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Optimum research consulting, premiere dissertation assistance, at optimum, we provide comprehensive dissertation assistance tailored to each client and each study. reach out today for a free consultation with an expert dissertation coach..

Our expert team at Optimum Research can provide you flexible, responsive dissertation help as you navigate your doctoral journey. Since 2018, we’ve helped hundreds of candidates become doctors through highly individualized, hands-on support . We offer help at each stage of your journey, leveraging the expertise of our team to provide doctoral-level research , qualitative and quantitative methodology, statistical analysis, and dissertation editing.

Our tailored, client-specific approach makes us different from other dissertation consulting firms, many of whom charge on a per-page or per-hour basis and don’t take the time to learn about a client’s study and needs before sharing a quote. At Optimum, we:

• Offer free consultation with each client, first listening about your journey—where you are in that process, where you’ve been, and where you’re going .
• Complete a diagnostic review of your existing work to determine where you’re starting from and what’s needed to reach final approval .
• Provide a comprehensive written plan with feedback, guidance, and a plan for assistance and a to-the-dollar cost that includes all revisions.
• Answer any and all questions before we start working and after we finish, ensuring we stay on the same page and on the path to approval.

These principles guide all the dissertation help we provide, through all the stages of the journey. Our assistance starts with the exploratory research needed to find a current and significant gap in the literature to motivate your study, and it culminates in comprehensive support in preparing for the defense of your final dissertation .

In between, we can help with all the research you’ll need to situate your study in the context of work in the field and justify its focus and research design . We can also develop a full methodology to help guide you through recruitment, data collection, and the qualitative and quantitative analysis that will help you construct the results and discussion chapters. We can also take on comprehensive dissertation editing and formatting to ensure that your manuscript adheres to APA editing conventions or any other formatting guidelines you must use.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is optimumresearchconsulting.com .

Optimum Research Consulting is a full-service academic consulting firm providing dissertation help across all stages of the doctoral journey. We offer a tailored and responsive approach, providing hands-on assistance with dissertation research, qualitative and quantitative methodology, statistical analysis, APA editing, and even defense preparation. We also help with everything in between these steps, leveraging doctoral-level expertise to help you reach approval quickly.

Why choose Optimum Research?

At Optimum, we recognize that each client and each study are different. Unlike other consulting firms, we don’t share a cost or contract without first building a careful, tailored plan for assistance . We offer free consultation and a free diagnostic review s of what you’re working on to help us see where you’re starting from and where you need to go. In fact, clients often tell us that the feedback and guidance we share is  more helpful than anything they’ve received from their committees! 

With the deep understanding we build through our review, we know exactly how to help, sharing a plan and quote for exactly that–with a cost that won’t change.

Do you provide a guarantee ?

We do! Because of the planning we do at the start of each project, we can take on all revisions until final approval . All reviewers have individual preferences–we learn and align our work with the m, all the way to the finish line .

What will it cost ?

Unlike other consulting firms, we don’t price on a per-hour or per-page basis. Doing so results in costs that aren’t stated clearly upfront and continue to creep upward during the course of a project. At Optimum, our expert dissertation coaches share a specific, to-the-dollar quote after diagnostic review and planning. The result is a tailored cost to match what you need to reach approval, including all revisions to get there.

Where are your consultants located ?

All of our staff–dissertation coaches, researchers, qualitative and quantitative analysts, statisticians, and APA editors–are based in the United States. Optimum is a cloud-based company, as this allows us to leverage the expertise of professors and researchers in a wide variety of fields. However, we insist that our team is US-based , as this ensures that we keep our work at doctoral level . Again, our clients’ work matters, and reaching approval quickly is the best way we can help.

Do you have subject-matter experts in my field of study?

We certainly do. Given the way we leverage doctoral-level resources, we have subject-matter experts in psychology, education, business, nursing, healthcare, organizational leadership, and a host of other fields. When a client reaches out for dissertation help in a field we don’t work in–say, electrical engineering–we’re happy to refer to another service.

What is the policy concerning confidentiality ?

Your privacy is important to us. In the first email we send to you, we’ll include a n on-disclosure agreement , guaranteeing that the information you share with us is used only for our consultation together. We take other precautions, as well–our email servers are with Google, whose email and cloud storage solutions adhere to ISO 27001 and other independent security standards.

Will the price be reduced if I don't urgently need the work?

