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Trending Dissertation Topics & Ideas For 2024

ResearchProspect has prepared a list of trending dissertation topics and ideas in every academic subject to inspire you. In addition to the free topics available in our topics database, we offer 3 free custom dissertation topics to students of all levels. You can also review our example dissertation titles to get inspired.

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Trending Topics For Dissertation In 2024

Looking for hot dissertation topics for your research? Here is our list of top examples that will help you decide on a suitable idea for your dissertation.

Humanities Dissertation Topics

• An Analysis of The Role of Social Media in Shaping Public Discourse.
• The Representation of Gender in Contemporary Literature: A Comparative Study.
• The Politics of Cultural Heritage Preservation: Case Study of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• A Philosophical Inquiry of The Ethics of Digital Humanities Research.
• The Intersection of Religion and Politics in the Middle East: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives.
• An Ethnographic Study of the Impact of Globalisation on Indigenous Cultures.
• The Aesthetics of Horror in Literature and Film: An Analysis of Contemporary Works.
• The Philosophy of Human Rights: A Comparative Study of Eastern and Western Perspectives.
• The Representation of Trauma in Postcolonial Literature: A Comparative Study of African and South Asian Texts.
• The Psychology of Humor: An Investigation into the Relationship Between Laughter and Mental Health.

Environment Dissertation Topics

• Climate Change Mitigation Strategies: A Comparative Analysis of Developed and Developing Countries.
• The Impact of Urbanisation on Biodiversity: Case Study of Major Cities in the World.
• The Politics of Environmental Justice: A Critical Analysis of Environmental Policies and Their Impacts on Marginalised Communities.
• The Role of Green Technology in Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Renewable Energy Sources.
• The Economics of Carbon Pricing: A Comparative Study of Cap and Trade Systems.
• The Implications of Deforestation on Ecosystem Services with Respect to the Amazon Rainforests.
• The Ethics of Animal Agriculture: An Investigation into the Impacts of Industrial Livestock Production.
• The Role of Environmental Education in Promoting Sustainability in the United Kingdom.
• A Study on The Intersection of Indigenous Knowledge and Environmental Conservation.
• The Politics of Water Scarcity: An Overview of the Middle East and North Africa.

Education Dissertation Topics

• The Impact of Technology on Teaching and Learning: A Comparative Study of Traditional and Online Education.
• An Investigation on The Role of Parental Involvement in Early Childhood Education.
• A Meta-Analysis on The Effectiveness of Inquiry-Based Learning in STEM Education.
• The Impact of Cultural Diversity on Student Learning Outcomes in the United Kingdom.
• The Politics of Education Reform: A Comparative Analysis of Policies and Their Impacts on Student Achievement.
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Teaching Quality.
• The Impact of Globalisation on Higher Education: Case Study of Internationalisation Strategies in Universities.
• An Analysis of The Effectiveness of Social-Emotional Learning Programs.
• The Intersection of Education and Technology Entrepreneurship: A Case Study of EdTech Startups.
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Funding and Student Outcomes in Public Schools.

Sports Dissertation Topics

• A Study on the Role of Sports in Promoting Social Inclusion.
• The Impact of Sports Psychology on Athletic Performance: An Investigation into Mental Training Techniques.
• An Analysis of The Ethics of Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports.
• The Effectiveness of Injury Prevention Programs in Contact Sports.
• The Intersection of Sports and Technology: An Analysis of Wearable Technology in Athletic Training and Performance.
• A Comparative Study of National and International Sports Organisations.
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Sponsorship and Brand Awareness.
• The Impact of Sports on Personal Development: A Comparative Study of Sports and Non-Sports Participants.
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Fan Attachment and Identity.
• The Intersection of Sports and Social Media: A Case Study of Athlete Branding and Fan Engagement.

Psychology Dissertation Topics

• An Investigation into the Impacts of Social Media on Anxiety and Depression.
• The Role of Positive Psychology in Promoting Well-Being.
• The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Treating Anxiety and Depression.
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Coping Strategies and Health Outcomes.
• The Intersection of Psychology and Neuroscience: An Analysis of Brain Imaging Techniques in Understanding Mental Health Disorders.
• A Critical Analysis of Research Methods and Their Implications for Participants.
• The Impact of Culture on Mental Health: Case Study of Western and Eastern Approaches to Mental Health Treatment.
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Personality Traits and Addiction.
• An Analysis of Interpersonal Relationships and Their Impacts on Psychological Well-Being.
• A Comparative Study of Aging and Longevity in Different Cultures.

Gender Dissertation Topics

• The Impact of Gender Stereotypes on Career Choices.
• The Role of Gender-Based Violence in Perpetuating Gender Inequality.
• An Analysis of the Impacts of Intersectionality on Women of Color.
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Politics and Women's Access to Healthcare.
• The Effectiveness of Gender Quotas in Promoting Gender Equality.
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Masculinity and Mental Health.
• The Role of Gender Identity in Social Justice Movements.
• The Impact of Gender and Sexuality Education on Adolescents.
• A Comparative Study of Gender Pay Gaps in Different Industries and Countries.
• An Analysis of the Impacts of Ableism and Gender Discrimination on Disabled Women.

Law Dissertation Topics

• An Analysis of the Impacts of Digitalisation on Legal Systems.
• The Role of International Law in Addressing Global Challenges.
• The Effectiveness of Restorative Justice in Addressing Criminal Behaviour.
• A Comparative Study of Selection Processes and Their Impacts on Judicial Independence.
• An Analysis of the Impacts of Intersectionality on Legal Rights and Protections.
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Advocacy and Professional Responsibility.
• The Impact of Gender and Race on Jury Decision-Making: An Analysis of Implicit Bias in Legal Proceedings.
• The Role of Human Rights Law in Addressing Corporate Responsibility: An Investigation into the Relationship Between Business and Human Rights.
• The Politics of Immigration Law: A Comparative Study of National Policies and Their Impacts on Migrant Rights and Protections.
• The Effectiveness of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Addressing Civil Disputes: A Comparative Study of Mediation and Arbitration.

Business, Finance & Management Dissertation Topics

• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance.
• The Role of Entrepreneurship in Economic Growth: An Analysis of Small Business Development and Job Creation.
• The Impact of Financial Technology on Banking and Finance: use of Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies.
• The Effectiveness of Corporate Governance in Preventing Corporate Scandals: A Comparative Study of Regulations and Practices.
• The Psychology of Decision-Making in Management: An Analysis of Cognitive Biases and Their Impacts on Organisational Behaviour.
• The Role of Leadership in Organisational Change: An Investigation into the Impacts of Leadership Styles on Change Management.
• A Comparative Study of Trade Agreements and Their Impacts on Global Economic Relations.
• The Impact of Organisational Culture on Employee Motivation and Performance.
• An Investigation into the Use of Social Media Marketing and Influencer Marketing.
• The Role of Human Resource Management in Talent Development.

Health & Nursing Dissertation Topics

• The Impact of Telemedicine on Healthcare Delivery
• The Role of Nursing in Patient Safety: An Analysis of Best Practices and Strategies for Preventing Medical Errors.
• The Effectiveness of Health Promotion Programs in Preventing Chronic Diseases.
• A Comparative Study of National Policies and Their Impacts on Access to Care.
• An Analysis of the Impacts of Co-Morbidities on Patient Outcomes.
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Health Knowledge and Patient Empowerment.
• A Comparative Study of Pain Management Strategies in Different Settings.
• An Analysis of Best Practices and Strategies for Addressing Health Disparities.
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Comfort Care and Quality of Life.
• The Effectiveness of Healthcare Teamwork in Patient-Centered Care.

Technology Dissertation Topics

• An Investigation into the Ethical and Social Implications of AI Technologies.
• The Impact of Cybersecurity Threats on Business and Society.
• The Role of Blockchain Technology in the Future of Digital Transactions.
• An Analysis of the Impacts of Digital Health Technologies on Patient Outcomes and Access to Care.
• The Effectiveness of Virtual and Augmented Reality in Education and Training.
• A Comparative Study of National Policies and International Agreements.
• An Investigation into the Use of Data-Driven Decision Making.
• The Impact of Social Media on Society and Culture: An Analysis of the Impacts of Platforms like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram.
• The Effectiveness of User-Centered Design in Developing Technology Products.
• The Future of Quantum Computing and its Potential Applications in Different Fields.

Geography & Politics Dissertation Topics

• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Environmental Policy and Global Climate Change.
• An Analysis of Immigration and Refugee Settlement Patterns in Cities.
• A Comparative Study of National Interests and Strategic Considerations.
• A Review on The Intersection of Geography and Political Violence.
• A Study of Different Approaches to Addressing Economic Disparities.
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Resource Distribution and Political Power.
• An Analysis of National Borders and Their Impacts on Migration, Trade, and Security.
• An Investigation into the Use of Geospatial Technologies and Digital Mapping in Political Analysis.
• A Comparative Study of Different Approaches to Disaster Response and Preparedness.
• An Analysis of the Use of Spatial Analysis and Geographical Information Systems in Policy Making.

Fashion & Media Dissertation Topics

• An Analysis of the Impacts of Instagram, TikTok, and Other Platforms on Fashion Marketing and Consumption.
• The Role of Fashion in Representing Diversity and Inclusivity in Media.
• An Examination of the Influences of Celebrities on Fashion Trends and Consumer Behaviour.
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Fashion, Power, and Identity.
• Comparative research of Different Approaches to Ethical and Environmentally Conscious Fashion Production.
• An Analysis of the Use of Photography in Fashion Communication.
• A Breakdown of the Relationship Between Wearable Technologies and Fashion Trends.
• The Effectiveness of Influencer Marketing in Fashion.
• The Impact of Fashion and Media on Body Image.
• A Study into the Use of Fashion as a Symbolic Representation of Political Messages and Movements.

Tourism Dissertation Topics

• The Impact of Sustainable Tourism Practices on Local Communities.
• An Investigation into the Use of Virtual and Augmented Reality in Tourism.
• A Comparative Study of Different Approaches to Marketing Tourism Destinations.
• An Analysis of the Relationship Between Tourism Development and Political Power.
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Tourism and Heritage Conservation.
• A Research of Different Approaches to Tourism as a Driver of Economic Growth.
• The Effectiveness of Tourism Policies in Addressing Overtourism: An Analysis of Different Approaches to Managing Tourist Crowds in Popular Destinations.
• An Investigation into the Impacts of Platforms like Instagram and TikTok on Tourism Marketing and Consumption.
• The Role of Tourism in Conflict and Post-Conflict Zones.
• An Investigation into Emerging Trends and Innovations in Tourism.

Science & Engineering Dissertation Topics

• An Investigation into the Use of Machine Learning and AI Techniques in Engineering Design and Optimisation.
• The Impact of Renewable Energy Technologies on Sustainable Development: An Analysis of Different Approaches to Promoting Renewable Energy Sources.
• An Investigation into Emerging Technologies and Innovations in Space Science and Engineering.
• Study of Different Approaches to Green Building and Sustainable Architecture.
• An Analysis of the Impacts of Biotechnology on Medical Diagnosis, Treatment, and Drug Development.
• The Impact of Climate Change on Engineering Infrastructure: An Investigation into the Relationship Between Climate Change and Infrastructure Resilience.
• The Effectiveness of Science Education Programs: A Comparative Study of Different Approaches to Teaching Science in Schools.
• A Research on the Use of Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies in Engineering Applications.
• An Investigation into Emerging Technologies and Innovations in Transportation Engineering.
• An Analysis of the Impacts of Additive Manufacturing on Industrial Processes and Supply Chains.

Marketing Dissertation Topics

• An Investigation into the Impacts of Influencer Marketing on Consumer Behaviour
• An Analysis of the Use of Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence in Marketing Strategies.
• A Comparative Study of Different Approaches to Targeted Marketing and Personalised Advertising.
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Customer Experience and Consumer Loyalty.
• An Analysis of the Use of Narrative Techniques in Brand Communications.
• A Study of Different Approaches to Corporate Social Responsibility in Marketing.
• An Investigation into the Impacts of Customer Advocacy and Word-of-Mouth Marketing.
• A Research of the Use of Mobile Technologies in Marketing Communications.
• A Comparative Study of Different Approaches to Creating Immersive Brand Experiences.
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Marketing Communications and Brand Reputation.

Management Dissertation Topics

• A Research on the Impacts of Emotional Intelligence on Leadership Effectiveness
• An Analysis of the Use of Digital Technologies in Business Management and Operations.
• A Comparative Study of Different Approaches to Building Diverse and Inclusive Workplaces.
• The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Management.
• An Analysis of the Use of AI and Machine Learning in Business Decision-Making and Strategy.
• A Study of Different Approaches to Managing Organisational Knowledge.
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Organisational Culture and Performance.
• An Analysis of the Impacts of Globalisation on International Business Operations and Management Practices.
• A Comparative Study of Different Approaches to Measuring and Evaluating Employee Performance.
• The Role of Change Management in Organisational Transformation.

What You Get With Our Dissertation Topics Service

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When you order custom dissertation topics from Research, a subject expert suggests the most relevant ideas for you to choose from.

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Whether you want just the topics or the full dissertation writing service, our customer service is active 24/7 to help you with all your queries.

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We carefully select the most qualified writer for your topics’ order. This means you’ll only ever be paired with a writer who is an expert in your subject.

How Can ResearchProspect Help?

ResearchProspect writers can send several custom topic ideas to your email address. Once you have chosen a topic that suits your needs and interests, you can order for our dissertation outline service which will include a brief introduction to the topic, research questions , literature review , methodology , expected results and conclusion . The dissertation outline will enable you to review the quality of our work before placing the order for our full dissertation writing service !

Dissertation Topic Examples

Here are some dissertation topics examples for you so you know what you can expect from our experts when you order a free dissertation topic from Research Prospect

Topic 1: Management Quality and Control- Assessing the role of project length in the UK Construction sector.

Research Aim: The construction industry is one of the most significant contributors to the country’s economy. This study investigates the role of project length on management control and quality in the UK’s construction sector. Also, the research will analyse the connection between project length and quality control, considering the moderating impact of management quality control on a project’s success.

Topic 2: Investigating how the Tourism Industry has taken Green and Sustainable measures- A case study of UK

Research Aim: This study will investigate the various aspects of the UK tourism industry towards making green and sustainable measures for the environmental benefits. It will also look into the consumer’s perspective towards green tourism and its positive and negative impacts on the tourism industry and the tourists. It is also helping you develop a better understanding of the concept of a green environment and its influence on the tourism industry.

Topic 3: Assessing the role of Communication Strategies in Fashion Marketing- a case study of UK

Research Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of communication strategies in the world of UK fashion marketing. This will also give us an understanding of how new fashion remanufacturing should be communicated to the consumers. Focusing on how information and messages about the brands or products should be labelled to attract the audience.

Topic 4: Building demolition- Analyse the efficacy of destroying and ruining Big city structures and their impact on the traffic.

Research Aim: Many big cities around the world have demolished a vast number of buildings that were functional with new structures. It not only has an economic impact but also results in the loss of urban culture, harms the environment, cause pollution, and also worsen the traffic situation. This study will evaluate the merits of building demotion and will provide economic, technical and environmental input.

Topic 5: Assessing the relationship between Information Protection and Journalism, how does the Data Protection Act of 1998 affect the problem of people in Media Exposure?

Research Aim: This study will examine how the Data protection act of 1998 plays an important role in protecting information. This study will provide vital knowledge by collecting information from the directors’ of a few media associations. Discussions with media members can also help in gaining an understanding of the actual circumstances in which material obtained by journalism should be protected.

Topic 6: An investigation of the blockchain's application on the energy sector leading towards electricity production and e-mobility.

Research Aim: This study aims to investigate the applications of blockchain within the energy sector. This study will identify how blockchain can be used to produce electricity from the comfort of home. Moreover, this study aims to introduce the concept of e-mobility through blockchain, according to which blockchain can be used to share the car ride with the other commuters residing at nearby places. Another objective of this research is to develop a framework that could assess blockchain’s use for the consumers staying within a budget and letting them assess how much money they have been spending so far.

Topic 7: Increasing Bitcoin Privacy and Security- Assessing the Role and Implementation of Confidential Transactions.

Research Aim: A confidential transfer is a technology that allows users to protect their money values from the public using new crypto techniques. The study aims to determine if confidential transactions can provide secret, secure as well as financial privacy. As a result, it is crucial to examine the function of confidential transactions in order to ensure that no digital currency is lost or produced when a transaction occurs without disclosing the precise number of transfers.

Topic 8: An analysis of the novel waste management techniques- A case study of United Kingdom oil and gas sector.

Research Aim: This study analyses the novel waste management techniques and practices in the UK oil and gas sector. It will also identify the challenges facing the oil and gas sector in achieving sustainable management of all the waste from production. This study aims to determine different forms of E and P waste being generated and reduce harmful E and P waste by using technology, focusing on the policies made by the government regarding hazardous waste from the oil and gas industry.

Topic 9: Assessing the parental perceptions and attitude towards the adoption of healthy behaviour patterns to control obesity and overweight concerns in young children.

Research Aim: This study aims to analyse the parent’s perceptions and attitudes in relation to healthy behaviours practises to control obesity and overweight disorders in young children. It will also focus on the obstacles parents or caregivers experience when it comes to obesity control in young children.

Topic 10: What are the Environmental Impacts of Water Waste Treatment of Cement Industry in South Korea?

Research Aim: This study aims to find the environmental impacts of water waste treatment of the cement industry in South Korea. With the help of a comprehensive survey across the cement manufacturing companies in South Korea, this study will first scrutinize the entire waste treatment process in the cement industry in South Korea. Then it will analyze the impact of each step on the environment. And after analyzing find the environmental effects of the water waste treatment of the cement industry in South Korea, this study will recommend modern ways to reduce the adverse effects.

Topic 11: Politics in a Digital Age- Assessing the impact of Social Media on Public Participation and Political Campaigns.

Research Aim: This study aims to find how the public has utilised social media during elections or political campaigns. This study will also focus on the impact of social networking sites on popular participation in the electoral vote and political debate. This research study will also investigate the effects of new technologies and the digital era on media and political party campaigns and media activities during elections.

Topic 12: The influence of price and brand on consumer preference during an economic recession: A case of the clothing market in Greece

Research Aim: The research will aim to examine the impact of prices and brands on consumer buying behaviour during an economic recession in Greece’s clothing market. During an economic crisis, not all types of products suffer the same consequences. During a recession, people are more sensible in their buying decisions, and they frequently continue to choose known product brands that meet their demands. The study will look at the impact of the recession on consumer purchasing preferences, taking into account variations in spending on various apparel brands based on price.

Topic 13: An investigation of the reasons for the Merger's failure outcomes and acquisition of Islamic Banks in gulf countries.

Research Aim: It is also evident from various studies that most Islamic banks in the Gulf countries, which put their efforts into Mergers and acquisitions to other know and well-established banking sectors, encountered some severe failures. Therefore, this study aims to develop an understanding of failure outcomes for the Islamic banks while going towards Merger’s decision and acquisition with other well-known banks in the Gulf countries.

Topic 14: The Role of International Criminal Laws in Reducing Global Genocide

Research Aim: This study aims to find the role of international criminal laws in reducing global genocide. It will be an exploratory study identifying the explicit and implicit effects of international criminal laws on the worldwide genocide. It will analyse different incidents of international genocide and find out how international criminal laws played a positive role to reduce these incidents. Lastly, it will recommend possible changes in the international criminal laws to effectively mitigate global genocide. And it will be done by comparing criminal laws of world-leading powers to reduce genocide.

Topic 15: How do our genes influence our lifestyle and behavior?

Research Aim: Inherited genetic predispositions largely determine individual differences in intellectual ability, personality, and mental health. Behavior also displays indicators of genetic influence; for example, how somebody reacts to stressful circumstances reflects some genetic influence. This research aims to find the impact of genes on a person’s lifestyle and behavior. The study will also examine the ratio of people likely to be affected by genetics.

Topic 16: An assessment of the Influence of Parents' Divorce or Separation on Adolescent Children in terms of long-term psychological impact.

Research Aim: This study aims to investigate the level of traumas experienced by the children of divorced or separated parents. The principal aim of this study is to explore the long-term psychological impacts of parents’ divorce on the life of children regardless of their gender and age in terms of mental wellbeing, academic performance, and self-worth.

Topic 17: Russia-Israel relationship and its impact on Syria and the Middle East.

Research Aim: Russia and Israel share significant aspects of their strategic cultures. Both countries have a siege mentality and are led by a security-first mindset and a predominantly military view of authority. p Russia’s relationship with Israel has grown in importance in the context of Russia’s military operation in Syria. This study aims to examine the relations between Russia and Israel and how they have impacted Syria and the middle east—focusing on different policies, agreements, and military interventions.

Topic 18: Assessing the Role of Social Media in Raising Awareness about Environmental Issues- A case study of Snapchat.

Research Aim: The main aim of this study is to find the role of social media platforms in raising awareness about environmental issues. This study will focus on the social media app Snapchat which is currently very popular among the youth, and millions of people use Snapchat daily and send each other snaps. Furthermore, this study will focus on how this platform plays a vital role in spreading awareness regarding environmental issues.

Topic 19: Is Cybercrime a Threat to Banking Sector in Developing Countries? A Case Study of Banking Sector in Pakistan

Research Aim: This study aims to analyze the impact of cybercrime on the banking sector in developing countries. It will identify the possible threats faced by the banking sector due to increasing cybercrimes. These threats are related to the information security of the banks in developing countries. This research will be using Pakistan as a case study to find the threats posed by cybercrime to fragile banking. And after identifying the threats, the study will try to recommend possible solutions to ensure information security.

Topic 20: Examining Multi-dimension in facial emotion detection.

Research Aim: When it comes to communications, human expressions are extraordinary. Humans can identify it very easily and accurately. Getting the same outcome from a 3D machine is a difficult task. This is because of the present challenges in 3D face data scanning. This study will examine the facial emotion identification in humans using different multi-point for 3D face landmarks.

Why You Might Need Dissertation Topic and Proposal Help?

Submission of your dissertation is the crux of your academic life, and it starts by first cracking your dissertation topic. Refrain from plucking out a topic from thin air because that’s not how it works. Before you start your journey into the world of research, you need to do a bit of self-exploration. And by such, we don’t mean meditating over your dissertation ideas in your yoga class or during the soul cycle, if that’s what you would love to do.

It means taking the time to truly understand your academic goals, which may overlap with your professional goals. Maybe you’re thinking about becoming a leading expert/scholar in, let’s say…The Beatles (yes, there is an actual degree program, check out Liverpool Hope University) or professionally pursuing a career in the music industry. Then it would be best if you defined that goal before you jump into your dissertation.

For some students, a dissertation at the Master’s level lays the foundation for their PhD studies. For others, a dissertation may be the only requirement stopping them from achieving a graduate degree to improve their prospects in the job market. Whatever your academic or professional goal may be, it is essential to incorporate it into your dissertation proposal as it lays the foundation for the pursuance of your goals.

We genuinely hope by reading this, the task of making a dissertation topic no longer seems daunting, but instead rewarding. Now before you embark on your Herculean adventures of writing your dissertation always remember – this dissertation is you. It’s an accumulation of everything you studied so far and where your interests lie!

For sparking your creative side in developing an idea, you can always run through our dissertation samples to get an idea of how to go about writing your dissertation. Your topic should be an idea of what you are passionate about learning more about. As an academic researcher, you never stop learning. Therefore, you should always choose a topic that brings out your expertise and strength.

Remember: There is no need to go down the path of trying to impress your supervisor with some topic that is way beyond your comfort zone. You can still be impressed with your original idea that plays to your strengths.

That’s why you need to take the time out for some brainstorming and jotting down ideas that may randomly pop up in your head. If only you can see our writer’s desk, they have ideas written down on post-its, my desk calendar, all over random notebooks; it looks like the work of a madman, but it’s just the brainstorming process in action. And remember, throughout this time, your supervisor and those on your committee are your best friends from now until you make your final defence.

