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8 straightforward steps to craft an a-grade dissertation.
By: Derek Jansen (MBA) Expert Reviewed By: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | June 2020
Writing a dissertation or thesis is not a simple task. It takes time, energy and a lot of will power to get you across the finish line. It’s not easy – but it doesn’t necessarily need to be a painful process. If you understand the big-picture process of how to write a dissertation or thesis, your research journey will be a lot smoother.
In this post, I’m going to outline the big-picture process of how to write a high-quality dissertation or thesis, without losing your mind along the way. If you’re just starting your research, this post is perfect for you. Alternatively, if you’ve already submitted your proposal, this article which covers how to structure a dissertation might be more helpful.
This probably sounds like a no-brainer, but all too often, students come to us for help with their research and the underlying issue is that they don’t fully understand what a dissertation (or thesis) actually is.
So, what is a dissertation?
At its simplest, a dissertation or thesis is a formal piece of research , reflecting the standard research process . But what is the standard research process, you ask? The research process involves 4 key steps:
In short, the research process is simply about asking and answering questions in a systematic fashion . This probably sounds pretty obvious, but people often think they’ve done “research”, when in fact what they have done is:
If you want to see the perfect example of this in action, look out for the next Facebook post where someone claims they’ve done “research”… All too often, people consider reading a few blog posts to constitute research. Its no surprise then that what they end up with is an opinion piece, not research. Okay, okay – I’ll climb off my soapbox now.
The key takeaway here is that a dissertation (or thesis) is a formal piece of research, reflecting the research process. It’s not an opinion piece , nor a place to push your agenda or try to convince someone of your position. Writing a good dissertation involves asking a question and taking a systematic, rigorous approach to answering it.
If you understand this and are comfortable leaving your opinions or preconceived ideas at the door, you’re already off to a good start!
As we saw, the first step of the research process is to ask a specific, well-articulated question. In other words, you need to find a research topic that asks a specific question or set of questions (these are called research questions ). Sounds easy enough, right? All you’ve got to do is identify a question or two and you’ve got a winning research topic. Well, not quite…
A good dissertation or thesis topic has a few important attributes. Specifically, a solid research topic should be:
Let’s take a closer look at these:
Attribute #1: Clear
Your research topic needs to be crystal clear about what you’re planning to research, what you want to know, and within what context. There shouldn’t be any ambiguity or vagueness about what you’ll research.
Here’s an example of a clearly articulated research topic:
An analysis of consumer-based factors influencing organisational trust in British low-cost online equity brokerage firms.
As you can see in the example, its crystal clear what will be analysed (factors impacting organisational trust), amongst who (consumers) and in what context (British low-cost equity brokerage firms, based online).
Attribute #2: Unique
Your research should be asking a question(s) that hasn’t been asked before, or that hasn’t been asked in a specific context (for example, in a specific country or industry).
For example, sticking organisational trust topic above, it’s quite likely that organisational trust factors in the UK have been investigated before, but the context (online low-cost equity brokerages) could make this research unique. Therefore, the context makes this research original.
One caveat when using context as the basis for originality – you need to have a good reason to suspect that your findings in this context might be different from the existing research – otherwise, there’s no reason to warrant researching it.
Attribute #3: Important
Simply asking a unique or original question is not enough – the question needs to create value. In other words, successfully answering your research questions should provide some value to the field of research or the industry. You can’t research something just to satisfy your curiosity. It needs to make some form of contribution either to research or industry.
For example, researching the factors influencing consumer trust would create value by enabling businesses to tailor their operations and marketing to leverage factors that promote trust. In other words, it would have a clear benefit to industry.
So, how do you go about finding a unique and valuable research topic? We explain that in detail in this video post – How To Find A Research Topic . Yeah, we’ve got you covered 😊
Once you’ve pinned down a high-quality research topic, the next step is to convince your university to let you research it. No matter how awesome you think your topic is, it still needs to get the rubber stamp before you can move forward with your research. The research proposal is the tool you’ll use for this job.
So, what’s in a research proposal?
The main “job” of a research proposal is to convince your university, advisor or committee that your research topic is worthy of approval. But convince them of what? Well, this varies from university to university, but generally, they want to see that:
At the proposal stage, it’s (generally) not expected that you’ve extensively reviewed the existing literature , but you will need to show that you’ve done enough reading to identify a clear gap for original (unique) research. Similarly, they generally don’t expect that you have a rock-solid research methodology mapped out, but you should have an idea of whether you’ll be undertaking qualitative or quantitative analysis , and how you’ll collect your data (we’ll discuss this in more detail later).
Long story short – don’t stress about having every detail of your research meticulously thought out at the proposal stage – this will develop as you progress through your research. However, you do need to show that you’ve “done your homework” and that your research is worthy of approval .
So, how do you go about crafting a high-quality, convincing proposal? We cover that in detail in this video post – How To Write A Top-Class Research Proposal . We’ve also got a video walkthrough of two proposal examples here .
Once your proposal’s been approved, its time to get writing your actual dissertation or thesis! The good news is that if you put the time into crafting a high-quality proposal, you’ve already got a head start on your first three chapters – introduction, literature review and methodology – as you can use your proposal as the basis for these.
Handy sidenote – our free dissertation & thesis template is a great way to speed up your dissertation writing journey.
What’s the introduction chapter all about?
The purpose of the introduction chapter is to set the scene for your research (dare I say, to introduce it…) so that the reader understands what you’ll be researching and why it’s important. In other words, it covers the same ground as the research proposal in that it justifies your research topic.
What goes into the introduction chapter?
This can vary slightly between universities and degrees, but generally, the introduction chapter will include the following:
As you can see, this all about explaining the “what” and the “why” of your research (as opposed to the “how”). So, your introduction chapter is basically the salesman of your study, “selling” your research to the first-time reader and (hopefully) getting them interested to read more.