In determining the cost for the dissertation assistance we provide, we assess both (a) what’s needed and (b) the timeline. We’re pretty fast : Our work is done within 2-3 weeks. During that time, we ensure that we adhere to all guidelines —this reduces the number of revisions that would come with work thrown together hastily, resulting in much faster approval.

When we can have flexibility in our normal time frame, we’re able to leverage resources more efficiently and pass those savings to you . Of course, what’s needed to reach final approval won’t change, but we can certainly provide at least a modest discount when we get more time.  

Can you reduce the plagiarism score of my dissertation ?

It’s common for candidates to struggle with high similarity scores from checkers like Turnitin. We can address plagiarism issues so that you can resubmit and reach approval.

Can I set up a payment plan ?

Of course! We do this automatically for clients, as we divide the cost of each project into installments. Specifically, we use milestone-based payments where, after an initial payment for us to get started, all subsequent payments come with the receipt of work from us. This way, you make payments only as you progress toward approval.

Through comprehensive support that lasts to final approval, the team at Optimum can help you save on tuition costs and expand your bandwidth so you can devote time and attention to what matters . We’d love to talk about our dissertation research expertise and share insights that light the way forward. Reach out by phone at 984-222-7122 or email us at [email protected] .

Name Email Tell us how we might assist you. If you would like a call back please leave your number.

At Optimum, our expert dissertation coaches are here to help. There’s no commitment after your free phone consultation . It matters to us to learn–about your study, your needs, and how we can help.

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We know that meeting deadlines with high-quality work matters. We guarantee on-time submission and alignment with guidelines for each project, and revisions are included at no additional charge . We develop comprehensive plans before sharing quotes or accepting payments to make sure our dissertation help leads to final approval. We believe in open communication to earn your trust– so if you have questions, just ask!

Optimum’s research team is composed of qualitative and quantitative analysts who have extensive, doctoral-level research experience. We stand behind our expertise and guarantee approval for all the dissertation assistance we provide.

Optimum Research is available 7 days a week, 365 days a year to serve you. Our office is open from 9:00am to 6:00pm Eastern time, Monday through Friday . We’re always available via email and can work around your schedule to connect.

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Thesis and Dissertation: Getting Started

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

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Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

The resources in this section are designed to provide guidance for the first steps of the thesis or dissertation writing process. They offer tools to support the planning and managing of your project, including writing out your weekly schedule, outlining your goals, and organzing the various working elements of your project.

Weekly Goals Sheet (a.k.a. Life Map) [Word Doc]

This editable handout provides a place for you to fill in available time blocks on a weekly chart that will help you visualize the amount of time you have available to write. By using this chart, you will be able to work your writing goals into your schedule and put these goals into perspective with your day-to-day plans and responsibilities each week. This handout also contains a formula to help you determine the minimum number of pages you would need to write per day in order to complete your writing on time.

Setting a Production Schedule (Word Doc)

This editable handout can help you make sense of the various steps involved in the production of your thesis or dissertation and determine how long each step might take. A large part of this process involves (1) seeking out the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding specific document formatting requirements, (2) understanding research protocol limitations, (3) making note of deadlines, and (4) understanding your personal writing habits.

Creating a Roadmap (PDF)

Part of organizing your writing involves having a clear sense of how the different working parts relate to one another. Creating a roadmap for your dissertation early on can help you determine what the final document will include and how all the pieces are connected. This resource offers guidance on several approaches to creating a roadmap, including creating lists, maps, nut-shells, visuals, and different methods for outlining. It is important to remember that you can create more than one roadmap (or more than one type of roadmap) depending on how the different approaches discussed here meet your needs.

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• Starting the research process

How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | 8 Steps to Follow

Published on November 11, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George. Revised on November 20, 2023.

Choosing your dissertation topic is the first step in making sure your research goes as smoothly as possible. When choosing a topic, it’s important to consider:

• Your institution and department’s requirements
• Your areas of knowledge and interest
• The scientific, social, or practical relevance
• The availability of data and resources
• The timeframe of your dissertation
• The relevance of your topic

You can follow these steps to begin narrowing down your ideas.

Table of contents

Step 1: check the requirements, step 2: choose a broad field of research, step 3: look for books and articles, step 4: find a niche, step 5: consider the type of research, step 6: determine the relevance, step 7: make sure it’s plausible, step 8: get your topic approved, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about dissertation topics.

The very first step is to check your program’s requirements. This determines the scope of what it is possible for you to research.

