provide an opportunity to explore an aspect of your subject in detail. You are responsible for managing your dissertation, though you will be assigned a supervisor. Dissertations are typically empirical (based on your own research) or theoretical (based on others’ research/arguments).

The Dissertation IT Kit contains information about formatting your dissertation document in Word.

Look at the Library Subject Guides for your area. These have information on finding high quality resources for your dissertation.

We run interactive workshops to help you prepare for your dissertation. Find out more on the Skills for Learning Workshops page.

We have online academic skills modules within MyBeckett for all levels of university study. These modules will help your academic development and support your success at LBU. You can work through the modules at your own pace, revisiting them as required. Find out more from our FAQ What academic skills modules are available?

Dissertation proposals

What are dissertation proposals.

A dissertation proposal is an outline of your proposed research project. It is what you imagine your dissertation might look like before you start. Consider it a temporary document which might change during the negotiation process between you and your dissertation supervisor. The proposal can help you clarify exactly what you want to cover in your dissertation. It can also outline how you are going to approach it. Your dissertation plan and structure might change throughout this process as you develop your ideas. Your proposal is the first step towards your goal: a completed dissertation.

Structuring your dissertation proposal

The structure, content, and length of your dissertation proposal will depend on your course requirements. Some courses may require that your aims and objectives are separate from the main body of the proposal. You might be expected to write a literature review, and/or provide a detailed methodology. You might also be asked to include an extensive context for your proposed study. Consult your module handbook or assignment brief for the specific requirements of your course.

Give each section of your proposal a heading You can also experiment with giving your proposed dissertation a title. Both of these approaches may help you focus and stay on topic. Most dissertation proposals will have a fairly standard structure, under the following headings:

Sections of a dissertation proposal

Aims and objectives
Rationale for your study
Methodology
Brief literature review
Benefits of your research

Describe what you plan to investigate. You could write a statement of your topic, a research question(s), or a hypothesis.

Explain why you want to do this research.
Write a justification as to why the project is worth undertaking.
Reasons might include: a gap in existing research; questioning or extending the findings of earlier research; replicating a piece of research to test its reliability.
Describe and justify how you plan to do the research.
You might be reviewing the work of others, which mainly involves secondary, or desk-based, research. Or you might plan to collect data yourself, which is primary research. It is common for undergraduate dissertations to involve a mixture of these.
If you are doing secondary research, describe how you will select your sources. For primary research, describe how you will collect your data. This might include using questionnaires, interviews, archival research, or other methods.
Others will have researched this topic before, or something similar.
The literature review allows you to outline what they have found and where your project fits in. For example, you could highlight disagreements or discrepancies in the existing research.

Outline who might potentially gain from your research and what you might find out or expand upon. For example, there could be implications for practice in a particular profession.

Dissertation style and language

A dissertation is a logical, structured, argument-based exploration of a topic. The style of your writing may vary slightly in each chapter. For example, your results chapter should display factual information, whereas your analysis chapter might be more argument-based. Make sure your language, tone and abbreviations are consistent within each section. Your language should be formal and contain terminology relevant to your subject area. Dissertations have a large word count. It is important to structure your work with headings and a contents page. Use signposting language to help your reader understand the flow of your writing. Charts, tables or images may help you communicate specific information.

Top tip! To signpost in your dissertation, use the ‘Signalling Transition’ section of the Manchester Academic Phrasebank .

Download the Dissertation Project Checklist Worksheet to help with planning your dissertation work.

Dissertation Project Checklist Worksheet

The Dissertation IT Kit also contains information about formatting your dissertation document in Microsoft Word.

Past dissertations

Exploring past dissertations within your academic field can give you an idea as to how to structure your dissertation and find similar research methodologies. You can access dissertations and theses completed by students at Leeds Beckett and other universities. To find external dissertations, look at our FAQ answer ' Are there other dissertations I can look at?' . To find dissertations completed by Leeds Beckett students, use the FAQ answer ' Can I find copies of past dissertations in the Library? '

Sections of a dissertation

Not all dissertations will follow the same structure. Your style can change depending on your school. Check your module handbook, assignment brief or speak with your course tutor for further guidance.

To decide what to include:

Think about your project from an outsider’s perspective. What do they need to know and in what order? What is the most clear and logical way for you to present your research?
Discuss your project with your supervisor. Be open about ideas or concerns you have around the structure and content.

Each section of a dissertation has a different purpose. Think about whether you're doing an empirical or theoretical dissertation and use the headings below to find out what you should be including.

You can also use the Leeds Beckett Dissertation Template to help you understand what your dissertation should look like.

Leeds Beckett Dissertation Template

For more information on dissertation style, language and structure, watch a recording of our interactive workshop below.

Empirical (research-based)

1. Abstract
2. Contents Page
3. Introduction
4. Literature Review
5. Methodology
6. Findings / Results
7. Discussion
8. Conclusion
9. Reference List / Bibliography
10. Appendices

Abstract : provides a brief summary of your whole dissertation.

The abstract outlines the purpose of your research and your methodology (where necessary). You should summarise your main findings and conclusion.

Top tips! Give the reader a sense of why your project is interesting and valuable. Write in the past tense. Aim for about half a page.

Contents page : lists all the sections of your dissertation with the page numbers. Do this last by using the automatic function in Word.

Introduction: introduces the reader to your research project.

Provide context to the topic and define key terms. Ensure that the scope of your investigation is clear. Outline your aims and objectives, and provide a brief description of your research methods. Finally, give an indication of your conclusion/findings.