How do I write the introduction chapter, you ask? We cover that in detail in this post .
As I mentioned earlier, you’ll need to do some initial review of the literature in Steps 2 and 3 to find your research gap and craft a convincing research proposal – but that’s just scratching the surface. Once you reach the literature review stage of your dissertation or thesis, you need to dig a lot deeper into the existing research and write up a comprehensive literature review chapter.
What’s the literature review all about?
There are two main stages in the literature review process:
The first stage is for you to deep dive into the existing literature (journal articles, textbook chapters, industry reports, etc) to gain an in-depth understanding of the current state of research regarding your topic. While you don’t need to read every single article, you do need to ensure that you cover all literature that is related to your core research questions, and create a comprehensive catalogue of that literature , which you’ll use in the next step.
Reading and digesting all the relevant literature is a time consuming and intellectually demanding process. Many students underestimate just how much work goes into this step, so make sure that you allocate a good amount of time for this when planning out your research. Thankfully, there are ways to fast track the process – be sure to check out this article covering how to read journal articles quickly .
Once you’ve worked through the literature and digested it all, you’ll need to write up your literature review chapter. Many students make the mistake of thinking that the literature review chapter is simply a summary of what other researchers have said. While this is partly true, a literature review is much more than just a summary. To pull off a good literature review chapter, you’ll need to achieve at least 3 things:
As you can see, a good literature review is more than just a summary of the published research. It’s the foundation on which your own research is built, so it deserves a lot of love and attention. Take the time to craft a comprehensive literature review with a suitable structure .
But, how do I actually write the literature review chapter, you ask? We cover that in detail in this video post .
Once you’ve completed your literature review and have a sound understanding of the existing research, its time to develop your own research (finally!). You’ll design this research specifically so that you can find the answers to your unique research question.
There are two steps here – designing your research strategy and executing on it:
The first step is to design your research strategy and craft a methodology chapter . I won’t get into the technicalities of the methodology chapter here, but in simple terms, this chapter is about explaining the “how” of your research. If you recall, the introduction and literature review chapters discussed the “what” and the “why”, so it makes sense that the next point to cover is the “how” –that’s what the methodology chapter is all about.
In this section, you’ll need to make firm decisions about your research design. This includes things like:
If these words have got your head spinning, don’t worry! We’ll explain these in plain language in other posts. It’s not essential that you understand the intricacies of research design (yet!). The key takeaway here is that you’ll need to make decisions about how you’ll design your own research, and you’ll need to describe (and justify) your decisions in your methodology chapter.
Once you’ve worked out your research design, you’ll put it into action and start collecting your data. This might mean undertaking interviews, hosting an online survey or any other data collection method. Data collection can take quite a bit of time (especially if you host in-person interviews), so be sure to factor sufficient time into your project plan for this. Oftentimes, things don’t go 100% to plan (for example, you don’t get as many survey responses as you hoped for), so bake a little extra time into your budget here.
Once you’ve collected your data, you’ll need to do some data preparation before you can sink your teeth into the analysis. For example:
Once you’ve completed your data prep, you’ll undertake your analysis, using the techniques that you described in your methodology. Depending on what you find in your analysis, you might also do some additional forms of analysis that you hadn’t planned for. For example, you might see something in the data that raises new questions or that requires clarification with further analysis.
The type(s) of analysis that you’ll use depend entirely on the nature of your research and your research questions. For example:
Again, if these words have got your head spinning, don’t worry! We’ll explain these concepts and techniques in other posts. The key takeaway is simply that there’s no “one size fits all” for research design and methodology – it all depends on your topic, your research questions and your data. So, don’t be surprised if your study colleagues take a completely different approach to yours.
Once you’ve completed your analysis, it’s time to present your findings (finally!). In a dissertation or thesis, you’ll typically present your findings in two chapters – the results chapter and the discussion chapter .
What’s the difference between the results chapter and the discussion chapter?
While these two chapters are similar, the results chapter generally just presents the processed data neatly and clearly without interpretation, while the discussion chapter explains the story the data are telling – in other words, it provides your interpretation of the results.
For example, if you were researching the factors that influence consumer trust, you might have used a quantitative approach to identify the relationship between potential factors (e.g. perceived integrity and competence of the organisation) and consumer trust. In this case:
Depending on the university and degree, these two chapters (results and discussion) are sometimes merged into one , so be sure to check with your institution what their preference is. Regardless of the chapter structure, this section is about presenting the findings of your research in a clear, easy to understand fashion.
Importantly, your discussion here needs to link back to your research questions (which you outlined in the introduction or literature review chapter). In other words, it needs to answer the key questions you asked (or at least attempt to answer them).
For example, if we look at the sample research topic:
In this case, the discussion section would clearly outline which factors seem to have a noteworthy influence on organisational trust. By doing so, they are answering the overarching question and fulfilling the purpose of the research .
For more information about the results chapter , check out this post for qualitative studies and this post for quantitative studies .
Last but not least, you’ll need to wrap up your research with the conclusion chapter . In this chapter, you’ll bring your research full circle by highlighting the key findings of your study and explaining what the implications of these findings are.
What exactly are key findings? The key findings are those findings which directly relate to your original research questions and overall research objectives (which you discussed in your introduction chapter). The implications, on the other hand, explain what your findings mean for industry, or for research in your area.
Sticking with the consumer trust topic example, the conclusion might look something like this:
Key findings
This study set out to identify which factors influence consumer-based trust in British low-cost online equity brokerage firms. The results suggest that the following factors have a large impact on consumer trust:
While the following factors have a very limited impact on consumer trust:
Notably, within the 25-30 age groups, Factors E had a noticeably larger impact, which may be explained by…
Implications
The findings having noteworthy implications for British low-cost online equity brokers. Specifically:
The large impact of Factors X and Y implies that brokers need to consider….
