CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL

UNIVERSITY

Institute of Graduate Studies and Research

THESIS AND PROJECT REPORTS

WRITING GUIDELINE

Nicosia

2019
 PART 1: SPELLING GUIDELINE

1. GENERAL DOCUMENT GUIDELINE

 The minimum and maximum number of words according to their fields are determined
as follows:

Field Master’s Thesis PhD Thesis

Social Sciences 10.000-25.000 40.000-100.000

Basic Sciences 8.000-20.000 25.000-80.000

 Type your Thesis/Project Report and print it out on A4 sized, one sided paper.
 The logo of CIU will only be present on the outside cover page of the thesis.
 Set the margins of the papers to 4 cm at the top, 3.5 cm on the left, 3 cm on the right,
and 2.5 cm at the bottom.
 Use Times New Roman (12 point font size). Use italic and bold for emphasis within
the body text.
 Short notes explaining a thought in the text can be placed at the bottom of the page in
8 font size. Notes exceeding 10 lines are annexed.
 Alignment: Create equal margins using “Justify Alignment” (except in headings).
 Line spacing: use 1.5 line spacing throughout the thesis. Use single line spacing for
footnotes.
 Headings: type the number of Chapters and subsections with Arabic numerals according
to the decimal classification system (1-2-2.1-2.2-2.3-2.3.1).
 Highlight the headings and subheadings of chapters in bold. Subheadings must be 12
font size. The headings of main sections should be 14 font size.
 Tables: The table title should be as short as possible and above the table. Number tables
sequentially (Table 2.1, Table 3.3, etc.). The source should be written below the table.
Use Times New Roman, preferably 10-12 points, in the table. Column and row names
must be rewritten on the second and next page sections of tables that do not fit on a
single page.
 Font size can be reduced to 8 points if necessary in tables and figures.

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 Tables are written with the font used in the report, and the font used in the figures should
be consistent throughout the report.
 Figures: Number figures consecutively. The figure caption (above the figure) should
be short. Sources for figures should be placed below the figures.
 A space must be left in the text after commas and the full stop.

2. PAGE STRUCTURE

Parts that do not contain page numbers:

 Outside Cover (Appendix 1)
 First Inside Cover (Appendix 2)
 Second Inside Cover (Appendix 3)
 Thesis/Project Approval Report (Appendix 4)
 Declaration (Appendix 5)
Parts that contain Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv ...):
 Acknowledgement
 Abstract
 The content page
 Tables
 Figures
 Abbreviations
Parts that contain Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ...):
 The text body
 Reference list
 Appendix
 Curriculum Vitae (CV)

All page numbers are placed 1.5 cm above the bottom center of the page.
The font size of the page numbers should be Times New Roman and 11 font size.

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 The order of the sections to be included in the report should be in the following
order;
1. Outside Cover
2. First Inside Cover
3. Second Inside Cover
4. Approval page
5. Declaration
6. Acknowledgement
7. Abstract (Turkish/English) (language of the thesis is first)
8. Content
9. Tables
10. Figures
11. Abbreviations
12. Introduction
13. Other sections (Literature, Research Method, Findings)
14. Conclusion and Recommendations
15. References
16. Appendix
17. CV

2.1 The Cover Pages

There is an outside cover page and two inside cover pages. The outside cover page (Appendix
1) is dark blue for English Master thesis, light blue for Turkish thesis, black for projects and
burgundy for PhD thesis. The outside cover page has to be clothbound with gold ink, and
include the following information:

1. The name of the University, the Institute and the Department should be indicated
respectively. (for example: Cyprus International University, Institute of Graduate
Studies and Research, Department of Business Administration).
2. Title and type of study (PhD thesis, master’s thesis or project) should be indicated.
Please use single spacing if the title is too long.
3. Name and surname of the student.
4. The city and year of submission (e.g. Nicosia, 2019).

There must be 2 inside cover pages, the first one (see Appendix 2) is identical to the outside
cover page except with no logo. The second inside cover page (see Appendix 3) is identical to
the first inside cover page, with the addition of the supervisor name and co-supervisor if
available. All information on these pages should be centered.

