NOUN Project Format & Guidelines 2026: Chapters, Cover Page and Samples

If you are starting your final-year project at the National Open University of Nigeria, one of the first things you will probably want to know is the correct NOUN project format.

The confusing part is that there is not always one document that perfectly covers every programme. A Public Health student, for example, may receive slightly different instructions from a Business Administration, Computer Science, Education or Mass Communication student.

That is why the safest approach is this:

Start with the general research project structure, then follow any specific format given by your department, supervisor or Study Centre.

This guide walks you through the preliminary pages, Chapters One to Five, cover page, proposal, formatting, referencing, topic approval and submission process. Where NOUN has published faculty-specific guidance, we also use it to show you what the university expects while clearly pointing out where your own department may differ.

NOUN Project Format: A Quick Summary

For many undergraduate research projects, the structure will look broadly like this:

The exact names of some headings can vary by faculty and discipline.

For example, an official NOUN Faculty of Education manual uses Results for Chapter Four and Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendations for Chapter Five. Other departments may use headings such as Data Presentation and Analysis or Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations.

So if your supervisor gives you an approved departmental template, use that version.

What Formatting Does NOUN Use for Projects?

NOUN has published official project guidance that gives us a useful baseline.

The Faculty of Education research manual specifies:

These are documented requirements for the Faculty of Education rather than proof that every NOUN programme uses exactly the same specifications.

If your department gives you a different instruction, especially for referencing style, binding, spacing or preliminary pages, follow the department's version.

Preliminary Pages of a NOUN Project

The preliminary pages come before Chapter One.

A typical NOUN research project may contain:

1. Title page
2. Declaration
3. Certification
4. Dedication
5. Acknowledgements
6. Table of Contents
7. List of Tables
8. List of Figures, where applicable
9. Abstract

This sequence is also documented in NOUN's Faculty of Education project manual.

Your programme may add, remove or rearrange some pages.

NOUN Project Cover Page Sample

Your cover or title page should immediately show what the research is about and who submitted it.

A simple undergraduate format can look like this:

TITLE OF YOUR RESEARCH PROJECT

BY

YOUR FULL NAME
MATRIC NUMBER

A PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF [DEPARTMENT NAME]
FACULTY OF [FACULTY NAME]

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE AWARD OF [YOUR DEGREE]

NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

MONTH, YEAR

Replace every placeholder with the exact wording used by your programme.

For example, do not copy a B.Ed title page if you are studying Public Health, Accounting or Computer Science.

If your department gives you an official cover-page template, use that instead.

Declaration Page

The declaration tells the university that the project represents your own research and that materials taken from other sources have been acknowledged.

A simple format is:

DECLARATION

I, [FULL NAME], declare that this research project titled "[PROJECT TITLE]" is my original work carried out in the Department of [DEPARTMENT], National Open University of Nigeria, under the supervision of [SUPERVISOR'S NAME].

All sources used in the study have been appropriately acknowledged.

Student's Signature: __________

Date: __________

Your programme may already provide approved wording, so check before final formatting.

Certification Page

The certification page confirms that the project has gone through the required supervision and approval process.

It may contain spaces for signatures from people such as your:

• project supervisor
• Head of Department
• Study Centre official
• Dean or other relevant academic officers

The exact signatories can vary, so avoid copying a certification page from another department without checking yours.

Dedication

The dedication is usually very short.

You may dedicate your project to your parents, family, mentor or someone important to you.

One or two sentences are normally enough.

Acknowledgements

The acknowledgement section allows you to recognise people who supported the research.

Students commonly acknowledge their supervisor, lecturers, respondents or organisations involved in the research, then family and friends who provided meaningful support.

Keep it sincere and reasonably brief.

Abstract

The abstract is a short summary of the whole project.

A good abstract normally answers these questions:

• What did you study?
• Why was the study necessary?
• What method did you use?
• Who or what did you study?
• What were the major findings?
• What did you conclude or recommend?

A simple structure could be:

This study examined [research problem] among [population] in [location]. The study sought to determine [main objectives]. A [research design] was adopted, and data were collected from [sample] using [instrument]. The data were analysed using [method]. Findings showed that [major finding]. The study concluded that [conclusion] and recommended that [main recommendation].

