final year project thesis format

Dissertations & projects: Formatting

• Research questions
• The process of reviewing
• Project management
• Literature-based projects

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You are not being examined on your ability to use Microsoft Word. The Skills Team have therefore provided you with a template that already has most of the formatting work done for you. This has been approved centrally by the university.

This page has links to the template, guidance document and videos to support you with using the official University of Hull MS Word templates for creating undergraduate dissertations or independent projects or taught masters dissertations. This is not a mandatory template, but using it will streamline the formatting of such a long document.

University templates

The University has created templates which can help take the stress out of formatting your dissertation or final year project.

Students studying any subject other than those listed below can use the general template provided:

Download the undergraduate final year project or dissertation template here

Download the taught masters dissertation template here

Modified versions

In some disciplines, the undergraduate template has been modified and is available via your dissertation or independent project module's Canvas site. Currently this is the case for the following subject areas:

• Biomedical Sciences

Guidance document

Templates guidance document

It includes information on:

• Working with template files
• Working with text (styles, table of contents)
• Working with images and tables (captions)
• Adding landscape pages

Whilst this says it is for undergraduate dissertations, it is also relevant to the taught masters template.

Video support

We have created a set of videos to support you with using the template. These can be accessed below.

The videos below cover the following (click or tap to jump to video):

• Downloading the template and filling in the title page.
• Using styles and updating the table of contents.
• Labelling your figures and tables.
• Using the cross-referencing tool to refer to figures and tables.
• Adding a landscape page to your document.

​​​​​​​ Please note that there is a separate playlist for using the History template: Using the UoH undergraduate dissertation template for History .

Video 1: Downloading the UG dissertation or independent project template and filling in front matter

Note that if you have downloaded the template already from the link above, you can skip to 1 min 30 sec.

Video 2: Using styles and updating the table of contents

Video 3: Labelling your figures and tables

Video 4: Using the cross-referencing tool to refer to figures and tables

This is an optional feature - if you don't have many tables or figures you may wish to do this manually.

Video 5: Adding a landscape page to your document

Not everyone will need this feature but it is useful for large tables or some figures.

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Getting Started with your FYP (Final Year Project)

• What is a FYP?
• Research Topic
• Research Question
• Key Section: Literature Review
• Key Section: Methodology
• Recommended Reading
• Some Final Tips

Reference List

Bogan, T. (2014) The research process.  Available at :  https://wellmanneredlibrarian.com/2014/03/10/research-process-infographic/   (Accessed: 27 April 2020).

Cambridge Online Dictionary (2020) Dissertation .  Available at :  https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/dissertation (Accessed: 27 April 2020). 

Clark, T. & Foster, L. (2019)  Top tips for students getting started on their research project.   Available at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfAG38jtld4  ( Accessed: 30 April 2020). 

Cluny Library (2016) Writing a research question.   Available at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYImrVPIhEU   (Accessed: 30  April  2020). 

Emerald (2020) Writing a literature review .  Available at  : https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/services/authors/author-how-guides/writing-a-literature-review   (Accessed:1 May 2020).

Gacho, F. (2018) Starting the literature review. Available at: http://cmgtwriting.uscannenberg.org/starting-the-literature-review/ (Accessed: 8 May 2020).

​Kelly, J.M. (2014) How to find a research topic.  Available at :   https://www.jasonmkelly.com/jason-m-kelly/2014/01/08/flowchart-how-to-find-a-research-topic   (Accessed: 28 April 2020).

Kibin (2017) How to make a thesis statement the easy way .  Available at :  https://www.kibin.com/essay-writing-blog/how-to-make-a-thesis-statement-the-easy-way-infographic/   (Acce sse d: 8 May 2020).

Lewak, J. (2015) What do we mean by a research question . Available at :   https://www.slideshare.net/BruceH99/what-do-wemeanbyaresearchquestion   (Accessed: 30 April 2020).

NC State University Libraries (2013) Picking your topic is research .  Available at :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0B3Gjlu-1o   (Accessed: 28 April 2020).

pediaa.com (2016)  Quantitative research versus qualitative research.  Available at :  https://pediaa.com/difference-between-quantitative-and-qualitative-research  (Accessed: 7 May 2020).

Steely Library (2015)  What is a literature review? Available at :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry_54WleO7Y   ( Accessed: 1 May 2020 ).

UC San Diego (2020) Do's and don't of creating a research question.  Available at:  https://ucsd.libguides.com/ MCWP / researchquestions  ( Accessed: 30 April 2020).

University Now (2014)  Quantitative vs. qualitative r esearch .  Available at :  https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCuwX35MHyE   (Accesse d: 7  May 2020).

Visually (2019) 10 tips for writing a fast thesis.   Available at :  https://visual.ly/community/infographic/10-tips-fast-thesis-writing   (Accesse d: 7  May 2020).

Waterloo University Library (2013) Brainstorming your research topic.    Available at :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBwPb7XhQuY   (Accessed: 30 April 2020).

Wolfson, S. (2013) Focus on a topic you find intriguing .  Available at :  https://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/mar/21/how-to-plan-your-dissertation   ( Accessed: 1 May 2020 ).

This guide was created by Nora Hegarty, LIT Library

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Services for Final Year Students: Using the Thesis Template

• Ask for Help
• Using the Thesis Template
• Submitting the Thesis in Electronic Format This link opens in a new window
• Electronic Theses Portal

Thesis template

• JCU Senior Thesis Template

The Thesis template is a set of guidelines developed to help you formatting your thesis, rather than something you have to follow.

You are encouraged to use the thesis template from the beginning in order to save time formatting your thesis.

If you don't like it, you can change it!

Formatting the Thesis

Your thesis must be formatted according to the requirements specified by your Department.

Overall layout

The Guidelines do not require any specific formatting for the general layout. You can easily follow the Thesis template layout by downloading the template file, or you can use the following recommendations.

The Thesis template follows these margins specifications:

• 1" top, bottom, left and right

All pages with the exception of the front page should be numbered.

Roman numeral are used for the preliminary pages.

The pagination starts at 1 with the Introduction.

There are no specific requirement for the font. The Thesis template uses Time New Roman, but you can a font of your choice. Font size is usually 12 points.

Line spacing

The body of your thesis should double-spaced.

All pages with a heading must correspond with the headings and page numbers in the Table of Contents. If you use the Thesis template this will be done automatically.

Thesis Content

Here are all the sections you should include in your thesis:

• Front page : this is the cover page of your thesis, where you include information such as the title, your name, your major, your readers
• Abstract : this is a brief summary of the thesis, including the initial research question, the methods of investigation used, and the general conclusions. It is usually not longer that one page.
• Dedication (optional)
• Acknowledgements (optional)
• Table of contents : this is the list of all the sections included in your thesis (chapters, bibliography, appendixes)
• List of figures : this is the list of all the images that you include in your work. It is not necessary if you only have a few of images.
• List of tables : this is the list of all your tables, charts, graphs, and similar.
• List of abbreviations : in this list you can have all the acronyms disambiguated. It allows to start using the abbreviation from the very beginning without worrying about giving the explanation of what they stand for.
• Introduction : this is the first chapter of your thesis but it is usually written at the end.
• Chapters : the number of chapter varies and it depends on your research.
• Conclusions : this is the last chapter of your thesis.
• Bibliography : this is the list of all the sources that you used in your thesis. The citation style you use depends on the discipline, but you can also discuss it with your readers.
• Appendix : this section is for additional material that you want to include in your thesis. It is not counted as part of the thesis per se, therefore you should be careful in using appendixes.

