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• Dissertation

Dissertation title page

Published on 30 May 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on 18 October 2022.

The title page (or cover page) of your thesis, dissertation, or research paper should contain all the key information about your document. It usually includes:

• Dissertation or thesis title
• The type of document (e.g., dissertation, research paper )
• The department and institution
• The degree program (e.g., Master of Arts)
• The date of submission

It sometimes also includes your student number, your supervisor’s name, and your university’s logo.

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Table of contents

Title page format, title page templates, title page example, frequently asked questions about title pages.

Your department will usually tell you exactly what should be included on your title page and how it should be formatted. Be sure to check whether there are specific guidelines for margins, spacing, and font size.

Title pages for APA and MLA Style

The format of your title page can also depend on the citation style you’re using. There may be guidelines in regards to alignment, page numbering, and mandatory elements.

• MLA guidelines for formatting the title page
• APA guidelines for formatting the title page

Prevent plagiarism, run a free check.

We’ve created a few templates to help you design the title page for your thesis, dissertation, or research paper. You can download them in the format of your choice by clicking on the corresponding button.

Research paper Google doc

Dissertation Google doc

Thesis Google doc

A typical example of a thesis title page looks like this:

The title page of your thesis or dissertation should include your name, department, institution, degree program, and submission date.

The title page of your thesis or dissertation goes first, before all other content or lists that you may choose to include.

Usually, no title page is needed in an MLA paper . A header is generally included at the top of the first page instead. The exceptions are when:

• Your instructor requires one, or
• Your paper is a group project

In those cases, you should use a title page instead of a header, listing the same information but on a separate page.

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.

McCombes, S. (2022, October 18). Dissertation title page. Scribbr. Retrieved 15 April 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/thesis-dissertation/title-page/

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Theses and dissertation: Finding an international thesis

• Finding a Sussex thesis
• Finding a UK thesis
• Finding an international thesis
• Help and Support

International theses

There are also resources that will help you to locate overseas dissertations, however it is often more difficult to obtain the full text of non-UK theses as they are not always available through the British Library.

• Proquest Dissertations and Theses: Global is the world's most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses from around the world, spanning from 1861 to the present day and offering full text for most of the dissertations added since 1997. Unlike many of our other resources it also contains some master's theses.
• Dissertation Express allows you to buy copies of theses from the US and Canada.
• Google Scholar can be a useful tool to identify potential resources.
• Proquest Dissertations and Theses: Open provides the full text of open access dissertations and theses free of charge. This is where the (mainly American) authors have opted to publish as open access and make their research available for free on the open Web. It is a fairly new service and should not be used as an exhaustive search.
• Open Access Thesis and Dissertations (OATD) An index of over 2.7 million records of post-graduate thesis and dissertations from 43 countries.  OATD.org only searches thesis that are available via Open Access.
• If you are unable to locate a specific thesis please contact the Research Support team on Tel: 01273 877941 (int 7941) or Email: [email protected] with the full details of your request.

Useful Links

Library Search

• Browse SRO theses Browse theses added to Sussex Research Online
• EThOS A service from the British Library that provides online access to the fulltext of UK doctoral theses. The EThOS database contains over 300,000+ records of doctoral theses from UK Higher Education Institutions.
• Copyright guide A practical guide on copyright issues in your thesis.
• << Previous: Finding a UK thesis
• Next: Help and Support >>
• Last Updated: Feb 9, 2022 1:24 PM
• URL: https://guides.lib.sussex.ac.uk/theses

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Submitting an assessment

Find out how to submit your work so you deliver it on time and to the right place.

When and how to submit

You’ll find out where to submit work from your:

• Canvas module, or
• module handbook.

You will need to submit online or hand in work to your school office or tutor.

Your official due date and method of submission for each assessment is listed in your timetable in Sussex Direct .

Assessment submission deadlines may be during the winter or spring vacation or during the revision week, as listed in our term dates .

Online submission

To submit work online, you should be told which system to use. You must double-check this on Sussex Direct .

The systems you see on Sussex Direct are:

• Turnitin , shown as “Canvas Turnitin”
• Canvas , shown as “Canvas Online”

Check how to submit through Canvas or Turnitin .

Late submission

You can submit work electronically as many times as you like up until the submission deadline.

