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The words ‘ dissertation ’ and ‘thesis’ both refer to a large written research project undertaken to complete a degree, but they are used differently depending on the country:
The main difference is in terms of scale – a dissertation is usually much longer than the other essays you complete during your degree.
Another key difference is that you are given much more independence when working on a dissertation. You choose your own dissertation topic , and you have to conduct the research and write the dissertation yourself (with some assistance from your supervisor).
Dissertation word counts vary widely across different fields, institutions, and levels of education:
However, none of these are strict guidelines – your word count may be lower or higher than the numbers stated here. Always check the guidelines provided by your university to determine how long your own dissertation should be.
At the bachelor’s and master’s levels, the dissertation is usually the main focus of your final year. You might work on it (alongside other classes) for the entirety of the final year, or for the last six months. This includes formulating an idea, doing the research, and writing up.
A PhD thesis takes a longer time, as the thesis is the main focus of the degree. A PhD thesis might be being formulated and worked on for the whole four years of the degree program. The writing process alone can take around 18 months.
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How long does it take to write a dissertation, published by steve tippins on july 11, 2019 july 11, 2019.
Last Updated on: 2nd February 2024, 05:00 am
How long does it take to write a dissertation? The most accurate (and least helpful) answer is, it depends. Since that’s probably not the answer you’re looking for, I’ll use the rest of the article to address the realities of how long it takes to write a dissertation.
Based on my experience, writing your dissertation should take somewhere between 13-20 months. These are average numbers based upon the scores of doctoral students that I have worked with over the years, and they generally hold true.
I have seen people take less time and more time, but I believe that with concerted effort, the 13-20 month timeframe is reasonable.
“Based on my experience, writing your dissertation should take somewhere between 13-20 months.”
Once you hit the dissertation stage, some schools require a minimum number of hours in the dissertation area before you can graduate. Many schools require the equivalent of one year of dissertation credits to graduate.
So, even if you can finish your dissertation in three months, you will still have to pay for nine more months of dissertation credits before you can graduate. However, unless research and writing is your superpower, I wouldn’t worry about having to pay extra tuition.
But this requirement does offer some insight into how long it takes to write a dissertation. Based on this requirement, it’s reasonable to expect that writing your dissertation will take a year of more. This is consistent with my experience.
However, this timeframe is based on several assumptions. First, I am assuming that you are continually working towards finishing your dissertation. This means that no family emergencies, funding conundrums, or work issues get in the way of completing. Second, there are no major changes in your dissertation committee. Third, you will have access to the data that you need.
Assuming these assumptions hold true, this article should give you a general idea of how long it might take to write your dissertation.
Let’s break down each stage of the dissertation writing process and how long it takes.
This is the hardest one to judge, as this is where you lay the groundwork for the rest of your dissertation and get buy-in from committee members. Normally this takes from 3-6 months. Not all of this is writing time, though–much of it is spent refining your topic and your approach.
Why does this stage take so long? For many people, starting to express themselves using an academic voice can take time. This can hold up the review process as your committee members ask for writing-related revisions before they even get to evaluating the content. Don’t worry, once you learn the academic language things will start to flow more easily.
One common mistake students make is lack of specificity, both in their writing in general and in their topic focus.
Chapter 1 is often an expansion of your Prospectus. However, you’ll be expected to develop your ideas more and have even more specificity on things like your research question and methodology, so don’t underestimate how long this chapter will take.
Chapter 2 can take some time as you will be digging deep into the literature but I think this can be done in 3-4 months. One caution, some people, and committees, like to start with Chapter 2 so that you are immersed in the literature before completing Chapters 1 and 3. Regardless of where you start, 3-4 months is a good estimate.
Chapter 3 requires an in-depth explanation of your methodology. I suggest working closely with your Chair on this one to avoid multiple submissions and revisions. Get clear on your methodology and make sure you and your chair are on the same page before you write, and continue to check in with your chair, if possible, throughout the process.
While this step can be full of details and require several iterations it seems that allowing 2 months is sufficient. Most schools have an IRB form that must be submitted. To save time you can usually start filling out the form while your committee is reviewing your Proposal.
This step varies a great deal. If you are using readily available secondary data this can take a week but if you are interviewing hard to get individuals or have trouble finding a sufficient number of people for your sample this can take 4 months or more. I think 1-4 months should be appropriate
These two chapters are the easiest to write as in Chapter 4 you are reporting your results and in Chapter 5 you explain what the results mean. I believe that these two chapters can be written in 2 months.
You will need to defend your dissertation and then go through all of the university requirements to finalize the completion of your dissertation. I would allow 2 months for this process.
When students say something like, “I’m going to finish my dissertation in three months,” they likely aren’t considering all of the variables besides the actual writing. Even if you’re a fast writer, you’ll have to wait on your committee’s comments,
Many schools have response times for committee members. This is important when looking at how long it takes to finish a dissertation. For example, it you have two committee members and they each get up to 2 weeks for a review, it can take up to a month to get a document reviewed, each time you submit. So, plan for these periods of time when thinking about how long that it will take you.
How long it takes to write your dissertation also depends on your ability to address your committee’s comments thoroughly. It’s not uncommon for a committee member to send a draft back several times, even if their comments were addressed adequately, because they notice new issues each time they read it. Save yourself considerable time by making sure you address their comments fully, thus avoiding unnecessary time waiting to hear the same feedback.
This is the biggest variable in the dissertation model. How dedicated are you to the process? How much actual time do you have? How many outside interests/requirements do you have? Are you easily distracted? How clean does your workspace need to be? (This may seem like a strange thing to discuss, but many people need to work in a clean space and can get very interested in cleaning if they have to write). Are you in a full-time program or in a part time program? Are you holding down a job? Do you have children?
All of these things will affect how much time you have to put into writing–or rather, how disciplined you need to be about making time to write.
One of the things that can influence how long it takes to write your dissertation is your committee. Choose your committee wisely. If you work under the assumption that the only good dissertation is a done dissertation, then you want a committee that will be helpful and not trying to prove themselves on your back. When you find a Chair that you can work with ask her/him which of their colleagues they work well with (it’s also worth finding out who they don’t work well with).
Find out how they like to receive material to review. Some members like to see pieces of chapters and some like to see completed documents. Once you know their preferences, you can efficiently submit what they want when they want it.
Barring unforeseen events, the normal time range for finishing a dissertation seems to be 13-19 months, which can be rounded to one to one and a half years. If you are proactive and efficient, you can usually be at the shorter end of the time range.
That means using downtime to do things like changing the tense of your approved Proposal from future tense to past tense and completing things like you Abstract and Acknowledgement sections before final approval.
I hope that you can be efficient in this process and finish as quickly as possible. Remember, “the only good dissertation is a done dissertation.”
On that note, I offer coaching services to help students through the dissertation writing process, as well as editing services for those who need help with their writing.
Steve Tippins, PhD, has thrived in academia for over thirty years. He continues to love teaching in addition to coaching recent PhD graduates as well as students writing their dissertations. Learn more about his dissertation coaching and career coaching services. Book a Free Consultation with Steve Tippins
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Understanding the process of writing a dissertation, the initial stages: choosing a topic and research question.
The journey of writing a dissertation is a significant academic undertaking that demands careful consideration and planning. It all begins with the crucial step of choosing a topic and formulating a research question. This initial stage is pivotal as it sets the foundation for your entire dissertation. To select a topic, you may need to delve into various sources, such as academic journals, conferences, and discussions with professors, to identify a subject that not only interests you but also contributes to the existing body of knowledge.
Formulating a clear and concise research question is equally essential. A well-crafted question will not only define the scope of your study but also provide a roadmap for your research journey. It should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART), guiding your investigation and shaping the direction of your dissertation.
With your research question in hand, the next phase involves immersing yourself in the world of academia by conducting thorough research and gathering relevant data. This stage is often characterised by long hours spent in libraries, online databases, and research laboratories, sifting through a plethora of information to support your arguments and findings.
Reading scholarly articles, books, and other academic sources will not only enrich your understanding of the topic but also help you identify gaps in the existing literature that your dissertation can address. Additionally, depending on your research methodology, you may need to collect primary data through experiments, surveys, interviews, or observations. This process of data collection is crucial for providing empirical evidence to support your research findings and conclusions.
After meticulously gathering and analysing all the necessary information , the time has come to transform your research into a coherent and well-structured dissertation. This final stage involves synthesising your thoughts, organising your arguments, and presenting your findings in a logical and systematic manner.
Writing a dissertation is a iterative process that requires multiple rounds of revisions and feedback. It is essential to seek input from your academic supervisors, peers, and experts in the field to refine your ideas, strengthen your arguments, and ensure the clarity and coherence of your dissertation. Each revision brings you closer to producing a high-quality piece of academic work that contributes meaningfully to your chosen field of study.
The complexity of your research question.
The complexity of your research question can significantly impact the time it takes to complete your dissertation. A broad and complex research question may require additional time to collect and analyze data from different sources, while a narrower question might be more straightforward to address.
When formulating your research question, it is essential to consider the scope and depth of the topic. A well-defined and focused question can streamline your research process and lead to a more efficient writing experience. However, a question that is too broad or vague may lead to challenges in data collection and analysis, ultimately prolonging the writing timeline.
The academic discipline you are pursuing can also influence the time it takes to write a dissertation. Some disciplines demand more extensive research, experimentation, or fieldwork, which can increase the overall time commitment. It is important to understand the specific expectations and requirements of your discipline when estimating the duration of the writing process.
Furthermore, different disciplines may have varying conventions and standards for dissertation structure and content. Familiarising yourself with the norms of your field can help you navigate the writing process more effectively and ensure that your dissertation meets the necessary academic criteria.
Your writing skills and experience play a significant role in determining how long it will take to write a dissertation. If you are comfortable with academic writing and have prior experience conducting research and writing lengthy papers, you may be able to work more efficiently. On the other hand, if you are new to the process, it may take longer to learn and master the necessary skills.
Developing strong writing skills is a continuous process that involves practice, feedback, and refinement. As you progress through your dissertation, reflecting on your writing style and seeking guidance from mentors or writing resources can enhance the quality of your work and streamline the writing process. Additionally, honing your time management skills and establishing a structured writing routine can help you stay focused and productive during the dissertation journey.
Setting realistic goals and deadlines.
Dividing the writing process into smaller goals can make it more manageable and less overwhelming. Set realistic deadlines for completing each stage and hold yourself accountable to meet them. This will help you stay focused and make steady progress towards your final goal.
When setting these deadlines, consider factors such as the complexity of the task, the amount of research required, and any potential unforeseen circumstances that may arise. By breaking down your dissertation into smaller, achievable milestones, you can track your progress more effectively and adjust your timeline if needed.
Consistency is key when writing a dissertation. Establishing a regular writing routine, whether it's an hour or two each day or a dedicated block of time on certain days, will help you stay disciplined and maintain momentum. Treat writing as a priority and create a conducive environment that fosters productivity.
Consider factors such as your peak productivity hours, preferred writing environment, and any potential distractions that may hinder your progress. By identifying and addressing these variables, you can optimise your writing routine to maximise efficiency and creativity.
Your supervisor can provide valuable guidance and support throughout the dissertation writing process. Regularly communicate with them, seeking their feedback and inputs. Their expertise and insight can help you refine your research question, clarify your arguments, and enhance the overall quality of your work.
Remember that your supervisor is there to support you, so don't hesitate to reach out to them with any questions or concerns you may have. Establishing a strong working relationship with your supervisor can not only improve the quality of your dissertation but also provide you with valuable mentorship for your future academic endeavours.
Dealing with writer's block.
Writer's block is a common challenge faced by many dissertation writers. If you find yourself stuck, try freewriting, discussing your ideas with peers or your supervisor, or taking a break to refresh your mind. Sometimes, stepping away from your work temporarily can bring fresh perspectives and reignite your creativity.