Top tips! Start broad (background information) and get more specific (your research aims and findings). Try writing the introduction after the literature review and methodology chapters. This way, you will have a better idea of your research aims.

Literature Review : positions your research in relation to what has come before it.

The literature review will summarise prior research on the topic, such as journal articles, books, government reports and data. You should introduce key themes, concepts, theories or methods that provide context for your own research. Analyse and evaluate the literature by drawing comparisons and highlighting strengths and weaknesses. Download the Critical Analysis Questions and Evidence Matrix Worksheets to help you with this process and for more information on literature searching see Finding Information .

Critical Analysis Questions Worksheet
Evidence Matrix Worksheet

The literature review should justify the need for your research and highlight areas for further investigation. Avoid introducing your own ideas at this point; instead, compare and comment on existing ideas.

Top tips! Your literature review is not a descriptive summary of various sources. You need to synthesise (bring together) and critically analyse prior research. Sophisticated use of reporting verbs is important for this process. Download our Reporting Verbs Worksheet to help you with this.

Reporting Verbs Worksheet

Find out more about literature reviews elsewhere on this topic page.

Find out more about critical thinking.

Methodology : provides a succinct and accurate record of the methodology used and justifies your choice of methods.

In this section, you describe the qualitative and/or quantitative methods* used to carry out your research/experiment. You must justify your chosen research methodology and explain how it helps you answer your research question. Where appropriate, explain the rationale behind choices such as procedures, equipment, participants and sample size. You may need to reference specific guidelines that you have used, especially in subjects such as healthcare. If your research involves people, you may also need to demonstrate how it fulfils ethical guidelines.

Top tips! Your account should be sufficiently detailed so that someone else could replicate your research. Write in the passive voice. Remember, at this point you are not reporting any findings.

*Qualitative research is based on opinions and ideas, while quantitative research is based on numerical data.

Find out more about the research process.

Findings/Results : presents the data collected from your research in a suitable format.

Provide a summary of the results of your research/experiment. Consider the most effective methods for presenting your data, such as charts, graphs or tables. Present all your findings honestly. Do not change any data, even if it is not what you expected to find.

Top tips! Whilst you might acknowledge trends or themes in the data, at this stage, you won’t be analysing it closely. If you are conducting qualitative research, this section may be combined with the discussion section. Important additional documents, such as transcriptions or questionnaires, can be added to your appendices.

Discussion : addresses your research aims by analysing your findings.

In this chapter, you interpret and discuss your results and draw conclusions. Identify trends, themes or issues that arise from the findings and discuss their significance in detail. These themes can also provide the basis for the structure of this section. You can draw upon information and concepts from your literature review to help interpret your findings. For example, you can show how your findings build upon or contradict earlier research.

Top tips! Ensure that the points you make are backed up with evidence from your findings. Refer back to relevant information from your literature review to discuss and interpret your findings.

Conclusion : summarises your main points.

Provide an overview of your main findings and demonstrate how you have met your research objectives. Set your research into a wider context by showing how it contributes to current academic debates. Discuss the implications of your research and put forward any recommendations.

Top tips! Do not introduce any new information in this section. Your conclusion should mirror the content of your introduction but offer more conclusive answers.

Reference List / Bibliography : a complete list of all sources used.

List all the sources that you have consulted in the process of your research. Your Reference List or Bibliography must follow specific guidelines for your discipline (e.g. Harvard or OSCOLA). Look through your module handbook or speak to your supervisor for more information.

Find out more about referencing and academic integrity .

Appendix (single) or Appendices (plural): presents raw data and/or transcripts that aren’t in the main body of your dissertation.

You may have to be selective in the data you present in your findings section. If this is the case, you may choose to present the raw data/extended version in an appendix. If you conduct qualitative research, such as interviews, you will include the transcripts in your appendix. Appendices are not usually included in the word count.

Top tips! Discuss with your supervisor whether you will need an appendix and what to include.

Theoretical (argument based)

Contents page
Introduction
Literature Review
Main body (divided into chapters)
Reference list / Bibliography

Provides a brief summary of your whole dissertation.

The abstract outlines the purpose of your research and your methodology (where necessary). You should summarise your main findings and conclusion.

Top tip! Give the reader a sense of why your project is interesting and valuable. Write in the past tense. Aim for about half a page.

Contents page : lists all the sections of your dissertation with the page numbers. Using the automatic table of contents feature in Microsoft Word can help you format this.

The Dissertation IT kit provides guidance on how to use these tools.

Introduces the reader to your research project.

Provide context to the topic and define key terms. Ensure that the scope of your investigation is clear. Outline your aims and objectives, and provide a brief description of your research methods. Introduce your argument and explain why your research topic is important. Finally, give an indication of your conclusion/findings.

Top tip! Start broad (background information) and get more specific (your research aims and findings). Try writing the introduction after the literature review and methodology chapters. This way, you will have a better idea of your research aims.

Summarises prior research on the topic, such as journal articles, books, and other information sources. You should introduce key themes, concepts, theories or methods that provide context for your own research. You should also analyse and evaluate the literature by drawing comparisons and highlighting strengths and weaknesses.

Many (although not all) theoretical dissertations will include a separate literature review. You may decide to include this as a separate chapter. Otherwise, you can integrate it into your introduction or first themed chapter.

Find out more about literature reviews on the Literature Reviews page.

Divide the main body of your research into chapters organised by chronology or themes. Each chapter should be like a mini-essay that helps you answer your research questions. Like an essay, each chapter should have an introduction, main body and conclusion. Develop your argument and demonstrate critical thinking by drawing on relevant sources. Compare and contrast ideas, and make suggestions or recommendations where relevant. Explain how each chapter helps answer your main research question.

