i bought my dissertation

How To Write A Dissertation Or Thesis

8 straightforward steps to craft an a-grade dissertation.

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) Expert Reviewed By: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | June 2020

Writing a dissertation or thesis is not a simple task. It takes time, energy and a lot of will power to get you across the finish line. It’s not easy – but it doesn’t necessarily need to be a painful process. If you understand the big-picture process of how to write a dissertation or thesis, your research journey will be a lot smoother.  

In this post, I’m going to outline the big-picture process of how to write a high-quality dissertation or thesis, without losing your mind along the way. If you’re just starting your research, this post is perfect for you. Alternatively, if you’ve already submitted your proposal, this article which covers how to structure a dissertation might be more helpful.

How To Write A Dissertation: 8 Steps

• Clearly understand what a dissertation (or thesis) is
• Find a unique and valuable research topic
• Craft a convincing research proposal
• Write up a strong introduction chapter
• Review the existing literature and compile a literature review
• Design a rigorous research strategy and undertake your own research
• Present the findings of your research
• Draw a conclusion and discuss the implications

Step 1: Understand exactly what a dissertation is

This probably sounds like a no-brainer, but all too often, students come to us for help with their research and the underlying issue is that they don’t fully understand what a dissertation (or thesis) actually is.

So, what is a dissertation?

At its simplest, a dissertation or thesis is a formal piece of research , reflecting the standard research process . But what is the standard research process, you ask? The research process involves 4 key steps:

• Ask a very specific, well-articulated question (s) (your research topic)
• See what other researchers have said about it (if they’ve already answered it)
• If they haven’t answered it adequately, undertake your own data collection and analysis in a scientifically rigorous fashion
• Answer your original question(s), based on your analysis findings

In short, the research process is simply about asking and answering questions in a systematic fashion . This probably sounds pretty obvious, but people often think they’ve done “research”, when in fact what they have done is:

• Started with a vague, poorly articulated question
• Not taken the time to see what research has already been done regarding the question
• Collected data and opinions that support their gut and undertaken a flimsy analysis
• Drawn a shaky conclusion, based on that analysis

If you want to see the perfect example of this in action, look out for the next Facebook post where someone claims they’ve done “research”… All too often, people consider reading a few blog posts to constitute research. Its no surprise then that what they end up with is an opinion piece, not research. Okay, okay – I’ll climb off my soapbox now.

The key takeaway here is that a dissertation (or thesis) is a formal piece of research, reflecting the research process. It’s not an opinion piece , nor a place to push your agenda or try to convince someone of your position. Writing a good dissertation involves asking a question and taking a systematic, rigorous approach to answering it.

If you understand this and are comfortable leaving your opinions or preconceived ideas at the door, you’re already off to a good start!

Step 2: Find a unique, valuable research topic

As we saw, the first step of the research process is to ask a specific, well-articulated question. In other words, you need to find a research topic that asks a specific question or set of questions (these are called research questions ). Sounds easy enough, right? All you’ve got to do is identify a question or two and you’ve got a winning research topic. Well, not quite…

A good dissertation or thesis topic has a few important attributes. Specifically, a solid research topic should be:

Let’s take a closer look at these:

Attribute #1: Clear

Your research topic needs to be crystal clear about what you’re planning to research, what you want to know, and within what context. There shouldn’t be any ambiguity or vagueness about what you’ll research.

Here’s an example of a clearly articulated research topic:

An analysis of consumer-based factors influencing organisational trust in British low-cost online equity brokerage firms.

As you can see in the example, its crystal clear what will be analysed (factors impacting organisational trust), amongst who (consumers) and in what context (British low-cost equity brokerage firms, based online).

Need a helping hand?

Attribute #2:   Unique

Your research should be asking a question(s) that hasn’t been asked before, or that hasn’t been asked in a specific context (for example, in a specific country or industry).

For example, sticking organisational trust topic above, it’s quite likely that organisational trust factors in the UK have been investigated before, but the context (online low-cost equity brokerages) could make this research unique. Therefore, the context makes this research original.

One caveat when using context as the basis for originality – you need to have a good reason to suspect that your findings in this context might be different from the existing research – otherwise, there’s no reason to warrant researching it.

Attribute #3: Important

Simply asking a unique or original question is not enough – the question needs to create value. In other words, successfully answering your research questions should provide some value to the field of research or the industry. You can’t research something just to satisfy your curiosity. It needs to make some form of contribution either to research or industry.

For example, researching the factors influencing consumer trust would create value by enabling businesses to tailor their operations and marketing to leverage factors that promote trust. In other words, it would have a clear benefit to industry.

So, how do you go about finding a unique and valuable research topic? We explain that in detail in this video post – How To Find A Research Topic . Yeah, we’ve got you covered 😊

Step 3: Write a convincing research proposal

Once you’ve pinned down a high-quality research topic, the next step is to convince your university to let you research it. No matter how awesome you think your topic is, it still needs to get the rubber stamp before you can move forward with your research. The research proposal is the tool you’ll use for this job.

So, what’s in a research proposal?

The main “job” of a research proposal is to convince your university, advisor or committee that your research topic is worthy of approval. But convince them of what? Well, this varies from university to university, but generally, they want to see that:

• You have a clearly articulated, unique and important topic (this might sound familiar…)
• You’ve done some initial reading of the existing literature relevant to your topic (i.e. a literature review)
• You have a provisional plan in terms of how you will collect data and analyse it (i.e. a methodology)

At the proposal stage, it’s (generally) not expected that you’ve extensively reviewed the existing literature , but you will need to show that you’ve done enough reading to identify a clear gap for original (unique) research. Similarly, they generally don’t expect that you have a rock-solid research methodology mapped out, but you should have an idea of whether you’ll be undertaking qualitative or quantitative analysis , and how you’ll collect your data (we’ll discuss this in more detail later).

Long story short – don’t stress about having every detail of your research meticulously thought out at the proposal stage – this will develop as you progress through your research. However, you do need to show that you’ve “done your homework” and that your research is worthy of approval .

So, how do you go about crafting a high-quality, convincing proposal? We cover that in detail in this video post – How To Write A Top-Class Research Proposal . We’ve also got a video walkthrough of two proposal examples here .

Step 4: Craft a strong introduction chapter

Once your proposal’s been approved, its time to get writing your actual dissertation or thesis! The good news is that if you put the time into crafting a high-quality proposal, you’ve already got a head start on your first three chapters – introduction, literature review and methodology – as you can use your proposal as the basis for these.

Handy sidenote – our free dissertation & thesis template is a great way to speed up your dissertation writing journey.

What’s the introduction chapter all about?

The purpose of the introduction chapter is to set the scene for your research (dare I say, to introduce it…) so that the reader understands what you’ll be researching and why it’s important. In other words, it covers the same ground as the research proposal in that it justifies your research topic.

What goes into the introduction chapter?

This can vary slightly between universities and degrees, but generally, the introduction chapter will include the following:

• A brief background to the study, explaining the overall area of research
• A problem statement , explaining what the problem is with the current state of research (in other words, where the knowledge gap exists)
• Your research questions – in other words, the specific questions your study will seek to answer (based on the knowledge gap)
• The significance of your study – in other words, why it’s important and how its findings will be useful in the world

As you can see, this all about explaining the “what” and the “why” of your research (as opposed to the “how”). So, your introduction chapter is basically the salesman of your study, “selling” your research to the first-time reader and (hopefully) getting them interested to read more.

How do I write the introduction chapter, you ask? We cover that in detail in this post .

Step 5: Undertake an in-depth literature review

As I mentioned earlier, you’ll need to do some initial review of the literature in Steps 2 and 3 to find your research gap and craft a convincing research proposal – but that’s just scratching the surface. Once you reach the literature review stage of your dissertation or thesis, you need to dig a lot deeper into the existing research and write up a comprehensive literature review chapter.

What’s the literature review all about?

There are two main stages in the literature review process:

Literature Review Step 1: Reading up

The first stage is for you to deep dive into the existing literature (journal articles, textbook chapters, industry reports, etc) to gain an in-depth understanding of the current state of research regarding your topic. While you don’t need to read every single article, you do need to ensure that you cover all literature that is related to your core research questions, and create a comprehensive catalogue of that literature , which you’ll use in the next step.

Reading and digesting all the relevant literature is a time consuming and intellectually demanding process. Many students underestimate just how much work goes into this step, so make sure that you allocate a good amount of time for this when planning out your research. Thankfully, there are ways to fast track the process – be sure to check out this article covering how to read journal articles quickly .

Literature Review Step 2: Writing up

Once you’ve worked through the literature and digested it all, you’ll need to write up your literature review chapter. Many students make the mistake of thinking that the literature review chapter is simply a summary of what other researchers have said. While this is partly true, a literature review is much more than just a summary. To pull off a good literature review chapter, you’ll need to achieve at least 3 things:

• You need to synthesise the existing research , not just summarise it. In other words, you need to show how different pieces of theory fit together, what’s agreed on by researchers, what’s not.
• You need to highlight a research gap that your research is going to fill. In other words, you’ve got to outline the problem so that your research topic can provide a solution.
• You need to use the existing research to inform your methodology and approach to your own research design. For example, you might use questions or Likert scales from previous studies in your your own survey design .

As you can see, a good literature review is more than just a summary of the published research. It’s the foundation on which your own research is built, so it deserves a lot of love and attention. Take the time to craft a comprehensive literature review with a suitable structure .

But, how do I actually write the literature review chapter, you ask? We cover that in detail in this video post .

Step 6: Carry out your own research

Once you’ve completed your literature review and have a sound understanding of the existing research, its time to develop your own research (finally!). You’ll design this research specifically so that you can find the answers to your unique research question.

There are two steps here – designing your research strategy and executing on it:

1 – Design your research strategy

The first step is to design your research strategy and craft a methodology chapter . I won’t get into the technicalities of the methodology chapter here, but in simple terms, this chapter is about explaining the “how” of your research. If you recall, the introduction and literature review chapters discussed the “what” and the “why”, so it makes sense that the next point to cover is the “how” –that’s what the methodology chapter is all about.