Sections in red are mandatory, the others are optional.

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Types of Assignment

• Starting an assignment
• Academic poster
• Annotated bibliography
• Project Proposal
• Dissertation or final year project
• Literature review
• Critical Assessment - Assessing Academic Journal Articles
• Systematic Review (Postgraduate resource)
• Presentation
• Reports in Microsoft Word

Attend a workshop

Find out more about the Library and Academic Skills workshop programme here .

Dissertation of final year project: Things you need to know...

Your first point of reference should always be your Assignment Guidelines provided by your Tutor.

Features of a dissertation/final year project:

• An extended piece of detailed work - it is an investigation.
• Demonstrates skills in: planning, organising, researching, problem solving, time management as well as oral and written communication skills. Dissertations also demonstrate in-depth subject knowledge.
• Effective use of headings, bullet points, and a range of graphical illustrations.
• Written in the academic style: needs to be clear, concise, professional and referenced

Dissertations  have sections, which may include:

• Aims - W hat are you trying to achieve by doing this investigation?
• Objectives - What steps are you going to take to achieve this?
• Search Methodology - Which database did you use to find information on this topic?
• Findings - Looking at all the journal articles, what are the overall recommendations or ideas
• Discussion - How does this apply to your overall Dissertation question? What gaps have you identified which you can now research for yourself in more detail?
• Research method   -  what are you going to do to research this subject? what research method have you selected?
• Ethical issues  -  are there any ethical issues to be considered - eg: how is data going to be kept safe?   
• Findings and discussion    - from your investigations what have you found out? And what does it mean? Here you present findings (what you have found out from your investigation) and compare and contrast with evidence in the literature review.
• Recommendations (if requested) - after doing this investigation and research what do you recommend?   
• References and/or bibliography

Art Books,    have sections, which may include:

• Introduction
• Background 
• Methodology 
• Critical Anaylsis
• Development process including reflective elements

Essential Staffordshire University guidance: research ethics

• Dissertations How to structure a dissertation and what to include under each heading.
• Dissertation or FYP basic structure Dissertation or FYP basic structure

Learn more about the process for planning your final year project to help you get off to a good start.

This video shows the main points that would be covered in a live session of the workshop. To access a transcript please view it using the Watch on YouTube option.

Need to know more...

• Related pages
• External links
• Literature review This factsheet explains what a literature review is and what to include in a literature review
• Search Strategy Factsheet

HIGH ER EDUCATION ACADEMY AND SHEFFIELD  HALLAM  UNIVERSITY (2013)  Guide to undergraduate dissertations  ( Accessed: 20th July 2020) 

A note taking strategy that can be very useful for dissertations or longer pieces of work is the Grid Method  Grid notes - YouTube  [Accessed 10 February 2023]

Final year project back catalogue

"We are very proud of our students and the hard work that goes into their final year projects, GradEX is our showcase exhibition of students’ final year projects to industry experts." 

Visit the  GradEx Projects  portal to view the online exhibition.

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Final Year Project Proposal

Proposal maker.

As a student, your final year project proposal is one of the most crucial and critical documents that you will be tasked to develop as it can dictate the flow and potential results of the last academic requirement that you will create.

Moreover, this document can also affect your final grade as well as your academic standing especially if you are vying for an honorable mention at the end of the school year. Just like a nonprofit project plan , ensure that your final year project proposal is realistic and measurable so that it will be easier for you to attain the achievement of your goals and objectives.

Since you may have properly been immersed in different educational programs and academic researches, developing a final year project proposal should already come easy for you. However, this does not mean that you have to be lousy when it comes to the creation of the document as it can affect you and your academic life in many more ways than one. You may also see business proposal examples .

To help you come up with an outstanding final year project proposal that is most likely to be approved either by your project adviser or your project panelists, we have put together a list of final year project proposal examples that can be used as your references when formatting the document or listing all the information that you would like to discuss.

1. Final Year Student Project Proposal

• Google Docs
• Apple Pages

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2. Example of Project Proposal

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3. Final Year Computer Science Project Proposal

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4. Sample Final Year Project Proposal Form Example

5. Final Year Project Proposal Guide Example

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6. Final Year Project Proposal Preparation

You have to be armed with the basic knowledge of project proposal writing if you want to create a final year project proposal that will work to your advantage. It is essential for you to be aware of the information that you will include in the actual proposal as well as the ways on how you can persuade your adviser or project panelists that your proposal is relevant, beneficial to your target community, and doable. You may also see service proposal examples .

Some of the activities that you can do so you can start the preparation of the drafting of your final year project proposal include the following:

1. Be familiar with the target community that you will be working with. If this is not applicable with the kind of final year project proposal that you are doing, you can just specify the entities who will benefit from the results of your researches or the individuals and groups who can make the most out of the project that you will come up with once it has already been realized. You may also like short proposal examples .

2. Ensure that you already have a vision or a basic plan of implementation in your mind. You need to have an idea on how you can execute the project that you have proposed. This can help you to convince your target audience that your final year project proposal should be approved as you have a skeletal guide that will allow you to realize your desired activities and planned functions. You can strengthen your basic plan of action with the help of additional researches and credible resources.

3. Assess your skills in technical and research writing. It will be best if you will use references like downloadable examples or the existing documents that have the same functions, objectives, and/or content direction when compared to the final year project proposal that you would like to develop. Having these references will allow you to know the best way on how you can present your proposal discussion. You may also check out research proposal examples .

4. Whether it is a community project plan or a scientific project proposal that you will incorporate in your final year project document, make sure that you will present the objective of the study and make sure that you will use it as the core of your final year project proposal. It is essential for you to provide a discussion that can showcase how necessary it is for your project to push through so that you can positively impact communities and other entities.

7. Simple Final Year Project Proposal For Students Example

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8. Senior Year Project Proposal Design Example

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Things to Look into When Developing a Final Year Project Proposal

Aside from the preparation guidelines that can help you draft a complete, detailed, and well-formulated final year project proposal, there are also elements and factors that you have to consider so you can ensure the effectiveness of the final year project proposal that you will come up with at the end of the undertaking. You may also see investment proposal examples .

A few of the things that you have to look into during the procedures of developing a final year project proposal are as follows:

1. During the initial discussion of developing a final year project proposal, it will be best if you will take note of all the instructions and guides that your professor or project adviser will present you with. It is important for you to be aware of these details as there are limitations, scopes, regulations, and rules that you need to follow so that your final year project proposal can have the chance to get approved. You may also like freelance proposal examples .

2. Depending on the university where you are studying, a final year project proposal can be created either in groups or by individuals. You have to measure the ability of your group mates to provide the deliverable required by your final year project proposal so that misunderstandings and lackluster performance will not exist within the entirety of the document’s development. You may also check out budget proposal examples .

If you are working alone, you have to be organized on how you can perform the tasks that you need to accomplish so that you can effectively create your own final year project proposal.