• Is there a minimum and maximum word count?
• When is the deadline?
• Should the research have an academic or a professional orientation?
• Are there any methodological conditions? Do you have to conduct fieldwork, or use specific types of sources?

Some programs have stricter requirements than others. You might be given nothing more than a word count and a deadline, or you might have a restricted list of topics and approaches to choose from. If in doubt about what is expected of you, always ask your supervisor or department coordinator.

Start by thinking about your areas of interest within the subject you’re studying. Examples of broad ideas include:

• Twentieth-century literature
• Economic history
• Health policy

To get a more specific sense of the current state of research on your potential topic, skim through a few recent issues of the top journals in your field. Be sure to check out their most-cited articles in particular. For inspiration, you can also search Google Scholar , subject-specific databases , and your university library’s resources.

As you read, note down any specific ideas that interest you and make a shortlist of possible topics. If you’ve written other papers, such as a 3rd-year paper or a conference paper, consider how those topics can be broadened into a dissertation.

After doing some initial reading, it’s time to start narrowing down options for your potential topic. This can be a gradual process, and should get more and more specific as you go. For example, from the ideas above, you might narrow it down like this:

• Twentieth-century literature   Twentieth-century Irish literature   Post-war Irish poetry
• Economic history   European economic history   German labor union history
• Health policy   Reproductive health policy   Reproductive rights in South America

All of these topics are still broad enough that you’ll find a huge amount of books and articles about them. Try to find a specific niche where you can make your mark, such as: something not many people have researched yet, a question that’s still being debated, or a very current practical issue.

At this stage, make sure you have a few backup ideas — there’s still time to change your focus. If your topic doesn’t make it through the next few steps, you can try a different one. Later, you will narrow your focus down even more in your problem statement and research questions .

There are many different types of research , so at this stage, it’s a good idea to start thinking about what kind of approach you’ll take to your topic. Will you mainly focus on:

• Collecting original data (e.g., experimental or field research)?
• Analyzing existing data (e.g., national statistics, public records, or archives)?
• Interpreting cultural objects (e.g., novels, films, or paintings)?
• Comparing scholarly approaches (e.g., theories, methods, or interpretations)?

Many dissertations will combine more than one of these. Sometimes the type of research is obvious: if your topic is post-war Irish poetry, you will probably mainly be interpreting poems. But in other cases, there are several possible approaches. If your topic is reproductive rights in South America, you could analyze public policy documents and media coverage, or you could gather original data through interviews and surveys .

You don’t have to finalize your research design and methods yet, but the type of research will influence which aspects of the topic it’s possible to address, so it’s wise to consider this as you narrow down your ideas.

It’s important that your topic is interesting to you, but you’ll also have to make sure it’s academically, socially or practically relevant to your field.

• Academic relevance means that the research can fill a gap in knowledge or contribute to a scholarly debate in your field.
• Social relevance means that the research can advance our understanding of society and inform social change.
• Practical relevance means that the research can be applied to solve concrete problems or improve real-life processes.

The easiest way to make sure your research is relevant is to choose a topic that is clearly connected to current issues or debates, either in society at large or in your academic discipline. The relevance must be clearly stated when you define your research problem .

Before you make a final decision on your topic, consider again the length of your dissertation, the timeframe in which you have to complete it, and the practicalities of conducting the research.

Will you have enough time to read all the most important academic literature on this topic? If there’s too much information to tackle, consider narrowing your focus even more.

Will you be able to find enough sources or gather enough data to fulfil the requirements of the dissertation? If you think you might struggle to find information, consider broadening or shifting your focus.

Do you have to go to a specific location to gather data on the topic? Make sure that you have enough funding and practical access.

Last but not least, will the topic hold your interest for the length of the research process? To stay motivated, it’s important to choose something you’re enthusiastic about!

Most programmes will require you to submit a brief description of your topic, called a research prospectus or proposal .

Remember, if you discover that your topic is not as strong as you thought it was, it’s usually acceptable to change your mind and switch focus early in the dissertation process. Just make sure you have enough time to start on a new topic, and always check with your supervisor or department.

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

• Researchability
• Feasibility and specificity
• Relevance and originality

All research questions should be:

• Focused on a single problem or issue
• Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
• Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
• Specific enough to answer thoroughly
• Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
• Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly

You can assess information and arguments critically by asking certain questions about the source. You can use the CRAAP test , focusing on the currency , relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of a source of information.

Ask questions such as:

• Who is the author? Are they an expert?
• Why did the author publish it? What is their motivation?
• How do they make their argument? Is it backed up by evidence?