Write the abstract after you have completed the main study so that you are summarising what you actually did.

Chapter One: Introduction

Chapter One introduces your research and explains the problem you want to investigate.

A common structure is:

1.1 Background to the Study

Start with the broader issue and gradually narrow the discussion down to your specific research problem.

A good background helps the reader understand what is happening, what previous research says and why the issue deserves further study.

Avoid filling the section with dictionary definitions.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

This is where you clearly explain the problem your research is trying to address.

A strong problem statement should make it clear:

• what the problem is
• who or what it affects
• what is already known
• what is still missing
• why your study is necessary

1.3 Aim or Purpose of the Study

State the overall goal of the research.

For example:

The purpose of this study is to examine the factors influencing the adoption of online learning platforms among undergraduate students.

1.4 Specific Objectives

Break the main purpose into smaller things that your research will investigate.

For example:

1. Determine the level of use of online learning platforms.
2. Identify factors affecting their use.
3. Examine the relationship between internet accessibility and platform usage.

Your objectives should match your project title and research problem.

1.5 Research Questions

Turn your objectives into questions the research can answer.

For example:

What factors influence students' use of online learning platforms?

Every major research question should connect to an objective.

1.6 Research Hypotheses

Not every undergraduate project needs hypotheses.

They are normally used when the study requires statistical testing of relationships or differences.

If your approved research does not require hypotheses, do not add them simply because you saw them in another student's project.

1.7 Significance of the Study

Explain who may benefit from the research and how.

You might discuss students, organisations, policymakers, lecturers, communities or future researchers depending on your topic.

Be specific instead of saying that "the study will benefit society."

1.8 Scope of the Study

Define what your research covers.

This may include:

• geographical location
• population
• variables
• subject area
• period covered

The scope helps prevent the project from becoming too broad.

1.9 Operational Definition of Terms

Define important terms according to how they are used in your research.

This is different from copying dictionary definitions.

If you use a term such as "academic performance," explain exactly what it means or how it is measured in your study.

Chapter Two: Review of Related Literature

Chapter Two examines what theories, concepts and previous studies already say about your research topic.

A typical structure includes:

Conceptual Review

Explain the major concepts related to the topic.

You can organise this section into subheadings based on your main variables or themes.

Theoretical Framework

Discuss the theory or theories that help explain your research problem.

Do not simply describe the theory.

Explain why it is relevant to your study.

Empirical Review

Review previous studies that are closely related to your research.

For each important study, you may consider:

• what the researchers investigated
• their population or sample
• their research method
• how they collected data
• what they found

More importantly, compare the studies rather than writing disconnected summaries.

Research Gap or Appraisal of Literature

Bring the review together and explain what previous research has not adequately answered.

That gap may relate to a different population, location, variable, research method, time period or contradictory findings.

This helps show why your own project is necessary.

Chapter Three: Methodology

Chapter Three explains exactly how you carried out or plan to carry out the research.

A common structure includes:

3.1 Research Design

State the research design and explain why it is appropriate for the study.

Examples include survey, experimental, correlational, case study and qualitative designs.

3.2 Population of the Study

Identify the entire group your research focuses on.

For example:

The population of the study consisted of all final-year students in...

Where possible, state where the population figure came from.

3.3 Sample Size and Sampling Technique

Explain how many people or cases were selected and how they were chosen.

Do not select 100 or 200 respondents simply because another student used that number.

The appropriate sample depends on your population and research method.

3.4 Instrument for Data Collection

Describe how you collected the information needed for the study.

Depending on the research, this could include:

• questionnaire
• interview
• observation
• test
• existing datasets
• documents or records
• laboratory or technical measurements

A questionnaire is not automatically required for every final-year project.

3.5 Validity of the Instrument

Where applicable, explain how you ensured that your instrument actually measures what it is intended to measure.

3.6 Reliability of the Instrument

If reliability testing applies to your research, explain how it was tested and report the result.

3.7 Procedure for Data Collection

Explain what you did when collecting the data.

The reader should be able to understand the process from beginning to end.

3.8 Method of Data Analysis

State how you analysed the data.

Depending on the research, this may involve percentages, frequencies, means, standard deviations, statistical tests, thematic analysis, software analysis or other suitable methods.

The analysis method should match your research questions and the type of data you collected.