If the initial deadline has passed and you have not submitted, you may be able to submit during a late period.

Check your timetable in Sussex Direct to see if you’re allowed to submit an assessment late. Sussex Direct shows times in Greenwich Mean Time or British Summer Time, depending on the time of year.

The length of a late period depends on the assessment. The late periods are:

• up to 24 hours after your deadline, or
• up to seven days after your deadline.

Sometimes an assessment doesn’t have a late period beyond your deadline. There is no late submission on group written submissions or take-away papers.

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Under our regulations, if you submit work up to 24 hours late you will get 5 percentage points taken off your mark. Work submitted up to seven days late will have 10 percentage points taken off.

Example: A percentage point is not the same as a percentage of your mark. For instance, if you scored 65% for an assessment but submitted your work 12 hours late, your adjusted mark would be 60%.

Resubmission during the late penalty period

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• Schools and departments
• School of Global Studies
• Prospective students

Postgraduate dissertation with placement

• About the School
• Beth Munro, BA in International Development, talks about why she chose Sussex
• Masters courses (MA/MSc)
• Undergraduate placements
• Research degrees
• Study abroad
• Departments
• People and contacts

The School of Global studies offers postgraduate students the opportunity of doing a dissertation with placement. It is an exciting way to develop and undertake research skills which directly feed into your dissertation. It’s a great way to get experience in a field in which you may want to pursue your career after you finish your course.

What is a dissertation with placement?

The School of Global Studies offers postgraduate students an opportunity to undertake a Dissertation with placement. Students find a placement by working at an organisation and alongside their time at the placement they are able to collect primary data for their dissertation. Examples of primary research might include collecting data, interviews, surveys using questionnaires or even looking at archival material.

What are the benefits of doing a placement?

Placements give students the opportunity to gain skills specific to their subject or industry of choice as well as developing employability skills required for real-life work. It also increases their knowledge of an industry or sector, allowing them to make more informed decisions about future career choices. At global studies we are able to offer you the opportunity to work and research in an industry of your choice and which will allow you to make those career choices.

How long is a placement for?

The dissertation period is between June – August. We ask for a minimum of 6 weeks at the placement organisation and you can be there longer but must bear in mind the submission date for the dissertation.

For more information, contact Su Richards, [email protected]

Student experiences

Living for two months in Bangladesh has been one of the most exciting experiences I have had in my professional life, all thanks to The Andrew Pickup Award bursary . My placement with BRAC in Bangladesh, made the experience even more exciting. BRAC is regarded as one of the most iconic NGOs in Bangladesh and has been working on diverse initiatives with the mission of both alleviating extreme poverty and empowering women. Thus, I was able to work shoulder to shoulder with highly motivated staff members who I not only admired for their intelligence and commitment, but for their determination to work every day with a clear intention to make their country more just. Nonetheless, a lot of the critique that we as MA students were exposed to when analysing the NGO sector, allowed me to also see their work in a critical way. Within such a context, my dissertation topic started being shaped, from a feminist analysis of women’s empowerment to understanding how is it that NGOs fail to utilise such feminist frameworks in their policy design.

Read José's report

My research project explored the lived experiences of Bulgarian migrants who face multiple and interrelated forms of precarity. The Andrew Pickup Award bursary allowed me to give £20 compensation as a thank you gift to each participant who took part in my research project. There are two main reasons why this bursary made a difference for my ability to undertake the Research Placement:

Interviews included highly vulnerable migrants in precarious working conditions. In this context, any cost such as time and effort they incur has a disproportionately higher value. My privilege as a University of Sussex postgraduate places me in a different position to them, despite being a native Bulgarian. The compensation accounted for this power imbalance. This strengthened the ethical underpinnings of the research. The bursary allowed me to cover my cost of travelling for the two drop-in sessions in London.

Read Nia's report

In summer 2022, with the financial security of the Andrew Pickup Award , I was able to conduct research on the sustainability efforts in luxury fashion rental in the United Kingdom. This was supplemented with an internship at Rotaro, a rising star in the sustainable luxury industry in London. While I was collecting data, I got my hand in virtually anything possible to experience the fullness of the textile and apparel landscape: assisting photo shoots, running spreadsheets to track products, interviewing new designer partners, and writing for the business’ blog.