There is no conspiracy of trying to fail you and/or make your life miserable. Be sure to take the time and have a chat with your supervisor about your dissertation ideas. Talk to them about what outcomes you want to see from your research or how you would like to contribute to the academic literature present. Also, read, read, read, and read some more! These thousands of academic journals you have access to will help you in constructing a balanced dissertation topic. Read through what previously has been accomplished in your field of study and some limitations in current research. Also, these academics provide us with suggestions for further research in their body of work.

Dissertation Help

Now for some of you thinking: I’ve already done the deep dive into my inner soul but am still stuck and need dissertation topic help, well then look no further. If you are still struggling with your dissertation ideas ResearchProspect can help you every step of the way.

We’re a band of super nerds who are experts in their fields, from biochemistry to rococo art history and everything in between (and hold PhD degrees!). So if you are unsure about what topic to write about, you can stop Googling ‘how to find dissertation topic’ and start contacting our customer service reps. All you have to do is fill out a simple form online here on our website. We’ll get back to you with quotes within 30 minutes. Once you place the order, our super-nerd writer will start working on your dissertation immediately once you’ve made the necessary payment transactions. And like magic, your dissertation, along with a free plagiarism report, will be in your email address well before your deadline. It would be best to get some colour back in your face knowing that you have unlimited options in developing a first-class dissertation. So buckle up and enjoy the ride. It’s going to come with lots of ups and downs, but in the end, it will have a reward most worth it!

How To Choose The Best Dissertation Topic

It can be a demanding task for many students to choose a suitable topic for their dissertation. These tips will help you choose the best dissertation topic.

• Start by identifying areas of study that you find interesting and exciting. You should consider the topic you have enjoyed studying and think about how to apply that knowledge to a new research project.
• Conduct a literature review of your chosen field of study to identify gaps in knowledge or areas that require further research. Try looking for topics that are currently trending and in demand in your field of study.
• Consult with your advisor to get their opinion on potential research topics. They can suggest areas of study that have not been explored or provide insight into what is currently being researched in your field.
• Narrow your focus to a specific area of study or research question. A well-defined topic will make your research more manageable and focused.
• Consider the feasibility of your topic regarding the availability of resources, access to data, and the time frame for completion.
• Brainstorm a list of potential topics and evaluate each based on feasibility, relevance, and interests.
• Once you have identified potential topics, test them by conducting preliminary research to determine the data availability and the research project’s feasibility.

Get 3+ Free Dissertation Topics From ResearchProspect

Yes, you heard that right! You will now get 3 free dissertation topics from ResearchProspect when you place an order. Along with a huge database of free ideas for dissertation topics for you to choose from, you can avail of our free custom dissertation topic service and kickstart your research now. Send in your requirements using our simple order form and get free services from the top industry experts.

Why is a Dissertation Topic Outline or a Proposal Important?

A dissertation topic outline plan or a research proposal sets the stage for your dissertation project. It provides the necessary framework for you to conduct your research and write an authentic paper that will add value to your area of study. A dissertation outline provides topic background information, a justification of your choice of topic, the hypothesis you are testing, your proposed methodology and a brief literature review. It ends with a project timeline and a list of references. To be honest, that is what you need to get started with your dissertation.

In creating a worthy research topic, it is important to be manageable, interesting, and add value to the body of knowledge in its respective field. To help students narrow their search for a research topic, ResearchProspect writers have brainstormed new dissertation topics that are innovative and relevant to the current body of knowledge available and can aid in the brainstorming process.

Our band of super nerds have designed the latest dissertation topics across a variety of subjects that are intriguing and look to fill research gaps present in their respective academic literature. These free dissertation topics are great for starting the process of writing your dissertation , thesis or proposal . So take a breather, ResearchProspects has got you covered with our dissertation writing services.

Looking for our latest offers? Or want topics with a proposal at an outstanding price? Click here

The Importance Of Dissertation Topics

Dissertation topics are of utmost importance in academic research because they can greatly impact the quality of research and the project’s ultimate success. Coming up with the right ideas for dissertation topics can be complicated for a few students. Here are some reasons why choosing the right dissertation title is significant for your research:

• Sets the tone for the research: Your dissertation topic is the starting point for your research project. It sets the tone for the entire research and determines the scope and direction of the study.
• Demonstrates knowledge and expertise: A good dissertation topic also helps demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in your particular study area. It is an opportunity to showcase your mastery of the topic and your ability to engage in independent research.
• Significance: The right dissertation topic is significant and relevant in the field of study. It addresses a knowledge gap or a research question that has not been adequately answered.
• Feasibility: The topic should be feasible and realistic. It should be possible to conduct research on the chosen topic within the given time frame and with resources.
• Interest and motivation: The dissertation topic should interest the student and motivate them to conduct the research. This will make the research process more enjoyable and increase the likelihood of success.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i choose a dissertation topic.

• Identify your interests.
• Review current literature for gaps.
• Consider the feasibility of research methods
• Consult with advisors or mentors
• Reflect on potential contributions to your field.
• Ensure the topic aligns with your career goals and aspirations.

How do I get ideas for my dissertation?

• Explore recent publications and academic journals in your field.
• Attend conferences or seminars to discover trends and topics.
• Engage in discussions with peers and professors.
• Conduct preliminary research to identify gaps.
• Reflect on personal experiences or observations that sparked curiosity.
• Consider societal or industry challenges needing solutions.

Can I change my dissertation topic?

Yes, you can change your dissertation topic with approval from your advisor or committee. Ensure the new topic aligns with your interests, resources, and research goals. Communicate openly about the reasons for the change, and be prepared to adjust your timeline and research plan accordingly.

How long is a dissertation topic?

The length of a dissertation topic typically ranges from a concise phrase to a short sentence, encompassing the central theme or focus of the research. It should be clear, specific, and reflective of the scope and objectives of the study, typically spanning around 5 to 15 words .

What is the ideal length of a dissertation topic?

The ideal length of a dissertation topic is concise yet descriptive, typically comprising around 5 to 15 words . It should encapsulate the central theme or research focus, providing clarity to both the researcher and the audience while allowing flexibility in exploring the chosen title.

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In higher education, few milestones hold as much significance as the completion of a dissertation. Embarking on a dissertation journey can be both exciting and challenging. To assist students from various academic streams, we have compiled an extensive list of 350 dissertation topic ideas.

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Without further ado, let’s explore the best ideas and examples for dissertation topics for the stream of your choice!

Business management dissertation topics

1. Exploring the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Customer Relationship Management: Opportunities and Challenges.

2. Investigating the Role of Emotional Intelligence in Entrepreneurial Success.

3. Analyzing the Influence of Corporate Culture on Innovation and Creativity.

4. Examining the Effectiveness of Sustainable Supply Chain Management Practices in Enhancing Organizational Performance.

5. The Rise of Remote Work: Managing Virtual Teams in the Digital Age.

6. Investigating the Role of Corporate Governance in Ensuring Ethical Business Practices.

7. The Impact of Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives on Organizational Performance and Employee Engagement.

8. Exploring the Role of Social Media Marketing in Building Brand Loyalty.

9. Assessing the Effectiveness of Change Management Strategies in Successfully Implementing Organizational Change.

10. Investigating the Relationship between Leadership Styles and Employee Motivation in Times of Crisis.

Education dissertation topics

1. The Impact of Gamification on Student Engagement and Learning Outcomes.

2. Exploring the Role of Student Voice in School Decision-Making Processes.

3. Analyzing the Effectiveness of Project-Based Learning in Developing Critical Thinking Skills.

4. Investigating the Benefits and Challenges of Online Learning in K-12 Education.

5. The Influence of Teacher-Student Relationships on Academic Achievement and Well-being.

6. Examining the Role of Emotional Intelligence in Teacher Effectiveness and Classroom Management.

7. The Impact of Inclusive Education on the Social Integration and Academic Performance of Students with Disabilities.

8. Analyzing the Effectiveness of Multicultural Education in Promoting Cultural Awareness and Acceptance.

9. Investigating the Factors Influencing Parental Involvement in Early Childhood Education.

10. Exploring the Role of Technology in Enhancing STEM Education and Career Readiness.

Psychology dissertation topics

1. The Impact of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Stress Reduction and Well-being.

2. Investigating the Relationship between Social Media Use and Body Image Disturbance in Adolescents.

3. Exploring the Role of Resilience in Coping with Trauma and Adversity.

4. The Influence of Parenting Styles on Emotional Regulation and Social Skills in Children.

5. Examining the Effects of Video Games on Cognitive Abilities and Aggression.

6. Investigating the Relationship between Personality Traits and Job Satisfaction across Different Professions.

7. The Role of Attachment Styles in Romantic Relationships: Predictors of Relationship Satisfaction and Stability.

8. Exploring the Impact of Early Life Experiences on Adult Attachment Patterns.

9. The Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

10. Investigating the Relationship between Sleep Quality and Mental Health in College Students.

Leadership dissertation topics

1. The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Effective Leadership Practices.

2. Exploring the Relationship between Authentic Leadership and Employee Engagement.

3. Analyzing the Impact of Transformational Leadership on Organizational Innovation and Change.

4. Investigating the Influence of Cross-Cultural Leadership in Global Organizations.

5. The Role of Ethical Leadership in Fostering Corporate Social Responsibility.

6. Exploring the Effects of Leadership Styles on Team Performance and Productivity.

7. Analyzing the Leadership Challenges and Strategies in Nonprofit Organizations.

8. Investigating the Role of Servant Leadership in Enhancing Employee Well-being and Job Satisfaction.

9. The Impact of Gender and Leadership: Breaking the Glass Ceiling.

10. Exploring the Role of Leadership Development Programs in Nurturing Future Leaders.

Finance dissertation topics

1. The Impact of Financial Technology (Fintech) on Traditional Banking Systems.

2. Analyzing the Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance.

3. Exploring the Determinants of Capital Structure in Small and Medium Enterprises.

4. Investigating the Role of Behavioral Finance in Investment Decision Making.

5. Analyzing the Effectiveness of Risk Management Strategies in Financial Institutions.

6. The Impact of Financial Literacy Education on Personal Financial Management.

7. Exploring the Relationship between Corporate Governance and Firm Value.

8. Investigating the Effectiveness of Financial Regulations in Ensuring Market Stability.

9. The Role of Blockchain Technology in Revolutionizing Financial Transactions.

10. Analyzing the Impact of Macroeconomic Factors on Stock Market Volatility.

Social work dissertation topics

1. The Role of Social Work in Addressing Mental Health Challenges among Underserved Populations.

2. Exploring the Influence of Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice.

3. Investigating the Effectiveness of Trauma-Informed Interventions in Supporting Survivors of Abuse.

4. Analyzing the Role of Social Workers in Promoting Social Justice and Advocacy.

5. Exploring the Impact of Family-Based Interventions in Preventing Juvenile Delinquency.

6. Investigating the Effectiveness of Substance Abuse Treatment Programs in Rehabilitation and Recovery.

7. The Role of Social Work in Addressing Homelessness and Housing Insecurity.

8. Exploring the Relationship between Social Work and Community Development.

9. Investigating the Influence of Social Media on Youth Mental Health and Well-being.

10. The Impact of School Social Work Services on Academic Achievement and Student Success.

History dissertation topics

1. The Role of Women in the Civil Rights Movement: Forgotten Voices and Contributions.

2. Exploring the Impact of Colonialism on Indigenous Cultures: A Comparative Study.

3. Analyzing the Role of Propaganda in Shaping Public Opinion during World War II.

4. Investigating the Influence of Ancient Civilizations on Modern Political Systems.

5. The Evolution of Human Rights: A Historical Analysis from Ancient Times to the Present.

6. Exploring the Cultural Exchange between East and West along the Silk Road.

7. Analyzing the Causes and Consequences of the Industrial Revolution.

8. Investigating the Role of Religion in Shaping Historical Events and Societies.

9. The Impact of Globalization on Historical Preservation and Cultural Identity.

10. Exploring the History and Significance of LGBTQ+ Movements and Activism.

Nursing dissertation topics

1. Exploring the Role of Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care Settings: Challenges and Opportunities.

2. Analyzing the Impact of Technology on Nursing Practice and Patient Outcomes.

3. Investigating the Role of Cultural Competence in Delivering Culturally Sensitive Care.

4. The Influence of Nurse Leadership on Patient Safety and Quality of Care.

5. Exploring the Benefits and Challenges of Interprofessional Collaboration in Healthcare.

6. Analyzing the Effectiveness of Evidence-Based Practice in Improving Nursing Care.

7. Investigating the Role of Nurses in Promoting Health Equity and Reducing Health Disparities.

8. Exploring the Impact of Nursing Education on the Readiness for Clinical Practice.

9. The Role of Nurses in Addressing Mental Health in Primary Care Settings.

10. Investigating the Effectiveness of Nurse-led Interventions in Chronic Disease Management.

Fashion dissertation topics

1. The Evolution of Sustainable Fashion: Trends, Challenges, and Future Prospects.

2. Exploring the Influence of Social Media on Fashion Consumption and Trends.

3. Analyzing the Role of Fashion in Shaping Cultural Identity and Expression.

4. Investigating the Impact of Fast Fashion on the Environment and Labor Practices.

5. The Relationship between Fashion and Body Image: Exploring the Effects on Self-esteem and Well-being.

6. Exploring the Role of Fashion in Empowering Marginalized Communities.

7. Analyzing the Intersection of Fashion, Technology, and Wearable Devices.

8. Investigating the Influence of Celebrity Endorsements on Consumer Behavior in the Fashion Industry.

9. The Role of Fashion Education in Nurturing Future Designers and Industry Professionals.

10. Exploring the Representation of Diversity and Inclusion in Fashion Advertising and Media.

Law dissertation topics

1. Analyzing the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Legal Practice and Ethics.

2. Investigating the Role of International Law in Addressing Global Security Challenges.

3. Exploring the Relationship between Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation.

4. Analyzing the Role of Restorative Justice in Criminal Justice Systems.

5. Investigating the Effectiveness of Cybersecurity Laws in Protecting Digital Privacy.

6. The Influence of Human Rights Law on Refugee and Asylum Policies.

7. Exploring the Intersection of Law and Technology: Legal Implications of Emerging Technologies.

8. Analyzing the Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Business Law and Ethics.

9. Investigating the Effectiveness of Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods in Resolving Legal Disputes.

10. Exploring the Legal and Ethical Implications of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.

English literature dissertation topics

1. The Evolution of Dystopian Themes in Post-Millennial Young Adult Fiction.

2. The Representation of Artificial Intelligence in Science Fiction from the 1950s to the Present.

3. Eco-Criticism and Nature in Contemporary Poetry.

4. The Role of the Byronic Hero in Modern Literature: A Comparative Analysis.

5. The Influence of Folklore on National Identity in 19th Century Literature.

6. Gender and Power Dynamics in the Works of Virginia Woolf.

7. The Literary Significance of Lesser-Known Works of the Harlem Renaissance.

8. Magic Realism and Post-Colonial Narrative: A Study of Salman Rushdie and Gabriel García Márquez.

9. The Intertextuality of Biblical Mythos in 20th-Century American Novels.

10. The Impact of Digital Media on Narrative Structures in 21st Century Fiction.

Public health dissertation topics

1. The Effects of Urbanization on Mental Health Disorders in Developing Countries.

2. The Impact of Climate Change on Vector-Borne Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa.

3. Assessing the Efficacy of Telemedicine in Rural Healthcare Delivery.

4. The Role of Public Health Policies in Addressing the Opioid Epidemic in the United States.

5. Vaccine Hesitancy and Social Media: Analyzing the Spread of Misinformation.

6. The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status and Obesity Rates in Children.

7. Evaluating Community-Based Interventions to Reduce Health Disparities in Indigenous Populations.

8. The Long-Term Public Health Consequences of Natural Disasters.

9. The Effectiveness of Workplace Wellness Programs on Employee Health and Productivity.

10. Ethical Considerations in the Allocation of Limited Healthcare Resources During Pandemics.

Special education dissertation topics

1. The Impact of Inclusive Education on Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

2. The Efficacy of Assistive Technologies in Supporting Students with Dyslexia.

3. The Influence of Parental Involvement on Educational Outcomes for Children with Down Syndrome.

4. Transition Strategies for Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Entering the Workforce.

5. The Challenges of Implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in Public Schools.

6. Analyzing Behavioral Intervention Techniques for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders.

7. The Role of Art Therapy in Enhancing Communication Skills in Non-Verbal Children with Special Needs.

8. The Effects of Early Intervention on Long-Term Academic Writing for Children with Learning Disabilities.

9. Teacher Training and Preparedness for Handling Special Educational Needs in Mainstream Classrooms.

10. The Social Integration of Children with Special Needs in Multicultural Classrooms.

Social media marketing dissertation topics

1. Analyzing the ROI of Influencer Marketing on Consumer Purchase Decisions.

2. The Impact of Social Media Algorithms on Content Visibility and Brand Engagement.

3. The Role of User-Generated Content in Building Brand Loyalty for an Author Brand .

4. Ethical Considerations in Social Media Marketing: Transparency and Consumer Privacy.

5. The Effectiveness of Real-Time Social Media Analytics for Agile Marketing Strategies.

6. The Influence of Social Media on the Rapid Spread of Fashion Trends.

7. Cross-Cultural Social Media Marketing Strategies for Global Brands.

8. Measuring the Impact of Hashtag Campaigns on Brand Awareness.

9. The Use of AI and Machine Learning in Personalizing Social Media Advertising.

10. The Transition from Social Media Marketing to Social Commerce: Opportunities and Challenges.

Accounting dissertation topics

1. The Role of Forensic Accounting in Combatting White-Collar Crime.

2. The Impact of Automation and Artificial Intelligence on the Accounting Profession.

3. The Influence of Tax Policies on Small Business Growth and Sustainability.

4. Accounting Ethics: A Study of Corporate Scandals and Their Impact on Regulations.

5. The Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Emerging Economies.

6. The Effectiveness of Risk Management Strategies in the Banking Sector.

7. Comparative Analysis of Traditional vs. Activity-Based Costing in Manufacturing.

8. Blockchain Technology and Its Implications for Accounting Transparency and Efficiency.

9. The Future of Audit: The Use of Big Data and Analytics.

10. Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities.

