undergraduate dissertation dedication

• Mardigian Library
• Subject Guides

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.

• << Previous: Copyright Page
• Next: Headings and Subheadings >>
• Last Updated: Oct 10, 2023 3:57 PM
• URL: https://guides.umd.umich.edu/Word_for_Theses

Call us at 313-593-5559

Chat with us

Text us: 313-486-5399

Email us your question

• 4901 Evergreen Road Dearborn, MI 48128, USA
• Phone: 313-593-5000
• Maps & Directions
• M+Google Mail
• Emergency Information
• UM-Dearborn Connect
• Wolverine Access

How to Write a Dedication for a Dissertation | Structure Examples

The dedication is a personal and optional part of your dissertation or thesis. In this section, you have the opportunity to express your gratitude to the people who have supported you during your graduate studies. You may choose to dedicate your work to your family, friends, mentors, or other individuals who have helped you throughout your academic career. Keep in mind that the dedication is a personal expression of thanks, so you can be as creative as you like in this section. However, if you do choose to include a dedication, be sure to keep it short and sweet. A few well-chosen words can go a long way in expressing your appreciation.

What is the dedication section in a dissertation?

The dedication section in a dissertation is where you honor and thank the people who have helped you during your project. This might include your advisor, committee members, fellow students, family, and friends. You can also dedicate your work to someone who has inspired you or passed away. The dedication should be short (a few sentences at most) and to the point. It’s a nice way to express your gratitude and show that you understand how important their support was to your success.

How to write a dedication section

The dedication section of a dissertation is not just a simple list of names. It is an opportunity to give thanks and express appreciation to those who have supported you during your journey. Here are the steps in writing an effective thesis dedication:

• How to Write a Dissertation Proposal | Thesis Proposal Examples
• Dissertation Discussion Chapter | How to Write With Examples

Chapters of a Dissertation

• Dissertation Conclusion Chapter | How to Write, Structure Examples
• Control variables in a research study | Dissertation control variables
• How to Write a Dissertation Glossary | Glossary Examples

1. Choose a person

The first step to writing a dedication section is to choose a person. This can be anyone from your family, friends, or someone you look up to. When choosing a person, it is important to think about why you are dedicating your work to them. Are they your biggest supporter? Do they inspire you? Once you have chosen a person, the next step is to write a short paragraph about why you are dedicating your work to them. Be sure to include how they have impacted your life and why you are grateful for their support.

2. Naming the person

The second step in writing a dedication section is to name the person or persons you are dedicating the work to. This may seem like a simple task, but it is important to take some time to consider who you want to honor with your words. It is also important to be sure that you have the permission of the person or people you are naming before you include them in your dedication. Once you have chosen the perfect person or people to dedicate your work to, the next step is to write a few sentences about why you are making this gesture. In doing so, you will be able to create a beautiful and personal dedication that will be cherished for years to come.

3. Purpose of the dedication

The third step in writing a dedication section is determining why you are dedicating the work to that person. This is important as it will help to set the tone and language. It will also be a key factor in how readers react to your work. Are you honoring someone’s memory? Are you thanking someone for their support? Once you know why you are dedicating the work, you can begin to craft your words carefully. Doing so will ensure that your dedication is effective and meaningful.

4. Addressing the dedication

The fourth step in writing a dedication section is to address the dedication. This can be done in a number of ways, but the most important thing is to be clear and concise. The best way to do this is to use language that is respectful and affectionate. For example, you might say “To my parents, who have always supported me,” or “To my husband, who has been my rock during these difficult times.” Whatever you choose to say, make sure that it comes from the heart. With a little thought and effort, you can easily create a dedication that will be cherished for years to come.

Tips in writing a good dedication section in a dissertation or thesis

When you write a dedication, you want to make sure that it is sincere, personal, and specific. Here are tips to help you write a good dedication:

• First, think about why you are writing the dedication . Who do you want to honor, and why?
• Keep it short and sweet . A dedication does not need to be long or flowery.
• Be specific . Do not just say “to my parents.” Instead, try something like “to my parents, who have always encouraged me to pursue my dreams.”
• Make it personal . You can share a story or anecdote about the person you are honoring.
• Avoid clichéd phrases . Instead of saying “thank you for everything,” try to be more original.

In conclusion, a dedication is a great way to show your appreciation for someone who has made a difference in your life. By following the tips above, you can easily write a dedication that is both personal and meaningful.

Author: tutlance

Dissertation writing checklist for great papers.

• Tips on how to write a good abstract for phd thesis
• How to create a conceptual framework for a dissertation + examples
• Creating a Theoretical Framework for a Dissertation – Examples
• How to Write Descriptive Statistics in Dissertation & Examples

Dissertation Appendix Section | Thesis Appendices Definition & Examples

How to write a thesis statement for a research paper, related guides, dissertation literature review outline: structure, format, examples, how to write a dissertation proposal | thesis..., dissertation printing and binding | tips and best..., how to write descriptive statistics in dissertation &..., dissertation research results chapter | how to write,..., dissertation discussion chapter | how to write with..., dissertation conclusion chapter | how to write, structure..., dissertation appendix section | thesis appendices definition &..., how to write a list of abbreviations in..., how to write a dissertation glossary | glossary..., how to write a dissertation introduction | chapter..., how to write a literature review for a..., creating a theoretical framework for a dissertation –..., how to create a conceptual framework for a..., uses of mediator variables in dissertation writing |..., control variables in a research study | dissertation..., dissertation methodology chapter | definition, writing, examples, tips on how to write a good abstract....

• Homework Help
• Online Tutors
• Essay Writing Services
• Do My Math Homework
• Assignment Help
• Take My Online Math Class
• Take My Exam
• Take My Test
• Take My Course
• Dissertation Services
• Essay Introduction
• Essay Thesis Statement
• Essay Hooks
• Essay Conclusion
• Essay Revision
• Essay Title
• Essay Format
• Essay Outline
• Essay Cover Page
• Essay Topics
• Classification Essay
• Analytical Essay
• Cause and Effect Essay
• Expository Essay
• Descriptive Essay
• Argumentative Essay
• Compare and Contrast Essay
• Definition essay
• Narrative essay
• Persuasive essay
• Reflective essay
• Literary analysis essay
• Proposal essay
• Process essay
• Reflection Paper
• Evaluation Essay
• Exemplification essay
• Illustration Essay
• Informative essay
• Rhetorical analysis essay
• Review essay
• Scholarship essay
• Dissertation
• Annotated Bibliography
• Research Paper
• Research Paper Topics
• Position Paper
• Speech Writing
• Summary Writing
• Story writing
• Swot Analysis
• Resume Writing
• Business Plan
• Grant Writing
• Book Writing
• Personal Statement
• Writing Process
• Research Process
• Online Tutoring Subjects
• Become a Tutor
• Forgot Password?

How to Write a Dedication for a Thesis or Dissertation?

Writing a dedication page for your thesis or dissertation is a great way to honor the people who have supported you throughout the journey of your research and writing. In this guide, we’ll show you everything you need to know about writing a dedication page for your thesis or dissertation. From formatting it to what you can include, we’ll run through all of the details to help you write your dedication page with confidence and gratitude.

What is a dedication page?

In academic writing (as well as book writing), the dedication page is where you can honor the people who have inspired or emotionally support you throughout your research and writing in a personal manner.

The dedication page is an optional section in a thesis or dissertation when it comes to academic writing.

Why should I include a dedication page in my writing?

The dedication page is not mandatory in most academic writing.

However, by paying tributes to the individuals or even the higher power who meant the most to you, you attach meaning to your work beyond the academic level.

A song is merely a song with lyrics, and that’s that. But if the same song is dedicated to someone, it will certainly entail special meanings to those who are dedicated and the dedicator (yourself). In other words, dedication serves to connect your work with the people who mean the most to you.

The same goes for your work. Do you agree?

Where does the dedication page appear in a paper?

The dedication page should appear before the main body of a thesis or dissertation. But every institution has its own requirements. You should always check the formatting guidelines provided by your school, faculty or department.

For this matter, we took a quick tour of the formatting guidelines for the top three universities in the US. And we’ve already found 3 variations.

How long is a dedication page?