2.2 Thesis / Project Approval Certificate Page (Appendix 4)

The thesis/project approval page is completed by the student after the thesis defense is
completed and signed by the advisor and the jury members with the final version of the thesis.
Thesis/Project approval page should be placed in the volume as the first page after the cover
pages.

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2.3 Declaration (Appendix 5)

The declaration form is a document that the students confirm and declare that the information
they use and present within the scope of their studies is in compliance with academic principles
and ethics, that they must sign. This document should be on the 4th page of the thesis.

2.4 Acknowledgement

On this page you express gratitude to the people, institutions and advisors that helped you
throughout your work.

5. Abstract

The abstract should be a brief description of the definition, importance and purpose of the
problem the study is attempting to solve. The main parts of the problem should be highlighted.
Then, the research method should be explained briefly. The findings of the research method are
then briefly explained. Abstract should not be longer than 400 words and should be written with
1 line spacing. At the bottom of the abstract, keywords related to the study should be included.

6. The Contents Page (Appendix 7)

The table of contents should include the headings of all the main sections and subsections with
their numbers and the respective page numbers.
Place lists of figures and tables as separate contents and pages.

7. Tables and Tables list (Appendix 8)

If there are tables in the study, they should be listed together with the page numbers in the table
list that will be placed on a separate page.

In the text, the table title (eg Table 3.1: Economic Development in Europe) should be placed
above the table and the source (if any) (Source: OECD, 2017) should be below the table. An
example of an in-text table is given below.

Table 2.1 – Wind plants capacity and growth rate

Position Country Total Added Growth rate
Capacity Capacity 2015 [%]
1. China 148,000 32,970 29.0
2. United States 74,347 8598 13.1
3. Germany 45,192 4919 11.7
4. Poland 5100 1266 33.0
5. Portugal 5079 126 2.5
6. Denmark 5064 217 3.7
7. Turkey 4718 955 25.4
Rest of the 40,800 5000 14.0
World
TOTAL 434,856 63,690 17.2

Source: Igliński et al., 2016

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8. Figures List (Appendix 9)
If figures are included in the study, they should be listed along with the page numbers in the
figure list, which will appear on a separate page.

The title of the figure and the source of the figure (if any) should be placed under the figure in
the text of the study. (Ex. Figure 2.3: Universal Income Inequality) (Under the title, Source:
OECD, 2017). In-text example:

Figure 2.3: Overall primary energy supplies for 2014 fuel shares around the globe
Source: Iea.org, (2016)

2.9 Important Information about Tables and Figures

 Tables and figures should be placed as close as possible immediately after the first
mention in the text, provided that they comply with the principles of the page layout.
Before the tables and figures, reference should be made to the relevant table or figure.

 All figures and tables and their descriptions should be centered with respect to the text
block.

 Tables and figures are assigned the first digit section number (letters in the appendix)
and the second number the sequence number of the table (or figure) within the section.
(Example: Table 1.2, Figure 3.5, Table A.1, Figure B.5). As in the example, tables,
figure words and numbers are written in bold.

 The number and description of each figure is written at the bottom of the figure, and
the number and description of each table is centered in the row above the table.

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  Multiple tables or figures can be placed on the same page.

 In tables and figures larger than one page, the same table/figure number and
description should be written on the second page and between the table/figure number
and its description, in parenthesis (continued). (Eg Table 1.1 (continued): Metal
contents in wastes, Figure 1.1 (continued): Istanbul's water supply.

 The graphics and pictures given in the report should be accepted as figures and must
be numbered and explained.

 Pages that disrupt the opening order of the thesis by increasing the page thickness such
as folded page and visual material attached on the page should be given in the
appendices section.