In this section, you’ll need to make firm decisions about your research design. This includes things like:

• Your research philosophy (e.g. positivism or interpretivism )
• Your overall methodology (e.g. qualitative , quantitative or mixed methods)
• Your data collection strategy (e.g. interviews , focus groups, surveys)
• Your data analysis strategy (e.g. content analysis , correlation analysis, regression)

If these words have got your head spinning, don’t worry! We’ll explain these in plain language in other posts. It’s not essential that you understand the intricacies of research design (yet!). The key takeaway here is that you’ll need to make decisions about how you’ll design your own research, and you’ll need to describe (and justify) your decisions in your methodology chapter.

2 – Execute: Collect and analyse your data

Once you’ve worked out your research design, you’ll put it into action and start collecting your data. This might mean undertaking interviews, hosting an online survey or any other data collection method. Data collection can take quite a bit of time (especially if you host in-person interviews), so be sure to factor sufficient time into your project plan for this. Oftentimes, things don’t go 100% to plan (for example, you don’t get as many survey responses as you hoped for), so bake a little extra time into your budget here.

Once you’ve collected your data, you’ll need to do some data preparation before you can sink your teeth into the analysis. For example:

• If you carry out interviews or focus groups, you’ll need to transcribe your audio data to text (i.e. a Word document).
• If you collect quantitative survey data, you’ll need to clean up your data and get it into the right format for whichever analysis software you use (for example, SPSS, R or STATA).

Once you’ve completed your data prep, you’ll undertake your analysis, using the techniques that you described in your methodology. Depending on what you find in your analysis, you might also do some additional forms of analysis that you hadn’t planned for. For example, you might see something in the data that raises new questions or that requires clarification with further analysis.

The type(s) of analysis that you’ll use depend entirely on the nature of your research and your research questions. For example:

• If your research if exploratory in nature, you’ll often use qualitative analysis techniques .
• If your research is confirmatory in nature, you’ll often use quantitative analysis techniques
• If your research involves a mix of both, you might use a mixed methods approach

Again, if these words have got your head spinning, don’t worry! We’ll explain these concepts and techniques in other posts. The key takeaway is simply that there’s no “one size fits all” for research design and methodology – it all depends on your topic, your research questions and your data. So, don’t be surprised if your study colleagues take a completely different approach to yours.

Step 7: Present your findings

Once you’ve completed your analysis, it’s time to present your findings (finally!). In a dissertation or thesis, you’ll typically present your findings in two chapters – the results chapter and the discussion chapter .

What’s the difference between the results chapter and the discussion chapter?

While these two chapters are similar, the results chapter generally just presents the processed data neatly and clearly without interpretation, while the discussion chapter explains the story the data are telling  – in other words, it provides your interpretation of the results.

For example, if you were researching the factors that influence consumer trust, you might have used a quantitative approach to identify the relationship between potential factors (e.g. perceived integrity and competence of the organisation) and consumer trust. In this case:

• Your results chapter would just present the results of the statistical tests. For example, correlation results or differences between groups. In other words, the processed numbers.
• Your discussion chapter would explain what the numbers mean in relation to your research question(s). For example, Factor 1 has a weak relationship with consumer trust, while Factor 2 has a strong relationship.

Depending on the university and degree, these two chapters (results and discussion) are sometimes merged into one , so be sure to check with your institution what their preference is. Regardless of the chapter structure, this section is about presenting the findings of your research in a clear, easy to understand fashion.

Importantly, your discussion here needs to link back to your research questions (which you outlined in the introduction or literature review chapter). In other words, it needs to answer the key questions you asked (or at least attempt to answer them).

For example, if we look at the sample research topic:

In this case, the discussion section would clearly outline which factors seem to have a noteworthy influence on organisational trust. By doing so, they are answering the overarching question and fulfilling the purpose of the research .

For more information about the results chapter , check out this post for qualitative studies and this post for quantitative studies .

Step 8: The Final Step Draw a conclusion and discuss the implications

Last but not least, you’ll need to wrap up your research with the conclusion chapter . In this chapter, you’ll bring your research full circle by highlighting the key findings of your study and explaining what the implications of these findings are.

What exactly are key findings? The key findings are those findings which directly relate to your original research questions and overall research objectives (which you discussed in your introduction chapter). The implications, on the other hand, explain what your findings mean for industry, or for research in your area.

Sticking with the consumer trust topic example, the conclusion might look something like this:

Key findings

This study set out to identify which factors influence consumer-based trust in British low-cost online equity brokerage firms. The results suggest that the following factors have a large impact on consumer trust:

While the following factors have a very limited impact on consumer trust:

Notably, within the 25-30 age groups, Factors E had a noticeably larger impact, which may be explained by…

Implications

The findings having noteworthy implications for British low-cost online equity brokers. Specifically:

The large impact of Factors X and Y implies that brokers need to consider….

The limited impact of Factor E implies that brokers need to…

As you can see, the conclusion chapter is basically explaining the “what” (what your study found) and the “so what?” (what the findings mean for the industry or research). This brings the study full circle and closes off the document.

Let’s recap – how to write a dissertation or thesis

You’re still with me? Impressive! I know that this post was a long one, but hopefully you’ve learnt a thing or two about how to write a dissertation or thesis, and are now better equipped to start your own research.

To recap, the 8 steps to writing a quality dissertation (or thesis) are as follows:

• Understand what a dissertation (or thesis) is – a research project that follows the research process.
• Find a unique (original) and important research topic
• 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

Once you’ve wrapped up the core chapters, all that’s typically left is the abstract , reference list and appendices. As always, be sure to check with your university if they have any additional requirements in terms of structure or content.  

Psst... there’s more!

This post was based on one of our popular Research Bootcamps . If you're working on a research project, you'll definitely want to check this out ...

20 Comments

thankfull >>>this is very useful

Thank you, it was really helpful

unquestionably, this amazing simplified way of teaching. Really , I couldn’t find in the literature words that fully explicit my great thanks to you. However, I could only say thanks a-lot.

Great to hear that – thanks for the feedback. Good luck writing your dissertation/thesis.

This is the most comprehensive explanation of how to write a dissertation. Many thanks for sharing it free of charge.

Very rich presentation. Thank you

Thanks Derek Jansen|GRADCOACH, I find it very useful guide to arrange my activities and proceed to research!

Thank you so much for such a marvelous teaching .I am so convinced that am going to write a comprehensive and a distinct masters dissertation

It is an amazing comprehensive explanation

This was straightforward. Thank you!

I can say that your explanations are simple and enlightening – understanding what you have done here is easy for me. Could you write more about the different types of research methods specific to the three methodologies: quan, qual and MM. I look forward to interacting with this website more in the future.

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions 🙂

Hello, your write ups is quite educative. However, l have challenges in going about my research questions which is below; *Building the enablers of organisational growth through effective governance and purposeful leadership.*

Very educating.

Just listening to the name of the dissertation makes the student nervous. As writing a top-quality dissertation is a difficult task as it is a lengthy topic, requires a lot of research and understanding and is usually around 10,000 to 15000 words. Sometimes due to studies, unbalanced workload or lack of research and writing skill students look for dissertation submission from professional writers.

Thank you 💕😊 very much. I was confused but your comprehensive explanation has cleared my doubts of ever presenting a good thesis. Thank you.

thank you so much, that was so useful

Hi. Where is the excel spread sheet ark?

could you please help me look at your thesis paper to enable me to do the portion that has to do with the specification

my topic is “the impact of domestic revenue mobilization.

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

• Dartmouth Libraries

Q. How can I get a copy of a dissertation that I need for my research?

• 6 Alumni Services
• 28 Baker-Berry Library
• 2 Biomedical Libraries
• 13 Borrow From Other Libraries
• 22 Business
• 4 Collections
• 16 Course Reserves
• 5 Dartmouth History
• 1 Dartmouth Library Depository
• 7 Economics
• 5 Engineering
• 3 Film & Video
• 1 Geography
• 6 Jones Media Center
• 1 Kresge Physical Sciences Library
• 11 Library Hours
• 12 Preservation
• 1 Psychological & Brain Sciences
• 4 Rauner Special Collections Library
• 5 Records Management
• 20 Scholarly Communication, Copyright, and Publishing
• 40 Search and Find
• 17 Services
• 1 Sherman Art Library
• 4 Study Space
• 27 Technical Support
• 11 Writing Your Paper

Answered By: Dartmouth Libraries Last Updated: Jun 19, 2024     Views: 14526

Try to find the dissertation online:

First, check the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses database to see if it is available in full text. Dissertations from 1997 to present are available in full text from ProQuest. In addition, most Dartmouth dissertations from 1993 to the present will be available online in ProQuest.  You may find some pre-1997 dissertations in ProQuest as well.

Dissertations may also be available at no cost from the issuing institution's website. In addition to checking their web site, try using search tools such as Google Scholar or the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations .

If you still haven't found the dissertation, try checking ROAR to see if the university where the dissertation was written has a digital repository. If it does, try searching the repository for the thesis or dissertation.

Find out if the dissertation was published:

Some dissertations are subsequently published by academic presses. A quick way to find out is by searching for the author in WorldCat . Remember, the title of the published book may be different than the dissertation.

Requesting Dissertations:

If the dissertation was submitted to one of the Ivies, try requesting it through Borrow Direct .

Foreign dissertations are often available at the Center for Research Libraries. If you find the dissertation you need in the CRL Dissertation Catalog , you can request it through Interlibrary Loan .

All other requests for dissertations should be made through Interlibrary Loan .

• The Library will first try to borrow the dissertation directly from the holding institution.
• If it is unavailable for loan, the Library will try to purchase an electronic copy from a commercial supplier, such as ProQuest.
• The average cost for a dissertation is $32.  Any costs exceeding $35 will be chargeable to you, provided that you agree to move forward with the purchase and pay the additional charges.

See also the Library's Research Guide for Dissertations & Theses.

Links & Files

• Research Guide: Dissertations & Theses
• Share on Facebook

Was this helpful? Yes 5 No 1

Comments (0)

Related topics.

• Writing Your Paper

Ask Us Now!

• Have your assignments done by seasoned writers. We work 24/7. Just email us at:
• [email protected]

Avoid being Caught Buying Dissertations: Tips to Do it Right

caught buying dissertations

Are you looking for someone to write your dissertation or thesis but you are afraid? Are you wondering whether you will be caught buying dissertations or your professor will catch you buying a thesis or a paper? In this article, we explore all the aspects of having someone do your dissertation.

