FAQs · Updated 2026
Expert Answers to Your Dissertation Questions
Get clear answers to the dissertation writing challenges UK students run into most — from title pages and abstracts to word counts, referencing styles, viva length and what happens if a submission is failed.
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01
Ordering, Payments & Your Account
How does the ordering process actually work, step by step?
You send a brief and receive a written quote by email. If you accept it, you pay (in full or by milestone), a specialist is assigned, and work is delivered to your student portal on or before the agreed date. Nothing starts before you have seen the price.
Can I pay in instalments rather than all at once?
On longer projects, yes. The work is split into milestones, you release each instalment as that milestone begins, and you receive the corresponding chapter when it completes. Shorter single-chapter orders are paid in one go.
What happens inside my student portal?
It holds your brief, uploaded files, messages with your assigned specialist, every delivered draft with its version history, and your Turnitin report. Revision requests are raised there too, which is what keeps them inside the free window.
Which files should I upload, and does it change the price?
Your handbook, marking rubric, module brief, any supervisor comments and your own draft if you have one. Uploading more never raises the quote — it usually lowers the number of revisions needed.
Can I cancel or change my order after paying?
Before writing begins, yes. Once a milestone is underway, changes to scope are quoted separately. Cancellation terms sit in our terms and conditions and refunds in the refund policy.
How is my identity kept separate from my order?
Every order runs on a reference number. The specialist writing your work sees the academic brief and your files, never your name, email address or payment details. The full detail is in our privacy policy.
What counts as a free revision and what counts as new work?
Anything inside your original brief is free and unlimited during the review window. A changed topic, an added chapter or new guidelines arriving after delivery are quoted as new work. The nine clauses are set out in our revision policy.
Where do I find prices, and where do I find what each service includes?
Rates by level and deadline are on the prices page. What each service actually covers — writing, proposals, editing, data analysis — is explained on its own service page, linked from the menu above.
02
Dissertation Titles
Are dissertation titles italicised?
It depends on the citation style. APA: not italicised, sentence case. MLA: italicised, title case. Chicago: generally italicised in title case in bibliographies and footnotes. Harvard: typically not italicised but enclosed in quotation marks in reference lists.
How long should a dissertation title be?
UK universities generally expect 10 to 20 words. A good title conveys the research focus, scope and where relevant the method, without becoming unreadable. Check your department’s guidance for a specific limit.
What goes on a dissertation title page?
The title, your full name (and student ID if required), degree programme, university name, submission date, supervisor’s name where required, and word count if your handbook asks for it. Centre-aligned, clear font such as Times New Roman or Arial at 12pt, and usually no header, footer or page number.
Can you give an example of a strong dissertation title?
“The Impact of Social Media Marketing on Brand Loyalty: A Study of UK Retail Businesses”. It is clear about the topic, specific about the industry, and states the geographical focus — all within 15 words.
How do I write a good dissertation title?
Be specific and focused, use clear language rather than jargon, include keywords from your field, keep it to roughly 10–15 words, reflect the research question, and get feedback from your supervisor before you finalise it.
03
Dissertation Abstract
What is a dissertation abstract?
A summarised version of the whole dissertation, usually 150–300 words, placed at the beginning. It gives an overview of the research aims, methodology, key findings and conclusions so a reader can grasp the essence of the work quickly.
What are the five basic contents of an abstract?
Introduction (topic and objectives), purpose (why the research matters), methods (a brief overview of methodology), key findings or results, and conclusion (implications of the findings).
How long should a dissertation abstract be?
Generally 150–300 words for undergraduate and Master’s work. A PhD dissertation abstract typically runs 250–350 words. Always check your university handbook for the exact limit.
Is the abstract included in the word count?
In many UK universities it is, but this varies. Confirm with your handbook whether the abstract contributes to your total word count or is excluded.
Does a dissertation need an abstract?
Yes, in almost all UK universities. It explains the whole dissertation in short form so readers can understand the purpose of the research and why it was needed.
What makes a good abstract?
It is concise (200–300 words), informative about objectives, methods, results and conclusions, logically structured, free of jargon and citations, written in the past tense, and interesting enough to make someone read on.
04
Formatting & Referencing
What is the standard UK dissertation format?
Title page, abstract, acknowledgements, table of contents, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, references and appendices. Exact requirements come from your university handbook.
What does APA 7 formatting require?
One-inch margins on all sides, Times New Roman 12pt (or another approved legible font), double spacing, author-date in-text citations and an alphabetical reference list. Page numbers sit in the top right corner.
How do I format a dissertation in Word?
Use built-in styles for headings and subheadings, set 1-inch margins, insert an automatic table of contents from the References tab, add page numbers, and use section breaks where formatting changes between front matter and main text.
How do I cite a dissertation?
In APA: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of dissertation (Doctoral dissertation). University Name. URL if online. Always match the style your department requires — APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago or OSCOLA.
How do I choose the correct citation format?
Your department specifies it. Check your handbook first, then confirm with your supervisor. Consistency matters more than preference — mixing styles costs marks.
What is the MLA bibliography format?
MLA calls it “Works Cited”, ordered alphabetically by author surname, including author, title (italicised or in quotation marks depending on the source type), publisher, year and publication details.
05
Literature Review
What is a literature review in a dissertation?
A critical analysis of existing research on your topic. It examines methodologies and findings across sources, identifies gaps in current knowledge, and sets the foundation for your own research question.
How long should the literature review be?
Typically 20–30% of the total word count. For a 10,000-word dissertation that means roughly 2,000–3,000 words; Master’s reviews often run 2,000–3,500 words.
How many references should a literature review have?
Usually 20–50, though comprehensive studies use more. Quality and relevance always matter more than quantity.
How do I structure a literature review?
Introduction stating purpose and scope; a body organised thematically or chronologically; critical evaluation rather than summary; explicit links back to your research question; and a conclusion drawing out gaps.
What are the types of literature review?
Narrative, systematic, integrative and theoretical reviews. Each serves a different purpose — summarising, comparing studies systematically, synthesising across methods, or analysing theory relevant to your topic.
How long does a literature review take?
Weeks to months, depending on scope, reading pace and how much analysis is required. Starting early is the single biggest predictor of a strong review.
06
Master’s Dissertation
How many words is a Master’s dissertation?
Usually 10,000 to 20,000 words in the UK, depending on your course and university guidelines.
How long does it take to write?
Typically 3 to 6 months, including topic selection, research, data collection, writing, revisions and supervisor feedback.
How many credits is a Master’s dissertation worth?
Typically 60 credits out of the 180 required for most UK Master’s programmes — a third of your degree.
What happens if I fail my Master’s dissertation?
Many UK universities allow resubmission after addressing examiner feedback, usually with a capped grade and an additional fee. The exact rules are set by your institution.
How many references should it have?
On average 30–100, depending on subject. Science and engineering typically expect more sources; humanities and social sciences may have fewer but deeper citations.
Can I publish my Master’s dissertation?
Yes, provided it meets the standards and formatting of the target journal. Publishing shares your findings and builds credibility in your field.
07
PhD Dissertation
How long is a PhD dissertation?
Typically 60,000 to 100,000 words in the UK, or roughly 200–300 pages. Humanities theses tend to be longer; STEM theses are often shorter because results are presented technically.
How long does it take to write?
Usually 1 to 2 years of writing within a 3–4 year programme, depending on the complexity of the research and how data collection progresses.
How many references should a PhD dissertation have?
Typically 150 to 300, though this varies by discipline. Relevance and quality always outweigh raw numbers.
How long is the viva?
In the UK a PhD viva usually runs 1.5 to 3 hours, comprising a presentation and detailed questioning to assess your understanding and contribution.
How many hypotheses should a PhD dissertation have?
Usually no more than four or five, with one primary hypothesis and the rest supporting it, depending on the complexity of the study.
What happens if I fail?
Outright failure is rare. More commonly you are given a revision period or, in some cases, the award is downgraded to an MPhil. Most universities allow resubmission within a set window after addressing examiner feedback.
08
Undergraduate Dissertation
How long is an undergraduate dissertation?
Generally 8,000 to 12,000 words in the UK, depending on your course and university guidelines.
How long does it take to write?
Typically 3 to 6 months across topic selection, research, writing and editing, though the intensity varies with your other modules.
How much is it worth?
Usually 20–40% of your final-year grade in UK universities. Check your course handbook for the exact weighting.
Does it have to be original?
Not necessarily fully original. Undergraduate work usually analyses existing research and presents your own perspective on it — but originality of analysis raises your grade.
What sample size do I need?
It depends on your method: qualitative studies often use 5–20 participants, quantitative studies typically need 30–100 for valid results. Justify whatever you choose in your methodology.
Can you fail an undergraduate dissertation?
Yes, if the work does not meet academic standards — irrelevant research, missing structure, poor referencing or breaching word limits and guidelines are the usual causes.
09
Thesis vs Dissertation
What is the difference between a thesis and a dissertation in the UK?
In UK usage a thesis generally refers to doctoral-level research producing original findings, while a dissertation refers to work at Master’s or undergraduate level that critically analyses existing research. Terminology does vary between institutions.
Are they the same thing?
No. They differ in academic level, length and the degree of original contribution expected. Always follow the term your own department uses.
What are the similarities?
Both require in-depth research, structured academic writing, and the same core components — literature review, methodology, findings and conclusions — produced to institutional standards.
What is the difference between a project report, dissertation and thesis?
A project report is applied and practical, often in professional courses. A dissertation is academic work at Master’s or bachelor’s level. A thesis contributes original research at doctoral level.
Can I reference a thesis in my dissertation?
Yes, provided it offers relevant insight and you cite it correctly in your required referencing style.
10
Proposal & Methodology
What is a dissertation proposal?
A formal document setting out your research question, objectives, methodology, literature context and the significance of the study. It is the roadmap your supervisor approves before you begin.
How many words is a dissertation proposal?
Typically 1,000 to 2,000 words, or roughly 10–15 pages, depending on your institution’s requirements.
What sections does a proposal need?
Title, introduction, aims and objectives, literature review, methodology, timeline (often a Gantt chart), expected outcomes and references.
How do I write a methodology?
Outline your research design and methods — qualitative, quantitative or mixed — and justify each choice. Detail data collection, analysis techniques, tools or software used, ethics and limitations. The method must fit the research question.
Can I use the first person in a proposal?
It depends on your institution. Where allowed, the first person can make research intentions clearer. Check your handbook before you commit to it.
How much does proposal writing help cost?
In the UK, proposal writing services typically range from around £100 to £500 depending on level, word count, complexity and deadline. Our own rates start at £11.95 per page — see the prices page.
11
Editing & Proofreading
What is proofreading in a dissertation?
Reviewing the completed document to identify and correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, typographical and formatting errors, plus inconsistencies in citation and referencing.
How much does dissertation editing cost?
In the UK, editing typically ranges from around £8 to £15 per 1,000 words, rising to about £20 per 1,000 words for detailed work covering grammar, structure and referencing.
How long does editing take?
With proper planning, a 10,000-word dissertation usually takes 3 to 7 days to edit thoroughly. Urgent turnarounds are possible through a professional service.
Can I hire someone to edit my dissertation?
Yes. Professional academic editors refine language, structure and referencing without changing your argument or your data. See our editing service.
What do dissertation editors actually do?
They correct grammar, punctuation and spelling, improve sentence structure and logical flow, check formatting against your university guidelines, and flag inconsistencies in citations and data presentation.
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