Strathmore University Thesis Guidelines: What Every Student Must Know
Navigating the thesis journey at Strathmore University requires a clear understanding of the institution’s specific guidelines, formatting requirements, and assessment criteria. Whether you are a Master’s or PhD candidate, adhering to these standards is essential for a smooth submission and successful graduation. This comprehensive guide covers everything from admission requirements to final submission, ensuring you have the knowledge needed to meet Strathmore University’s expectations.
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1. Strathmore University School of Graduate Studies: An Overview
The Strathmore University School of Graduate Studies is responsible for overseeing all postgraduate research activities. The institution follows a structured approach to ensure that theses and dissertations meet high academic standards. The general term “thesis” is often used to represent both theses and dissertations in the official documentation .
The university is considered a centre of excellence in research, offering robust support for innovative research and extension services through its doctorate programs. The PhD by research programme is scheduled to take a minimum of three academic years and a maximum of five academic years, delivered purely through research and thesis
2. Admission Requirements for Postgraduate Programs
2.1 Master’s Programs
Master’s degree applicants must meet the general admission criteria set by the School of Graduate Studies. This typically includes holding a relevant bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution and meeting specific program requirements.
2.2 PhD Programs
The PhD application process is rigorous and requires several key documents submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies :
Duly filled Graduate Application Form
Two completed Reference Forms from former professors or employers qualified to attest to the applicant’s qualifications for graduate study
Certified copies of undergraduate degree certificate and transcript of records
Certified copies of master’s degree certificate and transcript of records
Certified copy of Secondary/High School Certificate
Updated Curriculum Vitae (Europass CV format recommended)
Current passport-size photo
Copy of National Identity card or valid Passport (bio-data page)
A 5-page concept note/synopsis outlining your research problem, why it is important, research gaps, contribution to knowledge, and how you intend to undertake the study
A copy of the research work undertaken at Master’s level
Names of at least two proposed supervisors, one of whom must be a Strathmore University staff member
For foreign qualifications, a Letter of Recognition from CUE (Commission of University Education) or KNQA (Kenya National Qualification Authority) is required
The first stage of the PhD by research program is an oral interview/defense of the concept paper to assess suitability of the work . Once the application is received and verified, eligible applicants are required to pay a non-refundable interview fee of KShs 6,000/- .
3. Program Structure and Important Timeframes
3.1 PhD Program Stages
The PhD program follows a structured three-stage process :
First Stage: Oral interview/defense of the concept paper (part of the application process)
Second Stage: Developing the PhD research proposal and oral examination of the proposal. The objective is to assist the student in choosing a research area and gaining sufficient knowledge of the area, including recent research developments.
Third Stage (Key Stage): The PhD thesis, where the student makes an original contribution to their specific field.
3.2 Schedule of Important Timeframes
The School of Graduate Studies provides a schedule of important timeframes for postgraduate research studies :
| Activity | Project | Dissertation | Thesis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervisor Allocation | Within 1 month of completing research methods course | Within 1 month | Within 1 month |
| Research Proposal Defense | Within 1 month | Within 3 months | Within 4 months |
| Submission for Examination | Within 3 months | Within 3-6 months (part-time) | Within 6 months–1 year (part-time) |
| Examination Period | Within 4 weeks | Within 4 weeks | Within 4 weeks |
| Oral Defense | Not applicable | Within 4 weeks of examiners’ reports | Within 4 weeks of examiners’ reports |
| Amendments | Within 2 weeks | Within 4-8 weeks | Within 4-8 weeks |
| Approval for Graduation | Last week of May each year | ||
| Graduation* | Last Friday of June each year |
Note: You must have successfully completed all coursework and submitted the Final Certification of Thesis to be eligible to graduate
4. Research Proposal Components
The thesis proposal typically follows a standard structure :
Title Page: Must include the title in Title Case, your legal name as per student record, degree program, faculty/school, and the month/year of degree conferral
Declaration Page: Standard declaration of original work followed by approval signatures
Chapter One – Introduction: Background of the study, problem statement, research objectives/questions, significance, scope, limitations
Chapter Two – Literature Review: Theoretical framework, conceptual framework, review of related literature
Chapter Three – Research Methodology: Research design, target population, sample size and sampling methods, research instruments, data collection procedures, data analysis, ethical considerations
References and Appendices
The proposal must be developed in consultation with your supervisor and approved before proceeding to data collection.
