ucc research proposal format

How to Write a Research Paper: Parts of the Paper

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Parts of the Research Paper Papers should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Your introductory paragraph should grab the reader's attention, state your main idea, and indicate how you will support it. The body of the paper should expand on what you have stated in the introduction. Finally, the conclusion restates the paper's thesis and should explain what you have learned, giving a wrap up of your main ideas.

1. The Title The title should be specific and indicate the theme of the research and what ideas it addresses. Use keywords that help explain your paper's topic to the reader. Try to avoid abbreviations and jargon. Think about keywords that people would use to search for your paper and include them in your title.

2. The Abstract The abstract is used by readers to get a quick overview of your paper. Typically, they are about 200 words in length (120 words minimum to  250 words maximum). The abstract should introduce the topic and thesis, and should provide a general statement about what you have found in your research. The abstract allows you to mention each major aspect of your topic and helps readers decide whether they want to read the rest of the paper. Because it is a summary of the entire research paper, it is often written last. 

3. The Introduction The introduction should be designed to attract the reader's attention and explain the focus of the research. You will introduce your overview of the topic,  your main points of information, and why this subject is important. You can introduce the current understanding and background information about the topic. Toward the end of the introduction, you add your thesis statement, and explain how you will provide information to support your research questions. This provides the purpose and focus for the rest of the paper.

4. Thesis Statement Most papers will have a thesis statement or main idea and supporting facts/ideas/arguments. State your main idea (something of interest or something to be proven or argued for or against) as your thesis statement, and then provide your supporting facts and arguments. A thesis statement is a declarative sentence that asserts the position a paper will be taking. It also points toward the paper's development. This statement should be both specific and arguable. Generally, the thesis statement will be placed at the end of the first paragraph of your paper. The remainder of your paper will support this thesis.

Students often learn to write a thesis as a first step in the writing process, but often, after research, a writer's viewpoint may change. Therefore a thesis statement may be one of the final steps in writing. 

Examples of Thesis Statements from Purdue OWL

5. The Literature Review The purpose of the literature review is to describe past important research and how it specifically relates to the research thesis. It should be a synthesis of the previous literature and the new idea being researched. The review should examine the major theories related to the topic to date and their contributors. It should include all relevant findings from credible sources, such as academic books and peer-reviewed journal articles. You will want  to:

• Explain how the literature helps the researcher understand the topic.
• Try to show connections and any disparities between the literature.
• Identify new ways to interpret prior research.
• Reveal any gaps that exist in the literature.

More about writing a literature review. . .

6. The Discussion ​The purpose of the discussion is to interpret and describe what you have learned from your research. Make the reader understand why your topic is important. The discussion should always demonstrate what you have learned from your readings (and viewings) and how that learning has made the topic evolve, especially from the short description of main points in the introduction.Explain any new understanding or insights you have had after reading your articles and/or books. Paragraphs should use transitioning sentences to develop how one paragraph idea leads to the next. The discussion will always connect to the introduction, your thesis statement, and the literature you reviewed, but it does not simply repeat or rearrange the introduction. You want to: 

• Demonstrate critical thinking, not just reporting back facts that you gathered.
• If possible, tell how the topic has evolved over the past and give it's implications for the future.
• Fully explain your main ideas with supporting information.
• Explain why your thesis is correct giving arguments to counter points.

7. The Conclusion A concluding paragraph is a brief summary of your main ideas and restates the paper's main thesis, giving the reader the sense that the stated goal of the paper has been accomplished. What have you learned by doing this research that you didn't know before? What conclusions have you drawn? You may also want to suggest further areas of study, improvement of research possibilities, etc. to demonstrate your critical thinking regarding your research.

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• Last Updated: Feb 13, 2024 8:35 AM
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Theses: Theses

• Submit your final thesis
• Research Theses Access Conditions
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UCC Theses: Print Copies

• Special Collections holds print copies of Masters theses from 1911-2012. To access print copies of Taught Masters theses since 2013 contact the relevant department.
• Special Collections holds print copies of Research Masters / PhDs theses from 1939-2019. To access Research Masters / PhD theses since 2020 search on CORA .

Theses must be requested in advance. For further information see Special Collections & Archives Request Form. All print theses must be consulted in the library and cannot be borrowed.

Scanning, photocopying or photographing theses is not permitted without written permission from the author.

Note: The Call Number has either DP (PhD Thesis) or DM (Masters Thesis).

How Do I Find UCC Theses Through the Catalogue?

Search by Department:

• Go to the UCC Library Catalogue .
• Select 'Theses' under 'Search Options' on the left of the screen, or click here .
• Search for the name of a department/school e.g. 'Department of Physiology' or search with keywords.
• Browse this list of theses theses from specific departments.

Search by Keyword:

• Enter the search term in the Keyword option.
• On the results page click on 'Modify Search' and limit your search to Material Type: Theses 

Note: The Call Number has either DP (PhD Thesis) or DM (Masters Thesis). Some have a link to the full text through CORA:

UCC Theses: Electronic Copies

CORA is the central repository for electronic copies of UCC research postgraduate theses. While the aim is to provide full-text access, in certain circumstances theses may not have been provided by the graduate, or may be embargoed in part or in full. Click here to browse theses. 

Theses from Other Universities

Library Databases

Central authoritative resource for North American theses with significant European content. This database is the world’s most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses from around the world, spanning from 1743 to the present day. To note, this database also includes the most comprehensive available record of doctoral theses from the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Access to: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I: Business ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I: Health & Medicine ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I: History ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I: Literature & Language ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I: Science & Technology ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I: Social Sciences ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I: The Arts

Note that the Inter Library Loans service may be able to source theses from other libraries.

