NFC-Institute of Engineering & Technology, Multan

Department of Civil Engineering

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THESIS

Please read these guidelines before you start writing your thesis. These guidelines are aimed
to clarify a few frequently asked questions as well as to stress that everyone is required to
comply with the instructions in order to avoid unnecessary revisions. Also see the example
pages attached for more clarity.

Paper Size and Margins

Page layout Margins Custom margins

A4 size paper: Top 01 inch

8.27-inch x 11.69-inch Bottom 01 inch
Left 01 inch
Right 01 inch
Header 0.5 inch
Footer 0.5 inch

 The writing must be only on one side of the page.

Text Formatting

Home Font

 All text should be in Times New Roman

Title of Chapter

Home Paragraph
Home Font
Insert Header
Insert Headers Design Options Different first page

 Align to center text

 Type size: 14 pt (bold, UPPERCASE)
 Leave three open lines below the title of chapter (12 pt)
 The chapter number on the first page of that chapter should be written as Header 16 pt
(italic) right aligned.
 The chapter number (left aligned) and chapter title (right aligned) should be written as
Header (10 pts, italic) on the subsequent pages of that chapter.
Headings

Home Paragraph
Home Font

 Number headings consecutively.

 Always provide at least one sentence that links the headings

1st level: (Main heading)

 Two open lines above and one beneath (12pt)

 Typeface: Times New Roman (UPPER CASE)
 Type size: 12 pt (bold)
 Number aligned to the left and text of heading at one tab (tab key from keyboard) stop

In case this heading is followed by a 2nd level heading take care that there is only one (12 pt) open
line between both headings.

2nd level: (Sub-heading)

 One open line above (12 pt) and half a line (6 pt) beneath
 Typeface: italics
 Type size: 12 pt (bold)
 Number aligned to the left and text of heading at one tab (tab key from keyboard) stop

In case a 2nd level heading is followed by a third level heading take care that there is only half (6pt) a
open line between both headings.

3rd level: (Sub of sub-heading)

Avoid third level headings if possible. If necessary then

 Half a line (6pt) above and no open line beneath

 Typeface: italics
 Type size: 12 pt (bold)
 Number aligned to the left and text of heading at one tab (tab key from keyboard) stop

Headings without number

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, ABSTRACT, REFERENCES and APPENDICES are titles without

number
 Aligned to the center. (14 pt, bold)

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Write-up Text

Home Font
Home Paragraph
Pagelayout Paragraph Indent

 Font size 12 pt.

 Line spacing 1.5.
 Justified.
 Indent: 0
 Leave 6 pt spacing after each paragraph in addition to line spacing of 1.5

Figures

Home Font
Home Paragraph
Pagelayout Paragraph Indent

 Number figures consecutively in the order in which reference is made to them in the text.
 Making no distinction between diagrams and photographs.
 Figures should preferably fit within the full type area. i.e. figure width: 6.27 inch and figure
height: 3 inch to 3.5 inch.
 In case a figure’s orientation is landscape, the top of the figure must be towards binding side
of the page.
 Leave about two lines of space (12 pt) between the actual paragraph text and figure
(including caption).

Figure caption

 Place caption below the figure.

 Type size: 12 pt
 Single line spacing (12 pt)
 Aligned to the left
 Indent: 0

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Tables

Home Font
Home Paragraph
Pagelayout Paragraph Indent

 Place tables close to the first reference to them in the text preferably at the top or bottom of a
page.
 Number the table consecutively.
 Explanations regarding table should be given at the foot of the table and not within the table
itself.
 Use font size that fits the data within page width but not larger than 12 pt.

Table caption

 Place caption above the table.

 Type size: 12 pt (bold)
 Single line spacing above caption (12pt space)
 Half line (6 pt) pace between caption and table
 Align to the left
 Indent: 0
 If orientation of the table is landscape, then top of the table must be towards binding side of
the page

Equations

Home Font
Home Paragraph
Insert Symbols Equation

Use the equation editor of the selected word processing program. Number equations
consecutively and place the number at the end of the line.

 Typeface: Times New Roman

 Type size: 12 pt
 Keep one open line (12 pt space) before and one open line beneath the equation.
 Align to the left.
 Refer to equations by these numbers.

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References

Home Font
Home Paragraph
Google scholar Cite APA format

In text paragraph:

 Reference is given in the middle or at the end of a sentence.

