How to write your final year project: chapters 1 to 5
What goes into each chapter of a typical Nigerian undergraduate final year project, from the introduction to the conclusion, and how to work with your supervisor.
Most Nigerian universities use a five chapter structure for undergraduate projects. Your department's guidelines come first, so check them, but this is the usual shape.
Chapter one: Introduction
- Background to the study
- Statement of the problem
- Aim and objectives
- Research questions and, where needed, hypotheses
- Significance of the study
- Scope and limitations
- Definition of terms
Chapter two: Literature review
What others have found on your topic, the ideas or theories your study rests on, and the gap your project fills. Use real, recent sources and cite them in your department's style (often APA).
Chapter three: Methodology
How you did the study: research design, population and sample, how you collected data (questionnaire, interviews, experiments), and how you analysed it.
Chapter four: Results and discussion
Present your findings in tables or charts, analyse them, and discuss what they mean against your research questions and the literature in chapter two.
Chapter five: Summary, conclusion and recommendations
Summarise the study, state what you conclude, and give practical recommendations and suggestions for further study.
Working with your supervisor
- Agree your topic early and write it down.
- Submit one chapter at a time and keep every corrected copy.
- Never use made up sources: supervisors check.