Marketing dissertation topics

1. The Impact of Augmented Reality Advertising on Consumer Purchase Intentions.

2. Sustainability in Marketing: Consumer Perceptions and Brand Performance.

3. The Effectiveness of Nostalgia Marketing in the Digital Age.

4. Consumer Privacy Concerns and Trust in Digital Marketing Campaigns.

5. The Role of Sensory Branding in Creating Customer Experience and Loyalty.

6. Mobile Marketing and Location-Based Services: The New Frontier for Customer Engagement.

7. The Influence of Social Responsibility on Brand Equity in the Fast Fashion Industry.

8. Analyzing the Shift from Omnichannel to Unified Commerce Marketing Strategies .

9. The Use of Neuromarketing to Enhance Customer Engagement and Retention.

10. The Dynamics of Consumer Behavior in Subscription-Based Business Models.

Human resources dissertation topics

1. The Impact of Remote Work on Employee Engagement and Organizational Culture.

2. The Role of HR Analytics in Talent Acquisition and Retention Strategies.

3. Diversity and Inclusion: Assessing the Effectiveness of Current Corporate Policies.

4. The Influence of Employee Well-being Programs on Organizational Performance.

5. The Future of Work: Preparing for the Integration of AI and Human Talent.

6. The Effect of Leadership Development Programs on Succession Planning.

7. Gig Economy and HRM: Adapting Human Resource Practices for a Flexible Workforce.

8. The Relationship Between Employer Branding and Employee Satisfaction.

9. The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives on Employee Motivation.

10. The Role of Psychological Safety in Team Performance and Employee Retention.

Economics dissertation topics

1. The Economic Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture in Developing Countries.

2. Cryptocurrencies and Their Influence on Traditional Financial Markets.

3. The Effects of Universal Basic Income Experiments on Local Economies.

4. The Economics of Pandemics: Lessons Learned from COVID-19.

5. The Role of Innovation and Technology in Economic Growth.

6. Behavioral Economics and Consumer Decision-Making during Economic Recessions.

7. The Impact of Trade Wars on Global Economic Stability.

8. The Effectiveness of Microfinance Institutions in Alleviating Poverty.

9. The Relationship Between Political Instability and Foreign Direct Investment.

10. The Economic Consequences of Aging Populations for Developed Economies.

Statistics dissertation topics

1. The Use of Bayesian Methods in Developing Enhanced Predictive Models.

2. The Application of Statistical Analysis in Genomics and Personalized Medicine.

3. The Role of Statistics in Quality Control and Improvement in the Manufacturing Sector.

4. Advanced Time Series Analysis for Economic and Financial Forecasting.

5. The Impact of Big Data on Statistical Models and Outcomes.

6. The Use of Machine Learning Algorithms in High-Dimensional Data Analysis.

7. Statistical Methods for Analyzing the Impacts of Environmental Policies.

8. The Evaluation of Statistical Literacy Among Non-Statisticians in Research-Intensive Fields.

9. Spatial Statistics: Modeling and Analysis of Geospatial Data.

10. The Challenges of Missing Data in Longitudinal Studies and Approaches for Handling Dropout.

Operations management dissertation topics

1. The Role of Circular Economy in Operations and Supply Chain Management.

2. The Impact of IoT on Inventory Management and Optimization.

3. The Effect of Lean Management on Operations Efficiency in the Service Industry.

4. The Use of Predictive Analytics for Capacity Planning in Manufacturing.

5. The Relationship Between Quality Management Practices and Operational Performance.

6. Supply Chain Resilience: Risk Management Strategies in the Face of Global Disruptions.

7. Operational Challenges and Solutions in the Transition to Sustainable Energy Sources.

8. The Impact of 3D Printing Technology on Production Processes and Supply Chains.

9. The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Decision-Making in Operations Management.

10. The Influence of E-commerce on Logistics and Distribution Strategies.

Humanities dissertation topics

1. Digital Humanities and the Transformation of Scholarly Research in the 21st Century.

2. The Intersection of Art and Politics in Street Art Movements Across the Globe.

3. The Influence of Indigenous Storytelling on Contemporary Narrative Structures.

4. The Role of Cultural Heritage in Shaping National Identity in Post-Colonial Societies.

5. The Impact of Language Revitalization Efforts on Community Cohesion.

6. Ethical Implications of AI in the Preservation and Interpretation of Historical Texts.

7. The Evolution of Feminist Thought in Middle Eastern Literature.

8. Interrogating the Concept of the Anthropocene in Environmental Philosophy.

9. The Representation of Disability in Modern Theatre.

10. The Legacy of Colonialism in Contemporary Museum Curation and Artifact Repatriation.

Medical sciences dissertation topics

1. The Role of the Microbiome in the Development of Autoimmune Diseases.

2. Personalized Medicine: Genetic Tailoring of Cancer Therapies.

3. The Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on the Epidemiology of Mental Health Disorders.

4. The Efficacy of Virtual Reality as a Treatment for Chronic Pain.

5. Ethical Considerations in Gene Editing Techniques, such as CRISPR-Cas9.

6. The Relationship Between Sleep Patterns and Cognitive Decline in Aging Populations.

7. The Effects of Health Information Technology on Patient Care and Outcomes.

8. Investigating New Strategies for Antibiotic Stewardship to Combat Resistance.

9. The Role of Stem Cell Therapy in Regenerative Medicine.

10. The Impact of Nutrition on Epigenetic Changes and Human Health.

Engineering dissertation topics

1. The Development of Sustainable Construction Materials with Enhanced Performance.

2. The Use of Nanotechnology for Water Purification in Developing Regions.

3. The Impact of Autonomous Vehicles on Urban Traffic Management.

4. The Role of Advanced Composites in Aerospace Engineering.

5. The Potential of Smart Grid Technologies for Renewable Energy Integration.

6. Bioengineering Approaches to Plastic Waste Degradation.

7. The Application of Robotics in Disaster Response and Recovery Operations.

8. The Design of Resilient Infrastructure to Withstand Climate-Related Disasters.

9. The Advancement of Quantum Computing and its Engineering Challenges.

10. The Integration of 5G Technology in Smart City Solutions.

Computer science dissertation topics

1. The Role of Quantum Algorithms in Advancing Cryptography.

2. Developing Ethical Guidelines for AI in Autonomous Decision-Making Systems.

3. The Impact of Edge Computing on IoT Efficiency and Security.

4. The Use of Machine Learning in Predicting Cybersecurity Threats.

5. The Challenges of Implementing Scalable Blockchain Technologies.

6. The Application of Computer Vision Techniques in Medical Diagnosis.

7. The Evolution of Natural Language Processing and its Human-Computer Interaction Implications.

8. The Effectiveness of Deep Learning in Real-Time Language Translation Devices.

9. The Role of AI in Enhancing the Accessibility of Digital Content for People with Disabilities.

10. The Security Implications of Biometric Authentication Systems.

Mathematics dissertation topics

1. The Applications of Topological Data Analysis in High-Dimensional Data Sets.

2. The Role of Graph Theory in Understanding Social Network Dynamics.

3. The Impact of Fractal Geometry on Modeling Natural Phenomena.

4. Advanced Mathematical Models for Climate Change Prediction and Simulation.

5. The Use of Numerical Methods in Solving Non-linear Differential Equations.

6. Theoretical Approaches to Addressing the P vs NP Problem.

7. The Dynamics of Financial Markets Analyzed Through Stochastic Processes.

8. The Application of Game Theory in Behavioral Economics.

9. The Contributions of Algebraic Geometry to Cryptography and Coding Theory.

10. The Mathematical Understanding of Symmetry and its Role in Physics.

Biology dissertation topics

1. Investigating the Mechanisms of Aging through Telomere Dynamics.

2. The Role of Gut Microbiota in the Development of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders.

3. CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing and its Ethical Implications in Human Embryo Research.

4. The Impact of Climate Change on Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

5. The Evolutionary Biology of Viral Emergence and Host Adaptation.

6. The Molecular Basis of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Potential Therapeutic Targets.

7. Epigenetic Modifications in Response to Environmental Stressors in Plants.

8. The Biogeography and Conservation Genetics of Endangered Species.

9. Investigating the Cellular Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria.

10. The Application of Synthetic Biology in Sustainable Biofuel Production.

Physics dissertation topics

1. The Search for Dark Matter: Theoretical Predictions and Experimental Detection.

2. Quantum Entanglement and its Implications for Information Theory and Cryptography.

3. The Physics of Soft Condensed Matter in Biologically Relevant Systems.

4. Novel Materials for High-Efficiency Photovoltaic Cells.

5. The Role of Neutrinos in the Standard Model of Particle Physics.

6. Investigating the Anomalies of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation.

7. The Dynamics of Fluid Turbulence at Different Scales.

8. The Feasibility of Nuclear Fusion as a Sustainable Energy Source.

9. Studying Gravitational Waves as a New Window into the Cosmos.

10. The Impact of Nanotechnology on the Development of Quantum Computing.

Chemistry dissertation topics

1. The Development of Bio-inspired Catalysts for Sustainable Chemical Synthesis.

2. The Role of Molecular Simulations in Understanding Enzyme Mechanisms.

3. Designing Smart Polymers for Targeted Drug Delivery Systems.

4. The Study of Organic Photovoltaics for Improved Solar Energy Conversion.

5. Investigating the Mechanisms of Heavy Metal Toxicity and Chelation Therapy.

6. The Chemistry of Atmospheric Aerosols and their Impact on Climate Change.

7. The Application of Green Chemistry Principles in Industrial Process Design.

8. The Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Inorganic Nanomaterials for Electronics.

9. The Role of Crystal Engineering in the Development of Pharmaceutical Cocrystals.

10. Advanced Spectroscopic Techniques for Probing the Structure of Biomolecules.

Pharmacology dissertation topics

1. The Pharmacogenomics of Chemotherapy Resistance in Cancer Treatment.

2. The Role of Natural Products in the Discovery of New Antimicrobial Agents.

3. The Impact of Opioid Receptor Modulation on Pain Management Strategies.

4. Investigating the Neuropharmacology of Psychedelic Compounds for Psychiatric Disorders.

5. The Cardiovascular Effects of E-cigarettes and Vaping Products.

6. The Mechanisms of Drug-Induced Liver Injury and Potential Protective Strategies.

7. The Development of Targeted Therapies in Personalized Medicine.

8. The Effects of Endocrine Disruptors on Human Health and Reproduction.

9. The Role of Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Neurological Disorders.

10. Addressing the Challenges of Antibiotic Resistance through Novel Drug Development.

Political science dissertation topics

1. The Impact of Social Media on Political Mobilization and Public Opinion.

2. The Effectiveness of International Sanctions on Influencing Domestic Policy Changes.

3. The Role of Identity Politics in Shaping Electoral Outcomes in Multicultural Societies.

4. The Influence of Non-State Actors on Global Environmental Governance.

5. The Politics of Memory: How Historical Narratives Shape National Policy.

6. The Impact of Populism on Traditional Party Systems in Europe.

7. The Role of Technology in State Surveillance and Privacy Rights.

8. The Effect of Political Decentralization on Corruption and Governance.

9. The Relationship Between Economic Inequality and Democratic Stability.

10. Analyzing the Success and Failure of Peacekeeping Missions in Post-Conflict Zones.

Arts dissertation topics

1. The Evolution of Performance Art and its Role in Contemporary Political Discourse.

2. The Influence of Digital Media on Traditional Art Techniques and Aesthetics.

3.  The Intersection of Art and Technology: A Study of Virtual Reality in Installation Art.

4. The Representation of Gender and Sexuality in Modern Sculpture.

5. The Impact of Art Therapy on Mental Health Recovery in Diverse Populations.

6. Postcolonial Perspectives in Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora.

7. The Role of Street Art in Urban Regeneration and Community Identity.

8. The Revival of Analog Photography in the Digital Age: Aesthetic and Cultural Implications.

9. Exploring the Relationship Between Sound Art and Acoustic Ecology.

10. The Use of Sustainable Materials in Fashion Design and its Influence on Consumer Behavior.

Geography dissertation topics

1. The Geopolitical Implications of Melting Ice Caps in the Arctic Region.

2. Analyzing Urban Heat Islands and Mitigation Strategies in Major Global Cities.

3. The Impact of Land Use Change on Flood Risk and Water Management.

4. Cultural Geography: The Role of Festivals in Shaping Urban Identity.

5. Geospatial Analysis of Renewable Energy Potential in Developing Countries.

6. The Influence of Border Landscapes on Migration Patterns and Policies.

7. Mapping the Digital Divide: Geographic Disparities in Internet Access and Usage.

8. The Effects of Tourism on Cultural Landscape Conservation in Heritage Sites.

9. The Role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Disaster Risk Reduction.

10. Urban Agriculture: Spatial Analysis of Community Gardens and Food Security.

Environmental science dissertation topics

1. The Efficacy of Marine Protected Areas in Biodiversity Conservation and Fisheries Management.

2. The Role of Citizen Science in Monitoring Climate Change Impacts on Local Ecosystems.

3. Evaluating the Ecological Footprint of Fast Fashion on Water Resources.

4. The Impact of Microplastics on Aquatic Food Webs and Human Health.

5. Investigating the Carbon Sequestration Potential of Urban Green Spaces.

6. The Use of Remote Sensing to Assess Deforestation Rates in the Amazon Rainforest.

7. Analyzing the Effectiveness of Policy Interventions in Reducing Air Pollution in Megacities.

8. The Contribution of Indigenous Knowledge to Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategies.

9. The Relationship Between Soil Health and Agricultural Productivity in Organic Farming.

10. Assessing the Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydroelectric Dams in Developing Countries.

Designing dissertation topics

1. The Impact of User Experience (UX) Design on Mobile Application Success.

2. Sustainable Interior Design: Strategies for Reducing Environmental Impact in Commercial Spaces.

3. The Influence of Biophilic Design on Well-being and Productivity in Work Environments.

4. The Role of Graphic Design in Shaping Public Health Campaigns.

5. The Integration of 3D Printing in Product Design and Customization.

6. The Evolution of Typographic Design with the Advent of Digital Media.

7. The Use of Augmented Reality in Enhancing the Retail Shopping Experience.

8. The Principles of Universal Design in Creating Inclusive Public Spaces.

9. The Impact of Color Theory on Brand Identity and Consumer Behavior.

10. The Future of Wearable Technology: Combining Fashion and Functionality.

Artificial intelligence dissertation topics

1. Ethical Considerations in the Deployment of AI for Surveillance and Data Privacy.

2. The Role of AI in Personalizing Education: Adaptive Learning Systems.

3. The Impact of Large Language Models on Predictive Maintenance in Manufacturing.

4. Natural Language Processing and its Application in Sentiment Analysis.

5. The Use of AI in Enhancing Precision Agriculture Techniques.

6. The Development of AI-Driven Assistive Technologies for the Visually Impaired.

7. AI in Space Exploration: Autonomous Rovers and Spacecraft Navigation Systems.

8. The Integration of AI in Creative Industries: Music, Art, and Literature and Story Generation .

9. The Role of Artificial Neural Networks in Financial Market Prediction.

10. The Challenges of Implementing AI in Healthcare: Diagnostics, Treatment, and Patient Privacy.

The 350 dissertation topics presented in this blog are composed to resonate with the diverse interests and scholarly pursuits of graduate students across all streams. In the end, the journey of crafting your dissertation is a unique narrative of personal and academic growth.

To ensure that your work reaches its fullest potential and makes the impact it deserves, consider partnering with professional editing and proofreading services . PaperTrue stands ready to elevate your dissertation to the pinnacle of academic excellence!

Here are some more resources for you:

• Top 10 Dissertation Editing & Proofreading Services
• How to Write a Thesis Statement: Examples & Tips
• Top 10 Online Thesis Editing and Proofreading Services

Frequently Asked Questions

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Over 150 Dissertation Topics Ideas in 18 Branches of Science

Updated 13 Jun 2024

Choosing a relevant dissertation topic means taking the first step toward obtaining an academic degree. Let's talk about how to do it right. Also, as a bonus, we have prepared ten dissertation topics for each popular scientific discipline.

How to Choose a Dissertation Topic?

Let’s find out how to choose a dissertation topic . You should understand that the dissertation has:

• to be relevant. It is important to identify what research already exists on this topic and how you can expand it. Historiography and the conclusions of your predecessors will help you. Some of them are dogmatic, and some need rethinking;
• to have scientific significance . The topic of the thesis must have scientific significance. This means that you will have to clearly formulate the goals and objectives of your research;
• to have practical applications. When choosing a topic, it is worth paying attention to practical significance. Determine who / what will benefit from this research and where its results can be applied;
• to correspond to a certain structure. A dissertation is a scientific work, and it should be created according to a certain structure, as can be seen in the table of contents in a dissertation , regardless of whether it is about the humanities or technical sciences.

Naturally, this imposes some restrictions on the choice of dissertation topics. Get a degree faster by hiring experts to " write my dissertation in no time".

Where do I find ideas for my dissertation topic?

There are several options where you can find a topic for your dissertation:

• analyze the topics from the most recent works in your field;
• study examples of dissertations of your colleagues;
• find out what topics have been discussed at recent scientific conferences;
• ask your scientific advisor.

What makes a good dissertation title?

The right choice of the dissertation title is important. So, when choosing a topic, you should take into account its relevance and the novelty of the formulation of a scientific problem. The relevance of the topic is determined in this case by two parameters - the need for its study by science and its applicability in practice.

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Dissertation Topics in Education

Education is one of the fastest-growing areas for scientific research. Here are ten good topics for a dissertation.

• The Role of Technology in Enhancing Learning Outcomes in K-12 Education.
• Evaluating the Impact of Montessori Methods on Early Childhood Education.
• The Effectiveness of Bilingual Education in Improving Students' Linguistic Competence.
• Inclusive Education: Strategies for Supporting Students with Special Needs in Mainstream Classrooms.
• The Influence of Parental Involvement on Student Academic Achievement and Social Development.
• STEM Education: Approaches to Increasing Female Participation in Male-Dominated Fields.
• The Impact of School Leadership on Teacher Morale and Student Achievement.
• Assessing the Effectiveness of Environmental Education Programs in Promoting Sustainable Practices Among Students.
• Digital Literacy in Education: Preparing Students for the Digital Age.
• The Role of Physical Education in Promoting Mental Health Among Students.

Dissertation topics in Higher Education

• Analyzing the Impact of Online Learning on Higher Education Post-Pandemic.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Strategies for Creating Equitable Learning Environments in Universities.
• The Role of Higher Education in Promoting Entrepreneurial Skills and Mindsets.
• Assessing the Financial Sustainability of Higher Education Institutions in the 21st Century.
• The Influence of Globalization on Curriculum Development in Higher Education.
• Mental Health Services in Universities: Accessibility and Impact on Student Success.
• The Effectiveness of Community Engagement Programs in Enhancing University Reputation and Student Experience.
• Challenges and Opportunities of Implementing E-Learning Platforms in Universities.
• The Role of Internships in Higher Education: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice.
• Leadership Development Programs in Higher Education: Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders.

Dissertation Topics in Educational Leadership

If earlier practical workers in the field of education waited for scientists and central authorities to develop new methods, today, due to the rapid development of this area, they themselves create innovative models of pedagogical (educational) systems. Here are ten topical topics for a dissertation in the discipline.

• Exploring the Impact of Transformational Leadership on School Culture and Student Achievement.
• The Role of Educational Leaders in Addressing Equity and Social Justice Issues in Schools.
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Professional Development Programs for School Leaders.
• Leadership Strategies for Enhancing Teacher Performance and Student Outcomes in Low-Performing Schools.
• The Impact of School Leadership on Implementing Technology-Enhanced Learning.
• Strategies for Building Resilient Educational Communities in Times of Crisis.
• The Role of School Leaders in Fostering Innovation and Creativity in Education.
• Leadership and Management Challenges in Multicultural Educational Settings.
• Assessing the Role of Ethical Leadership in Promoting Integrity and Accountability in Education.
• The Influence of Leadership Styles on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention.

Dissertation Topics in Business

Economic disciplines present tremendous opportunities for choosing a dissertation topic. Here are ten of them.

• The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Transforming Customer Service Operations.
• Analyzing the Impact of Social Media Marketing on Brand Loyalty among Millennials.
• Sustainable Business Practices: Evaluating the Economic Benefits of Going Green.
• The Influence of Corporate Social Responsibility on Consumer Buying Behavior.
• Entrepreneurship in the Digital Age: Key Factors for Success in Online Startups.
• The Impact of Brexit on European Businesses: Challenges and Opportunities.
• Global Supply Chain Management: Strategies for Mitigating Risks and Enhancing Efficiency.
• The Role of Innovation in Maintaining Competitive Advantage in the Tech Industry.
• Consumer Perceptions of Privacy and Security in E-commerce Transactions.
• The Effectiveness of Strategic Alliances in the Aviation Industry.

Dissertation Topics in Management

The dissertation on management reflects the ability of an applicant for a scientific degree to correctly create ways of effective management in production and find solutions to improve the work of socio-economic mechanisms of different directions. Here are ten topics for this discipline.

• Leadership Styles and Their Impact on Employee Motivation and Performance.
• Managing Remote Work: Strategies for Enhancing Productivity and Employee Well-being.
• The Role of Cultural Intelligence in Managing Diverse Workforces.
• Evaluating the Impact of Organizational Change on Employee Satisfaction and Turnover.
• Risk Management in Project Management: Tools and Techniques for Success.
• The Influence of Corporate Governance on Firm Performance and Accountability.
• Agile Management: Principles and Applications in Non-IT Industries.
• Consumer Behavior Analysis for Effective Retail Management.
• Strategies for Managing Innovation and Creativity in Large Organizations.
• The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership and Management.

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Finance Dissertation Ideas

The financial industry is constantly undergoing changes that can be intelligently reflected in your dissertation. Here is a list of ten hot topics.

• Cryptocurrency: Investigating its Viability as a Mainstream Investment Option.
• The Impact of Interest Rate Changes on the Stock Market.
• Financial Technology (FinTech) Innovations: Implications for Traditional Banking.
• Analyzing the Effectiveness of Budgeting Practices on Organizational Financial Health.
• The Role of Microfinance in Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries.
• Corporate Financial Strategies for Mitigating the Impact of Economic Downturns.
• The Influence of Credit Rating Agencies on Financial Markets.
• Sustainable Finance: Exploring the Growth of Green Bonds and Their Impact on Environmental Projects.
• Behavioral Finance: How Psychological Factors Influence Investment Decisions.
• The Effect of Corporate Tax Policies on Investment and Economic Growth.

Thesis Topics in Marketing

Now let's take a look at the next ten marketing topics.

• The Impact of Influencer Marketing on Consumer Purchase Intentions in the Beauty Industry.
• Analyzing the Effectiveness of Personalized Marketing Campaigns in E-commerce.
• Sustainability in Marketing: How Green Marketing Influences Consumer Choices.
• The Role of Brand Storytelling in Building Brand Identity on Social Media.
• Consumer Perceptions of Ethical Marketing Practices and Their Impact on Brand Loyalty.
• The Influence of Augmented Reality (AR) on the Shopping Experience in Retail.
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Content Marketing Strategies in SaaS Businesses.
• The Impact of Packaging Design on Consumer Buying Behavior in Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).
• Digital Word of Mouth: Its Influence on Brand Reputation and Consumer Trust.
• Marketing Strategies for Engaging Generation Z: A Study of Preferences and Trends.

Law Dissertation Topics

The law is gradually changing and is the basis for the development of new topics for PhD theses. The choice is made in the field of lawmaking or changes in law enforcement practice. Below we have prepared ten hot topics.

• The Evolution of Intellectual Property Rights in the Digital Age.
• Analyzing the Impact of GDPR on Online Privacy and Data Protection.
• The Role of International Law in Managing Global Environmental Challenges.
• Legal Challenges in the Enforcement of Cybersecurity Laws Across Borders.
• The Effectiveness of Legal Frameworks in Combating Human Trafficking.
• Corporate Governance and Accountability: A Study of Recent Legal Reforms.
• The Influence of Legal Policies on Refugee and Asylum Seeker Rights.
• Comparative Analysis of Family Law: Custody Disputes Across Different Jurisdictions.
• The Legal Implications of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in the Workplace.
• Criminal Justice Reform: Evaluating the Impact of Restorative Justice Practices.

Psychology Dissertation Topics

Successful defense of a dissertation in psychology will allow you to realize your own potential in the field of research of human mental processes and get a high-paying, prestigious job. Here is a list of ten interesting topics in the discipline.

• The Psychological Impact of Social Media Usage on Teenagers.
• Exploring the Relationship Between Sleep Quality and Mental Health.
• The Effect of Workplace Stress on Employee Mental Health and Productivity.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Its Effectiveness in Treating Anxiety Disorders.
• The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Personal and Professional Success.
• Parenting Styles and Their Impact on Child Development and Behavior.
• The Psychology of Decision Making: How Cognitive Biases Influence Choices.
• The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Adult Psychological Well-being.
• Social Isolation: Psychological Effects During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic.
• The Role of Psychological Support in Chronic Illness Management.

Dissertation Topics in Nursing

Here’s a list of ten dissertation topics examples in nursing.

• The Role of Nurses in Managing Patient Anxiety in Pre-operative Settings.
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Telehealth Nursing Practices in Rural Areas.
• The Impact of Nursing Leadership Styles on Team Performance and Patient Care.
• Strategies for Improving Pain Management in Postoperative Patients.
• The Role of Nurses in Promoting Mental Health Among Adolescents.
• Challenges and Strategies in Providing Nursing Care for Dementia Patients.
• The Impact of Nurse-Patient Ratios on Job Satisfaction and Patient Outcomes.
• Innovations in Nursing Education: Preparing Nurses for Future Healthcare Challenges.
• The Effectiveness of Nursing Interventions in Managing Chronic Heart Failure.
• Nursing Ethics: Decision-Making in End-of-Life Care.

History Dissertation Topics

Below we have prepared ten topics on this theoretical discipline.

• The Role of Propaganda in Shaping Public Opinion During World War II.
• Economic Policies and Their Impact on the Great Depression's Length and Severity.
• The Influence of the Cold War on Space Exploration Initiatives.
• Decolonization and Nationalism: A Comparative Study of African Nations Post-1945.
• The Impact of the Silk Road on Cultural Exchange Between the East and West.
• Women's Suffrage Movements: A Comparative Analysis Between Two Countries.
• The Role of Religion in the Formation of Medieval European Societies.
• The Effects of the Industrial Revolution on Urbanization and Social Class.
• The Evolution of Naval Warfare Tactics From the Napoleonic Wars to World War I.
• The Cultural and Political Impact of the Beatles in the 1960s.

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Computer Science Dissertation Ideas

When choosing a dissertation topic, keep in mind that it is based on physical and mechanical laws that have been studied and proven. The scope for creativity in such disciplines is limited, and it is really difficult to introduce something new. Here is a list of relevant topics for your dissertation.

• Developing a Machine Learning Model to Predict Stock Market Trends.
• Enhancing Cybersecurity Measures Through Blockchain Technology.
• Improving Data Privacy in Social Networks Using Cryptographic Techniques.
• Automated Detection of Fake News Using Natural Language Processing (NLP).
• The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Personalized Education.
• Developing Efficient Algorithms for Managing Big Data in Healthcare.
• Augmented Reality (AR) Applications in Enhancing E-commerce Shopping Experience.
• Internet of Things (IoT): Enhancing Smart Home Security.
• Optimizing Cloud Computing Resources for Sustainable Energy Consumption.
• The Impact of Quantum Computing on Cryptography.

Human Resources Thesis Ideas

Here is a thesis topic list in the human resources discipline.

• The Effect of Remote Work on Employee Engagement and Organizational Commitment.
• Analyzing the Impact of Diversity and Inclusion Programs on Corporate Culture.
• The Role of HR in Managing Change During Mergers and Acquisitions.
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Employee Wellness Programs on Job Satisfaction.
• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Recruitment and Selection Processes.
• Strategies for Developing Leadership Skills Within an Organization.
• The Influence of Organizational Culture on Talent Retention.
• Assessing the Role of Performance Appraisal Systems in Employee Development.
• The Impact of Flexible Work Arrangements on Employee Productivity.
• Ethical Considerations in Human Resource Management Practices.

Sociology Dissertation Topics

Sociology is a fairly new science, and it opens up opportunities for scientific research. Here are ten dissertation topics for a sociology discipline.

• The Impact of Social Media on Youth Identity Formation.
• Urbanization and Its Effects on Community Social Structures.
• The Role of Education in Social Mobility: A Comparative Study.
• Analyzing the Societal Impact of the Global Refugee Crisis.
• The Influence of Popular Culture on Gender Norms and Expectations.
• Social Implications of Genetic Testing and Personal Privacy.
• The Effect of Economic Inequality on Crime Rates in Urban Areas.
• Cultural Assimilation vs. Cultural Preservation Among Immigrant Communities.
• The Role of Public Spaces in Promoting Social Integration.
• The Impact of Environmental Policies on Community Health and Well-being.

Ecology Dissertation Ideas

Environmental protection is very important these days - due to the constantly growing number of the world's population, the greenhouse effect, environmental pollution, and other problems. Here are ten master-degree topics in this discipline.

• Assessing the Impact of Urbanization on Local Bird Populations.
• The Role of Coral Reefs in Marine Biodiversity and the Effects of Climate Change.
• Analyzing the Effectiveness of Plastic Pollution Reduction Strategies in Coastal Areas.
• The Impact of Invasive Species on Native Plant and Animal Communities in Wetlands.
• Evaluating the Success of Reforestation Projects in Tropical Rainforest Ecosystems.
• The Effects of Agricultural Runoff on Freshwater Ecosystems.
• Climate Change and Its Impact on Arctic Wildlife: Polar Bears and Seals.
• The Role of Bees in Pollination and the Effects of Pesticides on Bee Populations.
• Sustainable Fishing Practices and Their Impact on Marine Life Conservation.
• Analyzing the Carbon Sequestration Potential of Urban Green Spaces.

