Princess Nourah University: Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman

Writing scientific theses is an essential requirement in graduate studies, as it reflects the student’s research and scientific capabilities and their commitment to academic standards. At Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, a comprehensive guide has been prepared specifically for writing scientific theses, serving as a primary reference for Master’s and PhD students across all disciplines.

Princess Nourah University’s guidefor writing scientific thesesprovides precise and comprehensive guidance to ensure the thesis is prepared with the highest levels of scientific accuracy, professionalism in formatting, and adherence to research ethics. This guide helps unify the standards upon which submitted theses are based, facilitating the review and evaluation process and ensuring recognition within the academic community.

In this article, we provide a simplified and comprehensive explanation of the content of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University’s guide to scientific writing, covering the general structure of the thesis, formatting and citation guidelines, and submission and review instructions.

Princess Nourah University’s Guide to Scientific Writing

Princess Nourah University has prepared an official guide dedicated towriting scientific theses,aiming to regulate the quality of academic research and standardize criteria among students across all disciplines. This guide was prepared under the supervision of the Graduate Studies Deanship in collaboration with the Scientific Research Deanship, serving as an accredited reference to be consulted during the preparation of research theses.

This guide primarily serves graduate students at the Master’s and PhD levels, and specifies the formal and substantive rules that must be followed, including:

1. The general format and technical formatting of the thesis

2. Methods for organizing chapters and internal content

3. Approved scientific citation methods

4. Guidelines for preparing abstracts and references

5. Instructions for electronic submission and final copies

The guide serves as a tool to help students avoid methodological or formatting errors, and provides ready-made templates that can be used directly, simplifying the writing process and saving time and effort.

The Organizational Structure of the Scientific Thesis According to the University Guide

The guidefor writing scientific thesesat Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University emphasizes the need to adhere to a standardized and organized sequence for the sections of the scientific thesis, as this structure contributes to presenting ideas clearly and sequentially, facilitating content review for discussion committees. This structure includes the following:

1. Official title page:
   Contains the university logo, college and department name, thesis title, student name, supervisor name, and submission date (Hijri and Gregorian).

2. Dedication page (optional):
   Written in a personal and gentle style without exaggeration, placed directly after the title page.

3. Page of Thanks and Appreciation (optional):
   In which the student expresses gratitude to supervisors and supporters in preparing the thesis.

4. Acknowledgment Page:
   Contains a statement from the student acknowledging that the thesis is her own work and has not been previously published.

5. Abstract:
   Written twice, once in Arabic and once in English, and includes a brief overview of the research problem, objectives, methodology, results, and recommendations, preferably not exceeding 300 words.

6. Table of Contents:
   Lists the sequence of main and subheadings with accurate page numbers.

7. List of Tables and Figures:
   Listed separately for easy reference, with tables/figures numbered and ordered according to their appearance in the text.

This order represents the standardized structural template, which serves as a fundamental reference in writing scientific theses at Princess Nourah University.

Components of the Scientific Thesis in Chapter Sequence

Princess Nourah University’s guide for writing scientific theses organizes the thesis content within scientific chapters, aiming to present research information systematically and sequentially. This structure includes five main chapters, in addition to references and appendices:

1. Chapter One: Introduction and General Framework of the Research
   Includes:

• General introduction to the research topic

• Problem statement and its precise formulation

• Study objectives (general and specific)

• Importance of the research from theoretical and practical perspectives

• Research questions or hypotheses

• Study limitations (spatial, temporal, methodological)

• Definition of procedural terms

2. Chapter Two: Previous Studies and Theoretical Framework
   Includes:

• Analytical review of previous local and international studies

• Discussion of points of agreement and disagreement with the current study

• Highlighting research gaps

• Building the theoretical framework that the study is based on

3. Chapter Three: Methodology and Research Procedures
   Covers:

• Type of methodology used (descriptive, experimental, qualitative, etc.)

• Study population and sample and their selection method

• Data collection tools and their design method

• Validity and reliability of the tools

• Steps for implementing the research

• Methods of statistical or qualitative analysis

4. Chapter Four: Study Results and Analysis
   Includes:

• Presentation of collected data in tables and graphs

• Interpretation of results in light of the study’s objectives and questions

• Linking results to components of the theoretical framework

5. Chapter Five: Discussion, Conclusions, Recommendations
   Covers:

• Discussion of results and comparison with previous studies

• Presentation of research conclusions and its contribution to scientific knowledge

• Providing practical and realistic recommendations

• Suggesting future studies to continue research in the field

6. References list
   Arranged alphabetically according to the adopted documentation style (often APA), with attention to formatting each reference accurately.

7. Appendices (if any)
   Study tools (such as questionnaires), additional tables, or supporting documents for the message content are included.

Technical Formatting Instructions for Scientific Messages

The scientific message writing guide at Princess Nourah University places great emphasis on the formal formatting of the message, as this indicates the seriousness of the student and her commitment to academic standards. The main formatting instructions include:

• Font Type:

  • Arabic: Traditional Arabic, size 16 for text, 18 for headings.

  • English: Times New Roman, size 12 for text, 14 for headings.