Receiving feedback and criticism on your work can be daunting, but it is an essential part of the writing process. Embrace constructive criticism and use it to improve your dissertation. It is important to remember that feedback is meant to help you grow, so approach it with an open mind and a willingness to make changes.
Writing a dissertation often overlaps with other commitments, such as work, family, or academic responsibilities. Effective time management and prioritization skills are crucial to strike a balance. Create a realistic schedule that allows for breaks, relaxation, and fulfilling your other obligations. Remember, taking care of your well-being is vital throughout the writing journey.
Writing a dissertation is a unique and challenging experience that requires dedicated effort, time, and perseverance. By understanding the different stages of the writing process, being aware of the factors that influence the duration, and implementing effective time management strategies, you can navigate this rewarding journey more efficiently. Embrace the process, stay focused, and celebrate each milestone as you progress towards the completion of your dissertation.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that conducting thorough research is an integral part of dissertation writing. This involves delving into various sources, such as academic journals, books, and online databases, to gather relevant information and support your arguments. The process of researching can be time-consuming but is essential for producing a well-rounded and evidence-based dissertation.
In addition to research, another aspect to consider is the importance of structuring your dissertation effectively. This includes organizing your ideas in a logical manner, ensuring a smooth flow of information, and maintaining coherence throughout. A well-structured dissertation not only enhances readability but also helps convey your message clearly to the reader.
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Reading through the requirements for a PhD program may prompt you to ask, “How long does it take to write a dissertation?”
You probably already know that this is a major project, but you may be curious about how much of your life you’ll need to commit to the process.
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Dissertation writing can vary significantly from one student to the next. Even still, learning more about dissertations can help you have a better idea of what you can expect in terms of time commitment and workload.
Before you sit down to write your PhD dissertation, it makes sense to figure out approximately how long the process is going to take you. That way, you can approach this project with reasonable expectations in mind.
Having an idea of the common timeframe for dissertations may also encourage you to set realistic goals. Many students write their dissertations within 1 to 2 years. In other words, once you reach All But Dissertation (ABD) status, you might be less than 2 years away from completing your PhD program.
You might be anxious to type your dissertation in less than 12 months so that you can move on with your life. While that’s understandable, you may be putting undue pressure on yourself. In fact, your school may require you to spend at least a year on your dissertation.
It’s also possible that you expect to need more than 2 years. As long as you keep moving, that’s okay. Just remember to check your university’s rules. Some schools set a time limit on doctoral enrollment.
No matter how long the process takes, you’ll go through multiple steps as you work toward your goal:
You may begin some of these steps, such as deciding on your topic, during the coursework portion of your program. Eventually, though, you’ll move into ABD status, and it will be time to focus solely on the dissertation.
Some students lose motivation at that point. If life is too busy, your wallet feels too strained, or you don’t have a good support system, you may feel like throwing in the towel. It can be especially tempting to quit if the project simply feels too overwhelming. To try and avoid these obstacles to finishing your PhD, it can help to make a plan for writing your dissertation.
You can break the project down into steps, carve out writing time, set attainable goals, and move progressively closer to a final product of which you’ll be proud.
The answer to “How long does a dissertation take?” depends in large part on your process. Putting the following tips into practice may help you finish more quickly:
Finally, it helps to surround yourself with a great support team—such as family, friends, and your faculty advisor—to whom you can turn when times feel tough.
Each student’s dissertation is a slightly different length. Typically, though, most dissertations are between 100 and 300 pages long. It’s common for them to include about 80,000 words. Some are closer to 100,000 words.
Your school may set guidelines for the length of your paper. The requirements may even vary from one department to the next. For example, dissertations in the natural or physical sciences are often under 100 pages. Dissertations in fields like theology and history commonly contain several hundred pages.
The content will be broken into various chapters, such as the introduction, the methodology, and the results.
The words “thesis” and “dissertation” are often used in similar contexts. You can think about which one you’ll be writing during your doctoral studies.
While a dissertation is the standard final project for a PhD, theses are more common at the master’s degree level. In addition, some programs don’t require a dissertation, like several online doctoral programs in education without dissertation , but require a capstone.
Whether you are just beginning the PhD journey or have reached ABD status , there’s a dissertation in your future.
Yes, writing a dissertation is a task that is going to take a significant amount of time and effort. But now that you have a better idea of what to expect, you are one step closer to your goal. You can make a plan, block out time, and get your dissertation written.
Remember to surround yourself with support and ask for help as needed. Cheer yourself on throughout the process, and celebrate each milestone. It may take a few years, but you can accomplish this goal!
How to write a masters dissertation or thesis: top tips.
It is completely normal to find the idea of writing a masters thesis or dissertation slightly daunting, even for students who have written one before at undergraduate level. Though, don’t feel put off by the idea. You’ll have plenty of time to complete it, and plenty of support from your supervisor and peers.
One of the main challenges that students face is putting their ideas and findings into words. Writing is a skill in itself, but with the right advice, you’ll find it much easier to get into the flow of writing your masters thesis or dissertation.
We’ve put together a step-by-step guide on how to write a dissertation or thesis for your masters degree, with top tips to consider at each stage in the process.
There are slight differences between theses and dissertations , although both require a high standard of writing skill and knowledge in your topic. They are also formatted very similarly.
At first, writing a masters thesis can feel like running a 100m race – the course feels very quick and like there is not as much time for thinking! However, you’ll usually have a summer semester dedicated to completing your dissertation – giving plenty of time and space to write a strong academic piece.
By comparison, writing a PhD thesis can feel like running a marathon, working on the same topic for 3-4 years can be laborious. But in many ways, the approach to both of these tasks is quite similar.
Before writing your masters dissertation, get to know your research topic inside out. Not only will understanding your topic help you conduct better research, it will also help you write better dissertation content.
Also consider the main purpose of your dissertation. You are writing to put forward a theory or unique research angle – so make your purpose clear in your writing.
Top writing tip: when researching your topic, look out for specific terms and writing patterns used by other academics. It is likely that there will be a lot of jargon and important themes across research papers in your chosen dissertation topic.
Writing a thesis is a unique experience and there is no general consensus on what the best way to structure it is.
As a postgraduate student , you’ll probably decide what kind of structure suits your research project best after consultation with your supervisor. You’ll also have a chance to look at previous masters students’ theses in your university library.
To some extent, all postgraduate dissertations are unique. Though they almost always consist of chapters. The number of chapters you cover will vary depending on the research.
A masters dissertation or thesis organised into chapters would typically look like this:
Section | Description |
Title page | The opening page includes all relevant information about the project. |
Abstract | A brief project summary including background, methodology and findings. |
Contents | A list of chapters and figures from your project. |
Chapter 1 – Background | A description of the rationale behind your project. |
Chapter 2 – Literature Review | A summary and evaluation of the literature supporting your project. |
Chapter 3 – Methodology | A description of the specific methodology used in your project. |
Chapter 4-6 – Data analysis and Findings | An overview of the key findings and data from your research. |
Chapter 7 - Discussion and Evaluation | A description of what the data means and what you can draw from the findings. |
Chapter 8 - Conclusion | Main summary of your overall project and key findings. |
Bibliography | A list of the references cited in your dissertation or thesis. |
Appendices | Additional materials used in your research. |
Write down your structure and use these as headings that you’ll write for later on.
Top writing tip : ease each chapter together with a paragraph that links the end of a chapter to the start of a new chapter. For example, you could say something along the lines of “in the next section, these findings are evaluated in more detail”. This makes it easier for the reader to understand each chapter and helps your writing flow better.
One of the best places to start when writing your masters dissertation is with the literature review. This involves researching and evaluating existing academic literature in order to identify any gaps for your own research.
Many students prefer to write the literature review chapter first, as this is where several of the underpinning theories and concepts exist. This section helps set the stage for the rest of your dissertation, and will help inform the writing of your other dissertation chapters.
The literature review chapter is more than just a summary of existing research, it is an evaluation of how this research has informed your own unique research.
Demonstrate how the different pieces of research fit together. Are there overlapping theories? Are there disagreements between researchers?
Highlight the gap in the research. This is key, as a dissertation is mostly about developing your own unique research. Is there an unexplored avenue of research? Has existing research failed to disprove a particular theory?
Back up your methodology. Demonstrate why your methodology is appropriate by discussing where it has been used successfully in other research.
For instance, a more theoretical-based research topic might encompass more writing from a philosophical perspective. Qualitative data might require a lot more evaluation and discussion than quantitative research.
The methodology chapter is all about how you carried out your research and which specific techniques you used to gather data. You should write about broader methodological approaches (e.g. qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods), and then go into more detail about your chosen data collection strategy.
Data collection strategies include things like interviews, questionnaires, surveys, content analyses, discourse analyses and many more.
The data analysis or findings chapter should cover what you actually discovered during your research project. It should be detailed, specific and objective (don’t worry, you’ll have time for evaluation later on in your dissertation)
Write up your findings in a way that is easy to understand. For example, if you have a lot of numerical data, this could be easier to digest in tables.
This will make it easier for you to dive into some deeper analysis in later chapters. Remember, the reader will refer back to your data analysis section to cross-reference your later evaluations against your actual findings – so presenting your data in a simple manner is beneficial.
Think about how you can segment your data into categories. For instance, it can be useful to segment interview transcripts by interviewee.
Top writing tip : write up notes on how you might phrase a certain part of the research. This will help bring the best out of your writing. There is nothing worse than when you think of the perfect way to phrase something and then you completely forget it.
Once you’ve presented your findings, it’s time to evaluate and discuss them.
It might feel difficult to differentiate between your findings and discussion sections, because you are essentially talking about the same data. The easiest way to remember the difference is that your findings simply present the data, whereas your discussion tells the story of this data.
Your evaluation breaks the story down, explaining the key findings, what went well and what didn’t go so well.
In your discussion chapter, you’ll have chance to expand on the results from your findings section. For example, explain what certain numbers mean and draw relationships between different pieces of data.
Top writing tip: don’t be afraid to point out the shortcomings of your research. You will receive higher marks for writing objectively. For example, if you didn’t receive as many interview responses as expected, evaluate how this has impacted your research and findings. Don’t let your ego get in the way!
Your introduction sets the scene for the rest of your masters dissertation. You might be wondering why writing an introduction isn't at the start of our step-by-step list, and that’s because many students write this chapter last.
Here’s what your introduction chapter should cover:
Problem statement
Research question
Significance of your research
This tells the reader what you’ll be researching as well as its importance. You’ll have a good idea of what to include here from your original dissertation proposal , though it’s fairly common for research to change once it gets started.
Writing or at least revisiting this section last can be really helpful, since you’ll have a more well-rounded view of what your research actually covers once it has been completed and written up.
When to start writing your thesis or dissertation.
When you should start writing your masters thesis or dissertation depends on the scope of the research project and the duration of your course. In some cases, your research project may be relatively short and you may not be able to write much of your thesis before completing the project.
But regardless of the nature of your research project and of the scope of your course, you should start writing your thesis or at least some of its sections as early as possible, and there are a number of good reasons for this:
Academic writing is about practice, not talent. The first steps of writing your dissertation will help you get into the swing of your project. Write early to help you prepare in good time.
Write things as you do them. This is a good way to keep your dissertation full of fresh ideas and ensure that you don’t forget valuable information.
The first draft is never perfect. Give yourself time to edit and improve your dissertation. It’s likely that you’ll need to make at least one or two more drafts before your final submission.
Writing early on will help you stay motivated when writing all subsequent drafts.
Thinking and writing are very connected. As you write, new ideas and concepts will come to mind. So writing early on is a great way to generate new ideas.
The best way of improving your dissertation or thesis writing skills is to:
Finish the first draft of your masters thesis as early as possible and send it to your supervisor for revision. Your supervisor will correct your draft and point out any writing errors. This process will be repeated a few times which will help you recognise and correct writing mistakes yourself as time progresses.