3. Just like the steps that you can follow on  how to write a successful thesis proposal , you should map the procedures that you will immerse yourself into when creating your final year project proposal. Outlines and checklists can help you a lot to maintain the organization of your activities. If all information are well-arranged and if you have prepared the layout of your proposal presentation, then you can come up with a concise and direct to the point version of the proposal that you would like to achieve.

4. Be prepared to get involved in immense research processes, critical thinking, and thoughtful studies. You need to develop your final year project proposal based on facts and credible informative sources, which is why you have to be careful with all the details that you will list down and discuss in the specified document. You might be interested in security proposal examples .

9. Comprehensive Final Year Project Proposal Example

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10. Final Year Project Proposal Guidelines Example

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11. Final Year Project Proposal Example

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What Should You Include in a Final Year Project Proposal?

The structure and content development requirements of a final year project proposal vary from one academic institution to another. Hence, do not compare the overall final year project proposal that you need to make from those that are presented in templates and examples. You may also see fundraising proposal examples.

However, it will be helpful if you will use the specified references to polish the format of your final year project proposal and to ensure that its content is presentable. Here are some of the basic information that you can include in a simple final year project proposal:

1. Present a title for the final year project proposal. This will help you present an overview of what the proposal is all about or the subject that you would like to discuss and further look into.

2. Just like when developing a business proposal where there is a need for a business proposal cover letter , you may also write a cover letter for your final year project proposal. Develop a headline and an executive summary that can give an idea of the flow of the final year project execution based on the proposal that you will submit. Allow the executive summary to be brief, so only include necessary and relevant information when doing this part of the proposal.

3. Present project details that can get the attention of your target audience and those that can make the proposal appealing. An introduction may be necessary which should be composed of one to two pages. However, there are some academic institutions that uses an executive summary and an introduction interchangeably.

4. Come up with a concise discussion of your methodology. You have to present the steps that can help you achieve the vision that you have in mind. It will be best if you can include the incorporation of strategies and tactics within all the steps that you need to follow. You may also check out conference proposal examples.

5. One of the most important parts of the final year project proposal is the literature review. If there are existing works and other papers that have already dealt with an area of the project that you would like to execute, make sure that you will specify them in your general proposal so that your claims and your proposal can be stronger.

Aside from the items listed above, you can also include the benefits of your project, the community that you need to work with, the requirements of the project, and other elements that you may be required by your school or organization. Again, feel free to alter any of the information specified above based on the nature of your simple project proposal , the needs and instructions of your academic institution as well as the format and discussion that you will use for developing the document.

12. Guidelines for Final Year Project Proposal Example

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13. 4th Year Project Proposal Overview Example

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14. Detailed Final Year Project Proposal Example

Useful Tips That You Can Refer to for Final Year Project Proposal Development

Your project proposal during your final year is an essential document that can serve as one of the culmination of your undergraduate life. Hence, you have to exert your full effort and time when making this academic document. You might be interested on learning  how to write a proposal .

Here are some of the useful tips that you can use as references and guides if you want to develop an efficient final year project proposal:

1. Know the general schedule that you need to adhere to when developing the document. You have to know the actual deadline that you must consider as well as the entire duration in which you will be tasked to complete the content and presentation of your own final year project. It will be easier for you to develop a proposal if you know the time frames in which work functions are needed to be completed.

2. If there are particular topics, subject areas, or specifications that your final year project proposal must adhere to, ensure that you will not veer away from them. Even if you have the best proposal, if it is not related to the subject or key points that are expected for every professional proposal to have, then your final year project proposal may still be rejected and wasted.

3. Once you already have an idea of what you will present, it is important for you to know the structure that you will use for simple proposal presentation and discussion. You have to know the layout that will work best for the development of your final year project proposal format.

Know the font sizes, spacing, heading and subheading usage, and even the margins that will be used for the document. Take note that these formatting requirements may sometimes be given by your adviser or professor, so you have to be aware of the specific instructions that you need to follow. You may also like sponsorship proposal examples.

Maximize the usage of our final year project proposal examples in PDF as well as the discussion available in this post. We hope that these references are already enough for you to create a functional and highly effective final year project proposal of your own.

How do you write a final year project proposal?

• Title: Choose a clear, descriptive title for your project.
• Introduction: Provide an overview of the project’s background, significance, and objectives.
• Literature Review: Summarize existing research related to your topic to establish its context.
• Research Question/Hypothesis: Clearly state your research question or hypothesis.
• Methodology: Describe the research methods you’ll use, such as data collection, data analysis, and any tools or instruments.
• Data Collection: Explain how you plan to collect data, including sources, participants, and ethical considerations.
• Data Analysis: Outline the techniques and software you’ll use for data analysis.
• Expected Outcomes: Describe what you anticipate discovering or achieving.
• Timeline: Provide a detailed schedule for your project, including milestones and deadlines.
• References: List all the sources you’ve cited in your proposal.
• Budget: If applicable, detail the budget for your project, including funding sources and expenses.
• Conclusion: Summarize your proposal and emphasize its importance.
• Appendices: Include any additional materials, such as questionnaires or surveys.

How does a project proposal look like?

1. Title Page:

• Title of the Project
• Contact Information

2. Table of Contents (if applicable)

3. Executive Summary:

A concise overview of the project, including its significance, objectives, and expected outcomes.

4. Introduction:

• Background and context of the project.
• Problem statement or need the project addresses.
• Purpose and objectives of the project.

5. Literature Review:

Summary of relevant research and existing knowledge related to the project.

6. Project Description:

• Detailed explanation of the project, its scope, and methodology.
• Justification for the project.

7. Methodology:

• Description of the research methods, data collection, and analysis techniques.
• Ethical considerations (if applicable).

8. Timeline:

A proposed schedule for project activities, including milestones and deadlines.

• Detailed breakdown of the project’s financial requirements.
• Funding sources (if applicable).

10. Expected Outcomes:

What you anticipate achieving or discovering through the project.

11. Conclusion:

A summary of the proposal’s key points and its significance.

What is the standard format for project proposal with example?

[Your Name] [Your Department] [Your University or Organization] [Date]

Title: Exploring the Impact of Climate Change on Local Ecosystems

Introduction: In recent years, the effects of climate change on local ecosystems have become a growing concern. This project aims to investigate the impact of climate change on our region’s biodiversity.

Problem Statement: The rise in global temperatures and shifts in weather patterns pose a significant threat to the ecological balance of our region. Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Objectives:

• To assess changes in local flora and fauna due to climate change.
• To identify vulnerable species and ecosystems.
• To propose conservation measures to protect local biodiversity.

Literature Review: A review of relevant studies and reports reveals a consensus on the increasing risks of climate change to ecosystems. Research indicates that shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns can lead to habitat loss and disruptions in food chains.

Methodology: This project will involve field surveys, data collection, and analysis of temperature and precipitation data over the past decade. We will also conduct interviews with local experts and community members.

Data Collection and Analysis: We will gather data from weather stations, conduct biodiversity surveys, and use statistical tools to analyze trends. Ethical considerations will guide our interactions with local ecosystems and communities.

Expected Outcomes: This research will provide valuable insights into the ecological consequences of climate change in our region. It will inform local conservation efforts and promote awareness.

