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Experiences of a London PhD student and beyond

Thesis acknowledgements: Samples and how to write your own thesis or dissertation acknowledgements

acknowledgment master thesis

Writing a thesis can be tricky. That’s why I’m starting a new series covering each section of the thesis, from thesis acknowledgements all the way to conclusions. I’ll be guiding you through the whole process, from what to include in your thesis to how to write it, along with examples from defended theses to help you to write your own.

We’ll begin by covering thesis acknowledgments. The acknowledgements section appears at the start of the thesis so it is often one of the first parts that everyone tries to tackle. As this will likely be your first taste of your thesis it can often feel quite intimidating to write!

Thankfully it’s also one of the easiest parts of the thesis to complete, which may help to give you a boost for the rest.

In this post we’ll cover everything to do with thesis acknowledgements: samples, what to include and how to write them. At the end I’ll also outline a 60 minute exercise which will get you preparing a first draft of your own!

I’m writing this post with a PhD thesis in mind but it could work just as well if you’re looking for help including acknowledgements in your Master’s or undergraduate thesis/ dissertation.

What is the purpose of the acknowledgements section in a thesis?

The acknowledgements section of your thesis is an opportunity to reflect on the people who have supported and shaped your PhD experience.

Don’t worry, although your examiners will be interested to read your acknowledgements section, you won’t really get judged on it in your PhD viva. This section is for you to share as little, or as much, as you want about everyone involved in your PhD journey.

The acknowledgements are a very personal section of your thesis and each PhD student will have different things they want to include. For example, many people wonder: How do I thank my family in a thesis? And the acknowledgements section is the answer!

Note – You can also use a thesis dedication to thank your family. This is a separate section to your thesis acknowledgements and is entirely optional. It’s usually just a single line, just like you might find at the front of some books. Most people don’t include a separate dedication section but you can if you want to go that extra step.

What to include in your thesis acknowledgements

There are usually no formal requirements dictating what to include in your acknowledgements. However, do double check for any potential rules at your specific institution.

In general the acknowledgements are the section of your thesis where you have some creative liberty and are not bound by rigid research protocols or guidelines.

Many students choose to use the acknowledgements section to thank people (or organisations) who:

  • Introduced them to the topic
  • Helped with their PhD application
  • Funded the project
  • Supervisors
  • Technicians
  • Partners, friends or family
  • Or anyone else who made an impression along the way!

But remember, you can include whatever you want! For example in my own PhD acknowledgements, which you’ll read further down this post, I thanked the university for providing a green outdoor space for us.

Acknowledge whoever and whatever influenced your own PhD experience.

You may find it helpful to start by writing a list of everyone you wish to thank.

How do you write an acknowledgements section?

Since there are no guidelines to worry about, it is really up to you how you write your own thesis acknowledgements. You have a lot of freedom for what to include and how to write it.

However you may find the following suggested phases helpful as a starting point.

Who you want to thank…

  • “First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to…”
  • “I must thank…”
  • “A special thanks to…”
  • “I would like to highlight two truly exceptional people from…”
  • “I want to thank…”
  • “In addition, I would like to mention”
  • “I would also like to extend my thanks to…”
  • “I want to give my deepest appreciation to…”
  • “Finally, but the most importantly, I would like to thank…”

…then, why you want to thank them

It can be nice to also include why you’re thanking these people, using phrases such as:

  • “…for the opportunity to be a part of this project”
  • “…for always being there when I needed his support, reviewing my progress constantly, and guiding me through my PhD studies”
  • “….for being a great bunch of people in and out of the lab”
  • …”for all the guidance, support and outstanding feedback”
  • “… who took their time to help teach me…”
  • “…for her unlimited support and unconditional guidance during my PhD journey”
  • “…were always there for discussions about anything that I was unsure on”
  • “…whom has offered invaluable advice that will benefit me throughout my life”
  • “…for supporting me since my undergraduate, and for the valuable discussions we had along the road”
  • “…for making the past 4 years much more enjoyable and keeping me sane throughout the whole process”

Here is a whole example from an accepted PhD thesis:

Firstly, I want to thank [supervisor’s name(s)] for giving me the opportunity to work on this project, providing valuable guidance and feedback, and challenging me to grow as a scientist.  Excerpt from Dr Wane’s thesis acknowledgements, available via this page or use this direct download link .

Some people will choose to use full names and titles for any professional acknowledgements and first names for any personal ones. Again, this is up to you.

To help illustrate the variety of thesis acknowledgement formats, we’ll shortly be coming on to some examples of acknowledgment sections from successfully defended theses.

Before then I want to cover some of the main questions relating to how to write your own thesis acknowledgements section:

How long should you spend writing your thesis acknowledgements?

My suggestion is to spend only an hour or two making a first draft. I suggest doing this well ahead of your final deadline so that you have time to come back to it. Even so, I’d certainly look to spend far less than one day’s work on it in total.

It is a “nice to have” and means a lot to a lot of people, but remember you’re really only writing this section for yourself. I probably spent about two hours writing mine in total, simply because it wasn’t a priority for me.

What order should you write your acknowledgements in?

A typical way to write your acknowledgements is to go from the most formal/academic relationships to the least.

It is normal to start with any funding bodies, then formal people like your PhD supervisors, then move through labmates, friends and family. But again, there are generally no rules!

How long should the acknowledgements section be?

You can include as much or as little as you want. My own PhD acknowledgements section was just under a page long and it consisted of 386 words or 1892 characters (without spaces).

Here is how it was formatted:

A screenshot of the acknowledgements section from my PhD thesis

But let’s not just look at my thesis. Using Imperial’s publicly accessible database I went through 25 published PhD theses for you.

The average (mean) length of these 25 theses was 365 words and 1793 characters without spaces. Writing an acknowledgements section of length 350-450 words was the most common:

Histogram of thesis acknowledgements length. Most theses were between 350-450 words long

The shortest acknowledgements sections was 122 words(653 characters) long. The longest one consisted of 1022 words and 5082 characters. Hopefully this illustrates that you’re not really bound by any limits. Write as much or as little as you want for this section.

Sample thesis acknowledgements

My own phd thesis acknowledgement.

My own PhD thesis is available here *, the acknowledgements section is on page 5. Here is the complete version of my acknowledgements section:

I would like to acknowledge both EPSRC and the Class of 1964 Scholarship for their financial support. It has been an honour to be the inaugural recipient of the Class of 1964 Scholarship and I am indebted to the donors in providing me complete academic freedom in this research. An immense thank you to my PhD supervisors: Jonathan Jeffers, Ulrich Hansen and Julian Jones. Support and guidance throughout the project from you all has been invaluable. JJ in particular you’ve been a fantastic primary supervisor. Thank you to all the academics who helped me get to this stage. The late Dr Kajal Mallick and his Biomedical Materials course at the University of Warwick was a huge influence and without which I would have never followed this path. My “pre-doc” supervisors in Dr Helen Lee of University of Cambridge and in particular the remarkable Prof Judith Hall OBE of Cardiff University from whom I learned so much. Thanks to Alison Paul and Michael Lim for being so supportive when I was considering applying for PhDs. It has been an amazing experience working between two research groups across different departments, thanks to everyone from the Biomechanics and JRJ groups I’ve worked with and from whom I’ve learned so much. Thank you of course to the Hybrids team I’ve worked so closely on this project with: Fra, Gloria, Agathe, Maria, Silvia, it’s been great fun working with you all! Gloria in particular thanks for you all your help, support and friendship: your inclusivity is appreciated by many. Saman, I’ve been so pleased to have you working on DVC with me and being able to discuss ideas with you really has been invaluable. I am grateful to everyone I’ve collaborated with externally: Farah, Amin and Brett (Natural History Museum) plus Andy and Behzad (Royal Veterinary College), thank you all for your support and input. Thanks also to everyone I’ve met through the Environmental Society at Imperial in particular Chelcie: your friendship and support have added a lot to my life. Thanks to Imperial for providing space for the ESoc garden, taking a break and enjoy nature in this space has certainly improved my work. Thanks of course to my family for their support. Finally, thank you Jo for always being so supportive and helping me every step of the way. My PhD thesis, available here . Acknowledgements are on page 5.

*For me the thesis was a means to an end. I wanted my PhD and didn’t want to spend too long agonising over each page. Therefore, it is possible there are typos in there, if you read any of it: firstly well done, I haven’t looked at it much since submitting the final copy, secondly, please don’t tell me about any typos you find!

Other PhD thesis acknowledgement examples

Below are the other 24 published and openly accessible STEM PhD theses I found for this article.

For each person’s thesis, either follow the first link to be taken to the landing page or follow the second link to directly download their thesis: I gave you a choice in case you don’t want stuff to start downloading automatically from a random text link!

PhD thesis acknowledgements example access tutorial

The list is formatted as follows:

  • [Link to thesis page on repository], [which page the acknowledgements appear on], [direct link to download the thesis]
  • Dr Shipman’s thesis , for the acknowledgements go to page 3. Direct download here .
  • Longest acknowledgements section of the list at 1022 words.
  • Dr Li’s thesis , page 11. Direct download here .
  • Dr Podgurschi’s thesis , page 5. Direct download here .
  • Dr Medjeral-Thomas’ thesis page 3. Direct download here .
  • Dr Sztuc’s thesis , page 5. Direct download here .
  • Dr Yap’s thesis , page 5. Direct download here .
  • Dr Sukkar’s thesis , page 9. Direct download here .
  • Dr Lo’s thesis , page 11. Direct download here .
  • Dr Sullivan’s thesis , page 5. Direct download here .
  • Dr Tawy’s thesis , page 3. Direct download here .
  • Dr Wane’s thesis , page 2. Direct download here .
  • Dr Addison’s thesis , page 4. Direct download here .
  • Dr Wang’s thesis , page 5. Direct download here .
  • Dr Sebest’s thesis , page 3. Direct download here .
  • Dr Hopkins’ thesis , page 7. Direct download here .
  • Dr Bates’s thesis , page 4. Direct download here .
  • Dr Somuyiwa’s thesis , page 6. Direct download here .
  • Dr Reynolds’ thesis , page 5. Direct download here .
  • My labmate’s thesis, who wrote the acknowledgements in a different style to the rest by using bullet points.
  • Shortest acknowledgements section of the list at 122 words.
  • Dr Manca’s thesis , acknowledgements on page 5. Direct download here .
  • Dr Liu’s thesis , page 5. Direct download here .
  • Dr Hotinli’s thesis , page 7. Direct download here .

My top tips for writing your own thesis acknowledgements

  • Don’t spend too long on them. The acknowledgements section is really not worth spending too much time on. Even worse, since they appear at the start of your thesis, it is tempting to write your acknowledgements first. This can be fine, or, it can be an opportunity for lots of unnecessary procrastination. Which I why I instead suggest that you…
  • Write your acknowledgements at the end of your first draft of the thesis. There is no need to write your thesis in the order it is presented. If you write your acknowledgements at the end you’ll be less likely to spend precious time on a section which really doesn’t warrant too much brain power.
  • Don’t stress about it. The acknowledgements are merely for yourself and for anyone close to you that you want to thank. There are far more important sections for you to be particular about!
  • Remember: You can make changes after you submit the copy for your viva. As with everything in your thesis, you can make changes after you submit the thesis for your viva. The real “final” copy is when you submit your thesis to the university for archiving. Which is even more reason to not spend too much time writing it the first time around.

Draft your own thesis or dissertation acknowledgements in 60 minutes

Hopefully you now feel inspired to start writing your own thesis acknowledgments!

For the exercise below I’d suggest setting a stop-watch on your phone and move on to the next section when the alarm goes, even if you’ve not fully finished. The aim is to have a rough draft at the end which you can polish off at a later point in time.

  • Read a few of the example thesis acknowledgements above to get a feel for the structure ( 15 mins )
  • List everyone (or everything!) you wish to thank – including any personal and professional acknowledgements in addition to funding bodies if relevant ( 10 mins )
  • Decide on a rough order in which to thank them ( 5 mins )
  • Craft some sentences using the phrases mentioned above ( 30 mins )

Congratulations you’re now well on your way to having one section of your PhD thesis completed!

I hope this post has been useful for constructing your own thesis or dissertation acknowledgements. It is the first in a series of posts aiming to help your thesis writing by delving into each section in depth. Be sure to let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for other content which you would find useful.

Subscribe below to stay updated about future posts in the series:

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Acknowledgement Letter

Get All Types Of Acknowledgement Samples.

Master Thesis Acknowledgement Sample

Post by Ruben Patel Leave a Comment

If you are looking for some master thesis acknowledgement sample’ s, then here you will get a few samples & a detailed guide on it.

Writing a master’s thesis can be a daunting and time-consuming task, but it’s important to remember to take a moment to acknowledge the people who helped you along the way. Acknowledgements in a master’s thesis serve as a way to thank those who have supported you during your studies and research.

When writing your acknowledgement, it’s important to be sincere and heartfelt. Start by thanking your advisor, who likely played a key role in your research and writing process. You should also consider thanking any other members of your thesis committee, as well as any colleagues or mentors who provided guidance or support.

Master Thesis Acknowledgement Sample

If you conducted your research at an organization or with the help of any resources, be sure to express your gratitude to those who made it possible. You should also consider thanking any friends or family members who supported you during this process, as they likely played a crucial role in helping you stay motivated and on track.