Read Ryann's report

The Andrew Pickup Award allowed me to complete a placement in Peru with the organization Asociación ANDES, based in Cusco. This placement shaped not just my research, but the theme of my dissertation overall, which examined how Quechua communities are preserving crop biodiversity through non competitive markets, and the resulting impacts on food systems. The money that I was awarded went into funding my plane ticket and lodging during the two and a half months that I spent in Cusco, crucial aspects to my research as they allowed me the access to fly to Cusco to complete my placement in person. This was an incredibly enriching and rewarding experience. I was able to visit the Parque de la Papa in person, attending important events such as the Dia de la Papa (Day of the Potato, May 30th) when the communities that make up the Parque celebrate the potato and its role in their communities. I was also able to see first-hand how these communities value the potato and how these relationships shape cultural ideas and practices around food, something that was crucial to my research.

Read Leah's report

My placement was centred in the heart of Amsterdam, within an organisation that aims to address and challenge the stigma society holds against sex workers in the Netherlands. As part of a collaborative agreement between myself and the PIC, we agreed I would archive their collection of sex worker relevant materials, in exchange for interviews, and the ability to engage with participant observation with staff members. The data collected would be used in my Master's dissertation, which was analysing the impacts that the closure and relocation of the red-light district would have on sex workers in De Wallen. This experience has come to life thanks to the Turing Award .

Read Phoebe's report  

I would like to thank the Turing Fund for funding my dissertation research and work placement. At the beginning of June 2022, I travelled to Ghana to undertake fieldwork for my dissertation and volunteer for the conservation NGO A Rocha Ghana. A Rocha Ghana runs multiple initiatives promoting sustainable livelihoods, landscape restoration, biodiversity protection, climate change resilience, and forest protection and management. I worked part-time in their head office in Accra, and among other things, was tasked with researching the negative impacts of mining for renewable energy materials in Africa, and collecting data on the numbers of deaths related to galamsey (illegal mining) in Ghana.

Read Eleanor's report

During my MSc in Climate Change, Development and Policy, I had the possibility to do a research placement at the coordination office of the Austrian Development Agency in Kampala, Uganda. This placement allowed me to gain insights into the work of a bilateral development agency and the development work in Uganda in general. I mainly helped to write a semi-annual report. I also had the chance to participate in several events, such as an event of the FAO for malnutrition and starvation in Karamoja or the presentation of the semi-annual report of the Ministry of Water and Environment in Uganda. These unique experiences will definitely help me in my future working life.

Without the generous support of the Turing Scheme , I could not have done this research placement. The Turing Scheme scholarship helped me cover all my costs in Uganda and made this placement possible.

Read Iris' report

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Trapped in dissertation revisions?

Sample dissertation cover page + how to, published by steve tippins on may 26, 2020 may 26, 2020.

Last Updated on: 2nd February 2024, 05:43 am

If you’re wondering about making your dissertation cover page, chances are you’re nearing the final stretch of your doctoral journey. Congratulations!

Luckily, making your title page is one of the simplest tasks you’ll have to complete. Generally speaking, there’s a template your institution will use and you just have to fill in your information.

Making a Dissertation Cover Page Is Simple (Keep it That Way)

The inner artist in you might want to make your dissertation cover page beautiful: printed in color, maybe with pictures, or with an interesting font or design. However, you’re going to be limited by your university. 

Pretty much every university that I’ve come across has a template and guidelines that you must follow for your dissertation cover page. You may just be filling in things like your title, name, your university’s name, maybe your committee members’ names, and not much more. You won’t have much (if any) creative license.

The advantage of this is, by the time you get to that stage, you may be tired of writing and it will be easier to follow directions than to come up with something creative. Your dissertation cover page doesn’t need to be a work of art. It just needs to convey what the dissertation is about.

Dissertation Cover Page: The Title

The aspect of your dissertation cover page that you have the most control over is the title . It’s also the most important to get right. 

The main thing to remember is, keep the title simple . It should simply tell a person what they’re going to read in the document. Don’t try to intrigue people or be too clever, just tell them directly. Having a straightforward title helps your committee approve your dissertation more quickly.

Over 50% of doctoral candidates don’t finish their dissertations.