Biology Thesis Topics

Biology studies all aspects of life, in particular: structure, functioning, growth, origin, evolution, and distribution of living organisms on Earth. Below we have prepared ten PhD thesis topics on this discipline.

• The Genetic Basis of Disease Resistance in Plants.
• Studying the Effects of Microplastics on Marine Invertebrates.
• The Role of Gut Microbiota in Human Health and Disease.
• Investigating the Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria.
• The Impact of Climate Change on Migratory Patterns of Birds.
• Exploring the Potential of CRISPR-Cas9 for Gene Editing in Disease Treatment.
• The Role of Epigenetics in Cancer Development.
• Analyzing the Biodiversity of Fungi in Forest Ecosystems.
• The Effects of Endocrine Disruptors on Wildlife Reproduction.
• Investigating the Role of Venom in Predator-Prey Interactions.

Art Dissertation Titles

Art is one of the general categories of aesthetics, art history, and artistic practice. Let's find out ten dissertation ideas in this discipline.

• The Evolution of Street Art and Its Role in Urban Expression.
• Analyzing the Impact of Digital Media on Traditional Painting Techniques.
• The Role of Art Therapy in Mental Health Treatment.
• Feminist Art Movements: Contributions and Impact on Contemporary Art.
• The Influence of Cultural Heritage on Modern Art Forms in Africa.
• Surrealism and Dreams: Exploring the Unconscious Mind Through Art.
• The Impact of Social Media on Contemporary Art and Artist Visibility.
• Exploring the Intersection of Technology and Art in Digital Installations.
• Art Censorship: A Study of Its Effects on Freedom of Expression.
• The Role of Museums in Preserving and Promoting Indigenous Art.

Architecture Thesis Topics

Architecture is the science of construction, design of buildings, or entire systems of structures that make up the spatial environment necessary for human life and activities. Here are ten thesis topics for this discipline.

• Sustainable Urban Planning: Strategies for Green Infrastructure in Cities.
• The Impact of Architectural Design on Human Psychology in Workspaces.
• Adaptive Reuse of Historic Buildings: Challenges and Opportunities.
• Exploring the Role of Public Spaces in Enhancing Community Engagement.
• The Influence of Climate Change on Future Architectural Practices.
• Innovative Materials and Techniques in Energy-Efficient Building Design.
• The Integration of Nature and Architecture in Biophilic Design.
• Affordable Housing Solutions for Growing Urban Populations.
• The Future of Smart Cities: Technology and Urban Development.
• Cultural Identity and Modern Architecture in the Middle East.

Political Science Topics

Political science is the science of a special sphere of people's life associated with power relations, with the state-political organization of society, political institutions, principles, norms, the action of which is designed to ensure the functioning of society, the relationship between people, society and the state. Here are ten master thesis topics for this discipline.

• The Role of Social Media in Modern Political Campaigns.
• Analyzing the Impact of Globalization on National Sovereignty.
• The Effectiveness of International Sanctions as a Foreign Policy Tool.
• The Rise of Populism in Europe: Causes and Consequences.
• Climate Change Policy: A Comparative Analysis of National Strategies.
• The Role of the United Nations in Resolving Contemporary Conflicts.
• Electoral Systems and Their Impact on Democracy and Political Stability.
• The Influence of Lobbying on Public Policy and Legislation.
• Gender Equality in Politics: Barriers and Opportunities for Women Leaders.
• The Impact of Migration on Domestic Politics in Host Countries.

The correct choice of topic is not yet a guarantee of the success of the dissertation, but this is an important stage that determines the further stages of work. Therefore, take the time and effort to find and formulate the topic. And note, that our thesis writing service is always here to help you.

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Written by David Kidwell

David is one of those experienced content creators from the United Kingdom who has a high interest in social issues, culture, and entrepreneurship. He always says that reading, blogging, and staying aware of what happens in the world is what makes a person responsible. He likes to learn and share what he knows by making things inspiring and creative enough even for those students who dislike reading.

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How To Find A High-Quality Research Topic

6 steps to find & evaluate high-quality dissertation/thesis topics.

By: Caroline Osella (PhD, BA)  and Derek Jansen (MBA) | July 2019

So, you’re finally nearing the end of your degree and it’s now time to find a suitable topic for your dissertation or thesis. Or perhaps you’re just starting out on your PhD research proposal and need to find a suitable area of research for your application proposal.

In this post, we’ll provide a straightforward 6-step process that you can follow to ensure you arrive at a high-quality research topic . Follow these steps and you will formulate a well-suited, well-defined core research question .

There’s a helpful clue already: your research ‘topic’ is best understood as a research question or a problem . Your aim is not to create an encyclopedia entry into your field, but rather to shed light on an acknowledged issue that’s being debated (or needs to be). Think research  questions , not research  topics  (we’ll come back to this later).

Overview: How To Find A Research Topic

• Get an understanding of the research process
• Review previous dissertations from your university
• Review the academic literature to start the ideation process
• Identify your potential research questions (topics) and shortlist
• Narrow down, then evaluate your research topic shortlist
• Make the decision (and stick with it!)

Step 1: Understand the research process

It may sound horribly obvious, but it’s an extremely common mistake – students skip past the fundamentals straight to the ideation phase (and then pay dearly for it).

Start by looking at whatever handouts and instructions you’ve been given regarding what your university/department expects of a dissertation. For example, the course handbook, online information and verbal in-class instructions. I know it’s tempting to just dive into the ideation process, but it’s essential to start with the prescribed material first.

There are two important reasons for this:

First , you need to have a basic understanding of the research process , research methodologies , fieldwork options and analysis methods before you start the ideation process, or you will simply not be equipped to think about your own research adequately. If you don’t understand the basics of  quantitative , qualitative and mixed methods BEFORE you start ideating, you’re wasting your time.

Second , your university/department will have specific requirements for your research – for example, requirements in terms of topic originality, word count, data requirements, ethical adherence , methodology, etc. If you are not aware of these from the outset, you will again end up wasting a lot of time on irrelevant ideas/topics.

So, the most important first step is to get your head around both the basics of research (especially methodologies), as well as your institution’s specific requirements . Don’t give in to the temptation to jump ahead before you do this. As a starting point, be sure to check out our free dissertation course.

Step 2: Review past dissertations/theses

Unless you’re undertaking a completely new course, there will be many, many students who have gone through the research process before and have produced successful dissertations, which you can use to orient yourself. This is hugely beneficial – imagine being able to see previous students’ assignments and essays when you were doing your coursework!

Take a look at some well-graded (65% and above) past dissertations from your course (ideally more recent ones, as university requirements may change over time). These are usually available in the university’s online library. Past dissertations will act as a helpful model for all kinds of things, from how long a bibliography needs to be, to what a good literature review looks like, through to what kinds of methods you can use – and how to leverage them to support your argument.

As you peruse past dissertations, ask yourself the following questions:

• What kinds of topics did these dissertations cover and how did they turn the topic into questions?
• How broad or narrow were the topics?
• How original were the topics? Were they truly groundbreaking or just a localised twist on well-established theory?
• How well justified were the topics? Did they seem important or just nice to know?
• How much literature did they draw on as a theoretical base? Was the literature more academic or applied in nature?
• What kinds of research methods did they use and what data did they draw on?
• How did they analyse that data and bring it into the discussion of the academic literature?
• Which of the dissertations are most readable to you – why? How were they presented?
• Can you see why these dissertations were successful? Can you relate what they’ve done back to the university’s instructions/brief?

Seeing a variety of dissertations (at least 5, ideally in your area of interest) will also help you understand whether your university has very rigid expectations in terms of structure and format , or whether they expect and allow variety in the number of chapters, chapter headings, order of content, style of presentation and so on.

Some departments accept graphic novels; some are willing to grade free-flow continental-philosophy style arguments; some want a highly rigid, standardised structure.  Many offer a dissertation template , with information on how marks are split between sections. Check right away whether you have been given one of those templates – and if you do, then use it and don’t try to deviate or reinvent the wheel.

Step 3: Review the academic literature

Now that you (1) understand the research process, (2) understand your university’s specific requirements for your dissertation or thesis, and (3) have a feel for what a good dissertation looks like, you can start the ideation process. This is done by reviewing the current literature and looking for opportunities to add something original to the academic conversation.

Kick start the ideation process

So, where should you start your literature hunt? The best starting point is to get back to your modules. Look at your coursework and the assignments you did. Using your coursework is the best theoretical base, as you are assured that (1) the literature is of a high enough calibre for your university and (2) the topics are relevant to your specific course.

Start by identifying the modules that interested you the most and that you understood well (i.e. earned good marks for). What were your strongest assignments, essays or reports? Which areas within these were particularly interesting to you? For example, within a marketing module, you may have found consumer decision making or organisation trust to be interesting. Create a shortlist of those areas that you were both interested in and academically strong at. It’s no use picking an area that does not genuinely interest you – you’ll run out of motivation if you’re not excited by a topic.

Understand the current state of knowledge

Once you’ve done that, you need to get an understanding of the current state of the literature for your chosen interest areas. What you’re aiming to understand is this: what is the academic conversation here and what critical questions are yet unanswered? These unanswered questions are prime opportunities for a unique, meaningful research topic . A quick review of the literature on your favourite topics will help you understand this.

Grab your reading list from the relevant section of the modules, or simply enter the topics into Google Scholar . Skim-read 3-5 journal articles from the past 5 years which have at least 5 citations each (Google Scholar or a citations index will show you how many citations any given article has – i.e., how many other people have referred to it in their own bibliography). Also, check to see if your discipline has an ‘annual review’ type of journal, which gathers together surveys of the state of knowledge on a chosen topic. This can be a great tool for fast-tracking your understanding of the current state of the knowledge in any given area.

Start from your course’s reading list and work outwards. At the end of every journal article, you’ll find a reference list. Scan this reference list for more relevant articles and read those. Then repeat the process (known as snowballing) until you’ve built up a base of 20-30 quality articles per area of interest.

Absorb, don’t hunt

At this stage, your objective is to read and understand the current state of the theory for your area(s) of interest – you don’t need to be in topic-hunting mode yet. Don’t jump the gun and try to identify research topics before you are well familiarised with the literature.

As you read, try to understand what kinds of questions people are asking and how they are trying to answer them. What matters do the researchers agree on, and more importantly, what are they in disagreement about? Disagreements are prime research territory. Can you identify different ‘schools of thought’ or different ‘approaches’? Do you know what your own approach or slant is? What kinds of articles appeal to you and which ones bore you or leave you feeling like you’ve not really grasped them? Which ones interest you and point towards directions you’d like to research and know more about?

Once you understand the fundamental fact that academic knowledge is a conversation, things get easier.

Think of it like a party. There are groups of people in the room, enjoying conversations about various things. Which group do you want to join?  You don’t want to be that person in the corner, talking to themself. And you don’t want to be the hanger-on, laughing at the big-shot’s jokes and repeating everything they say.

Do you want to join a large group and try to make a small contribution to what’s going on, or are you drawn to a smaller group that’s having a more niche conversation, but where you feel you might more easily find something original to contribute? How many conversations can you identify? Which ones feel closer to you and more attractive? Which ones repel you or leave you cold? Are there some that, frankly, you just don’t understand?

Now, choose a couple of groups who are discussing something you feel interested in and where you feel like you might want to contribute. You want to make your entry into this group by asking a question – a question that will make the other people in the group turn around and look at you, listen to you, and think, “That’s interesting”.

Your dissertation will be the process of setting that question and then trying to find at least a partial answer to that question – but don’t worry about that now.  Right now, you need to work out what conversations are going on, whether any of them are related or overlapping, and which ones you might be able to walk into. I’ll explain how you find that question in the next step.

Need a helping hand?

Step 4: Identify potential research questions

Now that you have a decent understanding of the state of the literature in your area(s) of interest, it’s time to start developing your list of possible research topics. There are (at least) three approaches you can follow here, and they are not mutually exclusive:

Approach 1: Leverage the FRIN

Towards the end of most quality journal articles, you will find a section labelled “ further research ” or something similar. Generally, researchers will clearly outline where they feel further research is needed (FRIN), following on from their own research. So, essentially, every journal article presents you with a list of potential research opportunities.

Of course, only a handful of these will be both practical and of interest to you, so it’s not a quick-fix solution to finding a research topic. However, the benefit of going this route is that you will be able to find a genuinely original and meaningful research topic (which is particularly important for PhD-level research).

The upside to this approach is originality, but the downside is that you might not find something that really interests you , or that you have the means to execute. If you do go this route, make sure that you pay attention to the journal article dates, as the FRIN may already have been “solved” by other researchers if the article is old.

Approach 2: Put a context-based spin on an existing topic

The second option is to consider whether a theory which is already well established is relevant within a local or industry-specific context. For example, a theory about the antecedents (drivers) of trust is very well established, but there may be unique or uniquely important drivers within a specific national context or industry (for example, within the financial services industry in an emerging market).

If that industry or national context has not yet been covered by researchers and there is a good reason to believe there may be meaningful differences within that context, then you have an opportunity to take a unique angle on well-established theory, which can make for a great piece of research. It is however imperative that you have a good reason to believe that the existing theory may not be wholly relevant within your chosen context, or your research will not be justified.

The upside to this approach is that you can potentially find a topic that is “closer to home” and more relevant and interesting to you , while still being able to draw on a well-established body of theory. However, the downside is that this approach will likely not produce the level of originality as approach #1.

Approach 3: Uncensored brainstorming

The third option is to skip the FRIN, as well as the local/industry-specific angle and simply engage in a freeform brainstorming or mind-mapping session, using your newfound knowledge of the theory to formulate potential research ideas. What’s important here is that you do not censor yourself . However crazy, unfeasible, or plain stupid your topic appears – write it down. All that matters right now is that you are interested in this thing.

Next, try to turn the topic(s) into a question or problem. For example:

• What is the relationship between X, Y & Z?
• What are the drivers/antecedents of X?
• What are the outcomes of Y?
• What are the key success factors for Z?

Re-word your list of topics or issues into a list of questions .  You might find at this stage that one research topic throws up three questions (which then become sub-topics and even new separate topics in their own right) and in so doing, the list grows. Let it. Don’t hold back or try to start evaluating your ideas yet – just let them flow onto paper.

Once you’ve got a few topics and questions on paper, check the literature again to see whether any of these have been covered by the existing research. Since you came up with these from scratch, there is a possibility that your original literature search did not cover them, so it’s important to revisit that phase to ensure that you’re familiar with the relevant literature for each idea. You may also then find that approach #1 and #2 can be used to build on these ideas.

Try use all three approaches

As mentioned earlier, the three approaches discussed here are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the more, the merrier. Hopefully, you manage to utilise all three, as this will give you the best odds of producing a rich list of ideas, which you can then narrow down and evaluate, which is the next step.

Step 5: Narrow down, then evaluate

By this stage, you should have a healthy list of research topics. Step away from the ideation and thinking for a few days, clear your mind. The key is to get some distance from your ideas, so that you can sit down with your list and review it with a more objective view. The unbridled ideation phase is over and now it’s time to take a reality check .

Look at your list and see if any options can be crossed off right away .  Maybe you don’t want to do that topic anymore. Maybe the topic turned out to be too broad and threw up 20 hard to answer questions. Maybe all the literature you found about it was 30 years old and you suspect it might not be a very engaging contemporary issue . Maybe this topic is so over-researched that you’ll struggle to find anything fresh to say. Also, after stepping back, it’s quite common to notice that 2 or 3 of your topics are really the same one, the same question, which you’ve written down in slightly different ways. You can try to amalgamate these into one succinct topic.

Narrow down to the top 5, then evaluate

Now, take your streamlined list and narrow it down to the ‘top 5’ that interest you the most. Personal interest is your key evaluation criterion at this stage. Got your ‘top 5’?  Great!  Now, with a cool head and your best analytical mind engaged, go systematically through each option and evaluate them against the following criteria:

Research questions – what is the main research question, and what are the supporting sub-questions? It’s critically important that you can define these questions clearly and concisely. If you cannot do this, it means you haven’t thought the topic through sufficiently.

Originality – is the topic sufficiently original, as per your university’s originality requirements? Are you able to add something unique to the existing conversation? As mentioned earlier, originality can come in many forms, and it doesn’t mean that you need to find a completely new, cutting-edge topic. However, your university’s requirements should guide your decision-making here.

Importance – is the topic of real significance, or is it just a “nice to know”? If it’s significant, why? Who will benefit from finding the answer to your desired questions and how will they benefit? Justifying your research will be a key requirement for your research proposal , so it’s really important to develop a convincing argument here.

Literature – is there a contemporary (current) body of academic literature around this issue? Is there enough literature for you to base your investigation on, but not too much that the topic is “overdone”? Will you be able to navigate this literature or is it overwhelming?

Data requirements – What kind of data would you need access to in order to answer your key questions?  Would you need to adopt a qualitative, quantitative or mixed-methods approach to answer your questions? At this stage, you don’t need to be able to map out your exact research design, but you should be able to articulate how you would approach it in high-level terms. Will you use qual, quant or mixed methods? Why?

Feasibility – How feasible would it be to gather the data that would be needed in the time-frame that you have – and do you have the will power and the skills to do it? If you’re not confident with the theory, you don’t want something that’s going to draw you into a debate about the relative importance of epistemology and ontology. If you are shy, you won’t want to be doing ethnographic interviews. If you feel this question calls for a 100-person survey, do you have the time to plan, organise and conduct it and then analyse it? What will you do if you don’t get the response rate you expect? Be very realistic here and also ask advice from your supervisor and other experts – poor response rates are extremely common and can derail even the best research projects.

Personal attraction – On a scale of 1-10, how excited are you about this topic? Will addressing it add value to your life and/or career? Will undertaking the project help you build a skill you’ve previously wanted to work on (for example, interview skills, statistical analysis skills, software skills, etc.)?

The last point is particularly important. You will have to engage with your dissertation in a very sustained and deep way, face challenges and difficulties, and get it to completion. If you don’t start out enthusiastic about it, you’re setting yourself up for problems like ‘writer’s block’ or ‘burnout’ down the line. This is the reason personal interest was the sole evaluation criterion when we chose the top 5. So, don’t underestimate the importance of personal attraction to a topic – at the same time, don’t let personal attraction lead you to choose a topic that is not relevant to your course or feasible given your resources. 

Narrow down to 3, then get human feedback

We’re almost at the finishing line. The next step is to narrow down to 2 or 3 shortlisted topics. No more!  Write a short paragraph about each topic, addressing the following:

Firstly,  WHAT will this study be about? Frame the topic as a question or a problem. Write it as a dissertation title. No more than two clauses and no more than 15 words. Less than 15 is better (go back to good journal articles for inspiration on appropriate title styles).

Secondly, WHY this is interesting (original) and important – as proven by existing academic literature? Are people talking about this and is there an acknowledged problem, debate or gap in the literature?

Lastly,  HOW do you plan to answer the question? What sub-questions will you use? What methods does this call for and how competent and confident are you in those methods? Do you have the time to gather the data this calls for?

Show the shortlist and accompanying paragraphs to a couple of your peers from your course and also to an expert or two if at all possible (you’re welcome to reach out to us ), explaining what you will investigate, why this is original and important and how you will go about investigating it. 

Once you’ve pitched your ideas, ask for the following thoughts :

• Which is most interesting and appealing to them?
• Why do they feel this way?
• What problems do they foresee with the execution of the research?

Take advice and feedback and sit on it for another day. Let it simmer in your mind overnight before you make the final decision.  

Step 6: Make the decision (and stick with it!)

Then, make the commitment. Choose the one that you feel most confident about, having now considered both your opinion and the feedback from others.

Once you’ve made a decision, don’t doubt your judgement, don’t shift.  Don’t be tempted by the ones you left behind. You’ve planned and thought things through, checked feasibility and now you can start.  You have your research topic. Trust your own decision-making process and stick with it now. It’s time to get started on your research proposal!

Let’s recap…

In this post, I’ve proposed a straightforward 6-step plan to finding relevant research topic ideas and then narrowing them down to finally choose one winner. To recap:

• Understand the basics of academic research, as well as your university’s specific requirements for a dissertation, thesis or research project.
• Review previous dissertations for your course to get an idea of both topics and structure.
• Start the ideation process by familiarising yourself with the literature.
• Identify your potential research questions (topics).
• Narrow down your options, then evaluate systematically.
• Make your decision (and don’t look back!)

If you follow these steps, you’ll find that they also set you up for what’s coming next – both the proposal and the first three chapters of your dissertation. But that’s for future posts!

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 ...

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23 Comments

I would love to get a topic under teachers performance. I am a student of MSC Monitoring and Evaluations and I need a topic in the line of monitoring and evaluations

I just we put for some full notes that are payable

Thank you very much Dr Caroline

I need a project topics on transfer of learning

m a PhD Student I would like to be assisted inn formulating a title around: Internet of Things for online education in higher education – STEM (Science, technology, engineering and Mathematics, digital divide ) Thank you, would appreciate your guidance

Well structured guide on the topic… Good materials for beginners in research writing…

Hello Iam kindly seeking for help in formulating a researchable topic for masters degree program in line with teaching GRAPHIC ART

I read a thesis about a problem in a particular. Can I use the same topic just referring to my own country? Is that being original? The interview questions will mostly be the same as the other thesis.

Hi, thanks I managed to listen to the video so helpful indeed. I am currently an MBA student looking for a specific topic and I have different ideas that not sure they can be turned to be a study.

I am doing a Master of Theology in Pastoral Care and Counselling and I felt like doing research on Spiritual problem cause by substance abuse among Youth. Can I get help to formulate the Thesis Title in line with it…please

Hello, I am kindly seeking help in formulating a researchable topic for a National diploma program

As a beginner in research, I am very grateful for this well-structured material on research writing.

Hello, I watched the video and its very helpful. I’m a student in Nursing (degree). May you please help me with any research problems (in Namibian society or Nursing) that need to be evaluate or solved?

I have been greatly impacted. Thank you.

more than useful… there will be no justification if someone fails to get a topic for his thesis

I watched the video and its really helpful.

How can i started discovery

Analysing the significance of Integrated reporting in Zimbabwe. A case of institutional investors. this is my topic for PHD Accounting sciences need help with research questions

Excellent session that cleared lots of doubts.

Excellent session that cleared lots of doubts

It was a nice one thank you

Wow, This helped a lot not only with how to find a research topic but inspired me to kick it off from now, I am a final year student of environmental science. And have to complete my project in the coming six months.

I was really stressed and thinking about different topics that I don’t know nothing about and having more than a hundred topics in the baggage, couldn’t make the tradeoff among them, however, reading this scrubbed the fuzzy layer off my head and now it seems like really easy.

Thanks GRADCOACH, you saved me from getting into the rabbit hole.

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How to Choose a Dissertation Topic – 9 Steps

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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Choosing a dissertation topic is really difficult.

When I had to choose dissertation topic I agonized for weeks.

And I’ve supervised over 50 students’ dissertations across undergraduate, masters and PhD levels. All of my students agonized over their topics, too.

So you’re not alone in your struggle.

The below tips for choosing a dissertation topic are the ones I wish I was given when I was in the process of looking for a suitable topic.

If only I’d known these points, I would have saved a lot of time and stress for myself. So if these tips only help one person out, I’ll be happy.

These tips really work for just about anybody. They’re particularly useful for undergraduate and Masters level students who are writing dissertations. But, I’m sure most doctoral students will also find these points relevant, too. Especially tips 1 – 3.

Here are my tips on how to choose a dissertation topic – I hope they come in handy, and good luck on your research journey!

Read Also: 25 Sociology Dissertation Ideas

1. It Doesn’t have to be Unique (Yet).

This is the one piece of advice I wish I had gotten when I was choosing my dissertation topic.