• Literature review and research design: Months 1-2
• Data collection: Months 3-6
• Data analysis: Months 7-9
• Report writing and dissemination: Months 10-12
• Field equipment: $5,000
• Travel expenses: $2,500
• Research assistants: $10,000
• Data analysis software: $1,500

Risks and Mitigations: Potential risks include adverse weather conditions and difficulties in data collection. Mitigations involve backup data sources and flexible timelines.

Conclusion: This project addresses a critical environmental issue and contributes to our understanding of the local impact of climate change. It is both feasible and vital for the conservation of our region’s ecosystems.

General FAQ’s

What is a project proposal.

A project proposal is a formal document that presents a detailed plan for a specific project, outlining its objectives, scope, methodology, expected outcomes, and budget to secure approval or funding.

How many pages should a final year project proposal be?

The length of a final year project proposal can vary, but it typically ranges from 10 to 20 pages. However, it should be as long as necessary to fully convey the project’s details and rationale.

How do you write a short project proposal?

To write a short project proposal, focus on a concise format. Include sections for introduction, problem statement, objectives, methodology, budget, timeline, and expected outcomes, keeping it clear and to the point.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Generate a proposal for a new school recycling program

Compose a proposal for a school field trip to a science museum.

Dissertation Structure & Layout 101: How to structure your dissertation, thesis or research project.

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) Reviewed By: David Phair (PhD) | July 2019

So, you’ve got a decent understanding of what a dissertation is , you’ve chosen your topic and hopefully you’ve received approval for your research proposal . Awesome! Now its time to start the actual dissertation or thesis writing journey.

To craft a high-quality document, the very first thing you need to understand is dissertation structure . In this post, we’ll walk you through the generic dissertation structure and layout, step by step. We’ll start with the big picture, and then zoom into each chapter to briefly discuss the core contents. If you’re just starting out on your research journey, you should start with this post, which covers the big-picture process of how to write a dissertation or thesis .

*The Caveat *

In this post, we’ll be discussing a traditional dissertation/thesis structure and layout, which is generally used for social science research across universities, whether in the US, UK, Europe or Australia. However, some universities may have small variations on this structure (extra chapters, merged chapters, slightly different ordering, etc).

So, always check with your university if they have a prescribed structure or layout that they expect you to work with. If not, it’s safe to assume the structure we’ll discuss here is suitable. And even if they do have a prescribed structure, you’ll still get value from this post as we’ll explain the core contents of each section.  

Overview: S tructuring a dissertation or thesis

• Acknowledgements page
• Abstract (or executive summary)
• Table of contents , list of figures and tables
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Literature review
• Chapter 3: Methodology
• Chapter 4: Results
• Chapter 5: Discussion
• Chapter 6: Conclusion
• Reference list

As I mentioned, some universities will have slight variations on this structure. For example, they want an additional “personal reflection chapter”, or they might prefer the results and discussion chapter to be merged into one. Regardless, the overarching flow will always be the same, as this flow reflects the research process , which we discussed here – i.e.:

• The introduction chapter presents the core research question and aims .
• The literature review chapter assesses what the current research says about this question.
• The methodology, results and discussion chapters go about undertaking new research about this question.
• The conclusion chapter (attempts to) answer the core research question .

In other words, the dissertation structure and layout reflect the research process of asking a well-defined question(s), investigating, and then answering the question – see below.

To restate that – the structure and layout of a dissertation reflect the flow of the overall research process . This is essential to understand, as each chapter will make a lot more sense if you “get” this concept. If you’re not familiar with the research process, read this post before going further.

Right. Now that we’ve covered the big picture, let’s dive a little deeper into the details of each section and chapter. Oh and by the way, you can also grab our free dissertation/thesis template here to help speed things up.

The title page of your dissertation is the very first impression the marker will get of your work, so it pays to invest some time thinking about your title. But what makes for a good title? A strong title needs to be 3 things:

• Succinct (not overly lengthy or verbose)
• Specific (not vague or ambiguous)
• Representative of the research you’re undertaking (clearly linked to your research questions)

Typically, a good title includes mention of the following:

• The broader area of the research (i.e. the overarching topic)
• The specific focus of your research (i.e. your specific context)
• Indication of research design (e.g. quantitative , qualitative , or  mixed methods ).

For example:

A quantitative investigation [research design] into the antecedents of organisational trust [broader area] in the UK retail forex trading market [specific context/area of focus].

Again, some universities may have specific requirements regarding the format and structure of the title, so it’s worth double-checking expectations with your institution (if there’s no mention in the brief or study material).

Acknowledgements

This page provides you with an opportunity to say thank you to those who helped you along your research journey. Generally, it’s optional (and won’t count towards your marks), but it is academic best practice to include this.

So, who do you say thanks to? Well, there’s no prescribed requirements, but it’s common to mention the following people:

• Your dissertation supervisor or committee.
• Any professors, lecturers or academics that helped you understand the topic or methodologies.
• Any tutors, mentors or advisors.
• Your family and friends, especially spouse (for adult learners studying part-time).

There’s no need for lengthy rambling. Just state who you’re thankful to and for what (e.g. thank you to my supervisor, John Doe, for his endless patience and attentiveness) – be sincere. In terms of length, you should keep this to a page or less.

Abstract or executive summary

The dissertation abstract (or executive summary for some degrees) serves to provide the first-time reader (and marker or moderator) with a big-picture view of your research project. It should give them an understanding of the key insights and findings from the research, without them needing to read the rest of the report – in other words, it should be able to stand alone .

For it to stand alone, your abstract should cover the following key points (at a minimum):

• Your research questions and aims – what key question(s) did your research aim to answer?
• Your methodology – how did you go about investigating the topic and finding answers to your research question(s)?
• Your findings – following your own research, what did do you discover?
• Your conclusions – based on your findings, what conclusions did you draw? What answers did you find to your research question(s)?

So, in much the same way the dissertation structure mimics the research process, your abstract or executive summary should reflect the research process, from the initial stage of asking the original question to the final stage of answering that question.

In practical terms, it’s a good idea to write this section up last , once all your core chapters are complete. Otherwise, you’ll end up writing and rewriting this section multiple times (just wasting time). For a step by step guide on how to write a strong executive summary, check out this post .

Need a helping hand?

Table of contents

This section is straightforward. You’ll typically present your table of contents (TOC) first, followed by the two lists – figures and tables. I recommend that you use Microsoft Word’s automatic table of contents generator to generate your TOC. If you’re not familiar with this functionality, the video below explains it simply:

If you find that your table of contents is overly lengthy, consider removing one level of depth. Oftentimes, this can be done without detracting from the usefulness of the TOC.

Right, now that the “admin” sections are out of the way, its time to move on to your core chapters. These chapters are the heart of your dissertation and are where you’ll earn the marks. The first chapter is the introduction chapter – as you would expect, this is the time to introduce your research…

It’s important to understand that even though you’ve provided an overview of your research in your abstract, your introduction needs to be written as if the reader has not read that (remember, the abstract is essentially a standalone document). So, your introduction chapter needs to start from the very beginning, and should address the following questions:

• What will you be investigating (in plain-language, big picture-level)?
• Why is that worth investigating? How is it important to academia or business? How is it sufficiently original?
• What are your research aims and research question(s)? Note that the research questions can sometimes be presented at the end of the literature review (next chapter).
• What is the scope of your study? In other words, what will and won’t you cover ?
• How will you approach your research? In other words, what methodology will you adopt?
• How will you structure your dissertation? What are the core chapters and what will you do in each of them?