The limited impact of Factor E implies that brokers need to…
As you can see, the conclusion chapter is basically explaining the “what” (what your study found) and the “so what?” (what the findings mean for the industry or research). This brings the study full circle and closes off the document.
You’re still with me? Impressive! I know that this post was a long one, but hopefully you’ve learnt a thing or two about how to write a dissertation or thesis, and are now better equipped to start your own research.
To recap, the 8 steps to writing a quality dissertation (or thesis) are as follows:
Once you’ve wrapped up the core chapters, all that’s typically left is the abstract , reference list and appendices. As always, be sure to check with your university if they have any additional requirements in terms of structure or content.
This post was based on one of our popular Research Bootcamps . If you're working on a research project, you'll definitely want to check this out ...
thankfull >>>this is very useful
Thank you, it was really helpful
unquestionably, this amazing simplified way of teaching. Really , I couldn’t find in the literature words that fully explicit my great thanks to you. However, I could only say thanks a-lot.
Great to hear that – thanks for the feedback. Good luck writing your dissertation/thesis.
This is the most comprehensive explanation of how to write a dissertation. Many thanks for sharing it free of charge.
Very rich presentation. Thank you
Thanks Derek Jansen|GRADCOACH, I find it very useful guide to arrange my activities and proceed to research!
Thank you so much for such a marvelous teaching .I am so convinced that am going to write a comprehensive and a distinct masters dissertation
It is an amazing comprehensive explanation
This was straightforward. Thank you!
I can say that your explanations are simple and enlightening – understanding what you have done here is easy for me. Could you write more about the different types of research methods specific to the three methodologies: quan, qual and MM. I look forward to interacting with this website more in the future.
Thanks for the feedback and suggestions 🙂
Hello, your write ups is quite educative. However, l have challenges in going about my research questions which is below; *Building the enablers of organisational growth through effective governance and purposeful leadership.*
Very educating.
Just listening to the name of the dissertation makes the student nervous. As writing a top-quality dissertation is a difficult task as it is a lengthy topic, requires a lot of research and understanding and is usually around 10,000 to 15000 words. Sometimes due to studies, unbalanced workload or lack of research and writing skill students look for dissertation submission from professional writers.
Thank you 💕😊 very much. I was confused but your comprehensive explanation has cleared my doubts of ever presenting a good thesis. Thank you.
thank you so much, that was so useful
Hi. Where is the excel spread sheet ark?
could you please help me look at your thesis paper to enable me to do the portion that has to do with the specification
my topic is “the impact of domestic revenue mobilization.
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Many postgraduate students experience a feeling of dread when they first begin thinking about the word ‘Dissertation’! As an essential component of most postgraduate degree programmes, the Dissertation can be the key to success or failure. However, there’s no need to spend time on stress and worry if you understand how to create a successful Dissertation .
What is a masters dissertation.
A Masters Dissertation is a lengthy written study on a topic chosen by the student. It is undertaken with the guidance of a faculty supervisor, and involves an extended period of research and writing. The content and length vary depending on your field of study – Dissertations are typically longer in theoretical fields, and shorter in practical fields.
MA Dissertations are conventional academic studies in the fields of the Arts, Humanities and some Social Sciences. They are typically comprised of a thorough investigation of a particular topic, based on the application of theoretical knowledge to already-available data (texts, documents, artworks or existing data sets). It is rare for MA dissertations to include extensive data collected by the author, as the focus is primarily on the application of philosophical and theoretical frameworks. The length of MA Dissertations is typically 25,000-50,000 words, although they may be shorter in some degree programmes where a practical element is also included.
MSc Dissertations are often shorter than MA Dissertations, because they rely more heavily on concrete data that can be conveyed with fewer words. However, the content is just as rigorous in a scholarly sense. MSc Dissertations will often involve some practical field work by students, who are expected to collect data through lab activities. For MSc students the Dissertation forms part of a larger process of research reports and data collection.
MBA Dissertations can take several forms. Traditionally they adhere to a more science-based framework and have more in common with MSc Dissertations than MA Dissertations. However, universities are increasingly offering MBA students opportunities to pursue alternative forms of research that encompass more qualitative and philosophical approaches, and that address a wider set of learning outcomes. For this reason the length of the MBA Dissertation can vary significantly depending on the particular institution and the line of research the student undertakes. Furthermore, many MBA programmes do not require dissertations at all!
Masters Dissertation requires students to engage with their subject area in a more critical manner than they will have done at the undergraduate level. While many Masters students probably completed a Bachelor’s Dissertation , the expectations for the Masters Dissertation are very different. At this level they will be expected to develop a critical analysis that goes beyond the synthesised reviews typically offered in undergraduate studies. In particular, Masters students are expected to develop a clear philosophical and methodological framework for their writing, and this enables them to craft a much more targeted and incisive analysis.
Masters Dissertations also differ significantly from MPhil and PhD Dissertations, because the Masters level requires less original research. A PhD requires a much longer thesis, normally between 80,000 and 100,000 words. Both the PhD and MPhil require a more sophisticated research agenda, which will rely heavily on independent field research or unique text-based research. At the Masters level, research does not need to be completely unique and ground-breaking, as it does for a PhD. However, Masters students are still expected to provide original writing and critical analysis.
Masters Dissertation will typically contain the following dissertation structure , although the length and nature of these vary according to the academic field:
Word Length – Most Masters Dissertations are 15,000 – 50,000 words in length, although as stated above this can vary significantly depending on the subject area. Do remember that the word count typically does not include front matter, foot notes, bibliography or appendices!