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

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

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

The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.

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McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, November 20). How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | 8 Steps to Follow. Scribbr. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/dissertation-topic/

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How to Write a Dissertation Proposal | A Step-by-Step Guide

Published on 14 February 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 11 November 2022.

A dissertation proposal describes the research you want to do: what it’s about, how you’ll conduct it, and why it’s worthwhile. You will probably have to write a proposal before starting your dissertation as an undergraduate or postgraduate student.

A dissertation proposal should generally include:

• An introduction to your topic and aims
• A literature review  of the current state of knowledge
• An outline of your proposed methodology
• A discussion of the possible implications of the research
• A bibliography  of relevant sources

Dissertation proposals vary a lot in terms of length and structure, so make sure to follow any guidelines given to you by your institution, and check with your supervisor when you’re unsure.

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Table of contents

Step 1: coming up with an idea, step 2: presenting your idea in the introduction, step 3: exploring related research in the literature review, step 4: describing your methodology, step 5: outlining the potential implications of your research, step 6: creating a reference list or bibliography.

Before writing your proposal, it’s important to come up with a strong idea for your dissertation.

Find an area of your field that interests you and do some preliminary reading in that area. What are the key concerns of other researchers? What do they suggest as areas for further research, and what strikes you personally as an interesting gap in the field?

Once you have an idea, consider how to narrow it down and the best way to frame it. Don’t be too ambitious or too vague – a dissertation topic needs to be specific enough to be feasible. Move from a broad field of interest to a specific niche:

• Russian literature 19th century Russian literature The novels of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky
• Social media Mental health effects of social media Influence of social media on young adults suffering from anxiety

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Like most academic texts, a dissertation proposal begins with an introduction . This is where you introduce the topic of your research, provide some background, and most importantly, present your aim , objectives and research question(s) .

Try to dive straight into your chosen topic: What’s at stake in your research? Why is it interesting? Don’t spend too long on generalisations or grand statements:

• Social media is the most important technological trend of the 21st century. It has changed the world and influences our lives every day.
• Psychologists generally agree that the ubiquity of social media in the lives of young adults today has a profound impact on their mental health. However, the exact nature of this impact needs further investigation.

Once your area of research is clear, you can present more background and context. What does the reader need to know to understand your proposed questions? What’s the current state of research on this topic, and what will your dissertation contribute to the field?

If you’re including a literature review, you don’t need to go into too much detail at this point, but give the reader a general sense of the debates that you’re intervening in.

This leads you into the most important part of the introduction: your aim, objectives and research question(s) . These should be clearly identifiable and stand out from the text – for example, you could present them using bullet points or bold font.

Make sure that your research questions are specific and workable – something you can reasonably answer within the scope of your dissertation. Avoid being too broad or having too many different questions. Remember that your goal in a dissertation proposal is to convince the reader that your research is valuable and feasible:

• Does social media harm mental health?
• What is the impact of daily social media use on 18– to 25–year–olds suffering from general anxiety disorder?

Now that your topic is clear, it’s time to explore existing research covering similar ideas. This is important because it shows you what is missing from other research in the field and ensures that you’re not asking a question someone else has already answered.

You’ve probably already done some preliminary reading, but now that your topic is more clearly defined, you need to thoroughly analyse and evaluate the most relevant sources in your literature review .

Here you should summarise the findings of other researchers and comment on gaps and problems in their studies. There may be a lot of research to cover, so make effective use of paraphrasing to write concisely:

• Smith and Prakash state that ‘our results indicate a 25% decrease in the incidence of mechanical failure after the new formula was applied’.
• Smith and Prakash’s formula reduced mechanical failures by 25%.

The point is to identify findings and theories that will influence your own research, but also to highlight gaps and limitations in previous research which your dissertation can address:

• Subsequent research has failed to replicate this result, however, suggesting a flaw in Smith and Prakash’s methods. It is likely that the failure resulted from…

Next, you’ll describe your proposed methodology : the specific things you hope to do, the structure of your research and the methods that you will use to gather and analyse data.

You should get quite specific in this section – you need to convince your supervisor that you’ve thought through your approach to the research and can realistically carry it out. This section will look quite different, and vary in length, depending on your field of study.

You may be engaged in more empirical research, focusing on data collection and discovering new information, or more theoretical research, attempting to develop a new conceptual model or add nuance to an existing one.

Dissertation research often involves both, but the content of your methodology section will vary according to how important each approach is to your dissertation.

