Sample MPSE-013 Project Report Format

Project Report Format

Introduction

While you are studying the IGNOU MPS (Master of Arts in Political Science) course, MPSE‑013 is the course code for Australia’s Foreign Policy. While you are being evaluated for this subject, you might be asked to submit a project report (or mini‑project). It is imperative that you have an easy-to-understand, well‑structured report format so that you can submit your work professionally and impress your evaluators.

In this article, I provide a sample project report template for MPSE‑013, breakdowns of what is included in each part, writing advice, and a link to download the template. If you are completing a whole project or a shorter task, this article should assist you in creating an orderly, logical, and academically correct document.

Why Having a Good Format is Important

Before we dive into the format itself, here are a few reasons why it is essential to use a standard format:

Readability and clarity: A standard structure makes your reader (supervisor or evaluator) trace your argument and findings more easily.
Professional impression: A properly formatted report shows that you care about academic standards.
Completeness: A format prevents you from omitting key components such as literature review, methodology, or references.
Time saving: After you are familiar with the template, writing is simpler since you only fill content into spaces.
Alignment with university expectations: Your supervisor or IGNOU centre might also have some formatting guidelines; this sample serves as a standard which you can modify.

Sample MPSE‑013 Project Report Format

Here follows a comprehensive, sample outline. Depending on the size of your project, you might condense or expand on some sections.

| Section | Details / What to Include |
Title Page | Project title, your name, enrolment number, course code (MPSE‑013), name of supervisor, study centre, date (month & year)
Certificate / Declaration | A statement signed by you and your supervisor confirming that the work is your own
Acknowledgments | Express thanks to those who guided or assisted
Abstract | A brief summary (≈ 200–300 words) of the goals, scope, approach, major findings, and implications
Table of Contents | List of chapters, sub‑headings with page numbers
List of Abbreviations / Symbols | If abbreviations are used (e.g. “OAU”, “ASEAN”), list them
List of Tables & Figures | If your report contains tables, charts, graphs etc.
Chapter 1: Introduction | Background, context, motivation, problem statement, rationale, research questions or hypotheses, objectives
Chapter 2: Literature Review | Review of previous studies, theoretical background, research gaps
Chapter 3: Significance / Justification | Why this study is important, contribution to knowledge, practical applicability
Chapter 4: Research Design / Methodology | Type of study, sources (primary/secondary), sample selection, data collection techniques and instruments, limitation
Chapter 5: Data Presentation & Analysis | Display data in tables/figures, analyse findings, interpret trends
Chapter 6: Discussion & Findings | Connect findings to literature, respond to research questions, discuss implications
Chapter 7: Conclusions & Recommendations | Compile conclusions, limitations, recommendations for further study, policy or practical recommendations
Chapter 8: Delimitations / Constraints | Limits of your research, what you were unable to do and why
References / Bibliography | All citations listed in APA / MLA or some other accepted format
Appendices | Questionnaires, interview transcripts, raw data tables, maps, consent letters, etc.
Following is a more descriptive overview of what is included in each section.

Title Page

Your title page is your initial impression. It should contain:

Title of your project (brief, descriptive)
Your full name
Enrolment number
Course code: MPSE‑013 (Australia’s Foreign Policy)
Study Centre / Regional Centre
Supervisor’s name
Date of submission (month & year)
Keep it clean and cantered. Refrain from clutter.

Certificate / Declaration

A formal declaration such as:

I, [Your Name], do hereby certify that the project titled ‘[Title]’ submitted to IGNOU in partial fulfillment of the requirements for MPSE‑013 is my original work and has not been submitted previously for any degree / diploma / certificate. All sources used are properly acknowledged.”

Put your signature, date, and the endorsement of your supervisor.

Acknowledgments

Here you can express gratitude to those that have assisted you: the guide, librarians, interview respondents, friends, family etc. Make it sincere and concise (one page maximum).

Abstract

This is a brief summary of your entire project. In ~200–300 words, summarize:

The problem of research
Objectives
Methodology
Main findings
Conclusions / recommendations
It ought to be capable of informing a reader about what to expect, even if they don’t read the whole report.

Table of Contents, Lists of Abbreviations / Figures / Tables

Make sure that all chapter headings and sub-headings are included with proper page numbers. In addition, if abbreviations were used, include full forms. For tables and figures, list them along with captions and page numbers.

Chapter 1: Introduction

This is where you stage the setting:

Background / Context: What is the historical, political, or conceptual context of Australia’s foreign policy?
Problem Statement / Research Gap: What gap are you attempting to fill? Why does it matter?
Purpose / Rationale: Why this study?
Research Questions / Hypotheses: E.g. How has Australia’s foreign policy evolved vis‑à‑vis Asia?
Objectives of the Study: Enumerate 3–5 objectives (general + specific)
Scope / Limitation (brief mention)

Outline of Chapters: A brief roadmap

Chapter 2: Literature Review

Read current research on Australian foreign policy, regional relations, bilateral relations, diplomacy, trade, security, etc. You should:

Categorize literature by thematic areas
Critically examine strengths / weaknesses in previous work
Find gaps that your project will address
Draw your theoretical framework or conceptual lens (e.g. realism, liberalism)
Refer to recent articles, books, journal papers.

Chapter 3: Significance / Justification

Here you make the case why your study matters:

Academic contribution (filling a gap)
Relevance to policy (for governments and diplomats)
Pragmatic utility (trade, security, foreign relations)
Timeliness (why now?)

