• The University of Warwick

MBA dissertation help: How to choose a topic, plan, and write your dissertation

Share this article:

MBA dissertations, internships or consultancy projects are the final modules on most MBA programmes . Our Full-time participants can opt for either a traditional dissertation (with a theoretical focus), an internship, or a hands-on project, which will see you consulting for a real organisation alongside a team of peers.  

Whether you choose an internship, dissertation or consultancy project, you will still be required to submit a written exploration of a research question that is relevant to the world of business as part of the module. This guide offers MBA dissertation help that remains applicable whichever route you take on your Full-time MBA.

Read on to learn about the early stages of the process, choosing a topic, planning out your workload, and how to write an MBA dissertation, report, or learning journal. Written by the MBA team here at Warwick Business School (WBS), this article also features some helpful first-hand advice from one of our MBA graduates, Kristen Rossi who studied our Full-time MBA.

An introduction to MBA dissertations, internships and consultancy projects

Completing an MBA dissertation or consultancy project is a requirement for fulfilling the Capstone module . on our  Full-time MBA courses ; alternatively you can choose to undertake an internship.

Although this work will be completed towards the end of your programme, it’s worth getting ahead of the game. Given that your dissertation or project will contribute significantly towards your final result, we recommend learning about the requirements and how the process works even before you apply for an MBA.

As Full-time Warwick MBA graduate, Kristen Rossi, puts it: 

From the second the MBA started, there was talk of “The Capstone module” – the part of the MBA that is worth the most credit, which will probably involve an outside company

Your first port of call is to choose between an MBA dissertation, internship, or a consultancy project. Seem like a daunting decision to make? We’ve outlined the key points of difference to help you get on the right track. You'll also receive guidance from the support teams at WBS, including our Programme Team and Employer Relations Team.

What is an MBA dissertation?

An MBA dissertation is an independent, yet supervised, research project. It is designed to demonstrate that you have assimilated your learning throughout the MBA course and that you can explore a business issue thoroughly, considering multiple perspectives on the subject.

The output from an MBA dissertation is a piece of written work that explores a research question relevant to the world of business. You could explore any one of a wide range of different topics as part of the dissertation, but your writing should have an academic focus with a strong grounding in theory and your own independent research.

At WBS, you may also choose to focus on Entrepreneurship or Social and Environmental Sustainability as part of your MBA dissertation, which is a requirement if you choose one of our specialisms.

What is a strategic consultancy project?

A strategic consultancy project provides you with hands-on experience of consulting on behalf of a real organisation and investigating a specific business challenge that it faces. Taking place for 10 to 12 weeks over the summer period, you’ll work alongside a group of your peers at the same organisation.

WBS participants can choose their own groups and, as Kristen comments, are given support in sourcing a project: 

The strategic consultancy project is usually supported by a client who has a topic or question that they would like to know more about. WBS provides specific, mandatory careers sessions dedicated to the consultancy project.

The Business School has partnered with many global industry leaders as part of the consultancy projects, from Barclays to Sony and Microsoft. 

Once you’ve chosen a group and organisation, each participant selects their own distinct research question. The deliverable is then an individual consulting report addressing this question.

You can find out more about consultancy projects from Antonia in the film below:

The differences between an MBA dissertation and consultancy project

A consultancy project still requires you to produce an extended piece of written work in the form of your individual consulting report, but it differs from an MBA dissertation in a number of ways:

  • A strategic consultancy project is hands-on, requiring you to engage with a business issue faced by a real organisation, whereas an MBA dissertation is more theoretical.
  • The scope of the issue you explore as part of a project will typically be much narrower and more focused than a dissertation, which can investigate a much broader topic area.
  • An MBA dissertation should aim to further the academic community’s understanding of a particular area of business; a consultancy project is geared towards solving a real-world business problem for a specific organisation or group of organisations.
  • A strategic consultancy project will require a group presentation element as part of your assessed work.

How will your Capstone module benefit you?

This final phase of your MBA course gives you the opportunity to explore a particular topic in great depth, enhancing your academic or practical understanding of an area of business. 

For many participants the dissertation, internship or strategic consultancy project is a formative experience that has a tangible impact on their future career paths, supporting their professional ambitions.

But don’t just take it from us. What does Kristen have to say?

“I can only speak for myself, but with the Capstone module, I gained three things. Firstly, slightly superficial, I now have a fabulous new brand on my CV, Aston Martin Lagonda. 

“Secondly, through the interviews I conducted for my primary research I had the privilege to learn a lot about the luxury automotive sector, which I would otherwise have not had the opportunity to learn as much about. Writing to and setting up a conversation with the CMO of a major firm is made easier when you have WBS and the justification of a dissertation, and the information they share is priceless. 

“Thirdly, although tedious, I had the opportunity to deep-dive into a particular topic – marketing ROI best practices. This really helped me to understand the challenges and remedies of this topic in depth and will certainly help me as I make my career jump in the coming months.”

Choosing an MBA dissertation topic

Like many participants, you may feel nervous about the thought of choosing a suitable MBA dissertation topic. In reality, however, this is nothing to worry about.

As you progress through the early stages of your MBA programme, you’ll undoubtedly find yourself drawn to a particular area of study or type of business problem. The direction you take is also likely to be influenced by your pre-existing career goals and professional experience. 

On this point, Kristen recommends that you make the project work for you:

When choosing your dissertation, try to focus on an industry and topic that you hope to transition into. If you are looking to move into finance, work on a project that will provide you with the knowledge to help you land the job!

It’s also worth noting that you’ll be given extensive support when it comes to picking a research question or sourcing a project. You’ll attend sessions dedicated to selecting the right topic in the run-up to the start of the dissertation or project module — and there is always additional help available at WBS.

How to write an MBA dissertation

Once you’ve chosen a topic for your MBA dissertation, your work on the module can begin in earnest.

As a Warwick Business School participant, you’ll be guided through the process from the outset. But if you’re still at the stage of wondering whether this is something you’d want to pursue in the first place, here’s a brief overview packed with MBA dissertation advice from one of our graduates.

The planning phase

Delivering a successful MBA dissertation, report, or learning journal is an exercise in sound project management; just one of the many ways in which it sets you up well for later working life. And it’s universally acknowledged that the best approach to take with any large-scale project is to break it down into bite-size chunks.

Kristen suggests seeking support to divide up the dissertation into smaller components, from the draft of your first chapter through to the final submission:

With the help of your supervisor, work backwards and set up a timeline to tackle each section of the dissertation. Include milestones where you will check-in with your supervisor (face-to-face is recommended) as well.

Preparing your literature review

The literature review is the all-important foundation of any dissertation – MBA-level or otherwise. 

Kristen’s experience speaks to the value of starting your research early and keeping a record of all the papers and publications you encounter along the way:

“Once you roughly know the topic of your dissertation, start researching. Do not wait until you have a supervisor or until your elective modules are finished. I recommend this for three reasons.

“Firstly, the initial articles you find will most likely not be the gems you hope them to be and it will take a lot of speed-reading and trial and error before you uncover the wisdom that will actually inform your research. 

“Secondly, once you find relevant research, it will take time to read it and most academic literature is not a page-turning detective novel (I can attest to falling asleep mid-read on several occasions). 

“Finally, I am a believer that to truly understand and process new material, you need time. Give yourself the time to read, step away and think, and come back to it. In the end, you will be grateful that you did.

Further to this point, when reading journal publications look at the references the author cites. Seek out these additional authors and their publications.”

Communicating with your client contact on a consulting project

Should you opt for a strategic consulting project, the way you manage the relationship with your client organisation is just as important as the write-up of the final report. Kristen offers this final piece of advice:

“If you are not going to their office, then from the beginning of your relationship set in place weekly 30-minute Skype sessions to keep the client up-to-date with what you are doing. This will allow you to build a relationship with them and will help you to address any hiccups along the way. 

“Sometimes after starting your research, you may find that the client’s initial request is too broad. This is okay, but you will need to bring it up and negotiate a more realistic deliverable. The weekly updates are also beneficial. As you research, you may find yourself going off in the wrong direction. Checking in with your client on a weekly basis will help you stay on track.”

------------------------

MBA programmes at Warwick Business School

Are you looking to develop yourself into a global leader who makes an immediate impact in business? You'll discover new thinking, access global networks, and invest in your future when you choose to study your MBA with us.

There are a variety of different ways to achieve your Warwick MBA. The best route for you depends on your current level of experience, life circumstances and career goals. Whether full-time or part-time, online or in person at Warwick or The Shard – study the Warwick MBA your way.

Related Blogs

Estela Carmona Cejudo, participant of the Global Online MBA Programme, offers valuable advice and suggestions for the application process.

Full-time MBA participant Sebastian shares the tools and techniques that have helped him to stay on top of his mental health throughout his year at Warwick Business School.

Online MBA participant, Aidan Munday, shares how the CareersPlus team supported his MBA journey. 

200+ Subject-Wise MBA Dissertation Topics to Check Out This Year

Link Copied

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on LinkedIn

Master Your Degree with These Top MBA Dissertation Topics of 2024

Research, Discuss, Dissert

Feeling the dissertation pressure mounting? Don't let writer's block turn your thesis into a 'to-do' list!  Here’s a list of 200+ MBA dissertation topics that go beyond the usual suspects.  From unique tech trends to the future of sustainability, we've got ideas to start your research passion and impress the professors. So, forget the generic, and let's craft MBA dissertation ideas that make your thesis stand out!

3 Key Considerations when Selecting MBA Dissertation Topics

Picking an MBA dissertation idea isn't everyone's favourite task, but knowing how to select the best MBA research topics is crucial. Three key things to remember when searching for MBA dissertation ideas are:

1. Choosing Unique MBA Dissertation Topics

Selecting MBA dissertation ideas may seem daunting, but don't fret if they've been explored before. The key lies in infusing your unique perspective into existing topics. Be innovative in your research approach to stand out.

2. Ensuring Availability of Secondary Data

Avoid last-minute topic changes by ensuring ample secondary data for your chosen MBA thesis topics. Don't delay the search for secondary data; confirm its availability during topic selection to streamline your research process.

3. Inculcating Quantitative Study

While textual analysis is appealing, integrating quantitative study enhances the depth of your MBA thesis topics. Numbers provide credibility and engage readers effectively. Strike a balance between theory and numerical analysis for impactful research.

Pursuing an MBA will help you advance your career in the business world. Many of the top universities and colleges in the world offer MBA programs in various fields. 

Subject-Wise Best Research Topics for MBA Students

The possibilities for MBA thesis topics are vast, covering all facets of business administration. To narrow down options, consider various subjects. Despite constraints, here's a list of excellent research topics for MBA students for your research and exploration.

mba dissertation guide

Accounting 

1. Investigating the influence of industry and public knowledge on market share index fluctuations

2. Assessing the significance of auditing for large corporations

3. Analysing the country’s tax scheme

4. Factors to consider when investing in financial markets

5. Evaluating risk-taking in companies from an accounting perspective

6. Providing recommendations for circular debt management in business firms

7. Exploring the differences and similarities between external and internal auditors

8. Examining the challenges faced by external audits due to equal value calculations

9. Analysing taxation as a human rights policy and supporting it with evidence

10. Understanding the impact of the current tax structure on lower-income individuals

Operations Management Dissertation Topics

1. Defining the concept of ‘Legality’ in supply chain design

2. Exploring the role of virtual supply chains in facilitating short-term business collaborations

3. Assessing the feasibility and effectiveness of self-driving cars in supply chain management

4. Impact of big data analytics on efficient inventory management

5. Significance of RFID in Toyota's inventory management

6. E-commerce inventory management strategies

7. Production scheduling strategies in manufacturing environments

8. Production scheduling strategies in the automobile industry

9. Case study: Toyota's production scheduling strategies in the UK

10. Utilising AI for quality control: A case study of Amazon.com

Business Management Dissertation Topics

1. Strategies for supporting gender equity in traditionally male-dominated industries

2. Impact of management's socio-cultural background on leadership relationships

3. The effect of employment benefits on employee and company productivity

4. Adaptation of small business strategies to globalisation

5. Role of feedback in cultural shifts within multinational corporations

6. Assessing team performance in multinational corporations

7. Examining small business strategies in the context of globalisation

8. Analysing team performance in multinational corporations

9. Human resource management and policies in non-profit organisations

10. Role of foreign direct investment in the economy of developing countries

Finance Dissertation Topics

1. Exploring the swift expansion of international microfinance

2. Investigating the growth of microfinance within the UK banking sector

3. Analysing the impact of microfinance on emerging economies

4. Assessing the role of credit and financial services in investment

5. Examining microfinance's contribution to poverty alleviation and economic growth

6. Contrasting FDI strategies between Europe and Asia

7. Studying emerging market stock synchronicity and analyst coverage

8. Evaluating the influence of foreign direct investment on developing nations

9. Assessing the effects of European financial regulations on cross-border investments

10. Scrutinising ongoing banking sector reforms in emerging economies: the Brazilian case

We also have a list of different finance dissertation topics in brief. You can also check out these topics for more information.

Marketing Dissertation Topics

1. Evaluating the significance of personalization in digital relationship marketing during the COVID-19 era

2. A case study on UK fitness brands building customer loyalty through high-value content

3. Analysing obstacles facing Tesco’s loyalty card scheme in today's market dynamics

4. Leveraging social media for customer acquisition through relationship marketing

5. Investigating the impact of product quality on consumer satisfaction

6. Assessing consumer understanding of brand values through a Starbucks vs. McDonald’s case study

7. Using digital methods to enhance brand salience: a case study approach

8. Exploring the impact of product availability on SME brand image

9. Transitioning a brand's reputation across industries: lessons from Virgin Cola

10. Assessing beauty brands' direct marketing efficacy using YouTube

Information Technology Management Dissertation Topics

1. Predicting the future impact of information technology on global business

2. Assessing the pace of technological advancement in meeting global financial system demands

3. Analysing the impact of the Sony hack on international market transactions

4. Exploring how technological advancements enhance global trade

5. Investigating the influence of religion on IT adoption in Yemeni universities

6. Assessing the impact of mobile technology on international students in British universities

7. Examining online discussions' role in promoting interaction and collaboration in blended learning environments

8. Applying instructional techniques to improve problem-solving abilities

9. Evaluating the effectiveness of automated tools in literature reviews for students

Write your MBA dissertation peacefully with amber's accommodation!

Book through amber today!

