CAPSTONE PROJECT GUIDELINES

Version 1.0

Master of Information Technology

Faculty of Graduate Studies
Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

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Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Objectives. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Capstone Project Proposal .................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Guidelines for the Proposal ..................................................................................................................................... 3
Template for the Approval Sheet .............................................................................................................................. 4
Capstone Project Report Guidelines..................................................................................................................................................................... 5

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 Introduction
Every student is required to carry out Capstone Project work under the supervision of a supervisor’s and this guideline
intended to highlight the key purposes and standard set of guidelines for the academics and students to follow when carrying
the Capstone Project course in the degree program.

The mentor shall monitor the progress of the student continuously. A candidate is required to present the progress of
Capstone Project work during the semester as per the schedule provided by the coordinator.

Objectives.
• Application of knowledge and techniques learnt in theoretical classes for developing the s/w for real-world
problems.
• Gives an insight into the working of the real organizations/companies.
• Helps in exploring career opportunities in their areas of interest.
• Gaining deeper understanding in specific functional areas.

Capstone Project Proposal

Capstone Project proposal should be prepared in Consultation with the Supervisor. It should clearly state the
objectives and environment of the proposed Capstone Project to be undertaken. Ensure to include the following items
while submitting your Capstone Project Proposal. Capstone Project may contain 5-10 pages and sequence of contents
strictly should be in the following order:
• Title of the Project
• Approval of the Project.
• Index
• Acknowledgement
• Introduction & Objective of the Capstone Project
• Analysis (Feasibility Study, DFD Diagrams/ER Diagrams etc ;)
• HW and S/W Requirement
• Tables and Structure, Number of Modules, Details of Modules, Data Structure
• Proposed System (Including functional and nonfunctional requirements, Methodology)
• Modules Split-up and Gantt Chart References
• Cost Analysis.

Guidelines for the Proposal

• Font face - Times new roman.
• Font size-11 pt
• Line spacing - 1.5-line space

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 Template for the Approval Sheet

Approval of Capstone Project

1. Index No:

2. Name with Initials:

3. Email:

4. Mobile No:

5. Title of the Capstone Project:

6. Name of the supervisor:

7. Supervisor’s designation:

8. Supervisor’s Organization

For office use only:

Approved/Not approved Signature of the Mentor Date:

Suggestions if any:

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 Capstone Project Report Guidelines
The Capstone Project may contain 50-100 pages (excluding coding) with double spacing. The project documentation
must be with respect to the project only. Capstone Project Report should strictly follow the points given below:

Guidelines to Write Capstone Project Report

1. Report Formatting
The information given in this section explains the formatting of the report. Use any word processing tools/latex
to set them up.

1.1. Layout

• Use A4 size with 35mm left margin 30mm right, top, bottom margins.
• Page numbers should be included (See Tables of Content)

1.2. Fonts

• Font type: Times New Roman

• Font Size: 12pt

1.3. Alignments

• Allow 1.15mm line-spacing

• Paragraphs should be separated by one blank line
• Permitted font color - only black
• Left and right margins should be justified

1.4. Legends

• Should be emboldened and centered

1.5. Page limit (Quantity can’t substitute the Quality)

• There is no any limitations/strict rules about overall page count.

•
Get advice from your respective supervisor regarding the page limit
1.6. Print

• The whole report should be printed in one side

• Type: Gray scale

1.7. Structure
• Follow the instructions given in Anatomy of the Report

2. Anatomy of the Report

2.1. Title Page

Generally, the title page contains a precise title, names and affiliations of investigators along with institutional

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 details. Don’t do fancy though you are free to follow your own set of ideas.

2.2. Declaration

Type the particular declaration given in Appendix A.

2.3. Certificate of Approval

Appendix B

2.4. Acknowledgement

Even though it is optional, the gratitude towards the people who gave the real contribution and support can be
praised here (typically your supervisor, coordinator, friends, and colleagues, etc.).

2.5. Abstract

Abstract is the shortened form or the summary of the complete report. Give more emphasis on results,
recommendations and conclusion and it should be more concised. Apart from these major points, the purpose of
the report can also be included. This section.
-can contain 250 - 300 words
-should be written as a single paragraph using present tense

2.6. Table of Contents

The arrangement of the complete report can be illustrated as table of contents. Use roman numbering except
primary chapters, for which the numerals can be used.