Empirical research

Empirical research involves collecting new data and analysing it in order to answer your research questions. It can be quantitative (focused on numbers), qualitative (focused on words and meanings), or a combination of both.

With empirical research, it’s important to describe in detail how you plan to collect your data:

• Will you use surveys ? A lab experiment ? Interviews?
• What variables will you measure?
• How will you select a representative sample ?
• If other people will participate in your research, what measures will you take to ensure they are treated ethically?
• What tools (conceptual and physical) will you use, and why?

It’s appropriate to cite other research here. When you need to justify your choice of a particular research method or tool, for example, you can cite a text describing the advantages and appropriate usage of that method.

Don’t overdo this, though; you don’t need to reiterate the whole theoretical literature, just what’s relevant to the choices you have made.

Moreover, your research will necessarily involve analysing the data after you have collected it. Though you don’t know yet what the data will look like, it’s important to know what you’re looking for and indicate what methods (e.g. statistical tests , thematic analysis ) you will use.

Theoretical research

You can also do theoretical research that doesn’t involve original data collection. In this case, your methodology section will focus more on the theory you plan to work with in your dissertation: relevant conceptual models and the approach you intend to take.

For example, a literary analysis dissertation rarely involves collecting new data, but it’s still necessary to explain the theoretical approach that will be taken to the text(s) under discussion, as well as which parts of the text(s) you will focus on:

• This dissertation will utilise Foucault’s theory of panopticism to explore the theme of surveillance in Orwell’s 1984 and Kafka’s The Trial…

Here, you may refer to the same theorists you have already discussed in the literature review. In this case, the emphasis is placed on how you plan to use their contributions in your own research.

You’ll usually conclude your dissertation proposal with a section discussing what you expect your research to achieve.

You obviously can’t be too sure: you don’t know yet what your results and conclusions will be. Instead, you should describe the projected implications and contribution to knowledge of your dissertation.

First, consider the potential implications of your research. Will you:

• Develop or test a theory?
• Provide new information to governments or businesses?
• Challenge a commonly held belief?
• Suggest an improvement to a specific process?

Describe the intended result of your research and the theoretical or practical impact it will have:

Finally, it’s sensible to conclude by briefly restating the contribution to knowledge you hope to make: the specific question(s) you hope to answer and the gap the answer(s) will fill in existing knowledge:

Like any academic text, it’s important that your dissertation proposal effectively references all the sources you have used. You need to include a properly formatted reference list or bibliography at the end of your proposal.

Different institutions recommend different styles of referencing – commonly used styles include Harvard , Vancouver , APA , or MHRA . If your department does not have specific requirements, choose a style and apply it consistently.

A reference list includes only the sources that you cited in your proposal. A bibliography is slightly different: it can include every source you consulted in preparing the proposal, even if you didn’t mention it in the text. In the case of a dissertation proposal, a bibliography may also list relevant sources that you haven’t yet read, but that you intend to use during the research itself.

Check with your supervisor what type of bibliography or reference list you should include.

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Caulfield, J. (2022, November 11). How to Write a Dissertation Proposal | A Step-by-Step Guide. Scribbr. Retrieved 9 April 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/thesis-dissertation/proposal/

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NSF 101: Graduate and postdoctoral researcher funding opportunities

The U.S. National Science Foundation supports research opportunities and provides stipends for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and scholars.

There are multiple ways to find these programs, including the funding search on NSF’s website and the NSF Education & Training Application , which is growing its list of opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

To help begin your search, opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers are listed below. The principal investigator, or PI (a researcher who oversees a project), is often listed on these grants, along with their graduate students or postdoctoral researchers.

Graduate Student 

While funding for graduate students is often included in a PI’s research proposal, the following opportunities are also available for early career researchers. 

• Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Awards/Grants (DDRI/DDRIG) These programs help fund doctoral research in a variety of fields to help provide for items not already available at the academic institution. The funding provided cannot be used for items such as, but not limited to, tuition, stipends, textbooks or journals. The monetary amount listed in each DDRI/ DDRIG section does not include indirect cost associated with the project. The doctoral student should be listed as a co-PI on the grants with their advisor listed as the primary PI.

Archaeology Program- DDRIG : This program supports doctoral laboratory and field research on archaeologically relevant topics, with the goal of increasing anthropologically focused understanding of the past. Awards provide funding up to $25,000 per awardee.  

