11. Assessment

11.9. Dissertation

Word Count

You are permitted a 10% margin above or below the stated word limit without penalty. 

Note: markers will not read or assess any content beyond the 10% upper limit.

All words are counted except for the bibliography.

The following are examples of content that do count towards your word total:

  • Table of contents
  • Appendices
  • Footnotes and endnotes
  • Abstract
  • Wording under diagrams
  • Words within graphs, tables, and diagrams

This list is not exhaustive. As a general rule: if it’s written, it counts so use your words wisely.

While it may be difficult to meet the word count exactly, you should aim to write as close as possible to the specified word limit without exceeding the maximum permitted word count. At master's level, students are expected to edit and refine their work to meet word count requirements.

Although work submitted up to 10% below the stated word limit will not incur a penalty, dissertations that fall significantly below the expected word count may fail to fully address the topic in sufficient depth and will be marked accordingly. 

Title Page Requirements

Your submitted dissertation must include a title page (or cover sheet) with the following information only:

  • Module number (e.g. IPLCxxx)
  • Module title (e.g. Dissertation in Intellectual Property Law)
  • Dissertation title
  • Final word count
  • Student ID number (not your username - this can be found in MySIS or on your student ID card)
  • Your name must not appear anywhere on the dissertation.

You may use colour, formatting, or graphics on the title page if you wish, although this is not required.

Please note: A separate title page template is not provided. You may create the title page yourself as the first page of your dissertation document.

Formatting Recommendations

There is no official style guide for formatting your dissertation. However, to ensure clarity and consistency, we recommend the following:

  • Font: Use a standard, readable font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri
  • Font size: 12-point for the main text
  • Line spacing: Double spaced
  • Margins: Minimum of 2 cm on all sides
  • Citations: Required - either inline or in footnotes
  • Footnotes: No smaller than 10-point font, ideally in the same font as the main text.