Your title should include relevant information that gives the reader a complete picture of what your study was about. Generally speaking, you’ll want to cover a few specific areas.

Quantitative Title Requirements

• Type of relationship between variables.
• Key variables (independent and dependent).
• Population.

Qualitative Title Requirements

• Central conceptual issue investigated.
• Qualitative tradition applied.
• Participant group.

See this article for a more in-depth discussion of choosing your dissertation’s title .

Sample Dissertation Cover Page

Your dissertation cover page should look something like this:

While each university has slightly different requirements, generally speaking, a dissertation cover page looks something like this, above. The required sections are as follows:

A Dissertation

Submitted to XXXXX University

Graduate Faculty of the School of XXXXXXXX

in Partial Fulfillment of the 

Requirements for the Degree of 

DOCTOR OF XXXXXXXXXX

City, State (of the university)

Final Thoughts

While your dissertation title page doesn’t have to be fancy, it’s important that it aligns with your university’s requirements. Take a look at their rubric and, if needed, look at completed dissertations’ title pages as well. If all else fails, ask your mentor for help.

Once you’ve finished this, pat yourself on the back. You’re almost done!

PS. Need support getting through the final stages of your dissertation, or moving into the world of your career? As a dissertation coach and career coach , I’ve helped countless students achieve their dreams. Let’s achieve yours. Book a free 30-minute consultation today.

Steve Tippins

Steve Tippins, PhD, has thrived in academia for over thirty years. He continues to love teaching in addition to coaching recent PhD graduates as well as students writing their dissertations. Learn more about his dissertation coaching and career coaching services. Book a Free Consultation with Steve Tippins

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Theses: Home

Find full text theses from  the University of Exeter, the UK and around the world.

What is a thesis?

They consist of substantial primary research in specialised topics and provide very detailed data and analysis. They may be so specialised that they provide information that is unavailable elsewhere and their bibliographies can be a useful source of wider reading on a topic. They are extremely valuable sources of information.

Before you begin your research, it is important to discover what else has been written on your topic.

When starting doctoral research, it is crucial to establish that the specific research that you intend to do has not already been carried out. You will therefore need to look at previous theses in your field of study, both at the University of Exeter and elsewhere.

Finding University of Exeter Doctoral theses

• University of Exeter theses
• Theses awarded before 2010
• Theses awarded after 2010
• Search for all University of Exeter theses

You can access theses produced by University of Exeter students.

Access routes depend upon whether the item is a print copy (deposited before 2010) or a digital copy (deposited after 2010).

Please note: The library and ORE holds doctoral/PHD theses only. We do not hold Masters or undergraduate dissertations.

No scanning until eThOs service returns

We are currently unable to scan pre 2010 theses.  Once the British Library eThOs service resumes requests to have pre-2010 theses scanned will be possible.  Until then pre-2010 theses will have to be consulted in the library.

Theses awarded before 2010

Print theses are kept in secure storage rather than open shelves and need to be requested in advance.  All theses are library use only and may not be removed from the library.

Search for theses using Library Search

fully qualified domain name such as "encore.mylibrary.com" --> Search by  Author ,  Title  or  Author /Title .

• To browse theses on a particular subject, carry out a  keyword search  for your subject, and include the words  'University '  and  'Exeter'  as keywords.   ( Please note however, that although this is likely to retrieve mainly theses, it will also find other University of Exeter publications on your subject). 
• Request theses in advance using the  Request It  button and choose  Forum Library  as the pickup location. 
• You will receive an email when the thesis is ready to use. 

Theses awarded since 2010

All theses submitted since 2010 are in  Open Research Exeter (ORE) , the online institutional repository. A small collection of theses have been deposited in ORE before this date.

Searching for all University of Exeter theses (using ETHOS)

University of Exeter theses can be found by searching online in  EThOS  , which is the UK’s national thesis service.   You need to create an account. 

Choose Advanced search and change the search option to Awarding body. Type University of Exeter in the search box.  Tip: You may want to limit the search to items available for immediate download.

Finding theses in the UK and worldwide

• Find UK theses
• Find international theses
• Additional sources for International theses
• Ethos This link opens in a new window EThOS provides details of doctoral theses from over 120 UK institutions. Some theses are available as full text downloads. Others can be requested as scanned documents via the digitisation-on-demand service, which requires registration. 