Finally , don’t forget to thank the participants in your study. Without their contribution, your research would not have been possible.

Overall, the acknowledgement section of your master’s thesis is an important way to show appreciation for those who have helped you along the way. Be sure to take the time to express your gratitude in a sincere and heartfelt way.

Table of Contents

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my advisor, _______ [Advisor Name], for their invaluable guidance and support throughout my master’s program. Their expertise and encouragement helped me to complete this research and write this thesis.

I would also like to thank _______ [Name] and _______ [Name] for serving on my thesis committee and providing helpful feedback and suggestions.

I am grateful to ______ [Name] for providing me with the opportunity to conduct my research at ______ [Organization Name], and for all of the resources and support they provided.

I would also like to thank my friends and family for their love and support during this process. Without them, this journey would not have been possible.

Finally, I would like to thank all of the participants in my study for their time and willingness to share their experiences. This work would not have been possible without their contribution.

Acknowledgement For Master Thesis

I am deeply grateful to my advisor, _______ [Advisor Name], for their unwavering support and guidance throughout my master’s program. Their expertise and patience have been invaluable to me and have played a crucial role in the success of this thesis.

I am grateful to [Organization] for providing me with the opportunity to conduct my research and for all of the resources and support they provided. I would like to extend a special thanks to [Name], who went above and beyond to help me with my work.

I would also like to thank [Name] for serving on my thesis committee and providing valuable feedback and suggestions. Their insights and guidance were instrumental in helping me to shape my research and write this thesis.

I am deeply thankful to my friends and family for their love and support during this process. Without their encouragement and motivation, I would not have been able to complete this journey.

I would also like to thank my colleagues at [Organization] for their support and collaboration during my research. In particular, I would like to thank [Name] for their help with [specific task] and [Name] for their assistance with [specific task].

Finally, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all of the participants in my study. Their willingness to share their experiences and insights has been invaluable to my research and has helped to make this thesis a success. Thank you for your time and contribution.

I am grateful to everyone who has supported me throughout this process. Without your help and guidance, this thesis would not have been possible.

Master Thesis Acknowledgement Sample PDF

Master Thesis Acknowledgement Sample PDF

Some Tips To Write A Good Master Thesis Acknowledgment

Here are some tips for writing a good acknowledgment for your master’s thesis:

  • Keep it brief: Your acknowledgement should be brief and to the point. You don’t need to go into great detail about everyone who has helped you.
  • Be specific: Make sure to mention specific people or organizations that have helped you. For example, “I would like to thank Professor XYZ for her invaluable guidance and support throughout my research.”
  • Show gratitude: Make sure to express your appreciation to those who have helped you. For example, “I am deeply grateful to my advisors, Professor XYZ and Professor ABC, for their guidance and support throughout my research.”
  • Use proper formatting: Follow the guidelines of your university or department for formatting your acknowledgement.
  • Use a personal tone: While you should maintain a professional tone, it’s okay to use a more personal tone in your acknowledgement. This is your chance to express your appreciation to those who have helped you, so don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through.
  • Keep it in order: Consider organizing your acknowledgement in importance or the amount of help each person provided.
  • Proofread: Make sure to proofread your acknowledgement for spelling and grammar errors. It’s important to make a good impression with your writing, even in the acknowledgement section.

Read Also: How To Write Acknowledgement For Research Paper

In conclusion, writing a master’s thesis acknowledgement is a way to show appreciation to the people who have helped and supported you during the research and writing process. It is a way to thank them for their time, effort, and guidance, and to recognize the important role they played in the success of your work.

By taking the time to express your gratitude, you can not only show your appreciation, but also strengthen your relationships with those who helped you. So take a moment to reflect on the people who have contributed to your journey, and consider including them in your acknowledgement section as a way to say thank you.

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acknowledgment master thesis

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Formatting Your Thesis with Microsoft Word

  • Dedication, Acknowledgements, & Preface
  • Introduction
  • Copyright Page
  • Headings and Subheadings
  • Citations and Bibliography
  • Page Numbers
  • Tables and Figures
  • Rotated (Landscape) Pages
  • Table of Contents
  • Lists of Tables and Figures
  • List of Abbreviations
  • Some Things to Watch For
  • PDF with Embedded Fonts

Dedication, acknowledgements, & preface

Dedication, Acknowledgements, and Preface sections are all optional pages. But, what is the difference between these three?

Dedication — A personal tribute to someone or a group of people. Example: "To my parents."

Acknowledgements — A professional tribute to a person or people who helped you with the thesis. Example: "I wish to thank my thesis advisor for the hours of help in the lab making sure the experiments were set up properly and guiding me through the thesis process."

Preface ( sometimes confused with Foreward or Prologue ) — A very rarely included section that details why you are qualified to write about your topic of your thesis or why you became interested in the topic (for example, an anecdote about a childhood incident that led you to become interested in the topic). Do not confuse this with the literature review; this is more of a personal story.

The video below gives more examples of what can be included in these sections. Note: If your dedication is short (like "To my parents"), you may choose not to include the "Dedication" heading at the top of the page. A demonstration of how to format the dedication page this way is shown below.

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  • Last Updated: Oct 10, 2023 3:57 PM
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Thesis Acknowledgement Writing Tips With The Most Useful Examples

thesis acknowledgement

What is the thesis acknowledgment? Before you learn how to write thesis acknowledgment you need to be sure you know what it is. An acknowledgment thesis is a dedicated section where students can thank the people (or organizations) that have assisted and supported them throughout the process of researching and writing the senior or graduate thesis.

The best acknowledgement for thesis will respectfully give thanks in a few short sentences immediately following the thesis’s title page and will generally be divided into two categories: professional and personal.

You can check with your department for specific guidelines on writing a Ph.D. thesis acknowledgment, but if you are looking for a convenient example of acknowledgment in thesis, we’ve provided a great collection so that you can get a better sense of how to write acknowledgment for thesis.

  • Professional Acknowledgements This category may include funding organizations, academic supervisors, instructors, librarians, and more. You shouldn’t overlook anyone that played an important role in helping you complete your work, but be sure to list those that have had the greatest impact on your thesis.
  • Personal Acknowledgements This category may include family, friends, and other people that provided support. The important thing is that you don’t make a long list of personal acknowledgments by showing gratitude to everyone in your life (avoid writing a long Oscar acceptance speech).

Need a Thesis Acknowledgment Examples? Here is a Great List

Here are some great thesis acknowledgment quotes you can refer to for inspiration. We encourage you not to just cut and paste but to take a close look at what can work. The best acknowledgment for a master thesis should come from the heart and be personal, so don’t copy others directly because someone may find out and put you in an awkward situation

Here are some acknowledgments in thesis samples to use when addressing professional groups or people :

  • If it was not for the grant I received from the Reed Institute 3 years ago, I could never have launched this project and gained access to the valuable resources that allowed for this breakthrough in the study of Molecular Science.
  • Dr. James Finebaum, Professor Alex Gorey, and Professor Jane Whitehead have all been paramount in inspiring me to pursue these unchartered waters toward finding alternative, cost-effective solutions in renewable energies.
  • I’d like to sincerely express my gratitude to my academic advisor, Dr. Aliana Hernandez, who inspires me each day to push the limits of my knowledge by challenging me to ask difficult questions and not stop until I have found the answers.

Here are some options when you are looking for a good acknowledgment thesis sample for personal thank yous :

  • My mother, Abigail Adams, was instrumental in defining the path of my academic interests. She served as an appellate court judge for 25 years and set me on a path of legal studies that has culminated in my earning a law degree from this fine institution.
  • I’d like very much to address my family directly with gratitude. The years of unparalleled support and guidance have helped me not only define my academic and professional aspirations but have also ensured I never lost my faith or determination.
  • I wish to express my special appreciation toward all of the members of the research team in Classroom Unit 2B. We are a strange bunch that came together to tackle an impossible project to earn the respect of so many within our field. Bigger and better things will come for all of us and I can’t wait to keep working with each one of them for years.
There is a time and place for a humorous anecdote, but this may be harder to achieve than you think. If you do decide to take this route, be sure to read an acknowledgment sample for a thesis to see just what qualifies as appropriate humor for this type of writing.

How to Write Acknowledgement for Thesis

Read a few thesis acknowledgments before you start writing yours. You will note that it is one of the few occasions where writing in the first person is encouraged but you must still maintain a professional tone that is appropriate for an academic document.

  • Make lists for both your professional and personal master’s thesis acknowledgments. It’s better to err on the long side and then edit each list so that you only mention the most important people.
  • Rearrange your professional list by placing the most important people at the top. This generally means including your thesis advisor and other teachers in your field. If you received funding from a group, you should list them among the most important acknowledgment section of the thesis.
  • Next, arrange your personal list by placing the most important people at the top. Most students include family members and friends that helped along the way. When it comes to friends you don’t want to list everyone you’ve met throughout your life. Stick with those that supported you emotionally.
  • Writing acknowledgments is much easier when you think of people in groups. For example, you may start your professional acknowledgment for thesis by stating your advisor’s name, one or two professors, and an organization with something like “I’d like to express my gratitude to Dr. Lindsey Carter, Professors Adam Chase and Tyler Crane, and the support I received from the Blaine Foundation.”
  • There are no hard and fast rules on the length of the Ph.D. thesis acknowledgments. Some expert writers recommend you keep this section to no more than a minute or two. So as soon as you have a draft written, you should read it aloud to ensure it doesn’t go on for too long.

On some occasions, you may be required to present your thesis before a review board. In these cases, you must make sure you thank people who are present, whether or not are listed on your acknowledgment page thesis. Again, though, keep this to no more than 2 minutes.

Some Key Phrases to Use in the Acknowledgment Thesis

Despite needing to be as original as possible, there are a few key phrases you can use that have been proven to withstand the test of time. Have a quick look at the ones below and you will understand how clear and concise statements can effectively communicate sincere gratitude.

  • I would like to thank my amazingly supportive peers…
  • Without XXX’s expert advice and encouragement, I could not…
  • I would like to acknowledge Dr. XXX for encouraging me to pursue
  • I’d like to extend a more public show of gratitude…
  • It is through the XXX Institution’s contributions that…
  • Without the support of the research department, this project would not…
  • It is my great pleasure to extend my gratitude towards…
  • It has been a pleasure to work with such a close group…
  • I am indebted to the unwavering support of my colleagues…
  • Finally, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank Aunt…

We Are Here To Write a Thesis Acknowledgment For You

You can always turn to us for professional assistance in writing a thesis acknowledgment. Our Ph.D. thesis writers can take your original ideas and we can turn them into a great acknowledgment in thesis for you to use in your capstone project. We can also provide you with a Ph.D. thesis acknowledgment sample for you to develop your original ideas. We can help with this and other sections across all academic disciplines, just contact us anytime and we’ll put you in contact with one of our certified editing and writing experts.

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Thesis and Dissertation Guide

  • « Thesis & Dissertation Resources
  • The Graduate School Home

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  • Introduction

Copyright Page

Dedication, acknowledgements, preface (optional), table of contents.

  • List of Tables, Figures, and Illustrations

List of Abbreviations

List of symbols.

  • Non-Traditional Formats
  • Font Type and Size
  • Spacing and Indentation
  • Tables, Figures, and Illustrations
  • Formatting Previously Published Work
  • Internet Distribution
  • Open Access
  • Registering Copyright
  • Using Copyrighted Materials
  • Use of Your Own Previously Published Materials
  • Submission Steps
  • Submission Checklist
  • Sample Pages

Thesis and Dissertation Guide

I. Order and Components

Please see the sample thesis or dissertation pages throughout and at the end of this document for illustrations. The following order is required for components of your thesis or dissertation:

  • Dedication, Acknowledgements, and Preface (each optional)
  • Table of Contents, with page numbers
  • List of Tables, List of Figures, or List of Illustrations, with titles and page numbers (if applicable)
  • List of Abbreviations (if applicable)
  • List of Symbols (if applicable)
  • Introduction, if any
  • Main body, with consistent subheadings as appropriate
  • Appendices (if applicable)
  • Endnotes (if applicable)
  • References (see section on References for options)

Many of the components following the title and copyright pages have required headings and formatting guidelines, which are described in the following sections.

Please consult the Sample Pages to compare your document to the requirements. A Checklist is provided to assist you in ensuring your thesis or dissertation meets all formatting guidelines.

The title page of a thesis or dissertation must include the following information:

Title Page with mesaurements described in surrounding text

  • The title of the thesis or dissertation in all capital letters and centered 2″ below the top of the page.
  • Your name, centered 1″ below the title. Do not include titles, degrees, or identifiers. The name you use here does not need to exactly match the name on your university records, but we recommend considering how you will want your name to appear in professional publications in the future.