Chapter Four: Results, Data Presentation and Analysis

The exact Chapter Four heading can differ by programme.

Some projects use:

Chapter Four: Results

Others may use:

Chapter Four: Data Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation

Whatever heading your programme uses, this is where you present what your research found.

Organise the chapter around your research questions, objectives or hypotheses rather than presenting data randomly.

You may include:

• tables
• charts
• figures
• statistical results
• qualitative themes
• explanation of major findings

If your study contains hypotheses, this is usually where you report the results of the statistical tests.

Do not invent hypotheses simply to make Chapter Four look more academic.

Chapter Five: Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendations

Chapter Five explains what the results mean.

A typical structure may include:

Discussion of Findings

Discuss your major findings and compare them with studies reviewed in Chapter Two.

If your findings agree with previous research, explain the connection.

If they disagree, discuss possible reasons.

Summary of Major Findings

Briefly present the main things discovered by the research.

Conclusion

Draw a conclusion based on your actual findings.

Do not introduce new results here.

Recommendations

Give recommendations that follow logically from what the study found.

Avoid recommendations that are unrelated to your evidence.

Suggestions for Further Research

Mention important questions or areas that future researchers could investigate.

Some postgraduate or programme-specific formats may include additional sections such as contribution to knowledge.

References

Your references contain the sources you cited throughout the project.

APA is widely used in NOUN and is explicitly required in some official NOUN faculty project guidance.

However, students should still confirm the referencing style required by their own department.

Whichever style you use, be consistent.

Do not include sources that never appear in the project simply to make your reference list longer.

👉 Read on: Ultimate Guide to APA 7th and MLA 9th Referencing for Nigerian Final Year Projects

Appendices

Appendices contain supporting materials that do not need to appear inside the main chapters.

Depending on your project, they may include:

• questionnaire
• interview guide
• consent materials
• additional tables
• introduction letter
• technical diagrams
• code or screenshots
• other research instruments

Only include materials that are actually relevant to your research.

NOUN Project Proposal Format

Before writing the full project, you may first be required to submit a proposal.

A typical project proposal explains:

What you want to research, why the research is necessary and how you intend to conduct it.

Depending on your programme, a proposal may contain:

Chapter One
Background, problem, objectives, research questions, significance and scope.

Chapter Two
Relevant literature, theories and previous studies.

Chapter Three
The proposed methodology.

References

Some departments may request a shorter proposal rather than full Chapters One to Three.

Always check the exact proposal requirements provided by your supervisor.

How NOUN Project Topic Approval Works

The approval process is not necessarily identical across every department.

Some official NOUN handbooks document a process where students submit several proposed topics, a supervisor approves one, and the approved topic is then processed through the Study Centre. For example, one NOUN departmental handbook instructs students to submit three topics.

That does not mean every NOUN student must submit exactly three topics.

Your safest approach is to ask your Study Centre or supervisor:

How many project topics do I need to submit, and how should they be submitted?

Once your topic has been approved, avoid disappearing and writing the entire project before showing your supervisor anything.

Send chapters for review as required and keep track of corrections.

What If You Have Not Been Assigned a Project Supervisor?

NOUN's official FAQ says that if you have submitted your proposed project topic but have not been assigned a supervisor, you should contact the appropriate project support at your Study Centre.

If the issue remains unresolved, you can use the university's support system.

NOUN's current PAS3.0 platform also provides a process for project supervisor or facilitator support.

How NOUN Project Submission Works

NOUN currently uses the Projects Administration System, PAS3.0, for final-year projects and other authentic assessments.

The university states that submissions are handled through Study Centres, with undergraduate assessments coordinated academically through the relevant university structures.

Official departmental documentation also shows that projects can pass through supervisor grading, Study Centre processing and external moderation before the final score is processed.

Because submission procedures can change, confirm the current requirements with your Study Centre before you:

• print several copies
• bind the project
• prepare a soft copy
• submit through a particular portal or process

This is especially important because older NOUN manuals may describe physical submission procedures that may not fully reflect the current PAS workflow.

Does Every NOUN Student Defend Their Project?

Not necessarily.

An official NOUN handbook for Computing Sciences, for example, states that student projects are graded by assigned supervisors and externally moderated, while Master's projects and above are subjected to project defence.