 One author: (Akbar, 2001).
 Two authors: (Akbar and Aziz, 2007)
 More than two authors: (Siddique et al., 2005)
 Typeface: Times New Roman
 Type size: 12 pt

In list of references:

List all references in alphabetical order underneath the heading (without number)
REFERENCES. Leaving three open spaces between heading and first reference. If several
works by the same author are cited, entries should be sequential.

 Book titles and Journal titles in italics and without commas, research papers in commas and
regular font
 Type size: 12 pt
 spacing with 6 pt between each reference

See examples below:

Akbar, A. and Clarke, B.G. (2001) “A Flat Dilatometer to Operate in Glacial Tills”, Geotech. Testing
Journal, GTJODJ, Vol. 24, No.1, pp. 51-60.

ASTM D1586 (1999), “Standard Penetration Test (SPT)” American Society for Testing and
Materials 100, Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428

AASHTO (1983), “Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges”, 13th ed. 394 pp.

http://www.prenhall.com/coduto accessed on 13-01-2007

Terzaghi, K (1943), Theoretical Soil Mechanics, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York,
p.210.

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 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

Following are the general instructions to be complied with:

1. The first chapter must contain at least the following sections
1.1 General The description must include introduction to the topic which is
being studied.
1.2 Objectives The objectives of the research were as follows
1.
2.
3. and so on
1.3 Scope of Research It should include how the objectives were achieved. It
should also contain the limits/extents of the work taken.
1.4 Thesis Overview It should include overall format of the thesis, i.e. how many
chapters, brief description of contents of each chapter.
Additional sections may be added where necessary.
2. Each figure and table must at least be referenced once in the text and its description
must be included.
3. All discussion must be written in third person and the author must be referred as “the
Author”.
4. All symbols must be defined in “Notations” at the start of the thesis. However,
important symbols must be defined where these are first used.
5. All lengthy and similar calculations, computer outputs, related reference tables and
charts, etc. must be included in “Appendices” at the end of the thesis. However, each
appendix must at least be referenced once and its relevance must be explained in the
text. Essential calculations, abstract of computer results, and selected parts of other
material may be included in the text if required for clarity.
6. Each reference must at least once be used in the text. The references must include
name of conference, journal in italic, publisher, place and year of publication.
Reference to page numbers or total pages may also be included.
7. SI system, with the optional alternate units in the brackets, should be followed
throughout the report or consistent units be used throughout the thesis.
8. After the title page, various elements of thesis report should be arranged in the
following order:
Title page, Dedication, Acknowledgements, Abstract (of about 300 hundred words),
Table of Contents, Notations, List of Figures, List of Tables, Chapter 1 to last chapter,
References, Appendices
9. The thesis for initial checking and for final evaluation should be ring-bound. Hard
bound copy must be prepared after incorporating all the changes after the
examination.

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10. For B.Sc. and M. Sc. students, the binding of thesis should be in Dark-Black colour.
In each case, it should be hard bound and in good quality.
11. The title of thesis, name of student, registration number, university monogram and
name of relevant department along with the name of the university should be printed
in golden colour on the binding.
12. Name of author, title of thesis and year of submission should be printed on the spine.
13. The outside front cover shall bear the title of the work in at least 18 pt lettering. The
spine shall bear in 10 pt lettering, if practicable, the initials and surname of the
student, the department.
14. If the thesis comprises more than one volume, the contents of the whole thesis shall be
shown in the first volume and the contents of subsequent volumes in a separate
contents list in the appropriate volume.
15. For B.Sc. candidates, prepare four hard bound copies of the thesis. One will be
submitted to the HOD office, one for the supervisor, one for the External Examiner
and one for central library of the university.
16. The title page and first page must have the format shown on next two pages.

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 TITLE OF THESIS
(font size = 20)

Year: ZZZ (font = 14)

NAME OF STUDENT (FONT = 12, BOLD)

REGISTRATION NO.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

NFC-INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
MULTAN, PAKISTAN
(Font = 14, bold)

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 TITLE OF THESIS
(font size = 16)

Year: ZZZ (font = 14)

NAME OF STUDENT (FONT = 12, BOLD)

REGISTRATION NO.

INTERNAL EXAMINER EXTERNAL EXAMINER

(Name) (Name)

Head
Civil Engineering Department

Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of
Science in Division name (12 Times New Roman)

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

NFC-INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
MULTAN, PAKISTAN
(Font = 14, bold)