Many students feel like they need to find a unique topic that will blow their markers away.

I was this student.

I thought that I had to choose a topic and idea that was going to make a unique contribution to knowledge. I thought I had to discover something, or, at the very least, choose a topic that no one has ever done before.

So here’s what I wish someone had told me:

It doesn’t matter if other people have done the same topic as you.

Don’t even let it phase you for a moment if someone else has chosen your topic. Just choose whatever topic you want.

Well, because your unique contribution doesn’t come at the start. It comes at the end!

You’ll find a way to make a unique contribution after you have completed your literature review . There is always time and space to find a new angle or different way of doing the topic than other people.

So, don’t choose your topic because it’s unique or different.

Then … how should you choose your topic? Points 2 and 3 give you some tips…

2. Make it Relevant to your Career Goals.

The first thing I recommend to all my students is to consider how their topic can help progress their careers.

When giving guidance to my students, I ask them these three questions:

• a) What sort of specialization do you want in your career? If you’re studying teaching, your questions might be: do you want to be a specialized literacy teacher? do you want to be an expert on behavior management? Do you want to be specialized in play-based learning ?
• b) How do you want to differentiate yourself from your competition? Your dissertation topic is going to be the topic you ‘sell’ as your area of expertise in future job interviews. If you want to get a great job, choose a topic that really stands out in the marketplace. Have a think right now for yourself: what areas of your industry are booming? For example, would it be better to specialize in coal or solar panels? Which one would be best to talk about in a job interview in the 21 st Century?
• c) Do you want to be a research pro? Most of my students don’t want to be researchers as a career. They do their dissertations to prove mastery of their topic – that’s all. The research is a means to an end. But, if you think you want to go on to do the next level degree (a PhD one day?) then you’ll want to focus on having a high quality methodology, not just an interesting topic.

So, have a think now: is there a topic that will help you get to where you plan on going? What expert knowledge do you want to be able to ‘sell’ in a future interview?

3. Ensure it’s Interesting to You.

You’re going to be wedded to your chosen for a long time. And by the end of this journey you’re going to hate it.

To make your life easier, choose a topic you’re interested in.

Here’s two ways of approaching this:

Choose a Topic you Think About a Lot.

Choose a dissertation topic that you find yourself talking about, complaining about or raving about to your parents. Choose something that makes you angry, inspired or intrigued.

For the next week or so, I recommend taking notes whenever you find yourself thinking idly about something. Is that something you’ve thought about a lot?

Or, Choose a Topic by Looking over Past Assessment Tasks.

Another way of approaching the search for an interesting topic is to look over past assignments.

What assessment task have you done in the past few years that gripped you? Which one did you enjoy the most when you were studying it?

Zoom in on that topic and see if you can turn it into a dissertation.

Bonus tip: If you found a topic that was based on a previous assessment task, see if you can convince the person who taught that subject to be your dissertation supervisor.

4. Keep it Simple.

Too often, students want to choose a topic that is complex and complicated. They come up with a long, detailed research question (usually with the help of their professor) that, really, is hard to understand!

The best strategy is to come up with a topic that is really, really straightforward. At least, the topic should start as simple and straightforward.

Your topic is going to grow and expand into a monster. It’ll be hard to tame and control. You’ll be following random tangents down rabbit holes that end up being dead-ends. You’ll research aspects of the topic and realize it was a completely pointless exercise.

The way to minimize the crazy growth of your research project is to simplify it right from the start. Make it a really simple idea.

For example, I had a student who wanted to research:

“How big is the gap in mathematics outcomes between children from middle-class and working-class backgrounds by age 16?”

I would think that this topic may be achievable by a top academic with a sizeable research grant, but my student was completing a 10,000 word dissertation for graduating her Bachelor of Arts with Honours.

After several agonizing research meetings, we peeled it back over and again until we ended up with something much simpler and more specific:

“What are teachers’ opinions of the impact of poverty on learning?”

Why is this simpler and more specific?

Well, with the second study, my student has a clear focus group (teachers) and an achievable methodology (interviews). This will be far simpler than somehow conducting tests on 16-year old children, getting a significant amount of children to participate in the study, and then dissecting their mathematics test results by income level.

Instead, we aimed small and simple to ensure the task itself was achievable.

We’re not here to win a Nobel prize. You can do that with your multi-million-dollar post-doctoral research grant. Get your degree first.

5. Ensure it’s Achievable.

This piece of advice builds on the previous advice, to “keep it simple”.

Keeping it simple means making sure you have a clear, small-scale focus.

Esuring the project is achievable means choosing a methodology that won’t break you.

Small Scale Qualitative Studies are Achievable for Anyone

I always suggest to my Undergraduate and Masters level students to aim for a small scale study with no more than 20 research participants.

Now, I know there will be many of you out there who want to do quantitative research studies. And in reality, you can do a quantitative study with a small group of students. These usually involve quantitative action research case studies.

If you’re set on a quantitative study, that’s fine. But find a supervisor with the right experience.

Personally, I usually recommend a qualitative focus group analysis for anyone doing their first dissertation.

The biggest mistake you can make is biting off more than you can chew.

Small scale qualitative studies are the easiest option . They can be achieved within your time frame. And you can certainly still get a very high grade.

So, let’s take the example of the previous research question, which we changed from:

For the first study, you will have to develop skills in quantitative data analysis , find a sizeable cohort of students, get permission from their parents, get special permission to study children you’re your university ethics committee, develop a quality testing mechanism, pilot the test, conduct the test, analyze the data, then interpret it.

For the second study, you will not have to develop complex mathematical skills, bother with getting permission to research children, or deal with the rigor of quantitative analysis.

In other words, you will be able to bypass many hurdles you may face.

That’s the benefit of a small-scale qualitative study. It’s a nice easy first dissertation methodology. You can do it and do it well.

I know my position is controversial, but hey … I’m here to tell you how to avoid problems, not to stand on a soapbox.

Consider Textual Analysis, Semiotic Analysis or Secondary Research

Finding people to interview, survey or participate in your study in any way at all can be intimidating.

I find it interesting and really fulfilling. But I understand if you think it’s too much for you at this point in time.

If you don’t want to have to go out and find research participants for your study, I recommend one of these types of study:

• Textual Analysis : you can look at policy documents or newspaper articles and analyze their ideological positioning , for example;
• Semiotic Analysis : The quintessential semiotic analysis is the analysis of advertising images or movies and the examination of the ways they depict people of different races, social classes or genders;
• Secondary Research: Look over other people’s research and try to identify themes across a range of research studies.

Now, these three different methodologies are far outside of the scope of this discussion, but consult with your dissertation supervisor if you’re overwhelmed by the idea of conducting research with real human beings. One of these three methodologies may help you bypass that process, and make the dissertation feel more achievable for you.

6. Search Online for Inspiration

If you’re still struggling to choose a dissertation topic,  go online to get inspiration!

There’s a few ways you can do this. Here’s a few good ones:

a) Google Previous Dissertation Topics

Many universities upload their students’ dissertations onto an online repository. This means there are a ton of open, free to access databases of previous students’ dissertations all over the internet.

Simply google “Dissertation” + “pdf” + a topic you’re interested in. If you’re a masters student, you can do “masters dissertation” + “pdf” + the topic; and if you’re an undegrad, then simply do “undergraduate dissertation” + “pdf” + the topic;. Simple!

Up will pop a ton of dissertations that you can instantly download to check out previous students’ successful dissertation topics.

Another benefit of doing this is that you’ll be able to view and model the structure that previous students have used as well. This can be super beneficial for you early on!

b) Look at Recent Articles Published in Journals focused on your Topic

If you scroll through the recent issues of journals in your topic, you’ll find a range of research topic ideas.

To get access to top journals in your topic, simply google “Scholarly Journal” + your topic. For example, I am a professor in education. So I’d google “Scholarly journal” + “Education”.

The homepages for a ton of journals will pop up in the Google search. Quickly scan through the recent issues of those journals to see if any ideas will pop up that interest you!

c) If you’re Studying Education or Teaching, Check Here

Lastly, a quick plug for another post I’ve written for dissertation students:

• 51+ Dissertation Ideas for Education students .

Go check that out if you want to write a dissertation on the ‘education’ topic.

7. Trust your Dissertation Supervisor

Your dissertation supervisor will have walked many students just like you through the research process before.

Look, I know many dissertation supervisors can be disappointingly aloof and disconnected from your research. And relationships can get very frosty with your supervisors indeed.

Trust your supervisor. They make recommendations for a reason. They know how to navigate the dissertation writing process. If your supervisor makes a recommendation, strong – very strongly – consider it.

Your supervisor also has expertise in one area of research or another. Take advantage of their expertise. Be flexible and let them sway you down certain paths. You need a knowledgeable partner in the research process.

So, trust your supervisor. You need their expertise more than you know.

8. Come up with 3-5 Ideas and Bring them to your Supervisor for Feedback

Your initial dissertation topic ideas will probably need a lot of refinement.

The person who will help you to refine your topic will be your dissertation supervisor. Their main job, unfortunately, is to curb your enthusiasm. It’s to show you what problems you’ll face if you follow certain paths and recommend alterations to ensure your topic is achievable.

So, approach your supervisor with your 3-5 top ideas and watch them do their magic. They should advise you on how to turn your ideas into reality.

Your ideas can be specific or broad – really, it doesn’t matter because you’ll walk out of your supervision meeting with a lot of changed ideas. It doesn’t need to be set in stone.

You could, for example, go up to your supervisor and say something like:

• “I’m interested in Erikson’s theory of development. Do you have any suggestions of how I can use Erikson’s ideas for a dissertation?”
• “I’m really into conservative politics. What ideas do you have for an achievable topic?”
• Any other ideas…

They’ll help you shape and mold your topic into something achievable.

9. Lastly, Stick to your Choice

When I did my dissertation, I questioned my topic daily: I’d always be thinking up new, better ideas for my dissertation!

But once you’re locked in, it’s hard to change your mind. You’re going to get ethics permission to conduct your study, not anyone else’s!

So, my advice is simple:

Once you’ve chosen your topic, commit.

If you’re desperate to do another topic, fine, do another degree. If you’re doing your Master’s right now, bank those other ideas for a potential PhD down the track.

But once you’ve made your choice, really … you’ve got to commit, block out all your regrets and dig in.

Don’t worry about your friends who chose a dissertation topic that is better than yours. Stay in your lane, be content with your topic, and create a great product.

Writing a dissertation is an exercise in being practical more than anything. That start from the very first choice: choosing a dissertation topic that’s achievable and good for your career, and will also put you on the path for top marks.

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 119 Bloom’s Taxonomy Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ All 6 Levels of Understanding (on Bloom’s Taxonomy)
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What Is a Dissertation? | 5 Essential Questions to Get Started

Published on 26 March 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 5 May 2022.

A dissertation is a large research project undertaken at the end of a degree. It involves in-depth consideration of a problem or question chosen by the student. It is usually the largest (and final) piece of written work produced during a degree.

The length and structure of a dissertation vary widely depending on the level and field of study. However, there are some key questions that can help you understand the requirements and get started on your dissertation project.

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Table of contents

When and why do you have to write a dissertation, who will supervise your dissertation, what type of research will you do, how should your dissertation be structured, what formatting and referencing rules do you have to follow, frequently asked questions about dissertations.

A dissertation, sometimes called a thesis, comes at the end of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. It is a larger project than the other essays you’ve written, requiring a higher word count and a greater depth of research.

You’ll generally work on your dissertation during the final year of your degree, over a longer period than you would take for a standard essay . For example, the dissertation might be your main focus for the last six months of your degree.

Why is the dissertation important?

The dissertation is a test of your capacity for independent research. You are given a lot of autonomy in writing your dissertation: you come up with your own ideas, conduct your own research, and write and structure the text by yourself.

This means that it is an important preparation for your future, whether you continue in academia or not: it teaches you to manage your own time, generate original ideas, and work independently.

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During the planning and writing of your dissertation, you’ll work with a supervisor from your department. The supervisor’s job is to give you feedback and advice throughout the process.

The dissertation supervisor is often assigned by the department, but you might be allowed to indicate preferences or approach potential supervisors. If so, try to pick someone who is familiar with your chosen topic, whom you get along with on a personal level, and whose feedback you’ve found useful in the past.

How will your supervisor help you?

Your supervisor is there to guide you through the dissertation project, but you’re still working independently. They can give feedback on your ideas, but not come up with ideas for you.

You may need to take the initiative to request an initial meeting with your supervisor. Then you can plan out your future meetings and set reasonable deadlines for things like completion of data collection, a structure outline, a first chapter, a first draft, and so on.

Make sure to prepare in advance for your meetings. Formulate your ideas as fully as you can, and determine where exactly you’re having difficulties so you can ask your supervisor for specific advice.

Your approach to your dissertation will vary depending on your field of study. The first thing to consider is whether you will do empirical research , which involves collecting original data, or non-empirical research , which involves analysing sources.

Empirical dissertations (sciences)

An empirical dissertation focuses on collecting and analysing original data. You’ll usually write this type of dissertation if you are studying a subject in the sciences or social sciences.

• What are airline workers’ attitudes towards the challenges posed for their industry by climate change?
• How effective is cognitive behavioural therapy in treating depression in young adults?
• What are the short-term health effects of switching from smoking cigarettes to e-cigarettes?

There are many different empirical research methods you can use to answer these questions – for example, experiments , observations, surveys , and interviews.

When doing empirical research, you need to consider things like the variables you will investigate, the reliability and validity of your measurements, and your sampling method . The aim is to produce robust, reproducible scientific knowledge.

Non-empirical dissertations (arts and humanities)

A non-empirical dissertation works with existing research or other texts, presenting original analysis, critique and argumentation, but no original data. This approach is typical of arts and humanities subjects.

• What attitudes did commentators in the British press take towards the French Revolution in 1789–1792?
• How do the themes of gender and inheritance intersect in Shakespeare’s Macbeth ?
• How did Plato’s Republic and Thomas More’s Utopia influence nineteenth century utopian socialist thought?

The first steps in this type of dissertation are to decide on your topic and begin collecting your primary and secondary sources .

Primary sources are the direct objects of your research. They give you first-hand evidence about your subject. Examples of primary sources include novels, artworks and historical documents.

Secondary sources provide information that informs your analysis. They describe, interpret, or evaluate information from primary sources. For example, you might consider previous analyses of the novel or author you are working on, or theoretical texts that you plan to apply to your primary sources.

Dissertations are divided into chapters and sections. Empirical dissertations usually follow a standard structure, while non-empirical dissertations are more flexible.

Structure of an empirical dissertation

Empirical dissertations generally include these chapters:

• Introduction : An explanation of your topic and the research question(s) you want to answer.
• Literature review : A survey and evaluation of previous research on your topic.
• Methodology : An explanation of how you collected and analysed your data.
• Results : A brief description of what you found.
• Discussion : Interpretation of what these results reveal.
• Conclusion : Answers to your research question(s) and summary of what your findings contribute to knowledge in your field.

Sometimes the order or naming of chapters might be slightly different, but all of the above information must be included in order to produce thorough, valid scientific research.

Other dissertation structures

If your dissertation doesn’t involve data collection, your structure is more flexible. You can think of it like an extended essay – the text should be logically organised in a way that serves your argument:

• Introduction: An explanation of your topic and the question(s) you want to answer.
• Main body: The development of your analysis, usually divided into 2–4 chapters.
• Conclusion: Answers to your research question(s) and summary of what your analysis contributes to knowledge in your field.

The chapters of the main body can be organised around different themes, time periods, or texts. Below you can see some example structures for dissertations in different subjects.

• Political philosophy

This example, on the topic of the British press’s coverage of the French Revolution, shows how you might structure each chapter around a specific theme.

This example, on the topic of Plato’s and More’s influences on utopian socialist thought, shows a different approach to dividing the chapters by theme.

This example, a master’s dissertation on the topic of how writers respond to persecution, shows how you can also use section headings within each chapter. Each of the three chapters deals with a specific text, while the sections are organised thematically.

Like other academic texts, it’s important that your dissertation follows the formatting guidelines set out by your university. You can lose marks unnecessarily over mistakes, so it’s worth taking the time to get all these elements right.

Formatting guidelines concern things like:

• line spacing
• page numbers
• punctuation
• title pages
• presentation of tables and figures

If you’re unsure about the formatting requirements, check with your supervisor or department. You can lose marks unnecessarily over mistakes, so it’s worth taking the time to get all these elements right.

How will you reference your sources?

Referencing means properly listing the sources you cite and refer to in your dissertation, so that the reader can find them. This avoids plagiarism by acknowledging where you’ve used the work of others.

Keep track of everything you read as you prepare your dissertation. The key information to note down for a reference is:

• The publication date
• Page numbers for the parts you refer to (especially when using direct quotes)

Different referencing styles each have their own specific rules for how to reference. The most commonly used styles in UK universities are listed below.

You can use the free APA Reference Generator to automatically create and store your references.

APA Reference Generator

The words ‘ dissertation ’ and ‘thesis’ both refer to a large written research project undertaken to complete a degree, but they are used differently depending on the country:

• In the UK, you write a dissertation at the end of a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and you write a thesis to complete a PhD.
• In the US, it’s the other way around: you may write a thesis at the end of a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and you write a dissertation to complete a PhD.

The main difference is in terms of scale – a dissertation is usually much longer than the other essays you complete during your degree.

Another key difference is that you are given much more independence when working on a dissertation. You choose your own dissertation topic , and you have to conduct the research and write the dissertation yourself (with some assistance from your supervisor).

Dissertation word counts vary widely across different fields, institutions, and levels of education:

• An undergraduate dissertation is typically 8,000–15,000 words
• A master’s dissertation is typically 12,000–50,000 words
• A PhD thesis is typically book-length: 70,000–100,000 words

However, none of these are strict guidelines – your word count may be lower or higher than the numbers stated here. Always check the guidelines provided by your university to determine how long your own dissertation should be.

At the bachelor’s and master’s levels, the dissertation is usually the main focus of your final year. You might work on it (alongside other classes) for the entirety of the final year, or for the last six months. This includes formulating an idea, doing the research, and writing up.

A PhD thesis takes a longer time, as the thesis is the main focus of the degree. A PhD thesis might be being formulated and worked on for the whole four years of the degree program. The writing process alone can take around 18 months.

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Dissertation Strategies

What this handout is about.

This handout suggests strategies for developing healthy writing habits during your dissertation journey. These habits can help you maintain your writing momentum, overcome anxiety and procrastination, and foster wellbeing during one of the most challenging times in graduate school.

Tackling a giant project

Because dissertations are, of course, big projects, it’s no surprise that planning, writing, and revising one can pose some challenges! It can help to think of your dissertation as an expanded version of a long essay: at the end of the day, it is simply another piece of writing. You’ve written your way this far into your degree, so you’ve got the skills! You’ll develop a great deal of expertise on your topic, but you may still be a novice with this genre and writing at this length. Remember to give yourself some grace throughout the project. As you begin, it’s helpful to consider two overarching strategies throughout the process.

First, take stock of how you learn and your own writing processes. What strategies have worked and have not worked for you? Why? What kind of learner and writer are you? Capitalize on what’s working and experiment with new strategies when something’s not working. Keep in mind that trying out new strategies can take some trial-and-error, and it’s okay if a new strategy that you try doesn’t work for you. Consider why it may not have been the best for you, and use that reflection to consider other strategies that might be helpful to you.

Second, break the project into manageable chunks. At every stage of the process, try to identify specific tasks, set small, feasible goals, and have clear, concrete strategies for achieving each goal. Small victories can help you establish and maintain the momentum you need to keep yourself going.

Below, we discuss some possible strategies to keep you moving forward in the dissertation process.

Pre-dissertation planning strategies

Get familiar with the Graduate School’s Thesis and Dissertation Resources .

Create a template that’s properly formatted. The Grad School offers workshops on formatting in Word for PC and formatting in Word for Mac . There are online templates for LaTeX users, but if you use a template, save your work where you can recover it if the template has corrruption issues.

Learn how to use a citation-manager and a synthesis matrix to keep track of all of your source information.

Skim other dissertations from your department, program, and advisor. Enlist the help of a librarian or ask your advisor for a list of recent graduates whose work you can look up. Seeing what other people have done to earn their PhD can make the project much less abstract and daunting. A concrete sense of expectations will help you envision and plan. When you know what you’ll be doing, try to find a dissertation from your department that is similar enough that you can use it as a reference model when you run into concerns about formatting, structure, level of detail, etc.

Think carefully about your committee . Ideally, you’ll be able to select a group of people who work well with you and with each other. Consult with your advisor about who might be good collaborators for your project and who might not be the best fit. Consider what classes you’ve taken and how you “vibe” with those professors or those you’ve met outside of class. Try to learn what you can about how they’ve worked with other students. Ask about feedback style, turnaround time, level of involvement, etc., and imagine how that would work for you.

Sketch out a sensible drafting order for your project. Be open to writing chapters in “the wrong order” if it makes sense to start somewhere other than the beginning. You could begin with the section that seems easiest for you to write to gain momentum.

Design a productivity alliance with your advisor . Talk with them about potential projects and a reasonable timeline. Discuss how you’ll work together to keep your work moving forward. You might discuss having a standing meeting to discuss ideas or drafts or issues (bi-weekly? monthly?), your advisor’s preferences for drafts (rough? polished?), your preferences for what you’d like feedback on (early or late drafts?), reasonable turnaround time for feedback (a week? two?), and anything else you can think of to enter the collaboration mindfully.

Design a productivity alliance with your colleagues . Dissertation writing can be lonely, but writing with friends, meeting for updates over your beverage of choice, and scheduling non-working social times can help you maintain healthy energy. See our tips on accountability strategies for ideas to support each other.

Productivity strategies

Write when you’re most productive. When do you have the most energy? Focus? Creativity? When are you most able to concentrate, either because of your body rhythms or because there are fewer demands on your time? Once you determine the hours that are most productive for you (you may need to experiment at first), try to schedule those hours for dissertation work. See the collection of time management tools and planning calendars on the Learning Center’s Tips & Tools page to help you think through the possibilities. If at all possible, plan your work schedule, errands and chores so that you reserve your productive hours for the dissertation.

Put your writing time firmly on your calendar . Guard your writing time diligently. You’ll probably be invited to do other things during your productive writing times, but do your absolute best to say no and to offer alternatives. No one would hold it against you if you said no because you’re teaching a class at that time—and you wouldn’t feel guilty about saying no. Cultivating the same hard, guilt-free boundaries around your writing time will allow you preserve the time you need to get this thing done!

Develop habits that foster balance . You’ll have to work very hard to get this dissertation finished, but you can do that without sacrificing your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Think about how you can structure your work hours most efficiently so that you have time for a healthy non-work life. It can be something as small as limiting the time you spend chatting with fellow students to a few minutes instead of treating the office or lab as a space for extensive socializing. Also see above for protecting your time.

Write in spaces where you can be productive. Figure out where you work well and plan to be there during your dissertation work hours. Do you get more done on campus or at home? Do you prefer quiet and solitude, like in a library carrel? Do you prefer the buzz of background noise, like in a coffee shop? Are you aware of the UNC Libraries’ list of places to study ? If you get “stuck,” don’t be afraid to try a change of scenery. The variety may be just enough to get your brain going again.

Work where you feel comfortable . Wherever you work, make sure you have whatever lighting, furniture, and accessories you need to keep your posture and health in good order. The University Health and Safety office offers guidelines for healthy computer work . You’re more likely to spend time working in a space that doesn’t physically hurt you. Also consider how you could make your work space as inviting as possible. Some people find that it helps to have pictures of family and friends on their desk—sort of a silent “cheering section.” Some people work well with neutral colors around them, and others prefer bright colors that perk up the space. Some people like to put inspirational quotations in their workspace or encouraging notes from friends and family. You might try reconfiguring your work space to find a décor that helps you be productive.

