A1: An Article-Based Thesis consists of a collection of scholarly articles that have been published or accepted for publication. It integrates these articles into a coherent framework that includes an introduction, a literature review, and a conclusion that synthesizes the findings.

A2: For a Master’s thesis, at least one article published or accepted for publication is required. Doctoral candidates are expected to have at least two articles published or accepted for publication.

A3: Yes, co-authored papers can be included, provided you have made a significant contribution to the work. You must also obtain and include copyright documentation from the journals and clearly delineate your contributions in an authorship declaration.

A4: Your thesis should adhere to Kuwait University’s formatting guidelines, which include using a readable font, ensuring 1.5 line spacing, and maintaining consistent formatting across all manuscripts. Detailed guidelines can be found on the College of Graduate Studies website.

A5: You must obtain copyright permission from the journal that published your work to include the article in your thesis. This permission should be documented and included in your thesis submission.

A6: The submission process involves preparing your thesis according to the university’s guidelines, including all required documents, and submitting it through the designated online portal. Ensure you have all ethical approvals and copyright documentation in place before submission.

A7: The introduction should provide a comprehensive overview of the research topic, including the objectives, significance, and methodology. The conclusion should synthesize the findings from your articles, discuss their implications, and suggest areas for future research.

A8: To ensure coherence, your thesis should include a narrative that connects the articles around a central theme or research question. The introduction and conclusion play a crucial role in weaving these articles together into a unified scholarly work.

A9: Yes, all research involving human or animal subjects must receive ethical approval prior to commencement. Additionally, you should adhere to ethical guidelines related to data privacy, consent, and publication ethics throughout your research process.

A10: Master’s thesis must include at least 1 accepted/published articles. PhD dissertations must include at least 2 accepted/published articles. You are free to include more manuscripts that haven’t been published yet or are under review. Your thesis/dissertation will be evaluated as a whole in its entirety.

A11: An Article-Based Thesis is evaluated on the quality and impact of the published articles, the student’s contribution to the research, and the ability to integrate the articles into a coherent narrative that addresses a central research theme. The evaluation criteria are similar to those of a traditional thesis but with emphasis on publication quality. Master’s thesis are not sent for review by an external reviewer. They are evaluated internally within the respective academic defense committee.

The promotion committee within a program’s department can provide assistance in confirming whether a specific journal is recognized and accepted for promotion purposes.