A dedication page can be as short as one sentence, if not in a few short paragraphs.

Who should I include on the dedication page?

In academic writings, the dedication page is where you can show your gratitude to the individuals (and even the higher power) who have inspired you or emotionally support you on a personal level throughout your work. 

They may or may not involve in your research work. You may include:

• God or the higher power

What is the formatting of a dedication page?

Always check the formatting guidelines provided by your school, faculty, or department.

As a general rule, the title, as well as the text, should be aligned in the center of the page like this:

What is the tone and style of a dedication page?

The tone of the dedication page can be formal or informal. It can be personal, sometimes even emotional and spiritual.

Formal phases to begin a dedication:

*Work: thesis/dissertation/report/research

This [work] is dedicated to…

Example: This project is dedicated to Mr. Smith, our teacher who helped and guided us to successfully complete this work.

I dedicate this [work] to…

Example: I dedicate this thesis to my father and my mother, who with love and effort have accompanied me in this process, without hesitating at any moment of seeing my dreams come true, which are also their dreams

I am dedicating this [work] to…

Example: I am dedicating this thesis to my late grandfather who taught me all about perseverance. His memories continue to keep me going in every single day of my life

Informal phases to begin a dedication:

Example: For my Almighty God, the reason for my existence.

Example: To Bruno, who has been my support in the difficulties.

Example: To my dearest wife Jenny, to my lovely little girl Jin, to my parents, to my brothers William, John and Paul, and to all those who made this thesis possible.

The dedication page vs the acknowledgement page, what’s the difference?

While both the dedication page and acknowledgement page let you show appreciation for the help and support in your research and writing, there are some major similarities and differences between the two.

Dedication in academic writing

On a dedication page, you honor a particular group of people or an individual for inspiring or motivating you for completing the project or paper. It can be personal, emotional, or even spiritual and does not necessarily have anything to do with the academic aspects.

You dedicate your research work to the people who mean the most to you, such as the higher power, your core family members, a particular individual, friends, or someone who has a special role in your life.

Acknowledgment in academic writing

In acknowledgments, you recognize resources (e.g. grants or funding), institutions as well as individuals that are involved or have support in the course of your research and writing. These parties directly play a role in your academic career. Here, you disclose as much academic-related information as possible.

The Similarities

These sections, usually optional, should be no longer than one page.

Depending on the requirements of school or academic department, they can appear before or after the table of contents in your paper.

The Differences

The key difference between acknowledgement and dedication is that the former is more formal and the latter is more personal.

Acknowledgement usually recognizes the contributions of those who were directly involved in the research, whereas dedications are a way for the writer to pay tribute to individuals who have had a significant personal or emotional impact on their life or work.

It is common for people to dedicate their writing to God or another higher power who they believe provided them with spiritual support during the writing process.”

Here’s a brief comparison table showing the main differences between the two:

If you want to check out examples of dedication for projects, reports, theses, dissertations, and books, also read: Examples of Well-Written Dedication Section

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]

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]

How-to Guides on Academic Writing and Others

Most popular How to Write an Acknowledgement: The Complete Guide for Students How to Write an Acknowledgement for College Project? How to Write a Dedication Page for a Thesis or Dissertation? More on acknowledgements How to Write Acknowledgment for a Dissertation or a Thesis? Is Acknowledgement and Dedication the Same? Thesis or Dissertation How to Write a Master’s Thesis: The Ultimate Guide How to Write a Thesis Proposal? How to Write an Abstract for a Thesis? How to Write a Preface for a Thesis? Others How to Write an Introduction for a Research Paper? 7 Real Research Paper Examples to Get You Started How to Write Cover Letter for an Internship Program? How to Write an Internship Acceptance Letter? How to Write a Leave Application? For Schools and the Workplace How to Write a Resignation Letter?

Introduction to Academic Writing

By O.P. Jindal Global University Duration: 16-hour Cost: FREE Gain an in-depth understanding of reading and writing as essential skills to conduct robust and critical research for your writing.

Writing in English at University

By Lund University Duration: 24-hour Cost: FREE Learn how to structure your text and arguments, quote sources, and incorporate editing and proofreading in your academic writing.

Academic English: Writing Specialization

By the University of California, Irvine Duration: 6 months Cost: Free 7-day trial, USD39 per month The skills taught in this Specialization will empower you to succeed in any college-level course or professional field. You’ll learn to conduct rigorous academic research and to express your ideas clearly in an academic format. Share your Course Certificates in your LinkedIn profile, on printed resumes, CVs, or other documents.

The Savvy Scientist

Experiences of a London PhD student and beyond

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

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:

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:

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!

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:

Share this:

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related Posts

Graduate Teaching Assistants: Why You Should Consider Becoming One!

25th October 2023 26th October 2023

Gifts for a PhD Student

20th September 2023 20th September 2023

How to Use ChatGPT Effectively as a Researcher

7th September 2023 26th October 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Privacy Overview

Thesis and Dissertation Guide

• « Thesis & Dissertation Resources
• The Graduate School Home

• 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

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:

• 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:

© 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:

• 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).

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:

• 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:

• 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:

• 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

• Langson Library
• Science Library
• Grunigen Medical Library
• Law Library
• Connect From Off-Campus
• Accessibility
• Gateway Study Center

Email this link

Thesis / dissertation formatting manual (2022).

• Filing Fees and Student Status
• Submission Process Overview
• Electronic Thesis Submission
• Paper Thesis Submission
• Formatting Overview
• Fonts/Typeface
• Pagination, Margins, Spacing
• Paper Thesis Formatting
• Preliminary Pages Overview
• Copyright Page

Dedication Page

• Table of Contents
• List of Figures (etc.)
• Acknowledgements
• Text and References Overview
• Figures and Illustrations
• Using Your Own Previously Published Materials
• Using Copyrighted Materials by Another Author
• Open Access and Embargoes
• Copyright and Creative Commons
• Ordering Print (Bound) Copies
• Tutorials and Assistance
• FAQ This link opens in a new window

The Dedication Page is optional. If you choose to include a Dedication Page, please ensure that:

• You are using the same font as in the rest of your manuscript.
• No images are included.
• Page number ii appears centered at the bottom of the page.

​Please note that the Dedication Page is different from the Acknowledgements Page.

Dedication Page Example

Here is an example of a dedication page from the template:

• << Previous: Copyright Page
• Next: Table of Contents >>
• Last Updated: Nov 7, 2023 4:17 PM
• URL: https://guides.lib.uci.edu/gradmanual

Off-campus? Please use the Software VPN and choose the group UCIFull to access licensed content. For more information, please Click here

Software VPN is not available for guests, so they may not have access to some content when connecting from off-campus.

Examples of Dedications

#scribendiinc

Written by  Scribendi

You've written a book, dissertation, or thesis; you've passed out from joy and woken up! Now, you need to write a dedication to that person (or those people) who made it all possible. 

You want the thesis or book dedication to be meaningful, but how can you make it work? You have lots of options, from simple to complex and from informal to formal.

Read on to discover how you can write the perfect dedication, whether it is a dedication to a friend, parent, child, or someone else.

Tips for Writing a Dedication Page

A dedication is usually a single sentence at the beginning of a book, thesis, or dissertation that offers the work to someone who inspired you or helped you with it. It's a short statement but one that can be very personal.

Here’s an example of a dedication for a thesis: 

Before diving into the dedication examples below, you should keep a few things in mind: 

There's no right or wrong way to write a dedication sentence. Who you thank and how you thank them can and should be personal.

If the list of people you need to thank is long, you can use your Acknowledgments section to pay tribute to as many people as you'd like.

Everyone who reads your book, thesis, or dissertation will see your dedication page. Be aware of the impact that your dedication will have. 

Be brief. Dedication sentences should be short and to the point. 

Check out How to Write a Dedication for more writing help.

Formal and Informal Dedication Examples

Informal and simple dedication.

This one goes to you, Mom.

Formal and simple dedication

This is for my mother.

Informal and complex dedication

This is for my dad. Thanks for teaching me how to make casserole and for all those laughs.

Formal and complex dedication

I dedicate this to my sister, who was always there for me, even on the tough days.

Informal dedication with an anecdote

To Rebecca. Thank you for getting us lost in Mexico and eventually getting us found. Keep leading the way. 

