MSc projects
MSc students must submit a dissertation of no more than 12,000 words. The dissertation project is carried out over the summer period, from the last written examination to the dissertation submission date on 15 September.
The dissertation is expected to include evidence that a student is capable of applying statistical research methods to realistic problems. Most dissertations will therefore contain an account of the analysis of some body of real data. Students are expected to find out most things by themselves by independent reading. Students should expect a maximum of six meetings in which progress is discussed, and for the supervisor to read one or two drafts of the dissertation. Please be reasonable, and allow a week or so for work to be read; this is particularly important in planning final writing.
Students may examine selected dissertations from previous years in the Statistics library. These dissertations are for reference only and must not be removed from the library.
Format
The dissertation should be typed and soft bound (for example plastic comb binding). Computer output should not be presented without pruning and annotation where necessary. The work should be a minimum 12pt and at least 1 ½ line spaced. It should include:
1) The title page
Title, author, college and year of submission. Include the following at the bottom of the page, "A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Applied Statistics"
2) An abstract
3) Acknowledgements
4) A contents page
5) A bibliography
A good summary should be provided. The style of writing should be appropriate for a scholarly work: colloquialisms should be avoided. The dissertation must be carefully proof-read.
Candidates should make every effort to provide the appropriate references relating the work to the scientific literature, both in the subject matter under investigation and for the statistical and any other techniques used. References to published papers should be made carefully, with format similar to that used in standard journals. Particular emphasis should be given to the statistical aspects of the problem but the dissertation should show evidence of a reasonable understanding of the non-statistical features of the problem (e.g. the reasons for a particular scientific study).
The length of the dissertation should be no more than is required to present the project in a satisfactory manner and in case no more than 12,000 words. Inordinately lengthy dissertations may lose marks.
The marking criteria can be found in the examination conventions.
Submission of dissertation
Two copies of the dissertation are to be submitted to the Examination Schools, High Street, by noon 15 September 2009.
The envelope bearing the dissertation copies should be addressed to the M.Sc. examiners (Applied Statistics), c/o Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford.
Details of submitting work to the Examination Schools can be found at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/schools/oxonly/submissions/index.shtml
A signed declaration of authorship must also be completed and submitted with the dissertation.
Students should pay particular attention to the University’s policies on plagiarism
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