The synopsis (also called the protocol) is a short plan of your thesis that goes to your department, the institutional ethics committee and the university for approval. Formats differ slightly between universities and the NBE, so always check your own university's template first, but almost all of them ask for the same core sections.
1. Title
The full title, exactly as you will register it. It should name the condition, the population, what is measured and the setting. Once approved, changing it usually needs fresh approval.
2. Introduction (background)
One to two pages explaining the problem: how common it is, why it matters, and what is not yet known. End with a short paragraph on why your study is needed. Cite recent sources, preferably Indian data where available.
3. Need for the study (rationale)
A few lines on the gap your study fills. "Limited data from our region" or "no study in this population at our level of care" are acceptable reasons for a postgraduate thesis.
4. Research question and hypothesis
The question in one sentence. For comparative or analytical studies, add the null and alternative hypotheses.
5. Aim and objectives
One aim, one primary objective and a few secondary objectives, each measurable. See our guide on writing thesis aims and objectives.
6. Review of literature
A short review of key studies, usually one to three pages in the synopsis (the full review comes later in the thesis). Summarise what earlier studies found, the populations they used and their limitations. Use the citation style your university asks for, commonly Vancouver.
7. Materials and methods
The most important section, and where reviewers look hardest. It should cover:
- Study design: for example, hospital-based prospective observational study.
- Study setting and duration: department, hospital, and data-collection period.
- Study population: inclusion and exclusion criteria, written precisely.
- Sample size: the formula, the values used, their source, and the final number. See our sample size guide.
- Sampling method: consecutive, simple random, and so on.
- Methodology: step by step, what you will do to each participant, which investigations, at what time points, and with which definitions or scores.
- Outcome measures: primary and secondary outcomes, matching your objectives.
8. Statistical analysis
Name the software, how you will describe the data (mean ± SD, median and IQR, percentages), and which test answers each objective: chi-square or Fisher's exact test for categories, t-test or Mann–Whitney for two groups, ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis for more, correlation or regression for relationships. State the significance level, usually p < 0.05.
9. Ethical considerations
Ethics committee approval, written informed consent in the patient's language, confidentiality, and for interventional studies, CTRI registration before the first patient is enrolled.
10. Timeline (work plan)
A simple table or Gantt chart: literature review, ethics approval, data collection, analysis, writing and submission. Data collection usually takes the largest share.
11. References
Usually 15–30 references for a synopsis, in your university's style. Every reference should be cited in the text.
12. Annexures
The case record form (proforma), patient information sheet and consent form, and any scoring systems or questionnaires you will use.
Mistakes that get synopses returned
- Objectives that don't match the title or the methods.
- Sample size missing, or calculated without a source for the values used.
- Vague inclusion or exclusion criteria, such as "patients with disease X".
- Statistical tests not linked to the objectives.
- A consent form only in English for a population that doesn't read English.
See a complete example
Our sample Full Plan shows a complete synopsis in this format for an MD General Medicine title, with the sample size worked out, definitions, statistics and timeline. You can generate the same for any title on the site with Full Plan. Browse titles on the all specialities page.