A standard dissertation is structured in this order: title page, abstract, table of contents, then six core chapters — Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results, Discussion and Conclusion — followed by the reference list and appendices. This empirical shape (often called IMRaD) is expected for most UK undergraduate, Masters and PhD work, with the front matter and back matter staying the same across every subject.
This guide takes you through each section in order, shows you a worked contents page you can adapt, and gives clear word-count proportions for every chapter, plus a checklist to run before you submit.
A dissertation follows a fixed, predictable order, and examiners expect to find each part exactly where convention places it. Getting the structure right before you write a single chapter saves weeks of rework and signals that you understand academic conventions. This guide walks through every section in order, gives you a worked contents page you can copy, and tells you roughly how much of your word count each part should take.
The standard dissertation structure, in order
Almost every taught-Masters and undergraduate dissertation in the UK uses the same five-chapter empirical shape: Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results, and Discussion, followed by a Conclusion. This is often called the IMRaD structure (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion). Around this core sit the front matter (title page, abstract, contents) and the back matter (references and appendices). A theoretical, desk-based, or humanities dissertation may replace the methodology and results chapters with thematic chapters built around an argument, but the front and back matter stay the same.
Section purpose and typical length
The table below shows what each section is for and roughly how much of your total word count it should occupy. The percentages assume a typical empirical dissertation; adjust them if your work is theory-led. Treat these as planning targets, not hard rules — your supervisor and your department handbook always take precedence.
| Section | Purpose | Typical length (% of word count) |
|---|---|---|
| Title page + declaration | Identifies the work, author, degree and confirms it is your own | Not counted |
| Abstract | Self-contained 200–350 word summary of aim, method, findings | Not counted (or ~1%) |
| Table of contents + lists | Navigation: contents, list of figures/tables, abbreviations | Not counted |
| 1. Introduction | Sets the problem, aim, objectives and research questions | ~10% |
| 2. Literature review | Critically synthesises prior research; identifies the gap | ~25–30% |
| 3. Methodology | Justifies the design, sampling, data collection and analysis | ~15% |
| 4. Results / Findings | Reports what the data show, neutrally, without interpretation | ~15% |
| 5. Discussion | Interprets findings against the literature; answers the questions | ~20–25% |
| 6. Conclusion | States contribution, limitations and recommendations | ~7% |
| References | Full, consistently formatted source list | Not counted |
| Appendices | Supporting material: instruments, transcripts, raw data | Not counted |
Front matter: what comes before chapter one
The front matter is everything a reader sees before the introduction, and it is read in this order: title page, declaration, acknowledgements, abstract, table of contents, then the lists. The dissertation title page carries your title, name, degree, institution and submission date in the exact layout your department specifies. It is followed by the declaration of original work, the optional acknowledgements, and the abstract — the single most-read part of the whole document, so write it last.
After the abstract come the navigational lists: the table of contents, the list of figures and tables, a list of abbreviations, and, where you use many technical terms, a glossary. None of these count towards your word limit, but examiners notice when they are missing or out of sync with the body, so generate them automatically and refresh them before submission.
The main body: your six core chapters
This is where your marks are won. The introduction states the problem, the aim, the objectives and the research questions, and maps the rest of the document. The literature review — usually the longest chapter — critically synthesises existing research and pinpoints the gap your study fills. This is also where you set out your theoretical framework or conceptual framework if your study uses one.
The methodology justifies your research design, sampling, and analysis — if you ran a survey, your dissertation questionnaire belongs in an appendix and is referenced here. The findings (or results) chapter reports what the data show without interpreting them; the discussion chapter then interprets those findings against the literature and answers your research questions. Finally, the conclusion states your contribution, acknowledges limitations, and offers recommendations — without introducing any new evidence.
Back matter: references and appendices
After the conclusion comes the reference list, formatted in your required style (Harvard, APA, MLA, or another) and matching every in-text citation exactly. Anything that supports but would clutter the body goes into the appendices — interview schedules, consent forms, full questionnaires, coding frames, and large data tables — each one labelled (Appendix A, B, C) and referenced at the relevant point in the text.
