how long it takes to write a dissertation

How Long Does it Take to Write a Dissertation?

Table of contents.

• How Long Does a Dissertation Take? 

How Much Time Does It Take To Write a Dissertation?

Time required for completing dissertation.

Author : Vipul Jain

• Dissertation

Students should understand the time required to complete a particular task like concept development, literature review, data analysis, creating an outline, and dissertation writing. Students need to create a  Gantt Chart Template For Dissertation to track the progress and create the dissertation outlines first. The longest duration to write a dissertation is a maximum of 1 year and a minimum of six months is required.

How Long Does a Dissertation Take? 

To complete a dissertation, requires primary and secondary research, writing skills, and lots of time. At the time of dissertation writing, there are so many problems that occur like availability of resources,  research design, topic selection, and feedback from tutors. Every student needs approximately six months when considering "how long to write a dissertation" to complete it on time without making any errors. If they are unable to write dissertations themselves, at that time they opt for the dissertation-writing services .

A dissertation consists of many parts from selecting the topic to  write the dissertation conclusion . Every part of the dissertation needs a separate time frame. To help scholars, we provide examples and time frames, by using this, students may complete the dissertation on time. 

1. Defining the Topic and Creating Proposals

The initial phases in the dissertation writing process include topic selection and making a research proposal . Select your topic accordingly, so you can conduct research and build questions or hypotheses. 

It is always important to select a subject that will be fascinating as well as possible. 

• Time Required: This step may take up to 2 to 4 weeks. 

2. Writing a Literature Review 

Writing a literature review is a critical analysis of previous literature and publications on the identified subject of interest. This step involves conducting a literature search to determine the academic papers, books, and other source documents to be used in the conduct of the research study. Here you can also read how to write dissertation literature review .

• Time Needed: Typically, the literature review requires three to six months of the researcher's time while the study is being conducted. Your interest in a certain field of specialization and the amount of time you are willing to commit to the research project will determine this.

3. Designing the Research Methodology 

Having identified your proposed area of study, the next process involves coming up with your methodological framework given the literature review findings. This is the identification of the research method, subjects, and techniques for data collection and analysis and start writing your dissertation methodology .

• Time Required: The process of identifying the research methodology takes 1 to 3 months. This step requires much thinking and planning to  write a dissertation . 

4. Collecting Data 

Data collection is among the most time-consuming activities which are used in the completion of the Dissertation. This depends on the kind of research through knowing the benefits of primary research for example, data can be collected through surveys and such surveys may take a few months in some cases can take more than a year.

• Time Required: In the ideal situation, it might take three months to gather the information; however, it may take 1 year or one and a half years. The scale of the timeline will also depend on things like how quickly the participants could be available for the study.

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5. Analyzing Data 

Data analysis is the next process to undertake after data collection has been completed. This involves research design using quantitative analysis tools or qualitative analysis techniques to analyze the data.

• Time Required: Data analysis usually ranges from 2 to 6 months. This phase can be tasking for instance if you’ve complicated data or you can take help from the  Dissertation helper for the academic assistance. 

6. Writing the Dissertation (2 Months)

The process of writing a dissertation is perhaps the most evident of all the activities that are conducted, but they are all based on the prior steps. The dissertation usually consists of several chapters: Including the dissertation Introduction , Literature Review section, Methodology, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. Every chapter involves writing, editing, and, quite frequently, several revisions in cooperation with your advisor.

• Time Required: The process of writing the dissertation can take between 6 months and 1 year. The timeline significantly depends on the time you can spare to write daily, ideation clarity, and feedback processing speed.

7. Proofreading The Final Dissertation

After the first draft has been written, the process of revising follows and it continues until the final draft is produced. This includes adjustments to arguments, presentation, coherence, and the removal of mistakes. At that time, some of the students wondered how they  get dissertation help for proofreading services to polish the dissertation.

• Time Required: Revisions could take anywhere between 1 to 3 months, depending on the amount of modification that is necessary and the communication level of your committee

When considering how long does it take to write a thesis or how long does it take to write a dissertation, these factors and timelines play a significant role in determining the overall duration.

If the above-noted steps are put into perspective in terms of time, it is normally advisable to take between 6 months to 1 year to write a dissertation. But these timelines are just estimates and actual time may differ. based on various factors, including the research complexity and individual pace. When considering how long does it take to complete a dissertation, it’s essential to understand that each stage of the process can significantly influence the overall timeline.

Finally, let me stress that it can be very difficult and time-consuming, in general, to write a dissertation. Starting from choosing a topic to conduct research to the final write the dissertation references . The total time to complete a dissertation also varies from 6 months to 1 year depending on factors such as research intensity. 

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to write a dissertation.

The next query that has to be addressed is this one. Depending on the subject matter, depth of the research topic, and writing style, a student should expect to finish a dissertation between 18 to 36 months.

