Universitas Islam Sultan AgungS1 ILMU HUKUMFAKULTAS HUKUMUNISSULA

ACADEMIC

A Quality Education System

The Undergraduate Programme in Legal Studies is committed to delivering quality legal education that stays relevant to the times and grounded in Islamic values, producing graduates who are excellent and hold high integrity.

Thesis

The thesis (skripsi) is a scholarly work presenting the results of legal research — library-based or field-based — that examines a problem in the field of law in order to find a solution grounded in prevailing legal norms, principles, and regulations. Writing it is the compulsory final assignment of the Undergraduate Programme in Legal Studies and one of the requirements for the Sarjana Hukum (S.H.) degree; the student is responsible for the originality of the work, the accuracy of the data, the use of scholarly sources, and conducting the research in line with academic ethics.

Thesis research takes two forms: library research, which examines legal materials and secondary data scientifically and systematically (supported by field data where needed), and field (socio-legal/empirical) research, which relies on primary data from observation, interviews, or other techniques without setting library data aside. The full provisions — requirements, procedure, supervision, manuscript format, and the defence — are summarised below from the official guidebook.

Download the Thesis Writing Guidebook 2026 (PDF)Forms & documents

Thesis writing workflow10

Ten steps from title submission to final submission, as set out in the 2026 workflow poster. Each step names the form or document it uses — download it directly from the step.

  1. 1

    Submission of thesis title proposal

    The student fills in the application form with three alternative titles, signed and acknowledged by the academic advisor, attaching the latest transcript from SIM UNISSULA and a copy of the latest KRS, then submits it to the academic administration.

    Thesis Proposal Application Form
  2. 2

    Verification and approval of the title

    Vice Dean I checks the student's academic record; the Head of Programme screens the title. An approved title is issued in the Thesis Writing Approval; a rejected one must be replaced.

    Thesis Proposal Application Form
  3. 3

    Appointment of the supervisor

    The Programme Secretary assigns the supervisor with the Head's approval according to field of expertise (at least Asisten Ahli with a Master's/Doctorate); a Supervisor Appointment Letter is issued and the Head requests the supervisor's decree from the Dean. The document is scanned and sent to academic staff, the supervisor, and the archive.

    Thesis Proposal Application Form
  4. 4

    Preparation and approval of the proposal

    The proposal contains the background, research questions, objectives, significance, terminology, research method, schedule, and outline; the front matter has the cover, supervisor approval, and table of contents. It is approved and signed by the supervisor.

    Thesis Writing Guidebook 2026
  5. 5

    Documented supervision process

    The supervision log book must be brought to every session (in person or online): date, topic, revision notes, duration, and both parties' initials are recorded; the ten stages are initialled on the stage record sheet. The summary of frequency and duration serves as quality-assurance evidence.

    Thesis Supervision Log Book 2026
  6. 6

    Research permit and data collection

    The Programme issues a Research Cover Letter signed by the Head; the student submits a Research Permission Request to the host institution's leadership, attaching that letter. Research (data collection, interviews, observation, document study) is carried out respecting academic ethics and the institution's data confidentiality.

    Research Permission Request Form
  7. 7

    Writing of the thesis manuscript

    Chapter I Introduction – Chapter II Literature Review (with a compulsory Islamic-law-perspective sub-chapter) – Chapter III Findings and Discussion – Chapter IV Closing; at least 60 pages proportioned 25%/30%/40%/5%; a one-page abstract of 250–260 words in three paragraphs, in Indonesian and English.

    Thesis Writing Guidebook 2026
  8. 8

    Fulfilment of examination requirements

    140 credits with a GPA of at least 2.50 and no C grade; TOEFL at least 450; the manuscript passes Turnitin with at most 24.99% similarity; the defence application form is completed with the completion-of-supervision statement attached; three unbound copies in folio folders; the supervision fee is settled.

    Thesis Supervision Log Book 2026
  9. 9

    Thesis examination (viva voce)

    The panel consists of the chair, the supervisor, and one member; examiners receive the manuscript at least three days beforehand. The defence is held before the full panel, orally, in an open session of at most 60 minutes; grading covers the process, manuscript, presentation, and answers, weighted A = 4, AB = 3.5, B = 3, BC = 2.5, C = 2.

    Thesis Writing Guidebook 2026
  10. 10

    Post-examination revision and final submission

    Revisions are resubmitted to the Faculty for the examiners' review within one week; the final manuscript is handed to the supervisor electronically and forwarded to the Faculty library, complete with the stamped originality statement and publication consent. The grade is released once everything is complete.

    Thesis Writing Guidebook 2026

Forms & documents6

Official forms and documents for every stage of the thesis, grouped by stage. All are also available from the academic administration office.

Workflow

Thesis Writing Workflow Poster 2026

One bilingual page: the ten steps above with the requirements, technical rules, cover colours, and the reference document for each step — print-friendly.

