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Dissertation and thesis support

Find out how the library can support you with your dissertation, final year research project or thesis.

Choose your level of dissertation or thesis:

A dissertation is a type of academic report, but unlike many other assignments you might have, you choose the subject, and it usually has a larger word limit (5,000 - 10,000 words) so can be the biggest piece of writing that you do for your degree.  With a dissertation you choose your topic, you select the methodology used, and you usually have to undertake a literature review.  Many students find this very challenging - don't worry though, we can help:

Books

Useful links:

Still need help?

  • Attend one of our workshops about dissertation research, literature reviews, proofreading, etc.
  • Book an appointment to talk to a member of staff.
  • Talk with your dissertation or research project supervisor.

Not everybody has to do a dissertation or research project at undergraduate level, but a Masters degree usually has some sort of extended individual project.  If you have done a project like this before, there are some differences from undergraduate level, not least a longer word count (between 12,000 and 20,000 words).  The structure is much the same as an undergraduate dissertation, but you will be expected to investigate your topic in greater detail, and develop your research methodology skills further.

Books:

Useful links:

Still need help?

  • Attend one of our workshops about dissertation research for taught postgrad students, literature reviews, proofreading, etc.
  • Book an appointment to talk to a member of staff.
  • Talk with your dissertation or research project supervisor.

Undertaking a thesis at postgraduate research level requires you to undertake a literature review and conduct original research. The NTU Doctorate Plus programme is here to support you throughout this process with input from a wide range of teams including your Research Support Librarians. Why not take a look at our Research Students page to see what help is available from the library?

Consult the Researcher Development Brochure to see the full range of workshops available to postgraduate researchers including academic writing, research methodologies and practical support for working with long documents, such as your PhD thesis.

Books:

Useful links:

  • Theses by previous NTU research students – view these online in the thesis collection in IRep.
  • Research Development Gateway – this NOW learning room provides a wide range of resources to support your skills development as you undertake your thesis.

Still need help?

  • Attend one of our workshops for more advice on getting started with your literature review, keeping up-to-date and managing your references.
  • Book an appointment with your Research Support Librarian.
  • Talk with your supervisory team.

Get in touch

If you have any questions, contact us at libinfodirect@ntu.ac.uk or by phone on +44 (0)115 848 2175.