Formal dedication with an anecdote

I dedicate this to Kimberly Marsh, for her outpouring of support when Charlie was hospitalized. Her steadfast commitment, love, and dedication will not be forgotten. 

Informal dedication in memoriam

In memory of Chuck Thomas. It was a joy to serve you coffee every Thursday. I'll never forget you.

Formal dedication in memoriam

I dedicate this book to Don Reynolds, who influenced countless people in his too-short time here on earth. I miss you more than words can say. Thank you for believing in my dream. I look forward to the day we meet again. 

Dedication Examples to Different Parties

Book dedication to a child examples.

I dedicate this little book to my children. This one is for you, from me, your loving mother. 

To all my children. I almost named you after the characters in this book. If you can guess which name was almost yours, no complaining. 

To Nate and Jenny. I have nothing but gratitude to you, my children, for reminding me that walking to the beach is just as fun as being there. 

Book dedication examples to a friend

This book is dedicated to Tim. Thanks for encouraging me to write it. 

I dedicate this book to my friend and confidante, Jack Millhouse. He was the first person to encourage me to try. 

To Melissa R., for being a dedicated reader through all those rounds of revision. This one is for you. 

Book dedication to parents examples

To my parents. Thanks for keeping the interest rates low on everything I owe you. 

I dedicate this to my parents, for your constant love and support. 

This one is for my parents. Thanks for trying. 

Whether you are dedicating a thesis or a book to a friend or a family member, our examples can help you draft a dedication that both you and your dedicatee are proud of. 

If you're struggling to find the right words, our editors can make sure you're on the right track.

Let’s Make Sure Your Writing Is Compelling with In-Depth Editing

Hire a professional editor , or get a free sample, about the author.

Scribendi's in-house editors work with writers from all over the globe to perfect their writing. They know that no piece of writing is complete without a professional edit, and they love to see a good piece of writing transformed into a great one. Scribendi's in-house editors are unrivaled in both experience and education, having collectively edited millions of words and obtained nearly 20 degrees. They love consuming caffeinated beverages, reading books of various genres, and relaxing in quiet, dimly lit spaces.

Have You Read?

"The Complete Beginner's Guide to Academic Writing"

Related Posts

5 Common Character Archetypes in Literature

Front Matter: What it is and Why it is Important

How to Write a Dedication

Upload your file(s) so we can calculate your word count, or enter your word count manually.

We will also recommend a service based on the file(s) you upload.

English is not my first language. I need English editing and proofreading so that I sound like a native speaker.

I need to have my journal article, dissertation, or term paper edited and proofread, or I need help with an admissions essay or proposal.

I have a novel, manuscript, play, or ebook. I need editing, copy editing, proofreading, a critique of my work, or a query package.

I need editing and proofreading for my white papers, reports, manuals, press releases, marketing materials, and other business documents.

I need to have my essay, project, assignment, or term paper edited and proofread.

I want to sound professional and to get hired. I have a resume, letter, email, or personal document that I need to have edited and proofread.

 Prices include your personal % discount.

 Prices include % sales tax ( ).

labookarts.com

A Guide On How To Write A Great Dissertation Dedication

A dedication in dissertation is the section where a student uses a paragraph or sentences to dedicate their work or text. A student can dedicate this work as a way of recognizing a person that inspired them to attend college. They can also dedicate their text to a person that helped them throughout the writing process.

17% OFF on your first order Type the code 17TUDENT

Basically, dedicating your dissertation to a person shows that you honor them. It’s true that you have invested time and effort in your work. However, you should recognize individuals that influenced your writing process. Nevertheless, writing this section of a dissertation is not easy. That’s why many students use dissertation dedications examples to complete this section.

Pick a person

This is the most difficult aspect of writing this section of a dissertation. Selecting the person to dedicate this work to is not easy. Nevertheless, you can make this easier by thinking about the entire writing process. Who played a major role in ensuring that your dissertation writing process was successful? This can be different people including siblings and parents, your supervisor, a friend, or a colleague. Picking the person to dedicate this work to is generally a personal decision. To get ideas, read dissertation dedication examples.

Once you have chosen the person to dedicate your work to, it’s important to decide on the best way to identify them. This should depend on how you relate with them and your personal preferences. Identification varies from informal to formal. You can address the dedication to Mr. X, Dr. X, Father, Mother, My Sister, My Dad, or My friend. You can also use the first and last name of the person without a title. If you opt to be informal, use the nickname or first name of the person. Choose the dissertation dedication sample to use as your guide depending on the approach that you want to take.

Purpose of a Dedication

You may wonder why a dissertation dedication page is so important. Well, many people explain why they dedicate their work to the chosen person. This is extremely subjective and personal. Others opt to be funny in this section while some explain an experience that they have shared with the chosen person. Basically, the main purpose of this section is to show appreciation of a person that made writing a dissertation easier. You can use sample dissertation dedication quotes to see how people use this section to show appreciation.

It is very important that you keep this section of your paper concise and simple. Also make sure that your dedication of dissertation reflects your relationship with the chosen person and your personality. It’s also crucial to ensure that this section is edited alongside the other sections of the paper (you can use thesis help online for this purpose).

Formatting Guides:

Helpful ideas:.

• Dissertation coach

Our Friends:

• WritingJobz

The Graduate College at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Acknowledgements and/or dedication page (optional).

Inclusion of an acknowledgements page or dedication page (or both) is optional. If included, these pages are placed after the abstract and before the Table of Contents. They will have Roman numeral page numbers and will not be listed in the Table of Contents. Refer to the Sample Acknowledgments/Dedication pages.

School of Social Work

• Academic Programs
• Student Resources
• Continuing & Professional Education
• News & Events
• Faculty & Staff

BSW student completes undergraduate thesis

Friday, Nov 10, 2023

By Jaelon Jackson School of Social Work

Usually when you hear the word thesis, often we think about graduate students but that is not the case this time.

Stephen Silva-Brave is an undergraduate social work student completing a thesis addressing the alarming issue of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives.

Silva-Brave's journey into this research topic began unexpectedly. "I got into this research kind of by accident," he explained. "It wasn't something I initially envisioned doing."

What started as a passion project would later evolve into a significant undertaking, inspired by a profound commitment to making a difference.

The research focus was inspired by Silva-Brave's involvement with the movement for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives advocate for the end of violence against Native people and draws awareness to high rates of disappearances and murders, particularly of Native women and girls. 

These initiatives have sprouted across the United States and Canada, seeking to raise awareness, allocate resources, and actively address the crisis.

As a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, with dual citizenship in the United States and the Lakota Nation, Silva-Brave has a deeply personal connection to the issue. He shared that one of his uncles is currently missing, emphasizing these situations are unfortunately more common in Native American communities compared to other demographics.

"It's a problem everywhere," Silva-Brave said. "People go missing, get murdered, get kidnapped, and their families often remain in the dark. For some reason, it happens to us at a disproportionate rate."

Silva-Brave's commitment to addressing this crisis led to his involvement with MMIR groups. These groups, often led by women, play a pivotal role in advocating for affected families and working with law enforcement to find solutions. "I was already involved in that," Silva-Brave explained, "so I incorporated it into one of the papers that I wrote for Dr. LaBrenz."

"Stephen's work was already making a significant impact before we even decided to expand it. His commitment to this research was evident from the very beginning, and I saw the potential for it to create real change," Dr. Catherine LaBrenz, social work assistant professor, said.

The turning point came when Dr. LaBrenz encouraged Silva-Brave to expand his research and take it to the next level. Silva-Brave recalled, "I was thinking, you know, this would sound cool but maybe when I'm getting my master's." However, the idea of making an impact on this issue pulled him in sooner than expected.

Reflecting on his journey into research as an undergraduate, Silva says it was a life-changing experience. "I never thought of myself as someone who would be able to do research," he said. "But the fact that this was something that I felt like was actually going to make a difference... it meant everything to me."

Dr. LaBrenz says Silva-Brave encourages other undergraduate students interested in pursuing research. LaBrenz says students interested in research should consider three things.  First, the research topic should be something they are passionate about. Second, they should find a supportive mentor or professor who can guide them through the process. Finally, they need to be prepared for the commitment and dedication required.