Download PDF

Guidebook

Thesis Writing Guidebook 2026

2026 edition — a refinement of the previous guide; contains every provision on this page plus 15 appendices of sample forms and pages.

Download PDF

Title submission

Thesis Proposal Application Form

Filled in by the student, acknowledged by the academic advisor, with the latest transcript and a copy of the KRS; the second page is the Head of Programme's approval sheet, which once approved is scanned and sent to academic staff, the supervisor, and the archive.

Download PDF

Supervision

Thesis Supervision Log Book 2026

To be brought to every supervision session (bilingual Indonesian–English): student and supervisor identity, notes of each meeting, both parties' initials, and a summary of frequency and duration — required when applying for the defence and used as accreditation evidence.

Download PDF

Field research

Research Permission Request Form

Filled in by the student and addressed to the head of the institution where the research takes place (data collection, interviews, observation, document study), attaching the Programme's research cover letter.

Download PDF

Student Research Cover Letter

Sample of the letter issued by the Head of Programme to the host institution introducing the researching student. The actual letter is requested from the academic administration office, attaching the research permission form.

Download PDF

Forms are filled in by the student unless stated otherwise; the research cover letter is issued by the Study Programme on request.

Complete provisions11

1. Requirements to propose a thesis

  1. 1.1Registered as an active student.
  2. 1.2Has completed 125 credits with a GPA of at least 2.50 and no D grade (see the latest FH UNISSULA Academic Guidebook).
  3. 1.3Has passed the Legal Research Methods course.
  4. 1.4Has a TOEFL score of at least 450, or is currently sitting the TOEFL test.
  5. 1.5Lists the Thesis course on the Study Plan Card (KRS).
  6. 1.6Fills in the thesis proposal application form (Appendix 1 of the guidebook).

2. Title submission procedure

  1. 2.1The student submits the chosen title on the form provided by the academic administration office to the Head of the Undergraduate Programme.
  2. 2.2The title must match the specialisation programme the student has followed.
  3. 2.3The form, signed by the student and acknowledged by the academic advisor, is handed to the academic administration with the latest transcript (DKN) from SIM UNISSULA and a copy of the latest KRS.
  4. 2.4The Head of Programme screens the title and, if approved, appoints the supervisor and requests the supervisor's decree from the Dean.
  5. 2.5A student whose title is not approved must submit a new one.

3. Supervision

  1. 3.1Each student is guided by one supervising lecturer in accordance with the Thesis Writing Guidebook.
  2. 3.2The supervisor is a lecturer holding at least the rank of Assistant Professor (Asisten Ahli) with a Master's or Doctoral degree.
  3. 3.3The supervisor acts under the decision of the Head of the Undergraduate Programme in Legal Studies.
  4. 3.4During supervision the student must bring the Supervision Log Book, in which the supervisor records the required revisions.

4. Time limit

  1. 4.1The thesis must be completed within at most six months from the approval of the title.
  2. 4.2If unfinished, the period may be extended by at most six months; a student granted an extension must re-enter the Thesis course in the KRS.

5. Structure of the thesis proposal

  1. 5.1Front matter: cover page (title, purpose, UNISSULA emblem, name and student number, institution, year), supervisor approval page, and table of contents.
  2. 5.2Body: background, research questions, objectives ("to find out …"), significance (theoretical and practical), terminology, research method, research schedule, and outline of chapters.
  3. 5.3The background starts from a philosophical, juridical, and sociological gap between das Sollen (the law as it should be) and das Sein (reality in society), supported by facts.
  4. 5.4The research method covers: approach (normative-juridical or socio-legal), research specification (descriptive, exploratory, or explanatory), data types and sources (primary/secondary), data collection (literature study; interviews, observation, documentation), research site and subjects (socio-legal approach only), and data analysis.
  5. 5.5Back matter: a provisional bibliography in alphabetical order (Qur'an–Hadith, books, legislation, journals and scholarly works, others) plus lists of figures, charts, tables, graphs, and appendices where applicable.

6. Structure of the thesis

  1. 6.1Front matter: cover, title page, supervisor approval, ratification (supervisor, examiners, defence date), motto and dedication, stamped originality statement, stamped publication consent, preface (max. two pages), table of contents, lists of tables/charts/graphs/figures/appendices, and abstract.
  2. 6.2The abstract is one page of 250–260 words, single-spaced, in three paragraphs (background and aims; method; findings answering the research questions), ending with italicised keywords, in Indonesian and English.
  3. 6.3Body: Chapter I Introduction, Chapter II Literature Review, Chapter III Findings and Discussion, Chapter IV Closing (conclusions and recommendations). The background is expanded and the method sharpened from the proposal; the research schedule is removed.
  4. 6.4The Literature Review must include a dedicated sub-chapter on the Islamic law perspective related to the thesis theme.
  5. 6.5Conclusions answer the research questions briefly and precisely; recommendations are addressed to the relevant parties based on the findings.
  6. 6.6Back matter: bibliography and appendices.