Elicit helpful feedback from various people at various stages . You might be tempted to keep your writing to yourself until you think it’s brilliant, but you can lower the stakes tremendously if you make eliciting feedback a regular part of your writing process. Your friends can feel like a safer audience for ideas or drafts in their early stages. Someone outside your department may provide interesting perspectives from their discipline that spark your own thinking. See this handout on getting feedback for productive moments for feedback, the value of different kinds of feedback providers, and strategies for eliciting what’s most helpful to you. Make this a recurring part of your writing process. Schedule it to help you hit deadlines.

Change the writing task . When you don’t feel like writing, you can do something different or you can do something differently. Make a list of all the little things you need to do for a given section of the dissertation, no matter how small. Choose a task based on your energy level. Work on Grad School requirements: reformat margins, work on bibliography, and all that. Work on your acknowledgements. Remember all the people who have helped you and the great ideas they’ve helped you develop. You may feel more like working afterward. Write a part of your dissertation as a letter or email to a good friend who would care. Sometimes setting aside the academic prose and just writing it to a buddy can be liberating and help you get the ideas out there. You can make it sound smart later. Free-write about why you’re stuck, and perhaps even about how sick and tired you are of your dissertation/advisor/committee/etc. Venting can sometimes get you past the emotions of writer’s block and move you toward creative solutions. Open a separate document and write your thoughts on various things you’ve read. These may or may note be coherent, connected ideas, and they may or may not make it into your dissertation. They’re just notes that allow you to think things through and/or note what you want to revisit later, so it’s perfectly fine to have mistakes, weird organization, etc. Just let your mind wander on paper.

Develop habits that foster productivity and may help you develop a productive writing model for post-dissertation writing . Since dissertations are very long projects, cultivating habits that will help support your work is important. You might check out Helen Sword’s work on behavioral, artisanal, social, and emotional habits to help you get a sense of where you are in your current habits. You might try developing “rituals” of work that could help you get more done. Lighting incense, brewing a pot of a particular kind of tea, pulling out a favorite pen, and other ritualistic behaviors can signal your brain that “it is time to get down to business.” You can critically think about your work methods—not only about what you like to do, but also what actually helps you be productive. You may LOVE to listen to your favorite band while you write, for example, but if you wind up playing air guitar half the time instead of writing, it isn’t a habit worth keeping.

The point is, figure out what works for you and try to do it consistently. Your productive habits will reinforce themselves over time. If you find yourself in a situation, however, that doesn’t match your preferences, don’t let it stop you from working on your dissertation. Try to be flexible and open to experimenting. You might find some new favorites!

Motivational strategies

Schedule a regular activity with other people that involves your dissertation. Set up a coworking date with your accountability buddies so you can sit and write together. Organize a chapter swap. Make regular appointments with your advisor. Whatever you do, make sure it’s something that you’ll feel good about showing up for–and will make you feel good about showing up for others.

Try writing in sprints . Many writers have discovered that the “Pomodoro technique” (writing for 25 minutes and taking a 5 minute break) boosts their productivity by helping them set small writing goals, focus intently for short periods, and give their brains frequent rests. See how one dissertation writer describes it in this blog post on the Pomodoro technique .

Quit while you’re ahead . Sometimes it helps to stop for the day when you’re on a roll. If you’ve got a great idea that you’re developing and you know where you want to go next, write “Next, I want to introduce x, y, and z and explain how they’re related—they all have the same characteristics of 1 and 2, and that clinches my theory of Q.” Then save the file and turn off the computer, or put down the notepad. When you come back tomorrow, you will already know what to say next–and all that will be left is to say it. Hopefully, the momentum will carry you forward.

Write your dissertation in single-space . When you need a boost, double space it and be impressed with how many pages you’ve written.

Set feasible goals–and celebrate the achievements! Setting and achieving smaller, more reasonable goals ( SMART goals ) gives you success, and that success can motivate you to focus on the next small step…and the next one.

Give yourself rewards along the way . When you meet a writing goal, reward yourself with something you normally wouldn’t have or do–this can be anything that will make you feel good about your accomplishment.

Make the act of writing be its own reward . For example, if you love a particular coffee drink from your favorite shop, save it as a special drink to enjoy during your writing time.

Try giving yourself “pre-wards” —positive experiences that help you feel refreshed and recharged for the next time you write. You don’t have to “earn” these with prior work, but you do have to commit to doing the work afterward.

Commit to doing something you don’t want to do if you don’t achieve your goal. Some people find themselves motivated to work harder when there’s a negative incentive. What would you most like to avoid? Watching a movie you hate? Donating to a cause you don’t support? Whatever it is, how can you ensure enforcement? Who can help you stay accountable?

Affective strategies

Build your confidence . It is not uncommon to feel “imposter phenomenon” during the course of writing your dissertation. If you start to feel this way, it can help to take a few minutes to remember every success you’ve had along the way. You’ve earned your place, and people have confidence in you for good reasons. It’s also helpful to remember that every one of the brilliant people around you is experiencing the same lack of confidence because you’re all in a new context with new tasks and new expectations. You’re not supposed to have it all figured out. You’re supposed to have uncertainties and questions and things to learn. Remember that they wouldn’t have accepted you to the program if they weren’t confident that you’d succeed. See our self-scripting handout for strategies to turn these affirmations into a self-script that you repeat whenever you’re experiencing doubts or other negative thoughts. You can do it!

Appreciate your successes . Not meeting a goal isn’t a failure–and it certainly doesn’t make you a failure. It’s an opportunity to figure out why you didn’t meet the goal. It might simply be that the goal wasn’t achievable in the first place. See the SMART goal handout and think through what you can adjust. Even if you meant to write 1500 words, focus on the success of writing 250 or 500 words that you didn’t have before.

Remember your “why.” There are a whole host of reasons why someone might decide to pursue a PhD, both personally and professionally. Reflecting on what is motivating to you can rekindle your sense of purpose and direction.

Get outside support . Sometimes it can be really helpful to get an outside perspective on your work and anxieties as a way of grounding yourself. Participating in groups like the Dissertation Support group through CAPS and the Dissertation Boot Camp can help you see that you’re not alone in the challenges. You might also choose to form your own writing support group with colleagues inside or outside your department.

Understand and manage your procrastination . When you’re writing a long dissertation, it can be easy to procrastinate! For instance, you might put off writing because the house “isn’t clean enough” or because you’re not in the right “space” (mentally or physically) to write, so you put off writing until the house is cleaned and everything is in its right place. You may have other ways of procrastinating. It can be helpful to be self-aware of when you’re procrastinating and to consider why you are procrastinating. It may be that you’re anxious about writing the perfect draft, for example, in which case you might consider: how can I focus on writing something that just makes progress as opposed to being “perfect”? There are lots of different ways of managing procrastination; one way is to make a schedule of all the things you already have to do (when you absolutely can’t write) to help you visualize those chunks of time when you can. See this handout on procrastination for more strategies and tools for managing procrastination.

Your topic, your advisor, and your committee: Making them work for you

By the time you’ve reached this stage, you have probably already defended a dissertation proposal, chosen an advisor, and begun working with a committee. Sometimes, however, those three elements can prove to be major external sources of frustration. So how can you manage them to help yourself be as productive as possible?

Managing your topic

Remember that your topic is not carved in stone . The research and writing plan suggested in your dissertation proposal was your best vision of the project at that time, but topics evolve as the research and writing progress. You might need to tweak your research question a bit to reduce or adjust the scope, you might pare down certain parts of the project or add others. You can discuss your thoughts on these adjustments with your advisor at your check ins.

Think about variables that could be cut down and how changes would affect the length, depth, breadth, and scholarly value of your study. Could you cut one or two experiments, case studies, regions, years, theorists, or chapters and still make a valuable contribution or, even more simply, just finish?

Talk to your advisor about any changes you might make . They may be quite sympathetic to your desire to shorten an unwieldy project and may offer suggestions.

Look at other dissertations from your department to get a sense of what the chapters should look like. Reverse-outline a few chapters so you can see if there’s a pattern of typical components and how information is sequenced. These can serve as models for your own dissertation. See this video on reverse outlining to see the technique.

Managing your advisor

Embrace your evolving status . At this stage in your graduate career, you should expect to assume some independence. By the time you finish your project, you will know more about your subject than your committee does. The student/teacher relationship you have with your advisor will necessarily change as you take this big step toward becoming their colleague.

Revisit the alliance . If the interaction with your advisor isn’t matching the original agreement or the original plan isn’t working as well as it could, schedule a conversation to revisit and redesign your working relationship in a way that could work for both of you.

Be specific in your feedback requests . Tell your advisor what kind of feedback would be most helpful to you. Sometimes an advisor can be giving unhelpful or discouraging feedback without realizing it. They might make extensive sentence-level edits when you really need conceptual feedback, or vice-versa, if you only ask generally for feedback. Letting your advisor know, very specifically, what kinds of responses will be helpful to you at different stages of the writing process can help your advisor know how to help you.

Don’t hide . Advisors can be most helpful if they know what you are working on, what problems you are experiencing, and what progress you have made. If you haven’t made the progress you were hoping for, it only makes it worse if you avoid talking to them. You rob yourself of their expertise and support, and you might start a spiral of guilt, shame, and avoidance. Even if it’s difficult, it may be better to be candid about your struggles.

Talk to other students who have the same advisor . You may find that they have developed strategies for working with your advisor that could help you communicate more effectively with them.

If you have recurring problems communicating with your advisor , you can make a change. You could change advisors completely, but a less dramatic option might be to find another committee member who might be willing to serve as a “secondary advisor” and give you the kinds of feedback and support that you may need.

Managing your committee

Design the alliance . Talk with your committee members about how much they’d like to be involved in your writing process, whether they’d like to see chapter drafts or the complete draft, how frequently they’d like to meet (or not), etc. Your advisor can guide you on how committees usually work, but think carefully about how you’d like the relationship to function too.

Keep in regular contact with your committee , even if they don’t want to see your work until it has been approved by your advisor. Let them know about fellowships you receive, fruitful research excursions, the directions your thinking is taking, and the plans you have for completion. In short, keep them aware that you are working hard and making progress. Also, look for other ways to get facetime with your committee even if it’s not a one-on-one meeting. Things like speaking with them at department events, going to colloquiums or other events they organize and/or attend regularly can help you develop a relationship that could lead to other introductions and collaborations as your career progresses.

Share your struggles . Too often, we only talk to our professors when we’re making progress and hide from them the rest of the time. If you share your frustrations or setbacks with a knowledgeable committee member, they might offer some very helpful suggestions for overcoming the obstacles you face—after all, your committee members have all written major research projects before, and they have probably solved similar problems in their own work.

Stay true to yourself . Sometimes, you just don’t entirely gel with your committee, but that’s okay. It’s important not to get too hung up on how your committee does (or doesn’t) relate to you. Keep your eye on the finish line and keep moving forward.

Helpful websites:

Graduate School Diversity Initiatives : Groups and events to support the success of students identifying with an affinity group.

Graduate School Career Well : Extensive professional development resources related to writing, research, networking, job search, etc.

CAPS Therapy Groups : CAPS offers a variety of support groups, including a dissertation support group.

Advice on Research and Writing : Lots of links on writing, public speaking, dissertation management, burnout, and more.

How to be a Good Graduate Student: Marie DesJardins’ essay talks about several phases of the graduate experience, including the dissertation. She discusses some helpful hints for staying motivated and doing consistent work.

Preparing Future Faculty : This page, a joint project of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the Council of Graduate Schools, and the Pew Charitable Trusts, explains the Preparing Future Faculty Programs and includes links and suggestions that may help graduate students and their advisors think constructively about the process of graduate education as a step toward faculty responsibilities.

Dissertation Tips : Kjell Erik Rudestam, Ph.D. and Rae Newton, Ph.D., authors of Surviving Your Dissertation: A Comprehensive Guide to Content and Process.

The ABD Survival Guide Newsletter : Information about the ABD Survival Guide newsletter (which is free) and other services from E-Coach (many of which are not free).

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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5 Tips for Choosing Your EdD Dissertation Topic

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Associate teaching professor Corliss Thompson shares her top tips for choosing your EdD dissertation topic.

You’ve learned more about why you should earn your Doctor of Education (EdD), and now you’re ready to apply. As part of the Northeastern application process, however, you’re required to submit a problem of practice that you want to pursue throughout the course of your doctoral program.

But how do you arrive at that problem of practice and narrow your area of interest down into a specific dissertation topic? Here are some tips to keep in mind.

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Tips for Choosing a Dissertation Topic

1. pick a topic you’re passionate about..

A lot of work goes into your dissertation—from the literature review, where you’re conducting a critical analysis of what’s been published on your topic, to interviewing stakeholders and actually writing the dissertation itself. Each of those steps take time, so you want to choose a topic that will keep you engaged and hold your interest.

When trying to decide your area of focus, consider the challenges you’re motivated to address and the difference you want to make both during and at the end of your EdD program. The goal is that you will continuously build off your dissertation research and leverage the work in a way that positively impacts your organization and/or community.

2. Ensure your topic is manageable.

You want to select a topic you can complete during the duration of your EdD program that is also aligned with your budget. If you need to travel or perform longitudinal research, your idea might not be achievable. Find what available, attainable data you can, and use that to narrow down your research into a dissertation that’s more manageable.

3. Embrace the unknown.

Although you’re passionate about your topic and it’s manageable, there will still be lingering questions about your subject. Be prepared to explore what you don’t know and deepen what you already do know. Strong research typically results in more questions.

Be ready to ask questions of yourself, others, and the literature, and get comfortable with not knowing the answer. As you’re thinking about your dissertation, keep track of inquiries that emerge around different ideas. Those may help you hone in on a topic.

4. Leverage your peers.

One benefit of enrolling in an EdD program is the diversity of backgrounds and opinions you’ll find within your cohort. At Northeastern, EdD instruction is primarily online, which enables students to connect and collaborate with professionals from around the world.

Vasiliki Goudanas Mavroudhis, a recent graduate of Northeastern’s EdD program, emphasized this benefit in her piece on what it’s like to be in an online doctoral program , saying:

The ability to not only have a cohort-based network, but one that crossed cohorts and continents, allowed me to have a far richer and deeper experience. I learned from students with different perspectives who came from different industries across a number of countries.

When fleshing out your dissertation, use that global network to your advantage. Ask your peers for constructive feedback. It’s likely they’ll have suggestions on how you can approach your topic from different cultural perspectives.

5. Know it’s OK to change your topic.

It’s natural for your dissertation topic to evolve the more research you complete and experts you interview. Actually, it’s expected.

Switching topics halfway through the program might seem like more work, but you will have already gone through the research process once and laid the foundation for your dissertation. As you approach your topic from different perspectives, it’s understandable if your own viewpoint changes a bit.

If you’re in need of inspiration, here are some examples of doctoral research Northeastern students have recently conducted:

• “The Drop Out Decisions of Latino College Students”
• “Changing the Experiences of African Refugee Youth”
• “Supporting Students Through Mindful Mentoring”
• “The Transitioning Student Veteran: Finding Your Civilian Career Through Academic Success”
• “Bridging the Gap Between Training and Educating in Adult Learning”
• “Watch out for Shards from the Glass Ceiling: A Study of Women Higher Educational Administrators’ Leadership Development Experiences”

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The Dissertation Process Explained in 6 Simple Steps

Completing your doctoral program is no easy feat, yet the payoff makes it all worthwhile. You’ll challenge yourself with academic rigor and defend your thesis as you showcase your knowledge to a panel of experts.

One of the hardest parts of the dissertation process is simply getting started. Here are six steps to guide you to successfully earning your doctoral degree by tackling your dissertation, from start to finish.

Step 1: Brainstorm Topics

Finding a research topic that’s right for you and your doctoral studies requires some serious thought. A doctoral program can take years to complete, so it’s important you choose a topic that you’re passionate about. Whether that’s in the field of education administration or entrepreneurship, find an area of study that suits your academic interests and career goals. 

As a doctoral candidate, you’ll take on the role of an independent researcher, which means you’ll be facilitating your own studies and academic milestones. Choose a topic that gets your wheels turning and stirs up an urgent sense of curiosity. However, take note that not every idea will suit a doctoral dissertation and the manuscript formatting. Many students make the mistake of choosing a topic that is too broad. Doctoral dissertations must be researchable and demonstrative based on qualitative or quantitative data. 

Do some preliminary research to determine if someone has already conducted similar research. Being flexible with your brainstorming will allow you to refine your topic with ease. Take constructive criticism from peers and mentors seriously so that you set yourself up for success from day one. If you find yourself feeling a bit lost, don’t be afraid to turn to experts in your field for their opinion. At this initial stage of the dissertation process, you should be the most open to exploring new ideas and refining your area of research.

Step 2: Find a Faculty Mentor and Committee Assignment

Once your topic is approved by the university, you’ll be tasked with selecting a faculty mentor. Finding a faculty chairperson is one of the most important steps you will take in your dissertation process , apart from crafting and delivering your manuscript. After all, your mentor will guide your academic work over the course of your doctoral studies for the next several years. You two will develop a working relationship, so it’s crucial that you choose a mentor you can collaborate and communicate with effectively.

At most universities, your faculty chair will be dedicated to the dissertation process full time. That means they will have the skills, expertise and time to support all of your needs. However, for the other members of your dissertation committee, you’ll want to consider logistics as well. You may have a dream faculty mentor you’d appreciate working with, but they must have the time and attention to dedicate to make the investment worthwhile for you both. Be upfront about your intended timeline, weekly and monthly time commitment, and expectations around communication. When you approach a faculty member about serving as part of your dissertation committee, leave the door open for them to say “no,” so you’re sure to find the right fit and someone who can commit in the long run. 

Some universities make the selection process easy by assigning a dissertation chair and committee to you. For example, doctoral students at SNU are assigned a committee comprised of four people: a dissertation chair within the program’s department, a second departmental faculty member, a member from outside the department who has scholarly expertise in the student’s research topic, and the Dissertation Director who coordinates all communication among the committee members.

Step 3: Develop and Submit a Proposal

Think of the proposal as an opportunity for you to both suss out your ideas and create a convincing argument to present to the faculty committee. Your proposal is the first look at your thesis statement, where you:

• Introduce the topic
• Pose a set of related topics
• Outline the qualitative and quantitative data you hope to extract through careful research  

Again, be open to critical feedback. During this stage, you have the opportunity to reflect and refine the direction of your research. Faculty members will likely reciprocate your proposal with pointed questions that identify gaps in your proposal development or information-seeking process. 

You’ll go through a set of one or more revisions based on faculty feedback. You’ll then submit your proposal application for final approval. Once you have the entire committee’s approval, you’ll begin to collect data.

Step 4: Conduct Research and Data Analysis

In your proposal, you’ll outline your plan to conduct careful research, collect data and analyze that data. Throughout the research process, refer back to your outline to chart your own progress and to build a collection of measurable results to present to your faculty mentor. 

The next step is to add the data you collect to your proposal in two sections. The first section will summarize the data, and the second will offer an interpretation of that data. This step also lends itself to a series of revisions between you and the dissertation committee. Be prepared to implement those changes as you begin to draft your manuscript .

Step 5: Draft Your Manuscript

First, consult with your university’s policies and procedures regarding the doctoral manuscript academic requirements and scholarly style. Check with your department to inquire about additional departmental procedures. 

Consider Your Format 

Develop a consistent format in the early stages, so that submitting your thesis to the Advisory Committee and Examining Committee will run smoothly and you can receive swift feedback. You want to create both a professional and intuitive system for the academic committee and your general audience to be able to easily peruse your thesis. 

Pay close attention to proper sourcing of previously published content and provide a numbering system (page numbers and charts) that reflects the formatting of your thesis, not the numbering system of a previous publication. Devise chapter layout with the same level of scrutiny. Number chapters sequentially, and create a uniform system to label all charts, tables and equations. And last but not least, be sure to follow standard grammatical conventions, including spelling and punctuation. 

Cite Your Sources

As you gather research and develop your manuscript, you must cite your sources accurately and consistently. Check with your department ahead of time in case you should be formatting your resources according to specific departmental standards. In the absence of departmental standards, create a format of your own that you can adhere to with consistency. Most doctoral candidates will choose to include sources at the end of each chapter or in one single list at the end of their dissertation. 

Craft Your Content

You’ll spend the bulk of your time crafting the content of the manuscript itself . You’ll  begin by summarizing relevant sourcing and reviewing related literature. The purpose of this first section is to establish your expertise in the field, establish clear objectives for your research, identify the broader context within which the research resides, and provide more acute context for the data itself. You’ll then discuss the methods of analyzing the research before transitioning into data analysis in a chapter-by-chapter breakdown. Finally, in your conclusion, you’ll link your direct research to the larger picture and the implications of its impact in your field.

Step 6: Defend Your Thesis

The pinnacle of your research will be defending your thesis in front of a panel of experts — the dissertation committee. Sometimes this takes place in person, or, as has proved increasingly common during the past year, by video/voice conferencing. 

This is your opportunity to demonstrate all that you have learned over multiple years of careful research and analysis. The committee will pose questions to both clarify and challenge your level of knowledge in an impromptu fashion. In some cases, based on the committee’s perception, you may need to submit a secondary oral defense. Ultimately, the committee will determine a successful delivery of your dissertation and the chance to proudly assert your doctoral status after completing all degree requirements. 

No matter which path you choose to pursue en route to your doctoral, online and in-person education options can make your dream of completing your degree one step closer to reality. Take a look at SNU’s online and on-campus course offerings today.

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What is a thesis?

What is a dissertation, getting started, staying on track.

A thesis is a long-term project that you work on over the course of a semester or a year. Theses have a very wide variety of styles and content, so we encourage you to look at prior examples and work closely with faculty to develop yours. 

Before you begin, make sure that you are familiar with the dissertation genre—what it is for and what it looks like.

Generally speaking, a dissertation’s purpose is to prove that you have the expertise necessary to fulfill your doctoral-degree requirements by showing depth of knowledge and independent thinking.

The form of a dissertation may vary by discipline. Be sure to follow the specific guidelines of your department.

• PhD This site directs candidates to the GSAS website about dissertations , with links to checklists,  planning, formatting, acknowledgments, submission, and publishing options. There is also a link to guidelines for the prospectus . Consult with your committee chair about specific requirements and standards for your dissertation.
• DDES This document covers planning, patent filing, submission guidelines, publishing options, formatting guidelines, sample pages, citation guidelines, and a list of common errors to avoid. There is also a link to guidelines for the prospectus .
• Scholarly Pursuits (GSAS) This searchable booklet from Harvard GSAS is a comprehensive guide to writing dissertations, dissertation-fellowship applications, academic journal articles, and academic job documents.

Finding an original topic can be a daunting and overwhelming task. These key concepts can help you focus and save time.

Finding a topic for your thesis or dissertation should start with a research question that excites or at least interests you. A rigorous, engaging, and original project will require continuous curiosity about your topic, about your own thoughts on the topic, and about what other scholars have said on your topic. Avoid getting boxed in by thinking you know what you want to say from the beginning; let your research and your writing evolve as you explore and fine-tune your focus through constant questioning and exploration.

Get a sense of the broader picture before you narrow your focus and attempt to frame an argument. Read, skim, and otherwise familiarize yourself with what other scholars have done in areas related to your proposed topic. Briefly explore topics tangentially related to yours to broaden your perspective and increase your chance of finding a unique angle to pursue.

Critical Reading

Critical reading is the opposite of passive reading. Instead of merely reading for information to absorb, critical reading also involves careful, sustained thinking about what you are reading. This process may include analyzing the author’s motives and assumptions, asking what might be left out of the discussion, considering what you agree with or disagree with in the author’s statements and why you agree or disagree, and exploring connections or contradictions between scholarly arguments. Here is a resource to help hone your critical-reading skills:

http://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/criticalread.pdf

Conversation

Your thesis or dissertation will incorporate some ideas from other scholars whose work you researched. By reading critically and following your curiosity, you will develop your own ideas and claims, and these contributions are the core of your project. You will also acknowledge the work of scholars who came before you, and you must accurately and fairly attribute this work and define your place within the larger discussion. Make sure that you know how to quote, summarize, paraphrase ,  integrate , and cite secondary sources to avoid plagiarism and to show the depth and breadth of your knowledge.