If you are not a native English speaker, it may be useful to ask your English friends to read a part of your thesis and warn you about any recurring writing mistakes. Read our section on English language support for more advice.
Most universities have writing centres that offer writing courses and other kinds of support for postgraduate students. Attending these courses may help you improve your writing and meet other postgraduate students with whom you will be able to discuss what constitutes a well-written thesis.
Read academic articles and search for writing resources on the internet. This will help you adopt an academic writing style, which will eventually become effortless with practice.
The easiest way to keep the track of all the articles you have read for your research is to create a database where you can summarise each article/chapter into a few most important bullet points to help you remember their content.
Another useful tool for doing this effectively is to learn how to use specific reference management software (RMS) such as EndNote. RMS is relatively simple to use and saves a lot of time when it comes to organising your bibliography. This may come in very handy, especially if your reference section is suspiciously missing two hours before you need to submit your dissertation!
Plagiarism may cost you your postgraduate degree and it is important that you consciously avoid it when writing your thesis or dissertation.
Occasionally, postgraduate students commit plagiarism unintentionally. This can happen when sections are copy and pasted from journal articles they are citing instead of simply rephrasing them. Whenever you are presenting information from another academic source, make sure you reference the source and avoid writing the statement exactly as it is written in the original paper.
Read your university’s guidelines before you actually start writing your thesis so you don’t have to waste time changing the format further down the line. However in general, most universities will require you to use 1.5-2 line spacing, font size 12 for text, and to print your thesis on A4 paper. These formatting guidelines may not necessarily result in the most aesthetically appealing thesis, however beauty is not always practical, and a nice looking thesis can be a more tiring reading experience for your postgrad examiner .
The length of time it takes to complete your MSc or MA thesis will vary from student to student. This is because people work at different speeds, projects vary in difficulty, and some projects encounter more problems than others.
Obviously, you should submit your MSc thesis or MA thesis when it is finished! Every university will say in its regulations that it is the student who must decide when it is ready to submit.
However, your supervisor will advise you whether your work is ready and you should take their advice on this. If your supervisor says that your work is not ready, then it is probably unwise to submit it. Usually your supervisor will read your final thesis or dissertation draft and will let you know what’s required before submitting your final draft.
Set yourself a target for completion. This will help you stay on track and avoid falling behind. You may also only have funding for the year, so it is important to ensure you submit your dissertation before the deadline – and also ensure you don’t miss out on your graduation ceremony !
To set your target date, work backwards from the final completion and submission date, and aim to have your final draft completed at least three months before that final date.
Don’t leave your submission until the last minute – submit your work in good time before the final deadline. Consider what else you’ll have going on around that time. Are you moving back home? Do you have a holiday? Do you have other plans?
If you need to have finished by the end of June to be able to go to a graduation ceremony in July, then you should leave a suitable amount of time for this. You can build this into your dissertation project planning at the start of your research.
It is important to remember that handing in your thesis or dissertation is not the end of your masters program . There will be a period of time of one to three months between the time you submit and your final day. Some courses may even require a viva to discuss your research project, though this is more common at PhD level .
If you have passed, you will need to make arrangements for the thesis to be properly bound and resubmitted, which will take a week or two. You may also have minor corrections to make to the work, which could take up to a month or so. This means that you need to allow a period of at least three months between submitting your thesis and the time when your program will be completely finished. Of course, it is also possible you may be asked after the viva to do more work on your thesis and resubmit it before the examiners will agree to award the degree – so there may be an even longer time period before you have finished.
Most universities will have a clear procedure for submitting a masters dissertation. Some universities require your ‘intention to submit’. This notifies them that you are ready to submit and allows the university to appoint an external examiner.
This normally has to be completed at least three months before the date on which you think you will be ready to submit.
When your MA or MSc dissertation is ready, you will have to print several copies and have them bound. The number of copies varies between universities, but the university usually requires three – one for each of the examiners and one for your supervisor.
However, you will need one more copy – for yourself! These copies must be softbound, not hardbound. The theses you see on the library shelves will be bound in an impressive hardback cover, but you can only get your work bound like this once you have passed.
You should submit your dissertation or thesis for examination in soft paper or card covers, and your university will give you detailed guidance on how it should be bound. They will also recommend places where you can get the work done.
The next stage is to hand in your work, in the way and to the place that is indicated in your university’s regulations. All you can do then is sit and wait for the examination – but submitting your thesis is often a time of great relief and celebration!
Some universities only require a digital submission, where you upload your dissertation as a file through their online submission system.
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Written by Mark Bennett
All Masters programmes include some form of extended individual project. Research-focussed programmes, such as an MRes , may include multiple independent research components. Taught courses usually culminate with a substantial research task, referred to as the Masters dissertation or thesis.
This article talks about how long a Masters dissertation is and the structure it follows.Before you get started on your dissertation, you'll usually need to write a proposal. Read our full guide to Masters dissertation proposals for more information on what this should include!
Length | 15,000 - 20,000 words |
Structure | Abstract (300 words) Introduction (1,000 words) Literature review (1,000 words) Research methodology (1,500 words) Results Discussion (12,000 words) Conclusion (1,500 words) References/Bibliography Appendices |
Supervision | Yes, you’ll be paired with an academic from your own university |
Assessment | External examiner along with additional members of faculty. There is not usually a viva at Masters level. |
What’s the difference between a masters dissertation and an undergraduate dissertation.
The Masters thesis is a bridge between undergraduate study and higher level postgraduate degrees such as the PhD .
A postgraduate dissertation may not look that different to its undergraduate equivalent. You’ll likely have to produce a longer piece of work but the foundations remain the same.
After all, one of the purposes of an undergraduate dissertation or final year project is to prepare you for more in-depth research work as a postgraduate. That said, there are some important differences between the two levels.
So, how long is a Masters dissertation? A Masters dissertation will be longer than the undergraduate equivalent – usually it’ll be somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 words, but this can vary widely between courses, institutions and countries.
To answer your overall research question comprehensively, you’ll be expected to identify and examine specific areas of your topic. This can be like producing a series of shorter pieces of work, similar to those required by individual modules. However, there’s the additional requirement that they collectively support a broader set of conclusions.
This more involved Masters dissertation structure will:
If the individual topics within your overall project require you to access separate sources or datasets, this may also have an impact on your research process.
As a postgraduate, you’ll be expected to establish and assert your own critical voice as a member of the academic community associated with your field .
During your Masters thesis you’ll need to show that you are not just capable of analysing and critiquing original data or primary source material. You should also demonstrate awareness of the existing body of scholarship relating to your topic .
So, if you’ll excuse the pun, a ‘Masters’ degree really is about achieving ‘mastery’ of your particular specialism and the dissertation is where you’ll demonstrate this: showing off the scholarly expertise and research skills that you’ve developed across your programme.
A dissertation is a long piece of (usually) written work on the same topic. A thesis is a little more specific: it usually means something that presents an original argument based on the interpretation of data, statistics or content.
So, a thesis is almost always presented as a dissertation, but not all dissertations present a thesis.
As you can probably imagine, no two dissertations follow the exact same structure, especially given the differences found between Masters programmes from university to university and country to country .
That said, there are several key components that make up the structure of a typical Masters dissertation
Most dissertations will typically be between 15,000 and 20,000 words long, although this can vary significantly depending on the nature of the programme.
You should also check with your university exactly which sections of the dissertation count towards the final word count (the abstract, bibliography and appendices won’t usually be included in the total).
Usually around 300 words long, the abstract is meant to be a concise summary of your dissertation. It should briefly cover the question(s) you aim to answer, your primary argument and your conclusion.
The purpose of the introduction is to provide context for the rest of the dissertation, setting out your aims and the scope of what you want to achieve with your research. The introduction should give a clear overview of the dissertation’s chapters and will usually be around 1,000 words long.
This part of the dissertation should examine the scholarship that has already been published in your field, presenting various arguments and counter-arguments while situating your own research within this wider body of work.
You should analyse and evaluate other publications and explain how your dissertation will contribute to the existing literature in your subject area. The literature review sometimes forms part of the introduction or follows immediately on from it. Most literature reviews are up to 1,000 words long.
Not all dissertations will require a section covering research methodology (Arts and Humanities dissertations won’t normally undertake the kind of research that involves a set methodology). However, if you are using a particular method to collect information for your dissertation, you should make sure to explain the rationale behind your choice of methodology. The word count for this part of the dissertation is usually around the 1,500 mark.
Those in the Arts and Humanities will usually outline their theoretical perspectives and approaches as part of the introduction, rather than requiring a detailed explanation of the methodology for their data collection and analysis.
If your research involves some form of survey or experiment, this is where you’ll present the results of your work. Depending on the nature of the study, this might be in the form of graphs, tables or charts – or even just a written description of what the research entailed and what the findings were.
This section forms the bulk of your dissertation and should be carefully structured using a series of related chapters (and sub-chapters). There should be a logical progression from one chapter to the next, with each part building on the arguments of its predecessor.
It can be helpful to think of your Masters dissertation as a series of closely interlinked essays, rather than one overwhelming paper. The size of this section will depend on the overall word count for your dissertation. However, to give you a rough idea for a 15,000-word dissertation, the discussion part will generally be about 12,000 words long.
Here you should draw together the threads of the previous discussion chapters and make your final concluding statements, drawing on evidence and arguments that you’ve already explored over the course of the dissertation. Explain the significance of your findings and point towards directions that future research could follow. This section of the Masters thesis will be around 1,500 words long.
While planning and writing your dissertation, you should keep an extensive, organised record of any papers, sources or books you’ve quoted (or referred to). This will be a lot easier than leaving all of it until the end and struggling to work out where a particular quotation is from!
Appendices won’t be necessary in many dissertations, but you may need to include supplementary material to support your argument. This could be interview transcripts or questionnaires. If including such content within the body of the dissertation won’t be feasible – i.e. there wouldn’t be enough space or it would break the flow of your writing – you should consult with your supervisor and consider attaching it in an appendix.
It’s worth bearing in mind that these sections won’t always be discretely labelled in every dissertation. For example, everything up to ‘discussion’ might be covered in introductory chapter (rather than as distinct sections). If you’re unsure about the structure of your Masters dissertation, your supervisor will be able to help you map it out.
As a Masters student at the dissertation stage you’ll usually be matched with an academic within your institution who will be tasked with guiding your work. This might be someone who has already taught you, or it may be another scholar whose research interests and expertise align well with what you want to do. You may be able to request a particular supervisor, but taught postgraduates are more likely to be assigned them by their department.
Specific arrangements with your supervisor will vary depending on your institution and subject area. They will usually meet with you at the beginning of the dissertation period to discuss your project and agree a suitable schedule for its undertaking. This timetable will probably set dates for:
Though your supervisor is there to help and advise you, it is important to remember that your dissertation is a personal research project with associated expectations of you as an independent scholar.
As a rule of thumb, you can expect your supervisor to read each part of your dissertation once at the draft stage and to offer feedback. Most will not have time to look at lots of subsequent revisions, but may respond favourably to polite requests for exceptions (provided their own workload permits it).
Inundating your supervisor with emails or multiple iterations of draft material is best avoided; they will have their own research to manage (as well as other supervision assignments) and will be able to offer better quality feedback if you stick to an agreed schedule.
On most courses your dissertation will be assessed by an external examiner (as well as additional members of faculty within your university who haven’t been responsible for supervising you), but these will read and critique the work you submit without personally questioning and testing you on it.
Though this examination process is not as challenging as the oral defence or ‘ viva voce ’ required for a PhD thesis, the grading of your Masters dissertation is still a fundamental component of your degree.
On some programmes the result awarded to a student’s dissertation may determine the upper grade-band that can be awarded to their degree.