Top tip! Divide each chapter into chunks and use subheadings where necessary to structure your work.

Find out more on the Critical Thinking pages.

Top tip! Do not introduce any new information in this section. Your conclusion should mirror the content of your introduction but offer more conclusive answers.

List all the sources that you have consulted in the process of your research. Your Reference List or Bibliography must follow specific guidelines for your discipline (Harvard, APA or OSCOLA). Look through your module handbook or speak to your supervisor for more information.

Find out more about referencing and academic integrity .

Appendix (single) or Appendices (plural): presents any data, such as images or tables, that aren’t in the main body of your dissertation.

You may have to be selective about the information you include in the main body of your dissertation. If this is the case, you may place data such as images or tables in the appendix. Appendices are not usually included in the word count.

Top tip! Discuss with your supervisor whether you will need any appendices and what to include.

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How to Create a Table of Contents for Dissertation, Thesis or Paper & Examples

Table of contents

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A dissertation table of contents is a list of the chapters and sections included in a dissertation or thesis, along with their page numbers. It helps to navigate the document easily and locate specific information. Each chapter or section should be listed with its corresponding page number. The table of contents should be formatted according to the guidelines of the specific style guide being used, such as APA or MLA.

We would guess that students usually start working on the table of contents at the last minute. It is quite apparent and makes sense, as this is the list of chapters and sections with page locations. Do you think it's easy?

From our experience, it can be quite tricky to organize everything according to APA, Chicago, or any other academic writing style. In this blog, we will discuss how to write a table of contents for a research paper , thesis or dissertation in Microsoft Word. We will create it together to guide students through the process.

Also, here you will find examples of table of contents created by thesis writers at StudyCrumb . Let’s go!

What Is a Table of Contents: Definition

It is obvious that the table of contents (TOC) is an essential manuscript part you can’t skip. If you are dealing with a dissertation, thesis or research paper, you need to know how to build it in accordance with academic guidance. This is a detailed roadmap for your work and outlined structure you can follow for a research presentation.

In case you are working on an essay or report, you may not include the table of contents, as it is a short academic text. But for the research paper, thesis or dissertation, table of contents is essential and required. It is possible to say the same about any Master’s project. It should be located between the dissertation abstract and introduction chapter. In most cases, it is about 2-3 pages long.

Our expert dissertation writing service prepared a great template that can be used for your work. Make your research formatting easy with ready solutions!

Types of Table of Contents

How to choose which table of contents will fit your research paper, thesis, dissertation, or report best? Make a decision based on your work length. Some academic writing styles, such as APA paper format or MLA style , have specific formatting for this list.

However, we will outline the most commonly used typology:

Single-level table of contents. At this type, we use only chapters. For instance, you will have an Introduction, Literature Review, methodology, and other chapters with page numbers. It can be used for shorter research work. For long writing forms like manuscripts, it can be too broad, and you will need to go into details.
Subdivided table of contents. The most frequently used form to organize the contents table. It will include not only chapters but also sections — a level 2 subheading for each part. It will help to be more specific about what to expect in each part of your research work.
Table of contents with multiple levels. This is a more divided structure, including subheadings with a level 3 for each section. Quite often, those subheadings can be rewritten or deleted during the last editing. It is essential to keep them in the right order.

Before you decide which type will work best for you, let us share with you some examples of each formatting style.

Example of Table of Contents With a Single Level

Introduction: The Misinformation Roots ………..…… 3 Literature Review .....................................….....………… 10 Research Methodology and Design ……................. 24 Results.............................................................................. 28 Discussion ....................................................................... 32

Sometimes, you will need to put an extra emphasis on subsections. Check this layout to see how your subheadings can be organized.

Example of Table of Contents Page with Subdivided Levels

Introduction: Information War ............……………….. 3 Background…………………………………….………..…… 4 Current State ……………………………………...…...…… 5 Defining Research Questions………………………. 9 Literature Review………………………...……………..……... 11 The Roots of Information Warfare ………....… 11 Information Wars …………………………….………..… 14 Cyber Wars Research ........................................ 17

If you are working on a lengthy, complex paper, this outline will suit your project most. It will help readers navigate through your document by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable sections.

Multi-Level Table of Contents Page Example

Introduction……………………………………………….......……….… 3 Emergence of Climate Change ………..……....….….. 3 Key Activist Groups in Climate Change .............. 5 Greenpeace International ………..…………......... 9 European Climate Foundation …….……………. 10 WWF ……………………………………….……….............. 11 Significant Movements ……………….………....……… 13 Literature Review ……………………………………......…………. 15

What Sections Should Be Included in a Table of Contents?

To start with, the scientific table of contents should include all chapters and its subheading. It is important to choose the formatting that will give your readers a full overview of your work from the very beginning. However, there are other chapters that you may miss constructing the 2-pager table. So, let's look at all you need to include:

Dissertation introduction
Literature review
Research methodology
Results section
Dissertation discussion
Conclusion of a thesis
Reference list. Mention a number of a page where you start listing your sources.
Appendices. For instance, if you have a data set, table or figure, include it in your research appendix .

This is how the ideal structured dissertation or research paper table of contents will look like. Remember that it still should take 2 pages. You need to choose the best formatting style to manage its length.

Tables, Figures, and Appendices in TOC

While creating a table of contents in a research paper, thesis or dissertation, you will need to include appendices in each case you have them. However, the formatting and adding tables and figures can vary based on the number and citation style. If you have more than 3 tables or figures, you may decide to have all of them at the end of your project. So, add them to the table of contents.