Duration of Study – Most UK Masters programmes are one year in length, with the Dissertation submitted at the end of that year. This can vary for longer degree programmes, or in cases where students are allowed an extra ‘writing up’ year.
Submission Deadlines – Submission deadlines will vary among universities so it’s best to check with your specific institution for details. Masters Dissertations are assessed by examiners and the results must be certified by University Exam Boards, which are held twice yearly (normally in July and September). This means that the deadline for submitting dissertations is usually late June or late August, to allow time for marking prior to the Exam Boards. If necessary, students can request an extension to these deadlines if they can demonstrate genuine extenuating circumstances that will delay their submission. Always check with your university for specific regulations regarding submission and extensions.
Grades – The marking system for Masters dissertations is usually on the same numeric scale that is used for other UK assessments. Students must generally achieve a minimum mark of 40 to pass, but most will aspire to higher marks than this. Marks of 60-69 earn a classification of 2.1, or B; Marks over 70 earn a First classification, or A.
Writing a good dissertation requires honest dedication from students and an ability to motivate themselves over a long period of time. You can start off on a successful path by understanding the typical Masters Dissertation requirements, and developing your plan of study accordingly!
David Brigden and Graham Lamont, 2010. Planning Dissertations. Available: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/detail/subjects/medev/Planning_dissertations. Last accessed 08 Apr 2013.
Kjell Erik Rudestam, 2007. Surviving Your Dissertation: A Comprehensive Guide to Content and Process. 3rd Edition. SAGE Publications, Inc.
University of Worcester, 2010. Masters Dissertation Handbook. Available: http://www.worcester.ac.uk/registryservices/documents/Masters_Dissertation_Handbook_2010_2011.pdf. Last Accessed 02 May, 2013.
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Student life.
Postgraduate research & dissertations.
The following guide has been created for you by the Student Learning Advisory Service . For more detailed guidance and to speak to one of our advisers, please book an appointment or join one of our workshops . Alternatively, have a look at our SkillBuilder skills videos.
Research is both ‘finding out’ about a particular topic of interest, as well as building on existing knowledge in order to develop new knowledge. This could mean ‘new’ in the sense of: • a completely new discovery • exploring an aspect of a topic that has never been fully investigated before • investigating a topic from a new angle While PhD students are expected to contribute to a body of knowledge, Masters students are not usually expected to produce ‘new knowledge’ as such. They are, however, expected to work with existing knowledge at a higher level than undergraduates, which involves exploring existing knowledge in depth and detail, presenting and applying knowledge (and material) in fresh configurations.
Reading and evaluation: Essentially, research involves reading and summarising as much information as possible from a wide range of scholarly literature, this involves:
• analysing key themes, ideas and theories that can be applied to a specific research topic. • identifying salient points, testing and evaluating arguments. • using ideas and gaps in scholarly literature to formulate a point of view or to fill a gap by undertaking empirical research.
Empirical research: Many projects require an element of empirical (first-hand) data, for example in science and technology subjects this may involve practical lab-work. Research projects have to be carefully planned and agreed with your supervisor, paying particular attention to health and safety issues and adhering to research ethics guidelines.
Empirical research methods tend to fall into two categories: • Quantitative methods are used to generate numerical data in order to understand how much something occurs. Sometimes a simple counting of occurrences is all that is needed, but further statistical analysis is often required. Typical approaches to generating numerical data are: surveys (e.g. numbers of people involved in an activity), questionnaires (e.g. how many people do/think x, y and z?) or specific technical instruments (e.g. psychological texts). Quantitative approach came from the physical sciences and an emphasis on what is deemed as objective ‘facts’. • Qualitative methods are used to generate details and descriptions in order to understand what, why and how things occur or are interpreted. This kind of data may be gathered through semi-structured interviews, case studies, or observation etc. Detailed records are kept of these encounters, which are usually analysed in a search for trends and patterns. Qualitative methods grew out of the human sciences, particularly Social Anthropology, and an emphasis on the existence of rich and nuanced detail rather than objective facts.
Strengths and weaknesses in quantitative and qualitative methods: • Strengths of quantitative is that it produces raw data, which can be statistically manipulated to generate generalisable conclusions, providing certain criteria are met (reliability, validity, probability theory, and so on). A weakness is that it tends to ‘average out difference’ – that is, it tends to iron out or simplify variation in the data as much as possible. • Strengths and weaknesses of qualitative are the opposite of quantitative: qualitative is extremely good at highlighting variations and significance of detail. However, qualitative data has to be very carefully interpreted as it can leave researchers open to claims that their findings are entirely subjective. It can also be very time-consuming because it requires intense concentration and position-awareness on the part of the researcher.
Choice or combination of methods is one of the critical decisions to be made in the early stages of a research project: • What data do you need in order to achieve the aims of your research project? • What method (or methods if you are taking a staged approach) will best produce the information you need? You will need to consult some of the many textbooks on empirical research and discuss this carefully with your supervisor before drawing up your initial Research Proposal.
All research institutions have rules which require everyone, including students working for postgraduate qualifications, to get ethical clearance before working on any projects involving ‘human participation’. To get ethical clearance you will need to formally demonstrate (e.g. ethical approval application form) your risk assessment and risk mitigation. Research ethics tend to revolve around the following principles:
Your application will need to be assessed by the relevant Research Ethics Committee for your area. It is therefore essential to plan for obtaining ethical approval well in advance of any data gathering, and factor this time into your overall research plan. For more information on this, ask your supervisor.