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From how to choose a topic to writing the abstract and managing work-life balance through the years it takes to complete a doctorate, here we collect expert advice to get you through the PhD writing process
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Embarking on a PhD is “probably the most challenging task that a young scholar attempts to do”, write Mark Stephan Felix and Ian Smith in their practical guide to dissertation and thesis writing. After years of reading and research to answer a specific question or proposition, the candidate will submit about 80,000 words that explain their methods and results and demonstrate their unique contribution to knowledge. Here are the answers to frequently asked questions about writing a doctoral thesis or dissertation.
Whatever the genre of the doctorate, a PhD must offer an original contribution to knowledge. The terms “dissertation” and “thesis” both refer to the long-form piece of work produced at the end of a research project and are often used interchangeably. Which one is used might depend on the country, discipline or university. In the UK, “thesis” is generally used for the work done for a PhD, while a “dissertation” is written for a master’s degree. The US did the same until the 1960s, says Oxbridge Essays, when the convention switched, and references appeared to a “master’s thesis” and “doctoral dissertation”. To complicate matters further, undergraduate long essays are also sometimes referred to as a thesis or dissertation.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines “thesis” as “a dissertation, especially by a candidate for a degree” and “dissertation” as “a detailed discourse on a subject, especially one submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of a degree or diploma”.
The title “doctor of philosophy”, incidentally, comes from the degree’s origins, write Dr Felix, an associate professor at Mahidol University in Thailand, and Dr Smith, retired associate professor of education at the University of Sydney , whose co-authored guide focuses on the social sciences. The PhD was first awarded in the 19th century by the philosophy departments of German universities, which at that time taught science, social science and liberal arts.
A PhD thesis (or dissertation) is typically 60,000 to 120,000 words ( 100 to 300 pages in length ) organised into chapters, divisions and subdivisions (with roughly 10,000 words per chapter) – from introduction (with clear aims and objectives) to conclusion.
The structure of a dissertation will vary depending on discipline (humanities, social sciences and STEM all have their own conventions), location and institution. Examples and guides to structure proliferate online. The University of Salford , for example, lists: title page, declaration, acknowledgements, abstract, table of contents, lists of figures, tables and abbreviations (where needed), chapters, appendices and references.
A scientific-style thesis will likely need: introduction, literature review, materials and methods, results, discussion, bibliography and references.
As well as checking the overall criteria and expectations of your institution for your research, consult your school handbook for the required length and format (font, layout conventions and so on) for your dissertation.
A PhD takes three to four years to complete; this might extend to six to eight years for a part-time doctorate.
Before you get started in earnest , you’ll likely have found a potential supervisor, who will guide your PhD journey, and done a research proposal (which outlines what you plan to research and how) as part of your application, as well as a literature review of existing scholarship in the field, which may form part of your final submission.
In the UK, PhD candidates undertake original research and write the results in a thesis or dissertation, says author and vlogger Simon Clark , who posted videos to YouTube throughout his own PhD journey . Then they submit the thesis in hard copy and attend the viva voce (which is Latin for “living voice” and is also called an oral defence or doctoral defence) to convince the examiners that their work is original, understood and all their own. Afterwards, if necessary, they make changes and resubmit. If the changes are approved, the degree is awarded.
The steps are similar in Australia , although candidates are mostly assessed on their thesis only; some universities may include taught courses, and some use a viva voce. A PhD in Australia usually takes three years full time.
In the US, the PhD process begins with taught classes (similar to a taught master’s) and a comprehensive exam (called a “field exam” or “dissertation qualifying exam”) before the candidate embarks on their original research. The whole journey takes four to six years.
A PhD candidate will need three skills and attitudes to get through their doctoral studies, says Tara Brabazon , professor of cultural studies at Flinders University in Australia who has written extensively about the PhD journey :
It’s important to find a topic that will sustain your interest for the years it will take to complete a PhD. “Finding a sustainable topic is the most important thing you [as a PhD student] would do,” says Dr Brabazon in a video for Times Higher Education . “Write down on a big piece of paper all the topics, all the ideas, all the questions that really interest you, and start to cross out all the ones that might just be a passing interest.” Also, she says, impose the “Who cares? Who gives a damn?” question to decide if the topic will be useful in a future academic career.
The availability of funding and scholarships is also often an important factor in this decision, says veteran PhD supervisor Richard Godwin, from Harper Adams University .
Define a gap in knowledge – and one that can be questioned, explored, researched and written about in the time available to you, says Gina Wisker, head of the Centre for Learning and Teaching at the University of Brighton. “Set some boundaries,” she advises. “Don’t try to ask everything related to your topic in every way.”
James Hartley, research professor in psychology at Keele University, says it can also be useful to think about topics that spark general interest. If you do pick something that taps into the zeitgeist, your findings are more likely to be noticed.
You also need to find someone else who is interested in it, too. For STEM candidates , this will probably be a case of joining a team of people working in a similar area where, ideally, scholarship funding is available. A centre for doctoral training (CDT) or doctoral training partnership (DTP) will advertise research projects. For those in the liberal arts and social sciences, it will be a matter of identifying a suitable supervisor .
Avoid topics that are too broad (hunger across a whole country, for example) or too narrow (hunger in a single street) to yield useful solutions of academic significance, write Mark Stephan Felix and Ian Smith. And ensure that you’re not repeating previous research or trying to solve a problem that has already been answered. A PhD thesis must be original.
After you have read widely to refine your topic and ensure that it and your research methods are original, and discussed your project with a (potential) supervisor, you’re ready to write a thesis proposal , a document of 1,500 to 3,000 words that sets out the proposed direction of your research. In the UK, a research proposal is usually part of the application process for admission to a research degree. As with the final dissertation itself, format varies among disciplines, institutions and countries but will usually contain title page, aims, literature review, methodology, timetable and bibliography. Examples of research proposals are available online.
The abstract presents your thesis to the wider world – and as such may be its most important element , says the NUI Galway writing guide. It outlines the why, how, what and so what of the thesis . Unlike the introduction, which provides background but not research findings, the abstract summarises all sections of the dissertation in a concise, thorough, focused way and demonstrates how well the writer understands their material. Check word-length limits with your university – and stick to them. About 300 to 500 words is a rough guide – but it can be up to 1,000 words.
The abstract is also important for selection and indexing of your thesis, according to the University of Melbourne guide , so be sure to include searchable keywords.
It is the first thing to be read but the last element you should write. However, Pat Thomson , professor of education at the University of Nottingham , advises that it is not something to be tackled at the last minute.
As well as chapter conclusions, a thesis often has an overall conclusion to draw together the key points covered and to reflect on the unique contribution to knowledge. It can comment on future implications of the research and open up new ideas emanating from the work. It is shorter and more general than the discussion chapter , says online editing site Scribbr, and reiterates how the work answers the main question posed at the beginning of the thesis. The conclusion chapter also often discusses the limitations of the research (time, scope, word limit, access) in a constructive manner.
It can be useful to keep a collection of ideas as you go – in the online forum DoctoralWriting SIG , academic developer Claire Aitchison, of the University of South Australia , suggests using a “conclusions bank” for themes and inspirations, and using free-writing to keep this final section fresh. (Just when you feel you’ve run out of steam.) Avoid aggrandising or exaggerating the impact of your work. It should remind the reader what has been done, and why it matters.
Most universities use a preferred style of references , writes THE associate editor Ingrid Curl. Make sure you know what this is and follow it. “One of the most common errors in academic writing is to cite papers in the text that do not then appear in the bibliography. All references in your thesis need to be cross-checked with the bibliography before submission. Using a database during your research can save a great deal of time in the writing-up process.”
A bibliography contains not only works cited explicitly but also those that have informed or contributed to the research – and as such illustrates its scope; works are not limited to written publications but include sources such as film or visual art.
Examiners can start marking from the back of the script, writes Dr Brabazon. “Just as cooks are judged by their ingredients and implements, we judge doctoral students by the calibre of their sources,” she advises. She also says that candidates should be prepared to speak in an oral examination of the PhD about any texts included in their bibliography, especially if there is a disconnect between the thesis and the texts listed.
Don’t write like a stereotypical academic , say Kevin Haggerty, professor of sociology at the University of Alberta , and Aaron Doyle, associate professor in sociology at Carleton University , in their tongue-in-cheek guide to the PhD journey. “If you cannot write clearly and persuasively, everything about PhD study becomes harder.” Avoid jargon, exotic words, passive voice and long, convoluted sentences – and work on it consistently. “Writing is like playing guitar; it can improve only through consistent, concerted effort.”
Be deliberate and take care with your writing . “Write your first draft, leave it and then come back to it with a critical eye. Look objectively at the writing and read it closely for style and sense,” advises THE ’s Ms Curl. “Look out for common errors such as dangling modifiers, subject-verb disagreement and inconsistency. If you are too involved with the text to be able to take a step back and do this, then ask a friend or colleague to read it with a critical eye. Remember Hemingway’s advice: ‘Prose is architecture, not interior decoration.’ Clarity is key.”
Since the PhD supervisor provides a range of support and advice – including on research techniques, planning and submission – regular formal supervisions are essential, as is establishing a line of contact such as email if the candidate needs help or advice outside arranged times. The frequency varies according to university, discipline and individual scholars.
Once a week is ideal, says Dr Brabazon. She also advocates a two-hour initial meeting to establish the foundations of the candidate-supervisor relationship .
The University of Edinburgh guide to writing a thesis suggests that creating a timetable of supervisor meetings right at the beginning of the research process will allow candidates to ensure that their work stays on track throughout. The meetings are also the place to get regular feedback on draft chapters.
“A clear structure and a solid framework are vital for research,” writes Dr Godwin on THE Campus . Use your supervisor to establish this and provide a realistic view of what can be achieved. “It is vital to help students identify the true scientific merit, the practical significance of their work and its value to society.”
Proofreading is the final step before printing and submission. Give yourself time to ensure that your work is the best it can be . Don’t leave proofreading to the last minute; ideally, break it up into a few close-reading sessions. Find a quiet place without distractions. A checklist can help ensure that all aspects are covered.
Proofing is often helped by a change of format – so it can be easier to read a printout rather than working off the screen – or by reading sections out of order. Fresh eyes are better at spotting typographical errors and inconsistencies, so leave time between writing and proofreading. Check with your university’s policies before asking another person to proofread your thesis for you.
As well as close details such as spelling and grammar, check that all sections are complete, all required elements are included , and nothing is repeated or redundant. Don’t forget to check headings and subheadings. Does the text flow from one section to another? Is the structure clear? Is the work a coherent whole with a clear line throughout?
Ensure consistency in, for example, UK v US spellings, capitalisation, format, numbers (digits or words, commas, units of measurement), contractions, italics and hyphenation. Spellchecks and online plagiarism checkers are also your friend.
Treat your PhD like a full-time job, that is, with an eight-hour working day. Within that, you’ll need to plan your time in a way that gives a sense of progress . Setbacks and periods where it feels as if you are treading water are all but inevitable, so keeping track of small wins is important, writes A Happy PhD blogger Luis P. Prieto.
Be specific with your goals – use the SMART acronym (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely).
And it’s never too soon to start writing – even if early drafts are overwritten and discarded.
“ Write little and write often . Many of us make the mistake of taking to writing as one would take to a sprint, in other words, with relatively short bursts of intense activity. Whilst this can prove productive, generally speaking it is not sustainable…In addition to sustaining your activity, writing little bits on a frequent basis ensures that you progress with your thinking. The comfort of remaining in abstract thought is common; writing forces us to concretise our thinking,” says Christian Gilliam, AHSS researcher developer at the University of Cambridge ’s Centre for Teaching and Learning.
Make time to write. “If you are more alert early in the day, find times that suit you in the morning; if you are a ‘night person’, block out some writing sessions in the evenings,” advises NUI Galway’s Dermot Burns, a lecturer in English and creative arts. Set targets, keep daily notes of experiment details that you will need in your thesis, don’t confuse writing with editing or revising – and always back up your work.