Figures, graphics, and diagrams in research papers, dissertations and theses should be numbered. If you use them from another source, ensure that you make a proper citation based on the chosen style guide.

Appendix in Table of Contents Example

Appendix A. Row Data Set…………………………………… 41 Appendix B. IBR Data………………………………………….… 43 Appendix C. SPSS Data………………………………………… 44

What Shouldn't Be Included in a Table of Contents?

When creating a dissertation table of contents, students want to include everything they have in a document. However, some components should not be on this page. Here is what we are talking about:

Thesis acknowledgement
Paper abstract
The content list itself

Acknowledgement and abstract should be located before the content list, so there is no need to add them. You need to present a clear structure that will help your readers to navigate through the work and quickly find any requested information.

How to Create a Table of Contents for a Research Paper or Dissertation In Word?

It may look like working with this list can take a long. But we have one proposal for our users. Instead of writing a table of contents manually, create it automatically in Microsoft Word. You do not need any specific tech knowledge to do this. Let’s go through this process step-by-step and explain how to make a table of contents for a research paper or dissertation in a few clicks.

Open Home tab and choose the style for your table of contents (ToC next).
Apply heading 1 to your chapters, heading 2 to the subheading, and if needed heading 3 to the level 3 heading.
Next, you are going to create a research paper or PhD dissertation table of contents. Open References and choose ToC.
Choose the citation style for your work. For example, let’s choose APL for now. Meeting all style requirements (bold font, title formatting, numbers) is essential.
Define the number of levels for your dissertation or thesis table of contents. In case you want to have 3 levels, choose Automatic Table 2.
You are done! Click ok, and here is your page with listed chapters!

You see how easy it can be! Every time you make changes to your text or headings, it will be automatic.

Updating Your Table of Contents in MS Word

Table of contents of a research paper or dissertation is created, and you continue to edit your work until submission. It is common practice, and with MS Word, you can automate all the updates.

Let’s outline this process in our step-by-step guide!

Right-click on your ToC in a document.
Update field section is next.
Choose “update ToC."
Here, you can update your entire ToC — choose an option that works the best for you!

As you may see, working with automated solutions is much easier when you write a dissertation which has manifold subsections. That is why it is better to learn how to work on MS Word with the content list meaning be able to manage it effectively.

Table of Contents Examples

From our experience, students used to think that the content list was quite a complicated part of the work. Even with automated solutions, you must be clear about what to include and how to organize formatting. To solve the problem and answer all your questions, use our research paper or dissertation contents page example. Our paper writers designed a sample table of contents to illustrate the best practices and various styles in formatting the work.

Check our samples to find advanced options for organizing your own list.

Example of Table of Contents in Research Paper

Research Paper Table of Contents Example

As you can see, this contents page includes sections with different levels.

Thesis/Dissertation Table of Contents Example

Have a question about your specific case? Check samples first, as we are sure you can get almost all the answers in our guides and sample sets.

>> Read more: APA Format Table of Contents

Tips on Creating a Table of Contents

To finalize all that we shared on creating the table of contents page, let’s go through our tips list. We outline the best advice to help you with a dissertation table of contents.

Use automated solutions for creating a list of chapters for your report, research papers, or dissertations — it will save you time in the future.
Be clear with the formatting style you use for the research.
Choose the best level type of list based on the paper length.
Update a list after making changes to the text.
Check the page list before submitting the work.

Bottom Line on Making Table of Contents for Dissertations/ Papers

To summarize, working with a research paper, thesis or dissertation table of contents can be challenging. This article outlines how to create a table of contents in Word and how to update it appropriately. You can learn what to include in the content list, how long it can be, and where to locate it. Write your work using more than one table of contents sample we prepared for students. It is often easy to check how the same list was made for other dissertations before finalizing yours. We encourage you to learn how to create a list with pages automatically and update it. It will definitely make your academic life easier.

Not sure if your work 's quality level is enough for getting a top-notch result? We’ve got you covered! Our team of skilled academic writers is always ready to help once you ask “ write my dissertation for me !" Just select your writer, send them your requirements and get a custom study tailored to your instructions.

Joe Eckel is an expert on Dissertations writing. He makes sure that each student gets precious insights on composing A-grade academic writing.

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Dissertation Template Files

The Neumann Library provides Microsoft Word templates to help you compose your dissertation in the format required by the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Templates define the correct pagination, margins, font size and style, and other formatting settings according to the guidelines specified in the guide.

Why use a template? Templates automate much of the dissertation formatting, saving you time. They make use of Styles, which are on the Home ribbon in Microsoft Word. A Style is a command used to format your text with predefined settings, including font size, spacing, indentation, and so on. If you highlight some text and click a style button, it will format that text according to the style. The Table of Contents will pull from these styles to automatically update the headings and page numbers.

For help using these files, please make an appointment on the Contact Us tab.

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National security

Security requirements for moving dangerous goods by road and rail

Department for Transport

Updated 7 August 2024

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/security-requirements-for-moving-dangerous-goods-by-road-and-rail/security-requirements-for-moving-dangerous-goods-by-road-and-rail

Introduction

If you transport dangerous goods by road or rail or offer that service, you must comply with international regulations, namely the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road ( ADR ) and the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail ( RID ) .

Security provisions were enacted from 2001 to prevent terrorist incidents and protect the general population, and are established in chapter 1.10 of ADR and RID . In Great Britain, these security provisions are applied through the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 (CDG09, as amended) .

The purpose of the dangerous goods security regime is to reduce the possibility of dangerous goods being seized by criminals or terrorists on the road or rail network.