Coursework comes with several challenges such as exams, homework, and meeting deadlines in your assignments and dissertations. Sometimes, you need that little help to write your dissertations. However, is it not risky?

When unsure about writing a super dissertation, or unable to meet deadlines, you can seek an assignment writing service that guarantees you excellent work that is likely to win favor from your instructor without being caught.

This guide will try to answer some fundamental issues about dissertation writing agencies and some tips on how to engage the best writers in the industry.

We can Write your Papers! No Plagiarism

Get that A on your next essay assignment without the hassles. Any topic or subject. 100% Plagiarism-Free Essays.

Can a Professor Tell if I Bought my Dissertation?

If you are looking for someone to write your dissertation but you have doubts if you will be caught buying a thesis online, here is a guide that will open you on what to do. Let’s start with whether your instructor can discover you.

A professor can tell that you bought a dissertation from online writing services if you hire an inexperienced writer to complete your dissertations or you buy from shared online databases.

However, you cannot be caught if you get your thesis or dissertation done by expert writers who write from scratch without plagiarism.

Again, you will need to edit or fine-tune your dissertation or thesis to fit your preference or taste. Do not leave everything to the writer to fill in. For example, if you have been writing papers before, the chances are that the instructor knows your writing voice.

Your voice talks about how you organize your thoughts, how you structure your sentences, and or how you make some grammatical errors.

When your writing style suddenly changes, and the writing dramatically improves, such could lead to suspicion. Even without evidence, the professor is likely to raise some academic charges against you.

People Also Read : Does Paying for Essay Writing Services work? Truths & Myths

Using Plagiarism Checkers

Another method that the professor may use to determine if you bought the dissertation is using plagiarism checkers.

Such could identify if someone used it before.

Remember, universities do not only rely on online plagiarism-checking tools only.

Most of the institutions use more sophisticated tools with more features than online free tools.

Such free tools may fail to identify plagiarism but not with better tools that the universities use.

No, you can confuse the professor by telling them if you bought a dissertation by rewriting the paper in your style.

However, you must be careful not to deviate from the given concepts and change the meaning of the sentences. Your role is to change the voice to retain your usual one. 

What will matter in this case is the depth of your research and the accuracy of the data you presented. Eliminate any vocabulary that does not match your writing style.

Again, you can use serious plagiarism detector software to determine if a section in the dissertation could show some plagiarism.

Once you see some plagiarism, ensure you rewrite those sentences until you eliminate your research source in the paper.

Do my Homework for Me? Get Assignment Help by expert writers

Reasons Why Students Buy Dissertations and Thesis

1. to acquire better grades.

Students would choose to go for the services of an expert and seek a well-researched thesis and dissertation, which will fetch good marks. No one wants to fail a course that probably took years to complete. As such, the student would instead go for a professional who will craft a winning paper that will make him impress the instructor and pass.

2. Overburdened by other Duties

Students face a growing burden of balancing between studies and work. Such could be both part-time and full-time jobs.

Due to the stigma of failure, the student could decide to seek the services of a writing agency to save time and eventually get suitable materials that could bargain good grades.

3. Laziness

Laziness is a common scenario among students. One may fail to study and research the course topics well and hence decide to look for someone who can handle the burden.

A lazy student will not have the courage to research and present the paper because of a lack of adequate facts to convince the instructor. Consequently, the student will seek writing help from experts at a fee.

People Also Read : Is there Websites that Write Research Papers & Essays for you

How to Hire someone to Write your Dissertation

You need a perfect dissertation paper to avoid failing your defense. The paper should be valuable with correct facts about the topic of study. As we established in another article, dissertation services work well if you find the best of them and hire good writers.

For that matter, one needs to use the following tips to settle for a suitable candidate to write a life-changing dissertation paper.

Favorable Terms and Conditions

You should avoid those writing agencies that fail to publish detailed terms and conditions on their sites, which could be a red flag that they are scammers. Such could fail to do a revision or a refund for you if the need arises.

Ensure you read and understand the claims on the websites, which must have support of terms and conditions.

For example, understand how the party supports your free revisions, secure payment process, privacy protection, and refunds. If you find the section reliable, then go ahead and hire them.

High-Quality Website

Scam websites do not have a high-quality design because the owners do not want to invest in anything apart from scamming unsuspecting visitors. They aim to scam and disappear within a short duration.

Get your first impression when you look at your website. Is it cheap or reliable? A high-quality website is easy to navigate by rating it on the following features:

• List of services
• Terms and conditions
• Customer support contact options
• Ordering process
• Information about the writers
• Guarantees on areas like timely delivery, free revisions, secure payments and 100% plagiarism-free content.

People Also Read : Reasons why Pay Someone to Write your Term Papers or Essays

Reviews from Unbiased Customers

Before you arouse your interest in seeking for particular writing service from an agent, it is critical to get their reputation from the customers’ feedback.

You can go through the reviews from honest customers and read how they rate their services. Caution is vital here since some of the reviews may lack credibility.

Seek to understand the duration at which the website has been in existence with several reviews it receives from its past deals.

Check well because some reviews may have links from specific websites; hence look for great reviews to get affiliate links.

When reading the reviews on the website, ensure you preserve your common sense to separate lies from the truth since some of the reviews may not originate from genuine customers.

I suppose you might be wrong if you believe higher pricing denotes better service. For example, one can locate a writing agency that offers lower prices for the most extended deadlines.

The same agency could be having a versatile team of writers who can process your order as soon as possible and afford to deliver top-notch work at lower prices.

We recommend that you stick with average prices within the industry. Ensure that their terms and conditions lack no hidden charges within the order.

For example, some scamming services would charge on formatting, bibliography, title page, and other items that you least expected to pay for them.

Ever-Present Customer Support

While it is true that a writing agency may have great writers, it is likely to fail if it lacks 24/7 customer support. One should have direct access to the writer to receive updates on the progress and add some instructions to perfect the work.

Getting 24/7 customer support allows the client to get an instant response at all times, whether day or night.

You can test a live chat and evaluate how it performs before you give them your order. See how they respond to issues and determine if it is friendly and reliable.

You can still ask them to avail you of a writer you can handle a specific order. You can ask for the qualifications of that writer. If they withhold much information, then proceed elsewhere.

Let your paper be written by a Team

A team avoids plagiarism and has checks and balances to guarantee a quality and ORIGINAL paper

Why we are the Best to Dissertations for you

Several online firms exist to help students get good dissertations for their coursework. One must look for certain aspects that would make buying a dissertation easy, as indicated below.

1. We have Experienced Dissertation Writers

Experience leads to perfection; hence it is a crucial commodity that one needs when looking for the correct dissertation online.

One should go through the firms’ profiles to understand the duration they have been rendering their services and the type of team they have been working with together.

If you are dealing with an individual writer, you must inquire to understand how long he/she has been working. One of the features of a good writer is experience.

2. We have Professional Editors and support

The best way to get exemplary service is to understand how professional the writing service is. Ensure that you do not land on quacks who will present shoddy work to you.

Check the professional endowment of writers and establish the kind of system the firm uses to recruit their writers. One can still go ahead to ask for samples of their certificates prove to their credibility.

3. No Plagiarism – We write Original Dissertations

One of the worst mistakes in writing is subjecting the content to a high percentage of plagiarism which violates other authors’ rights. It could be irritating and may lead to a criminal offense.

Choose a firm that does not issue plagiarized work. It is worthy of having an expensive dissertation that is perfect for your coursework.

4. Timely Delivery of works

Time is usually a valuable asset that the ideal writing agency should uphold by meeting deadlines.

The best standard is to deliver it before the agreed time to allow the recipient to go through and establish if there could be any revisions or not. Another vital area is that the company should edit and do the modifications for you freely.

5. Direct Communication with writers

The student should choose a company that will respond to your questions faster. The firm should update you on the progress of your work and rectify it if you want it reviewed. Staying in constant communication prevents any eventualities that could lead to a loss.

Watch this video to learn more about this.

Jessica Kasen is experienced in academic writing and academic assistance. She is well versed in academia and has a master’s degree in education. Kasen consults with us in helping students improve their grades. She also oversights the quality of work done by our writers.

Related posts

Do Dissertation writing services work

Do Dissertation Writing services work? Is hiring someone Legal

Time needed to write your thesis

Time to Write a Thesis or Dissertation: Tips to Finish Fast

How long is a thesis

How Long is a Thesis or Dissertation: College, Grad or PhD

Finding Dissertations and Theses

• IU Dissertations
• Bibliographies
• Other Resources

Ask a Librarian

Kristina Bradley-Khan, Nickoal Eichmann, Emily Okada, Keila DuBois, Alyssa Denneler.

Based on a document created by Sarah Mitchell in 2010

Created: February 2013

A Guide to Finding Dissertations

Dissertations are book-length works based on a PhD candidate's original research that are written as requirements for the doctoral degree. Theses are similar but shorter texts that are written by students working towards Master's and sometimes Bachelor's degrees.  Both dissertations and theses offer researchers valuable insights and analysis of all subjects. They can also be useful in leading to other resources as part of your own research.

Click on the tabs at the top of this page for information about specific resources and useful search techniques for finding dissertations. You can also navigate using the "Guide Contents" links on the left side of the page.

If you encounter difficulties in obtaining full-texts of dissertations or theses, consult a librarian. The "Ask A Librarian" instant message widget is located on the left of every page underneath the tabs.

Getting Started

Know what you're looking for (mostly)?

When looking for a specific dissertation, you need some or all of the following:

Just looking for a certain subject area?

When looking for dissertations in a specific subject area, you may need a variety of search terms and limiters. For example:

Where to Search

In general, start your search in ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. If you are looking for an IU dissertation and cannot find it in ProQuest, search ScholarWorks. If it is not in ScholarWorks, search IUCAT.

Comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses from around the world, including millions of works from thousands of universities. Each dissertation published since July, 1980 includes a 350-word abstract written by the author. Master's theses published since 1988 include 150-word abstracts. Simple bibliographic citations are available for dissertations dating from 1637.

Includes the following: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses: UK & Ireland ProQuest Dissertations & Theses: A & I ProQuest Dissertations & Theses: CIC Institutions

An open access repository that organizes and preserves the work of IU scholars, including published and unpublished materials, supplementary files, and gray literature.

The Indiana University online catalog.