Strategic Risk Management Dissertation Topics

1. Exploring the Influence of Current Global Supply Chain Trends on Risk Management Strategies

2. Investigating Social Risks' Impact on Multinational Corporations and Shareholder Value

3. Assessing Liquidity and Credit Risk Management in Financial Markets

4. Best Practices in Operational Risk Management for Warehousing

5. Comparative Analysis of Risk Management in Financial Sectors

7. Critical Factors for Operational Management Success in Financial Services

8. Analysis and Mitigation of Social Risks

9. Overcoming Obstacles in Operational Risk Management

10. Utilising Risk Assessment to Manage Medical Errors

11. Long-term Risk Management in the Banking Sector

Entrepreneurship Dissertation Topics

1. Consequences of Chronic Unemployment in Major Economies

2. Government Bailouts vs. Corporate Responsibility

3. Profit Dynamics of Insurance Firms

4. Subsidised Loans and Business Practice Ethics

5. Risk and Reward in High-Risk Investments

6. Tactics for Long-term Financial Security in Small Companies

7. Real Estate Investment Risks and Myths

8. Investment Opportunities During Economic Downturns

9. Strategies for Risk-free Profits in the Stock Market

10. Factors Influencing Business Bankruptcy Probability

11. Human Resource Management Dissertation Topics

Implementing HR Philosophies in the Workplace

1. Collaboration Between Corporate Management and HR

2. Choosing Interpersonal Skills: Soft vs. Hard

3. Objectivity vs. Subjectivity in Employee Appraisal

4. Employee Engagement and Incentive Impact

5. HR Departments' Role in Organisational Change

6. Performance Improvement Strategies for Employee Evaluation

7. Employee Perspectives on Performance Reviews

8. Impact of Motivation Programs on Productivity

9. Enhancing the Employee Selection Process

E-Commerce Dissertation Topics

1. Investigating New Businesses' E-Commerce Strategies

2. Analysing Traditional Businesses' E-Commerce Migration

3. E-Commerce Strategies: Serendipity or Strategy?

4. Components of a Successful E-Commerce Strategy

5. Examining Payment Processing Models

6. Evaluating Social Media's Role in E-Commerce

7. Strengthening Customer Relationships through E-Commerce Tactics

8. The Significance of Unique Selling Points in E-Commerce Growth

9. E-Commerce Marketing Mix: Online vs. Hybrid Presence

10. Comparing Pay-Per-Click and Pay-Per-Click Advertising

Economics Dissertation Topics

1. Impact of Market Competition on Corporate Growth Strategies

2. COVID-19's Influence on Corporate Market Entry

3. Non-Profit Financing Models and Long-Term Viability

4. Privatisation's Economic Policy Ramifications

5. Challenges Posed by Digitalization in Industries

6. Brexit's Effects on UK Industrial Policies

7. COVID-19's Impact on the Entertainment Industry

8. Global Perspectives on Alternative Energy Markets

9. Shifting Consumer Preferences Over Two Decades

10. Cultural Influence on Entrepreneurial Behavior and Business Initiatives

Health Care Management Dissertation Topics

1. Examining Mid-Level Providers' Role in Healthcare

2. Telemedicine's Impact on Healthcare Administration

3. Addressing the Opioid Crisis in Healthcare

4. Growth and Consequences of Urgent Care Clinics

5. Supporting Families Caring for Dementia Patients

6. Health Literacy's Influence on Prostate Cancer Outcomes

7. Governance and Ethics in Patient Portal Use by Guardians

8. Employee Turnover Due to Tuition Reimbursement Programs

9. Follow-Up Procedures After Medical Errors

10. State Legislation's Effects on Medical Malpractice Insurance

International Business Dissertation Topics

1. Investigating the Success of Global Business Teams in Multinational Companies: Testing an Interfering Process Model.

2. Exploring Corporate Governance's Role in Globalization and Firm Performance.

3. Assessing Brexit's Impact on British SMEs: An Examination of Likely Effects.

4. Analysing Business-Government Relations: Contingency Theory Perspective.

5. Understanding Globalization's Method and Impact on Business Collaboration.

6. Retail Management Dissertation Topics

7. The Contribution of Visual Merchandising to Clothing Brand Income in UK Malls.

8. Management's Role in Revenue Generation in Automotive Retail.

9. Evaluating Store Location Effects on Apparel Brand Sales in UK Malls.

10. Assessing the Impact of Retail Promotions on Inventory Turnover.

11. Applied Retail Analysis in B2B Industries: Optimal Store Placement.

Rural Management Dissertation Topics

1. Examining Media Influence on Rural Development.

2. Rural Development and Community Health Administration: Exploring Roles.

3. Cooperative Societies' Impact on Rural Development.

4. Community Banks' Contribution to Rural Development.

5. Identifying Socioeconomic Barriers to Rural Growth.

Change Management on Dissertation Topics

1. Dissertation Topics on Managing Change

2. Incorporating Change Management Education in Universities

3. Identification of Tools and Techniques for Change Management in Construction Projects

4. Critical Analysis of Organisational Change Management in UK-based Companies

5. Impact of Change Management Processes on Performance in Mega Programme Projects

6. Change Management Perspectives among Veterinary Nurses

7. Inter-organisational System Performance and Change Management

8. Examining Africa's Change Management Approaches: The Ubuntu Values

9. The Influence of Business and IT Functions on Organisational Change Management

10. Evolution of Change Management Perspectives over Time

11. Change Management and Cultural Revitalisation Movements in Organisations

12. Change Management in Healthcare Nursing: A Comprehensive Review

13. Hexagonal vs. Pentagonal Models in Change Management

14. Significance of Grounded Theory Approach in Change Management

15. Ethics, Values, and Leadership in Change Management

1. Entrepreneurship Trends: A Recent Boom

2. Impact of Increasing Entrepreneurs on the UK Economy

3. Entrepreneurial Adoption of Cloud Technology for Quality Control and Cost Savings

4. Scope of Entrepreneurship in the UK: Implications for Competition and Productivity

5. Technological Developments and Entrepreneurship Effects

6. Gender Dynamics in Developing Entrepreneurial Skills

7. Government Policy Influence on Entrepreneurship

8. Entrepreneurial Role in Economic Development

9. Factors Influencing Entrepreneurial Creativity

10. Entrepreneurship Education's Impact on Skill Development

11. Public Support for Technology-based Ventures

12. Factors Affecting New Ventures' Growth

13. Legislative and Fiscal Policies Encouraging Entrepreneurship

14. Alternative Marketing Tactics for Small-scale Food Entrepreneurs

15. Crowdsourcing: Definition and Functionality

Logistics and Supply Chain Management Dissertation Topics

1.  Investigating the Importance of Supply Chain Management in Company Outsourcing

2. Assessing Risks within a Supply Chain

3. Analysis of Technology's Role in Present Supply Chain Structures

4. Examining the Connections Between Supply Chain and Company Logistics

5. Investigating Tax Evasion in Car Supply Chains and Its Impact on Procurement Costs

6. Challenges to Implementing an Effective Supply Management System

7. Evaluation of Information Dissemination and Sharing Among Supply Chain Intermediaries

8. Evaluating Cost Reduction Measures in China's Car Exports and Imports

9. Importance of Logistics Management in UK Clothing Reorders

10. Coping with Supply Chain and Logistics Changes: A Study on UK Businesses

So, there you have it! A diverse buffet of MBA dissertation topics to tantalise your intellectual taste buds. Remember, choosing the right one is key. Don't be afraid to get creative and explore uncharted territory. After all, your dissertation is your chance to shine, showcase your expertise, and leave a lasting mark on the business world. Dive in, research, analyse, and remember, the perfect MBA dissertation idea awaits!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i choose an mba thesis topic, what is an mba dissertation, what is the best topic for mba thesis, what are the key components of an mba dissertation, how do i find unique mba dissertation topics, how many pages is a dissertation, what are the common challenges in writing an mba dissertation.

Your ideal student home & a flight ticket awaits

Follow us on :

cta

Related Posts

mba dissertation guide

20 Best Study Planning Apps for Students in 2024!

mba dissertation guide

What are the Different Branches of Mathematics?

mba dissertation guide

15 Popular Branches of Medicine & Everything About It

mba dissertation guide

amber © 2024. All rights reserved.

4.8/5 on Trustpilot

Rated as "Excellent" • 4800+ Reviews by students

Rated as "Excellent" • 4800+ Reviews by Students

play store

  • Thesis Action Plan New
  • Academic Project Planner

Literature Navigator

Thesis dialogue blueprint, writing wizard's template, research proposal compass.

  • Why students love us
  • Rebels Blog
  • Why we are different
  • All Products
  • Coming Soon

A Comprehensive Guide to Structure Your MBA Thesis

A Comprehensive Guide to Structure Your MBA Thesis

Embarking on an MBA thesis can be a formidable challenge, but a well-structured approach can significantly ease the process. This comprehensive guide aims to demystify the structure of an MBA thesis, providing clear steps and key insights to help you succeed. From understanding the essential components to ensuring proper formatting, this guide covers every aspect you need to consider for a successful thesis journey.

Key Takeaways

  • A well-defined structure is crucial for the clarity and coherence of your MBA thesis.
  • Crafting a compelling introduction sets the stage for your research and captures the reader's interest.
  • Conducting a thorough literature review helps identify research gaps and positions your study within the existing body of knowledge.
  • Developing a robust methodology ensures the validity and reliability of your research findings.
  • Proper formatting and presentation are essential for meeting academic standards and enhancing the readability of your thesis.

Understanding the Structure of an MBA Thesis

A well-structured MBA thesis is crucial for effectively communicating your research findings and arguments. Each section of your thesis plays a vital role in building a coherent and persuasive narrative. The structure typically includes an introduction, literature review, methodology, findings, and conclusion, with each section contributing to the overall argument and flow of the thesis. Properly organizing these sections can help mitigate thesis anxiety and ensure that your work meets academic standards.

Crafting a Compelling Introduction

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

Conducting a Thorough Literature Review

The purpose of your literature review is to critically analyze and review documented theories and evidence relative to your topic and recognize what is and is not known in the field. Writing the literature review early can give a researcher a clear indication of what data already exists and how this could relate to the potential project. Depending on the nature of your study, you may also present a conceptual framework towards the end of your literature review, which you will then test in your actual research. As always, it's important to review your brief and/or discuss with your supervisor, so that you know exactly what’s expected of your literature review chapter.

Developing a Robust Methodology

Designing a robust methodology is crucial for the success of your MBA thesis. Your choice of research methodology will significantly impact the direction and efficacy of your study. It is essential to understand the difference between qualitative and quantitative methods, as each serves a different research purpose. Remember, the methodology and analysis are not just about collecting data; they are about providing comprehensive insights that can inform management decisions and strategies.

Presenting and Analyzing Data

Data presentation techniques.

When presenting your data, clarity and precision are paramount. Utilize tables and charts to make your data easily digestible. For instance, demographic data can be effectively displayed in a table format, while trends over time might be better represented with a line graph. Ensure your visual aids are clearly labeled and directly relevant to your research questions.

Statistical Analysis Methods

Choosing the right statistical methods is crucial for meaningful data analysis. Descriptive statistics will help you summarize your data, while inferential statistics allow you to draw conclusions and make predictions. Be sure to differentiate between these methods and apply them appropriately to your dataset. For example, in a quantitative study, you might use inferential statistics to test hypotheses and validate your findings.

Interpreting Results Effectively

Interpreting your results involves more than just presenting numbers; it requires a thoughtful analysis of what the data means in the context of your research problem. Discuss the implications of your findings and how they relate to existing literature. Highlight any unexpected results and consider their potential impact on your study. This step is essential for crafting an effective Ph.D. thesis proposal and ensuring your research contributes meaningfully to your field.

Formulating a Strong Discussion and Conclusion

In this section, you will synthesize your findings and articulate their significance. Discussing your key findings involves interpreting the results in the context of your research questions and the existing literature. This is where you connect the dots and provide a comprehensive understanding of your study's outcomes.

When considering the implications for practice and theory , reflect on how your findings contribute to the field. Are there practical applications that can be derived from your research? How do your results align or contrast with existing theories? This analysis will demonstrate the broader impact of your work.

Finally, your recommendations for future research should be clear and actionable. Identify any limitations in your study and suggest areas where further investigation is needed. This not only highlights the relevance of your work but also provides a roadmap for future scholars.

Ensuring Proper Formatting and Presentation

Proper formatting and presentation are crucial for the success of your MBA thesis. Adhering to academic standards ensures that your work is taken seriously and meets the expectations of your academic institution. This includes following specific guidelines for font, layout, and structure. Make sure to check with your university if they have a prescribed structure or layout that they expect you to work with. If not, it’s safe to assume the structure we’ll discuss here is suitable.

Using citation styles correctly is another essential aspect. Different academic fields may require different citation styles, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago. Ensure that you are consistent in your use of citations throughout your thesis. This not only helps in giving proper credit to the original authors but also enhances the credibility of your research.

Final proofreading and editing are the last steps in polishing your thesis. This phase involves checking your document to make sure that the fine details are consistent across chapters. This includes things like making sure acronyms are clearly defined, tables are appropriately numbered/titled, that punctuation and syntax are accurate, and that formatting and alignment are consistent. Polish, polish, polish , and polish some more until your document is ready to be handed in to your university’s library.

Ensuring proper formatting and presentation is crucial for the success of your thesis. At Research Rebels, we provide innovative worksheets and guides that have been thoroughly tested by students worldwide. Our step-by-step Thesis Action Plan will help you overcome obstacles and regain freedom in your student life. Don't let stress hold you back any longer. Visit our website to claim your special offer now and start your journey towards a stress-free thesis writing experience.

In conclusion, structuring your MBA thesis is a critical step towards ensuring the clarity, coherence, and academic rigor of your research. By adhering to a well-defined structure, you can effectively communicate your findings and arguments, thereby enhancing the overall impact of your work. This guide has provided a comprehensive overview of the essential components of an MBA thesis, from the introduction to the conclusion, and has offered practical tips for each section. Remember, the key to a successful thesis lies in meticulous planning, consistent effort, and a clear understanding of your research objectives. As you embark on this academic journey, utilize the resources and strategies discussed in this guide to navigate the complexities of thesis writing with confidence and precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key components of an mba thesis.

The key components of an MBA thesis typically include the introduction, literature review, research objectives, methodology, data analysis, discussion, conclusion, and references.

Why is a well-defined structure important for an MBA thesis?

A well-defined structure is crucial as it ensures that your thesis is organized, coherent, and logically flows from one section to the next. It also helps in clearly presenting your research findings and arguments.

How do I choose appropriate research methods for my MBA thesis?

Choosing appropriate research methods involves considering your research objectives, the nature of your research questions, and the type of data you need to collect. Common methods include surveys, interviews, case studies, and quantitative analysis.

What are common pitfalls to avoid when writing an MBA thesis?

Common pitfalls include lack of clear research objectives, insufficient literature review, poor time management, ignoring feedback from advisors, and failing to adhere to formatting guidelines.

How can I ensure the validity and reliability of my data?

To ensure data validity and reliability, use well-established data collection methods, conduct pilot tests, ensure consistent data collection procedures, and use statistical techniques to test for reliability.

What are the ethical considerations in MBA research?

Ethical considerations include obtaining informed consent from participants, ensuring confidentiality and anonymity, avoiding plagiarism, and being honest and transparent in reporting your findings.

Mastering Your Research: How to Structure a Thesis

Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics: A Fun and Informative Guide

Unlocking the Power of Data: A Review of 'Essentials of Modern Business Statistics with Microsoft Excel'

Unlocking the Power of Data: A Review of 'Essentials of Modern Business Statistics with Microsoft Excel'

Discovering Statistics Using SAS: A Comprehensive Review

Discovering Statistics Using SAS: A Comprehensive Review

How to Deal with a Total Lack of Motivation, Stress, and Anxiety When Finishing Your Master's Thesis

How to Deal with a Total Lack of Motivation, Stress, and Anxiety When Finishing Your Master's Thesis

Confident student with laptop and colorful books

Mastering the First Step: How to Start Your Thesis with Confidence

Thesis Revision Made Simple: Techniques for Perfecting Your Academic Work

Thesis Revision Made Simple: Techniques for Perfecting Your Academic Work

Thesis Action Plan

Thesis Action Plan

Research Proposal Compass

Integrating Calm into Your Study Routine: The Power of Mindfulness in Education

How to determine the perfect research proposal length.

  • Blog Articles
  • Affiliate Program
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Payment and Shipping Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Return Policy

© 2024 Research Rebels, All rights reserved.

Your cart is currently empty.

mba dissertation guide

Research Topics & Ideas: Business

50+ Management Research Topic Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

Business/management/MBA research topics

Finding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation, thesis or research project. If you’ve landed on this post, chances are you’re looking for a business/management-related research topic , but aren’t sure where to start. Here, we’ll explore a variety of  research ideas and topic thought-starters for management-related research degrees (MBAs/DBAs, etc.). These research topics span management strategy, HR, finance, operations, international business and leadership.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas within the management domain. This is the starting point, but to develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. In it, we cover the process of writing a dissertation or thesis from start to end. Be sure to also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to find a high-quality research topic. 