A thesis is a long-term, large project that involves both research and writing; it is easy to lose focus, motivation, and momentum. Here are suggestions for achieving the result you want in the time you have.

The dissertation is probably the largest project you have undertaken, and a lot of the work is self-directed. The project can feel daunting or even overwhelming unless you break it down into manageable pieces and create a timeline for completing each smaller task. Be realistic but also challenge yourself, and be forgiving of yourself if you miss a self-imposed deadline here and there.

Your program will also have specific deadlines for different requirements, including establishing a committee, submitting a prospectus, completing the dissertation, defending the dissertation, and submitting your work. Consult your department’s website for these dates and incorporate them into the timeline for your work.

Accountability

Sometimes self-imposed deadlines do not feel urgent unless there is accountability to someone beyond yourself. To increase your motivation to complete tasks on schedule, set dates with your committee chair to submit pre-determined pieces of a chapter. You can also arrange with a fellow doctoral student to check on each other’s progress. Research and writing can be lonely, so it is also nice to share that journey with someone and support each other through the process.

Common Pitfalls

The most common challenges for students writing a dissertation are writer’s block, information-overload, and the compulsion to keep researching forever.

There are many strategies for avoiding writer’s block, such as freewriting, outlining, taking a walk, starting in the middle, and creating an ideal work environment for your particular learning style. Pay attention to what helps you and try different things until you find what works.

Efficient researching techniques are essential to avoiding information-overload. Here are a couple of resources about strategies for finding sources and quickly obtaining essential information from them.

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_in_literature_detailed_discussion/reading_criticism.html

https://students.dartmouth.edu/academic-skills/learning-resources/learning-strategies/reading-techniques

Finally, remember that there is always more to learn and your dissertation cannot incorporate everything. Follow your curiosity but also set limits on the scope of your work. It helps to create a folder entitled “future projects” for topics and sources that interest you but that do not fit neatly into the dissertation. Also remember that future scholars will build off of your work, so leave something for them to do.

Browsing through theses and dissertations of the past can help to get a sense of your options and gain inspiration but be careful to use current guidelines and refer to your committee instead of relying on these examples for form or formatting.

DASH Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard.

HOLLIS Harvard Library’s catalog provides access to ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global .

MIT Architecture has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

Rhode Island School of Design has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

University of South Florida has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

Harvard GSD has a list of projects, including theses and professors’ research.

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How to Write a Dissertation or Thesis Proposal

Published on September 21, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on July 18, 2023.

When starting your thesis or dissertation process, one of the first requirements is a research proposal or a prospectus. It describes what or who you want to examine, delving into why, when, where, and how you will do so, stemming from your research question and a relevant topic .

The proposal or prospectus stage is crucial for the development of your research. It helps you choose a type of research to pursue, as well as whether to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

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What should your proposal contain, dissertation question examples, what should your proposal look like, dissertation prospectus examples, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about proposals.

Prior to jumping into the research for your thesis or dissertation, you first need to develop your research proposal and have it approved by your supervisor. It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives .

Depending on your department’s requirements, there may be a defense component involved, where you present your research plan in prospectus format to your committee for their approval.

Your proposal should answer the following questions:

• Why is your research necessary?
• What is already known about your topic?
• Where and when will your research be conducted?
• Who should be studied?
• How can the research best be done?

Ultimately, your proposal should persuade your supervisor or committee that your proposed project is worth pursuing.

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Strong research kicks off with a solid research question , and dissertations are no exception to this.

Dissertation research questions should be:

• Focused on a single problem or issue
• Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
• Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
• Specific enough to answer thoroughly
• Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
• Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly
• What are the main factors enticing people under 30 in suburban areas to engage in the gig economy?
• Which techniques prove most effective for 1st-grade teachers at local elementary schools in engaging students with special needs?
• Which communication streams are the most effective for getting those aged 18-30 to the polls on Election Day?

An easy rule of thumb is that your proposal will usually resemble a (much) shorter version of your thesis or dissertation. While of course it won’t include the results section , discussion section , or conclusion , it serves as a “mini” version or roadmap for what you eventually seek to write.

Be sure to include:

• A succinct introduction to your topic and problem statement
• A brief literature review situating your topic within existing research
• A basic outline of the research methods you think will best answer your research question
• The perceived implications for future research
• A reference list in the citation style of your choice

The length of your proposal varies quite a bit depending on your discipline and type of work you’re conducting. While a thesis proposal is often only 3-7 pages long, a prospectus for your dissertation is usually much longer, with more detailed analysis. Dissertation proposals can be up to 25-30 pages in length.

Writing a proposal or prospectus can be a challenge, but we’ve compiled some examples for you to get your started.

• Example #1: “Geographic Representations of the Planet Mars, 1867-1907” by Maria Lane
• Example #2: “Individuals and the State in Late Bronze Age Greece: Messenian Perspectives on Mycenaean Society” by Dimitri Nakassis
• Example #3: “Manhood Up in the Air: A Study of Male Flight Attendants, Queerness, and Corporate Capitalism during the Cold War Era” by Phil Tiemeyer

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The research methods you use depend on the type of data you need to answer your research question .

• If you want to measure something or test a hypothesis , use quantitative methods . If you want to explore ideas, thoughts and meanings, use qualitative methods .
• If you want to analyze a large amount of readily-available data, use secondary data. If you want data specific to your purposes with control over how it is generated, collect primary data.
• If you want to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables , use experimental methods. If you want to understand the characteristics of a research subject, use descriptive methods.

A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake.

Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation , such as:

• Your anticipated title
• Your abstract
• Your chapters (sometimes subdivided into further topics like literature review , research methods , avenues for future research, etc.)

A well-planned research design helps ensure that your methods match your research aims, that you collect high-quality data, and that you use the right kind of analysis to answer your questions, utilizing credible sources . This allows you to draw valid , trustworthy conclusions.

The priorities of a research design can vary depending on the field, but you usually have to specify:

• Your research questions and/or hypotheses
• Your overall approach (e.g., qualitative or quantitative )
• The type of design you’re using (e.g., a survey , experiment , or case study )
• Your sampling methods or criteria for selecting subjects
• Your data collection methods (e.g., questionnaires , observations)
• Your data collection procedures (e.g., operationalization , timing and data management)
• Your data analysis methods (e.g., statistical tests  or thematic analysis )

A dissertation prospectus or proposal describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a type of research to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives , ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee.

Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.

Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

• Researchability
• Feasibility and specificity
• Relevance and originality

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Dissertation – Format, Example and Template

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Dissertation

Definition:

Dissertation is a lengthy and detailed academic document that presents the results of original research on a specific topic or question. It is usually required as a final project for a doctoral degree or a master’s degree.

Dissertation Meaning in Research

In Research , a dissertation refers to a substantial research project that students undertake in order to obtain an advanced degree such as a Ph.D. or a Master’s degree.

Dissertation typically involves the exploration of a particular research question or topic in-depth, and it requires students to conduct original research, analyze data, and present their findings in a scholarly manner. It is often the culmination of years of study and represents a significant contribution to the academic field.

Types of Dissertation

Types of Dissertation are as follows:

Empirical Dissertation

An empirical dissertation is a research study that uses primary data collected through surveys, experiments, or observations. It typically follows a quantitative research approach and uses statistical methods to analyze the data.

Non-Empirical Dissertation

A non-empirical dissertation is based on secondary sources, such as books, articles, and online resources. It typically follows a qualitative research approach and uses methods such as content analysis or discourse analysis.

Narrative Dissertation

A narrative dissertation is a personal account of the researcher’s experience or journey. It typically follows a qualitative research approach and uses methods such as interviews, focus groups, or ethnography.

Systematic Literature Review

A systematic literature review is a comprehensive analysis of existing research on a specific topic. It typically follows a qualitative research approach and uses methods such as meta-analysis or thematic analysis.

Case Study Dissertation

A case study dissertation is an in-depth analysis of a specific individual, group, or organization. It typically follows a qualitative research approach and uses methods such as interviews, observations, or document analysis.

Mixed-Methods Dissertation

A mixed-methods dissertation combines both quantitative and qualitative research approaches to gather and analyze data. It typically uses methods such as surveys, interviews, and focus groups, as well as statistical analysis.

How to Write a Dissertation

Here are some general steps to help guide you through the process of writing a dissertation:

• Choose a topic : Select a topic that you are passionate about and that is relevant to your field of study. It should be specific enough to allow for in-depth research but broad enough to be interesting and engaging.
• Conduct research : Conduct thorough research on your chosen topic, utilizing a variety of sources, including books, academic journals, and online databases. Take detailed notes and organize your information in a way that makes sense to you.
• Create an outline : Develop an outline that will serve as a roadmap for your dissertation. The outline should include the introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion.
• Write the introduction: The introduction should provide a brief overview of your topic, the research questions, and the significance of the study. It should also include a clear thesis statement that states your main argument.
• Write the literature review: The literature review should provide a comprehensive analysis of existing research on your topic. It should identify gaps in the research and explain how your study will fill those gaps.
• Write the methodology: The methodology section should explain the research methods you used to collect and analyze data. It should also include a discussion of any limitations or weaknesses in your approach.
• Write the results: The results section should present the findings of your research in a clear and organized manner. Use charts, graphs, and tables to help illustrate your data.
• Write the discussion: The discussion section should interpret your results and explain their significance. It should also address any limitations of the study and suggest areas for future research.
• Write the conclusion: The conclusion should summarize your main findings and restate your thesis statement. It should also provide recommendations for future research.
• Edit and revise: Once you have completed a draft of your dissertation, review it carefully to ensure that it is well-organized, clear, and free of errors. Make any necessary revisions and edits before submitting it to your advisor for review.

Dissertation Format

The format of a dissertation may vary depending on the institution and field of study, but generally, it follows a similar structure:

• Title Page: This includes the title of the dissertation, the author’s name, and the date of submission.
• Abstract : A brief summary of the dissertation’s purpose, methods, and findings.
• Table of Contents: A list of the main sections and subsections of the dissertation, along with their page numbers.
• Introduction : A statement of the problem or research question, a brief overview of the literature, and an explanation of the significance of the study.
• Literature Review : A comprehensive review of the literature relevant to the research question or problem.
• Methodology : A description of the methods used to conduct the research, including data collection and analysis procedures.
• Results : A presentation of the findings of the research, including tables, charts, and graphs.
• Discussion : A discussion of the implications of the findings, their significance in the context of the literature, and limitations of the study.
• Conclusion : A summary of the main points of the study and their implications for future research.
• References : A list of all sources cited in the dissertation.
• Appendices : Additional materials that support the research, such as data tables, charts, or transcripts.

Dissertation Outline

Dissertation Outline is as follows:

Title Page:

• Title of dissertation
• Author name
• Institutional affiliation
• Date of submission
• Brief summary of the dissertation’s research problem, objectives, methods, findings, and implications
• Usually around 250-300 words

Table of Contents:

• List of chapters and sections in the dissertation, with page numbers for each

I. Introduction

• Background and context of the research
• Research problem and objectives
• Significance of the research

II. Literature Review

• Overview of existing literature on the research topic
• Identification of gaps in the literature
• Theoretical framework and concepts

III. Methodology

• Research design and methods used
• Data collection and analysis techniques
• Ethical considerations

IV. Results

• Presentation and analysis of data collected
• Findings and outcomes of the research
• Interpretation of the results

V. Discussion

• Discussion of the results in relation to the research problem and objectives
• Evaluation of the research outcomes and implications
• Suggestions for future research

VI. Conclusion

• Summary of the research findings and outcomes
• Implications for the research topic and field
• Limitations and recommendations for future research

VII. References

• List of sources cited in the dissertation

VIII. Appendices

• Additional materials that support the research, such as tables, figures, or questionnaires.

Example of Dissertation

Here is an example Dissertation for students:

Title : Exploring the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Academic Achievement and Well-being among College Students

This dissertation aims to investigate the impact of mindfulness meditation on the academic achievement and well-being of college students. Mindfulness meditation has gained popularity as a technique for reducing stress and enhancing mental health, but its effects on academic performance have not been extensively studied. Using a randomized controlled trial design, the study will compare the academic performance and well-being of college students who practice mindfulness meditation with those who do not. The study will also examine the moderating role of personality traits and demographic factors on the effects of mindfulness meditation.

Chapter Outline:

Chapter 1: Introduction

• Background and rationale for the study
• Research questions and objectives
• Significance of the study
• Overview of the dissertation structure

Chapter 2: Literature Review

• Definition and conceptualization of mindfulness meditation
• Theoretical framework of mindfulness meditation
• Empirical research on mindfulness meditation and academic achievement
• Empirical research on mindfulness meditation and well-being
• The role of personality and demographic factors in the effects of mindfulness meditation

Chapter 3: Methodology

• Research design and hypothesis
• Participants and sampling method
• Intervention and procedure
• Measures and instruments
• Data analysis method

Chapter 4: Results

• Descriptive statistics and data screening
• Analysis of main effects
• Analysis of moderating effects
• Post-hoc analyses and sensitivity tests

Chapter 5: Discussion

• Summary of findings
• Implications for theory and practice
• Limitations and directions for future research
• Conclusion and contribution to the literature

Chapter 6: Conclusion

• Recap of the research questions and objectives
• Summary of the key findings
• Contribution to the literature and practice
• Implications for policy and practice
• Final thoughts and recommendations.

References :

List of all the sources cited in the dissertation

Appendices :

Additional materials such as the survey questionnaire, interview guide, and consent forms.

Note : This is just an example and the structure of a dissertation may vary depending on the specific requirements and guidelines provided by the institution or the supervisor.

How Long is a Dissertation

The length of a dissertation can vary depending on the field of study, the level of degree being pursued, and the specific requirements of the institution. Generally, a dissertation for a doctoral degree can range from 80,000 to 100,000 words, while a dissertation for a master’s degree may be shorter, typically ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 words. However, it is important to note that these are general guidelines and the actual length of a dissertation can vary widely depending on the specific requirements of the program and the research topic being studied. It is always best to consult with your academic advisor or the guidelines provided by your institution for more specific information on dissertation length.

Applications of Dissertation

Here are some applications of a dissertation:

• Advancing the Field: Dissertations often include new research or a new perspective on existing research, which can help to advance the field. The results of a dissertation can be used by other researchers to build upon or challenge existing knowledge, leading to further advancements in the field.
• Career Advancement: Completing a dissertation demonstrates a high level of expertise in a particular field, which can lead to career advancement opportunities. For example, having a PhD can open doors to higher-paying jobs in academia, research institutions, or the private sector.
• Publishing Opportunities: Dissertations can be published as books or journal articles, which can help to increase the visibility and credibility of the author’s research.
• Personal Growth: The process of writing a dissertation involves a significant amount of research, analysis, and critical thinking. This can help students to develop important skills, such as time management, problem-solving, and communication, which can be valuable in both their personal and professional lives.
• Policy Implications: The findings of a dissertation can have policy implications, particularly in fields such as public health, education, and social sciences. Policymakers can use the research to inform decision-making and improve outcomes for the population.

When to Write a Dissertation

Here are some situations where writing a dissertation may be necessary:

• Pursuing a Doctoral Degree: Writing a dissertation is usually a requirement for earning a doctoral degree, so if you are interested in pursuing a doctorate, you will likely need to write a dissertation.
• Conducting Original Research : Dissertations require students to conduct original research on a specific topic. If you are interested in conducting original research on a topic, writing a dissertation may be the best way to do so.
• Advancing Your Career: Some professions, such as academia and research, may require individuals to have a doctoral degree. Writing a dissertation can help you advance your career by demonstrating your expertise in a particular area.
• Contributing to Knowledge: Dissertations are often based on original research that can contribute to the knowledge base of a field. If you are passionate about advancing knowledge in a particular area, writing a dissertation can help you achieve that goal.
• Meeting Academic Requirements : If you are a graduate student, writing a dissertation may be a requirement for completing your program. Be sure to check with your academic advisor to determine if this is the case for you.

Purpose of Dissertation

some common purposes of a dissertation include:

• To contribute to the knowledge in a particular field : A dissertation is often the culmination of years of research and study, and it should make a significant contribution to the existing body of knowledge in a particular field.
• To demonstrate mastery of a subject: A dissertation requires extensive research, analysis, and writing, and completing one demonstrates a student’s mastery of their subject area.
• To develop critical thinking and research skills : A dissertation requires students to think critically about their research question, analyze data, and draw conclusions based on evidence. These skills are valuable not only in academia but also in many professional fields.
• To demonstrate academic integrity: A dissertation must be conducted and written in accordance with rigorous academic standards, including ethical considerations such as obtaining informed consent, protecting the privacy of participants, and avoiding plagiarism.
• To prepare for an academic career: Completing a dissertation is often a requirement for obtaining a PhD and pursuing a career in academia. It can demonstrate to potential employers that the student has the necessary skills and experience to conduct original research and make meaningful contributions to their field.
• To develop writing and communication skills: A dissertation requires a significant amount of writing and communication skills to convey complex ideas and research findings in a clear and concise manner. This skill set can be valuable in various professional fields.
• To demonstrate independence and initiative: A dissertation requires students to work independently and take initiative in developing their research question, designing their study, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing conclusions. This demonstrates to potential employers or academic institutions that the student is capable of independent research and taking initiative in their work.
• To contribute to policy or practice: Some dissertations may have a practical application, such as informing policy decisions or improving practices in a particular field. These dissertations can have a significant impact on society, and their findings may be used to improve the lives of individuals or communities.
• To pursue personal interests: Some students may choose to pursue a dissertation topic that aligns with their personal interests or passions, providing them with the opportunity to delve deeper into a topic that they find personally meaningful.

Advantage of Dissertation

Some advantages of writing a dissertation include:

• Developing research and analytical skills: The process of writing a dissertation involves conducting extensive research, analyzing data, and presenting findings in a clear and coherent manner. This process can help students develop important research and analytical skills that can be useful in their future careers.
• Demonstrating expertise in a subject: Writing a dissertation allows students to demonstrate their expertise in a particular subject area. It can help establish their credibility as a knowledgeable and competent professional in their field.
• Contributing to the academic community: A well-written dissertation can contribute new knowledge to the academic community and potentially inform future research in the field.
• Improving writing and communication skills : Writing a dissertation requires students to write and present their research in a clear and concise manner. This can help improve their writing and communication skills, which are essential for success in many professions.
• Increasing job opportunities: Completing a dissertation can increase job opportunities in certain fields, particularly in academia and research-based positions.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Dissertation Topics

• Updated on  
• Apr 24, 2023

The final step in a PhD or Master’s course is the submission of a dissertation . A dissertation is a research paper that summarises the research conducted and includes findings either on a question or a topic chosen by the student. It is important as it demonstrates a student’s knowledge of the subject and ability to use research methods to define a topic. Students are required to select a dissertation topic of their choice. Choosing a topic can be confusing so this blog helps you understand how to narrow down a dissertation topic and provides a list of dissertation topics in various disciplines.

This Blog Includes:

Empirical dissertation, non-empirical dissertation, different types of research methods for dissertation, how to choose a dissertation topic, list of dissertation topics subject-wise, economics dissertation topics, mba dissertation topics, medical dissertation topics, arts and humanities dissertation topics, law dissertation topics, science dissertation topics, social science dissertation topics, psychology dissertation topics, dissertation topics in education, what makes a good dissertation topic, types of dissertation.

There are mainly two types of dissertations- empirical and non-empirical. The choice of the dissertation depends mainly on your field of study.

An empirical dissertation involves collecting data and researching through methods where conclusions of the study are strictly drawn from concretely empirical evidence, and therefore “verifiable” evidence. It focuses on collecting and analyzing original data. Students can conduct research using qualitative and quantitative research methods like case studies, surveys, observation, laboratory experiments, and interviews.  Empirical research tests hypotheses in order to arrive at valid research outcomes and assumptions are tested.

A non-empirical dissertation involves the use of theoretical data and working with existing research or other texts, presenting original analysis, and argumentation, but there is no original data. It focuses more on theories, methods, and their implications for educational research. Non-empirical research theorizes the logical assumptions of research variables and assumptions are entirely theorized.

Also Read: Dissertation Topic in Finance

Two types of primary research for the dissertation include qualitative and quantitative research methods:

• Quantitative Research Methods gather information through numerical data. It is used to quantify opinions, behaviors, or other defined variables. It can be used to study a large group of people. The information is gathered by performing statistical, mathematical, or computational techniques. Examples of quantitative research methods include surveys, experimental research, correlational research, longitudinal study, cross-sectional, causal-Comparative research, descriptive research, etc
• Qualitative research methods gather non-numerical data. It is used to find meanings, opinions, or underlying reasons from its subjects.  It is associated with studying human behavior from an informative perspective. It aims at obtaining in-depth details of the problem. Examples of qualitative research methods include case studies, Observational methods, one-on-one interviews, focus groups, text analysis, etc
• Mixed method research is where quantitative and qualitative methods of research are combined

Also Read: Dissertation vs Thesis

When it comes to choosing a topic for your dissertation, many students find themselves confused. Here are some tips that will help you narrow down a topic for your dissertation:

• First, check the requirements of your course
• Since your dissertation and research will take time, probably months, you should select a topic that interests you. 
• Start by brainstorming and researching your field of study
• Get inspired by previous students’ work and research
• Make a list of broad topics you find interesting. Shortlist the one on which you can do research.
• Narrow down your topic by picking a niche
• Try to pick something original and a small and specific topic. Remember not to be too vague or too narrow
• Consider the type of research to want to perform and whether the topic has academic and social relevance
• Ask your lecturers or supervisor for advice and get your topic approved

Here are all the subject-wise dissertation topics to explore:

• Comparing the Economies of Developed  vs Developing Countries
• How Social Networks Contribute to the Growth of the Global Economy
• Covid-19 Implications on the Economy
• Consumer Behavior and Eco-Friendly Production
• Gender Wage Gap: Legislative and Ethical Issues Dealing with Salaries in Developing Countries
• How China’s Production Influences the Global Economy
• Micro-financing Institutions and the Level of Poverty in Developing Countries
• How Oil Consumption Influences Global Economy
• The impact of local and regional cultures on shaping entrepreneurial economic development.
• How do habits and routines affect productivity? The case of (an industry).
• Research to identify the impacts of Coronavirus on banking and the future of banking after the pandemic
• How Globalization leads to Mergers and International Economic Cooperation
•  Role of the World Bank in the International Economy
• Technological innovations and their influence on green and environmental products.
• Fiscal policy and the global economy: The scope for, and benefits from, international Coordination Fiscal and labor market policies in response to Covid-19 in different countries
• Is Online Marketing Effective for Technological Startups?
• How Globalization Impacts Small Business
• The Specifics of Instagram Marketing and Advertisement Placement
• Consumer behavior during a recession.
• Brands Influencing Consumers Buying Behaviors – A Case Study On (Brand/Company)
• The Influence Of Advertising On Consumer Behavior
• Evaluation of best HR practices for improving employee commitment
• Strategies to continually maintain customers’ satisfaction and trust levels in an electronic shopping
• Surviving political turmoil
• Digital marketing during the COVID-19 crisis.
• Recent research and responses of various countries for the treatment of COVID-19.
• Is it good to take antibiotics during the infection of microbes in the human body?
• Exploring the ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare professionals during COVID-19: Establishing policies for best practice.
• Management of Drug Dependency Programs
• Detailed assessment of the long-term usage of steroids on the overall health conditions of individuals.
• Communication and Public Health during the Pandemic
• Implementation of Modern Recovery Programs in Hospital Care System
• Challenges in recognizing rare infectious diseases
• Epidemics versus pandemics
• Sequelae and effective diabetes management
• How Capitalism Contributed to the Development of Conceptual Art
• Shift in Gender Roles in Marvel Comic Books in the Last 20 Years
• Social Networks’ Impact on Slang Language
• How has Globalization Influenced Cultural Relativism?
• New Ethics in a Digital Age
• Economical, Social and Political Causes and Results of the Great Depression
• Effects of the Industrial Revolution concerning World War I.
• Body Image and Social Construction of Normality
• Warfare and Violence in Ancient Times
• The history of design in various periods of human existence
• How Gender Roles and Stereotypes Influence the Divorce Process
• The Rise of Cyber Crimes and Punishments
• Race Discrimination in Modern Law System
• A deeper look at the history of the death penalty.
• Did the US involvement in Iraq provide justice or violate the law?
• Analyzing the impact of trade unions and their work
• Assessing the mediating role of corporate social responsibility in companies’ performance.
• Evaluating the implications of Brexit on the protection of intellectual property rights in the UK.
• Section 377 and the Dignity of Indian Homosexuals
• Legal Issue of Child Labor in the Third World Countries
• Modern Technology that Contributes to Biology Science
• Effects of Pesticide Use on the Quality of Water
• The Concept of Uncertainty in Quantum Physics Based on Particle-Wave Duality
• String Theory and Black Holes
• Discovery of New Species: Can We Expect More?
• How to Fight Mercury Contamination in the Environment
• Could Ebola be Used As a Biological Weapon?
• Solid-state physics and its modern implication in different fields.
• The Future of Synthetic Chemistry
• Nearby Galaxies and Young Stellar Clusters
• Political Reasons Behind Gender Inequality
• Tectonic Theory and Forecasting of Earthquakes
• The role of mass media in the electoral process of a state or a country and how its influence dictates the results of an election.
• The process of the formation of coral reefs and their use.
• Effect of Deglaciation on the polar volcanoes
• Contraction of One’s Identity in Urban Landscape
• Youth Activism and Social Work
• Emission profile of a fast-food restaurant
• Post 9/11 Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and their impact on world politics
• The gap between ideology and competency of foreign political powers
• Correlation Between Raise of Social Networks and Anxiety Disorders Among Teenagers
• Correlation Between Patient’s Immune System and Mental Health
• Treating Strategies for Patients with PTSD
• Preparing Patients With Anxiety to Return to the Workplace
• Media violence and children
• Relapse in the addictive behaviors
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) From A Neurosciences And Behavioural Approach
• How does separation between parents cause distress among children
• The mental health of homeless people
• Why is there an increase in eating disorders among the youth?
• Social Anxiety and social depression effects on an introverted child
•  Workplace Bullying and its Psychological Impact on Employees’ Performance
• Impact of Covid-19 on mental health
• childhood trauma and outline its effects
• A study of long-term psychological effects of divorce on the adult children of divorcees
• Impact of the Internet on the social life of Students.
• Educational assessment of students using virtual reality technologies
• Interaction between students of different ethnicities based on a differentiated approach
• Harassment Prevention of younger students in School
• Illegal behavior of students in high-school 
• Importance of self-studying for students
• Development of Time management for students
• Personal development of teachers in educational institutions
• The role of Sustainability in educational institutions
• The rising cost of academic education

Something that will allow you to produce “a polished piece of work within a limited amount of time and with a limited amount of cost.” A good dissertation topic seeks to challenge and subdue the existing assumptions and theories. It introduces a new and unique perspective on the status quo. Here are some defining factors of a good dissertation topic:

• Choose a topic you love to research and unravel
• A topic that challenges the pre-existing theories in your discipline
• Seeks practical, philosophical, and social solutions and answers

Hopefully, this blog assisted you in finding out popular dissertation topics. If you require any assistance regarding your application process while enrolling for your further studies, our experts at Leverage Edu are just one click away. Call us anytime at 1800 572 000 for a free counseling session!