Silva-Brave's research project is shining a light on the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives and has the potential to make a lasting impact on an issue that has long gone underrepresented.

Stay Connected

• SSW Communications & Marketing Office
• News Stories
• SSW Upcoming Events
• Newsletters
• Marketing Products

Address School of Social Work Box 19129 501 W. Mitchell Street Arlington, TX 76019-0129

Phone (Local): 817-272-3181 | (Toll Free): 866-272-3181 Fax : 817-272-5229

The School of Social Work Admissions office is located in Suite 203 in the Social Work and Smart Hospital Building (501 W. Mitchell Street, Arlington, TX 76019).

Follow us on social media

• Faculty/Staff Resources
• Parking Pass Request
• Request Information
• Conference Room/Classroom Reservation
• Special Event Request
• Student Forms & Resources

Middle East/South Asia Studies

Suad joseph grants for undergraduate student research.

• by Wilson T Xieu
• November 13, 2023

Suad Joseph Grants for Undergraduate Student Research on the Middle East, South Asia, North Africa, and/or Central Asia in the Humanities, Cultural Studies, or the Social Sciences Winter 2024-Spring 2024

The Middle East / South Asia Program welcomes applications from all students while especially encouraging applicants from under-represented groups whose contributions to studies of ME/SA peoples and cultures have been marginalized or silenced. Projects involving research conducted in languages of the ME/SA region will receive special consideration. Research projects that recognize entrenched forms of social injustice, discrimination, neo-colonialism and/or racial capitalism, and that seek to address these problems in some way, are of special interest to the review committee.

Undergraduate students in good standing with sophomore or junior status who will pursue undergraduate research in the form of a thesis or other supervised research project in any social science, humanities, or cultural studies discipline are welcome to apply for grants of up to $500 for use in Winter and/or Spring 2024. Students who receive grants will be expected to submit a one-page, single-spaced description of the research that they accomplished with the funds, including information about when and where they will present or publish the research. They may present at a ME/SA student research conference, another UCD student research conference, a UCD student research publication, or another venue.

Please submit application materials and ask the supervising faculty member to submit their recommendation via email to Wilson Xieu, Program Coordinator, Middle East/South Asia Studies with Suad Joseph Undergraduate Student Research Grant as the subject of the emails.

e-mail address [email protected]

Questions? Please feel free to contact Wilson Xieu, Program Coordinator of ME/SA Studies, the ME/SA Studies undergraduate adviser Mishaal Weatherford, or the faculty undergraduate adviser Prof. Mairaj Syed.

Application must include:

A. Description of the research project, up to 500 words typed single-spaced, including the following:

• Your name, class year, major and minors
• The name, department, and email address of the UC Davis faculty member who will supervise the research in a special course for thesis, research, or reading
• The course code, number, units, and quarter(s) of the special course(s) for supervision of research in which you are enrolled for Winter 2024 and/or planned for Spring 2024
• The type of project (thesis or other project)
• The title of the project
• The content of the project: discipline, topic, methods, research questions, and scope of the project
• The deadline planned for submission of research to the faculty supervisor 8. Name and amount of any research grants received so far for 2023-24

C. One confidential letter of recommendation sent via email by the UC Davis faculty member who will supervise the research to Wilson Xieu, Program Coordinator, ME/SA Studies at [email protected]

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Dissertation

Prize-Winning Thesis and Dissertation Examples

Published on September 9, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on July 18, 2023.

It can be difficult to know where to start when writing your thesis or dissertation . One way to come up with some ideas or maybe even combat writer’s block is to check out previous work done by other students on a similar thesis or dissertation topic to yours.

This article collects a list of undergraduate, master’s, and PhD theses and dissertations that have won prizes for their high-quality research.

Table of contents

Award-winning undergraduate theses, award-winning master’s theses, award-winning ph.d. dissertations, other interesting articles.

University : University of Pennsylvania Faculty : History Author : Suchait Kahlon Award : 2021 Hilary Conroy Prize for Best Honors Thesis in World History Title : “Abolition, Africans, and Abstraction: the Influence of the “Noble Savage” on British and French Antislavery Thought, 1787-1807”

University : Columbia University Faculty : History Author : Julien Saint Reiman Award : 2018 Charles A. Beard Senior Thesis Prize Title : “A Starving Man Helping Another Starving Man”: UNRRA, India, and the Genesis of Global Relief, 1943-1947

University: University College London Faculty: Geography Author: Anna Knowles-Smith Award:  2017 Royal Geographical Society Undergraduate Dissertation Prize Title:  Refugees and theatre: an exploration of the basis of self-representation

University: University of Washington Faculty:  Computer Science & Engineering Author: Nick J. Martindell Award: 2014 Best Senior Thesis Award Title:  DCDN: Distributed content delivery for the modern web

A faster, more affordable way to improve your paper

Scribbr’s new AI Proofreader checks your document and corrects spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes with near-human accuracy and the efficiency of AI!

Proofread my paper

University:  University of Edinburgh Faculty:  Informatics Author:  Christopher Sipola Award:  2018 Social Responsibility & Sustainability Dissertation Prize Title:  Summarizing electricity usage with a neural network

University:  University of Ottawa Faculty:  Education Author:  Matthew Brillinger Award:  2017 Commission on Graduate Studies in the Humanities Prize Title:  Educational Park Planning in Berkeley, California, 1965-1968

University:  University of Ottawa Faculty: Social Sciences Author:  Heather Martin Award:  2015 Joseph De Koninck Prize Title:  An Analysis of Sexual Assault Support Services for Women who have a Developmental Disability

University : University of Ottawa Faculty : Physics Author : Guillaume Thekkadath Award : 2017 Commission on Graduate Studies in the Sciences Prize Title : Joint measurements of complementary properties of quantum systems

University:  London School of Economics Faculty: International Development Author: Lajos Kossuth Award:  2016 Winner of the Prize for Best Overall Performance Title:  Shiny Happy People: A study of the effects income relative to a reference group exerts on life satisfaction

University : Stanford University Faculty : English Author : Nathan Wainstein Award : 2021 Alden Prize Title : “Unformed Art: Bad Writing in the Modernist Novel”

University : University of Massachusetts at Amherst Faculty : Molecular and Cellular Biology Author : Nils Pilotte Award : 2021 Byron Prize for Best Ph.D. Dissertation Title : “Improved Molecular Diagnostics for Soil-Transmitted Molecular Diagnostics for Soil-Transmitted Helminths”

University:  Utrecht University Faculty:  Linguistics Author:  Hans Rutger Bosker Award: 2014 AVT/Anéla Dissertation Prize Title:  The processing and evaluation of fluency in native and non-native speech

University: California Institute of Technology Faculty: Physics Author: Michael P. Mendenhall Award: 2015 Dissertation Award in Nuclear Physics Title: Measurement of the neutron beta decay asymmetry using ultracold neutrons

University:  Stanford University Faculty: Management Science and Engineering Author:  Shayan O. Gharan Award:  Doctoral Dissertation Award 2013 Title:   New Rounding Techniques for the Design and Analysis of Approximation Algorithms

University: University of Minnesota Faculty: Chemical Engineering Author: Eric A. Vandre Award:  2014 Andreas Acrivos Dissertation Award in Fluid Dynamics Title: Onset of Dynamics Wetting Failure: The Mechanics of High-speed Fluid Displacement

University: Erasmus University Rotterdam Faculty: Marketing Author: Ezgi Akpinar Award: McKinsey Marketing Dissertation Award 2014 Title: Consumer Information Sharing: Understanding Psychological Drivers of Social Transmission

University: University of Washington Faculty: Computer Science & Engineering Author: Keith N. Snavely Award:  2009 Doctoral Dissertation Award Title: Scene Reconstruction and Visualization from Internet Photo Collections

University:  University of Ottawa Faculty:  Social Work Author:  Susannah Taylor Award: 2018 Joseph De Koninck Prize Title:  Effacing and Obscuring Autonomy: the Effects of Structural Violence on the Transition to Adulthood of Street Involved Youth

If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or research bias, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

Research bias

• Survivorship bias
• Self-serving bias
• Availability heuristic
• Halo effect
• Hindsight bias
• Deep learning
• Generative AI
• Machine learning
• Reinforcement learning
• Supervised vs. unsupervised learning

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

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 Citation Generator.