During your PhD programme, you may have opportunities to take part in professional development activities, such as teaching, attending academic conferences and publishing your work. Your research may include residencies, field trips or archive visits. This will require time-management skills as well as prioritising where you devote your energy and factoring in rest and relaxation. Organise your routine to suit your needs , and plan for steady and regular progress.
Have a contingency plan for delays or roadblocks such as unexpected results.
Accept that writing is messy, first drafts are imperfect, and writer’s block is inevitable, says Dr Burns. His tips for breaking it include relaxation to free your mind from clutter, writing a plan and drawing a mind map of key points for clarity. He also advises feedback, reflection and revision: “Progressing from a rough version of your thoughts to a superior and workable text takes time, effort, different perspectives and some expertise.”
“Academia can be a relentlessly brutal merry-go-round of rejection, rebuttal and failure,” writes Lorraine Hope , professor of applied cognitive psychology at the University of Portsmouth, on THE Campus. Resilience is important. Ensure that you and your supervisor have a relationship that supports open, frank, judgement-free communication.
If you would like advice and insight from academics and university staff delivered direct to your inbox each week, sign up for the Campus newsletter .
Authoring a PhD Thesis: How to Plan, Draft, Write and Finish a Doctoral Dissertation (2003), by Patrick Dunleavy
Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day: A Guide to Starting, Revising, and Finishing Your Doctoral Thesis (1998), by Joan Balker
Challenges in Writing Your Dissertation: Coping with the Emotional, Interpersonal, and Spiritual Struggles (2015), by Noelle Sterne
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How long is a dissertation.
Dissertation word counts vary widely across different fields, institutions, and levels of education:
However, none of these are strict guidelines – your word count may be lower or higher than the numbers stated here. Always check the guidelines provided by your university to determine how long your own dissertation should be.
A dissertation prospectus or proposal describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a type of research to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.
It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives , ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee.
Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.
A thesis is typically written by students finishing up a bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Some educational institutions, particularly in the liberal arts, have mandatory theses, but they are often not mandatory to graduate from bachelor’s degrees. It is more common for a thesis to be a graduation requirement from a Master’s degree.
Even if not mandatory, you may want to consider writing a thesis if you:
The conclusion of your thesis or dissertation should include the following:
The conclusion of your thesis or dissertation shouldn’t take up more than 5–7% of your overall word count.
For a stronger dissertation conclusion , avoid including:
Your conclusion should leave the reader with a strong, decisive impression of your work.
While it may be tempting to present new arguments or evidence in your thesis or disseration conclusion , especially if you have a particularly striking argument you’d like to finish your analysis with, you shouldn’t. Theses and dissertations follow a more formal structure than this.
All your findings and arguments should be presented in the body of the text (more specifically in the discussion section and results section .) The conclusion is meant to summarize and reflect on the evidence and arguments you have already presented, not introduce new ones.
A theoretical framework can sometimes be integrated into a literature review chapter , but it can also be included as its own chapter or section in your dissertation . As a rule of thumb, if your research involves dealing with a lot of complex theories, it’s a good idea to include a separate theoretical framework chapter.
A literature review and a theoretical framework are not the same thing and cannot be used interchangeably. While a theoretical framework describes the theoretical underpinnings of your work, a literature review critically evaluates existing research relating to your topic. You’ll likely need both in your dissertation .
While a theoretical framework describes the theoretical underpinnings of your work based on existing research, a conceptual framework allows you to draw your own conclusions, mapping out the variables you may use in your study and the interplay between them.
A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake.
Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation , such as:
When you mention different chapters within your text, it’s considered best to use Roman numerals for most citation styles. However, the most important thing here is to remain consistent whenever using numbers in your dissertation .
In most styles, the title page is used purely to provide information and doesn’t include any images. Ask your supervisor if you are allowed to include an image on the title page before doing so. If you do decide to include one, make sure to check whether you need permission from the creator of the image.
Include a note directly beneath the image acknowledging where it comes from, beginning with the word “ Note .” (italicized and followed by a period). Include a citation and copyright attribution . Don’t title, number, or label the image as a figure , since it doesn’t appear in your main text.
Definitional terms often fall into the category of common knowledge , meaning that they don’t necessarily have to be cited. This guidance can apply to your thesis or dissertation glossary as well.
However, if you’d prefer to cite your sources , you can follow guidance for citing dictionary entries in MLA or APA style for your glossary.
A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. In contrast, an index is a list of the contents of your work organized by page number.
The title page of your thesis or dissertation goes first, before all other content or lists that you may choose to include.
The title page of your thesis or dissertation should include your name, department, institution, degree program, and submission date.
Glossaries are not mandatory, but if you use a lot of technical or field-specific terms, it may improve readability to add one to your thesis or dissertation. Your educational institution may also require them, so be sure to check their specific guidelines.
A glossary or “glossary of terms” is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. Your glossary only needs to include terms that your reader may not be familiar with, and is intended to enhance their understanding of your work.
A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. In contrast, dictionaries are more general collections of words.
An abbreviation is a shortened version of an existing word, such as Dr. for Doctor. In contrast, an acronym uses the first letter of each word to create a wholly new word, such as UNESCO (an acronym for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
As a rule of thumb, write the explanation in full the first time you use an acronym or abbreviation. You can then proceed with the shortened version. However, if the abbreviation is very common (like PC, USA, or DNA), then you can use the abbreviated version from the get-go.
Be sure to add each abbreviation in your list of abbreviations !
If you only used a few abbreviations in your thesis or dissertation , you don’t necessarily need to include a list of abbreviations .
If your abbreviations are numerous, or if you think they won’t be known to your audience, it’s never a bad idea to add one. They can also improve readability, minimizing confusion about abbreviations unfamiliar to your reader.
A list of abbreviations is a list of all the abbreviations that you used in your thesis or dissertation. It should appear at the beginning of your document, with items in alphabetical order, just after your table of contents .
Your list of tables and figures should go directly after your table of contents in your thesis or dissertation.
Lists of figures and tables are often not required, and aren’t particularly common. They specifically aren’t required for APA-Style, though you should be careful to follow their other guidelines for figures and tables .
If you have many figures and tables in your thesis or dissertation, include one may help you stay organized. Your educational institution may require them, so be sure to check their guidelines.
A list of figures and tables compiles all of the figures and tables that you used in your thesis or dissertation and displays them with the page number where they can be found.
The table of contents in a thesis or dissertation always goes between your abstract and your introduction .
You may acknowledge God in your dissertation acknowledgements , but be sure to follow academic convention by also thanking the members of academia, as well as family, colleagues, and friends who helped you.
A literature review is a survey of credible sources on a topic, often used in dissertations , theses, and research papers . Literature reviews give an overview of knowledge on a subject, helping you identify relevant theories and methods, as well as gaps in existing research. Literature reviews are set up similarly to other academic texts , with an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion .
An annotated bibliography is a list of source references that has a short description (called an annotation ) for each of the sources. It is often assigned as part of the research process for a paper .
In a thesis or dissertation, the discussion is an in-depth exploration of the results, going into detail about the meaning of your findings and citing relevant sources to put them in context.
The conclusion is more shorter and more general: it concisely answers your main research question and makes recommendations based on your overall findings.
In the discussion , you explore the meaning and relevance of your research results , explaining how they fit with existing research and theory. Discuss:
The results chapter or section simply and objectively reports what you found, without speculating on why you found these results. The discussion interprets the meaning of the results, puts them in context, and explains why they matter.
In qualitative research , results and discussion are sometimes combined. But in quantitative research , it’s considered important to separate the objective results from your interpretation of them.
Results are usually written in the past tense , because they are describing the outcome of completed actions.
The results chapter of a thesis or dissertation presents your research results concisely and objectively.
In quantitative research , for each question or hypothesis , state:
In qualitative research , for each question or theme, describe:
Don’t interpret or speculate in the results chapter.
To automatically insert a table of contents in Microsoft Word, follow these steps:
Make sure to update your table of contents if you move text or change headings. To update, simply right click and select Update Field.
All level 1 and 2 headings should be included in your table of contents . That means the titles of your chapters and the main sections within them.
The contents should also include all appendices and the lists of tables and figures, if applicable, as well as your reference list .
Do not include the acknowledgements or abstract in the table of contents.
The abstract appears on its own page in the thesis or dissertation , after the title page and acknowledgements but before the table of contents .
An abstract for a thesis or dissertation is usually around 200–300 words. There’s often a strict word limit, so make sure to check your university’s requirements.
In a thesis or dissertation, the acknowledgements should usually be no longer than one page. There is no minimum length.
The acknowledgements are generally included at the very beginning of your thesis , directly after the title page and before the abstract .
Yes, it’s important to thank your supervisor(s) in the acknowledgements section of your thesis or dissertation .
Even if you feel your supervisor did not contribute greatly to the final product, you must acknowledge them, if only for a very brief thank you. If you do not include your supervisor, it may be seen as a snub.
In the acknowledgements of your thesis or dissertation, you should first thank those who helped you academically or professionally, such as your supervisor, funders, and other academics.
Then you can include personal thanks to friends, family members, or anyone else who supported you during the process.
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The Scribbr Citation Generator is developed using the open-source Citation Style Language (CSL) project and Frank Bennett’s citeproc-js . It’s the same technology used by dozens of other popular citation tools, including Mendeley and Zotero.
You can find all the citation styles and locales used in the Scribbr Citation Generator in our publicly accessible repository on Github .
Academic Manual
Published for 2024-25
The Marking and Moderation regulations define the procedures for the internal marking and moderation of assessed student work. All programmes must apply these threshold standards as a minimum. |
1. | Markers are responsible for assessing student work against the published marking criteria, assigning each student a mark according to the relevant marking scale and providing students with feedback on their work. |
2. | The Programme Exam Board is responsible for the planning, documenting and implementation of appropriate marking, second-marking and internal moderation processes on a programme or group of modules. |
3. | The Faculty Board of Examiners is responsible for ensuring that appropriate marking, second-marking and moderation systems are documented and in place on all programmes within their remit (see for further details). |
1. | A UCL marker may be an Internal Examiner or an Assistant Internal Examiner. |
2. | Markers must be formally appointed as Internal Examiners or Assistant Internal Examiners by the Board of Examiners – see for further details on the appointment process, duties and responsibilities. |
3. | Students may also be asked to assess each other’s work as a valuable tool in enhancing their assessment literacy. Where Peer Assessment is used in summative assessment, the Internal Examiner(s) responsible for the module/ assessment must ensure that there are clear marking criteria, which are discussed with the students in advance, and that all marks awarded by students are subject to some form of second-marking by an Internal Examiner. |
1. | All summative assessments should be carried out anonymously unless the nature of assessment makes this impossible. |
2. | Where anonymity is not used, programmes must ensure, to the satisfaction of the External Examiner and the Board of Examiners, that there are robust processes in place for second-marking and internal moderation (see below). |
3. | There is no requirement for anonymity for formative assessments. |
4. | Examinations and tests must be assessed against Candidate Number only. |
5. | For coursework submissions, wherever possible, first and second markers should assign marks and provide written feedback based on Candidate Number or Student Record Number only. |
6. | Where coursework assessments include formative submissions, tutorials and/ or in-class feedback, it is recognised that full anonymity will not always be possible or desirable. Where this is the case, and the first marker knows the student, second-marking and moderation must be carried out anonymously. |
7. | Where dissertations and research projects involve close working between the supervisor and the student it is recognised that full anonymity will not always be possible or desirable. Where the supervisor acts as a marker for the dissertation or report, the assessment must be subject to full, independent and anonymous second-marking. |
8. | Feedback and an indicative mark based on the first marker’s comments, but prior to second marking, can be given to facilitate prompt feedback. However, students should be aware that the mark is indicative and subject to second-marking, internal moderation and ratification by the Board of Examiners and the External Examiner. |
1. | For both summative and formative assessment the marking criteria should be designed to help students understand what they are expected to achieve and the knowledge and skills that will be taken into account in awarding marks. |
2. | For every summative assessment (i.e. assessments whose results count towards Progression, Classification and/ or the Award of a degree), at least one of the following must be made available to students in advance of the assessment: |
a) | Grade Descriptors explaining the criteria and providing a detailed description of the qualities representative of different mark classes/grades. Where appropriate, grade descriptors can be agreed at departmental/divisional or programme level. | |
b) | A Marking Scheme explaining how the assessment is scored, i.e. how points are associated with answers to the question set and attributed to parts of the assessment. |
3. | Where appropriate, the following should also be made available to all markers and second-markers: |
a) | Indicative Answers by the question setter that outline the essential material expected to be considered by relevant answers. | |
b) | Model Answers that show the correct answer to the question as documented by the question setter. |
4. | Summative assessment must be criterion-referenced i.e. the assessment evaluates the ‘absolute’ quality of a candidate’s work against the marking criteria; the same work will always receive the same mark, irrespective of the performance of other students in the cohort. |
5. | Further guidance for best practice in designing marking criteria, including the identification of the key skills and knowledge being tested, is available from . |
4.5.1 minimum requirements.