Free resources:

• ETHOS (British Library) : free web resource, aims to provide a 'single point of access' to theses produced by UK Higher Education institutions.
• DART-Europe E-theses Portal : free web-resource, provides links to full-text research theses from over 570 universities sourced from 29 European countries.
• NDLTD : Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations. Links to full text.
• Next: Submit your final thesis >>
• Last Updated: Jun 10, 2024 9:59 AM
• URL: https://libguides.ucc.ie/theses

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When can I submit?

Please make sure you are aware of your start date.

If you have made changes to your registration (for example leave of absence, this will change your submission date). Research students start in January, April, July or October and usually agree a registration period of 1 or 2 years from their start date.

Students can submit any time in their last year of study. Students must begin planning for thesis submission 6 months before their submission date .

1. Intention to submit

Student's responsibilities.

• Ensure student registration and fee payments are up-to-date.
• Ensure you have completed any mandatory elements of your programme.
• At least three months prior to the proposed date of thesis submission, complete the Intention to Submit form .

Helpful Tips

• You can submit this form more than three months in advance
• You only have to submit this form once and we will await your thesis submission.

UCC's Responsibilities

Supervisors should advise their students of the  Intention to Submit form and to start planning 6 months in advance to meet their submission deadline.

2. Approval of external and internal examiners

Students do not play a role in the approval of external and internal examiners process.

Graduate Studies Office informs the school/department of student intention to submit and requests the school/department to appoint the examiners. Final approval resides with College Graduate School.

3. E-thesis Submission for Examination

• Check the  Thesis Submission Deadlines  to see what your next deadline is. You must then submit a PDF copy of your thesis  ONLINE HERE .
• IMPORTANT: If your Examiner requests a paper copy of your thesis, you will be notified of this and required to submit a paper copy to the Graduate Studies Office.  
• Along with your thesis you must upload a completed  Submission for Examination Form , where you will choose the level of access required for your final thesis. You must read the  Access Options Here , and agree the required level of access with your Supervisory Team. The Submission for Examination Form must be signed by all Supervisors and the Head of School/Department.    
• SUBMIT YOUR E-THESIS HERE .   

Helpful tips

• You can submit before the deadline
• There are no exceptions or extensions to the deadline, however, a three-month grace period applies. 

What is our three-month grace period?

You must be a registered student to submit your soft-bound thesis. If your registration period is about to expire you have an additional three months in which you can submit your soft-bound thesis without being liable for registration fees, but you must register for the next academic year. If you do not submit within the three months, you will be liable for a reduced fee (€1700 per annum) for the remainder of the year. 

4. Examiner Report

An examiners report is generated and requires formal approval at the Academic Council Graduate Studies Committee (see deadline dates ).

Students receive official recommendation after approval at Academic Council Graduate Studies Committee.

The Internal Examiner should submit a joint examiners report to the Graduate Studies Office using the upload facility within 5 working days of the Viva Voce.

Graduate Studies Office submit the report to the next Academic Council Graduate Studies Committee for formal approval.

The Graduate Studies Office will notify students by email regarding your approval and any associated recommendations.

Recommendations Explained

Award, no amendments needed.

• Student progresses to the next step which is final e-thesis submission. See all submission deadline dates .

Award, on condition minor amendments are carried out

• Students liaise with their internal examiner to confirm the amendments needed.
• Student carries out amendments and sends them to their internal examiner for review.
• Internal Examiner confirms approval of corrections to the Graduate Studies Office using the upload facility and confirms to the student that they can progress to final e-thesis submission  online via CORA

Award, on condition major amendments are carried out

• Student liaises with their internal examiner to confirm the amendments needed.
• Student carries out amendments and sends them to both their internal examiner and external examiner for review.
• Internal examiner and the external examiner confirms approval of corrections to the Graduate Studies Office using the upload facility and confirms to the student that they can progress to final e-thesis submission online via CORA .
• The original examiners report along with the emails from examiners regarding major amendment completed are submitted to the next ACGSC meeting ( see deadline dates ) for final approval.

Reject, but permit submission of a revised thesis

• Student is required to undertake a major rewrite of all or a significant part of the thesis.
• This process should be completed within 12 months and the candidate must be registered as a student.
• The new thesis needs to be  submitted as a PDF online for a new examination (see step 3).

Reject, but allow the award of a lower degree

A research Masters degree is awarded in lieu of a Doctorate as the thesis stands, or such a degree is awarded subject to minor or major amendments. A recommendation will need to be made on the grade of award of the lower degree (on the original thesis).

No degree is awarded as the thesis is very seriously and inherently deficient.

More Information

For detailed information see the Academic Programme Catalogue.

Students receiving a recommendation of award on condition of major or minor amendments should liaise with their internal examiner and supervisor regarding completion of the amendments.

5. Final e-thesis submission and conferring Research Masters students

• Take a look at the final e-thesis submission deadlines and corresponding conferring deadlines to decide when you will submit and confer.
• Log in to  CORA https://cora.ucc.ie/shibboleth-login with your UCC IT account details (@umail.ucc.ie) and submit your abstract and thesis online.

6. Conferring

Once the final e-thesis has been submitted you will be put forward to graduate at the next conferring ceremony and will receive information on this by email.

• UCC Conferring Dates
• Contact: [email protected]  

Graduate Studies Office

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