Chapter 4: Research Design / Methodology

This is the “how” of your project. Include:

Type of Study: Qualitative / Quantitative / Mixed
Sources: Primary (interviews, field survey) and Secondary (books, articles, government documents)
Sample / Sampling: Size, selection criteria
Data Collection Tools / Techniques: Questionnaire, interview guide, archival sources
Data Analysis: Content analysis, coding, thematic analysis, statistical analysis
Limitations / Challenges: What were your constraints

Be honest and straightforward — methodology is critically judged.

Chapter 5: Data Presentation & Analysis

Display your gathered data clearly:

Use tables, charts, graphs to indicate numbers/trends
Offer descriptive analysis
Interpret results: what do the numbers indicate?
Do not dump data — incorporate interpretation into presentation
E.g. You might show trade figures of Australia with Asia over the past two decades, then interpret trends vis‑à‑vis policy changes.

Chapter 6: Discussion & Findings

Go deeper:

Relate your results back to research questions
Compare with what past studies reported
Highlight new insights
Discuss unexpected results
Explain causality, factors influencing outcomes
This is where you show your analytical skill.

Chapter 7: Conclusions & Recommendations

Wrap up your study:

Summarize major findings
Answer research questions
Discuss limitations more fully
Offer recommendations (for policymakers, scholars)

Propose future research directions

Chapter 8: Delimitations / Constraints

Be open about what your project couldn’t cover:

Time constraints
Access to data
Respondent noncooperation

Geographical or topical boundaries

References / Bibliography

List all sources cited, in a consistent style (APA, MLA, Chicago or IGNOU’s recommended style). Ensure:

Alphabetical order
Complete entries (author, year, title, publisher / journal etc.)

Accuracy (no missing pages, URLs, etc.)

Appendices

This is optional but helpful. You can include:

Interview transcripts
Questionnaire forms
Raw data tables
Consent letters / permits
Maps or charts not in main text

Any additional high-detail material

Tips & Best Practices for Writing Your MPSE‑013 Project Report

Here are some practical tips to make your report solid:

Get your supervisor’s approval early — on topic and structure, prior to writing.
Keep to word/page limits — avoid going over.
Be original — do not plagiarise; always refer.
Use simple, clear language — do not use flowery or complicated sentences.
Use headings and subheadings — aids readability and structure.
Consistency of style — font size, spacing (1.5 or double), margins.
Tables and figures — always provide captions and source (if not your own).
Proofread and revise — check for grammar, typos, formatting errors.
Cross-link sections — in discussion, refer back to methodology or literature; in conclusion refer to objectives.

10. Follow university / IGNOU guidelines — your centre may have specific rules about margins, binding, submission format.

How to Adapt This Format for a Shorter Project / Assignment

If your project has limited page length (e.g. 20–30 pages), you may:

Merger chapters (e.g. fold “Significance” into “Introduction”)
Reduce literature review and data presentation
Have fewer appendices
Simplify methodology (secondary data only)
Limit abstract to 100–150 words
But still have logical sequence: introduction, review, method, findings, conclusion, references.

Sample Opening & Excerpts (Illustrative)

Here’s a brief illustrative extract to demonstrate tone and style.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Australia, as a middle power in the Asia-Pacific region, has pursued a dynamic foreign policy shaped by shifting global paradigms, economic imperatives, and regional security challenges. Over the past two decades, issues such as China’s rise, Indo-Pacific strategies, and climate diplomacy have significantly influenced Canberra’s external engagements. In this project, I aim to examine how Australia’s foreign policy has adapted to the evolving regional order, especially towards Southeast Asia and India.
The core research questions are:

How has Australia’s foreign policy responded to regional power changes?

What is the role of economic diplomacy in Canberra’s engagement with India and ASEAN?

The research goals are:
(a) to map the development of Australian foreign policy post-2000; (b) to examine Australia‑India and Australia‑ASEAN diplomatic and economic relations; (c) to evaluate challenges and make suggestions for future policy.
This kind of writing is simple, concise, and explicitly sets out the problem.

Checking University / IGNOU Specific Guidelines

Though the above is a robust general pattern, always cross-check with:

IGNOU’s MPS project / assignment guidelines
Your Study Centre / Supervisor
Any project manual or bulletin
Margins, binding, font, and deadline submission rules
Occasionally, IGNOU might have projects with a specific page length or binding type. Also, MPSE‑013 is usually a theory/assignment subject (Australia’s Foreign Policy) — check if a “project” is allowed under your program scheme (some theory subjects don’t have full research projects). The study centre can advise you.

Downloadable Template

(You can make this a Word / Google Docs template)

Title Page
Certificate / Declaration
Acknowledgments
Abstract
Table of Contents
List of Abbreviations
List of Tables & Figures
Chapter 1 – Introduction
Chapter 2 – Literature Review
Chapter 3 – Significance
Chapter 4 – Methodology
Chapter 5 – Data & Analysis
Chapter 6 – Discussion & Findings
Chapter 7 – Conclusions & Recommendations
Chapter 8 – Delimitations
References / Bibliography
Appendices
You can translate this into your project file, with page numbers, uniform styles, etc.

Concluding Remarks

It may look difficult to write a project report for MPSE‑013, particularly while working on foreign policy matters like Australia’s relations, regional factors, diplomatic issues, etc. Yet, if you have a clear template and systematic writing method, you can generate a neat and scholarly report.

Use the above suggested format, scale it to your project size, refer to your supervisor, adhere to IGNOU’s requirements, and proofread carefully. I can also assist you with writing a filled sample (filled with content) or a Word / Google Docs template file, if you prefer. Shall I create that for you?