Chapter 1.10 forms the basis of the Department for Transport’s ( DfT ) Land Transport National Security Division ( LTNSD ) security compliance programme.

Read separate guidance about British derogations, transitional provisions and exceptions .

While there are no regulatory requirements for consignors and carriers to inform the DfT of the carriage of ‘high consequence dangerous goods’, DfT would encourage you to contact the LTNSD to request an inspection under chapter 1.10: [email protected] .

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland ( HSENI ) are responsible for implementation of the international regulations in Northern Ireland under the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 .

The competent authority for the transport of Class 7 (radioactive material) is the Office for Nuclear Regulation ( ONR ) . Specific advice on the secure carriage of radioactive material should be obtained from the ONR . Participants in the carriage of Class 7 are encouraged to contact them to request the relevant inspection: [email protected] .

Please note that businesses that handle, process or transport dangerous goods on a regular basis must appoint a dangerous goods safety adviser ( DGSA ) . The DGSA and company staff should be properly trained, as per the requirements of ADR 1.3 and 1.8.3 .

Enquiries regarding the security of dangerous goods can be made via email: [email protected] .

This guidance quotes ADR . For carriage by rail the requirements under RID apply.

Contact the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for any questions on the transport of dangerous goods by rail: [email protected] .

Security measures

Dangerous goods are assigned to different classes and divisions according to the hazards they present. Read separate guidance on classes of dangerous goods .

The security requirements are split into 2 levels:

a general level of requirements applicable to all dangerous goods
additional provisions for ‘high consequence dangerous goods’ ( HCDG )

HCDG are defined in RID and ADR 1.10.3.1 as those with the potential for misuse in a terrorist incident and which may, as a result, produce serious consequences such as mass casualties or mass destruction (whether to infrastructure, the environment or the economy) or, particularly for Class 7, mass socio-economic disruption.

All dangerous goods shall only be offered to carriers or organisations that have been appropriately identified. Temporary storage sites must be properly secured, drivers and crew must carry means of photographic identification, and security awareness training must be provided.

For HCDG , you need to create, adopt, implement and comply with a transport security plan.

On the GOV.UK home page for this guidance , you can find a:

security plan template
security risk assessment template
driver advice sheet

Approach to compliance

The scope of the security regime covers the entire journey taken by the dangerous goods, from consignor to consignee, by road or rail. This may include consignors, carriers or those offering carriage, manufacturing sites, terminals, multi-modal sites, or any other qualifying location.

Compliance monitoring is conducted through a programme of announced inspections at company premises, carried out by the LTNSD to assess compliance with the mandatory aspects of chapter 1.10 of RID and ADR .

The Department for Transport, as competent authority, has the right to entry to undertake unannounced covert inspections, deriving from Section 19 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Part 3 of the Railways Act 1993.

Scope of applicability

Chapter 1.10 does not apply to the carriage of limited quantities and of loads below certain levels, depending on the substance being carried. Further information can be found in ADR 1.1.3.6.3 and 3.4.

You should always refer to your DGSA to confirm whether ADR 1.10 is applicable.

Graphic 1 - flowchart showing if high consequence dangerous goods rules apply

Accessible text version of graphic 1, 1. is it a small load / limited quantity according to 1.1.3.6.3 / 3.4.

Yes: Chapter 1.10 is not applicable.

No: Chapter 1.10, sections 1.10.1 and 1.10.2 are applicable. Go to question 2.

2. Is the substance high consequence dangerous goods? (Table 1.10.3.1.2)

Yes: The complete chapter 1.10, including section 1.10.3, applies.

No: Only sections 1.10.1 and 1.10.2 of chapter 1.10 are applicable.

Complying with the regulations

This part of the guidance quotes chapters of the ADR about the secure transport of dangerous goods and provides DfT ’s advice on the quoted rules.

Chapter 1.10

Security provisions.

Note: For the purposes of this chapter, security means measures or precautions to be taken to minimise theft or misuse of dangerous goods that may endanger persons, property or the environment.

1.10.1 General provisions

1.10.1.1 All persons engaged in the carriage of dangerous goods shall consider the security requirements set out in this chapter commensurate with their responsibilities

Chapter 1.10 refers to any person engaged in the carriage of dangerous goods, and includes administrative personnel, contractors, and agency staff.

Contractors may create new vulnerabilities and expose organisations to a greater ‘insider’ threat than they would face if relying on directly recruited staff. Contractors, including transport service providers, should undergo the same pre-employment screening processes with their own employees; responsibility for implementing these checks will rest with the contractor. They should be able to demonstrate, from their records, that they have carried out these checks.

1.10.1.2 Dangerous goods shall only be offered for carriage to carriers that have been appropriately identified.

If your company subcontracts dangerous goods movements to another haulier or courier, or any other relevant service provider, you must ensure that they are compliant, including evidence of a security plan, where necessary, and that the plan is reviewed and tested regularly. Additional checks may include checking security and recruitment policies, staff training, and drivers’ documents, including their ADR vocational qualification.

Rail freight operating companies hold a safety certificate issued by the ORR and this can form part of the appropriate identification process.

1.10.1.3 Areas within temporary storage terminals, temporary storage sites, vehicle depots, berthing areas and marshalling yards used for the temporary storage during carriage of dangerous goods shall be properly secured, well-lit and, where possible and appropriate, not accessible to the general public.

Temporary storage includes stops made necessary by the circumstances in a journey, as well as changes to the mode of transport. Areas used for the temporary storage of dangerous goods must be secured. This means that they should be controlled by a combination of physical barriers, security equipment, procedures, and staff vigilance.