Overview: Business Research Topics

  • Business /management strategy
  • Human resources (HR) and industrial psychology
  • Finance and accounting
  • Operations management
  • International business
  • Actual business dissertations & theses

Strategy-Related Research Topics

  • An analysis of the impact of digital transformation on business strategy in consulting firms
  • The role of innovation in transportation practices for creating a competitive advantage within the agricultural sector
  • Exploring the effect of globalisation on strategic decision-making practices for multinational Fashion brands.
  • An evaluation of corporate social responsibility in shaping business strategy, a case study of power utilities in Nigeria
  • Analysing the relationship between corporate culture and business strategy in the new digital era, exploring the role of remote working.
  • Assessing the impact of sustainability practices on business strategy and performance in the motor vehicle manufacturing industry
  • An analysis of the effect of social media on strategic partnerships and alliances development in the insurance industry
  • Exploring the role of data-driven decision-making in business strategy developments following supply-chain disruptions in the agricultural sector
  • Developing a conceptual framework for assessing the influence of market orientation on business strategy and performance in the video game publishing industry
  • A review of strategic cost management best practices in the healthcare sector of Indonesia
  • Identification of key strategic considerations required for the effective implementation of Industry 4.0 to develop a circular economy
  • Reviewing how Globalisation has affected business model innovation strategies in the education sector
  • A comparison of merger and acquisition strategies’ effects on novel product development in the Pharmaceutical industry
  • An analysis of market strategy performance during recessions, a retrospective review of the luxury goods market in the US
  • Comparing the performance of digital stakeholder engagement strategies and their contribution towards meeting SDGs in the mining sector

Research topic idea mega list

Topics & Ideas: Human Resources (HR)

  • Exploring the impact of digital employee engagement practices on organizational performance in SMEs
  • The role of diversity and inclusion in the workplace
  • An evaluation of remote employee training and development programs efficacy in the e-commerce sector
  • Comparing the effect of flexible work arrangements on employee satisfaction and productivity across generational divides
  • Assessing the relationship between gender-focused employee empowerment programs and job satisfaction in the UAE
  • A review of the impact of technology and digitisation on human resource management practices in the construction industry
  • An analysis of the role of human resource management in talent acquisition and retention in response to globalisation and crisis, a case study of the South African power utility
  • The influence of leadership style on remote working employee motivation and performance in the education sector.
  • A comparison of performance appraisal systems for managing employee performance in the luxury retail fashion industry
  • An examination of the relationship between work-life balance and job satisfaction in blue-collar workplaces, A systematic review
  • Exploring HR personnel’s experiences managing digital workplace bullying in multinational corporations
  • Assessing the success of HR team integration following merger and acquisition on employee engagement and performance
  • Exploring HR green practices and their effects on retention of millennial talent in the fintech industry
  • Assessing the impact of human resources analytics in successfully navigating digital transformation within the healthcare sector
  • Exploring the role of HR staff in the development and maintenance of ethical business practices in fintech SMEs
  • An analysis of employee perceptions of current HRM practices in a fully remote IT workspace

Research topic evaluator

Topics & Ideas: Finance & Accounting

  • An analysis of the effect of employee financial literacy on decision-making in manufacturing start-ups in Ghana
  • Assessing the impact of corporate green innovation on financial performance in listed companies in Estonia
  • Assessing the effect of corporate governance on financial performance in the mining industry in Papua New Guinea
  • An evaluation of financial risk management practices in the construction industry of Saudi Arabia
  • Exploring the role of leadership financial literacy in the transition from start-up to scale-up in the retail e-commerce industry.
  • A review of influential macroeconomic factors on the adoption of cryptocurrencies as legal tender
  • An examination of the use of financial derivatives in risk management
  • Exploring the impact of the cryptocurrency disruption on stock trading practices in the EU
  • An analysis of the relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance in academic publishing houses
  • A comparison of financial ratios performance in evaluating E-commerce startups in South Korea.
  • An evaluation of the role of government policies in facilitating manufacturing companies’ successful transitioning from start-up to scale-ups in Denmark
  • Assessing the financial value associated with industry 4.0 transitions in the Indian pharmaceutical industry
  • Exploring the role of effective e-leadership on financial performance in the Nigerian fintech industry
  • A review of digital disruptions in CRM practices and their associated financial impact on listed companies during the Covid-19 pandemic
  • Exploring the importance of Sharia-based business practices on SME financial performance in multicultural countries

Free Webinar: How To Find A Dissertation Research Topic

Ideas: Operations Management

  • An assessment of the impact of blockchain technology on operations management practices in the transport industry of Estonia
  • An evaluation of supply chain disruption management strategies and their impact on business performance in Lithuania
  • Exploring the role of lean manufacturing in the automotive industry of Malaysia and its effects on improving operational efficiency
  • A critical review of optimal operations management strategies in luxury goods manufacturing for ensuring supply chain resilience
  • Exploring the role of globalization on Supply chain diversification, a pre/post analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • An analysis of the relationship between quality management and customer satisfaction in subscription-based business models
  • Assessing the cost of sustainable sourcing practices on operations management and supply chain resilience in the Cocao industry.
  • An examination of the adoption of behavioural predictive analytics in operations management practices, a case study of the
  • Italian automotive industry
  • Exploring the effect of operational complexity on business performance following digital transformation
  • An evaluation of barriers to the implementation of agile methods in project management within governmental institutions
  • Assessing how the relationship between operational processes and business strategy change as companies transition from start-ups to scale-ups
  • Exploring the relationship between operational management and innovative business models, lessons from the fintech industry
  • A review of best practices for operations management facilitating the transition towards a circular economy in the fast food industry
  • Exploring the viability of lean manufacturing practices in Vietnam’s plastics industry
  • Assessing engagement in cybersecurity considerations associated with operations management practices in industry 4.0 manufacturing

Research Topic Kickstarter - Need Help Finding A Research Topic?

Topics & Ideas: International Business

  • The impact of cultural differences in communication on international business relationships
  • An evaluation of the role of government import and export policies in shaping international business practices
  • The effect of global shipping conditions on international business strategies
  • An analysis of the challenges of managing multinational corporations: branch management
  • The influence of social media marketing on international business operations
  • The role of international trade agreements on business activities in developing countries
  • An examination of the impact of currency fluctuations on international business and cost competitiveness
  • The relationship between international business and sustainable development: perspectives and benefits
  • An evaluation of the challenges and opportunities of doing business in emerging markets such as the renewable energy industry
  • An analysis of the role of internationalisation via strategic alliances in international business
  • The impact of cross-cultural management on international business performance
  • The effect of political instability on international business operations: A case study of Russia
  • An analysis of the role of intellectual property rights in an international technology company’s business strategies
  • The relationship between corporate social responsibility and international business strategy: a comparative study of different industries
  • The impact of technology on international business in the fashion industry

Topics & Ideas: Leadership

  • A comparative study of the impact of different leadership styles on organizational performance
  • An evaluation of transformational leadership in today’s non-profit organizations
  • The role of emotional intelligence in effective leadership and productivity
  • An analysis of the relationship between leadership style and employee motivation
  • The influence of diversity and inclusion on leadership practices in South Africa
  • The impact of Artificial Intelligence technology on leadership in the digital age
  • An examination of the challenges of leadership in a rapidly changing business environment: examples from the finance industry
  • The relationship between leadership and corporate culture and job satisfaction
  • An evaluation of the role of transformational leadership in strategic decision-making
  • The use of leadership development programs in enhancing leadership effectiveness in multinational organisations
  • The impact of ethical leadership on organizational trust and reputation: an empirical study
  • An analysis of the relationship between various leadership styles and employee well-being in healthcare organizations
  • The role of leadership in promoting good work-life balance and job satisfaction in the age of remote work
  • The influence of leadership on knowledge sharing and innovation in the technology industry
  • An investigation of the impact of cultural intelligence on cross-cultural leadership effectiveness in global organizations

Business/Management Dissertation & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a business-related research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various management-related degree programs (e.g., MBAs, DBAs, etc.) to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

  • Sustaining Microbreweries Beyond 5 Years (Yanez, 2022)
  • Perceived Stakeholder and Stockholder Views: A Comparison Among Accounting Students, Non-Accounting Business Students And Non-Business Students (Shajan, 2020)
  • Attitudes Toward Corporate Social Responsibility and the New Ecological Paradigm among Business Students in Southern California (Barullas, 2020)
  • Entrepreneurial opportunity alertness in small business: a narrative research study exploring established small business founders’ experience with opportunity alertness in an evolving economic landscape in the Southeastern United States (Hughes, 2019)
  • Work-Integrated Learning in Closing Skills Gap in Public Procurement: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study (Culver, 2021)
  • Analyzing the Drivers and Barriers to Green Business Practices for Small and Medium Enterprises in Ohio (Purwandani, 2020)
  • The Role of Executive Business Travel in a Virtual World (Gale, 2022)
  • Outsourcing Security and International Corporate Responsibility: A Critical Analysis of Private Military Companies (PMCs) and Human Rights Violations (Hawkins, 2022)
  • Lean-excellence business management for small and medium-sized manufacturing companies in Kurdistan region of Iraq (Mohammad, 2021)
  • Science Data Sharing: Applying a Disruptive Technology Platform Business Model (Edwards, 2022)
  • Impact of Hurricanes on Small Construction Business and Their Recovery (Sahu, 2022)

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are quite specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. This is an important thing to keep in mind as you develop your own research topic. That is to say, to create a top-notch research topic, you must be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Fast-Track Your Topic Ideation

If you’d like hands-on help to speed up your topic ideation process and ensure that you develop a rock-solid research topic, check our our Topic Kickstarter service below.

10 Comments

Rotimi Uju Angela

Great help. thanks

solomon

Hi, Your work is very educative, it has widened my knowledge. Thank you so much.

Benny

Thank you so much for helping me understand how to craft a research topic. I’m pursuing a PGDE. Thank you

JOHN DOE

a feasibility study for the establishment of rice processing system in (_____)

SHADRACK OBENG YEBOAH

Effect of Leadership, computerized accounting systems, risk management and monitoring on the quality of financial Reports among listed banks

Denford Chimboza

May you assist on a possible PhD topic on analyzing economic behaviours within environmental, climate and energy domains, from a gender perspective. I seek to further investigate if/to which extent policies in these domains can be deemed economically unfair from a gender perspective, and whether the effectiveness of the policies can be increased while striving for inequalities not being perpetuated.

Negessa Abdisa

healthy work environment and employee diversity, technological innovations and their role in management practices, cultural difference affecting advertising, honesty as a company policy, an analysis of the relationships between quality management and customer satisfaction in subscription based business model,business corruption cases. That I was selected from the above topics.

Ngam Leke

Research topic accounting

Suke Phewa

Kindly assist me with a research topic on low income?

Kindly assist me with a research topic on low income? PHD/ Doctoral thesis

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

  • Print Friendly

Connect on WhatsApp: +91 74786 38563 , Uninterrupted Access, 24x7 Availability, 100% Confidential. Connect Now

Student Tips

Mba dissertation help: how to get started and avoid common mistakes.

author

July 21, 2023 • 10 min read

blog image

Completing an MBA dissertation is a significant milestone for business students pursuing their Master of Business Administration degree. This comprehensive research project allows students to demonstrate their knowledge, analytical skills, and ability to apply theoretical concepts to real-world business challenges. However, embarking on an MBA dissertation can be daunting, and many students face common pitfalls that can hinder their progress. In this blog post, we will explore the essential steps to getting started on your MBA dissertation successfully and provide tips to avoid common mistakes.

1. Selecting a Relevant and Feasible Topic

Your MBA journey begins with selecting the ideal dissertation topic, which is the most important step. You will remain motivated and have access to the necessary information and resources if your topic is relevant and practicable. To choose a suitable subject:

a. Explore your Interests: Identify areas of business that genuinely interest you, as this will make the research process more enjoyable and engaging.

b. Assess Research Possibilities: Make sure there is enough literature and research material on the subject to back up your inquiry.

c. Consult with Professors and Professionals: To hone and validate your chosen topic, get input from your professors, academic advisors, and business professionals.

2. Conducting a Thorough Literature Review

Before diving into your research, conduct a comprehensive literature review. A literature review helps you understand the existing research, identify knowledge gaps, and refine your research questions. Here's how to conduct an effective literature review:

a. Utilize Academic Databases: Access reputable academic databases to find peer-reviewed articles, journals, and books relevant to your topic.

b. Analyze and synthesize: To lay a solid groundwork for your research, critically analyze the literature and synthesize the results.

c. Stay Current: To make sure your work is still current and pertinent, keep reviewing the literature as you conduct your research.

3. Developing a Clear Research Question and Objectives

For your MBA dissertation, create a clear research question and a list of precise goals. The research question needs to be precise, well-defined, and able to direct your investigation. The goals will serve as checkpoints along the way of your research.

4. Designing a Robust Methodology

The core of your MBA dissertation is your research methodology. It describes the strategy you'll use to gather and examine data. Depending on your research question, select the best research methodology:

a. Quantitative Research: Use polls, questionnaires, or statistical software to analyse numerical data.

b. Qualitative Research: Use case studies, focus groups, or interviews to gain a deeper understanding.

Mixed-Methods c Research: For some research questions, a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods may be appropriate.

5. Collecting and Analyzing Data

Collecting accurate and relevant data is critical to supporting your research findings. Ensure that your data collection methods align with your chosen research methodology. Then Analyze the data using appropriate statistical or qualitative analysis techniques, depending on the nature of your research papers.

6. Avoiding Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a serious academic offense with grave repercussions. Always give credit to the authors whose work you reference and properly cite your sources. Use tools to check for plagiarism to make sure your work is original.

7. Structuring Your Dissertation Effectively

A well-structured dissertation enhances readability and coherence. Follow a standard structure that typically includes:

a. Title Page

b. Abstract

c. Table of Contents

d. Introduction

e. Literature Review

f. Methodology

g. Results and Analysis

h. Discussion and Conclusion

i. References

j. Appendices

8. Editing and Proofreading

After completing your MBA dissertation, edit and proofread it thoroughly. Look for grammatical errors, clarity of expression, and overall coherence. Seek feedback from peers, professors, or writing centers to improve the quality of your work.

9. Meeting Deadlines and Managing Time

Time management is crucial throughout the dissertation process. Create a timeline with specific milestones to keep yourself on track. Meeting deadlines will prevent last-minute stress and allow ample time for revisions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

1. Lack of Planning: Failing to plan ahead can lead to a disorganized and rushed dissertation process. Start early and create a detailed plan.

2. Overambitious Research: Select a research question that is feasible within the time and resources available.

3. Neglecting the Literature Review: Skipping the literature review can result in redundant research or missing out on valuable insights.

4. Inadequate Data Collection: Ensure your data collection methods are appropriate and gather enough data to support your findings.

5. Unclear Research Question: A poorly formulated research question will hinder your progress and lead to vague results.

6. Poor Referencing: Failing to cite sources properly can lead to accusations of plagiarism and compromise your academic integrity.

7. Lack of Proofreading: Submitting a dissertation with errors reflects poorly on your work and dedication to the research.

Although beginning an MBA dissertation can be intimidating, you can get through the process successfully with careful planning, a specific research question, and a well-organized strategy. Avoiding common errors like inadequate planning, skipping the literature review, or poor data collection will make the process of finishing a top-notch MBA dissertation easier. To improve the calibre of your research, keep in mind to ask professors, academic advisors, and peers for advice at every stage. You can write a fantastic MBA dissertation that demonstrates your knowledge and potential in the business world with perseverance, diligence, and attention to detail.

Our platform has been giving quality services to our students from the very beginning, all thanks to our highly-trained and professional MBA dissertation helper who complete every task with utmost sincerity and dedication by applying all their knowledge to your projects so that you can raise your head confidently while presenting in front of your class. TutorGenix has always been ranked as the best MBA dissertation help in the USA, the UK, Canada, and the UAE. Our MBA project writers will complete your academic reports, essays, homework, and whatnot, so just order us and we will help with everything we’ve got. You will get instant solutions for MBA Subjects or any other subject you need help with as we have 24/7 available tutors.

Stuck With Your Homework? Get Your Homework Done From Our Expert Writers

Is there any desired work length (in words)?

No. of pages (1 page = 250 words)

Fill Your Mobile Number & Get 5$

I accept the T&C and other policies of the website and agree to receive offers and updates.

Useful Links:

  • Homework Help
  • Assignment Help
  • Live Session Help
  • Lab Report Writing
  • Project Report Writing
  • PowerPoint Presentation
  • Case Study Writing
  • Essay Writing
  • Coursework Writing

Related Articles

Zeta Library is legal? You can Download 65,000,000+ scientific articles for free

Zeta Library is legal? You can Download 65,000,000+ scientific articles for free

Aug. 13, 2023 • 10 min read

Nursing Dissertation Help: All That You Want to Know

Nursing Dissertation Help: All That You Want to Know

Aug. 7, 2023 • 10 min read

75 Opinion Writing Prompts For Students

75 Opinion Writing Prompts For Students

June 28, 2023 • 10 min read

Banner

MBA: Masters of Business Administration

  • Financial & Business Web Resources
  • Find Articles Help
  • Search Tips and Tutorials

Finding Dissertations

  • APA Citation Help
  • What is a Literature Review?
  • Find Books and eBooks
  • Get Items from Other Libraries/ILLiad (Interlibrary Loan)

Mobile access available.

  • Wilmington University Institutional Repository - Dissertation Collection This link opens in a new window Browse the most recently digitized dissertations from Wilmington University. This database is freely accessible.
  • Open Dissertations (formerly American Doctoral Dissertations) This link opens in a new window

Database contains open access content.

  • << Previous: Search Tips and Tutorials
  • Next: APA Citation Help >>
  • Last Updated: Jul 1, 2024 3:36 PM
  • Guide URL: https://libguides.wilmu.edu/MBA

mba dissertation guide

Banner

MBA Candidates' Guide

Key resources, journal articles & databases, literature reviews, research methodology, writing your thesis, referencing and endnote.

  • Need help? This link opens in a new window

Key databases

  • Business Source Complete (Ebsco) This link opens in a new window Full text coverage of more than 2300 journals in all disciplines of business including economics. The database also includes country economic reports from the EIU, Global Insight, ICON Group and CountryWatch and detailed company profiles for the world's 10,000 largest companies.
  • Emerald This link opens in a new window Covers a wide range of business topics including economics. For full text retrieval, check the 'Search only my subscribed journals' radio button.

Useful sites

Here are some helpful websites with advice from experienced academics.

Introduction to business resources tutorial

Click on the arrows on the bottom right of the window to expand to full screen.

Some useful books to help you get started.

mba dissertation guide

Searching for scholarly information

  • ProQuest This link opens in a new window This is a multidisciplinary group of databases which include a large number of business journals. To select particular economic databases such as ABI/INFORM from the ProQuest collection, click the 'Databases selected' link on the top left hand corner of the Advanced search screen.

Australia map

  • JSTOR - Arts and Sciences This link opens in a new window Jstor includes archives of academic journals across the humanities, social sciences, and sciences, as well as select monographs and other materials valuable for academic work
  • ScienceDirect This link opens in a new window Elsevier and other full text journals are covered from the core scientific and social science literature, including high-impact factor titles
  • OECD iLibrary SCU no longer subscribes to OECD iLibrary. However, it is freely available through The National Library of Australia, The State Library of QLD, and The State Library of NSW. You will need to register/become a member first to gain access.