IUCAT, Indiana University's online library catalog, provides comprehensive access to millions of items held by the IU Libraries statewide, including books, recordings, US government publications, periodicals, and other types of material. Users can access IUCAT from any Internet-connected computer or device, whether in the libraries, on campus, or off campus.

• Next: ProQuest >>
• Last Updated: Jul 30, 2024 3:40 PM
• URL: https://guides.libraries.indiana.edu/dissertations

Social media

• Instagram for Herman B Wells Library
• Facebook for IU Libraries

Additional resources

Featured databases.

• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) OneSearch@IU
• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) Academic Search (EBSCO)
• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) ERIC (EBSCO)
• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) Nexis Uni
• Resource available without restriction HathiTrust Digital Library
• Databases A-Z
• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) Google Scholar
• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) JSTOR
• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) Web of Science
• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) Scopus
• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) WorldCat

IU Libraries

• Diversity Resources
• About IU Libraries
• Alumni & Friends
• Departments & Staff
• Jobs & Libraries HR
• Intranet (Staff)
• IUL site admin

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, automatically generate references for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Dissertation

What Is a Dissertation? | 5 Essential Questions to Get Started

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

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

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

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Be assured that you'll submit flawless writing. Upload your document to correct all your mistakes.

Table of contents

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

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

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

Why is the dissertation important?

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

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

The only proofreading tool specialized in correcting academic writing

The academic proofreading tool has been trained on 1000s of academic texts and by native English editors. Making it the most accurate and reliable proofreading tool for students.

Correct my document today

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

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

How will your supervisor help you?

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

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

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

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

Empirical dissertations (sciences)

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

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

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

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

Non-empirical dissertations (arts and humanities)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Structure of an empirical dissertation

Empirical dissertations generally include these chapters:

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

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

Other dissertation structures

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

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

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

• Political philosophy

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

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

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

Prevent plagiarism, run a free check.

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

Formatting guidelines concern things like:

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

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

How will you reference your sources?

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

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

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

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

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

APA Reference Generator

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2022, May 05). What Is a Dissertation? | 5 Essential Questions to Get Started. Scribbr. Retrieved 21 August 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/thesis-dissertation/what-is-a-dissertation/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, how to choose a dissertation topic | 8 steps to follow, how to write a dissertation proposal | a step-by-step guide, what is a literature review | guide, template, & examples.

Do My Paper

Cheap Essay Writer for Whom You’re Looking for So Long

If you are not sure whether you are good at expressing yourself in writing, then we can help you overcome your difficulties by teaching you to improve your communication through writing. We assist students in writing essays and other types of papers for their classes. It's time to come visit us!

Buy Essay and Overcome All the Complexities

There are not many options for professional translations; however, before you can write a good summary of something, you need to have a sufficient knowledge of your subject to write one that's accurate. A research paper requires mastery of research vocabulary, a deep understanding of their subjects to be able to write clearly, and careful consideration of possible issues before offering solutions. Students often have difficulty understanding medical terminology when they first come across it, because they have never heard of these terms before. Students must be familiar with certain psychological concepts when they write a coherent psychology essay. We have a vast amount of experience under our belt, so we know where they need assistance. Although you may find better deals elsewhere, there is no way to tell whether these sites provide superior customer service and top-quality results. Read customer reviews before making any online purchases. If you don't believe there is a market for them, it is perhaps best to skip them.

Thesis Statement Help for A Low Price

It’s a great time to buy terms. The word that is selected is chosen using a precise formula, whether it be a historical essay or a term paper. You can be assured that you will receive a professionally written paper from those who know what they are doing. There is no need to write anything down today, and there are no reasons why you should not have others edit your paper for you. Don't waste your time trying to persuade them to do it for you; instead, invest it in something more productive! Order term papers online and head there! We offer a range of guarantees, based on our simple belief that we are capable of delivering top-quality content to you. Test it yourself! After all the research is completed, the results must be presented.

Research Paper Writing Help That You Need Now

The qualifications of our writers will show that they have been writing professionally for some time before being accepted into our company. Such things as if they are members of professional bodies might prove useful.

172 Controversial Debate Topics for Teens

206 great speech topics for teens [persuasive, informative], father of the groom speech – best tips, ideas & samples, reach out to us for sponsorship opportunities.

Vivamus integer non suscipit taciti mus etiam at primis tempor sagittis euismod libero facilisi.

Dissertation editing services

Your one-stop-shop for dissertation editing services.

Bring your PhD dissertation to the next level with the help of Scribbr’s experienced dissertation editors.

• 2,000-word sample edit is available on request

100% happiness guarantee

• Industry-specific editors experienced in proofreading dissertations

• Proofreading & Editing
• Dissertation Editing Services

Experienced dissertation editors

Within 1 week.

Dissertation Proofreading & Editing Services

Get your dissertation back, free of language errors and inconsistencies.

Standard dissertatio Proofreading & Editing is perfect if you’re confident about your writing but need a second pair of eyes to catch:

• Spelling and grammar errors
• Inconsistencies in dialect
• Overuse of passive voice
• Subjective or inflated language

For a more comprehensive edit, you can add one or multiple add-on editing services that fit your needs.

Add-on services

Customize your editing package to get the help you need, structure check, clarity check, paper formatting, citation editing.

Ensures sections and chapters are structured and focused and your writing is free of redundancies.

• Through in-text feedback, your editor will help:
• Organize and focus individual chapters and sections
• Eliminate repetitive and redundant information
• Perfect transitions between sentences and paragraphs
• Align titles and headings with the section’s content

You’ll also receive a personalized Structure Check Report meant to help you identify missing elements in each chapter or section and prioritize improvements.

Ensures ideas are presented clearly, your arguments are consistent, and your audience can follow along.

Through in-text comments and checklists, your editor will:

• Make sure your text tells a clear and logical story
• Check that you’ve clearly presented concepts, ideas, and key terms
• Make sure your key takeaways and conclusions are front and center
• Highlight contradictions within the text
• Ensure you’re keeping your audience’s needs in mind

Ensures a professional look for your document that meets your formatting requirements.

Your formatting expert will ensure consistency for the following:

• Margins, spacing, and indentation
• Body text and headings
• Page numbers
• Abstract and keywords
• Explanatory footnotes

Choose our Paper Formatting service for a professional finish or our APA Editing Service for the most up-to-date APA formatting.

Citation Editing ensures your citations and references are consistent and meet your style guide’s requirements.

After you provide your document with a reference list, your citation expert will:

• Format the layout of your reference page (margins, indents, spacing)
• Ensure that your chosen citation style is applied consistently according to the guidelines
• Cross-check citations with reference entries
• Provide feedback on reference list entries that you need to complete due to missing information

Your expert is familiar with all common citation styles. Find more information about the service and our requirements in our FAQs .

You'll get matched with the perfect editor

All  Scribbr editors   have completed our   Scribbr Academy   training program. Their work and experience meet the high standards required to proofread PhD dissertations.

Plus, your deadline is guaranteed. You’ll receive a free text message as soon as your editor is done proofreading, so you can immediately start working on their recommendations.

I have a doctorate in biology and studied a range of life science subjects. I specialize in editing academic texts.

I researched at Harvard, taught English with a Fulbright in Peru, and earned a master's from Johns Hopkins.

I am an academic editor and book reviewer. I am familiar with many style guides and have edited over 6 million words.

I have a bachelor's in electrical engineering and a master's in psychology and am pursuing a PhD in neuroscience.

I am an ESL teacher and academic editor with a research background in the humanities, arts, and culture.

Maximize your dissertation's potential with expert editing

Same day delivery

This deadline works automatically for the following document sizes:

• 3 hours: less than 3,000 words
• 6 hours: less than 6,000 words
• 12 hours: less than 12,000 words

Select your currency

“Awesome”

Consider this, I scored over 40 on verbal, on the graduate management admission test (i.e., admission test for MBA), which places me at the 83 percentile. In other words, my english is above par. Yet, my revision was filled with comments and adjustments that made my text a lot more clear to the reader. My revision was also ready two days early, which was a pleasant surprise.

How it works

Improve your dissertation in 3 easy steps, upload any time.

Upload your document and easily select the pages that need editing. Next, choose your turnaround time and services and explain your situation and needs to the editor.

Stay in the loop

After placing your order you can keep track of our progress. From finding your perfect editor to potential hand-overs to formatting or citation experts.

Revise and submit

You’ll receive back your document with tracked changes and feedback as well as a personal letter from your editor. The last step is submitting your work with confidence!

Scribbr & academic integrity

Scribbr is committed to protecting academic integrity. Our proofreading service, our AI writing tools ( plagiarism checker , paraphrasing tool , grammar checker , summarizer,  Citation Generator ) as well as our free Knowledge Base content are designed to help students produce quality academic papers.

We make every effort to prevent our software from being used for fraudulent or manipulative purposes.

Your questions, answered.

At Scribbr, we promise to make every customer 100% happy with the service we offer. Our philosophy: Your complaint is always justified – no denial, no doubts.

Our customer support team is here to find the solution that helps you the most, whether that’s a free new edit or a refund for the service.

The fastest turnaround time is 12 hours.

You can upload your document at any time and choose between four deadlines:

Yes, in the order process you can indicate your preference for American, British, or Australian English .

If you don’t choose one, your editor will follow the style of English you currently use. If your editor has any questions about this, we will contact you.

Yes, regardless of the deadline you choose, our editors can proofread your document during weekends and holidays.

Example: If you select the 12-hour service on Saturday, you will receive your edited document back within 12 hours on Sunday.

Get in touch, with real people

We answer your questions quickly and personally from 9:00 to 23:00 CET

• Start live chat
• Email [email protected]
• Call +1 (510) 822-8066
• WhatsApp +31 20 261 6040

Knowledge Base

Finishing your dissertation with scribbr’s top-rated guides.

Dissertation Writing

How to Write a Dissertation Conclusion

Prize-winning dissertation examples, dissertation outline, how to write a dissertation proposal.

Tips for writing a PhD dissertation: FAQs answered

From how to choose a topic to writing the abstract and managing work-life balance through the years it takes to complete a doctorate, here we collect expert advice to get you through the PhD writing process

Campus team

Additional links.

• More on this topic

You may also like

Popular resources

.css-1txxx8u{overflow:hidden;max-height:81px;text-indent:0px;} Campus webinar: the evolution of interdisciplinarity

Relieve student boredom by ‘activating’ lectures, deepfakes are coming for education. be prepared, emotions and learning: what role do emotions play in how and why students learn, a diy guide to starting your own journal.