Research projects take time – longer than you might think, especially if empirical data is involved. Good planning and effective time management are essential. Work back from the final deadline and factor in extra time for:
Prepare a thesis/dissertation plan, setting out the data you have collected in the required format for your particular project (ALWAYS go back at this stage and re-read the instructions given at the start of the project. ALWAYS do what it says). A fairly typical dissertation will probably follow a pattern something like this:
Students engaged in postgraduate research are expected to take a high degree of responsibility for their work. The role of the supervisor is not to direct your research or do the work for you. They are a mentor – a senior colleague who is able to offer helpful advice from their own experience and perhaps give some immediate feedback e.g. does your work cover the ground, are there obvious gaps, does the argument work, is the work of a satisfactory academic quality etc. They will advise, challenge, discuss and – if necessary – warn.
Normally, supervisors want to set up a kind of ‘contract’ with students at an early stage of the relationship. This ‘contract’ should clearly spell out mutual expectations: how regularly you will meet, what work the supervisor expects to be completed in advance of each meeting, how feedback will be arranged etc. The supervisor will also guide you through the correct processes (for example, procedures for Masters students to upgrade to PhD status) and remind you of programme deadlines and regulations. Follow their advice carefully.
Supervisors will expect you to be self-disciplined and motivated enough to complete work by agreed deadlines. You should, therefore, contact them as soon as possible if you run into problems that will make it difficult to present the work on time. Supervisors expect – and have the right to expect – a fully professional approach from students. This means that:
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At this stage, only you will know exactly what still needs to be done and how you want to approach the weeks leading up to submission. In your push to the finish line it can be easy to get bogged down in the specifics of your project and forget that there are a few simple things you can do to squeeze the last few marks and ensure that your work hits submission day in peak condition.
1. Plan your time
Make a list of all the things standing between you and your dissertation being submitted and use this to plan the time you have left. You can schedule your days so that you get more done and save some last minute stress.
2. Write your introduction after your conclusion (or at least re-visit it)
Your introduction should introduce the argument you are going to make in your dissertation, while your conclusion should summarise how you have demonstrated or proven it throughout. So writing or re-writing your introduction after you’ve made and summarised your argument will ensure consistency in your work and a better flow.
3. Make sure your referencing is bulletproof
Checking your references can often be the most time consuming part of finishing your dissertation, but is also where students most commonly lose marks.
Check and double check that your bibliography and references match up and contain all the information they need to.
Ensure that you follow the referencing conventions of your school accurately and consistently, and make sure you confirm whether references are included in your word limit. Your supervisor will be able to advise you on which style to use, and guidance on them can be found in the Library’s handy referencing guide .
Do not leave all of your referencing to the end. Referencing can be a frustrating and time-consuming process, so whatever you do don’t leave it all until the final few days, as you’ll need that time for editing and proofreading. If you find referencing disrupts the flow of your writing, try doing a batch of referencing at the end of each day to keep on top of it.
4. Proof read, proof read, proof read!
Proofreading is much more than just ensuring you’ve passed the spell check on Word or having a quick read through to check for typos. You also need to think about structure, the flow of your argument and most importantly, whether you’ve answered the question!
So read through your work at least 5 times and not all in quick succession – try reading through twice, taking a break and coming back to it the next day or a couple of hours later.
It’s worth looking through this quick guide to proofreading from My Learning Essentials for exactly what to consider when proofreading and the Library are holding two in-person proofreading workshops in July .
5. Ask someone else to also read through your work
A fresh pair of eyes will often be able to highlight things you’ve missed, whether it’s a sentence that doesn’t make sense or a paragraph that would work better in another place. Even better is to ask a friend or family member that has little knowledge of the subject of your dissertation as they will be able to give you a more objective view.
Be aware not to ask course mates who have picked a similar topic though, to ensure you steer clear of plagiarism.
6. Follow formatting guidelines to the letter
Check for any specific formatting guidelines related to font, font size, paragraphing, margins, title pages and pagination. Make sure you check these guidelines for your school or course and follow them carefully. Failure to do so will cost you easy marks. If you’re unsure where to find these requirements, check with your supervisor or support hub.
7. Seek help where you can and whilst you can
Although you may only be allowed a limited number of meetings with your supervisor, if you have any pressing questions or are having difficulties with anything do not hesitate to drop them an email. If they can help, they will.
Make sure you revisit any feedback they have given and check how you’ve used it.
If you are having significant difficulties and do not feel you will be able to hand it in on time, it is even more important that you contact your supervisor or programme director as soon as possible to discuss any possible options. The University’s Student Support offers guidance on this process on mitigating circumstances if you feel this is appropriate.
Also, don’t forget the Library has lots of support available , including online and in person workshops as well as dedicated drop-in help sessions.
8. Finally… don’t panic
You are nearly there and you still have the chance to make real, valuable changes and additions to your work, regardless of the state it is in. Keep a clear head, allocate your time effectively, make sure you eat and make sure you sleep, and you will be amazed at what you can achieve.
In General , University by Think Student Editor December 18, 2022 Leave a Comment
In the UK, it can be hard to figure out what university is all about and how different it is from previous levels of education. Some people say it’s harder, some say it’s easier but what you really need to know is what you actually do and study at university. Especially if you try comparing it through the different modules, it can be hard to consider as it will depend on the type of degree you study and where you go. However, one common feature of degrees in the UK is the dissertation. This can help to give you an insight into the level of a university degree compared to previous qualifications.
In short, in the UK, a dissertation is a type of research project that can be undertaken at university by both undergraduate and master’s degree students. The research of your dissertation may be done first hand through lab work or other investigation. Alternatively, it can be done through analysing and evaluating the research or arguments of others. Your final dissertation will be a long academic report that answers your question. It can range from about 5,000 to 50,000 words depending on the level you take it at and your university.
Continue reading to learn more about what a dissertation at university involves. This includes more about the different types of dissertation and the different forms of research, as well as the finer details such as the word count and how it differs from a thesis.