  Find a peer-reviewed Journal

A peer reviewed journal contains articles that have been reviewed by a panel of experts prior to publication.

When you search various Databases you may have an option to restrict your search to scholarly / peer-reviewed / academic articles.

Check Ulrichsweb to see whether a journal is peer reviewed. Search for the name of the journal and the academic gown symbol.

This Library video shows you exactly what to look for.

Google Scholar

Change your settings so that  Find it @ SCU  links automatically appear within  Google Scholar  in your search results:

  • Click the three horizontal lines (top left) then go to  Settings  (the cog at the bottom of the list)
  • Click  Library links
  • Type in  Southern Cross University  and click the search button
  • Tick  Southern Cross University - Find it @ SCU

If you use EndNote, under  Bibliography Manager , select  EndNote .  Click  Save . To retain these settings, you must turn on cookies in your browser settings.

Google Scholar Search

Library collections search

Search the library collections in a new window, or use the search box below to enter author, title or subject keywords:

Top tips for effective searching in the library collections (vid. 2 min.):

ResearchReady

Requesting an InterLibrary Loan

  • First check the SCU Catalogue to see if your book is in our collection. If it does not, then you can request that we borrow a copy from another library for you.
  • To do this click the Request Non-SCU item  link which appears in the Catalogue screen. Our friendly staff then locate a library which holds the book.
  • For postgraduate students there is no charge for this service if the item is held in another Australian library.

Searching the library collections

mba dissertation guide

Skills for searching the literature

A good search strategy is essential to get the best results and to feel confident that you have found all relevant material for your Literature Review.

See  Database search tips for helpful, timesaving tips.

Finding and searching using the most appropriate  descriptor or subject heading  in a database ensures you find ALL the relevant material on that topic within that database.    

Keep records of where you search and what search terms you used, so you don't waste time repeating searches at a later date!

Checklist of sources for your literature review

In order to be sure you have done a really comprehensive search of the literature, here is a checklist of sources/types of information for you to use.  

Books :  Search the SCU catalogue and  Libraries Australia which searches ALL library catalogues throughout Australia. The National Library of Australia and all the State Libraries are deposit libraries, so you can be sure you are seeing everything that has been published in Australia, including theses, reports and conference papers. Request an Inter-Library Loan for items not held at SCU. (Note: not available to offshore students.)

Electronic books : Search in the SCU catalogue and limit your results to "Available Online" and "Books." 

Journal literature : Use  databases to find relevant scholarly articles that are unavailable without an SCU login. To find suitable databases for your subject area, see the subject guides . Databases searches are essential to ensure that you have retrieved all relevant literature in your field. Google Scholar can also be used to locate articles. 

Citation databases : e.g. Scopus and Web of Science allow you to trace the works of particular authors and provides citations to related articles. These sources provide both peer-reviewed research literature and quality web resources.

Websites of Organisations often contain useful links to other quality web resources. Find a key organisation in your subject area (government agency, nongovernmental organisation, scholarly society, research institute, professional or business association). Find their website and look for links.

Statistics  are available online from a number of organisations. Supporting your argument with statistics can be a powerful tool for any researcher.

Grey Literature - Unpublished source material is an essential resource for some research projects but is often extremely difficult to locate and access. See our Grey Literature Library Guide or your Liaison Librarian for assistance.

Start with books

mba dissertation guide

Australian Theses

  • SCU Library Collecttions The Library holds at least one copy of Southern Cross University higher degree theses (Master by Research and Doctorate) and some Honours' theses. One copy of each thesis is kept in the Library Archives. The second copy of the thesis, if available, is kept in the Thesis Collection for loan. A small number of theses from other institutions are in the general collection.

Borrowing Theses

Once you know the details of a thesis, how do you obtain the thesis? Here is a summary of what to do:

  • Search the catalogue to find out if it is available for loan in the Library collection.
  • Browse or search Trove  or SCU's institutional repository,  Cross Connect , to see if it is available online.
  • For theses not held at SCU Library and not available online, contact the library Document Supply Service for assistance as they may be able to borrow the thesis from another library.

mba dissertation guide

  • Basic Business Research Methods
  • Respect: professional and ethical codes for socio economic research in the information society
  • Consumer research methods

mba dissertation guide

  • How to write a dissertation or Bedtime reading for people who do not have time to sleep
  • Understanding Research Methods - what to consider in topic selection?
  • How to write a thesis

Helpful books for referencing

mba dissertation guide

Style guides / referencing - Harvard

The School of Business and Tourism uses the Harvard referencing style.

For information on referencing please consult the SCU Library Harvard Referencing Style Guide online.

There are some tools available to help with referencing - once you are familiar with the Harvard style itself.  You might like to explore our EndNote LibGuide and familiarise yourself with this reference management software.

  • EndNote libguide

EndNote - referencing software

Why use EndNote?

  • EndNote is a brilliant time saver.
  • EndNote stores all of your references in one place, including files like pdfs.
  • EndNote can make a bibliography in any style you want, like Harvard, APA, Vancouver, Chicago, AGLC footnotes, or styles required for publishing in a wide range of journals.
  • You can make extensive notes about each reference in EndNote in preparation for your literature review.
  • You don't even have to type the reference details in yourself; you can transfer the information from library databases or catalogues, or Google Scholar.

EndNote is free to SCU staff and students.

Go to the EndNote LibGuide for further information and to download the software.

  • Last Updated: Apr 24, 2024 9:49 AM
  • URL: https://libguides.scu.edu.au/MBAcandidates

Southern Cross University acknowledges and pays respect to the ancestors, Elders and descendants of the Lands upon which we meet and study. We are mindful that within and without the buildings, these Lands always were and always will be Aboriginal Land.

Banner

Unicaf: Master of Business Administration (MBA): Dissertation

  • Organization Behaviour
  • Managing Strategic Change
  • Strategic Marketing
  • Managing Through Finance
  • Consultancy Management
  • Project Management
  • Research Methods
  • Dissertation
  • Databases, Journals and Specialist Websites
  • Using Images and Videos
  • Referencing This link opens in a new window
  • Books and eBooks
  • Assignment Toolkit

mba dissertation guide

Welcome to your Dissertation  Reading and Resource List. Here you will find your essential and recommended reading, as well as suggested Journals and Online Resources. 

Please be advised that not all of your essential and recommended reading is available through the University of Suffolk. 

Essential Reading

Cover Art

Recommended Reading

Cover Art

  • Review Essay: Studying Organizations Ethnographically: Is ‘organizational’ ethnography distinctive? by Yanow, Dvora Publication Date: 2010 Organization Studies, 31(9) 1397-1410
  • << Previous: Research Methods
  • Next: Subject Guide >>
  • Last Updated: Jun 12, 2024 9:05 AM
  • URL: https://libguides.uos.ac.uk/unicaf/mba

➔ About the Library

➔ Meet the Team

➔ Customer Service Charter

➔ Library Policies & Regulations

➔ Privacy & Data Protection

Essential Links

➔ A-Z of eResources

➔ Frequently Asked Questions

➔Discover the Library

➔Referencing Help

➔ Print & Copy Services

➔ Service Updates

Library & Learning Services, University of Suffolk, Library Building, Long Street, Ipswich, IP4 1QJ

✉ Email Us: [email protected]

✆ Call Us: +44 (0)1473 3 38700

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

  • Knowledge Base
  • Dissertation

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

Structure of a Dissertation

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

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

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

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

Download Word template Download Google Docs template

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

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

upload-your-document-ai-proofreader

Table of contents

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

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

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

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

Don't submit your assignments before you do this

The academic proofreading tool has been trained on 1000s of academic texts. Making it the most accurate and reliable proofreading tool for students. Free citation check included.

mba dissertation guide

Try for free

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

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

Dissertation examples

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

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

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

Read more about title pages

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

Read more about acknowledgements Read more about prefaces

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

  • Academic style
  • Vague sentences
  • Style consistency

See an example

mba dissertation guide

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

Your abstract should:

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

Read more about abstracts

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

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

Read more about tables of contents

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

Read more about lists of figures and tables

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

Read more about lists of abbreviations

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

Read more about glossaries

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

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

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

Read more about introductions

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

Literature reviews encompass:

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

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

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

Read more about literature reviews

Theoretical framework

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

Read more about theoretical frameworks

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

A methodology section should generally include:

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

Read more about methodology sections

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

Your results section should:

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

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

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

Some guiding questions include:

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

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

Read more about discussion sections

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

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

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

Read more about conclusions

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

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

Create APA citations Create MLA citations

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

Read more about appendices

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

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

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

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

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

Checklist: Dissertation

My title page includes all information required by my university.

I have included acknowledgements thanking those who helped me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I have concisely and objectively reported all relevant results .

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

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

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

I have provided relevant recommendations for further research or practice.

If relevant, I have included appendices with supplemental information.

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

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

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

I have followed all formatting guidelines provided by my university.

Congratulations!

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

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

Open Google Slides Download PowerPoint

Is this article helpful?

Other students also liked.

  • How to Write a Literature Review | Guide, Examples, & Templates
  • Dissertation Table of Contents in Word | Instructions & Examples
  • How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | 8 Steps to Follow

More interesting articles

  • Checklist: Writing a dissertation
  • Dissertation & Thesis Outline | Example & Free Templates
  • Dissertation Binding and Printing | Options, Tips, & Comparison
  • Example of a dissertation abstract
  • Figure and Table Lists | Word Instructions, Template & Examples
  • How to Write a Discussion Section | Tips & Examples
  • How to Write a Dissertation or Thesis Proposal
  • How to Write a Results Section | Tips & Examples
  • How to Write a Thesis or Dissertation Conclusion
  • How to Write a Thesis or Dissertation Introduction
  • How to Write an Abstract | Steps & Examples
  • How to Write Recommendations in Research | Examples & Tips
  • List of Abbreviations | Example, Template & Best Practices
  • Operationalization | A Guide with Examples, Pros & Cons
  • Prize-Winning Thesis and Dissertation Examples
  • Purpose and structure of an advisory report
  • Relevance of Your Dissertation Topic | Criteria & Tips
  • Research Paper Appendix | Example & Templates
  • Shorten your abstract or summary
  • Theoretical Framework Example for a Thesis or Dissertation
  • Thesis & Dissertation Acknowledgements | Tips & Examples
  • Thesis & Dissertation Database Examples
  • Thesis & Dissertation Title Page | Free Templates & Examples
  • What is a Dissertation Preface? | Definition & Examples
  • What is a Glossary? | Definition, Templates, & Examples
  • What Is a Research Methodology? | Steps & Tips
  • What Is a Theoretical Framework? | Guide to Organizing
  • What Is a Thesis? | Ultimate Guide & Examples

"I thought AI Proofreading was useless but.."

I've been using Scribbr for years now and I know it's a service that won't disappoint. It does a good job spotting mistakes”

  • Essay Writing
  • Dissertation Writing
  • Assignment Writing
  • Report Writing
  • Literature Review
  • Proposal Writing
  • Poster and Presentation Writing Service
  • PhD Writing Service
  • Coursework Writing
  • Tutoring Service
  • Exam Notes Writing Service

Editing and Proofreading Service

Technical and Statistical Services

  • Appeals and Re-Submissions

Personal Statement Writing Service

  • Sample Dissertations
  • Sample Essays
  • Free Products

Complete Guide to Writing an MBA Dissertation

MBA dissertation writing  is a combination of art and craft. On the one hand, university committees usually base their appraisals on the novelty of your topic, the interesting choice of study participants, and the practical contribution of your research. These are the things that make or break dissertation projects and should be your key focus with writing your work. On the other hand, the devil is in the detail and we have seen many students lose valuable points or going through multiple re-writes due to missing some important elements related to submission requirements or format requirements. When you have invested months of hard work in a single endeavour, you may feel tired, absent-minded, and willing to get over it as soon as possible. The key to overcoming this ‘last mile’ barrier is to use a clearly structured plan to be 100% sure that no critical elements have been missed.

The following dissertation check-list covers all key aspects you need to inspect to leave no room for failure. It covers all your journey starting from choosing a topic to developing a final presentation for your thesis defence. Feel free to head straight to the section that is of highest relevance to the dissertation writing phase you are presently at.

research

Starting an MBA Dissertation

The best way to avoid problems is to prevent their emergence right from the start. An MBA dissertation project is usually a large-scale endeavour spanning over many months and requiring a lot of time and other resources to complete. Starting it without a plan is an academic suicide, which is confirmed by relatively high failure rates in this sphere. If we rephrase this idea in a positive light, writing a dissertation should be the pinnacle of your academic journey as an MBA student. Hence, you need to design an optimal plan for maximising your ‘return on investment’ ratio. Anyone can complete an MBA dissertation by disrupting their work/live balance and throwing oneself at this challenge. The trick is to achieve similar results without burning out and wasting a lot of unnecessary resources on the things that do not contribute to the end result.

In this section, we will analyse several aspects of such planning that can literally save you from weeks of frustrating rewrites and sub-optimal academic outcomes. Some of these recommendations may be related to your personal skills and competencies while others may be associated with your external activities and university arrangements. While you may choose to skip some of them due to your personal preferences, their simultaneous use creates a synergistic effect ensuring your future success as a dissertation writer. There are few things more frustrating than having to alter some of your main structural elements in the middle of your project while missing some intermediary deadlines as a result. A good beginning is half the battle, which is why you may opt for investing several weeks into the elements in this section to have a seamless academic journey afterwards.

MBA Dissertation Topics Selection

Choosing a research topic is, perhaps, the most important decision that can be made by any student starting their dissertation journey. An MBA project may involve a wide range of possible spheres to explore, which frequently creates a false sense of confidence. However, amateur dissertation writers easily overlook a number of crucial elements such as:

  • Supervisor’s knowledge of a particular sphere.
  • Supervisor’s willingness to explore certain topics.
  • Your capability to reach specific audiences and collect primary data.
  • The amount of resources you can spend on this project.
  • The presence of competing projects in the same field.

Selecting a suitable MBA dissertation topic is a challenging task even for experienced dissertation writers since there are multiple concepts and spheres that are worth exploring. The best tactic is to look for multiple ideas in order to have several alternative options by the moment you choose to confirm one of them with your supervisor. Research available academic journals, course materials, newspapers and other media to prepare a short list of what topics you find meaningful and engaging.

Next, take your time deciding whether it is important enough to tackle and what will be the focus of your research. Although it may seem irrelevant at this stage, you should also think of appropriate methods. This practice can save you from a world of trouble down the road as many students identify that their topic is not manageable from a methodological standpoint in the middle of their dissertation-writing project.

essay_writing

As soon as you have a list of 3-5 topics, you may choose to discuss them with:

  • Potential supervisors.
  • Dissertation writing experts.
  • Academic practitioners.
  • Fellow students.

These extra opinions can really help you narrow down your topic focus or prioritise some of the options on your list. The presence of multiple opportunities also allows you to negotiate with your prospective supervisors and ensure that you both find a certain ideas interesting for research.

Check the Requirements of your MBA Dissertation

While this recommendation may seem obvious, we have seen many students losing their hard-earned marks due to some silly mistakes related to formatting and referencing rules or incorrect word count distribution between the sections. These issues usually do not lead to a complete fail but may be highly detrimental if you want to write a first-class MBA dissertation. Here is how you can prevent such problems right from the start:

  • Make sure to study all module handbooks and ethics protocols provided by your university.
  • Take a look at format requirements such as font types and sizes, page margins and referencing style.
  • Make a list of key recommendations and insert the section word count in the headings of all MBA dissertation
  • Mark all potentially ambiguous requirements and clarify them with your supervisor before starting your writing process.

If you choose to follow a single rule from this section, this is the one to prioritise. Remember that the devil is in the detail and what may seem trivial at first sight can have a strong impact on the overall quality of your dissertation in the end. There is nothing worse than losing some points due to formatting mistakes or other minor errors that could have been omitted with 5 minutes spent on compiling the aforementioned lists of requirements.

mba dissertation guide

Select Your Research Methods

Your MBA dissertation can proceed via multiple routes depending on a number of factors:

  • Your preference for secondary (desk research) or primary (interviews/surveys/observations) research strategies.
  • The selected problems and the data necessary for answering your dissertation questions.
  • Your focus on unique industry experts or large samples of non-unique population members.
  • The resources available to you/
  • Respondent availability and accessibility.

As soon as you have a realistic MBA dissertation topic, you need to also develop your research aim, objectives, and questions and think about the ways to address them. This understanding is crucial for further discussions with your supervisor and the development of your proposal.

Finalise Your MBA Dissertation Structure

Most MBA projects have common structures, which allows you to plan their completion in advance. Here is a list of common elements you should include in most dissertation scenarios.