• Line Spacing:

  • 1.5 spacing between lines

  • Single spacing is used in tables and footnotes

• Margins:

  • 2.5 cm from all sides

  • Left margin 3.5 cm for binding purposes

• Page Numbering:

  • Preliminary pages are numbered with small Roman numerals (i, ii, iii…)

  • Numbering with regular numbers (1, 2, 3…) starts from the first chapter

• Heading Formatting:

  • Use a logical numbering sequence (1-1, 1-2, 2-1…)

  • Adherence to bold font for main headings, and regular font for subheadings

• Tables and Figures:

  • Must be titled and numbered, with clarification of their source if quoted

  • Included in their proper place in the text, or in appendices as needed

Scientific Documentation and References in Princess Nourah University Guide

Documentation is considered one of the most important elements of the scientific message, as it shows the researcher’s academic integrity, preserves the intellectual rights of others, and enhances the credibility of the study. The Princess Nourah University guide for writing scientific messages explains the documentation method in detail.

• Adopted Documentation Style:

  • The APA style (7th edition) is often used, unless the department has adopted a different style.

• In-text Documentation:

  • For direct quotation: (Author’s name, year, page number)

  • For indirect quotation: (Author’s name, year)

• References List:

  • Arranged alphabetically by first author’s name

  • Reference writing style varies by type (books, articles, websites, theses…)

• Helpful Tools:

  • Use of reference management software such as Mendeley or Zotero is allowed to standardize reference formatting

• Plagiarism Check:

  • The thesis is checked via Turnitin software to verify originality, and similarity percentage must not exceed the allowed limit (as determined by the Deanship or Department)

Thesis Submission and Final Review Instructions

Before formally submitting the scientific thesis, the student must adhere to several procedural and digital steps to ensure the thesis is ready and receives final approval:

• Electronic submission via university portal:
  The final version of the thesis is uploaded through a dedicated electronic system within the Graduate Studies Deanship portal, with all required forms attached.

• Linguistic and scientific review:
  The thesis must undergo linguistic review to correct spelling and grammatical errors, as well as scientific review by the academic supervisor.

• Originality check (Turnitin):
  An electronic copy of the thesis is uploaded to the plagiarism detection system, and the similarity percentage must be within the allowed limit according to university regulations.

• Final copies:
  A bound paper copy and an electronic copy in PDF format are submitted, both fully compliant with the formatting standards in the guide.

• Letter recommending discussion:
  An official letter from the academic supervisor recommending approval for thesis discussion is attached, after verifying all requirements are met.

Common mistakes to avoid when writing scientific theses

Despite having a comprehensive guide, some students make repeated mistakes when writing scientific theses. Here are the most prominent mistakes to avoid:

• Ambiguity in formulating the research problem
  Lack of clarity or excessive breadth of the problem leads to weak focus in the study.

• Repetition or padding in writing
  Repeating ideas without adding new content weakens the academic value of the message.

• Failure to adhere to unified documentation style
  Using different or inaccurate citation styles is considered an academic flaw.

• Poor technical formatting
  Such as using unauthorized fonts or spacing, or omitting margins and numbering.

• Neglecting language and style review
  Presence of linguistic or stylistic errors negatively affects the quality of the message, even if the information is correct.

Academic Support Provided by the University

Princess Nourah University strives to support graduate students at all stages of preparing the scientific thesis through:

1. Providing Princess Nourah University’s guide for writing scientific theses in PDF format through the Graduate Studies Deanship website.

2. Periodic training workshops
   Workshops are held covering research skills, documentation, reference management tools, and scientific presentation methods.

3. Language review services
   Some colleges offer language review services or guide students to specialized centers.

4. Academic supervision
   Specialized supervisors are assigned to monitor the student’s progress and provide feedback throughout the thesis preparation period.

5. Electronic communication and digital support
   The university provides an official email and electronic services that enable the student to communicate with relevant parties at any time.

To Download Princess Nourah University’s Guide for Writing Scientific Theses

You can visit the website of “Studies Ideas for Research and Development”, which provides specialized academic services for graduate students, including providing official guides approved by Saudi universities, such as Princess Nourah University’s guide for writing scientific theses.

Suggested download link (if available on the company’s official website):

🔗Princess Nourah University’s guide for writing scientific theses pdf

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the approved cover format in the university?
The official cover template must be used, which includes the university logo, student information, supervisor details, department, and submission date.

Is thesis writing available in English?
In certain fields such as science, health, or engineering, the thesis may be written in English, provided that an abstract in Arabic is included.

What is the acceptable similarity percentage in a plagiarism report?
The similarity percentage should generally not exceed 20%, with exceptions for repeated elements such as titles or definitions. The deanship specifies the exact percentage according to the specialization.

What is the ideal number of pages for a master’s thesis?
This varies depending on the specialization and methodology, but master’s theses typically range from 100-150 pages, while doctoral theses are 200 pages or more.

Can software like Zotero or Mendeley be used?
Yes, the use of reference management software is encouraged to standardize citation styles and facilitate in-text source inclusion.

Conclusion

Writing scientific theses represents a crucial and fundamental stage in graduate studies, serving as a reflection of the student’s commitment to rigorous academic research standards. Through Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University’s guide to scientific thesis writing, the university provides a clear and comprehensive framework that helps students prepare theses of high scientific and quality standards.

Adherence to the guide’s instructions and utilization of available resources and support will ensure that students excel academically and contribute effectively to the university’s scientific output beyond its walls.

If you are in the thesis preparation phase, be sure to download the official guide, maintain regular communication with your supervisor, and participate in workshops and scientific meetings — to produce scholarly work worthy of your academic ambitions.