Embarking on a PhD is “probably the most challenging task that a young scholar attempts to do”, write Mark Stephan Felix and Ian Smith in their practical guide to dissertation and thesis writing. After years of reading and research to answer a specific question or proposition, the candidate will submit about 80,000 words that explain their methods and results and demonstrate their unique contribution to knowledge. Here are the answers to frequently asked questions about writing a doctoral thesis or dissertation.

What’s the difference between a dissertation and a thesis?

Whatever the genre of the doctorate, a PhD must offer an original contribution to knowledge. The terms “dissertation” and “thesis” both refer to the long-form piece of work produced at the end of a research project and are often used interchangeably. Which one is used might depend on the country, discipline or university. In the UK, “thesis” is generally used for the work done for a PhD, while a “dissertation” is written for a master’s degree. The US did the same until the 1960s, says Oxbridge Essays, when the convention switched, and references appeared to a “master’s thesis” and “doctoral dissertation”. To complicate matters further, undergraduate long essays are also sometimes referred to as a thesis or dissertation.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines “thesis” as “a dissertation, especially by a candidate for a degree” and “dissertation” as “a detailed discourse on a subject, especially one submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of a degree or diploma”.

• Ten platinum rules for PhD supervisors
• Fostering freedom in PhD students: how supervisors can shape accessible paths for doctoral research
• Lessons from students on effective research supervision

The title “doctor of philosophy”, incidentally, comes from the degree’s origins, write Dr Felix, an associate professor at Mahidol University in Thailand, and Dr Smith, retired associate professor of education at the University of Sydney , whose co-authored guide focuses on the social sciences. The PhD was first awarded in the 19th century by the philosophy departments of German universities, which at that time taught science, social science and liberal arts.

How long should a PhD thesis be?

A PhD thesis (or dissertation) is typically 60,000 to 120,000 words ( 100 to 300 pages in length ) organised into chapters, divisions and subdivisions (with roughly 10,000 words per chapter) – from introduction (with clear aims and objectives) to conclusion.

The structure of a dissertation will vary depending on discipline (humanities, social sciences and STEM all have their own conventions), location and institution. Examples and guides to structure proliferate online. The University of Salford , for example, lists: title page, declaration, acknowledgements, abstract, table of contents, lists of figures, tables and abbreviations (where needed), chapters, appendices and references.

A scientific-style thesis will likely need: introduction, literature review, materials and methods, results, discussion, bibliography and references.

As well as checking the overall criteria and expectations of your institution for your research, consult your school handbook for the required length and format (font, layout conventions and so on) for your dissertation.

A PhD takes three to four years to complete; this might extend to six to eight years for a part-time doctorate.

What are the steps for completing a PhD?

Before you get started in earnest , you’ll likely have found a potential supervisor, who will guide your PhD journey, and done a research proposal (which outlines what you plan to research and how) as part of your application, as well as a literature review of existing scholarship in the field, which may form part of your final submission.

In the UK, PhD candidates undertake original research and write the results in a thesis or dissertation, says author and vlogger Simon Clark , who posted videos to YouTube throughout his own PhD journey . Then they submit the thesis in hard copy and attend the viva voce (which is Latin for “living voice” and is also called an oral defence or doctoral defence) to convince the examiners that their work is original, understood and all their own. Afterwards, if necessary, they make changes and resubmit. If the changes are approved, the degree is awarded.

The steps are similar in Australia , although candidates are mostly assessed on their thesis only; some universities may include taught courses, and some use a viva voce. A PhD in Australia usually takes three years full time.

In the US, the PhD process begins with taught classes (similar to a taught master’s) and a comprehensive exam (called a “field exam” or “dissertation qualifying exam”) before the candidate embarks on their original research. The whole journey takes four to six years.

A PhD candidate will need three skills and attitudes to get through their doctoral studies, says Tara Brabazon , professor of cultural studies at Flinders University in Australia who has written extensively about the PhD journey :

• master the academic foundational skills (research, writing, ability to navigate different modalities)
• time-management skills and the ability to focus on reading and writing
• determined motivation to do a PhD.

How do I choose the topic for my PhD dissertation or thesis?

It’s important to find a topic that will sustain your interest for the years it will take to complete a PhD. “Finding a sustainable topic is the most important thing you [as a PhD student] would do,” says Dr Brabazon in a video for Times Higher Education . “Write down on a big piece of paper all the topics, all the ideas, all the questions that really interest you, and start to cross out all the ones that might just be a passing interest.” Also, she says, impose the “Who cares? Who gives a damn?” question to decide if the topic will be useful in a future academic career.

The availability of funding and scholarships is also often an important factor in this decision, says veteran PhD supervisor Richard Godwin, from Harper Adams University .

Define a gap in knowledge – and one that can be questioned, explored, researched and written about in the time available to you, says Gina Wisker, head of the Centre for Learning and Teaching at the University of Brighton. “Set some boundaries,” she advises. “Don’t try to ask everything related to your topic in every way.”

James Hartley, research professor in psychology at Keele University, says it can also be useful to think about topics that spark general interest. If you do pick something that taps into the zeitgeist, your findings are more likely to be noticed.

You also need to find someone else who is interested in it, too. For STEM candidates , this will probably be a case of joining a team of people working in a similar area where, ideally, scholarship funding is available. A centre for doctoral training (CDT) or doctoral training partnership (DTP) will advertise research projects. For those in the liberal arts and social sciences, it will be a matter of identifying a suitable supervisor .

Avoid topics that are too broad (hunger across a whole country, for example) or too narrow (hunger in a single street) to yield useful solutions of academic significance, write Mark Stephan Felix and Ian Smith. And ensure that you’re not repeating previous research or trying to solve a problem that has already been answered. A PhD thesis must be original.

What is a thesis proposal?

After you have read widely to refine your topic and ensure that it and your research methods are original, and discussed your project with a (potential) supervisor, you’re ready to write a thesis proposal , a document of 1,500 to 3,000 words that sets out the proposed direction of your research. In the UK, a research proposal is usually part of the application process for admission to a research degree. As with the final dissertation itself, format varies among disciplines, institutions and countries but will usually contain title page, aims, literature review, methodology, timetable and bibliography. Examples of research proposals are available online.

How to write an abstract for a dissertation or thesis

The abstract presents your thesis to the wider world – and as such may be its most important element , says the NUI Galway writing guide. It outlines the why, how, what and so what of the thesis . Unlike the introduction, which provides background but not research findings, the abstract summarises all sections of the dissertation in a concise, thorough, focused way and demonstrates how well the writer understands their material. Check word-length limits with your university – and stick to them. About 300 to 500 words is a rough guide ­– but it can be up to 1,000 words.

The abstract is also important for selection and indexing of your thesis, according to the University of Melbourne guide , so be sure to include searchable keywords.

It is the first thing to be read but the last element you should write. However, Pat Thomson , professor of education at the University of Nottingham , advises that it is not something to be tackled at the last minute.

How to write a stellar conclusion

As well as chapter conclusions, a thesis often has an overall conclusion to draw together the key points covered and to reflect on the unique contribution to knowledge. It can comment on future implications of the research and open up new ideas emanating from the work. It is shorter and more general than the discussion chapter , says online editing site Scribbr, and reiterates how the work answers the main question posed at the beginning of the thesis. The conclusion chapter also often discusses the limitations of the research (time, scope, word limit, access) in a constructive manner.

It can be useful to keep a collection of ideas as you go – in the online forum DoctoralWriting SIG , academic developer Claire Aitchison, of the University of South Australia , suggests using a “conclusions bank” for themes and inspirations, and using free-writing to keep this final section fresh. (Just when you feel you’ve run out of steam.) Avoid aggrandising or exaggerating the impact of your work. It should remind the reader what has been done, and why it matters.

How to format a bibliography (or where to find a reliable model)

Most universities use a preferred style of references , writes THE associate editor Ingrid Curl. Make sure you know what this is and follow it. “One of the most common errors in academic writing is to cite papers in the text that do not then appear in the bibliography. All references in your thesis need to be cross-checked with the bibliography before submission. Using a database during your research can save a great deal of time in the writing-up process.”

A bibliography contains not only works cited explicitly but also those that have informed or contributed to the research – and as such illustrates its scope; works are not limited to written publications but include sources such as film or visual art.

Examiners can start marking from the back of the script, writes Dr Brabazon. “Just as cooks are judged by their ingredients and implements, we judge doctoral students by the calibre of their sources,” she advises. She also says that candidates should be prepared to speak in an oral examination of the PhD about any texts included in their bibliography, especially if there is a disconnect between the thesis and the texts listed.

Can I use informal language in my PhD?

Don’t write like a stereotypical academic , say Kevin Haggerty, professor of sociology at the University of Alberta , and Aaron Doyle, associate professor in sociology at Carleton University , in their tongue-in-cheek guide to the PhD journey. “If you cannot write clearly and persuasively, everything about PhD study becomes harder.” Avoid jargon, exotic words, passive voice and long, convoluted sentences – and work on it consistently. “Writing is like playing guitar; it can improve only through consistent, concerted effort.”

Be deliberate and take care with your writing . “Write your first draft, leave it and then come back to it with a critical eye. Look objectively at the writing and read it closely for style and sense,” advises THE ’s Ms Curl. “Look out for common errors such as dangling modifiers, subject-verb disagreement and inconsistency. If you are too involved with the text to be able to take a step back and do this, then ask a friend or colleague to read it with a critical eye. Remember Hemingway’s advice: ‘Prose is architecture, not interior decoration.’ Clarity is key.”

How often should a PhD candidate meet with their supervisor?

Since the PhD supervisor provides a range of support and advice – including on research techniques, planning and submission – regular formal supervisions are essential, as is establishing a line of contact such as email if the candidate needs help or advice outside arranged times. The frequency varies according to university, discipline and individual scholars.

Once a week is ideal, says Dr Brabazon. She also advocates a two-hour initial meeting to establish the foundations of the candidate-supervisor relationship .

The University of Edinburgh guide to writing a thesis suggests that creating a timetable of supervisor meetings right at the beginning of the research process will allow candidates to ensure that their work stays on track throughout. The meetings are also the place to get regular feedback on draft chapters.

