HND and ND Project Format in Nigeria: Chapters, Title Page and Sample

Quick summary:

Most Nigerian polytechnics use the same five-chapter project format for HND and ND: Introduction, Literature Review, Research Methodology (or System Analysis and Design), Data Presentation and Analysis (or System Implementation and Testing), and Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations. Before Chapter One come the title page, certification, dedication, acknowledgements, abstract and table of contents. The title page names your polytechnic, school, department and the award, for example "in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Computer Science". ND projects follow the same order but are usually shorter.

Most project guides online are written for university students. Polytechnic projects are close to them, but not the same. Your title page uses different wording, many departments are organised into schools or institutes rather than faculties, and technology departments often expect a system or construction project instead of a questionnaire study.

This guide shows the format most Nigerian polytechnics use for HND and ND projects, with a sample title page. Your department's project guide always comes first, so use this as a checklist and confirm the details with your supervisor.

The standard order of an HND or ND project

Preliminary pages (numbered i, ii, iii)

1. Title page
2. Certification (signed by your supervisor, head of department and sometimes the external examiner)
3. Dedication
4. Acknowledgements
5. Abstract
6. Table of contents
7. List of tables and list of figures (if you have them)

Some polytechnics also ask for a declaration page. See project certification, approval and declaration pages and how to make a table of contents in Word.

Main chapters (numbered 1, 2, 3)

After Chapter Five come the References and Appendices (your questionnaire, source code listing, circuit diagrams or bill of materials).

What goes in each chapter

Chapter One: Introduction

Usually: background of the study, statement of the problem, aim and objectives, research questions (and hypotheses, for research projects), significance of the study, scope and limitations, and definition of terms.

For a system project, the objectives describe what the system will do, for example "to design a web-based platform that allocates hostel spaces automatically". See how to write Chapter One and scope and limitations of the study.

Chapter Two: Literature Review

The conceptual review, theoretical framework (common in Business, Mass Communication and OTM projects) and a review of related studies. System projects also review existing systems and their weaknesses, which your system will fix. See how to write Chapter Two.

Chapter Three

Research projects: research design, population, sample size and sampling technique, instrument, validity and reliability, and method of data analysis. See how to calculate sample size.

System projects: analysis of the existing system, the proposed system, system design (flowcharts, use case and ER diagrams, database design, input and output design) and the tools you used. Engineering construction projects include the circuit design, component selection and calculations. See how to write Chapter Three.

Chapter Four

Research projects: your tables, analysis and discussion of findings. System projects: implementation, screenshots of the system, testing and results. See how to write Chapter Four.

Chapter Five

A summary of what you did and found, your conclusion, and recommendations. Many departments also ask for suggestions for further studies. See how to write Chapter Five.

The polytechnic title page

The title page is where polytechnic projects differ most from university projects. It names the polytechnic, the school or institute, the department, and the exact award.

Here is a sample HND title page exported from the MonoEd FYP Generator. The student and supervisor names are examples.

Notice:

• School, institute or college, not faculty. Most polytechnics group departments into schools (for example "School of Business Studies") or institutes. Use your polytechnic's exact name.
• The award is written out in full: "Higher National Diploma (HND) in Computer Science" or "National Diploma (ND) in Business Administration and Management".
• "A project work submitted to the Department of..." is the common wording. Some departments say "A project submitted" or "A research project submitted". Use your department's version.
• Month and year of submission at the bottom.

For an ND project, the statement reads:

A project work submitted to the Department of [Department], School of [School], [Polytechnic], in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the National Diploma (ND) in [Course].

More samples for ND, HND, BSc, B.Eng. and B.Tech. are in our project cover page and title page guide.

How HND and ND projects differ

These are typical ranges, not rules. Your department sets the exact length and requirements.

Formatting most polytechnics expect

• Times New Roman, 12pt, 1.5 or double line spacing (check your guide)
• Black text, A4 paper, margins of about 1 inch (wider on the binding side)
• Chapter titles in capitals, centred
• Preliminary pages in Roman numerals, Chapter One starting at 1
• APA referencing in most Business, Social Science and OTM departments; IEEE in many Engineering and Computer Science departments

See the full final year project format guide for more detail.

Common mistakes in polytechnic projects

• Writing "Faculty of" when your polytechnic uses "School of". Copy the exact name from your department's documents.
• Writing "HND" without the course. The award is "Higher National Diploma (HND) in [Course]".
• Copying a university project's structure. System and construction projects need design, implementation and testing chapters, not only a questionnaire study.
• A topic too big for the time. HND projects are usually done in one or two semesters. Choose a problem you can finish.
• No screenshots or test results for a system project. Chapter Four must show the system working.

Write your HND or ND project with MonoEd

The MonoEd FYP Generator supports ND and HND projects as well as degrees. Choose ND or HND, enter your polytechnic, school and department, and it drafts Chapters 1 to 5 from real published sources, with the polytechnic title page shown above. Paste your supervisor's outline and the chapters follow your department's headings. Chapters 1 and 2 of your first project are free.

Frequently asked questions

How many chapters are in an HND project?

Most HND projects have five chapters: Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology (or System Analysis and Design), Results (or Implementation and Testing), and Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations.

Is the ND project format the same as HND?

Yes, in most polytechnics the order is the same. ND projects are usually shorter, with a smaller scope and a shorter literature review.

Should I write "School of" or "Faculty of" on my polytechnic title page?

Use whatever your polytechnic uses. Most polytechnics say "School of", and some use "Institute of" or "College of".

How do I write the HND award on my title page?

Write it in full: "in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Higher National Diploma (HND) in [Course]".

How many pages should an HND project be?

It depends on your department, but HND projects are often 50 to 80 pages and ND projects 30 to 50 pages, not counting appendices.

Can I do a system project instead of a questionnaire project?

In Computer Science, Engineering and some Science departments, a system or construction project is common and often expected. In Business, OTM and Mass Communication, most projects are research (questionnaire or case study) projects. Ask your supervisor.