  • Executive Summary
  • Introduction
  • Dissertation Hypotheses
  • Methodology
  • Conclusions
  • Recommendations
  • Reference List

Make sure that your structure is in line with your university requirements and write down specific word count distribution per section. As discussed below, you do not need to complete all sections while creating your first draft. Specifically, your Executive Summary, Introduction, and Conclusion may be delayed until the revision phase to make them more specific in relation to the results you obtain.

mba dissertation guide

Develop a Plan

Any previously submitted dissertation proposal usually involves a Gantt chart outlining how you are going to spend the following weeks and months working on your MBA dissertation project. While many students tend to write some approximate dates in this document in a random manner, we would advise you to treat it seriously. Actually, we would suggest that you should take it one step further:

  • Write a list of dissertation sections you have to create.
  • Make a list of smaller objectives you have to complete to finish each one.
  • Write down approximate duration of specific activities and the resources you need.
  • Discuss the final plan with your supervisor or a professional dissertation writing service.

A good plan is your safety belt. You may not need it at all times but it can save your life in a critical situation by keeping you on track. Developing such document also ensures that you are fully aware of all aspects of dissertation-writing before you even start. Down the road, this allows you to focus on the most crucial parts and not waste your time on refining the elements that do not contribute much to the final result.

Find the Right Supervisor

Having the right supervisor can give you a great advantage in writing your dissertation. If there is a choice, consider someone who has a reputation for getting students through. You should select the most academically and socially engaged supervisor who really pays attention to the requirements for the degree, clearly understands the process, and can provide you with the right advice. If you struggle to understand your tutor and still have questions about the dissertation writing process, don’t be shy to apply for our tutoring service. Some supervisors simply don’t have enough time to give a quality consultation to each student.

dissertation survival guide

Have a Plan B

The best way to avoid contingencies is to accept the possibility of their emergence. Here is a list of risk management strategies that will protect you from harm even in the worst-case scenario:

  • Investigate how your university handles extensions in the case of submission delays or personal barriers to a timely completion of MBA dissertations.
  • Explore whether you can change your supervisor in the middle of your research project.
  • Find a reliable custom dissertation writing service that can give you a second opinion in a complex situation.

If we could provide a single recommendation on how to write your dissertation, we would suggest that you should thoroughly plan it from the onset. A well-designed research project is a self-fulfilling prophecy that virtually writes itself into existence. You start with a well-designed and unique topic that is supported by realistic and measurable objectives that can be addressed with convenient and reliable methodological instruments. It still takes time and effort but the amount of back-and-forth is rather small and you can easily plan your dissertation work and seamlessly integrate it into your personal life without major conflicts. Many students reverse this order and start with writing some sections of their projects while revising their research objectives or adjusting their topic along the way. This strategy is clearly sub-optimal and will never result in a coherent study with a clearly outlined main argument. Hence, your primary goal is to seek professional guidance and lay this foundation right. 15 Writers team are happy to offer help with dissertation writing and share our know-how in achieving top marks. Don’t hesitate to check our dissertation writing samples to make sure we provide the best academic service. You can start with a dissertation proposal to avoid the risk of ordering a full project at once. If you need help with your proposal, check out our dissertation proposal writing services .

Rolling Up Your Sleeves: Writing the First Draft

The next checklist allows you to create a ‘rough draft’ of your MBA dissertation. Aim for 80% of the word count per section and address all key requirements found earlier. The goal of this phase is to get you ‘almost there’ in terms of your readiness but leave some space for further revisions and additions. There are multiple reasons for pursuing this strategy, namely:

  • You simply cannot get everything right at the first attempt. Most likely, further revisions will add new insights, links, and ideas.
  • Writing an effective Introduction or Conclusion section usually requires a finished work to integrate signposting elements and directly refer to your findings.
  • An almost completed draft leaves enough space to embed an overarching line of argument, which is why we reserve some space for such additions.
  • You may choose to move some parts of your text to the Appendices during further revisions or otherwise adjust your initial work.

writing

The following points should help you create an ‘80% draft’ that should get you a ‘pass’ mark with minimal revisions even in the worst-case scenario. As noted earlier, we will improve it during the following phase of your MBA dissertation writing process.

  • Make sure that all essential sections of the work are included. These are Abstract, Acknowledgements, Table of Contents, Lists of Tables and Figures, Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Analysis and Findings, Conclusion, List of References, and Appendix.
  • Your Literature Review must clearly outline the key theories you rely on and present the conceptual framework of your study. You may want to revise its contents to better align them with the overall course of your dissertation.
  • Including a table of key theories and authors at the end of your Literature Review may be a good idea for improving readability. It also makes referring to them easier when you are writing your Discussion chapter. If you are struggling with your literature review, our literature review services can guide you.
  • The Methodology section must have a table of variables for a quantitative study and a clear description of all utilised methods and instruments.
  • Make sure that you have discussed all threats to validity and reliability.
  • Your analysis process must be clearly defined. Ideally, any other researcher in your field must be able to follow it and obtain similar results.
  • The Analysis chapter must include all key figures and tables presenting your results.
  • The Discussion should refer to all critical sources and theories from your Literature Review.
  • The Conclusion and Recommendations section must revise your objectives and clearly demonstrate how you addressed them.
  • All tables and figures should have headings and be referred to in the main text. Also, if they were taken from other sources, these sources should be mentioned below the tables and figures, as well as in the reference list.

Moving On: Revising Your Draft

As soon as you have finished writing your first draft, you need to complete two separate tasks. On the one hand, you have to thoroughly proof-read and edit it in order to identify some missing elements and improve its overall quality. This part primarily refers to the revision of your main sections and may involve ‘going back to the drawing board’ if some crucial sections must be improved or replaced. Usually, such problems are associated with the coherence of your main argument across all chapters and the quality of your Analysis chapter.

On the other hand, your final dissertation draft must include a number of auxiliary sections such as the Abstract, the Acknowledgements, Appendices, informed consent forms, ethics forms, and other obligatory parts. During this phase, we need to add them to your document and appraise what additional elements can be added to improve the readability of your work.

  • The Abstract is usually the first part of the dissertation which is placed before the table of contents but is written last. The abstract is a short overview of the whole dissertation which provides the very gist of the research and its main outcomes.
  • The Acknowledgements are also written after finishing the main text of the thesis so that you could have a chance to acknowledge those who helped you in your research or supervision.
  • When writing Acknowledgements, common courtesy is to express gratitude to your tutor, the members of the committee, your faculty, and any other people who helped you with writing your work.
  • If necessary, provide a list of Acronyms and/or Definitions before your main body to facilitate readability.
  • The Introduction chapter shows the relevance of the topic, the background, formulates the  aim and objectives  and shows your MBA dissertation structure. You may want to revise it after completing the dissertation to make it more specific and enticing to the readers.
  • The Conclusion summarises the work by showing whether the aim and objectives were attained in the study. Make sure that all of them are discussed with reference to your results and prior studies.
  • Add signposting wherever possible to make your dissertation more articulate even for non-specialists.
  • To write a 1 st  standard dissertation, you should outline the key contributions to academics and practitioners.
  • Discuss all key limitations of your project in detail.
  • Make sure that you have all signed informed consent forms necessary to confirm your compliance with the ethical standards of your institution.

study

Finishing Your MBA Dissertation

The final inspection should explore all aspects that need to be considered prior to submitting your dissertation. It will be most valuable when you have already completed your document draft and are preparing it for final submission. The recommendations in the check-list address all key parts of dissertation projects. However, you should also revise your dissertation requirements since some universities have custom requirements in terms of submission procedures, referencing styles, document formatting, and the use of visual materials and appendices. Overall, this process can be subdivided into two parts.

Content Revision

This part needs to ensure that your draft meets all applicable requirements in terms of its grammar, style, section contents, and other constituent elements.

  • The main chapters of the thesis expose in detail what is done in the study and how it is done. The narrative should be logical and consistent, critical and without mistakes.
  • The text of the thesis should be formatted according to the requirements of the university; make sure that each page, as well as each table and figure, is numbered.
  • Check if the Reference list includes all sources mentioned in the text and is consistent in style through the work.
  • Make sure that all of your figures and tables are properly referenced.
  • Make sure that your Appendices contain all relevant elements such as questionnaire forms, informed consent forms, additional figures, and interview transcirpts.
  • Read your dissertation from the beginning to the end in one sitting. Your text should lay out a clear line of argument following a consistent flow at the level of sentences, paragraphs, and sections.
  • Check the word count for all sections if it is specified by your university requirements.
  • Proofread all text and format spacing and font consistently. Use both electronic and printed copies to avoid the ‘bleary eyes’ effect.
  • Check your title page and its formatting.
  • Analyse your implications for practice and make sure that you have suggested sufficient examples of how your dissertation findings may be valuable to industry practitioners.
  • Suggest future research directions and clearly outline how your fellow researchers can expand your analysis and address its limitations and knowledge gaps.

report-writing-service

Technical Aspects

This final part of the checklist ensures that your dissertation is fine from a technical standpoint. While problems of this kind are relatively rare, having a backup plan for such circumstances may not be a bad thing.

  • Try to open your dissertation file on several computers before submission. This will allow you to identify any bugs or compatibility problems.
  • If possible, submit the document in PDF. This will ensure its integrity and compatibility with most computer systems. Traditional file formats such as .doc or .docx in Microsoft Office may introduce formatting problems if the software version of the reviewers is different from the one used by you.
  • Check if all figures in your document are embedded JPG or PNG files. Avoid using cross-referenced elements in submitted work.
  • Write the necessary declarations such as the statement confirming that you are submitting this dissertation paper for the first time and other applicable documents required by your university.
  • Leave at least three days for binding your dissertation to reserve the time for any page replacements or similar changes.
  • Make sure that the document was uploaded successfully and received by your university.
  • Use the spare time to prepare for your future defence.

If you struggle with any of the aforementioned elements of MBA dissertation writing, you can use our website to get MBA dissertation help online , browse through some MBA dissertation examples or explore our sample MBA dissertation topics. Our academic writers are a team of industry professionals that have supervised hundreds of projects in this sphere in the past. We offer 100% satisfaction guarantees for all of our services including dissertation writing, essay writing, and assignment help. You can also order individual elements such as MBA project topics or individual chapters. We may assist you with any part of your dissertation you presently struggle with or offer a second opinion to appraise whether your current choices are suitable for writing a 1 st standard dissertation.

Monday - Friday:   9am - 6pm

Saturday: 10am - 6pm

Got Questions?

Email:  [email protected]

*We do NOT use AI (ChatGPT or similar), all orders are custom written by real people.

Our Services

Essay Writing Service

Assignment Writing Service

Coursework Writing Service

Report Writing Service

Reflective Report Writing Service

Literature Review Writing Service

Dissertation Proposal Writing Service

Dissertation Writing Service

MBA Writing Service

safe_payments_new (1)

  • Home »

find your perfect postgrad program Search our Database of 30,000 Courses

How to write a masters dissertation or thesis: top tips.

How to write a masters dissertation

It is completely normal to find the idea of writing a masters thesis or dissertation slightly daunting, even for students who have written one before at undergraduate level. Though, don’t feel put off by the idea. You’ll have plenty of time to complete it, and plenty of support from your supervisor and peers.

One of the main challenges that students face is putting their ideas and findings into words. Writing is a skill in itself, but with the right advice, you’ll find it much easier to get into the flow of writing your masters thesis or dissertation.

We’ve put together a step-by-step guide on how to write a dissertation or thesis for your masters degree, with top tips to consider at each stage in the process.

1. Understand your dissertation or thesis topic

There are slight differences between theses and dissertations , although both require a high standard of writing skill and knowledge in your topic. They are also formatted very similarly.

At first, writing a masters thesis can feel like running a 100m race – the course feels very quick and like there is not as much time for thinking! However, you’ll usually have a summer semester dedicated to completing your dissertation – giving plenty of time and space to write a strong academic piece.

By comparison, writing a PhD thesis can feel like running a marathon, working on the same topic for 3-4 years can be laborious. But in many ways, the approach to both of these tasks is quite similar.

Before writing your masters dissertation, get to know your research topic inside out. Not only will understanding your topic help you conduct better research, it will also help you write better dissertation content.

Also consider the main purpose of your dissertation. You are writing to put forward a theory or unique research angle – so make your purpose clear in your writing.

Top writing tip: when researching your topic, look out for specific terms and writing patterns used by other academics. It is likely that there will be a lot of jargon and important themes across research papers in your chosen dissertation topic. 

How to write a thesis

2. Structure your dissertation or thesis

Writing a thesis is a unique experience and there is no general consensus on what the best way to structure it is. 

As a postgraduate student , you’ll probably decide what kind of structure suits your research project best after consultation with your supervisor. You’ll also have a chance to look at previous masters students’ theses in your university library.

To some extent, all postgraduate dissertations are unique. Though they almost always consist of chapters. The number of chapters you cover will vary depending on the research. 

A masters dissertation or thesis organised into chapters would typically look like this: 

Section

Description

Title page

The opening page includes all relevant information about the project.

Abstract

A brief project summary including background, methodology and findings.

Contents

A list of chapters and figures from your project.

Chapter 1 – Background

A description of the rationale behind your project.

Chapter 2 – Literature Review

A summary and evaluation of the literature supporting your project.

Chapter 3 – Methodology

A description of the specific methodology used in your project.

Chapter 4-6 – Data analysis and Findings

An overview of the key findings and data from your research.

Chapter 7 - Discussion and Evaluation

A description of what the data means and what you can draw from the findings.

Chapter 8 - Conclusion

Main summary of your overall project and key findings.

Bibliography

A list of the references cited in your dissertation or thesis.

Appendices

Additional materials used in your research.

Write down your structure and use these as headings that you’ll write for later on.

Top writing tip : ease each chapter together with a paragraph that links the end of a chapter to the start of a new chapter. For example, you could say something along the lines of “in the next section, these findings are evaluated in more detail”. This makes it easier for the reader to understand each chapter and helps your writing flow better.

3. Write up your literature review

One of the best places to start when writing your masters dissertation is with the literature review. This involves researching and evaluating existing academic literature in order to identify any gaps for your own research.

Many students prefer to write the literature review chapter first, as this is where several of the underpinning theories and concepts exist. This section helps set the stage for the rest of your dissertation, and will help inform the writing of your other dissertation chapters.

What to include in your literature review

The literature review chapter is more than just a summary of existing research, it is an evaluation of how this research has informed your own unique research.

Demonstrate how the different pieces of research fit together. Are there overlapping theories? Are there disagreements between researchers?

Highlight the gap in the research. This is key, as a dissertation is mostly about developing your own unique research. Is there an unexplored avenue of research? Has existing research failed to disprove a particular theory?

Back up your methodology. Demonstrate why your methodology is appropriate by discussing where it has been used successfully in other research.

4. Write up your research

Write up your thesis research

For instance, a more theoretical-based research topic might encompass more writing from a philosophical perspective. Qualitative data might require a lot more evaluation and discussion than quantitative research. 

Methodology chapter

The methodology chapter is all about how you carried out your research and which specific techniques you used to gather data. You should write about broader methodological approaches (e.g. qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods), and then go into more detail about your chosen data collection strategy. 

Data collection strategies include things like interviews, questionnaires, surveys, content analyses, discourse analyses and many more.

Data analysis and findings chapters

The data analysis or findings chapter should cover what you actually discovered during your research project. It should be detailed, specific and objective (don’t worry, you’ll have time for evaluation later on in your dissertation)

Write up your findings in a way that is easy to understand. For example, if you have a lot of numerical data, this could be easier to digest in tables.

This will make it easier for you to dive into some deeper analysis in later chapters. Remember, the reader will refer back to your data analysis section to cross-reference your later evaluations against your actual findings – so presenting your data in a simple manner is beneficial.

Think about how you can segment your data into categories. For instance, it can be useful to segment interview transcripts by interviewee. 

Top writing tip : write up notes on how you might phrase a certain part of the research. This will help bring the best out of your writing. There is nothing worse than when you think of the perfect way to phrase something and then you completely forget it.

5. Discuss and evaluate

Once you’ve presented your findings, it’s time to evaluate and discuss them.

It might feel difficult to differentiate between your findings and discussion sections, because you are essentially talking about the same data. The easiest way to remember the difference is that your findings simply present the data, whereas your discussion tells the story of this data.

Your evaluation breaks the story down, explaining the key findings, what went well and what didn’t go so well.

In your discussion chapter, you’ll have chance to expand on the results from your findings section. For example, explain what certain numbers mean and draw relationships between different pieces of data.

Top writing tip: don’t be afraid to point out the shortcomings of your research. You will receive higher marks for writing objectively. For example, if you didn’t receive as many interview responses as expected, evaluate how this has impacted your research and findings. Don’t let your ego get in the way!

6. Write your introduction

Your introduction sets the scene for the rest of your masters dissertation. You might be wondering why writing an introduction isn't at the start of our step-by-step list, and that’s because many students write this chapter last.

Here’s what your introduction chapter should cover:

Problem statement

Research question

Significance of your research

This tells the reader what you’ll be researching as well as its importance. You’ll have a good idea of what to include here from your original dissertation proposal , though it’s fairly common for research to change once it gets started.