1. | All modules must be subject to a form of second marking. |
2. | All dissertations/ research projects must be subject to Full, Independent, second-marking. |
3. | Faculties or Department may determine and publish policies on the appropriate use of different forms of second marking within the disciplinary context over and above UCL’s minimum threshold requirements. |
4. | The options for second marking are: |
a) | Second marking may be Full or Sampled: |
i. | Full second-marking: second markers mark or check all assessments. | ||
ii. | Sampled second-marking: Second markers mark or check a sample, based on defined criteria, of the full set of assessments. |
b) | Second marking may be Independent or done by Check Marking: |
i. | Independent marking (also known as double marking): Each marker assigns a mark. The two marks are subsequently reconciled to agree the mark for the assessment. | ||
ii. | Check marking: The second marker determines whether the mark awarded by the first marker is appropriate, but does not give a separate mark. The second marker confirms the mark if appropriate, and brings it to the attention of the first marker if not. Check marking will usually only be appropriate for quantitative or multiple-choice assessments in which answers can be scored objectively rather than requiring qualitative judgement on the part of the markers. |
c) | Second marking may be Blind or Open: |
i. | Blind second-marking: The second marker is not informed of the first marker’s marks and/ or comments. | ||
ii. | Open second-marking: The second marker is informed of the first marker’s marks and comments before commencing and can take these into account. |
d) | Second marking may be Live: |
i. | Live marking: Where an assessment is conducted ‘live’ (e.g. oral examinations, presentations, exhibitions, laboratory work, marking clinical work with patients, portfolios of work, group work etc.) the assessment should include provisions for second-marking, internal moderation and External Examiner scrutiny of either the full set of assessments or an appropriate sample. This may take the form of having two or more markers present, inviting the External Examiner to observe the event, recording the event or asking students to submit notes, slides and/ or visual material for these purposes. |
1. | Where an assessment includes multiple pairs of markers it is good practice to hold a parity meeting at the start of the marking process where markers can discuss and develop a shared understanding of the marking criteria. This can include comparing marks for a small sample of student work. |
2. | Parity meetings are particularly important where there is a large number of markers and where there are new markers in a team. |
1. | Sampling may be used where a large number of students undertakes an assessment. If the second markers agree with the marks for the sampled students, it can be assumed that marking is accurate for the population. However if the second markers disagree with one or more marks, the sample must be extended (see below). |
2. | Where sampling is used in second-marking, the sample must include the following as a minimum: |
a) | All Fails | |
b) | Mid-class examples for each class (mid-forties, mid-fifties, mid-sixties, Firsts/Distinctions) | |
c) | Examples of all upper borderlines (39, 49, 59, 69) | |
d) | The higher of either: at least 10% of assessments, or at least five assessments. |
3. | The above is based on the standard UCL marking scale; programmes operating an alternate marking scale should adjust as appropriate. |
4. | Thresholds for the use of sampling versus full second-marking over and above UCL’s threshold standards may be set at Faculty or Departmental/Divisional level. |
5. | Where there is disagreement over a single mark or a group of marks within the sample, markers must not change individual student marks. Instead, the sample must be extended. i. Particular attention should be paid to students with similar marks to those being contested, and to those marks falling close to a Classification boundary. ii. Where necessary, markers may review the marks of all students in the assessment concerned. |
6. | Extension of the sample must demonstrate to the External Examiner and the Board of Examiners that marking across the assessment concerned is sound and fair and that no student is advantaged or disadvantaged by being included in the sample (i.e. markers must not only change the marks of students in the sample; all marks must be reviewed). |
1. | All marks must be agreed by the markers. Where there is disagreement, the markers must adopt one of the following: |
a) | For mark differences of 10% or more, or which bracket a class boundary, the marks must be reconciled through discussion of the marking criteria. Mathematical averaging should not be used. | |
b) | For mark differences of less than 10%, the mark may be reconciled by discussion of the marking criteria or by mathematical averaging. |
1. | A third marker may be brought in where a first and second marker are unable to agree on a final mark. The third marker’s role is not to over-ride the two previous markers, but to contribute to resolving the discussion with reference to the marking criteria. |
2. | Third marking to reconcile disagreements between first and second markers must not be carried out by the External Examiner (see ). However, subsequently bringing third-marked work to the attention of the External Examiner is good practice. |
1. | Marks and how marks are arrived at must be transparent for Programme and Faculty Boards of Examiners, External Examiners, students, and, if necessary, complaint panels. |
2. | The first mark, second mark (where applicable) and the agreed mark must be recorded separately. |
3. | Justification for marks awarded must be documented in one of the following forms: |
a) | Examiner’s comments from both the first and, where applicable, second marker. These comments may be identical to the feedback provided to the student. | |
b) | Model answers and evidence of the scoring of the assessment by the first and, where applicable, second marker. |
1. | All programmes must have internal moderation systems in place to assure the consistency of marking and the proper application of the marking criteria across markers, students and modules. |
2. | Internal moderation may include, but is not limited to: |
a) | Checks to ensure that marking is comparable across marking pairs or teams | |
b) | Checks to ensure that marking is comparable across different options and electives |
3. | Where the internal moderation process identifies substantial discrepancies, third-marking of a set of assessments may be required. |
4. | Internal moderation processes must be documented and shared with the relevant Programme and Faculty Boards of Examiners. |
Further information and advice for students about assessment is available on the Examinations & Awards webpages .
A guide to changes to the regulations are available from the Recent Changes page.
Depending on the School, or the level at which you are studying, longer assignments may be called a dissertation, a research project, a thesis or a 'long essay'. Longer assignments are usually the output of an independent research project that involves some generating or working with primary data. Data collection may be done, for example, through experimental work, or may involve engaging with primary sources such as archival documents, depending on your subject area.
A variety of guidance and support is likely to be available. For example, there may be a written handbook or guidance notes; workshops or training sessions; or a supervisor to advise on managing the research.
Dissertations will usually:
At undergraduate level, your final year studies are likely to include writing some form of longer assignment. Final year projects are extremely common in undergraduate degree programmes in Science and Engineering disciplines. In some schools you will encounter dissertations or longer assignments in the second year.
At taught postgraduate level, similar long projects or dissertations are likely to be the final assignment on the course. They are usually longer than the projects completed at undergraduate level, and will often include more primary research, data gathering and analysis. An MRes dissertation (Masters by research) can sometimes be a longer piece of written research than usually required as part of a taught masters because the MRes dissertation is usually the only assessment.
The PhD thesis or doctoral research project is the longest piece of written work students produce for assessment.
Here is an overview of the stages you may need to work through to complete a dissertation:
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Published by Owen Ingram at January 27th, 2023 , Revised On April 19, 2024
Most students struggle at some point with deadlines, and we regularly get asked questions such as ‘Can you write a dissertation in a month?’ and ‘Can you write a dissertation in three days?’ We do not judge why you are in this situation, we’re here to help you get your dissertation done. The answer to the questions is yes. But of course, the less time you have, the more pressure you are under.
This is a common question, as is “How long does it take to write a 7,000-word dissertation?” There is no figure in hours or days that answers this; it differs for everyone. “Is it possible to write a 10,000-word dissertation in two days?” Well, yes. But you will only find out if you can do it when the two days are up. You need to get started immediately, follow our advice and use our dissertation guides . But we are not claiming it’s easy.
If you have to produce 10,000 words in ten days, you have to average 1,000 a day. If you have two days, then 5,000 per day and if you work on it for 12 hours each of those days, you need to turn out 417 words per hour. A tall order, but it can be done. Do not let panic or pressure overwhelm you; and remember, it is perfectly acceptable to ask for help . You can stop asking your friends ‘How quickly can you write a dissertation?’ You are going to show them how quickly.
How long d oes it take to write a 10k word dissertation? To give you some perspective, most people speak this many words in a day with no effort. You probably have more than enough words in your notes. It will make a big difference if you have your research project results analysis done already. If this is the case, you ‘only’ need to write them up. If you already made a good start but you are having trouble progressing, maybe you just need to focus on writing up your findings or certain chapters or areas.
You might think your notes are messy and disorganised or that they lack the right academic sound. Regardless, do not think of this task as producing all 10,000 words, rather, it is laying out your notes, organising them, and giving them a more formal, academic tone.
Can you write a dissertation in a day? This is surely the most demanding academic writing challenge. It means 100% focus and work: Type up your notes, ensuring they have an academic/formal tone to them. Keep going, section by section and as it grows, you will start to see your dissertation appear.
Prepare to start work.
You know your subject well, and you have probably written many essays on it by now. The main difference is that this assignment is longer. So, let’s get started. You need to prepare well; normal life can be suspended for the time you will spend working. The first preparations to make concern you and where you are going to work.
Turn off your phone and avoid TV. If you are really serious, you will really do it. When you procrastinate or allow yourself to be distracted, what do you do? Gaming? Staring out of the window? Baking? Make these things difficult or impossible to do. Be aware of something called productive procrastination. This is when you do something productive but it’s not what you are meant to be doing. Do not mistake activity for productivity. When you find yourself vacuuming around your desk, snap out of it.
Some people can work with music playing, and some need silence. Listening to words, whether sung or spoken, can distract you when producing text. If there is something that will help you, such as instrumental music, use it. Make sure everyone knows what you are doing and ask them to leave you alone (except for bringing you food and drinks). Can someone else handle your duties and obligations for a while?
Set up a workplace and de-clutter it. Remove irrelevant books and anything you can fiddle with. Gather all your materials: this means textbooks, notes on paper and in digital form. Your research is likely over, but you will need everything to hand.
Give all materials specific places and keep them there. As you use them, you will remember where they are. Putting them down in different places will mean time lost looking for them, which will add frustration to the work.
Getting up and walking away from the desk unnecessarily uses time you do not have. Do not let shopping trips interrupt your work. If you do not have enough food and supplies in before starting, get them first. Certain foods/snacks can help get you through, maybe you can suspend your usual health regime for a while. You need to feel comfortable in this. But do not overdo the caffeine or sugar .
Look ahead at your available time and make a schedule. If you work 21 hours on the first day, you might find yourself burnt out the next day. Sleep when you have to, work when you feel good. How long can you realistically work each day? Be careful not to create an unrealistic schedule, you will not keep up to it and will become demoralised. Remember that writing the dissertation is only 1% of your entire course; it is acceptable to get help at this late stage.
Start here – write an outline.
As well as a work schedule, you need a dissertation structure . You may be tempted to think that making an outline for your dissertation is extra work, that it would be quicker to just start writing. That would be like going on a driving tour to every European country with no plan. Without regular destinations, you will drift about aimlessly.
You can save time by focussing only on the main parts of the dissertation. If you run out of time, it will be better if the parts not completed are the less significant ones, although ideally nothing should be left unfinished. This is an exercise in prioritisation: Write the most valuable, points-scoring parts first.