For the purposes of ADR & RID, parking or necessary short stops (for example ‘tacho breaks’) during a journey are not considered temporary storage, subject to Regulation 7 of CDG09 .

Additional fencing or patrols may be considered around areas where vehicles or trains are kept when loaded with HCDG . Sites shall be well-lit and illumination should complement other security equipment such as CCTV and enable security patrols to be conducted effectively. Regular checks should be carried out to ensure that security equipment is functioning correctly, and signage should be in place to define areas with unauthorised access.

Reasonable steps should be taken to ensure unauthorised access to dangerous goods is prevented. Additional consideration should be given to shared access sites.

All good physical security regimes should be based on the 3D principle – deter, detect and delay.

deter – the overt physical and electronic security measures that might deter a would-be intruder
detect – alarm systems, with visual (CCTV) verification, to detect the presence of an intruder
delay – physical security measures that delay the intruder long enough to allow a response force to attend

Many sites will incorporate perimeter security fencing to meet health and safety requirements, as well as security requirements, however this guidance recognises that perimeter fencing might not be applicable in all cases. It is important to remember that the implementation of security measures should be pragmatic, proportionate and sustainable.

More information about physical security measures is available at the following websites:

National Protective Security Authority
RedBookLive

1.10.1.4 Each member of a vehicle crew shall carry with them means of identification, which includes their photograph, during carriage of dangerous goods.

Photographic identification must be carried at all times during carriage. It may be appropriate for all staff working in terminals to be issued with photo ID passes. It is recommended that random spot checks of visiting drivers and crew members’ photo ID passes are carried out. Staff should challenge persons on site who are not familiar or not wearing a pass.

1.10.1.5 Safety inspections in accordance with 1.8.1 and 7.5.1.1 shall cover appropriate security measures.

All security equipment and devices installed on vehicles must be in working order and checked regularly.

1.10.1.6 The competent authority shall maintain up-to-date registers of all valid training certificates for drivers stipulated in 8.2.1 issued by it or by any recognized organization.

All records need to be made available to the competent authority upon request.

1.10.2 Security training

1.10.2.1 The training and the refresher training specified in chapter 1.3 shall also include elements of security awareness. The security refresher training need not be linked to regulatory changes only.

A suitable training programme should be implemented and provided to all employees involved in dangerous goods transport operations.

Please refer to the dangerous goods security training guidance , especially the matrix on page 7.

You should also consider mandatory cybersecurity training for all employees based on the current threats to UK businesses. Please refer to the National Cybersecurity Centre (NCSC) for further guidance.

Training should ideally be a mixture of e-learning, classroom and practical.

1.10.2.2 Security awareness training shall address the nature of security risks, recognising security risks, methods to address and reduce such risks and actions to be taken in the event of a security breach. It shall include awareness of security plans (if appropriate) commensurate with the responsibilities and duties of individuals and their part in implementing security plans.

The security awareness training must cover all the topics listed above. DfT have produced a training film ‘Lockdown’ to assist with delivering dangerous goods security training. This can be used to supplement the operator’s in-house training material and copies are available on request.

Email: [email protected] .

Additional security training can be obtained from external training suppliers or other government departments including the:

National Protective Security Authority (https://www.npsa.gov.uk/)
Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) e-learning developed by NaCTSO
information sharing platform, ProtectUK

1.10.2.3 Such training shall be provided or verified upon employment in a position involving dangerous goods transport and shall be periodically supplemented with refresher training.

We recommend completing security refresher training annually. Training should be regularly reviewed and updated in line with evolving security threats. The refresher training schedules should be clearly defined and evidenced.

1.10.2.4 Records of all security training received shall be kept by the employer and made available to the employee or competent authority, upon request. Records shall be kept by the employer for a period of time established by the competent authority.

Since 13 November 2023, employers must keep staff training records for a minimum of 6 years from the date of training, and make the records available to the employee or competent authority on request.

1.10.3 Provisions for high consequence dangerous goods

Note: In addition to the security provisions of ADR , competent authorities may implement further security provisions for reasons other than safety during carriage (see also Article 4, paragraph 1 of the Agreement). In order not to impede international and multimodal carriage by different explosives security marks, it is recommended that such marks be formatted consistent with an internationally harmonized standard (e.g. European Union Commission Directive 2008/43/EC).

1.10.3.1 Definition of high consequence dangerous goods

1.10.3.1.1 High consequence dangerous goods are those which have the potential for misuse in a terrorist event and which may, as a result, produce serious consequences such as mass casualties, mass destruction or, particularly for Class 7, mass socio-economic disruption.

In conjunction with the DGSA , the company should establish if the substances are classified as ‘high consequence dangerous goods’, and ensure correct handling and that security measures are applied.

1.10.3.1.2 High consequence dangerous goods in classes other than Class 7 are those listed in Table 1.10.3.1.2 below and carried in quantities greater than those indicated therein.

Participants should refer to this table, and those it references, to confirm if the dangerous goods are classified as high consequence.

For carriage of Class 1, additional requirements may be necessary under Regulation 7 of CDG09 . Refer to HSE guidance and regulations for additional information.

