Marine Science: Postgraduate Resources

A prescribed Otago thesis writing template does not exist. Department requirements vary so consult your supervisor or recent departmental theses.

Graduate Research School provides access to an Otago thesis template based on APA Style, in your Blackboard Masters (or PhD) >Academic Writing> section, or use the links below - adapt it for your thesis or dissertation:

• Otago numbered thesis template June 2024
• Otago unnumbered thesis template June 2024

If you want your thesis bound, single sided, use the Recto template; if double-sided, customise the gutter margin on mirror pages in Word, or set the Inside and Outside margins based on the templates below:

• Verso page template binding margins (left hand, even numbered pages)
• Recto page template binding margins (right hand, odd numbered pages)

OR, set your own margins:

Margins

The page binding margin should be at least 30mm - this means that:

• the right hand pages of your thesis (the recto pages) require a left margin of at least 30mm,
• the left hand pages (the verso pages) require a right margin of at least 30mm,

In addition, the Library recommends that you keep all other margins uniform and at least 20mm, including for any appendices, tables and figures, photographs, or other illustrations you might include in your thesis. Following these recommendations will ensure that your entire text and page numbers remain intact when your thesis is trimmed during the binding process.

Use word processing software such as Word, Open Office, or Pages. See the IT support tab for more details.

• Specific title page layout, heading and citation styles may differ within Departments.  Please consult your supervisor.
• Document set-up, formatting  aligning text - online IT training advice
• Chapters - keep as separate document files during writing, to retain formatting. Once the thesis is complete merge these files into a new document.
• Versions of files and regular back-ups of all documents - keep to avoid loss of vital work.
• LaTeX is a programme for formatting scientific and technical documents.  It is sometimes used by departments such as Computer Science, Information Science, Physical Geography, Mathematics and Physiology.

Effective management of the print and e-resources that you use and create during your research project ensures that you:

• comply with all internal and external obligations e.g. ethics, funder requirements
• store this information safely and securely, including large files - see the Data Storage tab for options
• can find the information you need, when you need it
• manage your research, through the many iterations or versions of your work
• manage your files, so that they can be easily located and identified, by yourself and others.

Your large thesis files and related data will need secure storing, and sharing with your supervisor/s.

ITS offers support with these services here:

• Otago's High Capacity Central File Storage (HCS)
• HCS High Speed Data Transfer
• Otago File Transfer

Check information on this when attending a Library PG workshop on Research Data Management.

Save time and checking by collecting all the necessary data for each reference, at the time of consulting the works concerned. 

Managing your references - guide to recommended software for in-text and bibliography tasks.

Departments and supervisors vary in their preferred reference management systems - compare products:

Do not store your reference management files in cloud-based services, e.g. iCloud, Syncplicity, Dropbox, etc.

Seek assistance from your Subject Librarian and ITS staff.

Endnote overview videos (PC) and Mac - from Otago IT training

IT self-guided resources include:

• Video tutorials on writing/formatting your thesis in Word (PC)
• Long Documents - from University of Aberdeen - steps and videos
• Microsoft 365 Training - quick access to training videos
• How to Create and Edit long documents, project reports and research papers in Word - 2020 (42mins)