Putting together a dissertation is a big challenge that will lead to a big achievement. Whatever your study subject or level, it requires substantial research, careful planning and a lot of effort. While this may not seem easy, it is a huge opportunity to showcase your knowledge, skills and understanding of your field.
In this article, we break down the best practices for writing a dissertation and provide tips to bring you success.
What is a dissertation?
Dissertations are lengthy research papers that are typically the final assignment of a degree programme. Students develop them from their own research, creating a well-structured and insightful piece of academic writing.
Although writing a dissertation can be a challenge, students often find it a rewarding one. It is an opportunity to dig into an area that really interests you and potentially make some exciting discoveries. Without doubt, it will help develop your research skills considerably.
The requirements of a dissertation vary between study destinations, levels and subjects. Notably, your university can decide how long one must be. Required word counts can range from 8,000-15,000 at undergraduate level, and reach 20,000 at postgraduate level.
Get to know the different higher education systems around the world.
How to prepare a dissertation
Choosing a topic
The first step in writing your dissertation is choosing a topic. Select an area of your study subject that you find particularly interesting, as this will motivate you to research and write most effectively.
You should also make sure that your topic is manageable. Aim for something specific enough to give you clear focus, but broad enough for you to research effectively. If you are too specific, that could be difficult. If you are too broad, you may find it hard to cover everything.
Conducting research
The nature of your research will depend on your subject, topic and level of study. However, some aspects are universal. You must refer to academic literature throughout. Use libraries and reputable online resources such as JSTOR and Google Scholar to form the basis of your research and take clear notes for future reference.
Start with preliminary research, reading broadly to gain a general understanding of your topic from different perspectives. Note down key findings, prevalent theories and any questions or points they raise that you wish to explore further. This could be especially important if you are required to write a literature review (explained later in this article).
Use your preliminary research to establish the structure of your dissertation, considering which areas may require the furthest exploration. Then, start taking a more in-depth approach. Dive deeper into your topic, following up the sources cited in the literature you have read so far. Keep track of these for when you write your dissertation – you may need to reference them.
Read more about how to reference in an academic essay.
Developing a thesis statement
A thesis statement clearly outlines the main argument or purpose of your dissertation. It should be one or two sentences in length, and guide and develop your thinking as you write.
A good thesis statement will:
- Highlight a meaningful area of enquiry
- Express your core argument clearly
- Offer a grounding for your position
Planning and outlining
Plan your dissertation before you begin with an outline that you can adapt as your ideas develop. This should offer a broad overview of everything you intend to include.
Your dissertation outline should be structured with sections. You should simply set out what each one will contain. For example, a section about your original research could go like this:
- Introduction
- Literature review
- Methodology
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusion
If you decide or need to add or remove elements later, a well-structured outline will help.
Writing your dissertation
Dissertation structure
Universities set their own formatting rules for dissertations, and these can vary between fields and levels of study. However, most dissertations take this general format:
- Title page
- Abstract
- Table of contents
- Introduction
- Literature review
- Methodology
- Main body
- Conclusion
- Table of references
- Appendices
How to write an abstract for a dissertation
The abstract is a summary of your dissertation with a length of around 300-500 words. It is presented at the start of your paper.
Your abstract should concisely summarise:
- Purpose: outline the aims and questions of your research, the major points covered, and their relevance and importance
- Methodology: briefly explain the techniques you employed to answer your research questions, e.g. how data was collected and analysed
- Findings: briefly highlight the most important findings of your research
- Implications: explain the real-world impact of your research and any implications it may have for future studies
How to write a dissertation introduction
The introduction outlines your research and provides context and goals. It should set out your thesis statement and discuss how you will address it.
Key elements to include in your dissertation introduction include:
- Research questions and objectives, and why these are important
- Background on your topic, and a contextual foundation for your research
- Details on your methodology and approach
- A section-by-section outline of your dissertation
It’s important to stay specific and precise in your introduction, while giving a broad overview of your research. However, you do not need to give away all the details from the main body of your dissertation.
As successful introductions walk readers through the dissertation section-by-section, you may find it helpful to write yours after everything else is completed.
Consider these essay writing skills for international students.
How to write a literature review for a dissertation
A literature review is included in many dissertations. It provides an overview of existing thought, research and developments around your topic.
Literature reviews provide context and academic grounding to your work. A good review can justify the basis of your research by identifying how it links to and stands out from existing work.