Table 1.10.3.1.2: List of high consequence dangerous goods

Class	Division	Substance or article	Tank Quantity (l) c	Bulk Quantity (kg) d	Packages Quantity (kg)
1	1.1	Explosives	a	a	0
1	1.2	Explosives	a	a	0
1	1.3	Compatibility group C explosives	a	a	0
1	1.4	Explosives of UN Nos. 0104, 0237, 0255, 0267, 0289, 0361, 0365, 0366, 0440, 0441, 0455, 0456, 0500, 0512 and 0513	a	a	0
1	1.5	Explosives	0	a	0
1	1.6	Explosives	a	a	0
2		Flammable, non-toxic gases (classification codes including only letters F or FC)	3000	a	b
2		Toxic gases (classification codes including letters T, TF, TC, TO, TFC or TOC) excluding aerosols	0	a	0
3		Flammable liquids of packing groups I and II	3000	a	b
3		Desensitized explosives	0	a	0
4.1		Desensitized explosives	a	a	0
4.2		Packing group I substances	3000	a	b
4.3		Packing group I substances	3000	a	b
5.1		Oxidizing liquids of packing group I	3000	a	b
5.1		Perchlorates, ammonium nitrate, ammonium nitrate fertilisers and ammonium nitrate emulsions or suspensions or gels	3000	3000	b
6.1		Toxic substances of packing group I	0	a	0
6.2		Infectious substances of Category A (UN Nos. 2814 and 2900, except for animal material) and medical waste of Category A (UN No. 3549)	a	0	0
8		Corrosive substances of packing group I	3000	a	b

a Not relevant.

b The provisions of 1.10.3 do not apply, whatever the quantity is.

c A value indicated in this column is applicable only if carriage in tanks is authorized, in accordance with chapter 3.2, Table A, column (10) or (12). For substances that are not authorized for carriage in tanks, the instruction in this column is not relevant.

d A value indicated in this column is applicable only if carriage in bulk is authorized, in accordance with chapter 3.2, Table A, column (10) or (17). For substances that are not authorized for carriage in bulk, the instruction in this column is not relevant

1.10.3.1.3 For dangerous goods of Class 7, high consequence radioactive material is that with an activity equal to or greater than a transport security threshold of 3 000 A per single package (see also 2.2.7.2.2.1) except for the following radionuclides where the transport security threshold is given in Table 1.10.3.1.3 below.

Table has been slightly reformatted to meet legal accessibility requirements. You can see the original table in this ADR document .

For carriage of Class 7, refer to ONR guidance and regulations .

Requirements are set out in Schedule 2 of CDG09 .

1.10.3.2 Security plans

1.10.3.2.1 Carriers, consignors and other participants specified in 1.4.2 and 1.4.3 engaged in the carriage of high consequence dangerous goods (see Table 1.10.3.1.2) or high consequence radioactive material (see 1.10.3.1.3) shall adopt, implement and comply with a security plan that addresses at least the elements specified in 1.10.3.2.2.

The security plan(s) shall be based on the overall operation of the business, not on individual movements, and tailored to suit the company’s operational activities. It may be more appropriate to implement a security plan for each site or location used during the carriage of HCDG . Plan(s) should reference other plans or documents that may be in place, such as maritime security plans or emergency plans for example.

1.10.3.2.2 The security plan shall comprise at least the following elements:

(a) Specific allocation of responsibilities for security to competent and qualified persons with appropriate authority to carry out their responsibilities;

All persons involved in dangerous goods security management operations should be listed by role and name in the security plan, with a summary of their responsibilities.

(b) Records of dangerous goods or types of dangerous goods concerned;

A summary of the types of dangerous goods regularly carried or potentially carried should be included; this could be a table identifying the UN classes. If practical, the UN numbers and shipping names could be listed, identifying which ones are HCDG .

(c) Review of current operations and assessment of security risks, including any stops necessary to the transport operation, the keeping of dangerous goods in the vehicle, tank or container before, during and after the journey and the intermediate temporary storage of dangerous goods during the course of intermodal transfer or transhipment between units as appropriate;

An overview of the current operation should be included at the start of the security plan to describe its purpose and scope. This will set out the reasons for the plan, as well as how and why it applies to the business and the carriage of HCDG . A regular review will be required to determine any changes to security procedures or arrangements that might be necessary.

An assessment of all security risks applicable to the company’s dangerous goods operations should be included. This comprises:

journey and vehicle
risks at site
cyber and information security
personnel risks

(d) Clear statement of measures that are to be taken to reduce security risks, commensurate with the responsibilities and duties of the participant, including:

security policies (e.g. response to higher threat conditions, new employee/employment verification, etc.);
operating practices (e.g. choice/use of routes where known, access to dangerous goods in intermediate temporary storage (as defined in (c)), proximity to vulnerable infrastructure etc.);
equipment and resources that are to be used to reduce security risks;

The security plan must include these measures which help contribute to transport security. The specific instructions and guidance given to drivers and crew, plus specific measures to be taken in the event of unplanned or unusual circumstances, should be included in this section. You may wish to reference the location of existing company policies and procedures.

Employment checks

Suitable checks should be made of any potential new employees who will be involved in the transport of HCDG . DfT recommends completing DBS checks (basic or enhanced, according to role) for all staff.

Documents should be checked to verify personal identity and right to work status. This should include agency or temporary staff. All checks should be carried out on original documents. A 5-year no-gap employment history is recommended.

Operating practices

The plan should summarise, for instance, how:

movements are controlled and monitored to ensure security
any problems with the movements are dealt with, for example security during unplanned stoppages
road and rail interfaces are managed at intermodal depots
public access to vehicles or trains has been restricted

Equipment and resources

The security plan statement of measures must also identify and record the equipment and resources deployed, such as:

intruder detection
access systems
physical security equipment

(e) Effective and up to date procedures for reporting and dealing with security threats, breaches of security or security incidents;

DfT recommends implementing an incident reporting procedure or policy, and the subsequent review process.