With a tight time limit, you might have to make sacrifices. People with the luxury of time will spend a day or more on just the table of contents or references section . You might not have this option. The focus has to be on the rapid production of text and its quality; things like detailed formatting and page layout will be secondary.
In the detailed plan below, skip the greyed-out parts to start with. You can use this to create an outline by adding a note under each part of the different sections stating what you are going to include there. This is where the job starts to appear less daunting; 10,000 now becomes 2,000 for this section, 1,000 for that section… The mountain becomes a set of smaller hills. And the introduction section can be written after the body, it is easier and quicker that way.
Orders completed by our expert writers are
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1 Brief description of the topic and main problem |
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3 The of the investigation |
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5 Organisation of the research |
1 Introduction |
2 Summarise & combine findings from your sources |
3 Review & evaluation of sources used |
4 Critical assessment of the literature |
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2 Philosophical approach |
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4 Research limitations |
5 Ethical considerations |
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1 Statement and analysis of the results |
2 Comparison of the obtained results and initial goals/questions |
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2 Comparison of the results with the findings of prior researchers |
3 Suggestions regarding the use of the obtained findings for the further development of the topic and future investigation |
Build this as you go along. |
1 Statement of the IRB forms (for example, the forms of the informed consent) |
2 Information regarding the instrumentation |
When you have an outline, you need to put some meat on those bones and build a body. Working from start to finish may be best (skipping the introduction), but the order you work in is your choice. If your notes are not in order, a quick way to identify notes that apply to the different sections is to mark them with different coloured highlighters as in the table above. This will draw your eyes to the relevant notes quickly. You can do this on your computer screen by highlighting similarly.
After the main body, the introduction is next. This will be easier to write because all the information will be fresh in your mind. What next? The appendices or the parts at the front? This should be your decision based on remaining time.
Ignore spelling and grammar.
Do not pay attention to spelling, grammar, and language rules at this stage. Attending to spelling and grammatical details as you work will distract you and spoil your flow. Spelling and grammatical mistakes do not matter in a work in progress. You can turn checking functions off until you reach the editing and proofreading stage. Concentrate only on writing up your notes, do not switch between tasks.
Constantly switching between research, writing, and tidying up the reference section is inefficient. Each time you switch, your mind needs time to catch up then settle into that activity. By focussing, we mean you should do all the analysis in one session until it is finished, all the writing of major sections in another, and sorting out the reference section can be done in one sitting. Less switching saves time and usually turns out a better job.
When you leave the desk, click to save your work. Also do this after any burst of writing, and at regular intervals. Back up your work on another drive too. This is one of the most important things you will write. Treat it as the valuable document that it is.
For when you resume work, make sure you know where you left off, highlight it if that helps. When you come back to your work the next day, sometimes you can’t remember where you were; it can be difficult to resume the same line of thought. A habit of Ernest Hemingway was to leave an unfinished sentence to come back to so that he could…
Every time you quote or paraphrase something, note the source. Use a simple referencing technique while writing that does not demand much time. One such method is for the first in-text reference, just put (1) after the quote, use (2) for the second and so on. Start a list of sources that correspond to each number. You could highlight the numbers in a specific colour so you can attend to them later and not miss any. Missing just one reference, even accidentally, will still count as plagiarism . Before you start, be absolutely clear whether you are including a reference list or bibliography . Completing your list according to the required style ( Harvard , Chicago, etc.) can be done in one session.
You will need someone to read your finished work. Having it read by someone unfamiliar with the subject and the structure of dissertations will be unproductive. Ideally it should be someone who understands the topic. And these days that person need not be physically present; you can email your draft to someone to get an opinion on changes & improvements .
We are not going to sugar-coat the task of producing a dissertation in days rather than months and weeks. It is not easy, and regardless of what caused you to have such a short time remaining, it puts all your work in jeopardy. When someone asks us “Can I complete my dissertation in three days?” we have to answer yes, you can, but… It depends on the individual, how much work you have done so far, your personal circumstances, your other obligations, how much of those three days can you dedicate to the task.
Frequently asked questions, can i write my dissertation in under a week.
The short answer is yes but there are several factors to consider that may help or hinder you. Few people have the support around them to allow them to drop all commitments and focus on just one task. Also, few people will have taken on such a large a task in such a short time before, and might become overwhelmed.
The dissertation is where your study course culminates; all the time, effort, and expense you have invested should come to fruition here. This might not be a good time for maybe I can do it . Maybe you can make it to the bank before it closes. No? Oh, well, you can go tomorrow. Maybe I can write 10,000 words in a week. If the answer is no, the consequences are more serious.
This guide and all the other dissertation guides on this site are here to help you with every aspect of dissertation writing. You can also contact us directly through the chat box or Whatsapp.
Start by getting organised. Gather all the materials you need, create a work area, get rid of distractions, and if possible, delegate any obligations or chores to someone else for the duration. Then read this guide from the start. If you need further help when you are deep into the writing, just ask us. We exist just for this purpose. Our team and expert writers have handled almost every kind of dissertation emergency.
The more time you have, the better. But carrying out the research and analysis in such a short time will be very demanding. It can be done though; our team can do this in under a week. You would need a great level of support around you and an impressive level of determination and focus. If you supply the determination, we can provide the support .
To finish your dissertation quickly, prioritise tasks, set realistic goals, maintain a consistent work schedule, minimise distractions, seek feedback from advisors regularly, and break down the writing process into manageable chunks. Use effective time management techniques, such as the Pomodoro Technique, and stay organised with thorough planning and research strategies.
Struggling to write a high quality research paper? Here is all you need to know if you need help with writing research paper for your degree programme.
The essay writing process involves finding a suitable topic, preparing notes or outlines, research, and revisions. So how long will it take?
From 10,000 to 20,000 words for undergraduates, 15,000 to 50,000 words for masters, and 50,000 to 100,000 words or more for PhD.
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Kopal Srivastava Sep 3, 2024 1K Reads
All we know and hear is that Learning is a continuous journey. The saying “Keep learning till our last breath” captures this well. Formal education usually peaks with a Doctorate in your field. However, many Doctorate holders continue their education with post-doctoral courses.
Choosing higher education, like a PhD Program, is a personal decision. Postgraduate students pursuing a Doctorate have various motivations.
This article addresses questions such as: What is an Online PhD Program? How does one obtain an Online PhD Degree? Why pursue an Online Doctorate Degree? It also explores if you can achieve a Doctorate Degree Online. The answer is ‘Yes.’ Let's dive deeper into these aspects.
You must fulfill the mentioned eligibility criteria to apply for a PhD Program:
A Doctorate Degree is the highest academic qualification in any field. This includes areas like Psychology, Engineering, Computer Science, Humanities, Social Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, and Bio-Sciences. A Doctorate program usually takes four years of full-time study.
Doctorates contribute new knowledge to their field or improve existing systems. With more students aiming for dream careers and higher qualifications, the demand for Doctorate degrees is rising. This trend is also seen among students in Africa who want to build specialized careers. In today's world, Doctorate degrees are more relevant than ever.
To become a doctorate you need a master’s degree with a minimum mark of 50-55 percent from a government-recognised university. Moreover, you also need to take an entrance exam which is later followed by the personal interview round. Once you complete PhD program you will become a doctorate.
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Doctorate degrees are mainly for those who want careers in academics or research but you should know that your degree is not only useful to build an academic career but it is also useful in making you a manager in a top organization as it is believed that people having doctorate degree are experts in their fields as they have advanced knowledge and are fond of research and having research skill attract more recruiters and increases your chances of getting placed at top organization.Recently, more students aiming for industry jobs are also pursuing a doctorate.
Different postgraduates have different reasons for this. Here are some important ones:
1) Intellectual Curiosity: Many pursue a Doctorate driven by a deep desire to gain advanced knowledge.
2) Academic Career Aspirations: Those aiming to become professors or work in top educational institutions often choose a Doctorate.
3) Career Advancement: Doctorate holders find numerous career opportunities beyond academia, including well-paying private-sector jobs.
4) Desire for Recognition: Some seek societal respect and recognition, which a Doctorate can provide.
5) Job Market Demand: Many pursue a Doctorate to enhance employability, as there are ample opportunities in the private sector.
6) Personal Fulfillment: The satisfaction and sense of accomplishment from mastering new concepts motivates many to pursue a Doctorate.
7) Expert status: Some want to be recognized as experts in their field and influence organizational and social decisions.
8) Career advancement and salary: Better job prospects and higher salaries tend to attract postgraduate doctoral degrees.
A Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or similar research degrees focus on specialized study in a specific field. These programs prepare students for careers in academia, usually as professors or researchers.
Examples of research doctorates include:
No, there is no difference between these two both are doctorate degrees. A PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, is one type of doctorate degree. There are several other types of doctorate degrees. Keep reading to learn about the main categories and how they differ from each other.
Just like there are different types of undergraduate and graduate degrees, such as a BA versus a BS, or an MBA versus an MPA, doctoral degrees are also divided into categories.
There are two main types of doctorate degrees:
Let's compare and contrast these two types of doctorate degrees.
Professional doctoral degrees, also known as terminal or applied doctorates, focus on practical problem-solving rather than research and analysis. These degrees are crucial for certain careers and these degrees are specially designed for working professionals.
They can opt for these degrees to advance their career and to add a “Dr” title before their name. For example, to become a lawyer, you need a Juris Doctor (JD) degree along with passing the bar exam. Here are four more examples of professional doctorate degrees:
This category includes a Doctor of Philosophy or PhD degree, it covers many fields such as economics or psychology. For example, a Doctor of Arts (DA) is actually a form of PhD. Moreover, once you complete the program you can add a “Dr” title before your name and it also signifies that you are an expert in your field.
Here are four other examples of PhD degrees:
Unlike professional degrees like the JD or DPH, the PhD is research-based. It focuses on transferring new knowledge or ideas through a student’s thesis. This is why PhD programs are called "doctor of philosophy", even though they are not related to philosophy.
Here are the basics of getting a doctorate and what to do in each category:
Following all these steps is very important as these steps help you in obtaining your doctorate degree:
Step-1:You Need To Complete Your Undergraduate (Ug) And Post Graduate (Pg) Degree
You can find various universities that offer you a PhD program. Some of the top universities offering a PhD program are mentioned below:
Some of them are mentioned below:
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| INR 8,14,000 |
| INR 8,12,500 |
| INR 8,14,000 |
The time required to complete a doctorate varies, generally from three to eight years. The exact time depends on several factors:
All of these factors influence how long it will take to complete your doctorate.
Moreover, if you opt for an Online DBA program, you can complete this doctorate program in a minimum of 3-5 years. Moreover, you do not have to even quit your job to pursue it. Furthermore, you can even visit the country if you want as many universities offer you weekly campus immersion in which you can even visit the campus for weeks and can experience the joy of the place.
Demand for doctoral degrees is increasing as industries demand specialist skills and advanced research skills. According to the U.S. and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in physician-staff-level jobs is expected to grow by about 13% between 2016 and 2026. This is faster than growth in all industries, especially healthcare, education, and technology.
A doctoral degree brings new challenges and puts you at the forefront of research in your field. Financially, it can qualify you for high-paying, unique positions and help you stand out from other job seekers. So, how much can you earn to get a doctorate?
Statistics from the U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that a doctorate is associated with higher earnings. According to the BLS, the average weekly wage for doctoral degree holders is about $1,900 ( Rs.158755).
By comparison, master’s degree holders earn about $1,570 (Rs.131181) bachelor’s degree holders about $1,330 (Rs.111128), and associate degree holders about $960 (Rs. 80213). While earning a doctorate requires a significant investment in your education, it provides a practical return in increased lifetime earning potential, especially if you qualify for income that will be used to help you or financial aid.
Employment for PhD candidates depends on their specialization. The PhD program offers various specializations with different career profiles. Some examples include: including PhDs in Management, PhDs in the Arts, PhDs in Engineering, PhDs in Medicine, PhDs in Legal Studies, etc.