Your literature review should include:
- Introduction:
- Define your topic
- Provide rationale for your research, i.e. how it fits into the wider field of study
- State the scope of the review and any limitations or areas that won’t be included
- Main body:
- Organise the literature thematically
- Summarise, analyse and evaluate relevant literature
- Address how knowledge and perspectives have evolved over time
- Conclusion:
- Summarise the important points
- Identify under-researched areas, knowledge gaps and controversies
- Outline areas for future study
- Discuss what your research offers to your field of study
If your course has a reading list, this can be a great place to start looking for relevant literature. You can then search for more using libraries and online resources. If you have an academic supervisor, they should be able to guide you towards relevant and reputable work.
While you may want to use generative AI to assist your research, this should only be done with great care. Our guide to ChatGPT and plagiarism can help you follow the rules.
How to write a methodology for a dissertation
The methodology section explains how you designed your study and why. It covers the approaches you took to collecting and interpreting data. A good methodology provides a strong foundation for your research and helps make your results credible.
Your methodology should include:
- Details of your methodological choices, including:
- Research design, philosophy and strategy
- Sampling strategy
- Data collection methods
- Analysis techniques
- Justification of your choices
- Discussion of limitations and any ethical considerations
The methodology section is a very valuable part of your dissertation. Be precise and go into detail. This gives your research integrity.
Writing the main body of a dissertation
The main body should be a lengthy discussion of your research question that presents and interprets your findings.
Analyse your data in the context of existing literature and perspectives. Identify important themes and explain any unexpected findings or limitations. Use visual aids such as illustrations, graphs and charts to enhance your argument.
If you are collecting new data, you may wish to structure the results by discussing each finding individually. If you are reviewing existing data, there may be a more logical way to structure your discussion, e.g. by themes or trends.
Once you have decided how to structure the main body, it is important that you stick to that structure. Write clearly and coherently, linking your findings back to your research questions. Remember to also cite your research correctly.
How to write a conclusion for a dissertation
The conclusion is the final part of the dissertation. It provides an overall summary of your research and findings, outlining the value of your work. A strong conclusion is informative and thought-provoking.
Key elements of a dissertation conclusion include:
- A reminder of your original research questions
- A summary of your findings and how they relate to your research objectives
- The implications of your findings and how they relate to the field as a whole
- Discussion of your findings’ limitations
- Suggestions for future research
A strong conclusion answers the research questions directly. It follows smoothly from the introduction and the main body. It should not raise anything that is not covered elsewhere in the dissertation.
How to improve your dissertation
Seek feedback
Although a dissertation is an individual project, it is important to consult on it with advisors and peers. Being open to feedback and other perspectives is always a positive thing.
To help, your university may assign you a personal academic supervisor. You can discuss your work with them, as well as any challenges you may face.
When asking someone to critique your writing, specify the areas for which you would like feedback. For example, you could ask for input on:
- Overall structure and flow
- The strength of a particular argument
- How to make your writing shorter
- Your methodology
Take our advice on understanding academic feedback.
Editing and proofreading
It is wise to continuously edit and proofread your dissertation while writing it. Once it is complete, you should check the whole thing at least once more. It is vital to ensure that you have presented all your ideas clearly and logically. Examiners value well-constructed and concise writing with a professional tone.
You should pay attention to both big and small details. Some important things that are easily overlooked include:
- Grammar
- Spelling
- Formatting (e.g. fonts, margins and spacing)
- Referencing style
While mistakes are easy to make, they can be hard to identify later. As such, it is important to be thorough.
Here are some tips on editing and proofreading your dissertation:
- Concentrate on one area at a time to focus your efforts (i.e. spelling, then grammar, then formatting).
- Edit and proofread each section as you go along. Review everything at least once more at the end.
- Ask a peer or supervisor to review your work and highlight possible areas for improvement.
Try some more recommendations on how to improve your English writing skills.
Final tips for writing a strong dissertation
Writing your dissertation requires time and organisation, so it’s important to prepare far ahead of the deadline. Often, the process takes months.
- Manage your time well: devise a study timetable with room for research, writing and revisions.
- Edit carefully: drafts, rewrites and proofreading are crucial. They help create a polished, thought-provoking and informative dissertation.
- Consider feedback: the advice and suggestions of academics will help you write a well-considered dissertation.
If you can master the above, you will be in a good place post-graduation. The skills needed to complete a dissertation are among the most in-demand skills in general.
It’s normal to find your dissertation challenging or stressful. It is a big commitment with great significance to your overall grade. However, with proper planning and good structure, a dissertation can be a great way to display your unique knowledge and understanding of an area that interests you. Ultimately, it can help you make meaningful advances in your field.
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