(f) Procedures for the evaluation and testing of security plans and procedures for periodic review and update of the plans;

ADR requires security plans to be periodically tested and reviewed. DfT recommends doing so on an annual schedule.

Testing may include the following:

penetration test
desktop exercise - theft, hijack, protestor activity scenarios
cybersecurity response exercise
information security exercise
unattended item test

(g) Measures to ensure the physical security of transport information contained in the security plan; and

A summary of measures taken to protect sensitive company information (hard-copy or electronic), including security plans, transport documentation and personnel records, must be included. This may include:

cybersecurity risk assessment
cybersecurity training
access control measures
archiving and destruction of documents

(h) Measures to ensure that the distribution of information relating to the transport operation contained in the security plan is limited to those who need to have it. Such measures shall not preclude the provision of information required elsewhere in ADR .

The security plan should advise how the distribution of information on the dangerous goods transport operations is restricted to those who need the information.

Note: Carriers, consignors and consignees should co-operate with each other and with competent authorities to exchange threat information, apply appropriate security measures and respond to security incidents.

The above note is for all participants engaged in the carriage of HCDG by road and rail. Sources include BTP, Network Rail, ORR, NCSC, NPSA, DfT , Protect UK, CSSC, the Police, DVSA, ONR , trade associations, and DGSAs .

1.10.3.3 Devices, equipment or arrangements to prevent the theft of the vehicle carrying high consequence dangerous goods (see Table 1.10.3.1.2) or high consequence radioactive material (see 1.10.3.1.3) and its cargo, shall be applied and measures taken to ensure that these are operational and effective at all times. The application of these protective measures shall not jeopardize emergency response.

A summary of measures which could be taken to ensure the security of vehicles includes:

journey planning
tracking devices
double crew
escort vehicle
stabling location
immobilisers
cargo locks
vehicle CCTV
vehicle brake locks
vehicle key control

Drivers should carry a dangerous load card to be used if stopped by an unmarked vehicle.

Note: When appropriate and already fitted, the use of transport telemetry or other tracking methods or devices should be used to monitor the movement of high consequence dangerous goods (see Table 1.10.3.1.2) or high consequence radioactive material (see 1.10.3.1.3).

A repair and maintenance contract should be in place for all vehicle security equipment and systems.

Tracking systems are widely available for goods vehicles and trailers; fitting such equipment represents best practice when carrying HCDG . It may also be appropriate to consider tracking the freight or container itself if the goods are particularly sensitive or attractive to thieves.

Total operations processing system (TOPS) and global positioning system (GPS) applications are in use on some trains.

1.10.4 The requirements of 1.10.1, 1.10.2, 1.10.3 and 8.1.2.1 (d) do not apply when the quantities carried in tanks or in bulk on a transport unit do not exceed those referred to in 1.1.3.6.3. In addition the provisions of this chapter do not apply to the carriage of UN No. 2912 RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL, LOW SPECIFIC ACTIVITY (LSA-I) and UN No. 2913 RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL, SURFACE CONTAMINATED OBJECTS (SCO-I).

Useful contacts

Further to this Department for Transport guidance, advice on security and other matters can also be obtained from the following organisations:

DfT Dangerous Goods Unit

[email protected]

DfT Dangerous Goods Inspection Team (LTNS)

[email protected]

List of DGSAs

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/find-a-dangerous-goods-safety-adviser

Health & Safety Executive ( HSE )

https://www.hse.gov.uk/cdg/

National Protective Security Authority (NPSA)

https://www.npsa.gov.uk/

National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO)

https://www.protectuk.police.uk/

Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB)

https://www.redbooklive.com/

Security Industry Authority (Security Officer licensing issues only)

www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk

Office for Nuclear Regulation ( ONR )

[email protected]

Office of Rail and Road (ORR)

[email protected]

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/

British Compressed Gas Association (BCGA)

www.bcga.co.uk

British International Freight Association (BIFA)

www.bifa.org

Chemical Business Association (CBA)

www.chemical.org.uk

Chemical Industries Association (CIA)

www.cia.org.uk

UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA)

https://ukifda.org/

Logistics UK

https://logistics.org.uk/

National Chemicals Emergency Centre (NCEC)

www.the-ncec.com

Road Haulage Association (RHA)

www.rha.uk.net

Liquid Gas UK

www.uklpg.org

Fuels Industry UK

https://www.fuelsindustryuk.org/

Tank Storage Association (TSA)

https://tankstorage.org.uk/

British Association of Dangerous Goods Professionals (BADGP)

https://badgp.org/

Cross-sector Safety and Security Communications (CSSC)

https://www.thecssc.com/

Explosives Industry Group (EIG)

https://www.eig2.org.uk/

National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS)

https://navcis.police.uk/

British Transport Police (BTP)

https://www.btp.police.uk/

Network Rail

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/

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Section Breaks: Changing page orientation

Endnote Reference Management Software

Dissertations & projects: Literature-based projects

On these pages:

How to structure a literature-based project

Abstract or summary

Should you have a separate literature review chapter?

Ensuring your themed chapters flow

Reference list

Academic & Employability Skills

Writing your dissertation - structure and sections

Hopkins, D. and Reid, T., 2018. The Academic Skills Handbook: Your Guid e to Success in Writing, Thinking and Communicating at University . Sage.

Introduction

Literature review

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Tegan George

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Formatting your dissertation in Word

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Dissertation/Thesis Template

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Additional Resources

Online Study Tool Kit: Dissertations & Theses

Online Dissertation Resources

Other Resources

Dissertations

Useful links to online dissertations and theses

University of Roehampton Theses & Masters Dissertations

Using a thesis held in the Roehampton repository in your own work

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