Notes on this statement:

  • When indicating your degree in the second bracketed space, use the full degree name (i.e., Doctor of Philosophy, not Ph.D. or PHD; Master of Public Health, not M.P.H. or MPH; Master of Social Work, not M.S.W. or MSW).
  • List your department, school, or curriculum rather than your subject area or specialty discipline in the third bracketed space. You may include your subject area or specialty discipline in parentheses (i.e., Department of Romance Languages (French); School of Pharmacy (Molecular Pharmaceutics); School of Education (School Psychology); or similar official area).
  • If you wish to include both your department and school names, list the school at the end of the statement (i.e., Department of Pharmacology in the School of Medicine).
  • A dissertation submitted to the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Public Policy.
  • A thesis submitted to the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the School of Dentistry (Endodontics).
  • A thesis submitted to the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the Department of Nutrition in the Gillings School of Global Public Health.
  • A dissertation submitted to the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Education (Cultural Studies and Literacies).
  • The words “Chapel Hill” must be centered 1″ below the statement.
  • One single-spaced line below that, center the year in which your committee approves the completed thesis or dissertation. This need not be the year you graduate.
  • Approximately 2/3 of the way across the page on the right-hand side of the page, 1″ below the year, include the phrase “Approved by:” (with colon) followed by each faculty member's name on subsequent double-spaced lines. Do not include titles such as Professor, Doctor, Dr., PhD, or any identifiers such as “chair” or “advisor” before or after any names. Line up the first letter of each name on the left under the “A” in the “Approved by:” line. If a name is too long to fit on one line, move this entire section of text slightly to the left so that formatting can be maintained.
  • No signatures, signature lines, or page numbers should be included on the title page.

Include a copyright page with the following information single-spaced and centered 2″ above the bottom of the page:

Copyright Page with mesaurements described in surrounding text

© Year Author's Full Name (as it appears on the title page) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This page immediately follows the title page. It should be numbered with the lower case Roman numeral ii centered with a 1/2″ margin from the bottom edge.

Inclusion of this page offers you, as the author, additional protection against copyright infringement as it eliminates any question of authorship and copyright ownership. You do not need to file for copyright in order to include this statement in your thesis or dissertation. However, filing for copyright can offer other protections.

See Section IV for more information on copyrighting your thesis or dissertation.

Include an abstract page following these guidelines:

Abstract page with mesaurements described in surrounding text

  • Include the heading “ABSTRACT” in all capital letters, and center it 2″ below the top of the page.
  • One double-spaced line below “ABSTRACT”, center your name, followed by a colon and the title of the thesis or dissertation. Use as many lines as necessary. Be sure that your name and the title exactly match the name and title used on the Title page.
  • One single-spaced line below the title, center the phrase “(Under the direction of [advisor's name])”. Include the phrase in parentheses. Include the first and last name(s) of your advisor or formal co-advisors. Do not include the name of other committee members. Use the advisor's name only; do not include any professional titles such as PhD, Professor, or Dr. or any identifiers such as “chair” or “advisor”.
  • Skip one double-spaced line and begin the abstract. The text of your abstract must be double-spaced and aligned with the document's left margin with the exception of indenting new paragraphs. Do not center or right-justify the abstract.
  • Abstracts cannot exceed 150 words for a thesis or 350 words for a dissertation.
  • Number the abstract page with the lower case Roman numeral iii (and iv, if more than one page) centered with a 1/2″ margin from the bottom edge.

Please write and proofread your abstract carefully. When possible, avoid including symbols or foreign words in your abstract, as they cannot be indexed or searched. Avoid mathematical formulas, diagrams, and other illustrative materials in the abstract. Offer a brief description of your thesis or dissertation and a concise summary of its conclusions. Be sure to describe the subject and focus of your work with clear details and avoid including lengthy explanations or opinions.

Your title and abstract will be used by search engines to help potential audiences locate your work, so clarity will help to draw the attention of your targeted readers.

You have an option to include a dedication, acknowledgements, or preface. If you choose to include any or all of these elements, give each its own page(s).

Dedication page with mesaurements described in surrounding text

A dedication is a message from the author prefixed to a work in tribute to a person, group, or cause. Most dedications are short statements of tribute beginning with “To…” such as “To my family”.

Acknowledgements are the author's statement of gratitude to and recognition of the people and institutions that helped the author's research and writing.

A preface is a statement of the author's reasons for undertaking the work and other personal comments that are not directly germane to the materials presented in other sections of the thesis or dissertation. These reasons tend to be of a personal nature.

Any of the pages must be prepared following these guidelines:

  • Do not place a heading on the dedication page.
  • The text of short dedications must be centered and begin 2″ from the top of the page.
  • Headings are required for the “ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS” and “PREFACE” pages. Headings must be in all capital letters and centered 2″ below the top of the page.
  • The text of the acknowledgements and preface pages must begin one double-spaced line below the heading, be double-spaced, and be aligned with the document's left margin with the exception of indenting new paragraphs.
  • Subsequent pages of text return to the 1″ top margin.
  • The page(s) must be numbered with consecutive lower case Roman numerals (starting with the page number after the abstract) centered with a 1/2″ margin from the bottom edge.

Include a table of contents following these guidelines:

Table of Contents page with mesaurements described in surrounding text

  • Include the heading “TABLE OF CONTENTS” in all capital letters, and center it 2″ below the top of the page.
  • Include one double-spaced line between the heading and the first entry.
  • The table of contents should not contain listings for the pages that precede it, but it must list all parts of the thesis or dissertation that follow it.
  • If relevant, be sure to list all appendices and a references section in your table of contents. Include page numbers for these items but do not assign separate chapter numbers.
  • Entries must align with the document's left margin or be indented to the right of the left page margin using consistent tabs.
  • Major subheadings within chapters must be included in the table of contents. The subheading(s) should be indented to the right of the left page margin using consistent tabs.
  • If an entry takes up more than one line, break up the entry about three-fourths of the way across the page and place the rest of the text on a second line, single-spacing the two lines.
  • Include one double-spaced line between each entry.
  • Page numbers listed in the table of contents must be located just inside the right page margin with leaders (lines of periods) filling out the space between the end of the entry and the page number. The last digit of each number must line up on the right margin.
  • Information included in the table of contents must match the headings, major subheadings, and numbering used in the body of the thesis or dissertation.
  • The Table of Contents page(s) must be numbered with consecutive lower case Roman numerals centered with a 1/2″ margin from the bottom edge.

Lists of Tables, Figures, and Illustrations

If applicable, include a list of tables, list of figures, and/or list of illustrations following these guidelines:

Lists of Figures page with mesaurements described in surrounding text

  • Include the heading(s) in all capital letters, centered 1″ below the top of the page.
  • Each entry must include a number, title, and page number.
  • Assign each table, figure, or illustration in your thesis or dissertation an Arabic numeral. You may number consecutively throughout the entire work (e.g., Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.), or you may assign a two-part Arabic numeral with the first number designating the chapter in which it appears, separated by a period, followed by a second number to indicate its consecutive placement in the chapter (e.g., Table 3.2 is the second table in Chapter Three).
  • Numerals and titles must align with the document's left margin or be indented to the right of the left page margin using consistent tabs.
  • Page numbers must be located just inside the right page margin with leaders (lines of periods) filling out the space between the end of the entry and the page number. The last digit of each number must line up on the right margin.
  • Numbers, titles, and page numbers must each match the corresponding numbers, titles, and page numbers appearing in the thesis or dissertation.
  • All Lists of Tables, Figures, and Illustrations page(s) must be numbered with consecutive lower case Roman numerals centered with a 1/2″ margin from the bottom edge.

If you use abbreviations extensively in your thesis or dissertation, you must include a list of abbreviations and their corresponding definitions following these guidelines:

List of Abbreviations with mesaurements described in surrounding text

  • Include the heading “LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS” in all capital letters, and center it 1″ below the top of the page.
  • Arrange your abbreviations alphabetically.
  • Abbreviations must align with the document's left margin or be indented to the right of the left page margin using consistent tabs.
  • If an entry takes up more than one line, single-space between the two lines.
  • The List of Abbreviations page(s) must be numbered with consecutive lower case Roman numerals centered with a 1/2″ margin from the bottom edge.

If you use symbols in your thesis or dissertation, you may combine them with your abbreviations, titling the section “LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS”, or you may set up a separate list of symbols and their definitions by following the formatting instructions above for abbreviations. The heading you choose must be in all capital letters and centered 1″ below the top of the page.

Previous: Introduction

Next: Format

Frequently asked questions

Where do the acknowledgements go in a thesis or dissertation.

The acknowledgements are generally included at the very beginning of your thesis , directly after the title page and before the abstract .

Frequently asked questions: Dissertation

Dissertation word counts vary widely across different fields, institutions, and levels of education:

  • An undergraduate dissertation is typically 8,000–15,000 words
  • A master’s dissertation is typically 12,000–50,000 words
  • A PhD thesis is typically book-length: 70,000–100,000 words

However, none of these are strict guidelines – your word count may be lower or higher than the numbers stated here. Always check the guidelines provided by your university to determine how long your own dissertation should be.

A dissertation prospectus or proposal describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a type of research to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives , ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee.

Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.

A thesis is typically written by students finishing up a bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Some educational institutions, particularly in the liberal arts, have mandatory theses, but they are often not mandatory to graduate from bachelor’s degrees. It is more common for a thesis to be a graduation requirement from a Master’s degree.

Even if not mandatory, you may want to consider writing a thesis if you:

  • Plan to attend graduate school soon
  • Have a particular topic you’d like to study more in-depth
  • Are considering a career in research
  • Would like a capstone experience to tie up your academic experience

The conclusion of your thesis or dissertation should include the following:

  • A restatement of your research question
  • A summary of your key arguments and/or results
  • A short discussion of the implications of your research

The conclusion of your thesis or dissertation shouldn’t take up more than 5–7% of your overall word count.

For a stronger dissertation conclusion , avoid including:

  • Important evidence or analysis that wasn’t mentioned in the discussion section and results section
  • Generic concluding phrases (e.g. “In conclusion …”)
  • Weak statements that undermine your argument (e.g., “There are good points on both sides of this issue.”)

Your conclusion should leave the reader with a strong, decisive impression of your work.

While it may be tempting to present new arguments or evidence in your thesis or disseration conclusion , especially if you have a particularly striking argument you’d like to finish your analysis with, you shouldn’t. Theses and dissertations follow a more formal structure than this.

All your findings and arguments should be presented in the body of the text (more specifically in the discussion section and results section .) The conclusion is meant to summarize and reflect on the evidence and arguments you have already presented, not introduce new ones.

A theoretical framework can sometimes be integrated into a  literature review chapter , but it can also be included as its own chapter or section in your dissertation . As a rule of thumb, if your research involves dealing with a lot of complex theories, it’s a good idea to include a separate theoretical framework chapter.

A literature review and a theoretical framework are not the same thing and cannot be used interchangeably. While a theoretical framework describes the theoretical underpinnings of your work, a literature review critically evaluates existing research relating to your topic. You’ll likely need both in your dissertation .

While a theoretical framework describes the theoretical underpinnings of your work based on existing research, a conceptual framework allows you to draw your own conclusions, mapping out the variables you may use in your study and the interplay between them.

A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake.

Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation , such as:

  • Your anticipated title
  • Your abstract
  • Your chapters (sometimes subdivided into further topics like literature review , research methods , avenues for future research, etc.)

When you mention different chapters within your text, it’s considered best to use Roman numerals for most citation styles. However, the most important thing here is to remain consistent whenever using numbers in your dissertation .

In most styles, the title page is used purely to provide information and doesn’t include any images. Ask your supervisor if you are allowed to include an image on the title page before doing so. If you do decide to include one, make sure to check whether you need permission from the creator of the image.

Include a note directly beneath the image acknowledging where it comes from, beginning with the word “ Note .” (italicized and followed by a period). Include a citation and copyright attribution . Don’t title, number, or label the image as a figure , since it doesn’t appear in your main text.

Definitional terms often fall into the category of common knowledge , meaning that they don’t necessarily have to be cited. This guidance can apply to your thesis or dissertation glossary as well.

However, if you’d prefer to cite your sources , you can follow guidance for citing dictionary entries in MLA or APA style for your glossary.

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. In contrast, an index is a list of the contents of your work organized by page number.

The title page of your thesis or dissertation goes first, before all other content or lists that you may choose to include.

The title page of your thesis or dissertation should include your name, department, institution, degree program, and submission date.

Glossaries are not mandatory, but if you use a lot of technical or field-specific terms, it may improve readability to add one to your thesis or dissertation. Your educational institution may also require them, so be sure to check their specific guidelines.

A glossary or “glossary of terms” is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. Your glossary only needs to include terms that your reader may not be familiar with, and is intended to enhance their understanding of your work.

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. In contrast, dictionaries are more general collections of words.

An abbreviation is a shortened version of an existing word, such as Dr. for Doctor. In contrast, an acronym uses the first letter of each word to create a wholly new word, such as UNESCO (an acronym for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

As a rule of thumb, write the explanation in full the first time you use an acronym or abbreviation. You can then proceed with the shortened version. However, if the abbreviation is very common (like PC, USA, or DNA), then you can use the abbreviated version from the get-go.

Be sure to add each abbreviation in your list of abbreviations !

If you only used a few abbreviations in your thesis or dissertation , you don’t necessarily need to include a list of abbreviations .

If your abbreviations are numerous, or if you think they won’t be known to your audience, it’s never a bad idea to add one. They can also improve readability, minimizing confusion about abbreviations unfamiliar to your reader.

A list of abbreviations is a list of all the abbreviations that you used in your thesis or dissertation. It should appear at the beginning of your document, with items in alphabetical order, just after your table of contents .

Your list of tables and figures should go directly after your table of contents in your thesis or dissertation.

Lists of figures and tables are often not required, and aren’t particularly common. They specifically aren’t required for APA-Style, though you should be careful to follow their other guidelines for figures and tables .