George, T. (2023, July 18). Prize-Winning Thesis and Dissertation Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved November 13, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/examples/

Is this article helpful?

Tegan George

Other students also liked, how to choose a dissertation topic | 8 steps to follow, checklist: writing a dissertation, thesis & dissertation database examples, what is your plagiarism score.

• +44 7897 053596
• [email protected]

Get an experienced writer start working

Review our examples before placing an order, learn how to draft academic papers, how to write undergraduate dissertation | review examples, essentials, and tips.

What is Thematic Analysis Dissertation? | Explore Examples and Advantages

Business Management Dissertation Examples

Scoring good grades in your undergraduate courses is key to ensuring your success in college. But let’s face it; college can be tough! With all the newfound freedom that comes with being away from home, it can be easy to get sidetracked. We will provide tips to help you stay on track and achieve your desired grades.

• Choose Quality Education Dissertation Topics

This post will share tips and strategies for success and examples of high-quality undergraduate dissertations. As a student, completing an undergraduate dissertation can be a daunting task. However, it is possible to produce a well-written and well-researched paper with the right approach and dedication.

By reviewing the top-rated complete undergraduate dissertation examples listed below, you can understand the expectations and standards for this project. We hope this blog helps you navigate the process of completing your undergraduate dissertation and achieving good grades.

• Example: 1   Internet Censorship in the UAE: Freedom of the Internet
• Example: 2   The Importance of Procurement Strategy & Impact on Construction Projects

3-Step  Dissertation Process!

Get 3+ Topics

Dissertation Proposal

Get Final Dissertation

What is an undergraduate dissertation.

An undergraduate dissertation is a piece of independent research undertaken by a student during their degree course. The dissertation is usually done in the final year of the course and counts towards the overall grade for the degree.

How Long Does an Undergraduate Dissertation Have to be?

The length of an undergraduate dissertation can vary depending on the university, but they are typically between 10,000 and 20,000 words.

• Review How Long Should a Dissertation Be?

What is the Difference Between a Dissertation and a Thesis?

A dissertation is usually done as part of a bachelor’s degree, while a thesis is usually done as part of a master’s degree. A thesis is generally longer and more detailed than a dissertation.

What are the Benefits of Doing an Undergraduate Dissertation?

There are many benefits to doing an undergraduate dissertation, including developing research skills, gaining independence, and demonstrating the ability to work on a long-term project.

• Review The Benefits of Hiring a Professional Assignment Writing Service

How to Choose a Topic for Your Undergraduate Dissertation?

The best way to choose a topic for your undergraduate dissertation is to select something you are interested in and feel passionate about. Choosing a feasible topic within the time frame and word limit you have been given is also important.

• Choose Quality Dissertation Topics on Various Subjects

How Do I Write an Undergraduate Dissertation?

Writing an undergraduate dissertation can be hectic as it's the first time you might encounter these types of documents or research. Still, it is crucial to remember that you are not alone in this process. Many resources are available to help you, including your supervisor, librarians, and fellow students. The most important thing is to start early and be prepared to put in the hard work required to produce high-quality research.

• An Exclusive Guide on How to Write Fast

Expert Suggestions to Get on Track with Good Results

1) Get involved in student organizations related to your field of study. It will help you network and motivate and inspire you about your future career path.

2) Get to know your professors and form relationships with them. Ask for help when you need it, and let them know about your career aspirations. They can offer guidance or connect you with an internship or job opportunity down the road.

3) Start each semester off strong by prioritizing your coursework and setting realistic goals. Build in time for fun activities but ensure your academic responsibilities come first.

4) Utilize campus resources like tutoring services, the writing centre, or the library. These places can offer support and assistance when needed.

5) Take advantage of technology tools like online grade books or apps to help you stay organized and on top of deadlines.

6) Finally, remember to take care of yourself! Eat healthy foods, exercise, and get enough sleep. Reducing stress will also help improve your focus and concentration while studying.

5 Tips to Acing Your Undergraduate Dissertation

Your undergraduate dissertation is likely one of the tasks to get top-notch grades. Here are five tips to help you ace your undergraduate dissertation and graduate with flying colours.

1.   Start Early

Although it may seem apparent, getting started on your dissertation as soon as possible is crucial. Dissertations may be complicated and time-consuming, so it's crucial to allow yourself adequate time to finish them. By getting started early, you'll have more time to make any required adjustments or updates.

2.   Choose a Topic You're Passionate About

Your dissertation should be on a topic that you're passionate about. It will make the research and writing more enjoyable and less of a chore. It's also important to choose a topic that's specific enough that you can narrow down your focus but not so specific that there needs to be more information available.

• How to Write a Unique Dissertation Title: Tips and Examples

3.   Do your Research

Before you start writing, it's important to research and develops a strong understanding of the existing literature on your topic. It will help you formulate a research question and identify gaps in the literature that your research can address. Additionally, familiarizing yourself with the existing literature will make writing a literature review for your dissertation easier.

4.   Stay Organized

It's important to stay organized throughout the process of writing your dissertation. Keep track of all your research materials, including articles, books, notes, etc., in one place so you can easily refer to them when writing. Creating an outline can help you stay organized and ensure your argument is clear and concise.

5.   Seek Help When Needed

Writing a dissertation can be challenging, so don't hesitate to seek help when needed. Talk to your supervisor or instructor for guidance and feedback throughout the process. Additionally, many online resources can assist, such as Premier Dissertation or Thesis Helpers. Be bold and ask for help to ensure that you produce the best work possible.

Required Time Frame for Undergraduate Dissertation?

The amount of time you need to dedicate to your dissertation will vary depending on several factors, including the length of the dissertation, the level of difficulty of the topic, and your other commitments. In general, you should expect to spend several months working on your dissertation, including time spent on research, writing, and editing.

Assessment Criteria for an Undergraduate Dissertation

The assessment criteria for an undergraduate dissertation vary between universities and departments. However, dissertations are generally assessed on their clarity of purpose, originality and contribution to knowledge, methodology, findings, and conclusions. Additionally, dissertations are often marked on their structure, style, and use of language.

List of Undergraduate Dissertation Examples

To help you along the way, we've compiled a list of undergraduate dissertation examples from past students. Use these examples as inspiration for your work and learn from the success and failures of others.

• A florist by day, a Spiderman by night: How the dual identity of Students with Part-Time Jobs Affects Their Academic Achievement
• Accessing 1st Generation Advantage: Determinants and Consequences of Educational Aspirations in 1st Generation Immigrant Families
• How Do Type 2 Diabetics Fare in Low-Carbohydrate Diets? Blood Glucose Levels and HbA1c Before and After 6 Months
• Spend, Save, or Splurge? An Analysis of Student Loan Debt Repayment Impacts on Financial Wellbeing
• From Buddy to Boss: The Impact of Managerial Promotions on Employee Performance
• Is Social Media Making Us More Narcissistic? A Cross-Sectional Study Comparing Personality Traits Between Social Media Users and Non-Users
• Going Green to Save Some Green? The Relationship Between Environmental Sustainability Efforts and Operating Costs in Hotels
• All talk and no action? The relationship between domestic violence education programs and police officer behaviour
• Bridging the School-to-Prison Pipeline: The Impact of Middle School Suspension on High School Dropout Rates

To conclude, undergraduate dissertation examples help you find a proper layout for writing a successful dissertation. These are just a few successful undergraduate dissertation examples from past students. As you can see, various topics can be covered, and various approaches can be taken. Use these examples as inspiration for your work, and you'll be on your way to writing a successful undergraduate dissertation.

Contact professionals at Premier Dissertation for any help or writing a stellar undergraduate dissertation.

Following are some of the valuable links to learn how to write different sections of a dissertation;

• A Comprehensive Guide on How to Write an Introduction Paragraph
• Literature Review: A Detailed Student Guide on How to Write a Literature Review

How Does It Work ?

Fill the Form

Please fill the free topic form and share your requirements

Writer Starts Working

The writer starts to find a topic for you (based on your requirements)

3+ Topics Emailed!

The writer shared custom topics with you within 24 hours

Get an Immediate Response

Discuss your requirments with our writers

Get 3+ Free   Dissertation Topics within 24 hours?

Your Number

Academic Level Select Academic Level Undergraduate Masters PhD

Area of Research

Related posts

Table of Abbreviations for Thesis: A Beginner’s Guide

Footnote Referencing Styles: Academic Writing

How to Write a Critical Analysis? | A Step-by-Step Guide

Comments are closed.

lodgeonthegreen.com

A Guide To Writing A Dissertation Dedication Perfectly

Once you are through with your research and have compiled the final draft of your dissertation, there is a small but significant section to include. This section is known as the dissertation dedication. A dedication in dissertation is normally done once you are through with the research. It is imperative to note that there is a difference between an acknowledgement and a dedication. It is essential as it shows those who have provided the inspiration through the process of completion of your dissertation. This article will take you through the various dissertation dedication examples that can be relevant to your complete dissertation.

Dissertation dedication examples

As mentioned, a dedication is a kind of devotion to a certain individual who has been an inspiration in the completion of your dissertation. Note that these are not the people who have had a direct impact on your efforts to complete your dissertation. As such, when writing a dedication of dissertation quote, you can use examples such as these.

17% OFF on your first order Type the code 17TUDENT

• I dedicate this to my high school teacher, who inspired me to pursue Literature and English
• For my parents who gave me moral lessons on discipline from an earlier age and helped pay for my studies
• For my supervisor who was the guiding light every step of the way as I researched for this dissertation
• To the memory of my sister Jane, who always believed in my abilities to earn a doctorate degree

Using the above examples, you are able to devote your work to another person who acted as an inspiration.

How long should a dissertation dedication be?

Your dissertation dedication quotes can be as long as one page. You are free to give thanks to all those who inspired you to take on the research journey from the onset.

A dissertation can take you months of research, and redoing many tasks based on the feedback from your supervisor as you proceed. As such, a dedication can take you at least one hour to complete and should be done after you are through with the final draft of your dissertation. This way, you are free to reflect and look back on those who have been with you through the journey.

In case you do not have any idea of what to write on your dedication, you can find a dissertation dedication sample online that you can use. As you would expect, the dedication has little to do with the approval of your dissertation, therefore, you are free to leave the dissertation dedication page blank. However, it is always a good idea to include it using dissertation dedication quotes you find online.

Using the simple guide above, you will come up with the right dedication and know whom to include in the dedication. In addition, if you are at a loss for words, you will find dissertation dedications examples online as you wind up the dissertation writing process. Moreover, you can seek online tutors to help you write the section.

Writing Help

• WriteZillas

Title: Georgetown Alumnus, DOJ War Crimes Researcher Wins 2024 Rhodes Scholarship

Thomas Batterman (C’22), a researcher who investigates war crimes at the Department of Justice and who made new discoveries about a medieval plague while at Georgetown, has won the 2024 Rhodes Scholarship — the oldest and most competitive international scholarship.

Batterman is among only 32 recipients of the Rhodes nationwide. He joins the ranks of more than 30 other Georgetown students and alumni who have received the scholarship, including last year’s two recipients, Atharv Gupta (SFS’23) and Isabella Turilli (SFS’22), and former President Bill Clinton (SFS’68).

The scholarship selects promising young people from around the world who demonstrate integrity, leadership, character, intellect and a commitment to service to study at the University of Oxford.

“The Rhodes Scholarship is a remarkable achievement. On behalf of our university, I wish to offer the sincerest congratulations to Thomas,” says Georgetown President John J. DeGioia. “Through his deep research and innovative approaches to the pursuit of knowledge, Thomas embodies a deep commitment to leadership, excellence and service to our world. We look forward to all that he will contribute in the years ahead.”

At Oxford, Batterman will pursue graduate degrees in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies and the History of War.

Batterman is a research specialist at the U.S. Department of Justice who works on a team investigating war crimes.  

At Georgetown, he investigated centuries of writing to make new discoveries about an early medieval plague — a finding in his undergraduate thesis that garnered the Morris Historical Medal for best thesis from Georgetown’s History Department and helped shape an article that  will be published in an academic journal next spring.

Batterman’s research methods — cross-examining primary sources, parsing through contradictory accounts — are the same skills he applies now in his daily work at the DOJ.

“Tommy is fervently committed to public service, has varied and unique interests, is respected by his peers, colleagues and professors, is a hard worker and unquestionably brilliant,” says Lauren Tuckley, director for the Center of Research and Fellowships.

Something New About an Old Plague

Batterman enrolled in the Georgetown course, “The Global History of the Plague,” in 2020. Midway through the semester, his class coincided with a real-life plague as COVID-19 struck.

Batterman would later begin researching a bubonic plague outbreak that many historians believed had hit in A.D. 565 and ushered in the fall of Byzantine northern Italy. Through the course and his research, he studied literary, palynological and paleogenomic sources, piecing together an interdisciplinary picture of a historic pandemic. He didn’t rely on one author’s historical account, but cross-examined sources, finding that certain Italian plagues likely did not take place when most historians thought and that centuries of historians had continuously revised the timeline.

“Most students who do well in this class know the readings and discuss them,” said Timothy Newfield , who taught Batterman twice and served as his thesis advisor and mentor. “Tommy, like the absolute best, did more: he challenged the readings. Reading them against each other, considering them in light of what we had already learned, he could dissect the articles. That his history honors thesis is about to be published in the Journal of Late Antiquity , a senior academic journal in Tommy’s field, is a testament to the quality of his work and his industry.”

Applying Coursework to the DOJ

In 2020, he began working at the Department of Justice (DOJ). Impressed by his research capabilities, quality of work and dedication, leaders at the DOJ promoted him to a research specialist, a role he began in September 2022 after graduating.

“I cannot stress enough how unusual it is for a recent college graduate to demonstrate so much intellectual and moral seriousness,” Christine Evans, a historian in the DOJ Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), said. “My colleagues and I at HRSP have been astounded by the extraordinary energy, skill, and persistence Tommy brings to his work for our investigations.”

Batterman now works with historians, attorneys, and law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute international war crimes. He supports the Ukraine War Crimes Accountability Team, often leading presentations on complex, technical subjects, Evans shared.

“Tommy is making a truly significant contribution to our investigations,” she said. 

Eli M. Rosenbaum, director of Human Rights Enforcement Strategy and Policy at HRSP and lead on the DOJ’s War Crimes Accountability Team, shared that in his 38-year career at the DOJ pursuing accountability for war crimes and human rights violations, Batterman is one of “the most impressive college interns I have ever encountered.” 

“It has been a joy to work with a young person whose passion for justice and fairness infuses both his professional and personal lives,” Rosenbaum said. “I have high expectations for Tommy’s future – as a leader whose leadership will be characterized by the same remarkable qualities that my colleagues and I have observed in him as a colleague at DOJ.”

Orangutans and Drumming

While at Georgetown, Batterman’s curiosity and interests extended beyond history. He was  lead drummer in Georgetown’s Jazz Ensemble and managed Georgetown Cabaret. He also wrote articles on art and culture for The Georgetown Independent and was an editor for Utraque Unum , an undergraduate research journal on the humanities. 

He now volunteers at DC’s National Zoo as a zookeeper aide in the primate unit, a position he started while a senior at Georgetown.

“In a city full of undergraduates who hope to make it big in politics, Tommy is of the rare sort who is driven by a deep-seated, carefully-contemplated, money-where-your-mouth-is commitment to public service and the common good,” said Rev. David Collins, SJ, who taught him in an upper-level undergraduate course on the history of astronomy as a first-year undergraduate and later became Batterman’s advisor for the history major.

Looking forward to Oxford, Batterman is eager to learn more and delve deeper into history, and to unearth new connections between past and present pandemics.  

Related Content

Georgetown Alumna and Pandemic Policy Researcher Wins 2023 Rhodes Scholarship

Georgetown Senior, Technology and International Development Researcher Wins 2023 Rhodes Scholarship

Blind Disability Rights Activist From Pakistan Wins Rhodes Scholarship

• Formatting Your Dissertation
• Introduction

Harvard Griffin GSAS strives to provide students with timely, accurate, and clear information. If you need help understanding a specific policy, please contact the office that administers that policy.