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To put it simply, in the UK, a dissertation is a research project that can be taken as part of a bachelor’s or master’s degree . This research project will normally be based around a question or at least a specific theme that you as the student come up with yourself.
Then you will need to answer this question using your research and produce an extended academic report . To learn more about what a dissertation is and how to get started, check out this guide by the University of Westminster.
The word dissertation itself comes from the Latin word “dissertare” which means “to debate”. This has been taken into English quite literally and so its original meaning can help to give you a different perspective when looking at a dissertation .
As it means “to debate”, that is also what you have to do during your own dissertation. You will have to argue for different ideas that relate to your question. To learn more about this, check out this article by the Royal Literary Fund.
As mentioned above, you can take a dissertation at two different levels in the UK, undergraduate degree level or master’s degree level. Due to the differences between these dissertations, it could be argued that they are the two types of dissertation that you can take in the UK.
The main difference between a dissertation at undergraduate level and one at master’s degree level is the word count and the depth. This is because at undergraduate degree level the most you will typically write for your dissertation is about 15,000 words, whereas at master’s degree level it could be up to about 50,000 words. While this is not always the case, the difference in these figures is huge and therefore so is the amount of work that you will have to put in .
On top of that, a master’s dissertation is a lot more intense than undergraduate study. This is due to several factors but the main one is that you have to complete your master’s dissertation a lot more independently. For more information about the differences between undergraduate and master’s dissertations, check out this informative article by Ivory Research.
When carrying out your dissertation, you will soon find that there are different ways you can go about your research. The two main ways are empirical research and non-empirical research.
A dissertation with empirical research will require you to carry out the data collection first-hand . This means that in order to answer your dissertation question you will have to carry out primary research.
This may include lab work or some other form of investigation, which may even involve members of the public . This type of research is especially for scientific-based degrees, which can even include social sciences, such as psychology.
A dissertation with non-empirical research will be based on research and data that has already been carried out . This means that you will have to research, then analyse and evaluate, pre-existing arguments and debates within your field. This type of research is especially for subjects included in the humanities, such as history.
For more information about these types of research, check out this article by Top Universities.
When it comes to writing a dissertation, one of the first things you need to know is how to structure your dissertation. The most important part of this is knowing what your word count needs to be.
Please note that the word count of your dissertation can vary quite a bit from university to university, and even between different departments at a university . Due to this, the figures below will mostly just be a rough guide and you will need to check with your own university to see the word count they set for their dissertations.
For an undergraduate degree, you will often have to write somewhere between 5,000 and 15,000 words for your dissertation . Due to being at a higher level, a master’s degree has a higher wound count. For a master’s degree, you may have to write somewhere between 10,000 and 50,000 words .
To learn more about how many words there are in a university dissertation in more depth, you can also look at this Think Student article .
While this can seem like a lot, this will be broken down into specific sections, such as the introduction, research philosophy, methodology, ethics and reflection on findings sections. Due to having a clear aim for each bit, these sections can make it easier for you to meet the word count. For more on the structure of a dissertation, check out this guide by the University of Westminster.
At whatever level you take a dissertation, it makes up an important part of your degree, especially at master’s degree level. This is especially as a dissertation can be worth quite a significant part of your degree, although the specific amount will depend on your university.
At undergraduate level, a dissertation will normally range from 30 to 40 credits in your final year . As you typically need to take 120 credits each year, this means that your dissertation will be worth 25% to 33.33% of your final year.
The effect this will have on your final grade will depend on how your university calculates these . Many universities in the UK use a weighted grading system, meaning that your final year will be considered more strongly than your first and second years. For more on the weighted grading system, check out this Think Student article .
At master’s degree level, a dissertation will normally be 60 credits out of 180 credits in total. This is a third of your total credits and it may even cover as much of your final grade. However, this will be up to how your university calculates your final grade.
For more information about the credits of a master’s degree dissertation, as well as plenty of other dissertation tips, check out this guide by Northumbria University.
As each individual university or even university department sets their own deadline, when a dissertation is due can vary greatly between each one. Due to this, it is best to go directly to your university if you want to find out.
However, undergraduate dissertations tend to have deadlines at the end of their second term. Check out this article by Ivory Research for a guide to dissertations, which includes information on deadlines.
Master’s degree deadlines are typically in August or September . Although this is true for most universities, it is best to check with your individual institution for exact dates. You want to make sure you are working towards the correct deadline!
When considering university terms, it can be hard to figure out what each specific term means and how they differ from each other. This is especially true for the terms dissertation and thesis, as if you already have some knowledge of each term, they can appear to be very similar or even the same.
To put it simply, the difference between a dissertation and a thesis depends on what country you live in. I n the UK, the main difference is that a dissertation is a part of an undergraduate and a master’s degree, whereas a thesis is a part of a doctorate degree, such as a PhD . For more information about PhDs, check out this Think Student article .
This in itself brings about a range of other differences, such as in terms of word count, the research methods and even the depth of study between a dissertation and a thesis . As mentioned above, for a master’s dissertation, you will typically need to write between 10,000 and 50,000 words.
For a PhD thesis, you may need to write between 70,000 to 100,000 words, depending on what your university has set for your course . Another kind of doctorate degree, known as a professional doctorate, may only need about 40,000 words for the thesis. For more on these word counts, check out this article by Scribbr as well as this guide by the University of Essex.
However, in other countries, the terms dissertation and thesis may be used interchangeably, meaning that you could use either term for whatever level of study it is . Also, in some countries, such as the US, the terms dissertation and thesis are used in the opposite way to how they are in the UK.
This means that for undergraduate and master’s level you would refer to this research project as a thesis and for higher levels, such as a PhD, it would be a dissertation. To learn more about the differences in general, check out this article by Scribbr.
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I am writing a thesis for my M.Sc. dissertation, and I am struggling to identify how big the contribution of my paper has to be.