“A clear structure and a solid framework are vital for research,” writes Dr Godwin on THE Campus . Use your supervisor to establish this and provide a realistic view of what can be achieved. “It is vital to help students identify the true scientific merit, the practical significance of their work and its value to society.”

How to proofread your dissertation (what to look for)

Proofreading is the final step before printing and submission. Give yourself time to ensure that your work is the best it can be . Don’t leave proofreading to the last minute; ideally, break it up into a few close-reading sessions. Find a quiet place without distractions. A checklist can help ensure that all aspects are covered.

Proofing is often helped by a change of format – so it can be easier to read a printout rather than working off the screen – or by reading sections out of order. Fresh eyes are better at spotting typographical errors and inconsistencies, so leave time between writing and proofreading. Check with your university’s policies before asking another person to proofread your thesis for you.

As well as close details such as spelling and grammar, check that all sections are complete, all required elements are included , and nothing is repeated or redundant. Don’t forget to check headings and subheadings. Does the text flow from one section to another? Is the structure clear? Is the work a coherent whole with a clear line throughout?

Ensure consistency in, for example, UK v US spellings, capitalisation, format, numbers (digits or words, commas, units of measurement), contractions, italics and hyphenation. Spellchecks and online plagiarism checkers are also your friend.

How do you manage your time to complete a PhD dissertation?

Treat your PhD like a full-time job, that is, with an eight-hour working day. Within that, you’ll need to plan your time in a way that gives a sense of progress . Setbacks and periods where it feels as if you are treading water are all but inevitable, so keeping track of small wins is important, writes A Happy PhD blogger Luis P. Prieto.

Be specific with your goals – use the SMART acronym (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely).

And it’s never too soon to start writing – even if early drafts are overwritten and discarded.

“ Write little and write often . Many of us make the mistake of taking to writing as one would take to a sprint, in other words, with relatively short bursts of intense activity. Whilst this can prove productive, generally speaking it is not sustainable…In addition to sustaining your activity, writing little bits on a frequent basis ensures that you progress with your thinking. The comfort of remaining in abstract thought is common; writing forces us to concretise our thinking,” says Christian Gilliam, AHSS researcher developer at the University of Cambridge ’s Centre for Teaching and Learning.

Make time to write. “If you are more alert early in the day, find times that suit you in the morning; if you are a ‘night person’, block out some writing sessions in the evenings,” advises NUI Galway’s Dermot Burns, a lecturer in English and creative arts. Set targets, keep daily notes of experiment details that you will need in your thesis, don’t confuse writing with editing or revising – and always back up your work.

What work-life balance tips should I follow to complete my dissertation?

During your PhD programme, you may have opportunities to take part in professional development activities, such as teaching, attending academic conferences and publishing your work. Your research may include residencies, field trips or archive visits. This will require time-management skills as well as prioritising where you devote your energy and factoring in rest and relaxation. Organise your routine to suit your needs , and plan for steady and regular progress.

How to deal with setbacks while writing a thesis or dissertation

Have a contingency plan for delays or roadblocks such as unexpected results.

Accept that writing is messy, first drafts are imperfect, and writer’s block is inevitable, says Dr Burns. His tips for breaking it include relaxation to free your mind from clutter, writing a plan and drawing a mind map of key points for clarity. He also advises feedback, reflection and revision: “Progressing from a rough version of your thoughts to a superior and workable text takes time, effort, different perspectives and some expertise.”

“Academia can be a relentlessly brutal merry-go-round of rejection, rebuttal and failure,” writes Lorraine Hope , professor of applied cognitive psychology at the University of Portsmouth, on THE Campus. Resilience is important. Ensure that you and your supervisor have a relationship that supports open, frank, judgement-free communication.

If you would like advice and insight from academics and university staff delivered direct to your inbox each week, sign up for the Campus newsletter .

Authoring a PhD Thesis: How to Plan, Draft, Write and Finish a Doctoral Dissertation (2003), by Patrick Dunleavy

Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day: A Guide to Starting, Revising, and Finishing Your Doctoral Thesis (1998), by Joan Balker

Challenges in Writing Your Dissertation: Coping with the Emotional, Interpersonal, and Spiritual Struggles (2015), by Noelle Sterne

Campus webinar: the evolution of interdisciplinarity

Using data skills to turn students’ passion for sports into rewarding careers, how mozart and the arts can help students feel less awkward, strategies to empower first-generation university students, contextual learning: linking learning to the real world, onboarding a new hire into a newly created university role.

Register for free

and unlock a host of features on the THE site

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Thesis and Dissertation: Getting Started

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

The resources in this section are designed to provide guidance for the first steps of the thesis or dissertation writing process. They offer tools to support the planning and managing of your project, including writing out your weekly schedule, outlining your goals, and organzing the various working elements of your project.

Weekly Goals Sheet (a.k.a. Life Map) [Word Doc]

This editable handout provides a place for you to fill in available time blocks on a weekly chart that will help you visualize the amount of time you have available to write. By using this chart, you will be able to work your writing goals into your schedule and put these goals into perspective with your day-to-day plans and responsibilities each week. This handout also contains a formula to help you determine the minimum number of pages you would need to write per day in order to complete your writing on time.

Setting a Production Schedule (Word Doc)

This editable handout can help you make sense of the various steps involved in the production of your thesis or dissertation and determine how long each step might take. A large part of this process involves (1) seeking out the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding specific document formatting requirements, (2) understanding research protocol limitations, (3) making note of deadlines, and (4) understanding your personal writing habits.

Creating a Roadmap (PDF)

Part of organizing your writing involves having a clear sense of how the different working parts relate to one another. Creating a roadmap for your dissertation early on can help you determine what the final document will include and how all the pieces are connected. This resource offers guidance on several approaches to creating a roadmap, including creating lists, maps, nut-shells, visuals, and different methods for outlining. It is important to remember that you can create more than one roadmap (or more than one type of roadmap) depending on how the different approaches discussed here meet your needs.

Surprise at My Dissertation Defense - Mic Stock 7

“One year, eight months and eleven days ago was the biggest day of my life to that point. It was the day that I would finally, officially fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming a scientist. ”

Surprise at my dissertation defense.

Marissa sees more of her mother than she'd like at her dissertation defense. 

Featured on

Cringeworthy

Original Air Date

Aug 14, 2024

New Orleans, Louisiana

Dec 10, 2019

See More Stories

Moth stories, butterflies.

by Aleeza Kazmi

The Fiddler is Always Right

by Mari Black

Instrumental

by Alistair Bane

About Us arrow_drop_down expand_more

• News Releases

Our Values arrow_drop_down expand_more

• Diversity & Inclusion
• Accessibility
• Slavery Act Statement

Product Families arrow_drop_down expand_more

Content Solutions expand_more

• Books and Ebooks
• Dissertations
• News & Newspapers
• Primary Sources
• Streaming Video

Products by Subject expand_more

• Health & Medicine
• History & Social Change
• Interdisciplinary
• Science & Technology
• Social Sciences

Popular Products expand_more

• ProQuest One Academic
• ProQuest One Business
• ProQuest One Education
• ProQuest One Psychology
• ProQuest Black Studies
• Ebooks Offers for Libraries

Library Management expand_more

Discovery services expand_more, resource sharing expand_more, course resource lists expand_more, research management expand_more, mobile solutions expand_more.

• Innovative Mobile

Libraries We Serve expand_more

• Academic Solutions for universities, colleges, and community colleges of all sizes.
• Public Solutions for librarians supporting patrons of public libraries.
• K-12 Solutions for elementary schools, primary schools and high schools.
• Community College Solutions for community colleges, trade schools and two year programs.
• Government Solutions for governmental affairs offices, patent examiners, and grants administrators.
• Corporate Solutions for professionals in the pharmaceutical, legal industries and more.

Solutions For expand_more

• DEI E-Resources
• Print to Electronic
• Reclaiming Your Space
• Library Management
• Library Management – Public Libraries
• Community Engagement
• Content Discovery
• Research Repository
• Digital Preservation
• Resource Sharing
• Document Delivery
• Course Resources

Account Support expand_more

• Setup and Support
• Access Questions
• Renewing a Product
• Paying an Invoice
• Get Usage Data: ProQuest
• Get Usage Data: Alexander Street
• Submitting Dissertations
• Idea Exchange
• ProQuest Status Page

Tools & Resources expand_more

• Find a Title List
• Accessibility Documentation
• Open Access

Browse Collections by Subject expand_more

I want to expand_more.

• Start my Research
• Start Text & Data Mining
• Find Research Funding
• Keep up with Research News
• Showcase Research
• See Upcoming Webinars
• Contact Support

I’m Interested In expand_more

• Submitting a Dissertation
• Purchasing a Dissertation
• Assembling Course Materials
• Implementing a Mobile Campus App

Insights expand_more

How text and data mining enables digital literacy in the classroom.

Read about the University of Sydney’s journey to integrate text and data mining (TDM) into its undergraduate courses and incorporate it across disciplines

Meeting Your Needs expand_more

• Graduate Students
• Graduate Administrators

Products & Services expand_more

• ETD Dissemination
• Dissertation & Theses Global
• ETD Dashboard

Resources expand_more

• eLearning Modules
• Expert Advice Articles

Dissertations News expand_more

• Top 25 Most-Accessed Dissertations
• Dissertations Award Winners

Are you a researcher looking for scholarly content? Try searching our platform here...

Language preference

Do you want set this as your default language ?

Connect with ProQuest

Author dissertations faqs, dissertation support.

Thank you for contacting ProQuest! Your submission was successful!

We appreciate you contacting us, and one of our colleagues will respond as soon as possible!

Privacy Policy , Terms and Conditions

For Authors

Questions about submission and discoverability.

• Why should I allow ProQuest, a commercial provider, to disseminate and archive my dissertation?  

How does ProQuest make dissertations available to academic databases?

What are the best channels to use in disseminating my work, does proquest make dissertations discoverable via search engines such as google, how much does it cost to submit my dissertation to proquest, i want to submit a dissertation in a non-pdf format [e.g. audio file, video file]. how can i do that, my university doesn’t submit dissertations to proquest. how can i include my thesis or dissertation, questions about publication and embargoes, how do i navigate different publication policies, why are some dissertations/theses embargoed, what are the specific embargo options, questions about publishing rights, does proquest “publish” dissertations, can i distribute my dissertation elsewhere if i submit it to proquest.

