RIFT VALLEY UNIVERSITY, burayu campus

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING MBA THESIS REPORT

A Research Report Should Include the Following Headings

COVER PAGE & INSIDE COVER PAGE

The cover page should include the following information:

 Thesis Topic/Title, 16 font size, bold & italics, and usually center on the page
 The purpose of the thesis or research report (14 font size, italics and center on the page) e.g.

A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Rift Valley University in Partial
Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Business
Administration (MBA)

 The Name of the Author/Investigator, 14 font size, bold, all caps, and center on the page
 Name of the University, 16 font size, Bold, and all Caps usually center on the page
 Name of the College, 16 font size, Bold, and all Caps usually center on the page
 Name of the Department/Program, 16 font size, Bold, and all Caps usually center on the page
 The Date on which the final report is submitted, e.g. MARCH 31, 2015 and
 The City/Town in which the report is submitted, e.g. ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

As an example a typical research report cover page is given on the page below:

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Determinants of Financial Performance: A Study on
Selected Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Ethiopia.

A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Rift Valley

University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the
Degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA)

BY:
CHALA ALEMU KEBEDE

University Logo

RIFT VALLEY UNIVERSITY, BOLE CAMPUS

MBA PROGRAM

MARCH 31, 2017

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

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Determinants of Financial Performance: A Study on
Selected Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Ethiopia.

BY:
CHALA ALEMU KEBEDE

Under the Guidance of

Dr. Merga Mekuria

A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Rift valley

University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the
Degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA)

UNIVERSITY logo

MBA PROGRAM

MARCH 31, 2015

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

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 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the thesis entitles “Determinants of Financial Performance: A Study on
Selected Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Ethiopia”, submitted to Rift Valley University for the
award of the Degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA) and is a record of confide
research work carried out by Mr. Bikila Keno Fufa, under our guidance and supervision.

Therefore, we hereby declare that no part of this thesis has been submitted to any other
university or institutions for the award of any degree or diploma.

Main Adviser’s Name Date Signature

____________________________ __________________ _____________________
Co-Advisor’s Name Date Signature
____________________________ __________________ _____________________

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 DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this thesis entitled “ Determinants of Financial Performance: A Study on
Selected Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Ethiopia”, has been carried out by me under the
guidance and supervision of Dr. Merga Mekuria.

The thesis is original and has not been submitted for the award of any degree or diploma to any
university or institutions.

Researcher’s Name Date Signature

_________________________ ___________________ ___________________

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Abstract: (12 font sizes, italics, with the word ‘abstract’ center on the page with the text
aligned to both the left & right margins)

Acknowledgements: (12 font sizes, with the word ‘acknowledgements’ center on the page
with 14 font sizes, and the text usually aligned to both the left & right margins)

Table of Contents :( text 12 font sizes, usually aligned to both the left & right margins with
the word ‘Table of Contents’, center on the page with 14 font sizes)

List of Tables& Figures :( text 12 font sizes, usually aligned to both the left & right margins
with the word ‘List of Tables’and ‘List of Figures’center on the page with 14 font sizes)

ACRONYMS/ABRIVATIONS :( the word ‘ACRONYMS or ABRIVATIONS’ center on the page

with 14 font sizes)

CHAPTER ONE (Title, 18 font size, all caps, bold & center on the page)

1. INTRODUCTION (title 16 font size, all caps, bold & center on the page)
1.1 Background of the Study (title 14 font size, aligned to left margin, bold and title case)
1.2 Statement of the Problem & Research Questions:(title 14 font size, aligned to left
margin, bold and title case)
1.3 Objectives: (General & Specific objectives, title 14 font size, aligned to left margin,
bold and title case)
1.4 Hypotheses: (title 14 font size, aligned to left margin, bold and title case)
1.5 Significance of the Study: (title 14 font size, aligned to left margin, bold and title
case)
1.6 Scope of the Study: title 14 font size, aligned to left margin, bold and title case)
1.7 Structure of the Thesis: title 14 font size, aligned to left margin, bold and title case)

CHAPTER TWO (Title, 18 font size, all caps, bold & center on the page)

2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE (title 16 font size, all caps, bold & center on the page)
2.1 Theoretical Framework (title 15 font size, bold and title case, aligned to the left
margin)
2.1.1 Sub topic under 2.1 (title 14 font size, bold, title case, & aligned to the left
margin)
2.1.2 Sub topic under 2.1 (title 14 font size, bold, title case, & aligned to the left
margin)

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 2.1.3 Sub topic under 2.1 (title 14 font size, bold, title case, & aligned to the left
margin)
2.1.3.1 Sub-sub topic (title 12 font size, bold, title case and aligned to the left
margin)
2.1.3.2 Sub-sub topic (title 12 font size, bold, title case and aligned to the left
margin)
2.2 Empirical Reviews: (title 15 font size, bold and title case, aligned to the left margin)
2.3 Conceptual Model:(title 15 font size, bold and title case, aligned to the left margin)

CHAPTER THREE (Title, 18 font size, all caps, bold & center on the page)

3. RESEARCH DESIGN & METHODOLOGY(title 16 font size, all caps, bold & center on the
page)
3.1 Research Design/Approach: (title 14 font size, bold, title case, & aligned to the
left margin)

3.2 Source & Type of Data: (title 14 font size, bold, title case, & aligned to the left
margin)

3.3 Sampling Design: (title 14 font size, bold, title case, & aligned to the left margin)

3.4 Data Analysis Techniques: (title 14 font size, bold, title case, & aligned to the left
margin)

3.5 Model Specification and Description of Study Variables: (title 14 font size, bold,
title cases, & aligned to the left margin)

CHAPTER FOUR (Title, 18 font size, all caps, bold & center on the page)

4. RESULTS & DISCUSSIONS(title 16 font size, all caps, bold & center on the page)

4.1 Sub topic 1: (title 14 font size, bold, title case, & aligned to the left margin)

4.2 Sub topic 2:(title 14 font size, bold, title case, & aligned to the left margin)

4.3 Sub topic 3:(title 14 font size, bold, title case, & aligned to the left margin)

CHAPTER FIVE(Title, 18 font size, all caps, bold & center on the page)

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 5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS (title 16 font size, all caps, bold & center on
the page)
5.1 Conclusions: (title 14 font size, bold, title case, & aligned to the left margin)
5.2 Recommendations: (title 14 font size, bold, title case, & aligned to the left margin)
5.3 Future Research Direction: (title 14 font size, bold, title case, & aligned to the left
margin)

Bibliography (title 16 font size, all caps, bold & center on the page)

 The Harvard Referencing System will be uniformly adopted

 The Harvard Referencing style is attached along with this guideline.

Appendices:

REPORT FORMAT

 Font type: Times New Roman

 Font size: all text 12 cpi
 Line Spacing: 1.5
 Left margin: 1.5 Inch and 1 inch on all other sides
 Paper type: A4 Size standard printed on one side.