Writing or at least revisiting this section last can be really helpful, since you’ll have a more well-rounded view of what your research actually covers once it has been completed and written up.

How to write a masters dissertation

Masters dissertation writing tips

When to start writing your thesis or dissertation.

When you should start writing your masters thesis or dissertation depends on the scope of the research project and the duration of your course. In some cases, your research project may be relatively short and you may not be able to write much of your thesis before completing the project. 

But regardless of the nature of your research project and of the scope of your course, you should start writing your thesis or at least some of its sections as early as possible, and there are a number of good reasons for this:

Academic writing is about practice, not talent. The first steps of writing your dissertation will help you get into the swing of your project. Write early to help you prepare in good time.

Write things as you do them. This is a good way to keep your dissertation full of fresh ideas and ensure that you don’t forget valuable information.

The first draft is never perfect. Give yourself time to edit and improve your dissertation. It’s likely that you’ll need to make at least one or two more drafts before your final submission.

Writing early on will help you stay motivated when writing all subsequent drafts.

Thinking and writing are very connected. As you write, new ideas and concepts will come to mind. So writing early on is a great way to generate new ideas.

How to improve your writing skills

The best way of improving your dissertation or thesis writing skills is to:

 Finish the first draft of your masters thesis as early as possible and send it to your supervisor for revision. Your supervisor will correct your draft and point out any writing errors. This process will be repeated a few times which will help you recognise and correct writing mistakes yourself as time progresses.

If you are not a native English speaker, it may be useful to ask your English friends to read a part of your thesis and warn you about any recurring writing mistakes. Read our section on English language support for more advice. 

Most universities have writing centres that offer writing courses and other kinds of support for postgraduate students. Attending these courses may help you improve your writing and meet other postgraduate students with whom you will be able to discuss what constitutes a well-written thesis.

Read academic articles and search for writing resources on the internet. This will help you adopt an academic writing style, which will eventually become effortless with practice.

Keep track of your bibliography 

Keep track of your bibliography

The easiest way to keep the track of all the articles you have read for your research is to create a database where you can summarise each article/chapter into a few most important bullet points to help you remember their content. 

Another useful tool for doing this effectively is to learn how to use specific reference management software (RMS) such as EndNote. RMS is relatively simple to use and saves a lot of time when it comes to organising your bibliography. This may come in very handy, especially if your reference section is suspiciously missing two hours before you need to submit your dissertation! 

Avoid accidental plagiarism

Plagiarism may cost you your postgraduate degree and it is important that you consciously avoid it when writing your thesis or dissertation. 

Occasionally, postgraduate students commit plagiarism unintentionally. This can happen when sections are copy and pasted from journal articles they are citing instead of simply rephrasing them. Whenever you are presenting information from another academic source, make sure you reference the source and avoid writing the statement exactly as it is written in the original paper.

What kind of format should your thesis have?

How to write a masters dissertation

Read your university’s guidelines before you actually start writing your thesis so you don’t have to waste time changing the format further down the line. However in general, most universities will require you to use 1.5-2 line spacing, font size 12 for text, and to print your thesis on A4 paper. These formatting guidelines may not necessarily result in the most aesthetically appealing thesis, however beauty is not always practical, and a nice looking thesis can be a more tiring reading experience for your postgrad examiner .

When should I submit my thesis?

The length of time it takes to complete your MSc or MA thesis will vary from student to student. This is because people work at different speeds, projects vary in difficulty, and some projects encounter more problems than others. 

Obviously, you should submit your MSc thesis or MA thesis when it is finished! Every university will say in its regulations that it is the student who must decide when it is ready to submit. 

However, your supervisor will advise you whether your work is ready and you should take their advice on this. If your supervisor says that your work is not ready, then it is probably unwise to submit it. Usually your supervisor will read your final thesis or dissertation draft and will let you know what’s required before submitting your final draft.

Set yourself a target for completion. This will help you stay on track and avoid falling behind. You may also only have funding for the year, so it is important to ensure you submit your dissertation before the deadline – and also ensure you don’t miss out on your graduation ceremony ! 

To set your target date, work backwards from the final completion and submission date, and aim to have your final draft completed at least three months before that final date.

Don’t leave your submission until the last minute – submit your work in good time before the final deadline. Consider what else you’ll have going on around that time. Are you moving back home? Do you have a holiday? Do you have other plans?

If you need to have finished by the end of June to be able to go to a graduation ceremony in July, then you should leave a suitable amount of time for this. You can build this into your dissertation project planning at the start of your research.

It is important to remember that handing in your thesis or dissertation is not the end of your masters program . There will be a period of time of one to three months between the time you submit and your final day. Some courses may even require a viva to discuss your research project, though this is more common at PhD level . 

If you have passed, you will need to make arrangements for the thesis to be properly bound and resubmitted, which will take a week or two. You may also have minor corrections to make to the work, which could take up to a month or so. This means that you need to allow a period of at least three months between submitting your thesis and the time when your program will be completely finished. Of course, it is also possible you may be asked after the viva to do more work on your thesis and resubmit it before the examiners will agree to award the degree – so there may be an even longer time period before you have finished.

How do I submit the MA or MSc dissertation?

Most universities will have a clear procedure for submitting a masters dissertation. Some universities require your ‘intention to submit’. This notifies them that you are ready to submit and allows the university to appoint an external examiner.

This normally has to be completed at least three months before the date on which you think you will be ready to submit.

When your MA or MSc dissertation is ready, you will have to print several copies and have them bound. The number of copies varies between universities, but the university usually requires three – one for each of the examiners and one for your supervisor.

However, you will need one more copy – for yourself! These copies must be softbound, not hardbound. The theses you see on the library shelves will be bound in an impressive hardback cover, but you can only get your work bound like this once you have passed. 

You should submit your dissertation or thesis for examination in soft paper or card covers, and your university will give you detailed guidance on how it should be bound. They will also recommend places where you can get the work done.

The next stage is to hand in your work, in the way and to the place that is indicated in your university’s regulations. All you can do then is sit and wait for the examination – but submitting your thesis is often a time of great relief and celebration!

Some universities only require a digital submission, where you upload your dissertation as a file through their online submission system.

Related articles

What Is The Difference Between A Dissertation & A Thesis

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Writing At Postgraduate Level

Dos & Don'ts Of Academic Writing

Dispelling Dissertation Drama

Writing A Dissertation Proposal

Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries

Postgrad.com

Exclusive bursaries Open day alerts Funding advice Application tips Latest PG news

Complete Our Destination Survey

Destination Survey

Take 2 minutes to complete our Destination Survey for the chance to win a Postgrad Study Bursary worth £2,000.

All we need to know is:

  • Your university
  • Your PG course

logo

40 Creative MBA Dissertation Topics That Will Help You Score A Grade

MBA Dissertation Topics

Everyone strives hard to get the title of doctorate. To achieve this honorable title, one has to work hard and complete the Ph.D. This curriculum is the best way to gain in-depth knowledge of the subject. There are students of MBA who are aspiring to achieve a Ph.D. and be the master of the subject. That will also help them decorate their name with “Dr.” While completing your doctorate, you must undergo the complicated process.

In all those processes, one of the essential things is the dissertation. You have to prepare a detailed thesis of the section that you are doing your research on. But one of the most struggling things that you encounter in your dissertation is to start. For starting your dissertation, you need to end up choosing a topic for it. You might juggle hard to pick one topic as there are numerous things that you have to keep in mind while selecting an MBA Dissertation Topics to guide your dissertation.

In this write-up, you will get to know how you can choose MBA topics for your dissertation as well as you will also get the suggestion of 40 topics from which you can select your favorite one. So, go through the article thoroughly.

Table of Contents

How to Choose Your Dissertation Topics?

Choosing a dissertation topic is another struggling thinks for students. Usually, the expectation is to choose a topic that is innovative and relevant to the ongoing trend. The field is so vast that exploring all the details is next to impossible. Here are some tips that can help you to choose a relevant topic for your dissertation:-

  • You have to check the surroundings to see the common issues people are facing regarding your subject. You can search for the solution and make it your dissertation.
  • Don’t forget to check the relevance of the topic. If your topic is irrelevant according to the time you are living, it is not worth living.
  • See the repetitive tendency. Check that how many people are choosing this topic. If the number of people is much, then drop the idea of selecting it. No one loves to read repetitive ideas. The only way you can choose the topic is if you have something completely novel to tell about.
  • You can discuss with your friend and have an idea about what they are choosing. You can ask for suggestions. Along with your friends, you can also seek guidance from your seniors and mentors. They can guide you for MBA Dissertation Ideas.

You can hire experts for your dissertation writing as well. Numerous assignment help websites are proficient enough to write a dissertation on MBA topics.

40 Innovative topics for Dissertation Writing

Even if you have all the tips for choosing a perfect topic, sometimes you can’t pick the topic. But not to worry. Clear all the confusion clouds from your mind as we will discuss 40 topics that you can choose for your dissertation.

Let’s start the discussion. here are some of the topics under various sub-distribution:-

Dissertation topics on Marketing For MBA

Here are ten topics, from which you can choose one for you:-

  • Describe the role internet inverting leads into customers
  • Compare the customers of any three countries and measures to turn them
  • Does Celebrity branding helps in enhancing the business?
  • Write a dissertation on the pricing strategy of your favorite brand
  • Loyal Customers vs Number of Customers: Who helps more in business
  • Basic points to enhance customer loyalty.
  • Case study on Skoda Marketing strategy
  • Should Ethical limitations be removed from marketing strategy?
  • Social Media or Traditional Marketing: Which is the best?
  • How Does Targeting a niche audience help?

Dissertation topics on Finance For MBA

Here are some of the topics that you can choose for your MBA topics:-

  • Explain the Procedure of banks handling their cash process.
  • Explain the human reaction to using credits for buying things
  • Structure of financial reports for non-profitable organizations.
  • Discuss the elements that determine the credit rating of a particular country.
  • A to Z information about the stock market.
  • Credit Card: Analyse the statement
  • Business Audit: Procedure and Details
  • Economic and monetary growth of USA
  • Detail analysis of the housing sector and financing
  • Explain the forex market

Dissertation topics on Operations For MBA

Here are some of the topics for operations for MBA:-

  • What brings more benefits, upgradation, or new launches?
  • Pros and Cons of artificial intelligence in inventory management
  • Differentiate between B2C business ad B2B business
  • How multi-site manufacturing is impacted by real-time communication.
  • Boons and banes of 3D printing techniques
  • Impact of dynamic pricing on Airlines company
  • Risk management and pharmaceutical companies in the UK
  • Inventory Control: Backbone of Operational Management
  • Suggestions for improvement of logistics on-time delivery
  • Robotics and Supply Chain

Dissertation topics on HR For MBA

Here are the ten topics that you can choose for your dissertation:-

  • Roles of HR Management in Startup as well as an established organization
  • Impact of HR policies on employee retention rate
  • Effect of team resignation in an organization
  • Impact of employee error in a manufacturing company
  • Effects of rewards and incentive
  • How can employee empowerment affect the job satisfaction
  • How can flexible working hour helps in recruiting
  • Factor responsible for employee resignation
  • Which company policies, according to you, exploit employees?

These are 40 topics that you can use for your creative dissertation for your MBA. So you can choose anyone from it of your specialization. These topics are according to the trend and relevant to the time. They can help you to score an A grade for your dissertation. You can take assistance from of course the internet, your teachers, seniors or friends.

Here are quick tips and tricks that can help you ace your dissertation. Go through them thoroughly to score your dream grades.

Tips and Tricks to Score Your Dream Grades

  • Get the relevant notes from your seniors. They have good research notes that you can ask for help with.
  • Choose only authentic online documents. It has been noticed that 91% of students are trapped under corrupt evidence to add to their dissertation. That hampers the credibility of the dissertation sources.
  • Add case studies, facts and figures to support your point of view.
  • Try to make it interactive and use simple language while writing it.
  • Start with quotes and thoughts that support well with the topic. Make comparisons and ask questions at the end of the dissertation. Questions stick in the reader’s mind and keep your dissertation alive in mind for a long time.

These are some tips that will help you to ace the dissertation. I hope this was helpful to you.

All the best!

Need help with the Marketing Assignment?

If you are looking for help with marketing assignments , we are there to help. Our organization is versed with talented assignment writers. That is the reason that we have always delivered the best assignment. We have helped numerous students to score their dream grades. Please don’t waste any more time in thinking and hire us now. Are you worried about the budget? Then don’t be. We are one of the most affordable assignment services that you will ever find.

' src=

By Alex Brown

I'm an ambitious, seasoned, and versatile author. I am experienced in proposing, outlining, and writing engaging assignments. Developing contagious academic work is always my top priority. I have a keen eye for detail and diligence in producing exceptional academic writing work. I work hard daily to help students with their assignments and projects. Experimenting with creative writing styles while maintaining a solid and informative voice is what I enjoy the most.

Graduate School

  • Resources to Prepare for Graduate School
  • Adonara Mucek, Ph.D. Geology '17
  • Adriana Mendoza, Ph.D. Mathematics '14
  • Andrew Olsen
  • Becca Maher ('21, Ph.D.)
  • Bryan Lynn, Ph.D. Integrative Biology
  • Celeste Frazier Barthel, Ph.D. Education '21
  • Diane Brandt
  • Francesca Germano, Toxicology, M.S.
  • Garrett Rogers
  • Jafra Thomas
  • Jen Hayes, Horticulture, PhD
  • Jordan Jimmie
  • Jordan Spradlin, Public Health, MPH
  • Kalina Fahey, Psychology, Ph.D.
  • Katie Stelling, Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Ph.D.
  • Kelsey Contreras
  • Layla Ghazi
  • Marie Tosa, Ph.D. Wildlife Sciences
  • Sara Letton
  • Tiara Walz, Ph.D. Public Health
  • Glossary of Terms
  • Master's Students
  • Doctoral Students
  • Certificate Students
  • Graduate School Orientation 2024
  • Graduate Teaching Orientation 2024
  • Do I Qualify to Attend Graduate Summer Step?
  • Orientation for Winter, Spring and Summer Terms
  • Co-sponsorships
  • Your Graduate Committee
  • Student Resources
  • Grad Research Photo Competition
  • Tips for Scheduling Committee Meetings
  • Program of Study
  • Formatting a Thesis or Dissertation

Pretext Pages Templates

  • Commencement
  • Grad Inspire
  • Grievance Procedures
  • Request a Workshop
  • Earning Concurrent Degrees or Pursuing a Dual Major
  • Career Preparation
  • Grad Writing Group Challenge
  • Graduate Writing Center Online
  • Changing or Adding a Degree, Major or Certificate
  • GRAD 420 - Graduate School Preparation
  • GRAD 512 - Current Issues in Higher Education
  • GRAD 513 - Professional Development in College and University Teaching
  • GRAD 516 - Graduate Teaching Seminar
  • GRAD 520 - Responsible Conduct of Research
  • GRAD 521 - Research Data Management
  • GRAD 542 - The Inclusive College Classroom
  • GRAD 543 - Dialogue Facilitation in Professional Contexts: Skills and Practice for Graduate Students
  • GRAD 550 - Introduction to Online Course Development and Facilitation
  • GRAD 560 - Theories of Teaching and Learning
  • GRAD 561 - Course Design and Methods
  • GRAD 599 - Creating Happiness
  • GRAD 599 - Cultivating Productive and Positive Academic Relationships for Graduate Success
  • WR 599 - Graduate Writing for English Language Learners
  • WR 599 - Scientific and Technical Research Writing
  • WR 599 - Writing Workshop for Thesis and Dissertation Writers
  • OSU Grad Advantage
  • Graduate Faculty Membership
  • Graduate Council Representatives
  • Policy updates
  • Holistic Admissions
  • Defining the Graduate Mentor
  • The Importance of Mentors
  • Apprenticeship and Mentoring
  • Mentor and Mentee Pairing
  • Maintaining and Evaluating Mentoring
  • Suggestions for Mentoring Programs
  • Handbooks, Manuals, and Guides
  • Mentoring Bibliography
  • Communication Items
  • Detailed Considerations for a Joint Degree Program
  • MOU Outline for Creating a Joint Program
  • College and Program Recruitment Representatives
  • Graduate Recruitment Tips
  • Helpful Recruitment Links
  • Shared Graduate Recruitment Schedule
  • Leave of Absence and Family Medical Leave Eligibility
  • Mentor Training for Faculty
  • Student Funding
  • Student Progress
  • Student Progress Information for Programs
  • Student Registration Information
  • August 2023 Newsletter
  • Sept 2023 Newsletter
  • October 2023 Newsletter
  • November 2023 Newsletter
  • April 2024 Newsletter
  • Dec 2023 Newsletter
  • Feb 2024 Newsletter
  • Jan 2024 Newsletter
  • June 2024 Newsletter
  • March 2024 Newsletter
  • May 2024 Newsletter
  • Strategic Plan
  • Request Info
  • Current Students
  • Faculty Resources

You are here

Thesis guide.