NB  Unfortunately the eThOs service is currently suspended due to the British Library being hacked.

• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global This link opens in a new window Index and full text access to dissertations and theses from the UK and around the world, spanning from 1743 to the present day.

• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global This link opens in a new window

This collection holds dissertations and theses from 1861 to the present, from over 700 worldwide academic institutions.

Some full-text dissertations are available for download, especially those added since 1997. Others are available for purchase as print copies.

More than 70,000 new full-text dissertations and theses are added to the database each year.

Comprehensive details on how to search this database can be found here.

• EBSCO Open Dissertations Search thousands of open-access dissertations.
• CORE This link opens in a new window Open access research papers from repositories and journals from across the world. Includes theses.
• OpenDOAR This link opens in a new window A directory of academic open access repositories including access to a wide range of international theses.

The following websites will help you locate international theses:

• Dart-Europe E-Theses The DART-Europe E-theses Portal provides access to over 690,500 open access research theses from 594 universities in 28 European countries, including France, Germany, Spain and Sweden.
• Trove Australian theses are searchable via the National Library of Australia’s Trove service (a repository of resources relating to Australia).

Click here for guidance on how to search for  theses within this collection.

• WorldCat This link opens in a new window This database provides access to the records of dissertations and theses available in OCLC member libraries, most of which are North American. Many of the records link directly to the full-text theses.

• Last Updated: Mar 26, 2024 4:30 PM
• URL: https://libguides.exeter.ac.uk/theses

Rules and regulations

Form and presentation of theses for higher degrees

Updated on 1 June 2015

How to present a thesis for research degrees and where to deposit it.

• The final version of the thesis, as accepted by the examiners for the degree must be deposited in the University’s research portal (Discovery in an electronic format approved by the Senatus. However, the initial submission of the thesis for examination may be presented in hard copy at the request of the examiners. The examination hard copy must be in a standard word processed and printed format acceptable to the examiners.  
• The thesis must be word processed in a standard format with a page size equivalent to paper size A4.
• All text must be in font size 12pt (10pt for charts, captions and footnotes). The font type must be Arial, Times New Roman or an approved equivalent and must be consistent throughout the thesis, including chapter headings, quotations and references. 1.5pt line spacing is required throughout the thesis except for long quotations that may be in 1.0pt line spacing.
• The document’s left margins must be at least 40 mm and the other margins at least 20mm.
• Pages must be numbered consecutively through the main text with the numbers located centrally at the top of the page.
• The title page must include the title of the thesis, the full name of the author in the centre and the full designation of the degree, the name of the University and the month and year of the award of the degree in the bottom right-hand corner.
• The table of contents and list of illustrations (if applicable) should normally follow the title page.
• Acknowledgements should normally appear on the page following the table of contents and any list of illustrations.
• Following the acknowledgements, if any, there must be a signed declaration, that the candidate is the author of the thesis; that, unless otherwise stated, all references cited have been consulted by the candidate; that the work of which the thesis is a record has been done by the candidate, and that it has not been previously accepted for a higher degree. If the thesis is based upon joint research, the nature and extent of the candidate's individual contribution must be clearly defined;
• Following the declaration and statement referred to in Regulation 9, there must be a summary of the contents of approximately three hundred words.
• References must enable the reader to identify the work cited and to locate the specific passage concerned.
• The thesis must be written in English unless the appropriate School Board, on the recommendation of the candidate's supervisor, has approved the use of another language.
• Candidates for a higher degree by thesis must have deposited the thesis in accordance with Regulation 1 above and must have paid to the University all fees or charges outstanding including those payable for submission or resubmission of the thesis in question. A candidate who fails to satisfy any of the requirements of this sub-section will not be permitted to graduate.
• The copyright in a thesis shall remain with the author of the thesis.
• As part of the deposition process each candidate will be invited to give permission for the University Library to make the thesis freely available as an electronic resource (for example via the University repository or the British Library Electronic Thesis Online Service (EThOS)) on the authority of the Librarian and subject to appropriate safeguards, but without further reference to the author.

The following recommendations, which do not form part of the above Regulations, are intended to be of assistance to those preparing theses for higher degrees.