7. Writing and formatting rules

  1. 7.180 g/m² paper, single-sided, 21 × 28.5 cm, at least 60 pages, proportioned Chapter I 25%, Chapter II 30%, Chapter III 40%, Chapter IV 5%.
  2. 7.2Buffalo-paper cover (reinforced with card and laminated) coloured by specialisation: Civil Law blue, Criminal Law red, International Law white, Constitutional Law orange, Administrative Law yellow.
  3. 7.3Typed in Times New Roman 12, black ink (Microsoft Word or similar); double-spaced — abstract, direct quotations longer than five lines, footnotes, and bibliography single-spaced (double between bibliography entries); margins top 4 cm, bottom 3 cm, left 4 cm, right 3 cm.
  4. 7.4Numbering: front matter in lower-case Roman numerals centred at the bottom; body and back matter in Arabic numerals — first page of each chapter centred at the bottom, following pages top right; chapters in capital Roman numerals (BAB I, BAB II, …); sub-chapters in capital letters; nesting order A. 1. a. 1) a) (1) (a) i.
  5. 7.5Standard Indonesian; foreign terms in italics; new paragraphs indented six spaces and at least three sentences long; passive voice without first/second person ("I" in the preface becomes "the author"); academic titles omitted in footnotes and bibliography; conjunctions never open a sentence; punctuation attached to the preceding word.
  6. 7.6The words Table, Chart, Graph, and Figure are capitalised only on the first letter, centred, numbered in Arabic numerals, with the source stated beneath.

8. Citations, quotations, and bibliography

  1. 8.1Citations use footnotes numbered continuously in Arabic numerals from the first to the last page, single-spaced.
  2. 8.2Footnote formats — book: author, year, title (italic), publisher, city, page; journal: author, year, title, journal name (italic), volume, number, page; theses, magazines/newspapers, and websites (with access date and time) follow the guidebook examples.
  3. 8.3Footnote abbreviations: ibid. (same source consecutively), op. cit. (a source already cited in full but interrupted by another), and loc. cit. (same source and page, interrupted by another).
  4. 8.4Quotations must match the original; quotations longer than five lines are single-spaced, indented, without quotation marks; shorter ones run into the text with quotation marks; every quotation must be cited.
  5. 8.5The bibliography is alphabetical by family/last name without titles, with italicised titles, in the order: Qur'an and Hadith, books, legislation (including amendments), journals and scholarly works, others (including websites: title and link).

9. Requirements for the thesis defence

  1. 9.1Registered as an active student with the Thesis course on the KRS.
  2. 9.2Has completed 140 credits with a GPA of at least 2.50 and no C grade (see the latest Academic Guidebook).
  3. 9.3Has passed TOEFL with a score of 450.
  4. 9.4The manuscript passes the Turnitin plagiarism check with at most 24.99% similarity.
  5. 9.5Fills in the defence application form and submits three unbound copies of the supervisor-approved manuscript in folio folders to the academic administration.
  6. 9.6Submits a defence request letter to the Head of Programme, attaching the supervisor's completion-of-supervision statement (Appendix 3), and settles the thesis supervision fee.
  7. 9.7The Head of Programme sets the defence schedule and venue (announced on the notice board and/or electronically) and appoints a panel of three lecturers: chair, supervisor, and member.
  8. 9.8The defence is held before the full panel and conducted orally.

10. Conduct of the defence and grading

  1. 10.1The panel consists of the chair, the supervisor (also a member), and one member; the manuscript reaches the examiners at least three days before the defence.
  2. 10.2The defence is a comprehensive examination of the thesis in an open session according to the Faculty schedule, lasting at most 60 minutes.
  3. 10.3If an examiner is unavailable, with the Head of Programme's permission that examiner may hold a separate examination.
  4. 10.4The final grade combines the writing process, the manuscript, and the presentation and answers, decided by deliberation of the examiners.
  5. 10.5The result is pass or fail; passing grades are lettered A = 4, AB = 3.5, B = 3, BC = 2.5, C = 2.
  6. 10.6If post-defence revisions are required, the grade is released after the student submits the revised thesis to the Faculty for the examiners' review within one week.

11. Submission of the final manuscript

  1. 11.1The defended thesis, revised as advised by the examiners, is submitted on CD or another agreed electronic form to the supervisor.
  2. 11.2A CD/electronic copy is also submitted to the Faculty library administration.

Source: Buku Pedoman Penulisan Skripsi 2026, Faculty of Law UNISSULA (a refinement of the previous guide), and the 2026 Thesis Writing Workflow poster — the complete guidebook with 15 appendices is available from the download button above. Credit, GPA, TOEFL, and similarity thresholds follow the latest Academic Guidebook.