These are just the bare basic requirements for your intro chapter. Some universities will want additional bells and whistles in the intro chapter, so be sure to carefully read your brief or consult your research supervisor.

If done right, your introduction chapter will set a clear direction for the rest of your dissertation. Specifically, it will make it clear to the reader (and marker) exactly what you’ll be investigating, why that’s important, and how you’ll be going about the investigation. Conversely, if your introduction chapter leaves a first-time reader wondering what exactly you’ll be researching, you’ve still got some work to do.

Now that you’ve set a clear direction with your introduction chapter, the next step is the literature review . In this section, you will analyse the existing research (typically academic journal articles and high-quality industry publications), with a view to understanding the following questions:

• What does the literature currently say about the topic you’re investigating?
• Is the literature lacking or well established? Is it divided or in disagreement?
• How does your research fit into the bigger picture?
• How does your research contribute something original?
• How does the methodology of previous studies help you develop your own?

Depending on the nature of your study, you may also present a conceptual framework towards the end of your literature review, which you will then test in your actual research.

Again, some universities will want you to focus on some of these areas more than others, some will have additional or fewer requirements, and so on. Therefore, as always, its important to review your brief and/or discuss with your supervisor, so that you know exactly what’s expected of your literature review chapter.

Now that you’ve investigated the current state of knowledge in your literature review chapter and are familiar with the existing key theories, models and frameworks, its time to design your own research. Enter the methodology chapter – the most “science-ey” of the chapters…

In this chapter, you need to address two critical questions:

• Exactly HOW will you carry out your research (i.e. what is your intended research design)?
• Exactly WHY have you chosen to do things this way (i.e. how do you justify your design)?

Remember, the dissertation part of your degree is first and foremost about developing and demonstrating research skills . Therefore, the markers want to see that you know which methods to use, can clearly articulate why you’ve chosen then, and know how to deploy them effectively.

Importantly, this chapter requires detail – don’t hold back on the specifics. State exactly what you’ll be doing, with who, when, for how long, etc. Moreover, for every design choice you make, make sure you justify it.

In practice, you will likely end up coming back to this chapter once you’ve undertaken all your data collection and analysis, and revise it based on changes you made during the analysis phase. This is perfectly fine. Its natural for you to add an additional analysis technique, scrap an old one, etc based on where your data lead you. Of course, I’m talking about small changes here – not a fundamental switch from qualitative to quantitative, which will likely send your supervisor in a spin!

You’ve now collected your data and undertaken your analysis, whether qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods. In this chapter, you’ll present the raw results of your analysis . For example, in the case of a quant study, you’ll present the demographic data, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics , etc.

Typically, Chapter 4 is simply a presentation and description of the data, not a discussion of the meaning of the data. In other words, it’s descriptive, rather than analytical – the meaning is discussed in Chapter 5. However, some universities will want you to combine chapters 4 and 5, so that you both present and interpret the meaning of the data at the same time. Check with your institution what their preference is.

Now that you’ve presented the data analysis results, its time to interpret and analyse them. In other words, its time to discuss what they mean, especially in relation to your research question(s).

What you discuss here will depend largely on your chosen methodology. For example, if you’ve gone the quantitative route, you might discuss the relationships between variables . If you’ve gone the qualitative route, you might discuss key themes and the meanings thereof. It all depends on what your research design choices were.

Most importantly, you need to discuss your results in relation to your research questions and aims, as well as the existing literature. What do the results tell you about your research questions? Are they aligned with the existing research or at odds? If so, why might this be? Dig deep into your findings and explain what the findings suggest, in plain English.

The final chapter – you’ve made it! Now that you’ve discussed your interpretation of the results, its time to bring it back to the beginning with the conclusion chapter . In other words, its time to (attempt to) answer your original research question s (from way back in chapter 1). Clearly state what your conclusions are in terms of your research questions. This might feel a bit repetitive, as you would have touched on this in the previous chapter, but its important to bring the discussion full circle and explicitly state your answer(s) to the research question(s).

Next, you’ll typically discuss the implications of your findings . In other words, you’ve answered your research questions – but what does this mean for the real world (or even for academia)? What should now be done differently, given the new insight you’ve generated?

Lastly, you should discuss the limitations of your research, as well as what this means for future research in the area. No study is perfect, especially not a Masters-level. Discuss the shortcomings of your research. Perhaps your methodology was limited, perhaps your sample size was small or not representative, etc, etc. Don’t be afraid to critique your work – the markers want to see that you can identify the limitations of your work. This is a strength, not a weakness. Be brutal!

This marks the end of your core chapters – woohoo! From here on out, it’s pretty smooth sailing.

The reference list is straightforward. It should contain a list of all resources cited in your dissertation, in the required format, e.g. APA , Harvard, etc.

It’s essential that you use reference management software for your dissertation. Do NOT try handle your referencing manually – its far too error prone. On a reference list of multiple pages, you’re going to make mistake. To this end, I suggest considering either Mendeley or Zotero. Both are free and provide a very straightforward interface to ensure that your referencing is 100% on point. I’ve included a simple how-to video for the Mendeley software (my personal favourite) below:

Some universities may ask you to include a bibliography, as opposed to a reference list. These two things are not the same . A bibliography is similar to a reference list, except that it also includes resources which informed your thinking but were not directly cited in your dissertation. So, double-check your brief and make sure you use the right one.

The very last piece of the puzzle is the appendix or set of appendices. This is where you’ll include any supporting data and evidence. Importantly, supporting is the keyword here.

Your appendices should provide additional “nice to know”, depth-adding information, which is not critical to the core analysis. Appendices should not be used as a way to cut down word count (see this post which covers how to reduce word count ). In other words, don’t place content that is critical to the core analysis here, just to save word count. You will not earn marks on any content in the appendices, so don’t try to play the system!

Time to recap…

And there you have it – the traditional dissertation structure and layout, from A-Z. To recap, the core structure for a dissertation or thesis is (typically) as follows:

• Acknowledgments page

Most importantly, the core chapters should reflect the research process (asking, investigating and answering your research question). Moreover, the research question(s) should form the golden thread throughout your dissertation structure. Everything should revolve around the research questions, and as you’ve seen, they should form both the start point (i.e. introduction chapter) and the endpoint (i.e. conclusion chapter).

I hope this post has provided you with clarity about the traditional dissertation/thesis structure and layout. If you have any questions or comments, please leave a comment below, or feel free to get in touch with us. Also, be sure to check out the rest of the  Grad Coach Blog .

Psst... there’s more!

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 ...

36 Comments

many thanks i found it very useful

Glad to hear that, Arun. Good luck writing your dissertation.

Such clear practical logical advice. I very much needed to read this to keep me focused in stead of fretting.. Perfect now ready to start my research!

what about scientific fields like computer or engineering thesis what is the difference in the structure? thank you very much

Thanks so much this helped me a lot!

Very helpful and accessible. What I like most is how practical the advice is along with helpful tools/ links.