• The table of contents (Regulation 7) should list in sequence, with page numbers, all relevant subdivisions of the thesis, including the titles of chapters, sections and subsections, as appropriate; the bibliography or list of references; the list of abbreviations and other functional parts of the whole thesis; any appendices.
•  If the thesis contains tables, photographs, illustrations, diagrams etc., a list of these, in the order in which they appear in the text, should follow the table of contents.
• Diagrams, illustrations and tables should be inserted as close as possible to the associated text. When previously published papers are submitted as an appendix to the thesis they should be listed in the table of contents but with a clear statement that the papers did not form part of the material examined for the degree, unless the degree awarded is designated as “…by Publication”.
• Photographs, diagrams or illustrations should be inserted in a standard format (jpg or gif) and must conform to any copyright requirements in force and be properly referenced.
• Notes may be inserted at the foot of the relevant page, beneath a horizontal rule separating them from the main text and may be typed in single spacing.
• The bibliography or list of references (Regulation 11) should be arranged in a logical sequence, e.g. alphabetically by authors. A standard academic citation system (CMOS, Harvard, Vancouver etc.) appropriate to the discipline should be used.

Quality and Academic Standards

Dissertations: Choosing a topic

• Choosing a topic
• Research Proposal
• Reviewing the literature
• Introductions & Conclusions
• Writing Chapters
• Wrapping Up
• Abstracts & Summaries
• Managing Expectations

Choosing a research topic

Research is an exciting and impactful endeavour, but getting started can be overwhelming. This guide will provide you with valuable insights and practical advice to navigate the process successfully. We will explore the key considerations in selecting a research topic that aligns with your interests and goals , and then delve into the art of formulating effective research questions . By the end of this guide, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and tools to embark on a research journey that is both meaningful and rewarding. Let's dive in and unlock the secrets to selecting the perfect research topic and crafting insightful research questions!

Selection: Selecting a topic can be the most difficult part of doing research. Defining and refining your topic is an ongoing process. Be prepared to change the focus of your topic as you gather more information. Interest: Select a subject you can get interested in . Since you will be spending a considerable amount of time researching your topic, you will want it to be something that holds your interest and that of the reader. Focus: Make sure that your topic isn't too narrow or too broad . If the topic is too broad, you will be overwhelmed with information. If the topic is too narrow, you may not be able to find enough information on your research.

• Finding inspiration
• Narrowing down
• Common mistakes
• Activity: Choosing a Research Topic

Here are some ways to find inspiration:

• Think about your own interests: which topic have you found interesting during your lectures, and is there an element that could be developed into a research project?
• Consider previous literature: Look at key journals in your field and skim through the titles of research papers published within the last few years. Read the abstracts of the papers that captivate your attention to identify possible topics and pay special attention to any suggestions for further research.
• Look through the dissertations of previous students in your department: the topics may give you inspiration, and they may have useful suggestions for further research.
• Talk to experts and peers: Seek advice from your classmates, lecturers or professionals in your field. Don’t wait until you have a fully formed research question before discussing your ideas with others, as their comments and questions may help you to refine your focus.
• Brainstorm and explore multiple options: Generate a list of potential research topics and explore each one. Consider the feasibility, resources required, and potential impact of each topic. Narrow down your list to a few strong contenders.

To narrow down your research topic, you can follow these steps:

• Start with a broad topic: Begin by selecting a general area of interest that you would like to explore. This could be a broad subject within your field or a topic that you find intriguing.
• Conduct preliminary research: Conduct initial research to familiarize yourself with the existing literature and gain a better understanding of the broader topic. This will help you identify key concepts, theories, and gaps in knowledge.
• Identify specific research questions: Based on your preliminary research, brainstorm and develop specific research questions that you want to address within your chosen topic. These questions should be clear, focused, and aligned with your research goals.
• Evaluate feasibility and scope: Assess the feasibility and scope of each research question. Consider factors such as the availability of data, resources, time constraints, and the practicality of conducting research on each question.
• Prioritize relevance and significance: Evaluate the relevance and significance of each research question. Consider how each question contributes to the existing body of knowledge, addresses gaps in literature, and aligns with the research priorities in your field.
• Seek feedback and input: Share your shortlisted research questions with mentors, advisors, or peers to get their input and feedback. Their perspectives can help you refine your questions and make informed decisions.
• Refine and narrow down your topic: Based on the feedback and evaluation, refine and narrow down your research topic by selecting the most compelling research question(s) that meet the criteria of feasibility, relevance, and significance.
• Define the scope and objectives: Clearly define the scope and objectives of your narrowed-down research topic. This includes determining the boundaries of your study, specifying the key concepts or variables to be investigated, and setting clear research objectives.
• Conduct a literature review: Conduct a comprehensive literature review focused on your refined research topic. This will help you deepen your understanding of the subject, identify relevant theories and methodologies, and refine your research approach.
• Finalize your research topic: After completing the above steps, finalize your research topic by formulating a clear and concise research question or statement that encapsulates the focus and purpose of your study.