The details are mentioned below:
PhD Specialisations and Career Options
Various PhD specializations and their respective salaries are listed in the table below:
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Arts | PhD English | Rs 4,00,000 – Rs 12.00,000 |
PhD Economics | ||
PhD History | ||
PhD Sociology | ||
PhD Psychology | ||
Law | PhD Legal Studies | Rs 2,00,000 – Rs 13,00,000 |
PhD Law | ||
Engineering | PhD Biomedical Engineering | Rs 3,00,000 – Rs 15,00,000 |
PhD Information Technology | ||
PhD Mechanical Engineering | ||
PhD Bioinformatics | ||
Medical | PhD Neuroscience | Rs 4,00,000 – Rs 11,00,000 |
PhD Pathology | ||
PhD Physiotherapy | ||
Management | PhD Human Resource Management | Rs 4,00,000 – Rs 12.00,000 |
PhD Marketing | ||
PhD Business Management | ||
PhD Finance | ||
Science | PhD Chemistry | Rs 4,00,000 – Rs 14,00,000 |
PhD Computer Science | ||
PhD Biology | ||
Mathematics | PhD Mathematics | Rs 3,00,000 – Rs 10,00,000 |
Earning a doctorate offers many career advantages. Here are some of the benefits:
There are various challenges faced by the students who enroll in a PhD program. Some of them are mentioned below:
Supervisor Issues
A good relationship with your supervisor is key to your PhD's success. However, problems can arise:
If issues persist, consider changing your supervisor.
If you are searching for options to get a doctorate without doing a PhD program, then you can opt for its alternative and the best alternative of a PhD is DBA. It stands for Doctor of Business Administration and it is also a doctorate program and adds up the “Dr” title before your name.
Moreover, you can even opt for an Online DBA, it will be a perfect alternative for you if you want to get your doctorate without doing PhD and without even quitting your job.
Moreover, the biggest advantage of choosing an Online DBA is you can earn your doctorate degree from an international faculty and without even relocation to another country.
Furthermore, in a PhD program, you do not get an opportunity to learn from an international faculties but in an online DBA, you will get this opportunity to learn from an international faculty who have years of experience and published their work in top journals they will guide you to publish your papers too.
Various universities offer you an Online DBA, some of them are mentioned below:
There is one more option for you to get your doctorate and that is a Ph.D. for working professionals. This program is specially designed for students who want to do a PhD program but are unable to quit their jobs.
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You can opt for this program and can get your doctorate without even quitting your job. Moreover, you can easily attend classes in the evening or classes conducted on the weekend to understand everything clearly.
I would like to tell you that there is no easy way to get your PhD. PhD is not an easy task it is a lengthy process. First, you need to take an entrance exam which is followed by the personal interview round and if you pass the interview round only then you will admitted to the university.
Moreover, doing a PhD is not easy as it is focused on research, and doing research becomes difficult for one who is not interested in research, so if you are someone who only wants to get recognized by the “Dr” title and does not want to do a PhD, you must opt for an Online DBA program, it is also a doctorate program and adds up the “Dr” title before your name.
The syllabus for PhD entrance exams is based on the candidate's chosen specialization. It majorly includes topics from their UG and PG courses. Many universities also conduct an interview round for PhD admissions in 2024.
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Are you also a working professional looking to advance your career and have relevant working experience then you must opt for a DBA program. These doctorate programs are specially designed for people who are working and can not quit their jobs and who want to advance their careers.
By opting for a DBA program you will be able to advance your career and will be able to get recognized with a “Dr” title just like to get recognized with a “Dr” title after completing PhD program. Moreover, you can opt for an Online DBA program, if you choose an Online DBA, you will be able to earn your doctorate degree from an International university without even relocating to another country.
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Furthermore, you get an opportunity to learn from international faculties who have years of experience and have published their work in top journals so they can guide you better. One of the biggest advantages of choosing an Online DBA program is, that you do not have to take any entrance exam, International universities offer you direct admission if you fulfill the eligibility criteria.
The PhD in Psychology is a three-year program that leads to a doctorate and opens up many opportunities in medicine and academics. This doctoral degree focuses on medical science and research projects, making it ideal for students interested in a field of study or research.
For a PhD in Psychology, you need a Masters Degree in Psychology with at least 55% marks from a recognized university. Admission may be based on entrance examination or performance. Course fees range from Rs 20,000 to Rs 2 lakh.
Some of the top universities offering this program in India include Amity University, Lady Sri Rama College for Women, and Madras Christian College. With a PhD in psychology, one can become a professor at leading universities in India and abroad, work as a trained psychologist, and become a researcher and researcher in the field of psychology.
Psychology is a vast field with many specialized fields for students to explore and research. Advanced psychology courses help students develop deeper knowledge and are trained to share this information effectively. These courses can improve job performance and improve relationships.
Understanding psychology leads to better human relationships. With mental health on the rise, it is increasingly important for professionals such as counselors, therapists, and psychologists to help those in need.
Here are the top reasons why you should pursue a PhD in psychology:
A Doctorate is the highest academic qualification in any field. This includes areas like Psychology, Engineering, Computer Science, Humanities, Social Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, and Bio-Sciences. A Doctorate program usually takes four years of full-time study. Doctorate degrees are mainly for those who want careers in academics or research but you should know that your degree is not only useful to build an academic career but it is also useful in making you a manager in a top organization as it is believed that people having doctorate degree are experts in their fields as they have advanced knowledge and are fond of research and having research skill attract more recruiters and increases your chances of getting placed at top organization.
⭐ how long does it take to get a doctorate.
On average, a Ph.D. can take up to three to five years to complete.
Here are the steps to getting a PhD:
No, a Ph.D. is an academic degree, while a doctorate can be academic or professional. A Ph.D. is highly theoretical and research-focused. A professional doctorate is practical and applies research to specific professional settings.
It's very rare but possible. A few students finish their Ph.D. in two years, and some elite students even do it in 12 months. The key is to have a strong academic CV before starting.
To pursue a PhD, you need to have completed a master’s degree in the same or a related field. Some colleges may also require an MPhil degree.
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How long it takes to mark a dissertation depends (esp. on the length, discipline, topic, how familiar the marker is with the material), but a 10,000-word dissertation might take 30-45 mins. Having said that, it's rare that a thorough read changes the impression of a dissertation by much - it's usually pretty clear which grading band a work ...
This includes formulating an idea, doing the research, and writing up. A PhD thesis takes a longer time, as the thesis is the main focus of the degree. A PhD thesis might be being formulated and worked on for the whole four years of the degree program. The writing process alone can take around 18 months.
How To Write A Dissertation: 8 Steps. Clearly understand what a dissertation (or thesis) is. Find a unique and valuable research topic. Craft a convincing research proposal. Write up a strong introduction chapter. Review the existing literature and compile a literature review.
How long should a dissertation introduction be? The unofficial rule is 10 percent of the entire paper, so if your dissertation is 20,000 words, your introduction should be about 2,000 words. Keep in mind this is a rough estimate, as your introduction could vary. Literature review.
The Dissertation Guidebook is one of the essential navigation tools Walden provides to its doctoral candidates. A vital portion of the document details the 15 required steps that take a dissertation from start to finish. Read along with Walden students to learn more about that process: Premise. The dissertation premise is a short document that ...
What is a dissertation? A dissertation is usually a long-term project to produce a long-form piece of writing; think of it a little like an extended, structured assignment. In some subjects (typically the sciences), it might be called a project instead. Work on an undergraduate dissertation is often spread out over the final year.
A dissertation is an extended piece of academic writing on a question or problem related to particular subject. Usually done at the end of an undergraduate or master's degree, this type of research project can take several months to complete. A thesis is usually completed as part of a PhD. While similar in nature to a dissertation, a thesis ...
Revised on 5 May 2022. A dissertation is a large research project undertaken at the end of a degree. It involves in-depth consideration of a problem or question chosen by the student. It is usually the largest (and final) piece of written work produced during a degree. The length and structure of a dissertation vary widely depending on the ...
Barring unforeseen events, the normal time range for finishing a dissertation seems to be 13-19 months, which can be rounded to one to one and a half years. If you are proactive and efficient, you can usually be at the shorter end of the time range.
April 24, 2024. Studying. Tip & Tricks. Writing a dissertation can be a formidable undertaking, and it's natural to wonder how long the process will take. While the exact time required can vary based on numerous factors, understanding the process itself and the factors that influence its duration can help you plan effectively.
Each student's dissertation is a slightly different length. Typically, though, most dissertations are between 100 and 300 pages long. It's common for them to include about 80,000 words.
Writing a masters dissertation or thesis is a sizable task. It takes a considerable amount of research, studying and writing. Usually, students need to write around 10,000 to 15,000 words. It is completely normal to find the idea of writing a masters thesis or dissertation slightly daunting, even for students who have written one before at ...
the mark awarded for Analysis would be 27% of the total mark for the work. Dissertation Marking Criteria - Level 7 N.B. These marking criteria are based on the QAA Framework for higher education qualification in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (2008) Structure & organisation Knowledge Application of knowledge & understanding (incl.
It can be helpful to think of your Masters dissertation as a series of closely interlinked essays, rather than one overwhelming paper. The size of this section will depend on the overall word count for your dissertation. However, to give you a rough idea for a 15,000-word dissertation, the discussion part will generally be about 12,000 words long.
1-30 Clear Failure. demonstrate no understanding of its general subject area. have no clear research aims or questions. be unable to demonstrate that original fieldwork or some other independent research has taken place. contain no serious analytical work. It will contain no serious discussion of methods used.
Embarking on a PhD is "probably the most challenging task that a young scholar attempts to do", write Mark Stephan Felix and Ian Smith in their practical guide to dissertation and thesis writing. After years of reading and research to answer a specific question or proposition, the candidate will submit about 80,000 words that explain their methods and results and demonstrate their unique ...
A clear list of what sections are in the dissertation and what page they are on. It is advisable to do this last so the page numbers for every section is known. Summary/Abstract. A brief overview of the dissertation, introducing the subject, the angle the dissertation will take, and the evidence it will consider.
An undergraduate dissertation is typically 8,000-15,000 words. A master's dissertation is typically 12,000-50,000 words. A PhD thesis is typically book-length: 70,000-100,000 words. However, none of these are strict guidelines - your word count may be lower or higher than the numbers stated here. Always check the guidelines provided ...
4.5.4 Reconciliation of Marks. 1. All marks must be agreed by the markers. Where there is disagreement, the markers must adopt one of the following: a) For mark differences of 10% or more, or which bracket a class boundary, the marks must be reconciled through discussion of the marking criteria.
Dissertations, projects and theses. Depending on the School, or the level at which you are studying, longer assignments may be called a dissertation, a research project, a thesis or a 'long essay'. Longer assignments are usually the output of an independent research project that involves some generating or working with primary data.
How Long Does it Take to Write a 10,000-word Dissertation? This is a common question, as is "How long does it take to write a 7,000-word dissertation?" There is no figure in hours or days that answers this; it differs for everyone. ... a quick way to identify notes that apply to the different sections is to mark them with different coloured ...
1.2 Contribution of the dissertation to the overall assessment of the degree. The dissertation accounts for a proportion of the total assessment for a programme. Dissertations are normally worth 60 credits, although there may be exceptions for 2-year postgraduate taught degree programmes. Students should always refer to the relevant programme ...
Most doctorate programs end with a major research project called a dissertation. In this project, students present their own original theories, research, or data analysis, or expand on previous scholarly work. A dissertation is usually a written paper, generally between 100 and 300 pages long, depending on the data volume and subject complexity.
Depends on uni, course. i think the average is 8 weeks. Reply 13. 3 years ago. A. LMayo003. 1. It took my friend roughly a month after submitting it in September to get a MSc dissertation back. This was in the UK.