Final Project And Dissertation Guideline

1. PURPOSE & ACADEMIC PHILOSOPHY

To fulfill the graduation requirements at Enigma Business School (EBS), all students are given the option to choose to submit a Final Project, Thesis, or Dissertation (hereafter referred to as Research Work).

As a business-focused academic institution, EBS emphasizes:

• Academic rigor grounded in theory

• Strategic relevance to real-world business challenges

• Practical and implementable insights for organizations and industries

Your research is expected not only to demonstrate scholarly competence but also to create measurable business value.

2. CORE REQUIREMENTS & SCOPE

Minimum Length (Core Content Only)

(Excluding front matter and appendices)

• Bachelor’s & Master’s Programs: Minimum 50 pages (Optional)

• Doctorate Program: Minimum 75 pages

• Recommended Maximum: 200 pages

Excessively long documents without strategic focus are discouraged.

Business Impact Requirement

All Research Work must demonstrate clear practical applicability, such as:

• Addressing real organizational or market problems

• Improving processes, strategy, governance, or performance

• Delivering data-driven, actionable recommendations

Purely descriptive or theoretical work without business relevance will not meet EBS standards.

3. REQUIRED STRUCTURE & COMPONENTS

All submissions must follow the sequence below:

1. Frontispiece (Title Page)

   • Title of the research

   • Student name & program

   • Date of submission

   • Signed Statement of Authorship

2. Executive Summary (Business-Oriented)

   • 1–2 pages

   • Written for senior executives or decision-makers

   • Highlights:

     • Business problem

     • Methodology

     • Key findings

     • Strategic recommendations

3. Abstract / Synopsis (Academic-Oriented)

   • 1–3 pages

   • Focus on research objectives, scope, and theoretical framework

4. Table of Contents

5. Core Chapters

   • Introduction

   • Literature Review

   • Research Methodology

   • Analysis / Findings

   • Strategic Recommendations & Conclusion

6. Bibliography

   • Consistent citation style using EBS Citation Style

7. Appendices

   • Supporting materials (datasets, charts, transcripts, instruments)

   • Do not count toward minimum page requirement

4. TECHNICAL FORMATTING STANDARDS

To ensure uniformity and professionalism:

• Font: Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman

• Font Size:

  • Heading: 14 pt

  • Body text: 12 pt

  • Footnotes/captions: 10–12 pt

• Line Spacing: 1.5 lines

• Margins: Left margin 4 cm, Right margin 3, Top & bottom margin 3

• Alignment: Justified 

• Paper Size: A4

• Printing: One-sided only

5. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY & AI USAGE POLICY

EBS enforces a zero-tolerance policy toward academic misconduct.

Plagiarism

• All submissions are screened using Turnitin or equivalent software

• High similarity scores (excluding references) may result in:

  • Immediate rejection

  • Mandatory revision

  • Disciplinary action

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Permitted uses:

• Idea generation and brainstorming

• Structuring outlines

• Grammar and language refinement

Strictly prohibited:

• AI-generated core analysis

• AI-driven data interpretation

• Full AI-written chapters or conclusions

Mandatory AI Disclosure

If AI tools were used significantly, students must include an AI Disclosure Statement in the Methodology section specifying:

• Tools used

• Purpose and scope of usage

Failure to disclose AI usage constitutes academic misconduct.

6. SUPERVISION & MILESTONE PROCESS

Research at EBS is guided and iterative:

7. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA & GRADING RUBRIC

Evaluation Pillars

Final Grade Formula

Classification

• Distinction (90–100): Exceptional, field-impacting work

• Merit (80–89): High-quality and professionally strong

• Pass (70–79): Meets all academic requirements

• Refer / Resubmit (<70): Major revision required

8. PRELIMINARY COMPLIANCE CHECK (MANDATORY)

Before grading, all submissions must pass:

• Plagiarism threshold (≤ 20%, excluding references)

• Minimum length requirement

• AI Disclosure compliance

Failure to meet these criteria will result in automatic return without grading.

9. SUBMISSION PROTOCOL

• Electronic Submission:
  One PDF file via Student Portal or official EBS email

• Authenticated Hard Copy (Optional):
  For sealed and validated copies for professional use

• Alternative Submission:
  Published books or peer-reviewed articles may replace a thesis with prior written approval from the Dean of Studies

10. CONTACT & OFFICIAL AUTHORITY

For academic or technical inquiries, please contact:

EBS Academic Support Team
Office of Academic & Student Affairs