• If my dissertation is published into a book, will the copyright shift to the book publisher and will the dissertation need to be removed from the ProQuest database?

Will my dissertation be available for sale?

Does proquest sell dissertations on commercial sites such as amazon.

• Will ProQuest have the right to reproduce the thesis in other formats ("microform and print formats") and sell them?

Does ProQuest pay author royalties?

Do you allow open access discovery, are there author rights concerns for theses and dissertations once they are submitted to turnitin/ithenticate, how can i have my work removed from turnitin/ithenticate, questions about the submission process, why should i allow proquest, a commercial provider, to disseminate and archive my dissertation.

ProQuest is not a “new media” publishing company jumping into a perceived market opportunity. We have been partnering with scholars and academic institutions to publish dissertations since the late-1930s and have proven our commitment to the academic community.

Working with ProQuest provides unparalleled dissemination of authors’ dissertations and theses to the scholarly community. ProQuest’s dissertations services exist and evolve to fulfill the information requirements of academic institutions and their authors. Disseminating and archiving dissertations is an investment for both ProQuest and our partner institutions. Our dissertations solutions add value for authors and institutions on several different levels, such as the following:

• ProQuest assists researchers and institutions in the discoverability and dissemination of their dissertations and theses; the database is accessed by researchers at more than 3,100 institutions worldwide.
• Inclusion in ProQuest provides access to an author’s dissertation alongside decades of groundbreaking research from doctoral and master’s institutions.
• Metadata is made available to key subject indexes and database services including PsycINFO (psychology), ERIC (education), MLA (modern languages, literature, folklore, and linguistics), MathSciNet (mathematics), Compendex (engineering), etc. ProQuest continues to develop and expand partnerships in order to raise the visibility of dissertations and theses through high-quality, relevant indexes and databases.
• Inclusion in PQDT enables discovery alongside the work of established leaders in their fields. ProQuest aggregates content from thousands of publishers that are used every day in every major research library in the world. ProQuest’s acclaimed research platform cross-searches journal databases with dissertations content, enabling your dissertation to be viewed along with other major works on the topic.

ProQuest plays a key role in the aggregation of dissertations ─ preserving, archiving and making them accessible at the authors’ discretion and direction to researchers at more than 3,100 institutions around the world. Through our dissemination program, we also make un-embargoed works available to major academic databases including PsycINFO (psychology), ERIC (education), MLA (modern languages, literatures, folklore, and linguistics), MathSci.Net (mathematics), Compendex (engineering) – full list here. This enhances discovery within the author’s discipline and enables the authors’ works to be showcased for use in other academic journals, working papers, reports and studies. ProQuest continues to develop and expand partnerships in order to raise the visibility of dissertations and theses through high-quality, relevant indexes and databases.

ProQuest recommends that authors explore all available options for the dissemination of their work. We encourage authors to consult with their universities to understand how institutional policies might impact their dissemination options. ProQuest’s author agreement for dissertations and theses is non-exclusive. Authors have the full right to make their works available to other commercial services or for open access outside of the ProQuest service. Further dissemination options, such as distribution via an Institutional Repository, can occur in parallel with availability through ProQuest. Our view is that dissemination via a combination both of ProQuest and an Institutional Repository provides maximum exposure for authors and institutions.

Authors submitting their dissertation to ProQuest have the option to allow discovery of their work via ProQuest’s partnership with Google Scholar. However, note that it is also possible for search engines and other vendors to harvest your work if it is posted in a university institutional repository. Authors always have the option to opt-out of this offering.

For authors that submit electronically, there’s no charge to disseminate and archive dissertations and theses in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.

To do this using ETD Administrator, please upload a PDF containing the title of your graduate work and any other relevant written material in the “PDF” section of the site. In the "Supplemental Files section, please upload the non-PDF component of your graduate work. (You may upload multiple files as needed in the “Supplemental Files” section).

Authors that wish to include their work in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global outside of their university program can submit their request to [email protected] .

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses is a dissemination channel and is not a publisher in the traditional definition applied to journals or monographs. Generally, the submission of an author’s graduate work to the ProQuest platform does not qualify the work as being “published.” However, each publisher/editorial board sets its own policy as to whether the dissemination of a dissertation or thesis via ProQuest disqualifies the author from submitting a journal article or monograph on the same subject for future publication. While most publishers do not find the wide distribution of a full-text dissertation or thesis problematic, potential conflicts should be carefully considered and explored by students, with the advice of their faculty advisors. If there is concern about publishing the final version of an article as part of a dissertation, ProQuest recommends including the preprint version of the article in the dissertation instead. Should a concern arise, ProQuest can apply a full-text embargo to the graduate work upon request. Requests can be made at [email protected] . Further information is available here .

At any given time, some of the works from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses are unavailable due to embargoes. Embargo restrictions are typically requested by authors as copyright holders, in consultation with their universities, and may be placed for various reasons. Some examples include patents pending on elements contained within the graduate work and concerns about data privacy and the privacy of subjects involved in the studies.

Authors have the ability to embargo their work indefinitely or for a certain period of time. ProQuest honors the author’s wishes and can accommodate them as needed. ProQuest also upholds a policy for the removal of works within 48 hours of receiving the request. Find details on ProQuest’s Full Text Take Down process here . If an author wishes, he/she/they may contact [email protected] to request that their work be embargoed or removed at any time.

Primarily, ProQuest is an archiving and dissemination partner for thousands of institutions worldwide, enabling the works of their graduate students to become part of the larger scholarly record. Authors retain the copyright to their work. ProQuest retains a non-exclusive right to disseminate the dissertation. Because ProQuest assigns ISBNs to dissertations, inclusion in the database could be considered to represent a form of publishing. However, most publishers do not hold this viewpoint, dissemination via ProQuest complements and is in no way a substitute for monograph or scholarly journal publishing.

Yes, submission to ProQuest is non-exclusive, and authors are totally free to publish their work or make it available elsewhere at any time. Authors retain copyright and direct decisions regarding the dissemination of their work. Dissemination choices can be modified at any time after submission to ProQuest by contacting our customer service team.

If my dissertation is published into a book, will the copyright shift to the book publisher and will the dissertation need to be removed from ProQuest’s database?

The copyright of the dissertation is held by the author. The author grants ProQuest the “license” – i.e. the right to display the dissertation on the ProQuest platform. The license is non-exclusive: the author has full authorization to publish a book or to have the dissertation available on another website. The work can exist in both places – both with ProQuest and elsewhere. In most cases, a book has considerable changes from the original dissertation and is defined as a derivative and not an exact replication. In some instances where an author has their dissertation turned into a monograph, the author can contact ProQuest at the request of the publisher and put a “do not sell” restriction on the work. This would prohibit ProQuest from selling the dissertation in formats such as downloadable PDFs and print copies. If you wish to request this option, please email [email protected] .

Unless authors choose to embargo their work, copies are available for sale directly from ProQuest via the Dissertation Express service and the PQDT index database – for researchers or libraries to purchase copies. These services focus on serving the information needs of the global research community. Dissertations and theses are also made available in the libraries of more than 3,100 academic institutions around the world via subscriptions to our databases such as ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Full Text and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. Authors earn royalties based upon the print copy sales and downloads of their work. For questions contact [email protected] .

No, ProQuest no longer provides graduate works to third-party retailers for distribution. Our reseller program with Amazon was discontinued in 2014.

Will ProQuest have the right to reproduce the thesis in other formats and sell them?

Many researchers and academic libraries want a bound print copy for archival purposes. ProQuest offers print formats as purchase options for these reasons. Authors receive royalty payments on all purchases of their work. See above Author royalty question for details.

Yes, ProQuest pays royalties to authors based on copy sales and usage of dissertations. ProQuest pays royalties of 10% of its net revenue from sales of your dissertation or thesis in all formats, including PDF, hardbound, softbound, and microfilm formats. We also pay royalties for downloads as part of a ProQuest Dissertation & Theses Global subscription. Sales in all formats are added together on an annual basis and checks remitted to authors. Royalties are paid when they reach a total of $25.00 USD. If royalties in a single year do not reach $25.00 USD, the funds are rolled over to the following year. Royalties are not paid if they do not accrue to $25.00 USD after 25 years. You must maintain a current address on record with ProQuest to receive royalty. For further questions about royalties, or to update your address for future royalty payments, please contact [email protected] .

Yes. For authors and institutions wishing to make their works available via Open Access, ProQuest supports the dissemination in two different ways:

Institutional Repository Dissemination: Authors and institutions are at liberty to make their works freely available through their Institutional Repositories or other Open Access sites to be discovered through Google or other search systems. We also partner with libraries to make it easier to secure author approval and post-graduate works to institutional repositories. Where university sites have enabled the functionality, authors can even specify rights granted for the version of their work in the Institutional Repository through a Creative Commons license. ProQuest helps to enhance the discoverability in the IR by enhancing keywords and metadata for improved search results. ProQuest Open Access Service: At participating institutions, authors who wish to extend discovery of their works via open access, can pay a publication fee ($95) to have their full-text work made discoverable and accessible through several additional channels:

• PROQUEST.COM
• Search Engine Optimization – ProQuest allows Google, Bing, etc. to index PQDT to retrieve bibliographic information. Additionally, discoverability for Open Access titles is enhanced through ProQuest’s metadata editorial process and a ProQuest partnership with Google Scholar.

No, students retain the copyright of documents submitted to Turnitin/iThenticate, which has a limited license to use the works as part of the plagiarism prevention system. Turnitin's use of student papers under Fair Use was settled in a United States District Court of Law in 2007 and affirmed upon appeal in 2009.

While most authors appreciate inclusion in the Turnitin and iThenticate databases, some authors do not want their work included. To request the removal of the ProQuest copy of graduate works, authors should contact [email protected]. Please note that while the ProQuest copy of the dissertation or theses will be removed from Turnitin/iThenticate, if the work appears on other open access websites or institutional repositories, those copies may continue to be included in TurnitIn/iThenticate because of the work’s availability online.

Buy dissertation online

Buy a custom-written dissertation from $13 per page. Our experienced team crafts meticulously researched dissertations that perfectly align with your academic goals.

Trusted by 1,5M+ happy customers

EssayPro's writers are here to support your dissertation needs

Choose a skilled native-speaking writer who can handle any kind of dissertation.

