Some general guidelines for a Thesis Proposal

Transcription

1 L-UNIVERSITA TA MALTA MSIDA MALTA Il-FAKULTA TAL-LIGI UNIVERSITY OF MALTA MSIDA MALTA FACULTY OF LAWS Some general guidelines for a Thesis Proposal 1. A dissertation should not be seen or treated as a necessary evil. Like tests, assignments and exams, the dissertation is an integral part of the studies you have voluntarily chosen to pursue. Do not forget that it may constitute the only publication you shall leave behind you and future students may consult it. 2. The dissertation should achieve at least these three inter-related objectives : a. to assist in the academic development of the student; b. to be of academic utility to the Faculty and in some way to society generally; c. to assist in the advancement of knowledge. 3. A dissertation cannot simply narrate a given situation. A thesis is not a narration, a review, an outline or a re-statement of facts or a collection of other writers opinions. A dissertation involves original research and must present a new approach or a new critical analysis with fresh ideas. 4. It is often useful to address your dissertation proposal by formulating your objectives in question form. One should ask: what new conceptual or analytical target am I trying to achieve? What is my objective in pursuing this line of study? What new idea or proposition shall I be able to achieve, show or prove in undertaking research in this direction? 5. The Dissertation Proposal must specify clearly the Dissertation Objectives which can be ONE of the following: i) to prove or disprove a theorem in law or finance generally based on the application of data or quantitative information

2 sourced by the student from a real concrete situation in Malta or overseas. Hence to make the relevant conclusions contrasting the theory/literature with actual practice as evidenced by the data sourced. ii) to apply an existing theorem or body of regulations/law from finance and law to a practical situation or situations in Malta or overseas based on the student sourcing actual qualitative or quantitative data. Hence to make the relevant conclusions contrasting theory/literature with actual practice evidenced by the data or situations sourced by the student.. 6. The dissertation should identify the current literature concerning the topic proposed for research, review it, and apply the current literature to the actual situation or situations being analysed with clear conclusions and possible recommendations for enhancement. Hence the dissertation's most important part is its analytical content and not its descriptive content. 7. The dissertation title proposed must reflect accurately the proposed dissertation content and vice-versa. A dissertation whose text content does not completely and accurately reflect the title forwarded will be penalised. 8. The proposed dissertation's research methodology and approach should be made clear in the dissertation: this means how will the research needed to prepare the dissertation be carried out? (via literature review? Using Primary, secondary or tertiary sources of literature? via a survey? opinion-based or based on a scientific sample of the proposed population? Using which survey instrument or instruments? etc) 9. The proposed literature review should constitute at least one chapter of the dissertation proposed. The review of the existing literature should not be limited to laws and regulations but must also include text books citations, magazine and journal articles and material from reputable web-sites on the internet. Also when using books and the internet you SHOULD NOT copy material and state that the material copied is yours but you have to quote or put down references. Plagiarism whether minor or substantial - is unacceptable as much as it is illegal. 10. The review of the literature must accurately reflect the title of the dissertation, e.g. a dissertation title stating: "An Application of Basle II's recommended liquidity management procedures within the two largest local banks: Comparison, Analysis and Conclusions" must

3 have a literature review primarily covering "liquidity management in banking" and not "Basle II". 11. These guidelines are additional to the University and Course rules and guidelines. Students are expected to be aware of these guidelines and to implement them. 12. Every part of the form below should be completed otherwise it will not be accepted.

4 ANNEX A FORM FOR SUBMISSION OF MASTERS OF LAWS IN INTERNATIONAL LAW (L.L.M) DISSERTATION TITLE AND PROPOSAL (TO BE FILLED IN BY STUDENTS) SURNAME AND NAME: I. PROPOSED DISSERTATION TITLE: II. TENTATIVE THESIS OUTLINE: (Not to exceed 1,000 words) (To be given on a separate sheet) III. MATERIAL CONSULTED IN PREPARATION OF THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL INCLUDING BIBLIOGRAPHY: (To be given on a separate sheet) IV. LIST OF THESES/DISSERTATIONS ON THE SAME OR SIMILAR SUBJECT MATTER OF YOUR PROPOSAL, IF ANY: (To be given on a separate sheet - Student must indicate Name and Surname of Thesis Author, Thesis title, Year of Award and Title of Degree Awarded) V. LIST NAME AND SURNAME OF MEMBER/S OF THE ACADEMIC STAFF OF THE FACULTY WITH WHOM YOU HAVE CONSULTED: VI. LIST ANY RELEVANT STUDY-UNIT/S WHICH YOU HAVE FOLLOWED RELATED TO YOUR PROPOSED AREA OF RESEARCH: Signature Date N.B. PLEASE NOTE FACULTY BOARD APPOINTS SUPERVISORS AND WHERE APPROPRIATE CO- SUPERVISORS AND HENCE STUDENTS SHOULD NOT EXPECT THAT THE ACADEMIC MEMBER CONSULTED WILL NECESSARILY BE THEIR SUPERVISOR.

5 ANNEX B DECLARATION BY ACADEMIC MEMBER OF STAFF ON THE PROPOSED MASTERS OF LAWS IN INTERNATIONAL LAW DISSERTATION TITLE AND PROPOSAL NAME OF STUDENT: PROPOSED DISSERTATION TITLE: NAME OF ACADEMIC MEMBER: COMMENTS FROM ACADEMIC MEMBER OF STAFF REGARDING PROPOSED DISSERTATION TITLE, PROPOSAL AND BIBLIOGRAPHY AS TO WHETHER THERE IS SCOPE FOR THE WRITING OF A DISSERTATION ON THE ABOVE PROPOSED DISSERTATION TITLE: DEPARTMENT OR AREA UNDER WHICH TITLE FALLS:- SIGNATURE OF ACADEMIC MEMBER: DATE: