Dissertation Template UK – Free Example and Thesis Outline

Hello there! If you’re setting out to write a dissertation, you might be wondering where to start and how to organize all your thoughts and research. That’s where a well-structured dissertation template comes in handy. In this article, I’ll guide you through what a dissertation template includes and why each part is important. By the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how to structure your work effectively, making the daunting task of writing a dissertation a bit more manageable.

Dissertation Template Overview

A dissertation template helps organize your document into structured sections, each serving a distinct purpose. Below is a detailed table outlining the main sections of a dissertation, along with recommended word counts and key details for each part. This breakdown ensures you cover all necessary aspects of your research comprehensively.

Section	Purpose	Recommended Word Count	Additional Details
Title Page	To provide basic information like the title, your name, and university details.	Not applicable	Includes title, author’s name, department, institution, degree program, submission date, and sometimes supervisor’s name and university logo.
Abstract	A brief summary of the dissertation.	150-300 words	Should state the main topic and aims, describe the methods used, summarize the main results, and state the conclusions.
Introduction	Introduce the topic and its importance, outline the aims and what the dissertation will cover.	800-1000 words	Sets the stage for your research, outlines the research questions, and provides background information.
Literature Review	Reviews existing research to show how your work fits into the existing body of knowledge.	1500-3000 words	Should synthesize previous research to show patterns, gaps, and the current state of research on your topic. Critical analysis is crucial here.
Methodology	Details the methods used in your research.	1000-1500 words	Explains how you collected and analyzed your data, whether your methods were qualitative, quantitative, or mixed, and why these choices were made.
Results	Presents the findings of your research.	500-1000 words	Describes significant data patterns, statistics, or observed behaviors in your research without interpretation.
Discussion	Analyzes the implications of your results.	1000-1500 words	Interprets your findings, discusses their implications, and how they relate to previous studies. Also discusses any limitations of your study.
Conclusion	Summarizes the research, its findings, and potential future research avenues.	500-800 words	Reinforces the significance of your research, answers your research questions, and suggests areas for further research. No new information should be introduced here.
References	Lists all sources cited in the dissertation.	Not applicable	Should follow a consistent citation style. Every source mentioned in the text must be listed here.
Appendices	Provides supplementary material that is relevant but not essential to the main text.	Not applicable	Can include data tables, additional charts, or documents that are referenced in the main text.

This table should serve as a guideline to help you plan and structure each section of your dissertation, ensuring thorough coverage of your research topic. Adjust the word counts based on specific guidelines from your institution or feedback from your supervisor.

A dissertation template is essentially a roadmap for organizing your research and writing into a clear and structured document. Each part of the template serves a specific purpose, ensuring that your final submission is thorough and coherent. Here’s a brief overview of what a typical dissertation includes:

• Title Page: This is the front page of your dissertation, which includes essential details like your dissertation’s title, your name, and your university. Think of it as the cover of a book—it should be neat and professional because it’s the first thing anyone will see.
• Abstract: A short summary of your dissertation, usually about 150-300 words. It’s like a mini-version of your entire research, giving anyone who reads it a quick overview of what to expect.
• Introduction: This is where you introduce the topic you’re researching, explaining why it’s important and what you plan to explore.
• Literature Review: Here, you dive into what other researchers have already discovered about your topic. It’s your chance to build on existing knowledge.
• Methodology: This section outlines how you conducted your research. Whether you were surveying people, conducting experiments, or analyzing historical texts, you’ll detail your methods here.
• Results: After all that research, what did you find? This part presents your findings.
• Discussion: Discuss what your results mean in the larger context of your field.
• Conclusion: Wrap up your research by summarizing your findings and suggesting possible future research based on your work.
• References: A list of all the sources you cited in your dissertation. It’s crucial for giving credit where it’s due.
• Appendices: Any additional information that’s important but not central to your main text, like raw data or detailed tables, can go here.

Each of these sections is crucial for crafting a comprehensive and understandable dissertation. Let’s break down these sections in more detail to help you get started with your own dissertation.

Sections of a Dissertation

Here’s a breakdown of the typical sections of a dissertation, with their purposes and what they typically include:

1. Title Page

• The first page of your dissertation, which includes the title, your name, the type of document (dissertation), the institution, and the date.