If you have many figures and tables in your thesis or dissertation, include one may help you stay organized. Your educational institution may require them, so be sure to check their guidelines.

A list of figures and tables compiles all of the figures and tables that you used in your thesis or dissertation and displays them with the page number where they can be found.

The table of contents in a thesis or dissertation always goes between your abstract and your introduction .

You may acknowledge God in your dissertation acknowledgements , but be sure to follow academic convention by also thanking the members of academia, as well as family, colleagues, and friends who helped you.

A literature review is a survey of credible sources on a topic, often used in dissertations , theses, and research papers . Literature reviews give an overview of knowledge on a subject, helping you identify relevant theories and methods, as well as gaps in existing research. Literature reviews are set up similarly to other  academic texts , with an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion .

An  annotated bibliography is a list of  source references that has a short description (called an annotation ) for each of the sources. It is often assigned as part of the research process for a  paper .  

In a thesis or dissertation, the discussion is an in-depth exploration of the results, going into detail about the meaning of your findings and citing relevant sources to put them in context.

The conclusion is more shorter and more general: it concisely answers your main research question and makes recommendations based on your overall findings.

In the discussion , you explore the meaning and relevance of your research results , explaining how they fit with existing research and theory. Discuss:

  • Your  interpretations : what do the results tell us?
  • The  implications : why do the results matter?
  • The  limitation s : what can’t the results tell us?

The results chapter or section simply and objectively reports what you found, without speculating on why you found these results. The discussion interprets the meaning of the results, puts them in context, and explains why they matter.

In qualitative research , results and discussion are sometimes combined. But in quantitative research , it’s considered important to separate the objective results from your interpretation of them.

Results are usually written in the past tense , because they are describing the outcome of completed actions.

The results chapter of a thesis or dissertation presents your research results concisely and objectively.

In quantitative research , for each question or hypothesis , state:

  • The type of analysis used
  • Relevant results in the form of descriptive and inferential statistics
  • Whether or not the alternative hypothesis was supported

In qualitative research , for each question or theme, describe:

  • Recurring patterns
  • Significant or representative individual responses
  • Relevant quotations from the data

Don’t interpret or speculate in the results chapter.

To automatically insert a table of contents in Microsoft Word, follow these steps:

  • Apply heading styles throughout the document.
  • In the references section in the ribbon, locate the Table of Contents group.
  • Click the arrow next to the Table of Contents icon and select Custom Table of Contents.
  • Select which levels of headings you would like to include in the table of contents.

Make sure to update your table of contents if you move text or change headings. To update, simply right click and select Update Field.

All level 1 and 2 headings should be included in your table of contents . That means the titles of your chapters and the main sections within them.

The contents should also include all appendices and the lists of tables and figures, if applicable, as well as your reference list .

Do not include the acknowledgements or abstract in the table of contents.

The abstract appears on its own page in the thesis or dissertation , after the title page and acknowledgements but before the table of contents .

An abstract for a thesis or dissertation is usually around 200–300 words. There’s often a strict word limit, so make sure to check your university’s requirements.

In a thesis or dissertation, the acknowledgements should usually be no longer than one page. There is no minimum length.

Yes, it’s important to thank your supervisor(s) in the acknowledgements section of your thesis or dissertation .

Even if you feel your supervisor did not contribute greatly to the final product, you must acknowledge them, if only for a very brief thank you. If you do not include your supervisor, it may be seen as a snub.

In the acknowledgements of your thesis or dissertation, you should first thank those who helped you academically or professionally, such as your supervisor, funders, and other academics.

Then you can include personal thanks to friends, family members, or anyone else who supported you during the process.

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Acknowledgement World

15+ Samples of Acknowledgement for Thesis and Dissertation

Here, in this blog post, you can find some of the samples of acknoweldgement for thesis written by students all over the world on different topics. These acknowledgement examples are to inspire you and to show how the thesis is written.

These thesis are written for different subjects by different students from different countries. The examples vary in length, style, and substance depending upon the writer.

Acknowledgement Examples for School/College Projects

Most popular Acknowledgement For School/College Projects [7 Examples] Acknowledgement for English Project [5 Examples] Acknowledgement for Project Class 11 and 12 Acknowledgement for Project of Class 8, 9 and 10 By subjects Acknowledgement for Accounting Project [3 Examples] Acknowledgement for Business Studies Project [5 Examples] Acknowledgement for Chemistry Project [5 Examples] Acknowledgement for Computer Project [5 Examples] Acknowledgement for Economics Project [5 Examples] Acknowledgement for English Project [5 Examples] Acknowledgement for Geography Project [5 Examples] Acknowledgement for History Project [5 Examples] Acknowledgement for Maths Project for Students [5 Examples] Acknowledgement for Physics Project [5 Examples] Acknowledgement for Social Science Project [5 Examples] Others Acknowledgement for Group Project [5 Examples] Acknowledgement for Graduation Project [5 Examples] Acknowledgement for Disaster Management Project [3 Examples] Acknowledgement for Yoga Project [3 Samples]

You can get some idea of how you can write your own acknowledgement with these samples. All of these are samples are one of the best acknowledgement for thesis for masters and PHDs .

For Acknowledgement for your school/college project you can check out out other posts.

All of these samples of acknowledgement is taken from publicly available documents. Some of these samples are from award winning thesis writings. Here are some beautiful thesis acknowledgement from different writers.

person sitting facing laptop computer with sketch pad

Saying thank you with style

How to write an acknowledgement: the complete guide for students, thesis acknowledgement – sample 1.

This sample of acknowledgement is presented by University of Illinois Graduate College. You can check the full thesis sample here.

University: University of Illinois Graduate College Author: Sample Full Thesis Sample: https://grad.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/pdfs/samplethesispages.pdf

Acknowledgement For Thesis – Sample 2

This short acknowledgement is written by Christopher Sipola from University of Edinburgh for his thesis. You can check the full thesis sample here.

University: University of Edinburgh Author: Christopher Sipola Full Thesis Sample: https://project-archive.inf.ed.ac.uk/msc/20172438/msc_proj.pdf

Example of Acknowledgement For Thesis – Sample 3

This short acknowledgement is written by Matthew Brillinger from University of Ottawa for his thesis. You can check the full thesis sample here.

University:   University of Ottawa Author: Matthew Brillinger Full Thesis Sample: https://ruor.uottawa.ca/bitstream/10393/35312/1/Brillinger_Matthew_2016_Thesis.pdf

Acknowledgement Sample For Thesis – Sample 4

University:   Columbia University Author: Julien Saint Reiman Full Thesis Sample: https://history.columbia.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2016/06/Reiman-Julien-Thesis.pdf

Acknowledgement Example For Thesis – Sample 5

University:   University of Ottawa Author: Heather Martin Full Thesis Sample: https://ruor.uottawa.ca/bitstream/10393/32518/3/Martin_Heather_2015_thesis.pdf

Thesis Acknowledgement Example – Sample 6

University: University of Ottawa Author: Guillaume Thekkadath Full Thesis Sample: https://ruor.uottawa.ca/bitstream/10393/36669/3/Thekkadath_Guillaume_2017_thesis.pdf

Thesis Acknowledgement – Sample 7

University: Author: Bruno Buchberger Full Thesis Sample: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747717105001483

Example of Thesis Acknowledgement – Sample 8

University: Sample Thesis Author: Full Thesis Sample: https://www.cs.siu.edu/files/thesis.pdf

Acknowledgement for Thesis – Sample 9

University: Kathmandu University Author: Sample Thesis Full Thesis Sample: http://old.ku.edu.np/aec/Docs/General%20Guidelines%20for%20Master.pdf

Sample Acknowledgement for Thesis – Sample 10

University: The University of Toledo Author: Sample Thesis Full Thesis Sample: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/apexprod/rws_etd/send_file/send?accession=toledo1333741245&disposition=attachment

Sample Acknowledgement for Thesis – Sample 11

University: IOWA STATE University Author: Varsha Ravichandra Mouli Full Thesis Sample: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cs_etd/

Acknowledgement for Thesis – Sample 12

University: IOWA STATE University Author: Full Thesis Sample: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8730&context=etd

Acknowledgement Samples for Thesis – Sample 13

University: IOWA STATE University Author: Jenna Mertz Full Thesis Sample: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8273&context=etd

Acknowledgement for Thesis – Sample 14

University: Nottingham University Author: Jean D. M. Underwood. Full Thesis Sample: http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/11711/1/325961.pdf

Acknowledgement Samples – Sample 15

University: The University of Western Ontario Author: Katie Hart Full Thesis Sample: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=9356&context=etd

Acknowledgement Samples for Thesis – Sample 16

University: Author: Sristi Karmacharya Full Thesis Sample: https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/bitstream/2438/15029/1/FulltextThesis.pdf%20

Thesis Acknowledgement Samples – Sample 17

University: Brunel Business School Brunel University Author: Kinana Ahmad Jammoul Full Thesis Sample: http://107.170.122.150:8080/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/95/Shristi%20Karmacharya%20Thesis%209881.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

You can take inspiration from these acknowledgement samples to write your own acknowledgement for your project. All these acknowledgement samples are taken from publicly available documents and you can use these as a sample to take inspiration for your project acknowledgement.

More on thesis statements

  • Can a Thesis Statement Be Two Sentences?
  • Can a Thesis Statement Be an Opinion?
  • Can a Thesis Statement Be a Question?
  • Can a Thesis Statement Be a Quote?

Jump into these quick guides to write a strong thesis statement in no time. We have included tons of good (and bad) examples to show you how to do it right. A simple formula is included in each article to help you create your strong thesis statement with suggested wordings.

  • How to Write a Strong Expository Thesis Statement?
  • How to Write a Strong Argumentative Thesis Statement?
  • How to Write a Strong Analytical Thesis Statement?
  • 40 Strong Thesis Statement Examples

Other Popular Acknowledgement Examples

For work or business Acknowledgement Receipt of Payment [4 Examples] Acknowledging Receipt of Documents: A Quick Guide with Examples Acknowledgement for Presentation [9 Examples] Acknowledgement for Job Offer [3 Examples] Acknowledgement for Business Plan [4 Examples] Acknowledgement for Work Immersion [5 Examples] Acknowledgement of Receipt of Appraisal [3 Examples] Acknowledegment of Debt [5 Examples] Resignation Acknowledgement for Employers [5 Examples]

Academic Acknowledgement for Research Paper [5 Examples] Acknowledgement for Internship Report [5 Examples] Acknowledgement for Thesis and Dissertation [15 Examples] Acknowledgement for Portfolio [5 Examples] Acknowledgement for Case Study [4 Examples] Acknowledgement for Academic Research Paper [5 Examples] Acknowledgement for College/School Assignment [5 Examples] Acknowledgemet to God in Reports [5 Examples]

Others Acknowledgement to Funeral Attendees [5 Examples] Funeral Acknowledgement Templates (for Newspapers and Websites) Common Website Disclaimers to Protect Your Online Business Notary Acknowledgement [5 Examples]

6 thoughts on “15+ Samples of Acknowledgement for Thesis and Dissertation”

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Writing the Best Thesis Acknowledgement in Record Time

Thesis Acknowledgement

If you are working on your master’s or PhD thesis, you’ve probably heard about thesis acknowledgements. Of course, most students don’t know what these are. Is an acknowledgement required? Do you get penalized if you don’t write one? But perhaps the most important question on every student’s mind is “how to write acknowledgement for thesis?”

What Are Thesis Acknowledgements?

Let’s start with the beginning. What is the acknowledgement section of thesis? Basically, this is a section of your paper where you thank everyone who has contributed or who has supported you during studies. You are free to mention any person or institution, of course. This includes professors, your family, the school, and so on. In most cases, writing an acknowledgement is not mandatory. In fact, many students consider it to be a waste of their time. However, we can assure you that it is not. Even though a beautiful thesis acknowledgement will not get you points, it will show the committee that you’ve taken the time to give credit where credit is due. It shows that you’ve taken a bit of your time to thank the people who made a difference.

Want to Learn How to Write Acknowledgement for Thesis?

So, you’ve decided you want to write an acknowledgements section, but don’t know where to start. We will show you an acknowledgement sample for thesis in the next section, of course. However, you should learn how to write one yourself quickly. It’s not that difficult, we can assure you of it. Here is the basic process of writing an acknowledgement for thesis in 10 minutes or less:

  • Start by thinking about the most important people or institutions that helped you write your thesis or dissertation. You shouldn’t mention everyone you’ve came in contact with, obviously. Think about the people who really made a difference; the people you wouldn’t have been able to write the paper without.
  • Mention each person or institution in one paragraph. You should end up with around 5-6 paragraphs, which shouldn’t take you more than one page. List the full name of the person or institution and then provide a brief explanation as to why you chose to include the person/institution in your acknowledgements section.
  • Optionally, include a short conclusion at the end of the page. You can use catchy phrases, jokes, and quotes. It is entirely up to you how you craft your acknowledgements section, but make sure it looks good and provides value to the reader. A poorly written section will have a negative impact on the people reading your paper.

A Good Thesis Acknowledgement Sample to Get You Started

We realize you may not know how to write the acknowledgement in thesis. After all, this is probably your first thesis and you are way too busy trying to figure out more important things (like the methodology or literature review sections, for example). Whether you are writing a masters or a PhD thesis, you can quickly write a nice acknowledgements page by following a good example. And because we are all about helping fellow students do the best possible job on their academic papers, we have asked our skilled thesis writers to provide you with a sample. Here is how an acknowledgement section could look like (a short example of acknowledgement in thesis):

“Foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to my thesis advisor, Richard Timms. Professor Richard has been a true inspiration for me. He was always there when I needed help and always managed to inspire me with his immense knowledge and motivation. I would also like to thank the thesis committee for their helpful feedback, comments, and questions. Professors Jessica Richards, Allen Jones and Nick Peers have proven to me how valuable the right questions can be. Many thanks go to the chief librarian of the Blackmoore University Campus Library, Amanda Watts, for showing such patience and responsiveness. I thank my fellow students for all the help they have provided me during the interview phase. Without their help, it would have been very difficult to gather all the important data I needed. Last, but not least, I would like to thank my parents Amanda Linn and Michael Linn for their support and insight. They have provided me with the support I needed when things were falling apart. They were always there for me right to the end. Thank you!”

That’s it. A good acknowledgement thesis starts with the supervisor. This is the acknowledgement page thesis writers can complete in around 5 minutes. We advise you to take 5 minutes of your time to write this section. But remember, do not write an acknowledgement if you have a preface. The information would be repetitive and you could get penalized.

Tips and Tricks

Writing the best acknowledgement for a master thesis is not difficult, but you should keep a few things in mind:

  • First, we want to make it crystal clear that you should not write the acknowledgements if you already have a preface. We know we’ve told you this already, but we want to make sure you don’t get penalized unnecessarily.
  • You can mention any person or institution you can think of. This includes technical personnel, the supervisor, family, friends, the President of the United States, and so on.
  • Use catchy phrases. Some examples include: I am indebted to, I would like to recognize, I must pay my special regards, my deepest gratitude goes to, many thanks for the invaluable assistance, etc.
  • Make the acknowledgements section professional. You need to make sure it is written in perfect English and does not contain any typos or grammar errors.
  • Always start with the most important people. In most cases, you will start with the thesis supervisor.
  • You can use any format you like. You can use a list format or plain prose to thank everyone who has helped and supported you.
  • Proofread your work. You won’t get bonus points for having an acknowledgements section, but you will get penalized for poor English.

We Can Help

With this information, sample, tips and tricks, you should now know how to write acknowledgements for a thesis. However, we realize some students want to make sure their section really shines. We can help you with this, of course. If you want to write the best acknowledgement for thesis, you need our experienced academic writers and professional editors. You will get an awesome page (100% original content, of course) in no time, even in the middle of the night. You don’t even have to invest any time into it; we are here for you. Getting a great thesis acknowledgement is easy: send us the list of people and organizations you would like to thank and we’ll get it done.

Can you get away without an acknowledgement in thesis?

You are not required to write the PhD thesis acknowledgements if you don’t want to. However, we strongly suggest that you do. You may not get points on this section, but it will improve the odds of you getting some bonus points on other sections. After all, the members of the thesis committee are human; they are inherently subjective.

Can you trust a thesis acknowledgement sample you get off the Internet?

It’s not a matter of trust. The acknowledgements page can be written in a myriad of ways. There is not set format that you should follow. There are no specific people you need to mention. However, whatever you do, do not copy and paste content from the Internet. It will be considered plagiarism and your thesis might be rejected. Be very careful!

How long does it take to write a PhD thesis acknowledgement?

Not long. In fact, writing acknowledgement thesis should take you no longer than 15 minutes. We are most certain that you know who you need to thank and why. It’s just a matter of writing the acknowledgement. There is no research involved and you can write this page in your own words.

Can I use thesis acknowledgement quotes?

The acknowledgements thesis writers can write are varied, and you are allowed to use anything you see fit. You can use quotes, make a good joke, or even use imagery. Your imagination is the limit. However, try to not make this section too long or too wordy.

Can somebody else write the thesis acknowledgement for you?

Yes, of course. If you don’t know what to write or how to write it, an expert writer can help you. Remember, our ENL writers have written hundreds of these acknowledgements. You can simply send us a list of people and institutions that have helped you throughout the thesis writing process and expect to have the acknowledgements page back in less than 30 minutes.

Richard Ginger is a dissertation writer and freelance columnist with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the writing industry. He handles every project he works on with precision while keeping attention to details and ensuring that every work he does is unique.

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Special Tips for Writing a Great Thesis Acknowledgement

thesis acknowledgement

After completing your dissertation methodology, the next section to write is the thesis acknowledgement. This is an important part of your thesis that helps you to appreciate people who were helpful during the study. Though writing dissertation acknowledgements comes with more freedom compared to other sections such as the methodology, many are the people who find it very hard to craft.

In this post, we will take a closer look at the mechanics of acknowledgements to help you answer the main question: “What is the best way to write winning thesis acknowledgements?”

Why is Thesis Acknowledgement So Important?

The main purpose of having an acknowledgement page is offering a thankful note to those who provided support to you during the study. Well, consider it as a page saying thank you to your doctor after a lifesaving procedure.

Note that though the thesis acknowledgement does not have an academic bearing, your dissertation cannot be complete without it. Therefore, you must put the best foot forward to making it shine. Make sure to write the acknowledgement starting with the people who were most helpful during the study.

People Who May be Addressed in a Dissertation Acknowledgment

Before setting out to craft a thesis acknowledgment, it is important to start by making a list of the people who helped you or are linked to the study in any way. These people might have encouraged you when the going appeared so tough or edited your work. Some of people you should consider including in the acknowledgment include:

  • Your supervisor.
  • The academic crew of your study department.
  • Organizations that were involved in the study.
  • Technical personnel.
  • Support staff.

When it comes to family members, note that only those who were directly involved in helping you during the study that should be included.

Useful Phrases for dissertation acknowledgements

If you want to make your acknowledgement page impressive, it is advisable to take a closer look at other dissertation acknowledgements examples. Here are the common phrases that are used in thesis acknowledgments.

  • “I would like to pay my special regards to …”
  • “I wish to show my gratitude to …”
  • “I wish to express my deepest gratitude to …”
  • “I wish to thank all the people whose assistance was a milestone in the completion of this project.”
  • “I am indebted to …”
  • “It is whole-heartedly appreciated that your great advice for my study proved monumental towards the success of this study.”
  • “I would like to recognize the invaluable assistance that you all provided during my study.”

Making Your Acknowledgment Shine

After identifying the best phrases to use, you might still be worried about how to write acknowledgment for thesis. Here is a guide to making a great acknowledgment:

  • Like other parts of the dissertation, you should ensure that the acknowledgment is as professional as possible. Target making it brief and concise. Only indicate how the people you acknowledge helped you without delving into personal details.
  • If the education department has a preferred format for writing acknowledgment, make sure to stick to it. However, most institutions prefer to leave it open for learners to choose.
  • Note that thesis acknowledgements give you freedom to select the format. For example, you can opt to use a prose or list format of the people you wish to thank. A list is preferred when you want to include every person with his/her contribution during the study.
  • When listing the names of the people in the acknowledgement, it is important to follow the alphabetical order.
  • When acknowledging the people who assisted you during the study, start with the most important ones. For example, it is advisable to always start with the supervisor who worked with you from the start of the project to the end. Then, teachers, staff members, assistants, and classmates should be included in that order.

Dissertation Acknowledgements Examples

One of the best ways of learning how to craft a winning thesis acknowledgement is by looking at the top samples. Here are some great samples you can use when crafting your acknowledgements:

  • Acknowledgment to Your Supervisor

This appreciation is supposed to come at the top. From the time you started to the end of the study, your supervisor was there to offer guidance and correct you. Here is a sample acknowledgment for him/her:

“I wish to express my sincere appreciation to my supervisor, Professor Johnson Robin, who has the substance of a genius: he convincingly guided and encouraged me to be professional and do the right thing even when the road got tough. Without his persistent help, the goal of this project would not have been realized.”

  • Acknowledgment of an Organization that Supported you with Finances

In some cases, some organizations might assist you with funding. Here is a sample acknowledgment thanking them for their support.

“The physical and technical contribution of ‘Animal Protection Society’ is truly appreciated. Without their support and funding, this project could not have reached its goal.”

  • Acknowledgements for Sincere Supporters

Note that emotional support can also be included when writing an acknowledgment. Therefore, if you want to thank supporters such as friends, partner, and parents for emotional support, here is a sample of such acknowledgment.

“I wish to acknowledge the support and great love of my family, my wife, Lillian; my mother, Maryanne; and my sister, Jenny. They kept me going on and this work would not have been possible without their input.”

Special Tips for Crafting Winning Acknowledgements

The secret to writing a great acknowledgement is making sure you understand how it is done. As a section that requires utmost sincerity, you want to only acknowledge those who helped make the project successful. Here are some useful tips to consider:

  • Consider the acknowledgment as important as other parts of the thesis.
  • Be sincere when writing the acknowledgment.
  • For the most important people such as the project supervisor, make sure to be more specific about their contribution.
  • Though an acknowledgment page should be short, do not feel bad if the list is long. Go ahead and include everyone who assisted you with the project.
  • Follow top acknowledgment samples to enrich your format.
  • If you feel that additional assistance would be useful, do not hesitate to see dissertation helps.

When you set off writing a thesis acknowledgement, it is important to put all your effort into making it sparkle. As part of the initial sections of your thesis , you want to be sincere and at the same time impress the readers. This post has demonstrated how to craft a winning acknowledgment and use it to set the pace for the thesis. Remember that you should not hesitate to seek assistance from experts on how to write a dissertation and sharpen your skills.

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Acknowledgement Sample

Acknowledgement Sample

Master thesis acknowledgement template

acknowledgment master thesis

The acknowledgements or dedication page is optional. If you decide to include Acknowledgements in you paper, than you should place the word acknowledgements should at the top center of the page in capital letters. If it is included, the acknowledgements page will immediately follow the abstract. Here we have prepared general template for Acknowledgement page for Master thesis. This template is suitable for any subject, area of research, so you are welcomed to use it. Good luck.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would first like to thank my thesis advisor [title] [Name Surname] of the [School / Faculty name] at [University name]. The door to Prof. [Last name] office was always open whenever I ran into a trouble spot or had a question about my research or writing. He/She consistently allowed this paper to be my own work, but steered me in the right the direction whenever he thought I needed it.

I would also like to thank the experts who were involved in the validation survey for this research project: [List professional Titles, Name and Surnames of the experts who participated/contributed]. Without their passionate participation and input, the validation survey could not have been successfully conducted.

I would also like to acknowledge [title] [Name Surname] of the [School / Faculty name] at [University name] as the second reader of this thesis, and I am gratefully indebted to his/her for his/her very valuable comments on this thesis.

Finally, I must express my very profound gratitude to my parents and to my [partner, spouse, girl/boyfriend] for providing me with unfailing support and continuous encouragement throughout my years of study and through the process of researching and writing this thesis. This accomplishment would not have been possible without them. Thank you.

[Name Surname]

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  • How to write an acknowledgement for a thesis
  • Helpful ideas for writing a good thesis acknowledgement

Helpful ideas for writing a good thesis acknowledgement

What is your thesis acknowledgement?

Where to put it, decide who you will thank, choose your best tone to use, why is thesis acknowledgement so important, differences between your thesis acknowledgement and preface, use your best sample for acknowledgement for thesis, your professional thanks, your personal thanks, how to write this section, important teachers, other helpers, address your financial aid, personal supporters, concluding ideas, thesis acknowledgement examples, undergraduate thesis acknowledgement example, bachelor thesis acknowledgement example, master thesis acknowledgement example (template).

To successfully come up with your thesis acknowledgement, read this helpful guidance article or contact our pro writers to get  dissertation help . How to write an acknowledgement for a thesis? This section should be presented only to express your sincere gratitude to individuals who helped you in your work or paper writing.

In your paper, give credit in its preface, not in some other independent section. Be grateful for the advisor’s support or assistance you receive during your research from your university or people in your finished paper.

A simple thesis acknowledgement is your brief section at its beginning where you thank everyone who supported you during studies. How to acknowledge a thesis? This section shouldn’t be too long. Be polite to mention people or organizations that contributed to your thesis, don’t forget anyone important in your grateful words.

Post your comments with gratitude on a separate page right after your abstract and before contents. Take time to find answers to several important questions to end up with your best sample for acknowledgement for thesis writing:

  • Who do you need to thank?
  • What tone should you use?
  • Why use a thesis acknowledgement?

You don’t need to thank every friend who assisted you individually, ensure that you mention everyone important for your research or who gave you significant support. Don’t forget to thank academics who gave you useful advice or assisted your study in different ways. Thank volunteers and professional bodies.

You should thank both formal and friendly, don’t use overblown language to note people who supported you and briefly explain their contributions to understand how to write an acknowledgement for a thesis.

There are different reasons to use it. Some students decide to write their acknowledgement section in thesis or dissertation projects because they were complex, while others include it because they worked hard for a long time. If many people have helped you during several years, you would like to reflect on them to show your gratitude. Who are these people? In a thesis acknowledgement, people often mention:

  • Fellow students;
  • Colleagues;
  • Possible respondents;

The main purpose of having an acknowledgement page is offering a thankful note to those who provided support to you during the study. Well, consider it as a page saying thank you to your doctor after a lifesaving procedure. Note that though the thesis acknowledgement does not have an academic bearing, your dissertation cannot be complete without it. Therefore, you must not only know how to write a thesis , but also put the best foot forward to making it shine. Make sure to write the acknowledgement starting with the people who were most helpful during the study.

Using your preface and acknowledgement in your thesis simultaneously is redundant. How to make this choice? If you want to thank people and provide readers with extra information, write your preface. If you don’t have enough space, write your thesis acknowledgement.

In Ph.D. or senior thesis writing, you should give credit to the department, people, funding bodies in a separate acknowledgement section if they helped you during your project. Find excellent samples to thank people who supported you financially, gave you valuable feedbacks, helped in any other way. Your notes of thanks are your thesis acknowledgement.

Read requirements or guidelines to phrase this section correctly and avoid compromising your future grades, ask funding bodies for their rules to know how to credit their contribution. Consider these general elements.

  • Your brief statement as to the type of help you received from people or organizations;
  • Full names of all people who you want to thank.

Some academic disciplines require ethical clearance or permission.

As for the types - generally, there are two categories of acknowledgements: professional and personal.

It is wise to place the professional acknowledgements first, as there is a certain political aspect to keep in mind when writing. Read your list of all contributors to mention any academia members who helped you in writing this important paper. You have room only for major contributors. Though there is no set rule, the standard order is to move from most formal to least:

  • Upper-level professors and supervisors;
  • Different advisors;
  • Librarians;
  • Lab assistants;
  • Classmates;
  • Research participants (e.g. people who completed a survey to help you gather data).

Who else? Include in this important section anyone who helped you in conducting your experiments or surveys, researching, or writing. Use titles and full names of academic contributors. When thanking your friends, use their names. If many people within the same big group supported your writing, you should state only a specific group name.

Be sure to use full names, with titles. If several members of a group or organization assisted you, mention the collective name only. If you wish to protect someone’s privacy, use only their first name.

If an authoritative person in your field of study discussed your research with you or gave feedback in any form, mentioning their contribution, however limited it may have been, will help strengthen the authority of your own research.

Before you write anything, make your list of people who are linked to your project in any way. Some of them read or edit your paper, while others listen to your academic woes or encourage you regularly. Mention friends or family active in graduate studies.

If some people inspire or improve your work, their names should be included in your thesis acknowledgement section. State how they help you. This step will be meaningful to these people and they’ll be grateful to you for giving them credit for their work.

There is no need to mention every member of your family or friend group. However, if someone was particularly inspiring or supportive, you may wish to mention them specifically. For example, you might acknowledge a grandparent whose own academic pursuits encouraged your own.

Many students find it hard to include their personal writing in the end of important technical projects. Use your suitable form or tone. Make this page brief, professional, and specific to all people who supported your project along the way. Use an alphabetical order or other styles.

  • Start with your important teachers;
  • List other contributors;
  • Address any financial aid you receive;
  • Out personal or emotional supporters last.

Your most important teachers go first. Mention any major professors or advisors overseeing your project, committee members, other supervising academics who participate in your dissertation. Try to think in groups. Other helpers who deserve your gratitude include lab assistants, classmates, all people who helped you with this paper.

If you received any financial support from specific research groups or foundations that gave you any fellowship, grant, or scholarship, thank them by title. What about your personal supporters? Your partners, friends, or other acquaintances who contributed to your emotional well-being or confidence go last in this list. Avoid personal jokes or anecdotes.

Writing your grateful words is important to earn higher grades, and our thesis service can assist you with writing thesis acknowledgement. You can order this type of paper on our website. Let qualified and trained writing professionals help you thank people or organizations who supported your successful project completion.

First and foremost, I have to thank my research supervisors, [Ms Name Surname], [Mr Name Surname] and [Ms Name Surname]. Without their assistance and dedicated involvement in every step throughout the process, this paper would have never been accomplished. I would like to thank you very much for your support and understanding over these past four years. I would also like to show gratitude to my committee, including [Ms Name Surname], [Ms Name Surname], [Ms Name Surname], [Mr. Name Surname] and [Ms Name Surname]. [Ms Name Surname]was my first-year [subject] professor at [Name ]University. Her teaching style and enthusiasm for the topic made a strong impression on me and I have always carried positive memories of her classes with me. I discussed early versions of the [Name of the subject] with [Mr. Name Surname]. She raised many precious points in our discussion and I hope that I have managed to address several of them here. Even though I have not had the opportunity to work with [Mr. Name Surname], [Mr. Name Surname], or [Ms Name Surname], previously, the impact of their work on my own study is obvious throughout this dissertation. In March 2012, I went to [Name] University for several weeks to study with [Ms Name Surname]. My time at [Name] University has been highly productive and working with [Ms Surname] was an extraordinary experience. Much of the analysis presented in Section III is owed to my time at [Name of the University]. [Mr Name Surname] at the [Name] University kindly assisted me with the statistical analysis in this dissertation and was very patient with my knowledge gaps in the area. I must also thank two colleagues at the Department of [Name], [Name Surname] and [Name Surname], for giving me the retreat to have this thesis rushed to the printer. Getting through my dissertation required more than academic support, and I have many, many people to thank for listening to and, at times, having to tolerate me over the past three years. I cannot begin to express my gratitude and appreciation for their friendship. [Name Surname], Name Surname], [Name Surname] and [Name Surname] have been unwavering in their personal and professional support during the time I spent at the University. For many memorable evenings out and in, I must thank everyone above as well as [Name Surname], [Name Surname] and [Name Surname]. I would also like to thank [Name Surname] who opened both her home and heart to me when I first arrived in the city. Most importantly, none of this could have happened without my family. My grandmother, who offered her encouragement through phone calls and letters every week – despite my own limited devotion to correspondence. With her own brand of humor, [Name Surname] has been kind and supportive to me over the last several years. To my parents and my sister – it would be an understatement to say that, as a family, we have experienced some ups and downs in the past three years. Every time I was ready to quit, you did not let me and I am forever grateful. This dissertation stands as a testament to your unconditional love and encouragement.
Prima facie, I am grateful to God for the good health and wellbeing that were necessary to complete this book. I wish to express my sincere thanks to [………], Principal of the Faculty, for providing me with all the necessary facilities for the research. I place on record, my sincere thank you to […….] Dean of the Faculty, for the continuous encouragement. I am also grateful to […….], lecturer, in the Department of […….]. I am extremely thankful and indebted to him for sharing expertise, and sincere and valuable guidance and encouragement extended to me. I take this opportunity to express gratitude to all of the Department faculty members for their help and support. I also thank my parents for the unceasing encouragement, support and attention. I am also grateful to my partner who supported me through this venture. I also place on record, my sense of gratitude to one and all, who directly or indirectly, have lent their hand in this venture.
I would first like to thank my thesis advisor [title] [Name Surname] of the [School / Faculty name] at [University name]. The door to Prof. [Last name] office was always open whenever I ran into a trouble spot or had a question about my research or writing. He/She consistently allowed this paper to be my own work, but steered me in the right direction whenever he thought I needed it. I would also like to thank the experts who were involved in the validation survey for this research project: [List professional Titles, Name and Surnames of the experts who participated/contributed]. Without their passionate participation and input, the validation survey could not have been successfully conducted. I would also like to acknowledge [title] [Name Surname] of the [School / Faculty name] at [University name] as the second reader of this thesis, and I am gratefully indebted to his/her for his/her very valuable comments on this thesis. Finally, I must express my very profound gratitude to my parents and to my [partner, spouse, girl/boyfriend] for providing me with unfailing support and continuous encouragement throughout my years of study and through the process of researching and writing this thesis. This accomplishment would not have been possible without them. Thank you. Author [Name Surname]

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Acknowledgement for Thesis

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Inhaltsverzeichnis

  • 1 Definition
  • 3 Sample Acknowledgement for Thesis
  • 4 Writing an Acknowledgement
  • 5 Do’s and Don`ts
  • 6 In a Nutshell

The acknowledgement for thesis is the section where you thank all people, institutions, and companies that helped you complete the project successfully. It is similar to a dedication, except for the fact that it is formal. Also, you don’t need to mention every single person who helped you with the research- just those who were most important to your research. For example, you don’t need to thank your boyfriend for making you dinner as you worked on the project.

What is an acknowledgement for thesis/for research?

In a research paper, an acknowledgement refers to the section at the beginning of your thesis formatting where you show your appreciation for the people who contributed to your project. It is up to you to determine who you are most grateful to for helping you with the research.

How do you write the thesis/dissertation acknowledgements?

Unlike acknowledgements in a book, a thesis or dissertation acknowledgement has to be formal. You should avoid showing strong emotions in the acknowledgement for thesis and should simply show your appreciation for their input.

Helpful: If you’re having trouble with phrasing your acknowledgement for thesis, transition words will help to enhance the flow of your writing.

Where do you put acknowledgements in a thesis?

The acknowledgement for thesis section is included right at the beginning in your thesis formatting . It is placed immediately after the table of contents, before the body of the thesis. The acknowledgement for thesis section is relatively brief.

Who should you thank in the acknowledgement for thesis section?

You should thank anyone who helped you with the project. Some people who are commonly included in the acknowledgement for thesis include your primary supervisor, other academic staff in your department, anyone who financed the research, and family and friends. Perhaps they helped you with your research proposal right at the beginning, or maybe they helped with editing your thesis. Regardless, you can recognise them in your acknowledgement for thesis. Although the first person is not used in academic research projects, you can use it in the acknowledgement for thesis section.

Can you use the first person in the acknowledgement?

Although the first person is not used in academic research projects, or most academic writing , you can use it in the acknowledgement for thesis section. The acknowledgement for thesis section is informal compared to the rest of your paper. However, you should still refrain from including strong emotional words in your acknowledgements.

Sample Acknowledgement for Thesis

The acknowledgement for thesis should be brief and should not include personal details. Here are some good sample thesis acknowledgements:

  • I would like to express my gratitude to my primary supervisor, Michael Brown, who guided me throughout this project. I would also like to thank my friends and family who supported me and offered deep insight into the study.
  • I wish to acknowledge the help provided by the technical and support staff in the Economics department of the University of London. I would also like to show my deep appreciation to my supervisors who helped me finalize my project.

Some common phrases you can use in the acknowledgement section of your project include:

  • I wish to show my appreciation
  • I would like to thank
  • The assistance provided by Mr X was greatly appreciated
  • I wish to extend my special thanks to
  • I would like to thank the following people for helping me finalize the project
  • Mr. X offered valuable data and statistics which I used in my project

Writing an Acknowledgement

The acknowledgement for thesis is typically written in the first person, singular or plural. You will have to avoid getting too personal as this section is not meant to be a dedication.You will typically start with the person who was most important in your study. This could be your professor, your supervisor, the staff, or even your family and friends. The last people you should acknowledge are those who played a smaller role in your research.

Acknowledgements don’t have a standard length. It could be just a few paragraphs, or it could run for a few pages. The length will primarily depend on the number of people you want to thank and acknowledge. It is advisable to keep the length of your acknowledgement for thesis as short as possible. If it gets very long, it could easily become meaningless. You can limit longer acknowledgements to the few people who had a significant impact on the study.

In the acknowledgement for thesis, you should try to be very specific. Mention the names of the people you are acknowledging, and not just their titles. Some people have trouble remembering the names of people and how they helped them with the research projects. If you have such tendencies, you can consider writing down the names of the people as they offer their help with the research. You should not miss out any party that played a major role in the study.

Do’s and Don`ts

Acknowledgement-Dos

  • State the full names of the people you are acknowledging
  • Use the first person singular or plural
  • Write in formal language
  • Identify the role played by each of the acknowledged parties
  • List the funding organizations along with the parts of the projects that they funded

Acknowledgement-Donts

  • Use personal or informal language
  • Acknowledge every single person who had even the smallest impact on your research. For example, you don’t need to acknowledge the waitress at the restaurant where you used to relax after working on the project.
  • Include people who qualified for authorship in the research project. A person will qualify for authorship if they make a substantial contribution to the project, if they draft and revise the work for intellectual content, and if they agree to be accountable for the content of the work.

In a Nutshell

  • The acknowledgement for thesis section shows all the people who played an important role in the creation of the final paper, except for those who qualified for authorship.
  • You should use the first person to show gratitude to the people who contributed to the project.
  • You should show the specific role played by each person and party in the research project.
  • The thesis acknowledgement should first show the people who contributed the most to the research and should end with the people who contributed the least.
  • The thesis acknowledgement should be added after the table of contents in your research paper.

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acknowledgment master thesis

Your thesis acknowledgement: Just saying „Thank you!”

thesis-acknowledgement

A  thesis acknowledgemen t is a section to say “ Thank you! ” to all the people who supported you during writing and research. But how to do and who to mention? Probably there are a lot of special persons who you would like to consider and to name. This can be or in the part of your personal or professional thesis acknowledgements.

In this post, we provide you with many useful tips, practical advice, and samples on how to create a strong  acknowledement  for your thesis or dissertation. Make sure that you leave nobody out and address everyone in the correct form!

thesis-acknowledgment

Thesis Acknowledgement examples

thesis-acknowledgements-examples

Defining: What it is and what it contains

The section of  acknowledgement s for a thesis or doctoral dissertation is the page where you thank all those persons and institutions who supported, helped, and guided you through the long and difficult process of writing an academic thesis or your doctoral dissertation. As the forms of support you were probably very different, you should consider the division into a professional and a personal section.

The professional  thesis acknowledgemen t is where you mention your supervisors and maybe colleagues, interview partners, or a particular library who made an important contribution to your work. The personal section is the right place to mention everyone from your family members and friends who gave you essential emotional encouragement and maybe provide you with feedback and proofreading.

As the acknowledgement and dedication, the section stands out from the academic content of the following chapters. That’s why they are allowed to be written in a more informal, personal style. For example, you can use the first person. Make sure that you place the word “acknowledgements” in Capital letters at the top of the page.

Is it optional? Express your appreciation to all supporters!

Keep in mind that dedication, preface, and acknowledgement are always optional. As the process of completing a doctoral dissertation is very complex and long, a page for the Ph.D. thesis acknowledgement at least will be expected, while it is way more “optional” for a shorter master- or bachelor’s thesis.

Where to place the gratitude for your dissertation?

Usually, a thesis or  dissertation acknowledgement is included in the very first part of your written work, situated in the first part of your written study. Generally, you should place it right in the middle between the title page, which opens your bachelor- or master- or Ph.D. thesis, and the beginning of your work. That can be for example the table of contents or in the case of a doctoral thesis the dissertation abstract. Some Universities provide guidelines for formatting. Check all specific requirements before submitting your thesis!

How long should the acknowledgement be?

At least, the acknowledgements should not be longer than one page. So be aware of the fact that you have very little space to mention many people. Keep things clear for you: Create a list of everyone who has to be named and think carefully about the order and extension of paragraphs.

Who should I thank in the professional and personal part?

Usually, you create a Ph.D. thesis acknowledgement divided into two separate categories:

  • First, start with the professional section
  • Second, add the personal section

Who should I thank in the professional thesis acknowlegdements?

In the professional section, you should address all academic supporters such as supervisors, specific professors and/or tutors, colleagues, and other academics. You can also include funders or special institutions.

Who should I thank in the personal thesis acknowlegdements?

The section of the personal acknowledgement is generally reserved for the members of your private circle such as family and friends who often provide you with feedback and proofreading but also in many cases with emotional support. Here it is even allowed to include your pet. Some students like to dedicate their thesis or dissertation to a special family member or friend for special reasons. In that case, this person will be named first, despite the common order.

What is the common order for a dissertation acknowledgement?

As a standard form, take the following order of acknowledgements as a reference:

  • Supervisors
  • Other academics
  • Institutions (such as libraries or even funders)
  • Family and friends

Write the best acknowledgement for thesis

To write a good and strong acknowledgement for your dissertation, keep it short and creative. Therefore, avoid repetitions of the same phrases and try to name every person in a particular and personal way. To give you a concrete example of acknowledgement in a thesis, we provide you with some beginnings right here:

  • First and foremost, I would like to thank (…) for his/her fantastic and patient guidance throughout the process. (…)
  • Also, I have to thank (…). Without their constant dedication and assistance in every single moment (…)
  • I want to acknowledge (…) to assist me with patience and fill my gaps of knowledge (…)
  • I would like to show my deepest gratitude to (…) for raising so many precious points (…)
  • Most importantly (…) I would like to take the chance to thank (…)
  • Getting through the long and difficult process of writing and completing my dissertation/thesis would not have been possible without (…)

About the author:

Dr. Friederike Jurth

Possibly you already heard of me through different media channels. My name is Dr. Friederike Jurth , and since 2010 I give lectures on Methodology, Empirical Research, Anthropology, and Transcultural (Music) Studies in collaboration with universities in the United States, Germany, Spain, and Brazil. In 2010 I started to carry out 7-year-long fieldwork in Rio de Janeiro and to present my research at conferences all around the world, such as in Japan, the United States, Australia, Brazil, Thailand, Switzerland, and many others. In addition, I worked as a lecturer and researcher with Germany’s famous UNESCO Chair.

After finalizing my doctoral dissertation with summa cum laude , it became my aim to unite, condense and share the steps, ways and details of my unique methodological and structural approach that I could develop and elaborate during my Ph.D. and that finally helped me to achieve this result. By concentrating and putting them together to an elaborated academic conception, MyThesis Academy was born. Motivated by the only aim and objective to help my students through all steps and stages of their thesis journey, it enables them to achieve their best possible result in shortest time, independent of their specific area of research.

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5 inspiring PhD thesis acknowledgement examples

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Crafting a PhD thesis acknowledgement can be a challenging task, but it can also be an enjoyable one. There are no strict rules or guidelines to follow, allowing for creative freedom. However, seeking inspiration from sample acknowledgements can greatly assist in initiating your own writing process. Here are five PhD thesis acknowledgement examples!

PhD thesis acknowledgement example 1

Phd thesis acknowledgement example 2, phd thesis acknowledgement example 3, phd thesis acknowledgement example 4, phd thesis acknowledgement example 5.

I started my PhD just before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, a period that presented numerous challenges and uncertainties. Nonetheless, I made it to the finish line! I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the exceptional individuals who supported and guided me throughout this transformative journey, enabling me to successfully obtain my doctorate despite the many unforeseen obstacles that arose.

First and foremost, I would like to thank my PhD supervisors, Prof. Xiu Ling and Prof. Frederic Semoas. Their constant support, guidance, and encouragement have been invaluable throughout the entire process. From the initial stages of refining my research proposal to the final submission of my thesis, their unwavering presence and wealth of wisdom have been instrumental in shaping my academic growth. I highly valued the biweekly meetings we held, which not only served as crucial checkpoints to keep me on track academically, but also provided me with plenty of encouragement. I am profoundly grateful for the immeasurable contributions they made to my development.

In addition to my supervisors, I am indebted to my exceptional lab mates, whose support has been a constant source of motivation. Our collaborative writing sessions and informal chats, whether conducted via screens during lockdowns or in person whenever circumstances allowed, provided a lifeline during the most challenging times. I am proud to say that we became more than just lab partners, but good friends. Paul, thanks for always providing a steady supply of cookies that brought much-needed sweetness to our intense work sessions. Ina, your late-night phone calls helped me to keep my self-doubt in check. And Valeria, your enthusiasm and upbeat character made spending long hours in the lab an enjoyable experience.

Among the most memorable highlights of my PhD journey was the opportunity to participate in the Applied Chemistry Summer School in Belfast. This enriching experience would not have been possible without the dedication and expertise of Dr. Simone and Dr. Erek. I am deeply grateful for the knowledge, connections, and friendships that were forged during that time.

Lastly, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my family whose belief in my abilities and support. Your encouragement played an integral role in my accomplishments. To my mom, dad, and Maria: Thank you for everything. I dedicate this PhD thesis to you.

It takes a village to raise a child” is a well-known proverb, and I strongly believe that completing a PhD also requires the support of a village. Therefore, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the people who played significant roles in my PhD journey.

First and foremost, I would like to thank my supervisor, Patricia Renault. Your exceptional academic expertise, coupled with your commitment to support early career researchers truly make you a role model in the often competitive realm of academia. Your guidance and encouragement have been invaluable .

I would also like to express my gratitude to my PhD thesis committee members: Prof. Dr. Hels, Prof. Dr. Frontstotten, Dr. Buwo, and Dr. Luis. Thank you for your time and effort, reading the 284 pages of my thesis thesis for providing valuable feedback and thought-provoking questions. Your insights have greatly enriched the quality of my work.

Furthermore, I want to thank all the interviewees who generously shared their thoughts and life stories for my research. Without your willingness to participate, my thesis would not have been possible.

A special appreciation goes to my colleagues and peers at the Department of Anthropology. Engaging in stimulating academic exchanges with all of you while maintaining a personal connection has been truly enriching.

Lastly, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my wife. Thank you for always being my rock, accompanying me through the highs and lows of this academic journey. Your support and belief in me have been a source of strength and motivation.

When I embarked on my PhD journey five years ago, little did I know the profound experiences that lay ahead. Fulfilling my long-held dream of pursuing a PhD, time seemed to pass swiftly as I immersed myself in the world of academia. Transitioning from several years in professional practice back to the university environment was both daunting and exhilarating.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of an exceptional research institute that provides deep insights into seismology. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to my advisor, Prof. Dr. Daniels Selwas, for generously sharing his extensive academic knowledge and playing a pivotal role in helping me establish myself within the academic community. I am truly thankful for his firm yet compassionate guidance, which not only facilitated significant contributions to publications during my PhD but also opened doors I never thought possible.

Undoubtedly, pursuing a PhD presented its fair share of challenges. Early on, I encountered setbacks when some of my experiments failed, leading me to readjust my research proposal in my second year. However, what initially appeared as hurdles eventually revealed themselves as blessings in disguise. These challenges allowed me to refocus my efforts on seismic tomography, a subject that ignited a genuine passion within me. I apologize to everyone who patiently endured my enthusiastic ramblings about my research!

During my third and fourth years, I had the privilege of working as a teaching assistant for Prof. Susan Meyers. This role introduced me to the immensely fulfilling world of teaching, from which I gained invaluable knowledge and insights. Prof. Meyers provided exceptional guidance and unwavering support throughout my teaching endeavors.

As I diligently worked on documenting my research results, the small breaks organized by my best friend Andy became cherished highlights after long days of writing. These rejuvenating moments kept me motivated and inspired to persevere.

As I bring my five-year-long PhD journey to a close, I can genuinely say that I am immensely proud of my accomplishments. This transformative journey has not only shaped me as a researcher but also as an individual, imparting the invaluable lesson that perseverance yields fruitful rewards in the long run. The unwavering commitment and determination displayed by those around me have profoundly influenced my character.

My greatest aspiration is that my research proves beneficial and contributes to a better understanding of earthquakes. The drive to advance knowledge in this field continues to fuel my motivation and determination. I am deeply grateful to all the individuals mentioned, as none of this would have been possible without their guidance and encouragement. I am excited to see what the future holds.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” —Dr. Seuss

This quote has always resonated with me, but as I approach the end of my PhD, its profound meaning has taken on new significance in my life.

Throughout my PhD journey, I have been fortunate to explore various places and experiences. Moving to Chicago, I had the privilege of joining an exceptional literature department, surrounded by individuals who share a deep passion for reading. Relocating to a new city on my own was challenging, but fate led me to forge a wonderful friendship with my flat mate, Loreen. Loreen, I am grateful for your companionship and support from the very beginning of my PhD.

Furthermore, I cannot envision a better PhD supervisor than Dr. Molly Glours. Her countless feedback and guidance have played a pivotal role in refining my academic writing and sharpening my arguments. Molly, your unwavering passion for literature is truly inspiring, and I aspire to follow in your footsteps one day.

My academic journey has also taken me to conferences in Canada and Belgium, marking my first experiences in Europe. Beyond the intellectually stimulating discussions, these trips have provided unforgettable adventures for a small-town girl from the Midwest.

Participating in a three-minute research pitch competition not only pushed me beyond my comfort zone but also introduced me to an incredible partner, Joshua. It is remarkable how life leads us to unexpected places and introduces us to remarkable people when we least expect it.

My research has also led me to the Chicago Public Library, where I had the opportunity to work with children’s reading clubs as part of my fieldwork. This collaboration has been incredibly rewarding, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to George Newton and Immania Hikale for making this partnership possible.

Finally, I would like to thank my family. Mom, your tireless work and unwavering commitment to provide for Joan and me while always emphasizing the value of education have made a profound impact on my journey. From those early hours spent in the library together, you instilled in me a deep love for reading. Completing a PhD in comparative literature feels like the natural culmination of our shared journey, and I hope you are aware of and proud of the significant role you have played in shaping my path.

Grandma and Grandpa, you made immense sacrifices and worked tirelessly to provide a better life for your children and grandchildren. Look how far we have come! Your dedication and resilience continue to inspire me as I reflect on my achievements.

Completing a PhD is a monumental achievement, and I still find it hard to believe that I have reached this milestone. I want to raise a toast to everyone who has been a part of this incredible journey with me.

First and foremost, I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Professor Dr. Suna Shikrati, who has been instrumental in my success over the past four years. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the guidance and mentorship of such a highly respected academic.

To Katie, Felicitas, Aron, Xime, and Andy – you are the best PhD crew in the entire department. Together, we have navigated the challenges and celebrated the triumphs, and I am grateful to have had you by my side.

Sonya, words cannot express how much your unwavering belief in me has meant. You have been my biggest cheerleader throughout this journey, and I cannot thank you enough for your love and support.

Lastly, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to coffee and my dog Ben. Coffee has fueled countless late nights and early mornings, providing the necessary jolt to keep me going. And Ben, my loyal companion, you have been my faithful reminder to take breaks, dragging me away from my computer and insisting on regular outdoor excursions.

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Master Thesis Acknowledgment Sample

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank my thesis advisor, Dra. Zenaida R. Velasco of Engineering Department at Pilar State Universiy. She always accomodating and have a helping hands if I had question about my research or writing. She shows support in everything I do and teach me the right direction for my thesis writing.

I would also like to than Mr. Jauruz Abas who was involved in the validation survey for this research project. Without his help, the validation survey could not have been successfully conducted.

Also, I would like to acknowledge Engr. Janus R. Matento, professor at Pilar State University as the second reader of this thesis. I really appreciate your valuable comments on this thesis coz it helps a lot to improve my thesis writing.

