Why does my thesis abstract at University of Sharjah need to follow such a strict word limit?
University-specific thesis requirements include strict abstract formatting rules and committee expectations that affect how the thesis is prepared and defended.
University of Sharjah's Official Abstract Word Limit
University of Sharjah's official thesis handbook sets a precise abstract limit: 300 words for a Master's thesis and 350 words for a PhD dissertation, with any term or numeral surrounded by spaces counted as a full word toward that limit.
Restrictions on Abstract Content
The handbook also explicitly states that graphs, mathematical formulas, diagrams, charts, tables, or illustrations cannot appear within the abstract itself, a detail many students miss when trying to summarize a data-heavy study concisely.
Why Abstract Formatting Matters
An abstract that runs over this limit or includes a figure risks a formatting rejection before a single examiner has even evaluated the actual research.
American University of Sharjah's Thesis Committee Structure
At American University of Sharjah, the committee structure carries its own specific rule: a Master's thesis must be defended before a review committee consisting of the principal advisor plus two additional faculty members, and one of those two must be selected from outside the student's own program.
Writing for an External Committee Member
A thesis written without anticipating questions from a committee member unfamiliar with the program's internal assumptions can read as less accessible than it should, since that outside examiner won't share the same background context as the rest of the committee.