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Graduate College

On the dissertation: how to find a research topic.

A new book sheds light on a vital academic skill: the art and craft of figuring out what you want to investigate.

When it comes to choosing a dissertation topic, students in the lab sciences have it the easiest. Because their funding comes from their adviser’s lab, their dissertations will typically be carved out of the professor’s research agenda. That practice has its problems. The most obvious: These graduate students have only limited input into their own thesis topic. They don’t get to learn and practice an important skill that all researchers need once they’re on their own — the knack of figuring out what to study.

Clearing an easy path to a thesis topic defers an important part of doctoral education in the sciences. But what about everyone else? All graduate students need to learn how to identify and develop a topic and formulate a research agenda. And it’s not an easy skill to teach — especially if the instructor doesn’t know much about how to do it, either.

I’ve long wanted to spotlight this subject in The Chronicle’s occasional series on the dissertation (earlier essays focused on  drafting the introduction  and the  value of writing groups ). But I hesitated because I wasn’t sure of what to say. Back when I was a graduate student, I got lucky: My topic snuck up on me. It emerged from a course I devised at the time. (The course was called “The Literature of the Bizarre, the Grotesque, and the Macabre,” and it led to a dissertation on the grotesque in antebellum American literature.)

The best I can say for myself is that when I did stumble upon a thesis topic, I had the good sense to notice. However, my experience isn’t exactly teachable. I’ve advised many student dissertations over the years, and I confess that topic design has never been one of my strengths.

For better and worse, I’ve been cautious about offering advice on this front. The sciences are not the only fields in which students end up with a topic that mirrors their adviser’s work. I’ve seen that happen more than a few times in the humanistic precincts I inhabit, with decidedly mixed results.

And I don’t want to dictate thesis topics to my students. After all, they have to live for two or three years with their topic. I don’t. On the other hand, if I hold myself at too great a distance from their thought process, I’m not helping them — or doing my job.

So how can students — and professors like me — learn the art and craft of topic design?

Fortunately, an  excellent new book  from the University of Chicago Press has come to the rescue. Thomas S. Mullaney and Christopher Rea’s Where Research Begins, is a revelation. Unlike previous books in the field (such as the valuable and many-times revised The Craft of Research, published in 1995), Mullaney and Rea focus on how to release and develop your own analytical creativity, and then how to shape it into what they call “a research project that matters to you (and the world).”

Where Research Begins is fundamentally a workbook, and it’s filled with exercises. The book has two parts. The first section describes what Mullaney and Rea call “self centered” research, which they define as discovering what matters to you and framing it as a problem that can be investigated.

Too often, the book says, academics try to “please some imaginary, external judge.” Or maybe that judge is not imaginary at all. I’ve seen plenty of graduate students — including some under my own direction — try to please the teacher before pleasing themselves. Perhaps the book’s single greatest virtue lies in its emphasis on the importance of uncovering what matters to you and separating that from everything else, including what you think your dissertation adviser wants.

Via a series of exercises, the book gradually moves the reader from topic to questions, and then to a research problem. Repeatedly in framing a topic, Mullaney and Rea encourage the researcher to look for “the effect on you.” Their emphasis on a step-by-step process to transform a personal interest into a viable research topic is the second cardinal virtue of the book.

Where Research Begins shows how a topic will enter both a field of study and a “problem collective” made up of researchers who may belong to different fields, but who are working on similar questions. For example, someone trying to learn why bourbon has become so popular in the United States might identify her field as American food studies. But she might share her problem with a researcher tracing the emergence of religious denominations in Europe, or someone studying fads in Japan.

The shift from self-centeredness to intellectual community makes up the second part of the book. Mullaney and Rea call this second stage “Getting Over Yourself.”

In moving from exercise to exercise, the book advises the reader to “write as you go.” If you do, the end result will be what the authors cleverly call “draft zero,” a step away from a first draft.

Such formulations led one of my former students to remark that Mullaney and Rea “have the best metaphors.” Where Research Begins is indeed filled with witty analogies that make reading the book a pleasure. Instead of merely encouraging the reader to ask rigorous questions, they write: “Think of a question as if it were a car,” and “stress test” the steering and brakes.

To get from sources to arguments, Mullaney and Rea ask the researcher to “connect the dots.” In real life, as opposed to dot-to-dot coloring books, you have to find the dots to connect. What happens when there are only a few of them? When you don’t know what picture they form? “Figure out which dots belong to your picture,” they advise. This extended metaphor delivers a powerful and memorable lesson on how to identify and plumb an archive.

Playful metaphors do more than make the reader smile. Metaphors, as the linguist George Lakoff reminds us, shape thought.

The authors recommend a method that I would describe (to offer my own metaphor) as quarrying. They direct the researcher to quarry, examine, and reflect — and then repeat the procedure. Discover things, study them, figure out what they say to you (including about your personal interests), and then use that knowledge to discover more things. The book’s exercises employ this recursive method again and again.

Where Research Begins is a gratifyingly student-centered book but it will help experienced researchers as well as beginners, teachers as well as students. For faculty members who advise graduate students, it particularly helps expose the assumptions baked into our own methods of thinking. I’ll be a better teacher for that, and my students will arrive at better research topics.

That’s a valuable takeaway for all concerned, but good dissertation topics especially matter for students from underrepresented groups. Many of them want to do research that reflects their personal commitments — and they’re more likely to leave graduate school if they are discouraged from pursuing those interests. That subject deserves particular attention, and I’ll have more to say about it in my next column.

Original article: https://www.chronicle.com/article/on-the-dissertation-how-to-find-a-research-topic

How to Choose the Best Topic for Research: Top 100 Dissertation Topics

Are you searching for inspiration while writing your research paper? In this case, try looking up interesting research topics online. This article contains an abundance of dissertation topics, for every imaginable subject, like fashion or business leadership dissertation topics. You are going to find interesting examples! Don't forget that you can also get research paper help from our professional writing team.

Top 100 Dissertation Ideas 2023

Scholars often believe that today there is a lack of new dissertation topics. Indeed, people conduct research non-stop, and it seems like there is nothing new to discuss. So how to become a professional writer and avoid breaking intellectual property rights then?

Luckily for all enthusiastic scientists out there, there are topics for dissertation that cater to any taste. Our essay writers service presents various research topics suitable for multiple degrees. Do you study the job market, quantum physics, or human behavioral patterns? These and even more dissertation ideas are waiting for you.

How to Opt for a Dissertation Topic?

Sometimes, the immense choice of examples of dissertation topics makes you question your decision about your academic paper. Writers get recommendations from multiple sources. Before you write a dissertation, turn to more experienced people, like counselors or professors. They are likely to suggest great topics for dissertation. We also recommend that you read about how to write a dissertation .

For research and reference purposes, go online to discover new engaging themes. Your colleagues in the field of science communicate via special forums or websites, so join them! Some generous people even publish dissertation ideas and samples for free. Hence, you can develop your unique topic by looking at other people’s works.

Which Topic Suits Best for Dissertation?

Whether you search healthy lifestyle, economic crisis, or leadership dissertation topics, the strategy is the same for all of them. These topics for dissertation should meet the following requirements:

• Bring novelty to the science field
• Cover newsworthy issues
• Have enough background data for an academic paper

Undeniably, it is better if the theme heavily appeals to you personally. Then, a sparkle of interest lights up whenever you write your work! On the contrary, less engaging dissertation topics make the whole writing process inefficient. Therefore, opt for themes that draw your attention the most.

  Struggle to meet your essay deadline?

Enter the requirements for your work and get your task done asap.

Where to Find a Unique Dissertation Topic?

Throughout life, people constantly have to present something new to the world. Middle school and high-school students show their skills via essays, college students write a thesis, and Ph.D. candidates compose dissertations. Fortunately, emergency methods, like dissertation writing service , are available for quick and quality results. Still, you might suggest your topics for dissertation.

What is the key to creating a one-of-a-kind topic? First, you have to know well enough what other scholars have already studied. Then, perform further research even if your counterparts have covered all nuances. For instance, higher education dissertation topics can cover themes of college-age population or school bullying. Meanwhile, leadership dissertation topics may connect to ethical issues dealing within companies.

Dissertation Title: How to Make It Sound Perfect

In real life, titles are essential in drawing public attention to anything. Would you rather watch a movie with a boring name or pick a film with a short, witty title? The same goes for books, essays, and other scholarly work. The word becomes an anchor, something that pushes a random person to read your written piece. Here is how you properly compose it.

Let’s say that you ponder over higher education dissertation topics. For instance, do you want to study anxiety disorders among students or how online schools are affecting libraries? Raising awareness is crucial in both cases, but you must specify the issue first. For instance, attempt to study an unexpected correlation that current research fails to cover. Use the “how,” “what,” and “why” words to form several topic ideas.

Once you have specified your exact subject of study, your goal is to fit the title in under fifty words. This task seems unproblematic, but it requires talent. Just two sentences must sum up the contents of the humongous dissertation. So, make the title clear and concise!

What are Some Relevant Ideas to Research in 2023?

How long is a dissertation? It ranges from ten thousand to a hundred thousand words, but length is only the first requirement. Without a doubt, all topics for dissertation have one crucial characteristic: relevancy. To develop top-tier academic work, you need to know the global trends and latest tendencies in your specific science field. It would be detrimental to your success to pick dissertation ideas that scholars have recycled multiple times. So instead, look at what people find exciting in 2022:

• Artificial intelligence

Although the theme of AI has been around for a while, it remains fresh and full of potential. One possible research subject is the Metaverse, a virtual reality universe. This concept is quite new, so there are many branches to study. Besides, cybersecurity, especially in the banking sector, would stand out among the interesting examples of dissertation topics.

• Neuroscience and neurobiology

As much as scientists study human brains, there are still too many white spots in their knowledge of the human body. Choosing a topic related to cognitive development, brain implants, etc., could lead to a breakthrough in this sphere.

• Agriculture

With the negative trends in the global food industry, the theme of agriculture is at its peak importance. Food is something that everybody relates to, regardless of ethnicity, age, job, or social status. Therefore, a dissertation could critically analyze the current state of things and solutions for the food industry in crisis.

List of Dissertation Topics 2023

Today, you can do anything with the Internet, like pay someone to write an essay or find information on the necessary subject. Likewise, you may find business dissertation topics examples or dissertation topics in education, world politics, or other themes. This article suggests multiple ideas for your academic work to make things easier.

Top Dissertation Topics in Accounting

Here is a list of engaging dissertation topics in accounting:

• The impact of IFRS adoption on financial reporting quality
• The role of forensic accounting in fraud detection and prevention
• Corporate governance and its effect on firm performance
• The influence of tax policies on small business growth
• Earnings management and its implications on stock market performance
• The effectiveness of audit committees in enhancing financial reporting
• The relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance
• The role of technology in modern accounting practices
• Behavioral accounting: How cognitive biases affect financial decision-making
• The impact of environmental accounting on corporate sustainability

Best Public Health Dissertation Topics

In case you are looking for interesting public health dissertation topics, here are a few research questions:

• The effectiveness of vaccination programs in controlling infectious diseases
• Mental health services accessibility in rural versus urban areas
• The role of public health campaigns in reducing tobacco use
• Impact of climate change on public health outcomes
• Evaluating the success of obesity prevention programs in schools
• Health disparities among different socioeconomic groups
• The influence of public health policies on pandemic response
• Access to clean water and its effects on community health
• The impact of air pollution on respiratory diseases
• Assessing the effectiveness of telehealth services in underserved communities

Sociology Ideas for Dissertation

You should go online if interested in the social work dissertation topics. Articles like this share newsworthy sociology dissertation topics:

• The impact of social media on interpersonal relationships
• Gender roles and their evolution in modern society
• The influence of cultural diversity on social cohesion
• Socioeconomic factors affecting educational attainment
• The role of family structure in child development
• Migration patterns and their social implications
• The effect of urbanization on community life
• Social implications of aging populations
• The relationship between religion and social change
• Crime rates and their correlation with unemployment

Dissertation Topics in Education

Whether you want to discover new primary, college, or higher education dissertation topics, you are at the right place:

• The impact of technology on student learning outcomes
• Teacher-student relationships and academic performance
• Inclusion strategies for special education students
• The effectiveness of bilingual education programs
• Parental involvement in primary education and student success
• The role of standardized testing in education systems
• Gender disparities in STEM education
• Impact of early childhood education on long-term academic achievement
• Assessment methods and their influence on student motivation
• The role of extracurricular activities in holistic education

Business Dissertation Topics

Someone who takes an interest in entrepreneurship would be glad to find the following business or mba dissertation topics:

• The impact of leadership styles on organizational performance
• Corporate social responsibility and brand reputation
• The role of innovation in business growth
• Effects of globalization on local businesses
• Strategies for managing organizational change
• The influence of digital marketing on consumer behavior
• Entrepreneurial ecosystems and startup success
• Employee engagement and productivity
• Supply chain management in the era of e-commerce
• The role of corporate culture in business success

Political Science Dissertation Topics

Provided that your field of study is politics, consider the next dissertation topics:

• The impact of electoral systems on party politics
• Human rights and international relations
• The role of social media in political mobilization
• Comparative analysis of democratic and authoritarian regimes
• Public policy and its impact on economic inequality
• Political corruption and its effects on governance
• The influence of lobbying on legislative processes
• Conflict resolution and peacebuilding strategies
• The role of international organizations in global governance
• Nationalism and its implications for international stability

Psychology Dissertation Topics

What if a person struggles to find extensive psychology dissertation topics? The solution is here:

• The effects of childhood trauma on adult mental health
• Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders
• The influence of social support on depression recovery
• Neuropsychological effects of long-term substance abuse
• The role of genetics in the development of mental disorders
• Psychological impacts of chronic illness
• The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions
• The relationship between sleep and cognitive performance
• Attachment styles and relationship satisfaction
• The impact of stress on physical health

PhD Dissertation Topics

A Ph.D. candidate might consider historical, mathematical, or art dissertation topics. So let’s pick a great research topic:

• The role of artificial intelligence in modern healthcare
• Historical analysis of the causes and consequences of major wars
• Advanced mathematical models in climate prediction
• The influence of Renaissance art on contemporary aesthetics
• Quantum computing and its potential applications
• The evolution of human rights law over the centuries
• The impact of digital technologies on modern education
• Innovations in renewable energy sources
• Linguistic analysis of endangered languages
• The role of nanotechnology in medical advancements

Economics Dissertation Topics

Let’s see which dissertation topics in finance and economics can draw attention today:

• The impact of monetary policy on economic growth
• Income inequality and its effects on social stability
• The role of foreign direct investment in developing economies
• Behavioral economics: Insights into consumer decision-making
• The economics of climate change mitigation
• Financial crises and their impact on global markets
• The effectiveness of fiscal policies in recession recovery
• Trade policies and their influence on international relations
• Labor market dynamics and unemployment trends
• The economic implications of aging populations

Fashion Topics for Dissertation

An artsy person would appreciate research themes about style, like the following examples:

• Sustainable fashion: Trends and future directions
• The impact of fast fashion on consumer behavior
• Cultural influences on fashion trends
• The role of technology in fashion design
• Fashion marketing strategies in the digital age
• The evolution of gender-neutral fashion
• The influence of celebrity endorsements on fashion brands
• Historical analysis of fashion trends in the 20th century
• The economics of luxury fashion brands
• Ethical issues in the fashion industry

In brief, there are plenty of research subjects, from psychology dissertation topics to higher education dissertation topics. If you do proper factual and historical research and cite sources, get ready to receive recognition for your efforts. The key thing is to choose something that lights up your interest.

Also, don't forget to read what is important to look out for when you buy dissertation .

Set Your Dissertation Apart with Unique Topics

Elevate your academic journey with a standout dissertation topic. Our experts are here to help you select a topic that not only intrigues but also contributes significantly to your field of study.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

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Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences

New dissertation grants expand global research support

The newly established penn global dissertation grants program provides as much as $8,000 in funding to each of 11 ph.d. candidates to enhance global components in their research..

Penn Global has announced the first recipients of the newly established Penn Global Dissertation Grants program , providing as much as $8,000 each in funding to 11 Ph.D. students across four schools

With dissertations ranging from examinations of artificial intelligence and computational immunology in Vietnam to a look at the intersection of women, food, and freedom in the Dominican Republic, the recipients will use the funds to enhance global components in their dissertation research.

A main priority for Penn Global under its third strategic framework is to develop initiatives that support graduate and professional research with global dimensions. Introducing the Penn Global Dissertation Grants, which will be offered annually, augments global opportunities for graduate and professional students by expanding the scope of Penn Global’s research support.

“This program is the best example of how our strategic plan is responsive to the needs of the University community,” says Amy Gadsden , associate vice provost for global initiatives. “When Vice Provost for Global Initiatives Zeke Emanuel and I met with stakeholders across campus last year to further refine the strategic plan, a discussion emerged among faculty about the need to address a growing gap in support for graduate and professional students pursuing international research, particularly in the humanities and social sciences. It was clear that what we needed was a funding mechanism to support international dissertation research. We ran with this idea and, in close partnership with the Office of the Vice Provost for Education, established the Penn Global Dissertation Grants.”

“It was important for our office to get behind this initiative,” says Karen Detlefsen, Vice Provost for Education. “It met a real need to provide more University support for graduate work that has potential to extend well beyond the boundaries of any discipline. The research many of our students are doing in a global context is inspiring.”

This program is intended to harness the power of Penn’s graduate student community to enhance the University’s global engagement.

“Graduate students are on the cutting edge of research, but finding support for global inquiry can be difficult,” Gadsden says. “This program ensures that Penn’s graduates students can stay on the cutting edge of their fields and do deeply immersive work to advance new knowledge.”

The program offers two tracks for Ph.D. students seeking to incorporate global dimensions into their work: global exploration and global enhancement. Global exploration applicants are still in the development stages of their dissertation and will use this program’s resources to explore and engage global components for their dissertation research. Global enhancement applicants already include a core global focus to their dissertation and will use this program’s resources to broaden and deepen their research, ideally leveraging their dissertation toward future career opportunities in global leadership.

In the School of Arts & Sciences , recipients are Juan Arboleda, a history Ph.D. student whose research focuses on Brazil and Colombia; Adwaita Banerjee, an anthropology Ph.D. student whose research focuses on India; Tayeba Batool, an anthropology Ph.D. student whose research focuses on Pakistan; Nursyazwani Binte Jamaludin, an anthropology Ph.D. student whose research focuses on Myanmar; Jalen Chang, a history of art Ph.D. student whose research focuses on France, Oceania, and New Caledonia; Bonnie Maldonado, a Ph.D. student in Africana studies whose research focuses on the Dominican Republic; Taylor Prescott, a history Ph.D. student whose research focuses on Sierra Leone; and Alexandra Zborovsky a history Ph.D. student whose research focuses on Russia, Ukraine, the Netherlands, and Israel.

In the Perelman School of Medicine , the recipient is Van Truong, whose focus is on genomics and computational biology in Vietnam. In the Annenberg School for Communication , the recipient is Adetobi Moses, whose research focuses on Ghana. In the Weitzman School of Design, the recipient is Hui Tian, whose research focuses on China.

The Penn Global Dissertation Grant program will also offer a platform for these students to share their work and research experience with the broader Penn community. One stipulation of the program is developing individualized post-award commitment plans. The inaugural cohort of awardees is currently finalizing their own plans, which may include Penn undergraduate mentorship programs, panel discussions on their research topics and outcomes, and other forms of publishable multimedia.

Currently enrolled Penn Ph.D. students from all Penn Schools and disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields, may apply. Additional program information is available at https://global.upenn.edu/global-initiatives/penn-global-dissertation-grants .

To Penn’s Class of 2024: ‘The world needs you’

Campus & Community

Class of 2025 relishes time together at Hey Day

An iconic tradition at Penn, third-year students were promoted to senior status.

Picturing artistic pursuits

Hundreds of undergraduates take classes in the fine arts each semester, among them painting and drawing, ceramics and sculpture, printmaking and animation, photography and videography. The courses, through the School of Arts & Sciences and the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, give students the opportunity to immerse themselves in an art form in a collaborative way.

Penn celebrates operation and benefits of largest solar power project in Pennsylvania

Solar production has begun at the Great Cove I and II facilities in central Pennsylvania, the equivalent of powering 70% of the electricity demand from Penn’s academic campus and health system in the Philadelphia area.

Education, Business, & Law

Investing in future teachers and educational leaders

The Empowerment Through Education Scholarship Program at Penn’s Graduate School of Education is helping to prepare and retain teachers and educational leaders.