Finally, I express my gratitude to my parents and sisters for providing me with unfailing support and continuous encouragement throughout my years of study and through the process of researching and writing this thesis. This accomplishment would not have been possible without them.

Angelica D. Valencia

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Thesis & Dissertation Acknowledgements | Tips & Examples

Published on 4 May 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on 4 November 2022.

Acknowledgements-section

The acknowledgements section is your opportunity to thank those who have helped and supported you personally and professionally during your thesis or dissertation process.

Thesis or dissertation acknowledgements appear between your title page and abstract  and should be no longer than one page.

In your acknowledgements, it’s okay to use a more informal style than is usually permitted in academic writing , as well as first-person pronouns . Acknowledgements are not considered part of the academic work itself, but rather your chance to write something more personal.

To get started, download our step-by-step template in the format of your choice below. We’ve also included sample sentence starters to help you construct your acknowledgments section from scratch.

Download Word doc Download Google doc

Table of contents

Who to thank in your acknowledgements, how to write acknowledgements, acknowledgements section example, acknowledgements dos and don’ts, frequently asked questions.

Generally, there are two main categories of acknowledgements: professional and personal .

A good first step is to check your university’s guidelines, as they may have rules or preferences about the order, phrasing, or layout of acknowledgements. Some institutions prefer that you keep your acknowledgements strictly professional.

Regardless, it’s usually a good idea to place professional acknowledgements first, followed by any personal ones. You can then proceed by ranking who you’d like to thank from most formal to least.

  • Chairs, supervisors, or defence committees
  • Funding bodies
  • Other academics (e.g., colleagues or cohort members)
  • Editors or proofreaders
  • Librarians, research/laboratory assistants, or study participants
  • Family, friends, or pets

Typically, it’s only necessary to mention people who directly supported you during your thesis or dissertation. However, if you feel that someone like a secondary school physics teacher was a great inspiration on the path to your current research, feel free to include them as well.

Professional acknowledgements

It is crucial to avoid overlooking anyone who helped you professionally as you completed your thesis or dissertation. As a rule of thumb, anyone who directly contributed to your research should be mentioned.

A few things to keep in mind include:

  • Even if you feel your chair didn’t help you very much, you should still thank them first to avoid looking like you’re snubbing them.
  • Be sure to follow academic conventions, using full names with titles where appropriate.
  • If several members of a group or organisation assisted you, mention the collective name only.
  • Remember the ethical considerations around anonymised data. If you wish to protect someone’s privacy, use only their first name or a generic identifier (such as ‘the interviewees’).

Personal acknowledgements

There is no need to mention every member of your family or friend group. However, if someone was particularly inspiring or supportive, you may wish to mention them specifically. Many people choose to thank parents, partners, children, friends, and even pets, but you can mention anyone who offered moral support or encouragement, or helped you in a tangible or intangible way.

Some students may wish to dedicate their dissertation to a deceased influential person in their personal life. In this case, it’s okay to mention them first, before any professional acknowledgements.

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After you’ve compiled a list of who you’d like to thank, you can then sort your list into rank order. Separate everyone you listed into ‘major thanks’, ‘big thanks’, and ‘minor thanks’ categories.

  • ‘Major thanks’ are given to people who your project would be impossible without. These are often predominantly professional acknowledgements, such as your advisor , chair, and committee, as well as any funders.
  • ‘Big thanks’ are an in-between, for those who helped you along the way or helped you grow intellectually, such as classmates, peers, or librarians.
  • ‘Minor thanks’ can be a catch-all for everyone else, especially those who offered moral support or encouragement. This can include personal acknowledgements, such as parents, partners, children, friends, or even pets.

How to phrase your acknowledgements

To avoid acknowledgements that sound repetitive or dull, consider changing up your phrasing. Here are some examples of common sentence starters you can use for each category.

Note that you do not need to write any sort of conclusion or summary at the end. You can simply end the acknowledgements with your last thank-you.

Here’s an example of how you can combine the different sentences to write your acknowledgements.

A simple construction consists of a sentence starter (in purple highlight ), followed by the person or entity mentioned (in green highlight ), followed by what you’re thanking them for (in yellow highlight .)

Acknowledgements

Words cannot express my gratitude to my professor and chair of my committee for her invaluable patience and feedback. I also could not have undertaken this journey without my defense committee, who generously provided knowledge and expertise. Additionally, this endeavor would not have been possible without the generous support from the MacArthur Foundation, who financed my research .

I am also grateful to my classmates and cohort members, especially my office mates, for their editing help, late-night feedback sessions, and moral support. Thanks should also go to the librarians, research assistants, and study participants from the university, who impacted and inspired me.

Lastly, I would be remiss in not mentioning my family, especially my parents, spouse, and children. Their belief in me has kept my spirits and motivation high during this process. I would also like to thank my cat for all the entertainment and emotional support.

  • Write in first-person, professional language
  • Thank your professional contacts first
  • Include full names, titles, and roles of professional acknowledgements
  • Include personal or intangible supporters, like friends, family, or even pets
  • Mention funding bodies and what they funded
  • Appropriately anonymise or group research participants or non-individual acknowledgments

Don’t:

  • Use informal language or slang
  • Go over one page in length
  • Mention people who had only a peripheral or minor impact on your work

You may acknowledge God in your thesis or dissertation acknowledgements , but be sure to follow academic convention by also thanking the relevant members of academia, as well as family, colleagues, and friends who helped you.

Yes, it’s important to thank your supervisor(s) in the acknowledgements section of your thesis or dissertation .

Even if you feel your supervisor did not contribute greatly to the final product, you still should acknowledge them, if only for a very brief thank you. If you do not include your supervisor, it may be seen as a snub.

In the acknowledgements of your thesis or dissertation, you should first thank those who helped you academically or professionally, such as your supervisor, funders, and other academics.

Then you can include personal thanks to friends, family members, or anyone else who supported you during the process.

The acknowledgements are generally included at the very beginning of your thesis or dissertation, directly after the title page and before the abstract .

In a thesis or dissertation, the acknowledgements should usually be no longer than one page. There is no minimum length.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.

George, T. (2022, November 04). Thesis & Dissertation Acknowledgements | Tips & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 14 November 2023, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/thesis-dissertation/acknowledgements/

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  1. Thesis & Dissertation Acknowledgements

    The acknowledgements section is your opportunity to thank those who have helped and supported you personally and professionally during your thesis or dissertation process. Thesis or dissertation acknowledgements appear between your title page and abstract and should be no longer than one page. In your acknowledgements, it's okay to use a more ...

  2. Thesis acknowledgements: Samples and how to write your own thesis or

    My labmate's thesis, who wrote the acknowledgements in a different style to the rest by using bullet points. Dr Wei's thesis, acknowledgements on page 6. Direct download here. Shortest acknowledgements section of the list at 122 words. Dr Manca's thesis, acknowledgements on page 5. Direct download here.

  3. [BEST] Master Thesis Acknowledgement Samples

    Acknowledgement For Master Thesis. I am deeply grateful to my advisor, _______ [Advisor Name], for their unwavering support and guidance throughout my master's program. Their expertise and patience have been invaluable to me and have played a crucial role in the success of this thesis. I am grateful to [Organization] for providing me with the ...

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    The thesis acknowledgement is typically placed at the beginning of the thesis, after the title page and before the table of contents. Leaving empty pages, such as page 2 and often page 4, helps in maintaining a visually pleasing layout, when double-sided printing is used. Where to position the acknowledgement when double-sided printing is used.

  5. Formatting Your Thesis with Microsoft Word

    Dedication, Acknowledgements, and Preface sections are all optional pages. But, what is the difference between these three? Dedication — A personal tribute to someone or a group of people. Example: "To my parents." Acknowledgements — A professional tribute to a person or people who helped you with the thesis. Example: "I wish to thank my thesis advisor for the hours of help in the lab ...

  6. Acknowledgements for Thesis and Dissertations with Examples

    Thesis Acknowledgement Examples. Below are three PhD thesis acknowledgment samples from which you can draw inspiration. It should be noted that the following have been extracted from theses which are freely available in the public domain. Irrespective of this, references to any individual, department or university have been removed for the sake ...

  7. PDF WRITING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Saying "Thank You"

    help you write your Acknowledgements section of your dissertation. According to one source, the Acknowledgements section of a Ph.D. dissertation is the most widely read section. Whether you believe this or not, many individuals who helped you in the process of writing may check to see if, indeed, they have meant something to you.

  8. Great Tips And Examples For Writing a Thesis Acknowledgement

    An acknowledgment thesis is a dedicated section where students can thank the people (or organizations) that have assisted and supported them throughout the process of researching and writing the senior or graduate thesis. ... The best acknowledgment for a master thesis should come from the heart and be personal, so don't copy others directly ...

  9. Order and Components

    The title page of a thesis or dissertation must include the following information: The title of the thesis or dissertation in all capital letters and centered 2″ below the top of the page. Your name, centered 1″ below the title. Do not include titles, degrees, or identifiers. The name you use here does not need to exactly match the name on ...

  10. Where do the acknowledgements go in a thesis or dissertation?

    A master's dissertation is typically 12,000-50,000 words; A PhD thesis is typically book-length: 70,000-100,000 words; However, none of these are strict guidelines - your word count may be lower or higher than the numbers stated here. Always check the guidelines provided by your university to determine how long your own dissertation ...

  11. 15+ Samples of Acknowledgement for Thesis and Dissertation

    Thesis Acknowledgement Samples - Sample 17. My first and big appreciation goes to my first supervisor, Prof Habin Lee, for his marvelous supervision, guidance and encouragement. Sincere gratitude is extended to his generous participation in guiding, constructive feedback, kind support, and advice during my PhD.

  12. Thesis Acknowledgement Writing Tips

    Here is the basic process of writing an acknowledgement for thesis in 10 minutes or less: Start by thinking about the most important people or institutions that helped you write your thesis or dissertation. You shouldn't mention everyone you've came in contact with, obviously. Think about the people who really made a difference; the people ...

  13. Dissertation Acknowledgement Examples

    An acknowledgement section of your thesis will include a personal thank you to anyone who has helped you along your writing process. This could include personal relations, like a partner or a friend. ... Although writing a master's thesis, PhD thesis, or dissertation thesis is an academic process, the mental side also requires support.

  14. Tips for Writing Best Thesis Acknowledgement

    Here are the common phrases that are used in thesis acknowledgments. "I would like to pay my special regards to …". "I wish to show my gratitude to …". "I wish to express my deepest gratitude to …". "I wish to thank all the people whose assistance was a milestone in the completion of this project.". "I am indebted to …".

  15. Master thesis acknowledgement template

    Master thesis acknowledgement template. January 25, 2016 Admin Acknowledgement Thesis acknowledgement sample. The acknowledgements or dedication page is optional. If you decide to include Acknowledgements in you paper, than you should place the word acknowledgements should at the top center of the page in capital letters.

  16. How to Write Acknowledgements for a Thesis

    Master Thesis Acknowledgement Example (Template) I would first like to thank my thesis advisor [title] [Name Surname] of the [School / Faculty name] at [University name]. The door to Prof. [Last name] office was always open whenever I ran into a trouble spot or had a question about my research or writing.

  17. Acknowledgement for Thesis

    Acknowledgement for thesis: The right phrasing for your Bachelor Thesis and Master Thesis ~ Read more. Free 24h Customer Service:724 281 3937. When ordering within:----:----:----hrs min sec. ... The thesis acknowledgement should first show the people who contributed the most to the research and should end with the people who contributed the least.

  18. Your thesis acknowledgement: Just saying „Thank you!"

    The professional thesis acknowledgement is where you mention your supervisors and maybe colleagues, interview partners, or a particular library who made an important contribution to your work.The personal section is the right place to mention everyone from your family members and friends who gave you essential emotional encouragement and maybe provide you with feedback and proofreading.

  19. 5 inspiring PhD thesis acknowledgement examples

    PhD thesis acknowledgement example 2. It takes a village to raise a child" is a well-known proverb, and I strongly believe that completing a PhD also requires the support of a village. Therefore, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the people who played significant roles in my PhD journey. First and foremost, I would like to thank ...

  20. Should a bachelor's or master's thesis include acknowledgements?

    Jan. 923 1 8 16. 6. I don't think there are any rules about acknowledgements. My Bachelors and Master thesis both had them (german university). There was no rule about adding or not adding any or about who to acknowledge. People thank their cats, the nice worker at the thai takeout, their supervisor.

  21. 20+ Samples of Acknowledgement for Thesis and Dissertation

    Thesis Acknowledgement Examples. You can find three examples of acknowledgements in a Ph.D. thesis below. The following information has been taken directly from ideas in the public domain. However, for confidentiality reasons, any mention of specific individuals, departments, or institutions has been scrubbed from the text. Example 1

  22. Master Thesis Acknowledgment Sample

    Master Thesis Acknowledgment Sample. June 12, 2018 June 12, 2018 admin Thesis Writing. Acknowledgement page on the thesis is the opportunity to thanks those people who help and contribute to your thesis writing. It is way of displaying appreciation for support and assistance in public.

  23. Thesis & Dissertation Acknowledgements

    The acknowledgements section is your opportunity to thank those who have helped and supported you personally and professionally during your thesis or dissertation process. Thesis or dissertation acknowledgements appear between your title page and abstract and should be no longer than one page. In your acknowledgements, it's okay to use a more ...