• Application for Degree
• Credit for Completed Graduate Work
• Ad Hoc Degree Programs
• Acknowledging the Work of Others
• Advanced Planning
• Dissertation Submission Checklist
• Publishing Options
• Submitting Your Dissertation
• English Language Proficiency
• PhD Program Requirements
• Secondary Fields
• Year of Graduate Study (G-Year)
• Master's Degrees
• Grade and Examination Requirements
• Conduct and Safety
• Financial Aid
• Registration

On this page:

Language of the Dissertation

Page and text requirements, body of text, tables, figures, and captions, dissertation acceptance certificate, copyright statement.

• Table of Contents

Front and Back Matter

Supplemental material, dissertations comprising previously published works, top ten formatting errors, further questions.

• Related Contacts and Forms

When preparing the dissertation for submission, students must follow strict formatting requirements. Any deviation from these requirements may lead to rejection of the dissertation and delay in the conferral of the degree.

The language of the dissertation is ordinarily English, although some departments whose subject matter involves foreign languages may accept a dissertation written in a language other than English.

Most dissertations are 100 to 300 pages in length. All dissertations should be divided into appropriate sections, and long dissertations may need chapters, main divisions, and subdivisions.

• 8½ x 11 inches, unless a musical score is included
• At least 1 inch for all margins
• Body of text: double spacing
• Block quotations, footnotes, and bibliographies: single spacing within each entry but double spacing between each entry
• Table of contents, list of tables, list of figures or illustrations, and lengthy tables: single spacing may be used

Fonts and Point Size

Use 10-12 point size. Fonts must be embedded in the PDF file to ensure all characters display correctly. 

Recommended Fonts

If you are unsure whether your chosen font will display correctly, use one of the following fonts: 

If fonts are not embedded, non-English characters may not appear as intended. Fonts embedded improperly will be published to DASH as-is. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that fonts are embedded properly prior to submission. 

Instructions for Embedding Fonts

To embed your fonts in recent versions of Word, follow these instructions from Microsoft:

• Click the File tab and then click Options .
• In the left column, select the Save tab.
• Clear the Do not embed common system fonts check box.

For reference, below are some instructions from ProQuest UMI for embedding fonts in older file formats:

To embed your fonts in Microsoft Word 2010:

• In the File pull-down menu click on Options .
• Choose Save on the left sidebar.
• Check the box next to Embed fonts in the file.
• Click the OK button.
• Save the document.

Note that when saving as a PDF, make sure to go to “more options” and save as “PDF/A compliant”

To embed your fonts in Microsoft Word 2007:

• Click the circular Office button in the upper left corner of Microsoft Word.
• A new window will display. In the bottom right corner select Word Options . 
• Choose Save from the left sidebar.

Using Microsoft Word on a Mac:

Microsoft Word 2008 on a Mac OS X computer will automatically embed your fonts while converting your document to a PDF file.

If you are converting to PDF using Acrobat Professional (instructions courtesy of the Graduate Thesis Office at Iowa State University):  

• Open your document in Microsoft Word. 
• Click on the Adobe PDF tab at the top. Select "Change Conversion Settings." 
• Click on Advanced Settings. 
• Click on the Fonts folder on the left side of the new window. In the lower box on the right, delete any fonts that appear in the "Never Embed" box. Then click "OK." 
• If prompted to save these new settings, save them as "Embed all fonts." 
• Now the Change Conversion Settings window should show "embed all fonts" in the Conversion Settings drop-down list and it should be selected. Click "OK" again. 
• Click on the Adobe PDF link at the top again. This time select Convert to Adobe PDF. Depending on the size of your document and the speed of your computer, this process can take 1-15 minutes. 
• After your document is converted, select the "File" tab at the top of the page. Then select "Document Properties." 
• Click on the "Fonts" tab. Carefully check all of your fonts. They should all show "(Embedded Subset)" after the font name. 
•  If you see "(Embedded Subset)" after all fonts, you have succeeded.

The font used in the body of the text must also be used in headers, page numbers, and footnotes. Exceptions are made only for tables and figures created with different software and inserted into the document.

Tables and figures must be placed as close as possible to their first mention in the text. They may be placed on a page with no text above or below, or they may be placed directly into the text. If a table or a figure is alone on a page (with no narrative), it should be centered within the margins on the page. Tables may take up more than one page as long as they obey all rules about margins. Tables and figures referred to in the text may not be placed at the end of the chapter or at the end of the dissertation.

• Given the standards of the discipline, dissertations in the Department of History of Art and Architecture and the Department of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning often place illustrations at the end of the dissertation.

Figure and table numbering must be continuous throughout the dissertation or by chapter (e.g., 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, etc.). Two figures or tables cannot be designated with the same number. If you have repeating images that you need to cite more than once, label them with their number and A, B, etc. 

Headings should be placed at the top of tables. While no specific rules for the format of table headings and figure captions are required, a consistent format must be used throughout the dissertation (contact your department for style manuals appropriate to the field).

Captions should appear at the bottom of any figures. If the figure takes up the entire page, the caption should be placed alone on the preceding page, centered vertically and horizontally within the margins.

Each page receives a separate page number. When a figure or table title is on a preceding page, the second and subsequent pages of the figure or table should say, for example, “Figure 5 (Continued).” In such an instance, the list of figures or tables will list the page number containing the title. The word “figure” should be written in full (not abbreviated), and the “F” should be capitalized (e.g., Figure 5). In instances where the caption continues on a second page, the “(Continued)” notation should appear on the second and any subsequent page. The figure/table and the caption are viewed as one entity and the numbering should show correlation between all pages. Each page must include a header.

Landscape orientation figures and tables must be positioned correctly and bound at the top so that the top of the figure or table will be at the left margin. Figure and table headings/captions are placed with the same orientation as the figure or table when on the same page. When on a separate page, headings/captions are always placed in portrait orientation, regardless of the orientation of the figure or table. Page numbers are always placed as if the figure were vertical on the page.

If a graphic artist does the figures, Harvard Griffin GSAS will accept lettering done by the artist only within the figure. Figures done with software are acceptable if the figures are clear and legible. Legends and titles done by the same process as the figures will be accepted if they too are clear, legible, and run at least 10 or 12 characters per inch. Otherwise, legends and captions should be printed with the same font used in the text.

Original illustrations, photographs, and fine arts prints may be scanned and included, centered between the margins on a page with no text above or below.

Use of Third-Party Content

In addition to the student's own writing, dissertations often contain third-party content or in-copyright content owned by parties other than you, the student who authored the dissertation. The Office for Scholarly Communication recommends consulting the information below about fair use, which allows individuals to use in-copyright content, on a limited basis and for specific purposes, without seeking permission from copyright holders.

Because your dissertation will be made available for online distribution through DASH , Harvard's open-access repository, it is important that any third-party content in it may be made available in this way.

Fair Use and Copyright 

What is fair use?

Fair use is a provision in copyright law that allows the use of a certain amount of copyrighted material without seeking permission. Fair use is format- and media-agnostic. This means fair use may apply to images (including photographs, illustrations, and paintings), quoting at length from literature, videos, and music regardless of the format. 

How do I determine whether my use of an image or other third-party content in my dissertation is fair use?  

There are four factors you will need to consider when making a fair use claim.

1) For what purpose is your work going to be used?

• Nonprofit, educational, scholarly, or research use favors fair use. Commercial, non-educational uses, often do not favor fair use.
• A transformative use (repurposing or recontextualizing the in-copyright material) favors fair use. Examining, analyzing, and explicating the material in a meaningful way, so as to enhance a reader's understanding, strengthens your fair use argument. In other words, can you make the point in the thesis without using, for instance, an in-copyright image? Is that image necessary to your dissertation? If not, perhaps, for copyright reasons, you should not include the image.  

2) What is the nature of the work to be used?

• Published, fact-based content favors fair use and includes scholarly analysis in published academic venues. 
• Creative works, including artistic images, are afforded more protection under copyright, and depending on your use in light of the other factors, may be less likely to favor fair use; however, this does not preclude considerations of fair use for creative content altogether.

3) How much of the work is going to be used?  