A worked example: a sample contents page
Contents page — “Remote Working and Employee Productivity in UK SMEs”
Declaration …………………………………………………. ii
Acknowledgements ……………………………………. iii
Abstract ………………………………………………………… iv
Table of Contents ……………………………………….. v
List of Figures and Tables …………………………. vii
List of Abbreviations ………………………………….. viii
Chapter 1 — Introduction …………………………… 1
1.1 Background to the study ………………………….. 1
1.2 Problem statement ………………………………….. 3
1.3 Aim and objectives ………………………………….. 4
1.4 Research questions ………………………………….. 5
1.5 Structure of the dissertation ………………….. 6
Chapter 2 — Literature Review …………………. 7
2.1 Defining remote working …………………………. 7
2.2 Productivity: theory and measurement …… 11
2.3 Conceptual framework ……………………………. 18
2.4 Research gap ………………………………………….. 21
Chapter 3 — Methodology ………………………. 23
3.1 Research philosophy and approach ………. 23
3.2 Sampling and participants ……………………… 26
3.3 Data collection ……………………………………….. 28
3.4 Data analysis ………………………………………….. 31
3.5 Ethical considerations ……………………………. 33
Chapter 4 — Findings ……………………………….. 35
Chapter 5 — Discussion …………………………… 47
Chapter 6 — Conclusion and Recommendations … 58
References …………………………………………………… 63
Appendix A — Participant questionnaire …… 71
Appendix B — Interview consent form ……….. 74
Appendix C — Thematic coding frame ………… 75
Notice the pattern: front matter uses roman numerals (ii, iii, iv); the main body switches to arabic numerals from page 1 of the introduction; and every chapter is broken into numbered sub-sections so the reader can navigate straight to any argument.
Word-count guidance
For a typical 10,000–15,000 word UK Masters dissertation, allocate roughly 1,500 words to the introduction, 3,000–4,000 to the literature review, 2,000 to methodology, 2,000 to findings, 2,500–3,000 to discussion, and 1,000 to the conclusion. Scale the same proportions up for an undergraduate dissertation (8,000–12,000 words) or a PhD thesis (60,000–100,000 words), where each chapter expands and the literature review and discussion often split into two chapters each. If you are still at the planning stage, our guide on finding a good dissertation topic and the PhD proposal structure walk through scoping the work before you commit to a chapter plan.
Pre-submission structure checklist
- Every section appears in the conventional order: title, abstract, contents, then IMRaD chapters, then references and appendices
- Front matter uses roman numerals; the body starts at arabic page 1 in the introduction
- The table of contents, list of figures and list of tables are auto-generated and match the body exactly
- Each chapter is broken into numbered sub-sections (1.1, 1.2, 2.1 …)
- The abstract is self-contained and written last, after the conclusion is final
- Findings report data only; all interpretation lives in the discussion, not the results chapter
- Every in-text citation has a matching reference, and every appendix is referenced from the body
- Chapter word counts roughly match the recommended proportions for your degree level
Stuck on structuring your dissertation?
Our UK-based academics can help you plan, structure and write any chapter — fully bespoke, plagiarism-free and confidential.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most UK empirical dissertations have six chapters: Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results/Findings, Discussion, and Conclusion. Some courses merge findings and discussion into one chapter, giving five; theory-led or humanities dissertations may instead use several thematic chapters built around an argument. Always check your department handbook, as the required number varies by programme.
As a rough guide for an empirical dissertation: introduction ~10%, literature review ~25–30%, methodology ~15%, findings ~15%, discussion ~20–25%, and conclusion ~7%. The title page, abstract, contents, references and appendices do not count towards your word limit. Adjust the proportions for theory-led work, where the literature and discussion expand.
The front and back matter are the same across subjects, but the main body changes. Science, social science and business dissertations follow the empirical IMRaD pattern (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion). Humanities, law and some theoretical dissertations replace methodology and results with thematic chapters that develop an argument. Check whether your department expects an empirical or a thematic structure before you plan your chapters.
Title page, declaration, acknowledgements, abstract, table of contents, list of figures and tables, list of abbreviations, glossary, then the chapters in order: Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results/Findings, Discussion, Conclusion. The reference list and appendices come last. Front matter uses roman page numbers and the main body uses arabic numerals from the introduction onward.
Usually not. Most universities exclude the abstract, title page, contents, reference list and appendices from the official word count, which applies only to the main body chapters. Word limits and what they include differ between institutions, so confirm the exact rules in your module or programme handbook before you submit.
Draft the literature review first, because it shapes your research questions and your conceptual framework. Write the introduction early as a working version, then rewrite it last so it matches the final scope of the dissertation. The abstract and conclusion should always be written last, once your findings and discussion are settled.
The title page will contain details of the author/researcher, research topic, degree program (the paper is to be submitted for), and research supervisor’s name(s). The name of your university, logo, student number, and submission date can also be presented on the title page.
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.
Yes, but only if you think that your paper does not contain any terms or phrases that the reader might not understand. If you think you have used them in the paper, you must create a glossary that lists important phrases and terms with their meanings explained.
You can use any of the referencing styles, such as APA, MLA, and Harvard, according to the recommendation of your university; however, almost all UK institutions prefer the Harvard referencing style.
Yes, especially in qualitative dissertations. Always check your department’s guidelines.
Not all. It’s more common in social sciences and humanities.
Usually, no. But confirm with your institution.