Thanks Ade!

Thank you so much sir.. It was really helpful..

You’re welcome!

Hi! How many words maximum should contain the abstract?

Thank you so much 😊 Find this at the right moment

You’re most welcome. Good luck with your dissertation.

best ever benefit i got on right time thank you

Many times Clarity and vision of destination of dissertation is what makes the difference between good ,average and great researchers the same way a great automobile driver is fast with clarity of address and Clear weather conditions .

I guess Great researcher = great ideas + knowledge + great and fast data collection and modeling + great writing + high clarity on all these

You have given immense clarity from start to end.

Morning. Where will I write the definitions of what I’m referring to in my report?

Thank you so much Derek, I was almost lost! Thanks a tonnnn! Have a great day!

Thanks ! so concise and valuable

This was very helpful. Clear and concise. I know exactly what to do now.

Thank you for allowing me to go through briefly. I hope to find time to continue.

Really useful to me. Thanks a thousand times

Very interesting! It will definitely set me and many more for success. highly recommended.

Thank you soo much sir, for the opportunity to express my skills

Usefull, thanks a lot. Really clear

Very nice and easy to understand. Thank you .

That was incredibly useful. Thanks Grad Coach Crew!

My stress level just dropped at least 15 points after watching this. Just starting my thesis for my grad program and I feel a lot more capable now! Thanks for such a clear and helpful video, Emma and the GradCoach team!

Do we need to mention the number of words the dissertation contains in the main document?

It depends on your university’s requirements, so it would be best to check with them 🙂

Such a helpful post to help me get started with structuring my masters dissertation, thank you!

Great video; I appreciate that helpful information

It is so necessary or avital course

This blog is very informative for my research. Thank you

Doctoral students are required to fill out the National Research Council’s Survey of Earned Doctorates

wow this is an amazing gain in my life

This is so good

How can i arrange my specific objectives in my dissertation?

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Master Thesis/Project Report Format

Guidelines for preparation of master thesis/project report, overview of the steps.

• Select master project/thesis advisor.
• Select a project topic.
• Select a committee.
• Obtain approvals for committee, advisor.
• Register for the master project/thesis course with thesis advisor. (A section number will be provided to you by your project/thesis advisor.)
• Start Research on your master project.
• (Optional)  Present a thesis proposal to the committee during mid-way of the thesis.
• Write project report/thesis.
• Present your master project and/or defend thesis.
• Submit your master project report, or publish thesis.

Project/Thesis Option

Discuss with your master project advisor at the beginning to decide whether your master project will be more suited for the project or thesis option.

Questions to ask when evaluating your master project topic:

• Is there current interest in this topic in the field?
• Is there is a gap in knowledge that work on this topic could help to fill?
• Is it possible to focus on a manageable segment of this topic?
• Identify a preliminary method of data collection that is acceptable to your advisor.
• Is there a body of literature is available that is relevant to your topic?
• Do you need financial assistance to carry out your research?
• Is the data necessary to complete your work is easily accessible?
• Define the project purpose, scope, objectives, and procedures.
• What are the potential limitations of the study?
• Are there any skills called on by the study that you have yet to acquire?

Master level project involves:

• Analyzing the problem or topic.
• Conducting extensive research.
• Summarizing findings from the research investigation.
• Recommending additional research on the topic.
• Drawing conclusions and making recommendations.
• Documenting the results of the research.
• Defending conclusions and recommendations.

Pre-Thesis Planning

When you’re contemplating a thesis topic, you should discuss your interests with as many people as possible to gain a broad perspective. You will find your faculty advisor knowledgeable and willing to offer excellent suggestions and advice regarding an appropriate thesis topic.

Give considerable thought to the identification and planning of a thesis topic. Review literature related to your interests; read a variety of research papers, abstracts, and proposals for content, methods and structure. Looking at completed master’s theses will be a useful activity toward expanding inquiry skills and thought processes.

After the thesis advisor is selected, you may register on-line for a thesis section. You will need to see your thesis instructor to obtain the thesis section number.

Suggested Master Project/Thesis Completion Timeline

Below please find a suggested timeline. Individual timelines may vary from one student to another.

Required Deadlines

• The approval page with all signatures must be submitted to the graduate advisor prior to the last day of the semester.
• The thesis must be submitted electronically prior to the last day of classes. The last day of class can be identified in the on-line Academic calendar.

Scholarship Possibilities

Funding is usually available to students with expertise to the specific area. You will want to research scholarship options during the pre-project planning as many scholarship applications are due months before the award is granted.

• Research assistantship with a faculty advisor related to the topic of research
• Teaching assistantship to teach an undergraduate laboratory
• Check with  Career Center  for on-campus positions
• Attend all career fairs that would be of interest to consider summer internships
• SPIE (The International Society for Optics and Photonics)
• ISA (International Society of Automation)

More opportunities exist; you will need to search for scholarships based on your topic of research.

Citing Sources

The Technology Division at the Cullen College of Engineering* does not mandate citation styles, but you must cite your sources and cite them consistently. Here are some helpful links to assist you with citation:

• Landmark's Son of a Citation Machine
• Wikipedia Citation Templates

*The   Human Development Consumer Science department   prefers you to use the APA style. Please consult with your thesis advisor when choosing a citation style .

Thesis Quality

The Technology Division at the Cullen College of Engineering has significant expectations with regard to thesis quality. Poor or average level theses will not receive college approvals. It is the joint responsibility of the student and the committee to ensure that the thesis is of acceptable quality. Ultimately, the task is one borne by the student as the thesis is a reflection of the quality of their work. The thesis committee can direct the student to seek assistance if quality issues are noticed as the chapters are developed. The student should take quality feedback seriously and not wait until the end to attempt to fix this type of problem as it can result in significant delays and postponement of graduation. When you write and defend your thesis, keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Shows a cursory examination of the topic.
• Makes little use of existing data sources.
• Fails to examine primary sources.
• Shows little comprehension of crucial texts or research in the subject matter.
• Lacks adequate organization.
• Treats the topic in a competent, straightforward way.
• Shows a good grasp of the material.
• Makes use of existing data sources in a competent fashion or shows a good acquaintance with primary sources and current research.
• Shows a solid comprehension of research in the subject matter
• Sustains a line of argumentation throughout the thesis
• Shows all of the above qualities of a quality thesis as well as some measure of originality in research. Originality is defined as developing new data; treating existing data in an original or particularly compelling way; developing new or particularly compelling theoretical arguments; interpreting existing research in an original or particularly compelling way; or bringing primary or secondary materials and research together to sustain a new, comprehensive or compelling interpretation. In general, a thigh quality thesis either shows some measure of originality in its argument or empirical base; or is in some other way striking or new.

Organization of Thesis

The original and copies of the thesis MUST include the following items  IN THE ORDER LISTED :

• Blank sheet of bond paper at the beginning of each copy submitted.
• Copyright page (optional).
• Title Page (must show month and year of graduation - see example).
• Signature page (see example). All three required copies must have ORIGINAL SIGNATURES of the committee and the student. Signatures must be in black ink. This page should be omitted from the electronic thesis.
• Acknowledgment (optional).
• Abstract Title Page (optional - must show month and year of graduation - see example).
• Abstract (optional - University Microfilms, Inc. requires abstracts be no longer than 150 words.).
• Table of Contents.
• References.