2.10 Equations
 Equations are written with the equation editor and in accordance with the following
rules.
 Equations are written at 1.5 line spacing.
 6 point spacing should be left before and after the equations.
 There are no blank lines before and after the equations. In this case, between the
equations and the text, 12 pt above and 12 pt below are left.
 Equations are centered aligned to the text block.
 Equations are given in sequence starting from 1, provided that the section number is
the first number in the relevant section. These numbers are normally (not bold) and
are, for example, in the first part (1.1), (1.2), the second part (2.1), (2.2), if necessary,
in the form of subexpressions (1.1a) and (1.1b) of the same equation. It is written to
the far right of the line where the equation is located.
 The equations given in the appendix section are numbered by specifying the section in
which they are given. (Example: A.1.1, A.1.2).

2.11 Abbreviations (Appendix 10)

Abbreviations may be used with names or concepts that are commonly used in the text of the
study [example: European Union (EU)]. Following the figures and tables pages, a table of
abbreviations can be prepared on a separate page. The name or concept should be used in its
entirety at least once without using its abbreviation in the text.

2.3. HOW TO CITE SOURCES

Citation shows the sources used in the study in the text and on the references page. You should
cite and refer to the work of another author you use within your own work. If citations are not
cited, this is considered plagiarism and the thesis/project is considered unsuccessful. The

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maximum accepted quote rate is %20 in total and should not exceed 2% from a single source.
The accepted form of referral in the Institute is APA.

A plagiarism report must be submitted to the Institute together with the thesis/project and a
`Thesis/Project Submission Form`, available at
http://www.ciu.edu.tr/en/academic/institute/forms.

2.1.In-text Citations

You may refer to someone else's ideas or work either by repeating the exact words that another
author has written (‘quoting’) or by expressing what somebody has written by using your own
words (‘paraphrasing’).

The most important point when citing within the study is that the same citation style should be
used throughout the study. In-text citations from the beginning to the end of the study should
be consistent with a particular style.

Quoting:
Place quotation marks (“…”) around the words being taken from another author.
Give publication dates (the name of the author, the year of publication of the text being quoted
and the page number of the text from which the quote has been taken) in brackets after the
second quotation mark.
Example: The metaphor “the sun was crying tears from hell” is linked to that of “devilish
spawns erupted from under the ground to calm the Gods…” (Neve, 1996, p. 27).

Paraphrasing:
Provide publication dates (the name of the author, the year of publication of the text being
paraphrased and the number of the page the paraphrasing is based upon) in brackets after the
sentence or paragraph in which the ideas written down by somebody else are paraphrased.
Example: (Rees, 1998)

If the name of the author is referred to in the text is mentioned, the year of the author’s
publication has to be given immediately after the author’s name.
Example: Rees (1998) explains…

If the source you are using has 2 authors, you will cite it as (Soyer and Kucuksener, 2018),
whereas if the source has 3 authors you will cite it as (Soyer, Kucuksener and Ozgit, 2018). If
the source has more than 3 authors, you will in-text cite it as (Soyer et al., 2018).

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3.2 References List

The structure of the list of references will differ upon the referencing style chosen
APA is the accepted format by our university.

➢ Journal or Magazine Article:

In-text: (Uzunoglu, 2017)

In the References List: Uzunoglu, S. (2017). Evaluation of style preferences in architectural
design among the undergraduate students from different nationalities in North Cyprus. New
Trends and Issues Proceedings on Humanities and Social Sciences, 4(4), pp.184-194.

➢ For Electronic journal articles:

In-text: (Saidi, Rahman and Amamri, 2017)

In the References List: Saidi, K., Rahman, M. ve Amamri, M. (2017). The causal nexus between
economic growth and energy consumption: New evidence from global panel of 53
countries. Sustainable Cities and Society, [online] 33, pp.45-56. Available at:
http://www.sciencedirect.com [Accessed 14 Dec. 2017].

➢ Book:

In-text: (Plum ve diğerleri, 2008)

In the References List: Plum, E., Achen, B., Dræby, I. ve Jensen, I. (2008). CI. London:
Middlesex University Press.