• Small, or less significant, amounts favor fair use. A good rule of thumb is to use only as much of the in-copyright content as necessary to serve your purpose. Can you use a thumbnail rather than a full-resolution image? Can you use a black-and-white photo instead of color? Can you quote select passages instead of including several pages of the content? These simple changes bolster your fair use of the material.

4) What potential effect on the market for that work may your use have?

• If there is a market for licensing this exact use or type of educational material, then this weighs against fair use. If however, there would likely be no effect on the potential commercial market, or if it is not possible to obtain permission to use the work, then this favors fair use. 

For further assistance with fair use, consult the Office for Scholarly Communication's guide, Fair Use: Made for the Harvard Community and the Office of the General Counsel's Copyright and Fair Use: A Guide for the Harvard Community .

What are my options if I don’t have a strong fair use claim? 

Consider the following options if you find you cannot reasonably make a fair use claim for the content you wish to incorporate:

• Seek permission from the copyright holder. 
• Use openly licensed content as an alternative to the original third-party content you intended to use. Openly-licensed content grants permission up-front for reuse of in-copyright content, provided your use meets the terms of the open license.
• Use content in the public domain, as this content is not in-copyright and is therefore free of all copyright restrictions. Whereas third-party content is owned by parties other than you, no one owns content in the public domain; everyone, therefore, has the right to use it.

For use of images in your dissertation, please consult this guide to Finding Public Domain & Creative Commons Media , which is a great resource for finding images without copyright restrictions. 

Who can help me with questions about copyright and fair use?

Contact your Copyright First Responder . Please note, Copyright First Responders assist with questions concerning copyright and fair use, but do not assist with the process of obtaining permission from copyright holders.

Pages should be assigned a number except for the Dissertation Acceptance Certificate . Preliminary pages (abstract, table of contents, list of tables, graphs, illustrations, and preface) should use small Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, v, etc.). All pages must contain text or images.  

Count the title page as page i and the copyright page as page ii, but do not print page numbers on either page .

For the body of text, use Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.) starting with page 1 on the first page of text. Page numbers must be centered throughout the manuscript at the top or bottom. Every numbered page must be consecutively ordered, including tables, graphs, illustrations, and bibliography/index (if included); letter suffixes (such as 10a, 10b, etc.) are not allowed. It is customary not to have a page number on the page containing a chapter heading.

• Check pagination carefully. Account for all pages.

A copy of the Dissertation Acceptance Certificate (DAC) should appear as the first page. This page should not be counted or numbered. The DAC will appear in the online version of the published dissertation. The author name and date on the DAC and title page should be the same. 

The dissertation begins with the title page; the title should be as concise as possible and should provide an accurate description of the dissertation. The author name and date on the DAC and title page should be the same. 

• Do not print a page number on the title page. It is understood to be page  i  for counting purposes only.

A copyright notice should appear on a separate page immediately following the title page and include the copyright symbol ©, the year of first publication of the work, and the name of the author:

© [ year ] [ Author’s Name ] All rights reserved.

Alternatively, students may choose to license their work openly under a  Creative Commons  license. The author remains the copyright holder while at the same time granting up-front permission to others to read, share, and (depending on the license) adapt the work, so long as proper attribution is given. (By default, under copyright law, the author reserves all rights; under a Creative Commons license, the author reserves some rights.)

• Do  not  print a page number on the copyright page. It is understood to be page  ii  for counting purposes only.

An abstract, numbered as page  iii , should immediately follow the copyright page and should state the problem, describe the methods and procedures used, and give the main results or conclusions of the research. The abstract will appear in the online and bound versions of the dissertation and will be published by ProQuest. There is no maximum word count for the abstract. 

• double-spaced
• left-justified
• indented on the first line of each paragraph
• The author’s name, right justified
• The words “Dissertation Advisor:” followed by the advisor’s name, left-justified (a maximum of two advisors is allowed)
• Title of the dissertation, centered, several lines below author and advisor

Dissertations divided into sections must contain a table of contents that lists, at minimum, the major headings in the following order:

• Front Matter
• Body of Text
• Back Matter

Front matter includes (if applicable):

• acknowledgements of help or encouragement from individuals or institutions
• a dedication
• a list of illustrations or tables
• a glossary of terms
• one or more epigraphs.

Back matter includes (if applicable):

• bibliography
• supplemental materials, including figures and tables
• an index (in rare instances).

Supplemental figures and tables must be placed at the end of the dissertation in an appendix, not within or at the end of a chapter. If additional digital information (including audio, video, image, or datasets) will accompany the main body of the dissertation, it should be uploaded as a supplemental file through ProQuest ETD . Supplemental material will be available in DASH and ProQuest and preserved digitally in the Harvard University Archives.

As a matter of copyright, dissertations comprising the student's previously published works must be authorized for distribution from DASH. The guidelines in this section pertain to any previously published material that requires permission from publishers or other rightsholders before it may be distributed from DASH. Please note:

• Authors whose publishing agreements grant the publisher exclusive rights to display, distribute, and create derivative works will need to seek the publisher's permission for nonexclusive use of the underlying works before the dissertation may be distributed from DASH.
• Authors whose publishing agreements indicate the authors have retained the relevant nonexclusive rights to the original materials for display, distribution, and the creation of derivative works may distribute the dissertation as a whole from DASH without need for further permissions.

It is recommended that authors consult their publishing agreements directly to determine whether and to what extent they may have transferred exclusive rights under copyright. The Office for Scholarly Communication (OSC) is available to help the author determine whether she has retained the necessary rights or requires permission. Please note, however, the Office of Scholarly Communication is not able to assist with the permissions process itself.

• Missing Dissertation Acceptance Certificate.  The first page of the PDF dissertation file should be a scanned copy of the Dissertation Acceptance Certificate (DAC). This page should not be counted or numbered as a part of the dissertation pagination.
• Conflicts Between the DAC and the Title Page.  The DAC and the dissertation title page must match exactly, meaning that the author name and the title on the title page must match that on the DAC. If you use your full middle name or just an initial on one document, it must be the same on the other document.  
• Abstract Formatting Errors. The advisor name should be left-justified, and the author's name should be right-justified. Up to two advisor names are allowed. The Abstract should be double spaced and include the page title “Abstract,” as well as the page number “iii.” There is no maximum word count for the abstract. 
•  The front matter should be numbered using Roman numerals (iii, iv, v, …). The title page and the copyright page should be counted but not numbered. The first printed page number should appear on the Abstract page (iii). 
• The body of the dissertation should be numbered using Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3, …). The first page of the body of the text should begin with page 1. Pagination may not continue from the front matter. 
• All page numbers should be centered either at the top or the bottom of the page.
• Figures and tables Figures and tables must be placed within the text, as close to their first mention as possible. Figures and tables that span more than one page must be labeled on each page. Any second and subsequent page of the figure/table must include the “(Continued)” notation. This applies to figure captions as well as images. Each page of a figure/table must be accounted for and appropriately labeled. All figures/tables must have a unique number. They may not repeat within the dissertation.
• Any figures/tables placed in a horizontal orientation must be placed with the top of the figure/ table on the left-hand side. The top of the figure/table should be aligned with the spine of the dissertation when it is bound. 
• Page numbers must be placed in the same location on all pages of the dissertation, centered, at the bottom or top of the page. Page numbers may not appear under the table/ figure.
• Supplemental Figures and Tables. Supplemental figures and tables must be placed at the back of the dissertation in an appendix. They should not be placed at the back of the chapter. 
• Permission Letters Copyright. permission letters must be uploaded as a supplemental file, titled ‘do_not_publish_permission_letters,” within the dissertation submission tool.
•  DAC Attachment. The signed Dissertation Acceptance Certificate must additionally be uploaded as a document in the "Administrative Documents" section when submitting in Proquest ETD . Dissertation submission is not complete until all documents have been received and accepted.
• Overall Formatting. The entire document should be checked after all revisions, and before submitting online, to spot any inconsistencies or PDF conversion glitches.
• You can view dissertations successfully published from your department in DASH . This is a great place to check for specific formatting and area-specific conventions.
• Contact the  Office of Student Affairs  with further questions.

CONTACT INFO

Student affairs, explore events.

Sorry, your request has been denied.