Style Requirements

Although there is no prescribed style for the completed thesis, there are several style manuals available which may prove helpful. The student should contact the thesis advisor to discuss the style manual to be used.  Above all, it is important to be consistent throughout the entire thesis.  Decide how you wish to structure your manuscript and be consistent throughout it.

Steps in the Submission of Electronic Dissertation/Thesis

• Write your thesis per Technology Division at the Cullen College of Engineering thesis guidelines.
• Successfully defend your thesis. Make corrections per the thesis committee.
• Committee signs the approval page.
• Submit a copy of the final thesis version to the Associate Dean for Research for Graduate Studies or your graduate advisor for formatting review a minimum of two weeks prior to the end of the semester.
• Wait for formatting approval before beginning electronic submission process.

Electronic Submission

• Create a single pdf file of the thesis. The signature page is NOT included in the online submission.
• Submit the signed approval page to your graduate advisor. Approval page is stored in the student’s file. ET students must also submit rubric sheets, one for each committee member.
• Please note you will be asked if you would like to embargo your work, request a journal hold or a patent hold. Be sure to check with your committee chair about these features and whether your committee chair will approve them.
• Uploading the thesis requires an active Cougarnet account and log in. If you have not used your Cougarnet account in more than 90 days, please contact the ETD administrator for assistance.
• You will receive an e-mail confirming your upload to TDL. Please forward this email to your graduate advisor.
• Wait for confirmation from your faculty chair and graduate advisor that your document has been accepted.
• Email your committee chair requesting approval of your submission. Also request approval of the embargo, if applicable.

Specifications

The font should be Times New Roman, 12 pt. font

The margins should be one inch (1") each

Electronic Copy Submission

All CCE Technology Division theses submitted in an electronic format may be hosted on the College webpage. You must submit an electronic copy of the thesis in pdf format that accurately represents the printed version of the final document.

• Copyright Page Example
• Title Page Example
• Signature Page Example
• Acknowledgements Page Example
• Abstract Title Page
• Abstract Page
• A Message from the Senior Associate Dean
• Giving to the CCE Technology Division
• Our Mission
• Our History
• Technology Division Facilities
• Assessment & Accreditation
• Instructional Design
• Technical Support
• Web Technologies
• Information for Undergraduate Students
• Information for Graduate Students
• Transfer Students
• Veteran Students
• Contact + Request Info
• Student Experience Workshops
• See an Advisor
• Advising Forms
• Scholarships
• Career Services
• Laptop Policy
• Construction Management
• Engineering Technology
• Human Development and Consumer Sciences
• Information Science Technology
• Undergraduate Degree Programs
• Undergraduate Minors
• Graduate Degree Programs
• Professional & Certificate Programs
• Online Programs
• For Recruiters
• Career Resources
• Faculty & Staff
• Administrative Staff
• Boards of Advisors
• For Faculty and Staff
• Transition to UH at Sugar Land

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• Knowledge Base
• Dissertation

What Is a Dissertation? | Guide, Examples, & Template

A dissertation is a long-form piece of academic writing based on original research conducted by you. It is usually submitted as the final step in order to finish a PhD program.

Your dissertation is probably the longest piece of writing you’ve ever completed. It requires solid research, writing, and analysis skills, and it can be intimidating to know where to begin.

Your department likely has guidelines related to how your dissertation should be structured. When in doubt, consult with your supervisor.

You can also download our full dissertation template in the format of your choice below. The template includes a ready-made table of contents with notes on what to include in each chapter, easily adaptable to your department’s requirements.

Download Word template Download Google Docs template

• In the US, a dissertation generally refers to the collection of research you conducted to obtain a PhD.
• In other countries (such as the UK), a dissertation often refers to the research you conduct to obtain your bachelor’s or master’s degree.

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Table of contents

Dissertation committee and prospectus process, how to write and structure a dissertation, acknowledgements or preface, list of figures and tables, list of abbreviations, introduction, literature review, methodology, reference list, proofreading and editing, defending your dissertation, free checklist and lecture slides.

When you’ve finished your coursework, as well as any comprehensive exams or other requirements, you advance to “ABD” (All But Dissertation) status. This means you’ve completed everything except your dissertation.

Prior to starting to write, you must form your committee and write your prospectus or proposal . Your committee comprises your adviser and a few other faculty members. They can be from your own department, or, if your work is more interdisciplinary, from other departments. Your committee will guide you through the dissertation process, and ultimately decide whether you pass your dissertation defense and receive your PhD.

Your prospectus is a formal document presented to your committee, usually orally in a defense, outlining your research aims and objectives and showing why your topic is relevant . After passing your prospectus defense, you’re ready to start your research and writing.

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The structure of your dissertation depends on a variety of factors, such as your discipline, topic, and approach. Dissertations in the humanities are often structured more like a long essay , building an overall argument to support a central thesis , with chapters organized around different themes or case studies.

However, hard science and social science dissertations typically include a review of existing works, a methodology section, an analysis of your original research, and a presentation of your results , presented in different chapters.

Dissertation examples

We’ve compiled a list of dissertation examples to help you get started.

• Example dissertation #1: Heat, Wildfire and Energy Demand: An Examination of Residential Buildings and Community Equity (a dissertation by C. A. Antonopoulos about the impact of extreme heat and wildfire on residential buildings and occupant exposure risks).
• Example dissertation #2: Exploring Income Volatility and Financial Health Among Middle-Income Households (a dissertation by M. Addo about income volatility and declining economic security among middle-income households).
• Example dissertation #3: The Use of Mindfulness Meditation to Increase the Efficacy of Mirror Visual Feedback for Reducing Phantom Limb Pain in Amputees (a dissertation by N. S. Mills about the effect of mindfulness-based interventions on the relationship between mirror visual feedback and the pain level in amputees with phantom limb pain).

The very first page of your document contains your dissertation title, your name, department, institution, degree program, and submission date. Sometimes it also includes your student number, your supervisor’s name, and the university’s logo.

Read more about title pages

The acknowledgements section is usually optional and gives space for you to thank everyone who helped you in writing your dissertation. This might include your supervisors, participants in your research, and friends or family who supported you. In some cases, your acknowledgements are part of a preface.

Read more about acknowledgements Read more about prefaces

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The abstract is a short summary of your dissertation, usually about 150 to 300 words long. Though this may seem very short, it’s one of the most important parts of your dissertation, because it introduces your work to your audience.

Your abstract should:

• State your main topic and the aims of your research
• Describe your methods
• Summarize your main results
• State your conclusions

Read more about abstracts

The table of contents lists all of your chapters, along with corresponding subheadings and page numbers. This gives your reader an overview of your structure and helps them easily navigate your document.

Remember to include all main parts of your dissertation in your table of contents, even the appendices. It’s easy to generate a table automatically in Word if you used heading styles. Generally speaking, you only include level 2 and level 3 headings, not every subheading you included in your finished work.

Read more about tables of contents

While not usually mandatory, it’s nice to include a list of figures and tables to help guide your reader if you have used a lot of these in your dissertation. It’s easy to generate one of these in Word using the Insert Caption feature.

