Manual for Projects

Standards for Selection Examination

Candidates for the master’s degree and doctorate must prepare a research project which will be analyzed by the Selection Commission of the Concentration Area and will be the main theme of the interview with the candidate, playing a decisive role in the selective process. The project must describe the research object clearly, portray the feasibility of its execution, as well as show prior experience of the candidate in dealing with the theme that (s)he intends to investigate.

It is advisable that the project of the candidates for the master’s degree does not exceed 10 pages. For doctorate projects, the recommended size is approximately 30 pages. The projects must be keyed in space 1.5 and cover the following items:

1) Project Theme

The theme must be broad enough so as not to reduce the research possibilities, but sufficiently limited so that the research object can become apparent for the members of the Selection Commission. It is necessary to indicate the sources to be studied and confirm the feasibility of the research.

2) Research objectives

When listing the objectives of his/her research the candidate must explain his/her inquiries regarding the object to be studied. The objectives can also be formulated through guiding questions. They must not be of a too general nature.

It is important to have a guiding line of interest right at the start.

3) Prior knowledge regarding the project

3.1 MASTER’S DEGREE

At the moment of entrance it is not expected that the candidate for the master’s degree masters all the research bibliography and history of the theme. But it is necessary to submit to Selection Commission a brief description of the research object and possible results to be achieved. Prior experience with field research concerning the object or, what is common in religious studies, personal involvement with the phenomenon can also be included.

3.2 DOCTORATE

The candidate for the doctorate must show knowledge of the research history of the theme proposed and explain the originality of the research that (s)he intends to develop. Besides displaying familiarity with the current state of the research regarding the object or question, the candidate must state clearly the problem to be investigated and indicate the possible contribution of the results sought for the advance of knowledge in the specific area.

4) Methodology to be employed

Which are the methodological tools that the candidate intends to use to study the object proposed? At this point it is important to be in tune with the proposals of the Concentration Area. A good option is to make use of the preguidance.

5) Research line

It is essential that the projects proposed by the candidates show their adaptation to the research lines of the respective Concentration Area.

6) Bibliography

The bibliography must necessarily contain the sources used in the preparation of the project. In the case of using primary sources it is necessary to list the files in which they are to be found as well as explain the conditions of accessing them.

The Research Project concerns a preliminary proposal of dissertation/thesis, and must reveal the candidate’s interest for a specific theme, related to one of the research lines. The project must include:

• Title
• Author’s name
• Summary of 5 lines
• Introduction
• Definition of the problem and the objectives of the research
• Justification of theme chosen
• Demonstration of its importance
• Review of Literature
• Methodological procedure and
• Basic bibliography for the investigation of the theme selected.
• Concentration Area: as above 
• Research Lines: as above

The project must be keyed in space 1.5 (one and a half) and font 12. It is advisable that the projects of the candidates for the master’s degree do not exceed 10 (ten) pages. For projects for the doctorate, the recommended size is approximately 30 pages, including the bibliography.