2. Abstract

• A concise summary of the dissertation, typically about 150-300 words long. It outlines the main topic and aims of your research, the methods used, the key results, and the conclusions.

3. Table of Contents

• Lists all the chapters and major sections of the dissertation, along with their page numbers for easy navigation.

4. List of Figures and Tables

• If applicable, this section lists the figures and tables included in the document along with their page numbers.

5. Introduction

• Sets the stage for your research by introducing the topic, stating the problem that the research addresses, and outlining the purpose and significance of the study. It often includes the research questions and hypotheses.

6. Literature Review

• Reviews existing literature relevant to your research topic, framing your research within the context of existing knowledge and debates. It shows how your research addresses a gap or contributes to the field.

7. Methodology

• Details the methods used in conducting the research. It includes information on the research design, data collection methods, and analysis techniques. This section should be detailed enough to allow replication of the study.

8. Results

• Presents the findings of the research without interpretation. This section typically includes data in the form of text, tables, and figures.

9. Discussion

• Interprets the results, explaining how they answer the research questions or address the hypotheses. It also situates the findings in the context of the literature discussed earlier and considers implications for future research.

10. Conclusion

• Summarizes the entire research, restating the research problem, main findings, and their implications. It often includes recommendations for future research or practice.

11. References

• A list of all the academic sources cited in the dissertation. This section must follow a consistent citation style throughout the document.

12. Appendices

• This optional section can include detailed data, additional material like questionnaires or raw data, and any other supplementary information that supports the dissertation but is too voluminous to include in the main text.

Each section has a specific role and contributes to the dissertation’s overall structure, helping to make the document clear, coherent, and logically organized.

Example Template and Outline

Here’s an example template and outline for a dissertation, including a suggested structure and what to include in each section. This outline is applicable for most academic disciplines and can be adapted based on specific university guidelines or disciplinary requirements.

Dissertation Example Template and Outline

Title Page

• Title: A clear and concise statement of the dissertation topic.
• Author’s Name
• Institutional Affiliation
• Degree Program
• Date of Submission
• Supervisor’s Name (if applicable)

Abstract

• Objective: Brief summary of the purpose and rationale of the study.
• Methods: Overview of the research design and methodologies used.
• Results: Key findings of the research.
• Conclusion: Brief summary of the conclusions and implications of the findings.
• Word Count: Approximately 150-300 words.

Table of Contents

• Lists all chapters and major sections along with their page numbers.

List of Figures and Tables (if applicable)

• Itemized list of figures and tables with corresponding page numbers.

Introduction

• Background Information: Contextual background to introduce the research topic.
• Research Questions/Hypotheses: Specific questions or hypotheses the research aims to address.
• Objective/Purpose: The main goals of the research.
• Significance: Explanation of the importance and potential impact of the research.
• Structure of the Dissertation: Brief overview of the layout of the dissertation.

Literature Review

• Summary of Existing Research: Analysis of current research relevant to the topic.
• Gaps in Literature: Identification of gaps in existing research that the dissertation will address.
• Theoretical Framework: Theories and models that underpin the research.

Methodology

• Research Design: Description of the overall research design (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods).
• Data Collection: Methods and tools used for data collection (e.g., surveys, interviews, observations).
• Data Analysis: Techniques used to analyze the data.
• Ethical Considerations: Any ethical issues considered during the research process.

Results

• Presentation of Data: Detailed presentation of the research findings, using text, tables, and figures as appropriate.
• Statistical Analysis: (if applicable) Summary of statistical tests and outcomes.

Discussion

• Interpretation of Results: Discussion of how the findings relate to the research questions or hypotheses.
• Comparison with Literature: How the results compare with or contrast against previous studies.
• Implications: The significance of the findings in terms of theoretical, practical, or future research implications.

Conclusion

• Summary of Findings: Recap of the main findings.
• Conclusions Drawn: How the findings contribute to the field or practical applications.
• Recommendations for Future Research: Potential areas for further study.

References

• Comprehensive list of all sources cited in the dissertation, formatted according to a specific academic citation style.

Appendices (if applicable)

• Supplementary material that supports the main text but is too detailed to include within the main chapters.

This outline provides a comprehensive structure for organizing a dissertation, ensuring clarity and logical flow in presenting your research. It’s designed to guide the reader through your study from the introduction to the conclusions, effectively illustrating the research process and findings.