Read more about lists of figures and tables

Similarly, if you have used a lot of abbreviations (especially industry-specific ones) in your dissertation, you can include them in an alphabetized list of abbreviations so that the reader can easily look up their meanings.

Read more about lists of abbreviations

In addition to the list of abbreviations, if you find yourself using a lot of highly specialized terms that you worry will not be familiar to your reader, consider including a glossary. Here, alphabetize the terms and include a brief description or definition.

Read more about glossaries

The introduction serves to set up your dissertation’s topic, purpose, and relevance. It tells the reader what to expect in the rest of your dissertation. The introduction should:

• Establish your research topic , giving the background information needed to contextualize your work
• Narrow down the focus and define the scope of your research
• Discuss the state of existing research on the topic, showing your work’s relevance to a broader problem or debate
• Clearly state your research questions and objectives
• Outline the flow of the rest of your work

Everything in the introduction should be clear, engaging, and relevant. By the end, the reader should understand the what, why, and how of your research.

Read more about introductions

A formative part of your research is your literature review . This helps you gain a thorough understanding of the academic work that already exists on your topic.

Literature reviews encompass:

• Finding relevant sources (e.g., books and journal articles)
• Assessing the credibility of your sources
• Critically analyzing and evaluating each source
• Drawing connections between them (e.g., themes, patterns, conflicts, or gaps) to strengthen your overall point

A literature review is not merely a summary of existing sources. Your literature review should have a coherent structure and argument that leads to a clear justification for your own research. It may aim to:

• Address a gap in the literature or build on existing knowledge
• Take a new theoretical or methodological approach to your topic
• Propose a solution to an unresolved problem or advance one side of a theoretical debate

Read more about literature reviews

Theoretical framework

Your literature review can often form the basis for your theoretical framework. Here, you define and analyze the key theories, concepts, and models that frame your research.

Read more about theoretical frameworks

Your methodology chapter describes how you conducted your research, allowing your reader to critically assess its credibility. Your methodology section should accurately report what you did, as well as convince your reader that this was the best way to answer your research question.

A methodology section should generally include:

• The overall research approach ( quantitative vs. qualitative ) and research methods (e.g., a longitudinal study )
• Your data collection methods (e.g., interviews or a controlled experiment )
• Details of where, when, and with whom the research took place
• Any tools and materials you used (e.g., computer programs, lab equipment)
• Your data analysis methods (e.g., statistical analysis , discourse analysis )
• An evaluation or justification of your methods

Read more about methodology sections

Your results section should highlight what your methodology discovered. You can structure this section around sub-questions, hypotheses , or themes, but avoid including any subjective or speculative interpretation here.

Your results section should:

• Concisely state each relevant result together with relevant descriptive statistics (e.g., mean , standard deviation ) and inferential statistics (e.g., test statistics , p values )
• Briefly state how the result relates to the question or whether the hypothesis was supported
• Report all results that are relevant to your research questions , including any that did not meet your expectations.

Additional data (including raw numbers, full questionnaires, or interview transcripts) can be included as an appendix. You can include tables and figures, but only if they help the reader better understand your results. Read more about results sections

Your discussion section is your opportunity to explore the meaning and implications of your results in relation to your research question. Here, interpret your results in detail, discussing whether they met your expectations and how well they fit with the framework that you built in earlier chapters. Refer back to relevant source material to show how your results fit within existing research in your field.

Some guiding questions include:

• What do your results mean?
• Why do your results matter?
• What limitations do the results have?

If any of the results were unexpected, offer explanations for why this might be. It’s a good idea to consider alternative interpretations of your data.

Read more about discussion sections

Your dissertation’s conclusion should concisely answer your main research question, leaving your reader with a clear understanding of your central argument and emphasizing what your research has contributed to the field.

In some disciplines, the conclusion is just a short section preceding the discussion section, but in other contexts, it is the final chapter of your work. Here, you wrap up your dissertation with a final reflection on what you found, with recommendations for future research and concluding remarks.

It’s important to leave the reader with a clear impression of why your research matters. What have you added to what was already known? Why is your research necessary for the future of your field?

Read more about conclusions

It is crucial to include a reference list or list of works cited with the full details of all the sources that you used, in order to avoid plagiarism. Be sure to choose one citation style and follow it consistently throughout your dissertation. Each style has strict and specific formatting requirements.

Common styles include MLA , Chicago , and APA , but which style you use is often set by your department or your field.

Create APA citations Create MLA citations

Your dissertation should contain only essential information that directly contributes to answering your research question. Documents such as interview transcripts or survey questions can be added as appendices, rather than adding them to the main body.

Read more about appendices

Making sure that all of your sections are in the right place is only the first step to a well-written dissertation. Don’t forget to leave plenty of time for editing and proofreading, as grammar mistakes and sloppy spelling errors can really negatively impact your work.

Dissertations can take up to five years to write, so you will definitely want to make sure that everything is perfect before submitting. You may want to consider using a professional dissertation editing service , AI proofreader or grammar checker to make sure your final project is perfect prior to submitting.

After your written dissertation is approved, your committee will schedule a defense. Similarly to defending your prospectus, dissertation defenses are oral presentations of your work. You’ll present your dissertation, and your committee will ask you questions. Many departments allow family members, friends, and other people who are interested to join as well.

After your defense, your committee will meet, and then inform you whether you have passed. Keep in mind that defenses are usually just a formality; most committees will have resolved any serious issues with your work with you far prior to your defense, giving you ample time to fix any problems.

As you write your dissertation, you can use this simple checklist to make sure you’ve included all the essentials.

Checklist: Dissertation

My title page includes all information required by my university.

I have included acknowledgements thanking those who helped me.

My abstract provides a concise summary of the dissertation, giving the reader a clear idea of my key results or arguments.

I have created a table of contents to help the reader navigate my dissertation. It includes all chapter titles, but excludes the title page, acknowledgements, and abstract.

My introduction leads into my topic in an engaging way and shows the relevance of my research.

My introduction clearly defines the focus of my research, stating my research questions and research objectives .

My introduction includes an overview of the dissertation’s structure (reading guide).

I have conducted a literature review in which I (1) critically engage with sources, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of existing research, (2) discuss patterns, themes, and debates in the literature, and (3) address a gap or show how my research contributes to existing research.

I have clearly outlined the theoretical framework of my research, explaining the theories and models that support my approach.

I have thoroughly described my methodology , explaining how I collected data and analyzed data.

I have concisely and objectively reported all relevant results .

I have (1) evaluated and interpreted the meaning of the results and (2) acknowledged any important limitations of the results in my discussion .

I have clearly stated the answer to my main research question in the conclusion .

I have clearly explained the implications of my conclusion, emphasizing what new insight my research has contributed.

I have provided relevant recommendations for further research or practice.

If relevant, I have included appendices with supplemental information.

I have included an in-text citation every time I use words, ideas, or information from a source.

I have listed every source in a reference list at the end of my dissertation.

I have consistently followed the rules of my chosen citation style .

I have followed all formatting guidelines provided by my university.

Congratulations!

The end is in sight—your dissertation is nearly ready to submit! Make sure it's perfectly polished with the help of a Scribbr editor.

If you’re an educator, feel free to download and adapt these slides to teach your students about structuring a dissertation.

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