That means you should not assume that every undergraduate student in every programme must attend an oral project defence.

Ask your department or Study Centre what applies to your programme.

What If Your NOUN Project Result Is Not Showing?

NOUN's official FAQ advises students with missing project results to first contact their Study Centre regarding the upload.

If the result has already been submitted for upload but still does not appear, the student can raise a ticket through the university's support system.

A project may pass through several stages before appearing on your portal, so first confirm that your Study Centre has received and processed the relevant information.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A correct format helps, but formatting alone does not make a strong research project.

Common problems include:

• copying the format of a student from another faculty without checking your own requirements
• choosing a topic that is too broad
• writing objectives that do not match the research questions
• collecting data before your methodology is approved
• copying another student's sample size
• filling Chapter Two with unrelated studies
• using a questionnaire when the research does not require one
• choosing statistical methods without understanding the data
• adding references that were never cited
• ignoring supervisor corrections
• printing or binding before final approval
• copying another student's findings or data

Your project should be something you understand and can explain.

A Simple Way to Think About Your Final-Year Project

Instead of seeing your project as one huge document, think of it as a chain:

Topic → Problem → Objectives → Research Questions → Literature → Methodology → Data → Results → Discussion → Conclusion

Every stage should connect to the next.

If your topic and problem are clear, your objectives become easier to write.

If the objectives are clear, you know what literature to search for and what data you need.

If your methodology fits the research questions, Chapter Four becomes easier to organise.

And once your results are clear, Chapter Five becomes much easier to discuss.

Need Help Organising Your NOUN Final-Year Project?

If you already have a topic, or you are still trying to turn an idea into a structured research project, MonoEd provides a guided final-year project workflow.

You can work through your topic, research questions, literature, methodology, chapters and references step by step while keeping your supervisor's instructions and corrections at the centre of the process.

Start your final-year project with MonoEd Final Year Project Tool.

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👉 How to Write Chapter One of a Final Year Project in Nigeria (Complete Student Guide)

👉 How to Write Chapter Three (Methodology) of a Final Year Project in Nigeria

👉 How to Write Chapter Four of a Final Year Project in Nigeria (Data Analysis & Results)

👉 What Is the Questionnaire Method of Collecting Data? Types, Examples and Complete Guide

FAQs

What is the correct NOUN project format?

Most research projects contain preliminary pages, the main research chapters, references and appendices. A five-chapter structure is common, but the exact headings and formatting can vary by faculty and department.

How many chapters are in a NOUN project?

Five chapters are common in undergraduate research projects. They typically cover the introduction, literature review, methodology, results or analysis, and discussion/conclusion.

Your programme may use slightly different chapter titles.

What font should I use for my NOUN project?

An official NOUN Faculty of Education manual specifies Times New Roman, size 12. Students in other programmes should confirm whether their department uses the same requirement.

Should a NOUN project use 1.5 or double spacing?

The Faculty of Education manual specifies double spacing. If your own department provides a different current template, follow the departmental instruction.

What referencing style does NOUN use?

APA is used in official NOUN project guidance for some faculties, but you should confirm the style required by your own department before formatting your references.

How many pages should a NOUN project have?

There is no safe universal page range that should be applied to every NOUN programme.

The appropriate length depends on your research topic, programme, methodology and supervisor's requirements.

Does every NOUN project require a questionnaire?

No.

Your data collection method should depend on your research design. Some studies use questionnaires, while others may use interviews, existing datasets, documents, experiments, observations or technical measurements.

How many topics should I submit?

This varies by programme.

Some NOUN departmental guidance asks students to submit three proposed topics before one is approved, but this should not be treated as a universal rule.

Where do I submit my NOUN project?

NOUN's current PAS3.0 system states that final-year project submissions are handled through Study Centres. Confirm the exact process and required files with your Study Centre.

Do undergraduate NOUN students defend their projects?

Not every programme necessarily follows the same process. An official Computing Sciences handbook describes external moderation for student projects and specifically identifies project defence for Master's level and above. Check the requirements for your programme.

What should I do if my project result is not showing?

First contact your Study Centre to confirm that the project result has been submitted for upload. If it has been submitted but still does not appear, NOUN's FAQ advises students to raise a support ticket.