➢ Chapter in a Book:

In-text: (EL-Shimy, Soyer ve Balcıoğlu, 2017)

In the References List: EL-Shimy, M., Soyer, K. ve Balcıoğlu, H. (2017). Renewable Energy–
Background. In: E. Mohamed, ed., Economics of Variable Renewable Sources for Electric
Power Production. Germany: Lambert Academic Publishing / Omniscriptum Gmbh &
Company Kg, pp.17-33.

Further information:
APA Manual (Publication manual of the American Psychological Association) (2010).
Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

The most important aspect of referencing is that the same style must be used throughout the
list. Starting from the beginning of the list, the same type of source must be referenced the
same.

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3.3 Footnotes

In addition to in-text citations, it is preferable to use footnotes to facilitate reading. When

referencing a source by footnote method, the page number of the source should be specified.

To cite a book previously cited in footnotes, you can use “ibid” with the number of the footnote
the book was first mentioned in, then put the page number.
For example:
1
Sturgeon, T. (1995). Science fiction. In The Encyclopedia Americana (Vol. 24). Danbury, CT: Grolier, pp. 390-392
2
Ibid, 1, 394

3.4 Sample References List

REFERENCES

Aydin, G. (2014). Modeling of energy consumption based on economic and demographic

factors: The case of Turkey with projections. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 35,
pp.382-389.

Beneking, A., Ellenbeck, S. and Battaglini, A. (2016). Renewable energy cooperation

between the EU and North Africa. International Journal of Energy Sector Management,
10(3), pp.312-336.

Chen, W., Kim, H. and Yamaguchi, H. (2014). Renewable energy in eastern Asia: Renewable
energy policy review and comparative SWOT analysis for promoting renewable energy in
Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Energy Policy, 74, pp.319-329.

Dii GmbH, (2013). Desert Power: Getting Started. The manual for renewable electricity in
MENA Full Report. [online] Munich: Dii GmbH, pp.1-262. Available at:
https://www.db.com/cr/en/docs/Desert-Power-Getting-Started-Full-Report-English-
Screen(1).pdf [Accessed 2 Apr. 2017].

Energy.gov. (2017). Hydrothermal Resources | Department of Energy. [online] Available at:

https://energy.gov/eere/geothermal/hydrothermal-resources [Accessed 25 Mar. 2017].

Energybc.ca. (2012). High Temperature Geothermal Power - Energy British Columbia.

[online] Available at: http://www.energybc.ca/hightempgeo.html [Accessed 25 Mar. 2017].

Exposing the New Energy Realities. (2017). [online] Wales: World Energy Council 2017,
pp.1-40. Available at: http://file:///C:/Users/user/Pictures/1.-World-Energy-Issues-Monitor-
2017-Full-Report.pdf [Accessed 1 Apr. 2017].

10
Hawila, D., Mondal, M., Kennedy, S. and Mezher, T. (2014). Renewable energy readiness
assessment for North African countries. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 33,
pp.128-140.

Haugen, D. and Musser, S. (2012). Renewable energy. Detroit: Greenhaven Press.

IEA Bioenergy, (2012). Energy recovery from renewable content of waste: incentives and
methodology for analysing biogenic content of mixed waste. Task 36. [online] Milano: RSE
S. p. A. Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico – RSE S.p.A., pp.1-68. Available at:
http://task36.ieabioenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Energy-recovery-from-the-
renewable-content-of-waste-2.pdf [Accessed 1 Apr. 2017].

Iea.org. (2016). July: Renewable energy continuing to increase market share. [online]
Available at: https://www.iea.org/newsroom/news/2016/july/renewable-energy-continuing-to-
increase-market-share.html [Accessed 1 Apr. 2017].

Iglinski, B., Buczkowski, R., Cichosz,, M., Iglinska, A. and Plaskacz-Dziuba, M. (2015).
SWOT analysis of the renewable energy sector in Poland. Case study of Wielkopolskie
region. Journal of Power Technologies, 95(2), pp.143-157.

Igliński, B., Iglińska, A., Koziński, G., Skrzatek, M. and Buczkowski, R. (2016). Wind
energy in Poland – History, current state, surveys, Renewable Energy Sources Act, SWOT
analysis. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 64, pp.19-33.