Which Aspect of Writing a Dissertation is the Most Challenging or the Largest Barrier to Overcome?

Depending on the size of the research project, data collection may prove the most difficult part of the research and it take more time. Lots of students failed to do research, and looking for the best online dissertation helper in London.

Is it Possible to Complete a Dissertation Earlier if One Works on it With an Emphasis on Working Full-Time?

Yes, one can devote the full time, which will allow completing the dissertation very quickly, thereby, adding 18-24 months to the existing time frame.

How Much Time Should be Allocated to the Literature Review?

This stage known as the literature review normally takes between 3 to 6 months depending on the size of your study and the extent and access to literature.

What if My Proposal for the Dissertation is not Accepted at the First Attempt?

If the proposal undergoes some changes, it can also lengthen the time required to complete the project. The proposal stage usually takes 2 to 6 months depending on revisions and approvals and you can opt for research paper writing services in the UK.

What Amount of Time, in Hours Per Week, is Required to Write the Dissertation?

The process of writing the actual dissertation normally takes between 6 to 12 months depending on the length of the dissertation how clear the ideas are and the number of feedback given by the advisor.

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Hi, I am Vipul Jain ( Founder of Workingment). I have contributed my writing expertise and collaborated with a team of experts to support UK students in achieving higher grades. My mission is to assist students who face various challenges in completing their academic writing projects.

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Writing your dissertation: top tips from someone who’s been there, done that!

10 February 2021

Anthony Walker-Cook, UCL English Literature PhD student and Senior Postgraduate Teaching Assistant with UCL's Writing Lab, shares top tips he wishes he'd known before starting his dissertation.

So, you’re coming towards the end of your degree and there’s always one project that looms large in your mind: the dissertation! This behemoth might feel threatening but I want to assure you that, with proper planning, this project can be at least manageable and at best (whisper it!) enjoyable.

1. Let’s start at the beginning: picking your topic

Coming up with an idea for a dissertation can itself be a challenge. Think about what modules you’ve really enjoyed from your degree and spend time talking with the academics that led those modules. Were there any questions that you had from a course that were left unanswered? Use those questions and ideas to guide your potential dissertation topic. The most important thing is that you pick a topic that genuinely interests you: you’re going to be spending a significant amount of time on it!

2. Be flexible and allow your project to change as needed

My undergraduate dissertation started off as a study of the representation of dinosaurs in Victorian fiction, but I soon realised there weren't as many dinosaurs as I first thought (I guess you could say they were extinct). But from my research I realised that the contemporary interest in dinosaurs was part of a wider cultural shift that celebrated the emerging concept of the museum. My project thus become an exploration of museums in Victorian fiction, with a chapter on dinosaurs. You never know what direction your research will take you, so be open to change.  

3. Once you’ve picked your topic, spend time on the Library site researching widely in your field

There are two vital points to make at this stage of the process:

Firstly, keep good notes when reading, especially with all the information needed to do your referencing down the line. The last thing you want to be doing when writing is spending hours trying to track down the reference!

Secondly, try not to lose sight of your specific question or topic. You’ll be doing a lot of background reading and you’re intellectually going to be tempted to go down research rabbit holes. Keep your own topic at the forefront of your mind whilst you research. 

4. Don’t let the word count overwhelm you – it disappears quickly

Now, I know the inflated word counts of dissertations can be intimidating. 12,000, 15,000 or even 20,000 words is a far cry from the 2,000 word formatives you completed during your first year! But, once you start dividing the material into chapters that word count will soon disappear. Four or five chapters, an introduction and a conclusion will soon take you up to your limit; suddenly that mountain of words feels manageable. Careful planning will make the project seem not only achievable but also it will help guide and focus your reading. Spending time on a chapter plan early on can really pay off in the long run.

5. Plan in enough time for editing

It’s important to give yourself sufficient writing and editing time. I’d say the latter is almost more important than the former: this is a big piece of work and it will take time to go through it in detail. Ensure you submit sections of your work to your supervisor depending on what your department allows you to submit and act upon their feedback.

6. Have all the guidelines at your fingertips

As you are working, have a copy of your departmental referencing guidelines printed off in front of you and make sure you reference as you go along. Taking time to get the presentation of your thesis to a high standard reflects the significance of the project. Also make sure you firmly understand the project’s regulations, such as deadlines and word counts (double check if footnotes, figures or images contribute towards the final number of words).  

7. Lastly, and perhaps the most important tip, try to enjoy your dissertation.

This is an opportunity for you to both use all of the skills you’ve acquired throughout your degree and for you to engage in an area of work that (should) genuinely interest you. Good luck!

Further information

Practical resources from the Academic Communication Centre

UCL Library support for dissertations and research projects

Anthony Walker-Cook,  UCL English Literature PhD student and Senior Postgraduate Teaching Assistant  

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