Master's Steps and Timeline

Doctoral Steps and Timeline

Formatting Your Thesis

Graduate Writing Center

Contact Info

Graduate School Heckart Lodge 2900 SW Jefferson Way Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-1102

Phone: 541-737-4881 Fax: 541-737-3313

  • Programs - Majors, minors and certificates
  • Academic Progress
  • Student Success
  • Faculty Support
  • Staff Directory
  • Graduate Catalog

The Penn Libraries has built a new, user-focused library catalog, with a simpler look and easier search features. Explore it at find.library.upenn.edu .

Publish Your Dissertation

Find resources to guide you through the process of revising your dissertation for publication, choosing a publisher, copyright, and more. Many of these topics are also covered in the Libraries’ Support for Publishing workshop series.   

Book a consultation

Find Resources

Find workshops, online resources, and expert help.

Navigate the Publishing Process

Get help with copyright, support for publishing workshops.

Learn the ins and outs of the publishing process through a series of workshops hosted by the Penn Libraries in collaboration with the Grad Center at Penn.

  • Get Expert Help
  • Publish your research
  • Graduate Students

Recommended pages

  • New staff intranet
  • Student Welcome
  • Online registration
  • MyUoB mobile app
  • Campus maps
  • Lecture timetables
  • Study spaces
  • Student digital services
  • Student support
  • Student printing
  • Car parking
  • Room bookings
  • Core systems
  • Staff development

Presenting your thesis

 formatting your thesis.

Please refer to Regulation 7.4.2 for important information on how to format your thesis.

The Library Services guide 'Presenting your thesis' has been written as the standard for all theses presented for research degrees in the University of Birmingham. 

It offers guidance on the practicalities of producing your thesis in a format that is acceptable for examination and for deposit in the library. This guide does not deal with the content and academic standard required of a thesis and on these matters you are advised to consult University Regulations, your supervisor and guidance issued by your School.

Please also see the  Getting your thesis ready workshop webpage .

 Thesis word limit

On submitting your thesis for examination you are required to complete a declaration form confirming the word length of your thesis. You should therefore be aware of the maximum word length for your thesis. See  Regulation 7.4.2 (d).

The stated maximum number of words excludes tables, diagrams (including associated legends), appendices, list of references, footnotes and endnotes, the bibliography and any bound published material. For information on referencing styles see the  iCite – referencing at the University of Birmingham  webpages.

A thesis that exceeds the maximum number of words will not be accepted for examination unless permission to exceed the stated word count has been granted by the Research Progress & Awards Sub Panel. Permission to exceed the stated word count is only granted in exceptional circumstances. If you consider that you will not be able to meet the stated word limited, you are advised to discuss this with your supervisor at an early stage.

 Language of your thesis

 acknowledging collaborative work.

If any material is included in your thesis which is a result of collaborative working, you must include details of how much of the work is your own and how much is that of other people. See Regulation 7.4.1 (h).

It is also important to seek the prior agreement of those other people to make your thesis available in the University eTheses Repository. 

 Previously published or submitted work

You may include work that has already been published providing the work is properly integrated, either in the thesis or as an appendix to which reference is made - see  Regulation 7.4.1 (g). It must be adequately referenced and you are advised to consult with your supervisor if you are unsure about the inclusion of any previously published work in your thesis. 

For additional information please refer to the Copyright for Researchers web page

You may not include material for assessment which has already been submitted for another degree awarded at this or any other University, unless all of the conditions set out in Regulation 7.4.1 (f) are satisfied.

If you are considering including published papers in your thesis, please read the alternative format thesis guide (Word - 22KB).

 Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a form of cheating and is a serious academic offence. It arises where work submitted is not the student's own and has been taken from another source. The original material is then hidden from the marker, either by not referencing it properly, by paraphrasing it or by not mentioning it at all.

For further information see the University’s Guidance on plagiarism for students .

All theses submitted for examination are checked through plagiarism detection software.

 Editorial help for PGR theses

A thesis submitted for examination at the University of Birmingham must be solely the postgraduate researcher’s own work (except where University Regulations permit the inclusion of appropriately referenced collaborative research or work – see Regulation 7.4.1 . A postgraduate researcher must not employ a ‘ghost writer’ to write parts or all of the thesis, whether in draft or as a final version, on his/her behalf.

Editors, whether they are formal supervisors, informal mentors, family or friends or professional, need to be clear about the extent and nature of help they offer in the editing of University of Birmingham PGRs theses and dissertations. Supervisors of PGRs also need to be clear about the role of the third party editors as well as their own editorial role.

PGRs may use third party editorial assistance (paid or voluntary) from an outside source.  This must be with the knowledge and support of supervisors and the use of third party editorial assistance must be stated in the thesis acknowledgement page.

A ‘third party’ editor cannot be used :

  • To change the text of the thesis so as to clarify and/or develop the ideas and arguments;
  • To reduce the length of the thesis so it falls within the specified word limit;
  • To correct information within the thesis;
  • To change ideas and arguments put forward within the thesis; and/or
  • To translate the thesis into English.

A ‘third party’ editor can be used to offer advice on:

  • Spelling and punctuation;
  • Formatting and sorting of footnotes and endnotes for consistency and order;
  • Ensuring the thesis follows the conventions of grammar and syntax in written English;
  • Shortening long sentences and editing long paragraphs;
  • Changing passives and impersonal usages into actives, vice versa as may be appropriate;
  • Improving the positioning of tables and illustrations and the clarity, grammar, spelling and punctuation of any text in or under tables and illustrations; and
  • Ensuring consistency of page numbers, headers and footers.

Where a third party editor is used it is the PGR’s responsibility to provide the third party editor with a copy of this statement (Word - 20KB)  and ensure they complete the Third Party Editor Declaration Form (Word - 32KB)  confirming their compliance with this statement.

When submitting the thesis the PGR must record in the Acknowledgements page the form of contribution the ‘third party’ editor has made, by stating for example, “this thesis was copy edited for conventions of language, spelling and grammar by ABC Editing Ltd”.

Please also see the Code of Practice on Academic Integrity .

 Intellectual property rights

These rights generally belong to the student, but if your work is considered to be commercially significant students may be required to assign their rights to the University. 

For further information please see:

  • University Regulation 5.4 covering Intellectual Property
  • Regulation 3.16 covering Patents and The Exploitation of Inventions
  • The Copyright for Researchers webpage

 Can't find what you're looking for?

  • College of Arts and Law
  • College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
  • College of Life and Environmental Sciences
  • College of Medicine and Health
  • College of Social Sciences

Professional Services

  • Academic Services
  • Campus Services
  • Development and Alumni Relations
  • Executive Support
  • External Relations
  • Human Resources
  • IT Services
  • Legal Services
  • Research Strategy and Services
  • Our Culture
  • Our Location
  • Developing Leaders
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Sustainability
  • Academic Approach
  • Career Development
  • Learn from Business Leaders
  • Corporate Recruiters
  • Dean's Speaker Series
  • Dean’s Hosted Speaker Events
  • Our History
  • Acclaimed Alumni
  • Commencement Speakers
  • Dean Ann Harrison
  • Haas School Board

Contact Haas

  • Full-time MBA
  • Evening & Weekend MBA
  • MBA for Executives
  • Compare the MBA Programs
  • Master of Financial Engineering
  • Bachelor of Science in Business
  • Berkeley M.E.T. (Management, Entrepreneurship, & Technology)
  • Global Management Program
  • Robinson Life Sciences Business and Entrepreneurship Program
  • BASE Summer Program for Non-business Majors
  • BCPA Accounting Summer Program
  • Berkeley Haas Global Access Program
  • Michaels Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Business
  • Boost@Berkeley Haas
  • Berkeley Business Academy for Youth
  • Executive Education

View All Programs

  • Research & Insights
  • Media Contacts
  • Faculty Experts
  • Faculty Directory
  • Academic Groups
  • Research Institutes & Centers
  • Faculty Initiatives
  • Case Studies
  • Research Labs
  • California Management Review
  • Nobel Laureates
  • Teaching Awards
  • Visiting Executives & Scholars
  • Faculty in Public Policy
  • Faculty Recruitment

Faculty Directory

  • Alumni Network
  • Chapters, Groups, & Networks
  • Slack Alumni Workspace
  • Alumni Directory
  • Email (Alumni Email Services)
  • Student-Alumni Connections
  • Professional Resources
  • For BS, MA, MFE, & PhD Alumni
  • For MBA Alumni
  • Lifelong Learning
  • Worldwide Alumni Events Calendar
  • Give to Berkeley Haas
  • Impact & Recognition
  • Haas Leadership Society
  • How to Give

Give to Haas

Your investments drive excellence

Give to Haas

Berkeley MBA Blog

Flex students smile together at Leadership Communications immersion weekend

Collaboration is an easy stretch for Flex cohort

Will everyone else already know more than me? Who will be in my cohort? Will I be able to network?

Pretty much everyone considering an MBA program has questions like these. And it’s fair to say that being part of the inaugural Berkeley Haas Evening & Weekend MBA program’s Flex cohort amplified these and other questions.

“Will I be able to be in person enough to really feel like I'm part of the overall student body? The overall university?” Alecia Wall, MBA 25, a senior manager in channel acquisition with Atlassian in Austin, Texas, wondered. After just a few months, she had her answers: “I've been so pleased that, I can say yes to all of those things.”

Students who choose the Flex option take their core courses online from wherever is convenient for them, meeting twice a week at a set time with their professors and classmates. Electives, in the second half of the program, can be taken in person or online. And while the in-person WE Launch orientation gives everyone a chance to meet face-to-face, opportunities for serendipitous encounters in the courtyard or café are limited once the semester starts.

Nonetheless, Amanda Sultan, MBA 25, previously a strategic projects lead with Waymo in Detroit, happily realized that “everyone comes into this program being really, really open, and you feel like you have an instant family.”

Some of that sense of connection is due to the attention paid to the technology of the virtual classroom, which allows for plenty of interaction and discussion with the professors and classmates. But even more fundamentally, the connections are evidence of the collaborative culture nurtured in all of the Berkeley Haas graduate business school programs.

For Nour Abi Samra, MBA 25, a senior product solutions architect with Certinia, Berkeley Haas feels “like a safe space where you can give your thoughts, and be accepted, not feel judged.” Emily Harmon, MBA 25, who participates in classes from Seattle, where she is an HR integration program manager at Microsoft, describes being “surrounded by classmates and faculty who truly care about each other's success. It's a very collaborative, very supportive environment.”

That feeling extends to an 18-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Aidan Steele, MBA 25, who was “nervous about not having the language and not having the professional context to be in the business school environment” yet found a “universal” welcome from his cohort. Aidan joins classes from England, where he is now chief of staff at XLCC.

Universal is an apt way to describe a cohort that includes students from 17 U.S. states. Students share their professional insights of course, but “Beyond just hearing about people's different experiences at different companies or even in different industries, you're hearing about what they're seeing in the world around them, [things] that I would otherwise really never have a view into,” Alecia said.

Watch video to hear about the collaborative culture from Flex students

Both online and in person, faculty welcome every opportunity to deepen relationships with Flex students. In addition to staying after class to continue a lively Q&A exchange, “we've had professors schedule small groups, little meetups, virtual meetups so that they can get to know other people in the class,” said Lisa Dalgleish, a manager of Talent Strategy & Innovation with Deloitte in Austin, Texas. Lisa and her fellow Texan, Alecia, agreed that whenever Flex students are on campus, faculty show up, say hi, and even join students for dinner, eager to get to know them in person.

Amanda sees the collaborative culture as a concrete example of the Beyond Yourself Defining Leadership Principle . “It's about, yes, growing in yourself and in your life, but doing it in such a positive way that you're helping those around you as well,” she said. “People are always thinking beyond themselves: How can we impact our community? How can we have a positive impact on the world through business? If you see yourself as someone who wants to learn more about business, but also have a positive impact in your community, Haas is a hundred percent the place to go.”

Interested in pursuing your MBA but worried about how it will fit in with your busy life? Learn more about the Berkeley Haas Flex MBA today!

Discover Flex

More Stories for You

mba dissertation guide

Alumni | 3 MIN READ

How connections made at Haas led three alumni to start investment firm Calvera Partners

Video still image of Shilpa Worlikar smiling in Berkeley Haas video.

Haas culture | 3 MIN READ

How the Berkeley Haas leadership principles define the MBA experience

mba dissertation guide

Haas culture | 7 MIN READ

The Berkeley Haas scholarship guide for full-time and part-time MBA students

Sign up for our newsletter.

Get a curated collection of the latest trends, insights and happenings from Berkeley Haas delivered to your inbox each month.

  • Latest News
  • Emergencies
  • Environment
  • Ask the Law
  • Visa+Immigration
  • Phone+Internet
  • Reader Queries
  • Safety+Security
  • Banking & Insurance
  • Corporate Tax
  • Travel & Tourism
  • Corporate News
  • Electronics
  • Home and Kitchen
  • Consumables
  • Saving and Investment
  • Budget Living
  • Expert Columns
  • Community Tips
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Cooking and Cuisines
  • Guide to Cooking
  • Art & People
  • Friday Partner
  • Daily Crossword
  • Word Search
  • Philippines
  • Australia-New Zealand
  • Corrections
  • Special Reports
  • Pregnancy & Baby
  • Learning & Play
  • Child Health
  • For Mums & Dads
  • UAE Success Stories
  • Photos & Videos
  • Course Reviews
  • Learn to Play
  • Schedule | Medal Tally
  • South Indian
  • Health+Fitness
  • Best Of Bollywood
  • Entertainment
  • Special Features
  • Gratuity Calculator
  • Notifications
  • Prayer Times

Your guide to college admissions in the UAE in 2024

This list helps students and parents make an informed choice

gnFocus

American University of Sharjah 

New programmes for Fall 2024

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, major in Supply Chain Management

Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Biological Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Digital Construction Engineering and Management

Bachelor of Science in Intelligent Systems and Mechatronics Engineering

Master of Science in Economics and Policy

University infrastructure and extracurricular activities

Experience a vibrant student life on a multicultural campus with over 90 nationalities, 109 student clubs, 33 sports teams, and the state-of-the-art facilities including three innovative research centres.

Detailed tuition information is available at Aus.edu/prospective-students

Scholarship opportunities

Explore grants and scholarships at Aus.edu/scholarship

September 2024 intake

For important admission dates, visit Aus.edu/prospective-students

Contact details

Aus.edu ; 06 515 5555

Canadian University Dubai

Canadian University Dubai

Top 5 courses to pursue in 2024

Fundamentals of Innovation Entrepreneurship and Sustainability

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Emirati Studies

Psychology in Everyday Life

Modern Art Appreciation, Introduction to Canadian Studies

Each of these are general education courses that all students will take as part of their foundation studies.

The Canadian University Dubai campus is set in ultramodern infrastructure located in City Walk, at the heart of Downtown Dubai and close to the thriving Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Facilities include state-of-the art classrooms, recreational spaces, modern laboratories, meeting rooms, and a pioneering business incubator, creating a thriving ecosystem for student innovation and entrepreneurship.

CUD’s robust scholarship programme is designed to facilitate access to world-class Canadian-inspired education for high-achieving students. We offer a variety of scholarships, covering up to 50% of tuition fees, recognising and rewarding exceptional academic performance. Additionally, our specialised scholarships support student-athletes, individuals with special needs, and those demonstrating outstanding talent. We also provide exclusive discounts to families, alumni, government employees, and corporate partners, further cultivating a vibrant and inclusive learning community at CUD. Explore our scholarship opportunities at: Cud.ac.ae/scholarships

Learn more and apply today at www.cud.ac.ae ; Call: 800 MYCUD (69283)

DeMont Institute of Management and Technology

Demont

Top courses to pursue this year

BTEC International Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Business

Higher National Diploma International in Computing

Higher National Diploma International in Business (Business Management)

Higher National Diploma International in Business (Marketing)

Higher National Diploma International in Business (Accounting and Finance)

Higher National Diploma International in Business (Human Resource Management)

A new auditorium seating over 200 attendees

A newly updated computer lab

The Toastmasters Club is ready to welcome new students.

Various clubs foster a 360-degree learning environment.

Programmes at DeMont Institute of Management and Technology are offered at competitive rates, with flexible instalment plans and special discounts.

DeMont provides both academic scholarships and financial aid, including substantial scholarships and up to 10 per cent discounts for participants in initiatives like DeLEAD, DeCODE, and Skill Master.

The institution also offers exclusive discounts through Esaad, Emirates Platinum, Fazza, and Hayak programme.

Admissions for September 2024 intake are now open.

[email protected]; 800 33 666 8; 058 625 0566

Gulf Medical University

Gulf Medical University

Doctor of Medicine (MD)

International MD Track

Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm)

Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT)

Bachelor of Healthcare Management & Economics

Infrastructure and extracurricular activities

Thumbay Medicity: A state-of-the-art medical education hub housing various healthcare and educational facilities, including Thumbay University Hospital.