Kalogirou, S. (2014). Solar Energy Engineering: Processes and Systems. 2nd ed. Oxford:
Elsevier, p.1.

4. THE SUBMISSION OF THE THESES AND PROJECTS TO THE INSTITUTE

Requirements;

THESES:

3 copies of bounded thesis

3 copies of CD’s (including theses in PDF format and please write your name on the CD)
Plagiarism Report (maximum %20)
Thesis submission form (downloadable from
http://www.ciu.edu.tr/en/academic/institute/forms)

For PhD thesis, also publication form.

PROJECTS:

2 copied of bounded projects

2 copies of CD’s (including theses in PDF format and please write your name on the CD)
Plagiarism Report (maximum %20)

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 Project submission form (downloadable from
http://www.ciu.edu.tr/en/academic/institute/forms)

Appendix 1

Example Outside Cover (Clothbound: 22,5cm*31cm)

3,5cm
CIU

CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH
3cm Business Administration
Department
(14 font)
Era
Research Methods Using Heuristics in the Digital

4cm

RESEARCH METHODS USING

(MBA Thesis)

HEURISTICS IN THE DIGITAL ERA

3cm (16 font)

3,5cm

(MBA Thesis)
1cm (14 font)
JAMESON

3,5cm
Johnny

Johnny JAMESON
1cm (14 font)
NICOSIA- 2013

4cm
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 Appendix 2
Appendix 2
Example of First Inside Cover

CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH
Business Administration Department
(14 font)

RESEARCH METHODS USING HEURISTICS IN THE

DIGITAL ERA
(16 font)

(MBA Thesis)
(14 font)

Johnny JAMESON
(14 font)

Nicosia - 2019
(14 font)

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Appendix 3
Example of Second Inside Cover

CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH
Business Administration Department
(14 font)

RESEARCH METHODS USING HEURISTICS IN THE

DIGITAL ERA
(16 font)

(MBA Thesis)
(14 font)

Johnny JAMESON
(14 font)

Supervisor
Prof. Dr. ………………….
(14 font)

Nicosia - 2019
(14 font)

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 Appendix 4

CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH
(14 font)

THESIS APPROVAL CERTIFICATE

(14 font)

The thesis study of ……………… Department graduate student ………… with student
number ……….. entitled ………… has been approved with unanimity/majority of votes by
the jury and has been accepted as a Master of Business Administration Thesis.

Thesis Defense Date:

Jury Members Signature

1) Supervisor ……………....
Prof. Dr. ……….. (10 font)

2) Member .......................
Assoc. Prof. Dr. ………..

3) Member .......................
Asst. Prof. Dr. ………..

Director of the Institute

Prof. Dr. Tahir ÇELİK

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 Appendix 5

Declaration

Name and Surname:

Title of the thesis:

Supervisor(s):

Year:

I hereby declare that all information in this document has been obtained and presented in
accordance with academic rules and ethical conduct. I also declare that, as required by these
rules and conduct, I have fully cited and referenced all material and results that are not
original to this work.

I hereby declare that the Cyprus International University, Institute of Graduate Studies and
Research is allowed to store and make available electronically the present thesis.

Date:

Signature: __________________

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 Appendix 6

CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH
(14 font)

PROJECT APPROVAL DOCUMENT

(14 font)

[Name] , student number [Student Number] from International Relations has completed
and submitted her Term Project – [Code of Project] on [Date] certify that I have read this report
and that in my opinion it is fully adequate in scope and quality as a term project for the degree
of Master of [Area].

(Name and Signature)

Project Supervisor

Director of institute
Prof. Dr. Tahir ÇELİK

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 Appendix 7

Sample Table of Contents

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 Appendix 8
Sample Table List

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 Appendix 9
Sample Figures List

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 Appendix 10
Sample Abbreviations List

ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviations

USA (United States of America)

HRM (Human Resources Management)
TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus)
CR (Career Management)

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