Dissertation Structure

How To Structure A Dissertation Or Thesis

Dissertation structures vary depending on:

• Your research approach (qualitative vs. quantitative)
• Research design (exploratory, descriptive, etc.)
• Discipline (humanities, sciences, engineering, etc.)
• University-specific guidelines

Core Components Of A Dissertation

Here are the main sections of a dissertation or a thesis. 
 

1. Title Page

Your dissertation will start with a title page that will contain details of the author/researcher, research topic, degree program (the paper is to be submitted for), and research supervisor. In other words, a title page is the opening page containing your name and dissertation topic. 

The name of your university, logo, student ID, and submission date can also be presented on the title page. Many academic programs have stringent rules for formatting the dissertation title page.
 

2. Acknowledgements

The acknowledgements section allows you to thank those who helped you with your dissertation project. You might want to mention the names of your academic supervisor, family members, friends, God, and participants of your study, whose contribution and support enabled you to complete your work.

However, the acknowledgements section is usually optional.
 

3. Abstract

Perhaps the smallest yet most important part of a thesis, an abstract contains 5 parts:

• A brief introduction of your research topic.
• The significance of your research.
•  A line or two about the methodology that was used.
• The results and what they mean (briefly); their interpretation(s).
• And lastly, a conclusive comment regarding the results’ interpretation(s) as a conclusion.

4. Table of Contents

The table of contents is the section of a dissertation that guides each section of the dissertation paper’s contents. Depending on the level of detail in a table of contents, the most useful headings are listed to provide the reader with the page number on which said information may be found.

A table of contents can be inserted automatically as well as manually using the Microsoft Word Table of Contents feature.
 

5. List of Figures and Tables

If your dissertation paper uses several illustrations, tables and figures, you might want to present them in a numbered list in a separate section. Again, this list of tables and figures can be auto-created and auto-inserted using the Microsoft Word built-in feature.
 

6. List of Abbreviations

Dissertations that include many abbreviations can also have an independent and separate alphabetised list of abbreviations, so readers can easily figure out their meanings.
 

7. Glossary

If you think you have used terms and phrases in your dissertation that readers might not be familiar with, you can create a glossary that lists important phrases and terms with their meanings explained.
 

Chapters Of A Dissertation

Once you have your component checklist, here are the main chapters that are a part of a dissertation or a thesis. 
 

8. Introduction

The introduction sets the stage for your dissertation. It presents the research aim and key objectives and provides the context for your study. Key elements include:

• Background information to introduce the research context.
• A clear definition of the research problem.
• Justification of why your study matters and its contribution to existing knowledge.
• A brief outline of the structure of the dissertation.
• A dedicated theoretical framework subsection explaining the core theories underpinning your research.
  

The introduction should be engaging, relevant, and clear, addressing the what, why, when, and how of your study.
 

9. Literature Review

The literature review presents relevant past research and demonstrates your understanding of existing literature. It complements your primary research and includes:

• Use of authentic and current academic sources (books, journals, papers).
• Analytical evaluation of sources, highlighting strengths, limitations, methodologies, and findings.
• Identification of gaps, contradictions, and key themes.
• A coherent structure that builds a case for your research.

In quantitative studies, relationships between variables (e.g., A is positively correlated with B) may also be discussed.
 

10. Research Methodology

This chapter explains the research methods and tools used to collect and analyse your data. Common primary data collection methods include:

• Questionnaires
• Interviews
• Surveys
• Focus Groups
• Observations

Your methodology should describe:

• The research type (qualitative, quantitative, or experimental).
• Data collection techniques and the context of your study (how, when, where).
• Data analysis strategies (e.g., regression analysis).
• Software/tools used (SPSS, Excel, STATA, etc.).
• Limitations (if required by your institution).
• A justification for your chosen approach and methodology.

11. Research Findings

This section presents the results of your research, aligned with the research questions.

• Focus on findings directly related to your research objectives.
• Supplementary data can be added to the appendices.
• Depending on your field and institutional guidelines, the findings may be combined with the discussion chapter.
• For quantitative data, findings are often separated from the discussion. For qualitative data, both may be presented together.

12. Discussion

The discussion chapter is where you interpret and evaluate your findings. It should tie your results back to your research questions and theories.

This chapter is your opportunity to develop arguments, highlight key themes, and show the impact of your findings.
 

13. Conclusion

The conclusion summarises your study by revisiting the research questions and objectives. It includes:

• Key findings in response to each objective.
• Reflection on the study’s contributions to existing knowledge.
• (Optional) Recommendations if required by your institution.

14. Reference List

All in-text citations must be included in a reference list (or bibliography if you have cited additional background materials). Popular referencing styles include:

• Harvard (most common in the UK)
• APA
• MLA
• Chicago
• Turabian

15. Footnotes

Each style has specific formatting rules, so follow your institution’s guidelines carefully.
 

16. Appendices

The Appendices section contains supporting material that is too detailed for the main chapters but still relevant, such as:

• Interview transcripts
• Survey instruments
• Supplementary readings
• Raw data or extended tables

An Outline of Dissertation/ Thesis Structure