2.7. List of Figures

The list of figures with number and title can be shown together with page numbers where the figures are located.
Keep in mind that all figures and tables listed here must be referred inside the main text.
E.g., “The use case diagram shown in Figure 1”

2.8. List of Tables

This list all tables can be shown together with their page numbers. The arrangement of tables should be arranged
with chapters.

2.9. Chapter 1: Introduction

Through this chapter, a detailed description about the project can be given to audience. The major points elaborated
in other chapters of the report have to be merged together with brief description. Most importantly, it should
encourage the reader to read the complete report.

This section may include the following major points as subsections.

• Major goals and objectives
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 • Motivation
• The scope of the completed project
• The approach and assumptions while carrying out the project work
• Concise summary of major outcomes

The length of this chapter depends on the nature of the project, where 4000-8000 words is adequate in most cases

2.10. Chapter 2: Background

The background section should provide the reasons why the project was initiated, which assists the audience to get
complete understanding about the rest of the report. The major attention has to be given in explaining the reason
why project is intending to address the problem pointed out in the report. With that a clear indication of other related
works where the same problem has been tried

previously.

2.11. Chapter 3: Specification and Design

A specification should describe what the software system is required to do once it is implemented. In more simple
words, the specification can be referred as “expectation” and described as “what the proposed software system
does.” The design always gives the description about top-level details of the way of meeting the software
requirements. Strong recommendation is to make extensive use of;
• Algorithms

• Use case diagrams

• ER diagrams

• UML diagrams

• Sequence diagrams

• State charts

2.12. Chapter 4: Implementation

In implementation give more description at a finer level of detail by touching the coding level of your project.
Possible to describe any problems which caused difficulties during implementation with the solution you found in
solving those. Try to describe critical code segments in the system, significant interfaces and other components.
Implementation may include.
• Software and hardware requirements
• Illustration of a non-standard or innovative way of implementing an algorithm and data structure
• Difficulties involving existing software

• Lack of appropriate supporting software

• Over-ambitious project aims
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2.13. Chapter 5: Results and Evaluation

The primary purpose of the results and evaluation is to indicate taken inferences from your observations. Pay more
attention on describing the way you demonstrated that the system works as per the intention.

In evaluating the results, you may include:

• The comparison of experimental results with expected values

• Description of the interrelationship of the experimental results

• Analyze and state the achieved accuracy

• Analyze and state implications or limitations

2.14. Chapter 6: Future Work

Some discussions and critiques on your project in order to provide openings to future researches should be included
in this section. This can be provided as an opportunity to future researchers by expressing unrevealed ideas.
In this section you may include;
• Gaps of the project

• Proposal for enhancement or re-design

2.15. Chapter 7: Conclusions

The conclusion chapter should state the achievements of the project in brief. These should be derived directly from
the results and evaluation. Simply it is referred as the summary of the finding, may include;
• The importance of the result

• Validity of the result

• Gaps and limitations of the findings

2.16. References

List down all-important references which you have obtained the information or ideas in preparing the project
report. You may include the consulted list of all books, research articles and technical resources. Each and every
Reference should be cited in the main text. Follow IEEE standard for referencing.

2.17. Glossary

A list of special technical words or acronyms may be necessary. This is particularly true if the subject deals with a
new area with a specialized vocabulary that the average reader in the discipline might not be familiar with, such
as Biotechnology. This list should come after the appendices.

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 2.18. Appendices (if applicable)

Appendices are supplementary documents to the main text. All appendices should be arranged in order, titled
and alphabetical numbering can be used.
E.g., Appendix A, Appendix B and so on Appendices may include.
• Pieces of bulky research work/summaries of results obtained elsewhere.

• Complete or partial data as tables

• Program listing

• Detailed maps, charts, and diagrams

Appendix A - Sample Declaration Page

Declaration (18pt + B)

I declare that this report does not incorporate, without acknowledgment, any material previously submitted for
a Degree or a Diploma in any University and to the best of my knowledge and belief, it does not contain any
material previously published or written by another person or myself except where due reference is made in the
text.

Also, I hereby grant to Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka the non- exclusive right to reproduce and
distribute my report, in whole or in part in print, electronic or other medium. I retain the right to use this content
in whole or part in future works (such as articles or books).

----------------------- -------------------------
Name of Student Signature of Student
Date: ----------------

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Appendix B - Certificate of Approval

Certificate of Approval

We hereby declare that this report is from the student’s own work and effort, and all other sources of information
used have been acknowledged. This report has been submitted with our approval.

----------------------------- -----------------------
Coordinator Signature
Date: -------------------
----------------------------- -------------------------
Internal Supervisor Signature
Date: ------------------

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