Buy Ph.D. dissertation with guaranteed originality and quality

Unlimited revisions allowed.

You can make changes to your dissertation with free unlimited edits after completion.

Refund policy

While uncommon, if you’re still unsatisfied with your dissertation after the revision period, our refund policy is available to you.

Quality standards

Our experts are renowned for consistently delivering top-quality dissertations. They are capable of handling any topic at any level.

Confidentiality assured

At EssayPro we ensure complete anonymity and safeguard all personal information with in-house storage.

Honest feedback from EssayPro users

Browse our reviews and rest assured that you're in trustworthy and reliable hands.

Get your dissertation at EssayPro in 3 easy steps

1. share your detailed instructions.

Provide all essential details like word count, deadline, citation style, and any specific guidelines. You can also attach any necessary files.

2. Select the right professional writer

Browse through our writers' profiles to see their experience, subject expertise, and customer reviews. Choose the writer that best suits your needs.

3. Finalize the payment after completion

When your dissertation is finished, you can request revisions if needed. Once you’re satisfied with the result, the payment will be processed.

Opt for EssayPro for high-quality services backed by a decade of experience

Sibanye Stillwater: Recovery Hope Dies Last

• Sibanye Stillwater underperformed the market in the past 3 years, but recent corporate events suggest a potential turnaround. Read on.
• Despite challenges in the mining industry, Sibanye's cost-cutting efforts and focus on the green metals market show promise for growth.
• Sibanye's recent gold prepayment deal and potential recovery in PGM prices indicate a positive outlook for the stock in the medium term.
• I expect a rise of at least 25% in the medium term, based on my technical analysis. In the longer-term, the potential should be way more.
• I therefore rate the stock as a "Buy" again today.
• I do much more than just articles at Beyond the Wall Investing: Members get access to model portfolios, regular updates, a chat room, and more. Learn More »

Monty Rakusen/DigitalVision via Getty Images

My Thesis Update

I've been covering Sibanye Stillwater Limited 's ( NYSE: SBSW ) ( OTCPK:SBYSF ) stock here on Seeking Alpha since May 2021 , always reiterating my bullish stance on it. Unfortunately for my track record on this stock, over the past 3 years, Sibanye has underperformed the general market significantly.

In my very last "Buy"-rated article published in mid-April 2024, I argued that the tide for Sibanye may be finally turning because, despite falling metal prices at the time, the company's cost-cutting efforts and focus on the green metals market made it seem undervalued with potential for growth. I thought a recovery was possible with the implementation of management's strategic plan and the rise in commodity prices. However, as time has shown, my call was quite premature as the stock kept falling lower.

Oakoff's coverage of SBSW

However, today it seems to me that, given the latest corporate events, my previous bullish thesis may start to come to fruition (in any case, as the saying goes, hope is the last thing to die).

My Reasoning

As I noted in my previous article, mining is a nuanced industry closely tethered to the prices of its extracted resources. So sadly for SBSW, 2023 brought less-than-ideal pricing conditions as its main operations are tied to PGM metals, which were falling as a rock .

Johnson Matthew data, Oakoff's notes added

On the other hand, in Q1 2024 (the latest data we have on hand as of today), Sibanye's US PGM operations saw a significant improvement in operational stability and cost reduction, with mined 2E PGM production increasing by 22% compared to Q1 2023. This was achieved despite challenges such as geological complexities and skill shortages, and at the same time, the restructuring efforts I wrote about last time led to a 28% reduction in all-in sustaining costs (AISC) for the period, reflecting the benefits of reduced contractor labor and deferred capital expenditure.

Also, according to the IR materials , the SA PGM operations saw a 3% increase in 4E PGM production, largely "due to the acquisition of an additional 50% of the Kroondal operation." However, AISC here increased by 16% YoY due to restructuring costs and legacy leave liabilities, but the bright spot was the Sandouville nickel refinery in Europe, which improved its production by 42% and reduced its sustaining costs by 40%, benefiting from "lower feedstock purchase costs and operational improvements." In Australia, the Century zinc retreatment operation faced disruptions due to severe weather, impacting production and costs, but the outlook improved with higher zinc prices and lower treatment charges.

In addition to PGMs, the company also mines and sells gold. As we know, Sibanye produced ~5,117 kilograms during Q1 2024, an 18% YoY decrease due to the Kloof 4 shaft closure and operational challenges. The AISC for gold operations was R1,236,571 per kilogram, according to the IR materials, which is a 19% YoY increase largely due to inflationary pressures and the closure of the Kloof 4 shaft. Despite these seemingly very negative things, it is gold that is now in the focus of SBSW investors, as thanks to it the company plans to strengthen its balance sheet. According to r ecently published news , Sibanye has finalized a ~1.8 billion South African rand (~$101 million) gold prepayment deal to bolster its cash reserves and assist in repaying loans, following a significant drop in earnings due to the decline in platinum group metal prices.

Seeking Alpha News

Under this agreement, Sibanye will deliver 1,497 kilograms of gold in equal monthly installments from October 2024 to November 2026 to an undisclosed offerer, in exchange for the prepaid cash. We also know that in addition to that, Sibanye has successfully negotiated a refinancing and increase in its revolving credit facility with South African lenders from 5.5 billion rand to 6 billion rand - the maturity of this facility, initially set for November, has been extended to August 2027, with the possibility of two additional one-year extensions.

Another piece of positive news is the forward curve for the PGM metals that we are still seeing today. Fellow SA contributor Pearl Gray Equity and Research wrote about it in mid-June: "An upward sloping forward curve is encouraging unless the miner is fully hedged against price fluctuations." Today, the curve is still upward-sloping for both platinum and palladium , the most important metals for SBSW.

TradingView

According to Mordor Intelligence data , the PGM market size is expected to reach 625.03 tons in 2024 and grow at a CAGR of 4.48% to reach 778.16 tons by 2029, so the nature of the above upward sloping is clear. I expect Sibanye to find the most favorable conditions for itself with the increased demand for these metals and the corresponding increase in future selling prices, especially after it has improved its liquidity situation following the recent deal with the prepayment for gold.

According to Seeking Alpha Premium, Sibanye is set to report for Q2 2024 on September 12, 2024, but we don't have sufficient quarterly estimates to make any definite conclusions today. All we have is the outlook from management, which seems cautiously optimistic. For 2024 they expect the US PGM operations to produce 440,000-460,000 2E ounces, with AISC ranging from $1,365 to $1,425 per 2E ounce. The SA PGM operations are forecasted to produce between 1.8 million and 1.9 million 4E ounces, with AISC between R21,800 and R22,500 per 4E ounce. Gold production from the managed SA gold operations should come to 19,500-20,500 kg, with AISC between R1,100,000 and R1,200,000 per kilogram. The company is also focusing on its Sandouville nickel refinery, with production expected to be between 7.5 and 8.5 kilotonnes of nickel product, and the Century zinc tailings retreatment operation, which is forecasted to produce between 87 and 100 kilotonnes of zinc metal.

While Sibanye remains exposed to market volatility, particularly in PGM prices, I still believe it's positioned to benefit from any potential recovery in these markets. If the tailwinds that I described above materialize, the next logical price level from a technical analysis perspective should be $5.7/share, i.e. 25% above the current price.

TrendSpider Software, SBSW daily, Oakoff's notes

Analysis of the stock's valuation reinforces this bullish expectation. SBSW stock is still "dirt cheap" today, as some analysts put it. Looking at the most important competitors, SBSW's EV/EBITDA (TTM) of less than 3.4x is the lowest of all peers, with forwarding EV/EBITDA ratio of just 4.1x trading way lower than Anglo American PLC's ( OTCQX:AAUKF ) corresponding multiple:

YCharts, Oakoff's notes

It's also worth noting that according to Seeking Alpha's Quant System, SBSW's Valuation grade has improved (from "B+" to "A-") over the past quarter, as has its Revisions grade (from "D" to "C"). The latter should logically have an impact on Growth and Profitability , so the "A-" in the Valuation would theoretically be a compelling reason to buy.

Seeking Alpha Quant System, SBSW, Oakoff's notes

Therefore, I expect the stock to begin its recovery, at least within its current price channel, given the softening of negative sentiment around the stock following the recently announced $101 million gold prepayment deal and the potential recovery in PGM prices. That is my basic expectation for the medium term.

Risks To My Thesis

The risks of my thesis today are not very different from the risks I have mentioned to readers in previous updates. As I wrote last time, SBSW's financials are very vulnerable to fluctuations in commodity prices and exchange rates. A fall in gold or PGM prices coupled with a stronger South African rand would likely have a negative impact on earnings due to the company's operating leverage.

Moreover, some analysts disagree with my bullish conclusions that Sibanye's business is likely turning around gradually against a backdrop of more favorable pricing and cost-cutting efforts.

MarketWatch, Oakoff's notes

Also, every reader of this article should keep in mind that my conclusion that the stock still has a recovery potential from a technical perspective can't be verified using scientific methods - as I noted last time, any kind of technical analysis is more of an art that can be interpreted in different ways.

Your Takeaway

Despite the abundance of risks, I still think that Sibanye Stillwater is focused on maintaining a strong balance sheet and operational resilience to meet the challenges and opportunities in the mining sector - as evidenced by recent corporate events. In addition, the backdrop for improvement is clearly getting better - I'm talking primarily about the potential for an improvement in the overall PGM and gold price environment. I believe that with a combination of stronger pricing and cost-cutting measures, which I wrote about in the last article and which are still underway, Sibanye Stillwater stock should begin a rapid recovery - at least by 25% in the medium term, based on my calculations. I therefore rate the stock as a "buy" again today.

Good luck with your investments!

Editor's Note: This article discusses one or more securities that do not trade on a major U.S. exchange. Please be aware of the risks associated with these stocks.

Struggle to access the latest reports from banks and hedge funds?

With just one subscription to Beyond the Wall Investing , you can save thousands of dollars a year on equity research reports from banks. You'll keep your finger on the pulse and have access to the latest and highest-quality analysis of this type of information.

This article was written by

Oakoff Investments is a personal portfolio manager and a quantitative research analyst with 5 years helping readers find a reasonable balance between growth and value by sharing proprietary Wall Street information.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in SBSW over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Recommended For You

About sbsw stock.

More on SBSW

Related stocks.

Trending Analysis

Trending news.