When choosing a research topic, it's important to be aware of common errors that researchers often make. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

• Lack of specificity: Choosing a topic that is too broad or vague can make it difficult to focus your research. Be sure to narrow down your topic to a specific research question or area of investigation.
• Lack of relevance: Selecting a topic that is not relevant to your field of study or the research objectives can lead to a lack of interest and impact. Ensure that your topic aligns with the current trends, gaps in knowledge, and research priorities in your field.
• Insufficient research: Failing to conduct a thorough literature review can result in choosing a topic that has already been extensively studied or lacks originality. Take the time to familiarize yourself with existing research to identify gaps and potential avenues for exploration.
• Overly ambitious or unfeasible scope: Choosing a topic that is too broad or complex can make it challenging to conduct a comprehensive study within the available time and resources. Consider the feasibility of your research topic and ensure it is manageable within the constraints of your project (e.g. time to complete your dissertation).
• Limited access to data or resources: Choosing a topic without considering the availability of data or resources needed for your research can pose significant challenges. Assess the accessibility and availability of relevant data, research materials, or equipment before finalizing your topic.

By avoiding these common errors, you can choose a research topic that is focused, relevant, feasible, and aligned with your interests and goals, setting the foundation for a successful research journey.

Before you start writing your research proposal, you need to find and define your research topic. The following four steps will help you to identify and refine your topic:

Step 1: Identify areas of interest within your subject area

Step 2: Identify possible themes 

Step 3: Consider the context of your research

Step 4: Decide on a topic

Journal of Suffolk Student Research

The Journal of Suffolk Student Research is an online academic journal, dedicated to the publication of high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate student research undertaken by University of Suffolk students. The journal will showcase the most outstanding student research undertaken at the University of Suffolk. It aims to promote and recognise this outstanding student research by offering valuable early experience of academic publishing and the peer review process. 

Find out more here

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• Last Updated: Feb 1, 2024 4:22 PM
• URL: https://libguides.uos.ac.uk/dissertations

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Dissertations

• Where to start
• Research Proposal
• Primary Research
• Literature Review
• Methodology
• Guest Blog: How to publish your research paper
• Downloadable Resources
• Further Reading

What are they?

Dissertations, independent studies and project reports are extensive exercises in researching and writing. Dissertations can be defined as a long piece of academic writing, split by headings or chapters, which demonstrates detailed research in your subject area. Dissertations are essentially a long essay or report. 

Why do I need to learn it?

A dissertation provides you with the opportunity to study an area you are interested in in depth. They demonstrate your ability to research, your subject knowledge, organisational and project management skills, as well as independent working.

There are many transferable skills that you can take from a dissertation: planning, organising, analysing, critiquing, researching, identifying, problem solving, data gathering, data analysis, logical thinking, time management, and communication skills (White, 2000).

How do I do it?

How you approach your dissertations is dependent on the type of research you choose to complete. Use the page menu to find the type of research to suit you. Primary research and literature reviews are the most common types of dissertation.

Williams (2013) describes the journey of a dissertation:​

• Strategic planning
• Exploring ideas
• Research question
• Time planning
• Research plan
• Researching
• Making sense
• Aim and objectives
• Methods to match the aims and objectives
• Using theory
• Paragraphs 
• Language and argument
• Introduction
• First impressions
• Next: Where to start >>
• Last Updated: Aug 30, 2023 1:11 PM
• URL: https://libguides.derby.ac.uk/dissertations