I've heard professors in our campus saying "you don't have to save the world, just add a little bit of something to an already existing work." But that is vague and seems too little for an M.Sc. program. Do you have any advice on what could be considered a sufficient contribution?
Ps. My field is distributed systems (cloud computing) and it would be nice if you could explain it in that context.
In my opinion and experience, it is relatively rare for an MSc thesis to yield truly original research resulting in a paper. The primary goal of a MSc thesis is to teach you important research skills: come up with a general idea of what to do, researching literature, coming up with a specific question that you want to address, performing research (computations, fieldwork, lab experiments), and finally writing it down in a thesis. If you successfully complete this cycle, I think your MSc thesis is a success. If the thesis, after some editing, is original enough to end up as a journal paper this is a big bonus.
This is largely depends on your supervisor expectations. Some professors have certain requirements for their MSc students to graduate (i.e. publishing one paper) others do not have contribution requirements and knowing the literature is enough to them. Even if you do have publishable work, some professors will keep pushing you and you will end up with three years MSc thesis similar in away or another to a PhD thesis.
In general, you are required to know the current literature of your subfield/problem area very well and summarize it in a thesis. It is definitely better to implement/compare different techniques, trying to identify challenges and trying to tackle one of the challenges.
For example, your general area is cloud computing, your thesis topic is about materialized views or query processing under cloud computing infrastructure. This requires finding the current literature of query processing, how it is different under cloud computing settings and what are the main research challenges
MSc thesis requirements vary. It is best to ask your course director.
I know some students in the UK getting distinctions for literature reviews, while other departments only give a distinction if the work is publishable or potentially publishable.
I was in fact at an UK university where MSc dissertations quite regularly gets published either during or a little after the course.
As someone who supervises MS and PhD students, your question makes me very nervous. Why are you now, at this point in your career, trying to sneak by accomplishing as little as possible? You are at the age and time when you should be envisioning great things and trying to create new knowledge (or at least add to it). I always tell my students that the aim of the MS is to generate something publishable (conference or journal paper). The reality is that not all achieve this (and I still let them graduate) but this is what you should aim for. It is for your advisor to know the field, but you need to ask him/her the question: where is this topic publishable? When can we take it to a conference (or to a journal)? If the advisor can't see how your work could be publishable (if it works out as you plan), then find another topic or find another advisor.
The requirements probably change depending on where you are, but, having just finished my MSc in the UK, I can tell you what I was told supervisors are looking for in a Master's dissertation.
Some of the requirements I had have already been listed by seteropere. Basically, demonstrate you know your chosen topic very well, identify some challenges, perhaps try to tackle one.
But the main thing that supervisors here are looking for is that you have gone beyond the material in the course. They want to see that you took what you learnt throughout the taught part of the masters program and applied it to something that wasn't covered, or in a way that wasn't discussed. Alternatively, you could also choose a topic that wasn't covered at all in your course and provide an overview of it, discussing challenges, open questions, important examples (which is where dissertations that are basically just literature reviews come in, as mentioned by Legendre).
Good luck with your thesis! Unfortunately I don't know much about cloud computing, but I hope this helps anyway!
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If you've recently embarked on your master's journey, you've likely quickly discovered that the shift from the familiar landscape of undergraduate studies to the uncharted depths of postgraduate research can be quite daunting. What is expected of you at this point in your academic career? Will your writing style need adjustments? And when it comes to the dissertation, will your master's dissertation differ significantly from your undergraduate one? In this blog post, we'll explore the key differences between master's and undergraduate dissertations, providing valuable insights into the evolving nature of scholarly exploration at the postgraduate level.
One of the most striking differences between master's and undergraduate dissertations lies in the scope and depth of the research. At the undergraduate level, dissertations are typically more concise and focused, with a narrower research question. This is understandable, given that undergraduate students are still in the process of building a foundational understanding of their chosen field.
On the other hand, master's dissertations demand a more extensive exploration of the chosen topic. Postgraduate students are expected to delve deeper into the existing literature, identify gaps, and contribute original insights to the field. The scope of a master's dissertation is broader, requiring a more nuanced and sophisticated approach to research.
Undergraduate dissertations are often guided by faculty members, providing a structured framework for research. While students are expected to demonstrate independent thought and analysis, there is a greater degree of support and supervision.
In contrast, master's dissertations epitomise independent research. Postgraduate students are encouraged to take ownership of their projects, from conceptualisation to execution. The autonomy granted to master's students reflects the expectation that they have honed their research skills during their undergraduate studies and can navigate the complexities of advanced academic research.
The sophistication of research methodology is another area where master's and undergraduate dissertations differ. Undergraduate dissertations typically rely on established methodologies and may involve a more straightforward data collection process. The emphasis is on developing a solid understanding of research methods and their application.
Regarding master's dissertations, there is an expectation of methodological innovation. Postgraduate students are encouraged to critically evaluate existing methodologies, adapt them to suit their research questions, or even create entirely new approaches. This level of methodological sophistication is reflective of the higher academic standard expected at the master's level.
While both undergraduate and master's dissertations contribute to academic knowledge, the nature of their contributions differs. Undergraduate dissertations often focus on synthesising existing literature, providing a comprehensive overview of a particular topic, and demonstrating a mastery of foundational concepts.
Master's dissertations, on the other hand, are expected to make a more significant contribution to the field. This might involve challenging existing theories, proposing novel frameworks, or offering solutions to real-world problems. The expectation is that master's students will add a layer of originality to the academic discourse within their chosen area of study.
The transition from undergraduate to postgraduate studies, particularly when it comes to writing your dissertation, represents a leap in both complexity and expectation. As a postgraduate student, you are tasked with not only demonstrating a deep understanding of your field but also contributing fresh insights that advance the frontiers of knowledge.