Body & Soul Wellness, Spa, Gym: This offers a range of services, including fitness classes, personalised training, and wellness workshops.

Thumbay Food Court: A vibrant culinary hub where the university community can enjoy a wide selection of international cuisines.

Student Wellness Centre: Focuses on the mental and physical well-being of students, providing counselling and health services.

Research institutes: GMU houses multiple research institutes, including the Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, offering cutting-edge research opportunities.

Undergraduate programmes: The fees for most undergraduate programmes range from Dh38,000 to Dh150,000 per year, depending on the course.

Graduate programmes: Fees for graduate programmes, such as the MD programme, can go up to Dh170,000 per year.

Scholarships

GMU offers a variety of scholarships, including:

Merit-based scholarships: Available for top-performing students based on academic excellence.

NAFIS Full Scholarship: Covers full tuition for eligible Emirati students.

Financial aid: Need-based financial aid is also available for students through Algurg Charity Foundation on specific criteria.

September 2024 itake

Application period: Until August 2024

Interviews: Started from January 8, 2024

Admission process: Includes submission of required documents, fulfilling high school and the English language proficiency requirements, and a final interview with the admissions committee.

Gmu.ac.ae ; 06 743 1333

Heriot-Watt University Dubai

Heriot Watt

Top 5 courses to pursue this year

Degree Entry Programme in Management

International Business Management, MA (Hons)

Architecture, BA (Hons)

Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence), BSc (Hons)

Mechanical Engineering, BEng (Hons)

The Dubai Campus includes a range of social learning spaces, a dedicated maths gym for mathematics support, a student hub for recreation, clubs and societies, and spaces to allow staff and research to operate business as well as interact with business leaders and entrepreneurs. Our library offers physical and digital resources. A high-tech facility for robotics and artificial intelligence, and the innovation hub allow students to interact with autonomous systems and develop new products.

Degree Entry Programme and Undergraduate degrees from Dh51,514 per year to Dh76,045 per year.

Postgraduate degrees and Research degrees from Dh91,990 per year to Dh159,449 per year.

Heriot-Watt offers a range of scholarships including merit based, for more details visit the website.

Welcome week from September 2 onwards and classes commence on September 9

Hw.ac.uk/dubai ; 04 571 7000

Westford University College

Westford

Business with specialisations in International Business, Finance, Analytics, and Digital Marketing

Accounting & Finance

Sport Business

Computer Science

Westford boasts three campuses in Sharjah, each equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities, including modern classrooms, computer labs, a comprehensive library, and a dedicated fashion lab.

Extracurricular activities at Westford encompass a wide range of options, including WeConnect, We Talk, the Toastmasters Club, mentorship programmes, the Young Business Leaders Programme (YBLP), Model United Nations, and various student clubs such as music, drama, psychology, sports and beyond.

Westford offers exceptional UK-quality education at affordable prices. Over and above their fees, students can avail various scholarships and discounts, such as:

Scholarships based on academic performances.

AcceleratHer Scholarship that is offered to all female students

Early-bird discounts

Additionally, Westford’s flexible fee structure makes quality education fordable and accessible.

Admissions for September 2024

Admission for Westford’s undergraduate programmes for 2024 intake are now open. Acceptance is subject to availability of seats.

Mywestford.com ; 055 227 2114; [email protected]

More From GN Focus

SU_240829_BusinessLeaders-Affordables-Nitin-Jain-FOR-WEB

Trendy casuals from Affordables

SU_240829_BusinessLeaders-Ajmal-FOR-WEB

Every note a success story for Ajmal Perfumes

GN-Business-Leaders-GeorgeKozuhovskiy-FOR-WEB

Anyships explores Dubai’s maritime horizons

SU_240829_BusinessLeaders-Imtiaz-Developments-Masih-Imtiaz-FOR-WEB

Imtiaz Developments helps drive change in real estate

Uae highlights gaza humanitarian crisis at oic event, uae weather alert: impact from severe weather condition, uae: petrol, diesel prices for september 2024 announced, louvre abu dhabi adds new art treasures, tanishq unveils exquisite onam collection.

Gulf News

Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

Blog The Education Hub

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/08/20/gcse-results-day-2024-number-grading-system/

GCSE results day 2024: Everything you need to know including the number grading system

mba dissertation guide

Thousands of students across the country will soon be finding out their GCSE results and thinking about the next steps in their education.   

Here we explain everything you need to know about the big day, from when results day is, to the current 9-1 grading scale, to what your options are if your results aren’t what you’re expecting.  

When is GCSE results day 2024?  

GCSE results day will be taking place on Thursday the 22 August.     

The results will be made available to schools on Wednesday and available to pick up from your school by 8am on Thursday morning.  

Schools will issue their own instructions on how and when to collect your results.   

When did we change to a number grading scale?  

The shift to the numerical grading system was introduced in England in 2017 firstly in English language, English literature, and maths.  

By 2020 all subjects were shifted to number grades. This means anyone with GCSE results from 2017-2020 will have a combination of both letters and numbers.  

The numerical grading system was to signal more challenging GCSEs and to better differentiate between students’ abilities - particularly at higher grades between the A *-C grades. There only used to be 4 grades between A* and C, now with the numerical grading scale there are 6.  

What do the number grades mean?  

The grades are ranked from 1, the lowest, to 9, the highest.  

The grades don’t exactly translate, but the two grading scales meet at three points as illustrated below.  

The image is a comparison chart from the UK Department for Education, showing the new GCSE grades (9 to 1) alongside the old grades (A* to G). Grade 9 aligns with A*, grades 8 and 7 with A, and so on, down to U, which remains unchanged. The "Results 2024" logo is in the bottom-right corner, with colourful stripes at the top and bottom.

The bottom of grade 7 is aligned with the bottom of grade A, while the bottom of grade 4 is aligned to the bottom of grade C.    

Meanwhile, the bottom of grade 1 is aligned to the bottom of grade G.  

What to do if your results weren’t what you were expecting?  

If your results weren’t what you were expecting, firstly don’t panic. You have options.  

First things first, speak to your school or college – they could be flexible on entry requirements if you’ve just missed your grades.   

They’ll also be able to give you the best tailored advice on whether re-sitting while studying for your next qualifications is a possibility.   

If you’re really unhappy with your results you can enter to resit all GCSE subjects in summer 2025. You can also take autumn exams in GCSE English language and maths.  

Speak to your sixth form or college to decide when it’s the best time for you to resit a GCSE exam.  

Look for other courses with different grade requirements     

Entry requirements vary depending on the college and course. Ask your school for advice, and call your college or another one in your area to see if there’s a space on a course you’re interested in.    

Consider an apprenticeship    

Apprenticeships combine a practical training job with study too. They’re open to you if you’re 16 or over, living in England, and not in full time education.  

As an apprentice you’ll be a paid employee, have the opportunity to work alongside experienced staff, gain job-specific skills, and get time set aside for training and study related to your role.   

You can find out more about how to apply here .  

Talk to a National Careers Service (NCS) adviser    

The National Career Service is a free resource that can help you with your career planning. Give them a call to discuss potential routes into higher education, further education, or the workplace.   

Whatever your results, if you want to find out more about all your education and training options, as well as get practical advice about your exam results, visit the  National Careers Service page  and Skills for Careers to explore your study and work choices.   

You may also be interested in:

  • Results day 2024: What's next after picking up your A level, T level and VTQ results?
  • When is results day 2024? GCSEs, A levels, T Levels and VTQs

Tags: GCSE grade equivalent , gcse number grades , GCSE results , gcse results day 2024 , gsce grades old and new , new gcse grades

Sharing and comments

Share this page, related content and links, about the education hub.

The Education Hub is a site for parents, pupils, education professionals and the media that captures all you need to know about the education system. You’ll find accessible, straightforward information on popular topics, Q&As, interviews, case studies, and more.

Please note that for media enquiries, journalists should call our central Newsdesk on 020 7783 8300. This media-only line operates from Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm. Outside of these hours the number will divert to the duty media officer.

Members of the public should call our general enquiries line on 0370 000 2288.

Sign up and manage updates

Follow us on social media, search by date.

August 2024
M T W T F S S
 1234
5 7891011
131415161718
2122232425
2627 29 31  

Comments and moderation policy

COMMENTS

  1. How To Write A Dissertation Or Thesis

    Craft a convincing dissertation or thesis research proposal. Write a clear, compelling introduction chapter. Undertake a thorough review of the existing research and write up a literature review. Undertake your own research. Present and interpret your findings. Draw a conclusion and discuss the implications.

  2. MBA dissertation help: How to choose a topic, plan, and write your

    This guide offers MBA dissertation help that remains applicable whichever route you take on your Full-time MBA. Read on to learn about the early stages of the process, choosing a topic, planning out your workload, and how to write an MBA dissertation, report, or learning journal. Written by the MBA team here at Warwick Business School (WBS ...

  3. Online MBA Capstone Projects and Thesis Guide

    An MBA thesis functions similarly to a capstone in some regards, but the two projects maintain notable differences. While capstones address practical business problems, thesis projects draw on original research to contribute new knowledge to the field of business. This section outlines major components of an MBA thesis.

  4. PDF SUGGESTIONS FOR MBA DISSERTATIONS IN

    read in conjunction with notes or lectures provided by the MBA office. If our suggestions clash, the "official" notes take precedence. A) PLANNING THE DISSERTATION One of the main reasons why MBAs struggle with their dissertation is that they do not spend enough time planning it. In part, this may be inevitable because doing a

  5. 200+ Subject-Wise MBA Dissertation Topics to Check Out This Year

    Operations Management Dissertation Topics. 1. Defining the concept of 'Legality' in supply chain design. 2. Exploring the role of virtual supply chains in facilitating short-term business collaborations. 3. Assessing the feasibility and effectiveness of self-driving cars in supply chain management. 4.

  6. A Comprehensive Guide to Structure Your MBA Thesis

    A well-structured MBA thesis is crucial for effectively communicating your research findings and arguments. Each section of your thesis plays a vital role in building a coherent and persuasive narrative. The structure typically includes an introduction, literature review, methodology, findings, and conclusion, with each section contributing to ...

  7. Dissertation Structure & Layout 101 (+ Examples)

    Time to recap…. And there you have it - the traditional dissertation structure and layout, from A-Z. To recap, the core structure for a dissertation or thesis is (typically) as follows: Title page. Acknowledgments page. Abstract (or executive summary) Table of contents, list of figures and tables.

  8. MBA Research Topics In Business (+ Free Webinar)

    Finding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation, thesis or research project. If you've landed on this post, chances are you're looking for a business/management-related research topic, but aren't sure where to start.Here, we'll explore a variety of research ideas and topic thought-starters for management ...

  9. MBA Dissertation Help: How to Get Started and Avoid Mistakes

    However, embarking on an MBA dissertation can be daunting, and many students face common pitfalls that can hinder their progress. In this blog post, we will explore the essential steps to getting started on your MBA dissertation successfully and provide tips to avoid common mistakes. 1. Selecting a Relevant and Feasible Topic.

  10. Finding Dissertations

    Subject Guide; MBA: Masters of Business Administration; Finding Dissertations; Search Research Guides Search. MBA: Masters of Business Administration ... ProQuest Dissertation & Theses Global is the world's most comprehensive curated collection of dissertations and theses offering 5 million citations and 2.5 million full-text works from ...

  11. Writing your thesis

    Research Methods for Business and Management by Kevin D O'Gorman; Robert MacIntosh This updated and revised edition offers a comprehensive overview of key research methods and the main choices available when undertaking research in business and management. New to this edition is a comprehensive, practical guide on how to write your dissertation - invaluable to all.

  12. Unicaf: Master of Business Administration (MBA): Dissertation

    Essentials of Business Research by Wilson, J. Written specifically for business students,&nbsp;this best-selling, jargon-free textbook highlights each stage of the research process, guiding the reader through actionable steps and explicitly setting out how best to meet a supervisor&#8242;s expectations. Easy to navigate and full of practical advice, it shows you how to choose a&nbsp;topic and ...

  13. PDF MBA Thesis Guide

    Develop a comprehensive and critical understanding of the body of knowledge within your chosen Thesis topic. You should have developed a degree of expertise and practical experience within the topic field. Gain an understanding of the practical application of business research.

  14. What Is a Dissertation?

    A dissertation is a long-form piece of academic writing based on original research conducted by you. It is usually submitted as the final step in order to finish a PhD program. Your dissertation is probably the longest piece of writing you've ever completed. It requires solid research, writing, and analysis skills, and it can be intimidating ...

  15. Complete Guide to Writing an MBA Dissertation

    Write a list of dissertation sections you have to create. Make a list of smaller objectives you have to complete to finish each one. Write down approximate duration of specific activities and the resources you need. Discuss the final plan with your supervisor or a professional dissertation writing service.

  16. Writing Guide for MBA Students

    Thesis/Dissertation: These papers conclude graduate programs and may require over 100 pages of writing. Learners choose research topics that can sustain their interest since a paper of this caliber may take over a year to complete. The MBA thesis or dissertation process varies by school. Some institutions, for example, may not require a thesis ...

  17. How to Write a Dissertation or Masters Thesis

    Writing a masters dissertation or thesis is a sizable task. It takes a considerable amount of research, studying and writing. Usually, students need to write around 10,000 to 15,000 words. It is completely normal to find the idea of writing a masters thesis or dissertation slightly daunting, even for students who have written one before at ...

  18. 40 Creative MBA Dissertation Topics That Will Help You ...

    You might juggle hard to pick one topic as there are numerous things that you have to keep in mind while selecting an MBA Dissertation Topics to guide your dissertation. In this write-up, you will get to know how you can choose MBA topics for your dissertation as well as you will also get the suggestion of 40 topics from which you can select ...

  19. mba dissertation sample

    1.1 Chapter Introduction. The present dissertation is concerned with the topic of human resource development initiatives and a search for alignment regarding Qatar's 2030 National Vision (and namely concerning its human development program) with that of Qatar's Commercial Bank development of its human resources.

  20. PDF Top 100 MBA Dissertation Examples

    Your MBA dissertation will require accurate referencing, good clear English, professional presentation, i.e. clear structure, coherent, free of spelling, grammatical and punctuation errors. Benefits of Buying MBA Dissertation Examples Structuring a Dissertation Lecturers have their own particular requirements for assignment reports. ...

  21. Thesis Guide

    Graduate School Heckart Lodge 2900 SW Jefferson Way Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-1102. Phone: 541-737-4881 Fax: 541-737-3313 Email. Contact Us. Instagram . Twitter . Facebook

  22. PDF Thesis Dissertation Handbook

    have approved your thesis or dissertation by the final day for adding a class in the semester of graduation. See the Graduate Calendar. Submit your document . at least . a week prior to the last day to add classes in order to provide the editor adequate time to examine the document, request corrections, and grant approval by her deadline.

  23. DISSERTATION GUIDE BSBI MBA and MA Programmes

    DISSERTATION GUIDE BSBI MBA and MA Programmes - Free download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. Dissertation Guide

  24. Publish Your Dissertation

    Publish Your Dissertation. Find resources to guide you through the process of revising your dissertation for publication, choosing a publisher, copyright, and more. Many of these topics are also covered in the Libraries' Support for Publishing workshop series. Book a consultation

  25. Presenting your thesis

    Please refer to Regulation 7.4.2 for important information on how to format your thesis. The Library Services guide 'Presenting your thesis' has been written as the standard for all theses presented for research degrees in the University of Birmingham.. It offers guidance on the practicalities of producing your thesis in a format that is acceptable for examination and for deposit in the library.

  26. How to Emphasize Academic Strengths On MBA Applications

    Key Takeaways: Make the most of interviews and essays to give a fuller picture. Add context to awards and accomplishments. Draw connections between non-business courses and B-school.

  27. Collaboration is an easy stretch for Flex cohort

    For Nour Abi Samra, MBA 25, a senior product solutions architect with Certinia, Berkeley Haas feels "like a safe space where you can give your thoughts, and be accepted, not feel judged." Emily Harmon, MBA 25, who participates in classes from Seattle, where she is an HR integration program manager at Microsoft, describes being "surrounded ...

  28. PDF HBS MBA Application Guide 2023-2024

    MBA Application Guide 2024-2025 GETTING STARTED The following serves as a preview of what materials you need to prepare to apply to Harvard Business School. Read the application requirements on our website for more detailed information and review the characteristics that we look for in applicants. INTRODUCE YOURSELF YOUR EXPERIENCE YOUR ACADEMICS

  29. Your guide to college admissions in the UAE in 2024

    CUD's robust scholarship programme is designed to facilitate access to world-class Canadian-inspired education for high-achieving students. We offer a variety of scholarships, covering up to 50% ...

  30. GCSE results day 2024: Everything you need to know including the number

    Thousands of students across the country will soon be finding out their GCSE results and thinking about the next steps in their education.. Here we explain everything you need to know about the big day, from when results day is, to the current 9-1 grading scale, to what your options are if your results aren't what you're expecting.