5. Technical Formatting Requirements
5.1 Font and Spacing
Font Size: 11- or 12-point
Font Type: True type font such as Times, Times New Roman, Arial, Book Antiqua, or Helvetica
Spacing: One-and-a-half spacing throughout the text
Printing: One side of paper only
Paper: International A4 (210mm x 297mm), 70-100 g/m²
5.2 Margins
Left margin: 40mm (for binding purposes)
Other margins: 25mm on all sides
5.3 Headings
Level 1: Font size 14, bold
Level 2: Font size 12, bold (indent one place)
Level 3: Font size 12, bold, italics (indent two places)
Level 4: Font size 12, italics (indent three places)
5.4 Thesis Length
A thesis for a Master’s degree shall not normally exceed 50,000 words. This maximum excludes footnotes, list of references, appendices, and all front matter.
6. Tables and Figures Guidelines
6.1 Captions and Numbering
Each table and figure must have a number and caption. Number them consecutively throughout by chapter using a decimal system :
Table 1.1 = first table in Chapter 1
Table 2.1 = first table in Chapter 2
Figure 1.1 = first figure in Chapter 1
6.2 Placement
Tables and figures MUST NOT be grouped together at the end of the chapter or thesis. They should be placed immediately after the first mention of them in the text .
6.3 Sources
If a figure or table is taken from another source, indicate the source at the bottom right-hand side of the figure or table.
7. Assessment Criteria and Examination
Strathmore University uses a comprehensive 100-point scoring system for thesis examination :
| Major Area of Assessment | Potential Score |
|---|---|
| Principles and procedures in scientific research | 20 |
| Familiarity with research methods applied within the subject discipline | 15 |
| Ability to use published and other sources critically | 20 |
| Scientific processing of content: Justification statements and conclusion | 20 |
| Technical and linguistic editing of the thesis | 15 |
| Contribution of the study | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
The detailed assessment criteria evaluate specific elements within each major area, including justification and clarity of the problem statement, appropriateness of methodology, reliability and validity of data collection instruments, and evidence of the student’s ability to deal with literature critically and analytically.
8. Plagiarism and Ethical Compliance
The Similarity Report and Ethical Clearance Report must be placed in the Appendix
Acceptable similarity score: Less than 25% (excluding references)
Students are advised to submit proposals to the Strathmore University Institutional Review Board for ethical review concurrently with submitting hard copies for proposal defence.
9. Key Forms and Documentation
Students must be familiar with these forms available from the School of Graduate Studies :
Request to Change Supervisor
Intention to Submit Thesis
Thesis Correction Form
Certification of Final Version of Thesis
Thesis/Dissertation Assessment Criteria and Score Sheet (Appendix H)
Proposed Work Plan (Appendix B) for developing a research timeline
11. Checklist Before Submission
Title page formatted with Title Case and correct degree conferral date
Declaration and approval page signed by all supervisors
All chapters begin on new pages
1.5 line spacing with 11- or 12-point font throughout
40mm left margin for binding; 25mm other margins
Tables and figures placed immediately after first mention
Tables/figures numbered by chapter (1.1, 1.2, etc.)
Sources credited on all borrowed tables/figures
Similarity report below 25% and in Appendix
Ethical clearance report in Appendix
Word count within limits (Master’s: ≤50,000)
Corrections from supervisor incorporated
Final Certification of Thesis submitted
Registered for graduation by last week of May
Conclusion
Understanding and adhering to Strathmore University’s thesis guidelines is essential for a smooth submission and successful graduation. The university’s detailed requirements—from formatting specifications to assessment criteria—ensure that your work meets the high academic standards expected of postgraduate research.
The key takeaways for Strathmore University students are:
Follow the specific formatting requirements (margins, font, spacing, headings)
Place tables and figures immediately after first mention
Keep similarity score below 25%
Meet all deadlines in the School of Graduate Studies schedule
Complete the Thesis Correction Form and Certification of Final Version
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