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Hiiiii, just a quick question, what level of analysis is expected of you in an undergraduate dissertation? For example, I’m doing politics and currently aiming to perform a feminist critical discourse analysis but I get really nervous when reading articles and the like because I think “oh my god I can’t do it that succinctly as them”. Am I setting my standards too high? Am I expecting too much from myself as an undergraduate student doing a dissertation for the first time? Let me know your thoughts!
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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.
The Standard Expected of the Dissertation. In General. The dissertation is required to be either a record of original work or an ordered and critical exposition of existing knowledge in the field. While this is not a definitive list for marking purposes, in general examiners are looking for the student: to have identified a relevant topic;
The dissertation is largely a self-directed job where students are responsible for all aspects of the project. The dissertation constitutes a bigger challenge than essays. It takes months of research, preparation and commitment. But, it's also a very rewarding part of a Master's journey.
1. Dissertation deadline: Thursday 12 August 2021 at 23:59 (UK Time) The dissertation deadline is set by the Graduate School and is the same for all MSc programmes across the School of Social and Political Science. Please see below for School regulations on the request of extensions and concessions related to the 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. For a masters dissertation, you'll ...
A dissertation is a research project completed as part of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. Typically, a dissertation will enable you to present your findings in response to a question that you propose yourself. ... word count requirements can range anywhere from 5,000 to 8,000 words while a Masters level dissertation can be 10,000 to ...
Write your Master's thesis: the right structure. It's helpful to start here by going over the structure of a master's thesis. The precise way that different master's theses are structured is largely going to depend on the discipline area. But most of the time, empirical dissertations follow a format including: Abstract; Table of contents
The structure of a dissertation depends on your field, but it is usually divided into at least four or five chapters (including an introduction and conclusion chapter). The most common dissertation structure in the sciences and social sciences includes: An introduction to your topic. A literature review that surveys relevant sources.
A dissertation is an independent piece of academic work that reports on research that you have carried out, and is much longer and more in-depth than a regular essay or research project. Word counts for UK dissertations are typically between 8,000 words to 20,000 words, but the length, along with the criteria for the sections that are required depend on the subject of your degree and the ...
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 ...
Most dissertations also have a minimum required word count. This too, depends on each course. Some courses only require around 7000 or 8000 words, while other require up to 20,000 words. Planning, choosing a topic and a supervisor usually happens during the spring or autumn before starting the research and writing.
Writing Your Master's Thesis Over the Summer. Three months to write a 10,000-word international history dissertation seems like a very long time. You've got the luxury of pondering your topic, doing endless readings, arranging to visit archives, meeting with your supervisor, finalising your arguments, structuring and then, eventually ...
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: In the UK, you write a dissertation at the end of a bachelor's or master's degree, and you write a thesis to complete a PhD.
The dissertation project is an important part of postgraduate education. Most students are surprised how much they learn in the process, both in understanding and organising the material and in writing the dissertation. This is a guide on how to write an MSc dissertation. It is written for Master's students
1. Know the purpose of the master's dissertation. Going into the writing of a master's thesis informed is the best way to ensure the process is fairly painless and the outcome positive. It can help, therefore, to have in mind the actual purpose of the dissertation. Broadly speaking, a master's thesis enables you an opportunity to develop (and ...
Craft a convincing dissertation or thesis research proposal. Write a clear, compelling introduction chapter. Undertake a thorough review of the existing research and write up a literature review. Undertake your own research. Present and interpret your findings. Draw a conclusion and discuss the implications.
to complete a dissertation outline form or a dissertation topic selection form. All forms that you may need can be found in the appendix 4 of this handbook. For some programmes, you may be asked to submit the form online. Changing dissertation topics Once the Master's Dissertation Title and Ethics Statement form has been signed by your
A Masters Dissertation is a lengthy written study on a topic chosen by the student. It is undertaken with the guidance of a faculty supervisor, and involves an extended period of research and writing. The content and length vary depending on your field of study - Dissertations are typically longer in theoretical fields, and shorter in ...
Postgraduate research & dissertations. The following guide has been created for you by the Student Learning Advisory Service. For more detailed guidance and to speak to one of our advisers, please book an appointment or join one of our workshops. Alternatively, have a look at our SkillBuilder skills videos.
Your introduction should introduce the argument you are going to make in your dissertation, while your conclusion should summarise how you have demonstrated or proven it throughout. So writing or re-writing your introduction after you've made and summarised your argument will ensure consistency in your work and a better flow. 3.
In short, in the UK, a dissertation is a type of research project that can be undertaken at university by both undergraduate and master's degree students. The research of your dissertation may be done first hand through lab work or other investigation. Alternatively, it can be done through analysing and evaluating the research or arguments of ...
In my opinion and experience, it is relatively rare for an MSc thesis to yield truly original research resulting in a paper. The primary goal of a MSc thesis is to teach you important research skills: come up with a general idea of what to do, researching literature, coming up with a specific question that you want to address, performing ...
Undergraduate dissertations often focus on synthesising existing literature, providing a comprehensive overview of a particular topic, and demonstrating a mastery of foundational concepts. Master's dissertations, on the other hand, are expected to make a more significant contribution to the field. This might involve challenging existing ...
I believe it is commonly said that getting marks in the 80+ or 90+ range means your work is at a level where it is publishable in a journal. Meaning those articles you are reading are likely just pieces of work that are that good, and an unrealistic standard to aim for. I'm in a similar situation right now and my university gave us a ton of ...
Starting my master's with an ADHD diagnosis in hand was a blessing. The University of Edinburgh offered so many accommodations, which made my life so much easier, and I got so much support. One thing that is common for people with ADHD to struggle with is long, complicated instructions - especially those that lack context.