Arctic Science Section DDRIG : The Arctic Sciences Section offers opportunities for DDRI proposals in the following programs: Arctic Social Sciences supports research in any field of social science. Arctic System Science supports projects that address the relationships among physical, chemical, biological, geological, ecological, social, cultural and/or economic processes to advance our understanding of the Arctic system. Arctic Observing Network supports projects focused on scientific and community-based- observations; development of in situ or remote sensors and automated systems; design and optimization of coordinated and scalable observation networks; and management of Arctic Observation Network data, data accessibility and data discovery. Awards provide funding up to $40,000 for a maximum of 3 years. 

Biological Anthropology Program- DDRIG : This program supports research on human and non-human primate adaptation, variation and evolution. Awards provide funding up to $25,000 for up to two years.  

Cultural Anthropology Program- DDRIG : This program supports research that is focused on cultural anthropology research, including topics such as: Sociocultural drivers of anthropogenic processes (i.e., deforestation, urbanization); resilience and robustness of sociocultural systems; scientific principles underlying altruism, conflict, cooperation, and variations in culture and behaviors; economy, culture migration and globalization; kinship and family norms. Awards provide funding for up to $25,000 for up to two years.  

Decision, Risk and Management Science DDRIG : This program supports research on decision, risk and management sciences. This includes research in the areas of judgement and decision making; decision analysis and decision aids, risk analysis; perception and communication; societal and public-policy decision making; and management science and organizational design. Awards are for a maximum of 12 months. 

Economics DDRIG :This program provides funding for research focused on improving the understanding of the U.S. and global economy from macroscale to microscale, including all field of economics such as macroeconomics, microeconomics, econometrics, economic theory, behavioral economics and empirical economics.  

Human-Environment and Geographical Sciences Program- DDRI : This program supports basic scientific research about the nature, causes and/or consequences of the spatial distribution of human activity and/or environmental processes across a range of scales. The program welcomes proposals for empirically grounded, theoretically engaged, and methodologically sophisticated, generalizable research in all sub-fields of geographical and spatial sciences. Awards may not exceed $20,000 in direct costs. 

Linguistics Program- DDRI : This program supports research on human language, including syntax, linguistic semantics and pragmatics, morphology, phonetics, and phonology of individual languages or in general. Awards provide up to $12,000 for a maximum of two years. 

Dynamic Language Infrastructure- DDRI : This program supports research on building dynamic language infrastructure, which includes describing languages; digitizing and preserving languages; and developing standards and databases for analyzing languages. Provides funding up to $15,000 for up to two years. 

Graduate Research Fellowship Program This fellowship supports full-time master's or doctoral students earning their degree in a research-based program focused on STEM or STEM education. Students are the primary submitter for the fellowship. Fellows will be awarded a $37,000 stipend and $12,000 cost-of-education allowance for three years of the five-year fellowship. For tips on applying, see our previous NSF 101 article on the fellowship program . 

Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) Supplemental Funding Opportunity   This supplemental funding opportunity is for graduate students funded by active NSF grants. PIs may submit for up to an additional six months of funding to allow students to participate in research internship activities and training opportunities in non-academic settings, such as the following: for-profit industry research; start-up businesses; government agencies and national laboratories; museums, science centers, and other informal learning settings; policy think tanks; and non-profit institutions. Students must have completed at least one academic year of their program. This funding request may not exceed $55,000 per student for each six-month period. A student may only receive this opportunity twice. In addition to the general INTERN opportunity, there are two topic-specific INTERN opportunities: 

Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students in Geothermal Energy Supplemental Funding Opportunity : This opportunity is provided by NSF in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. It maintains the same funding levels and requirements as the general INTERN program; however, funding may only be used for gaining knowledge, skills, training and experience in geothermal energy and technology.  

• Research Internships for Graduate Students at Air Force Research Laboratory Supplemental Funding Opportunity : This funding opportunity is for students supported on an active NSF grant to intern at a Air Force Research Laboratory facility. AFRL has several potential technology directorates available for students at locations across the U.S.: Aerospace Systems (Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio), Information (Rome, New York), Materials and Manufacturing (Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio), Directed Energy (Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico), Munitions (Eglin Air Force Base, Florida), Sensors (Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio), Space Vehicles (Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico), 711th Human Performance Wing Training (Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio). 

Mathematical Sciences Graduate Internship This summer internship is for doctoral students in mathematical sciences through a partnership between NSF and Oak Ridge Institute for Science and E ducation. It provides students who are interested in academic and non-academic careers with the opportunity to learn how advanced mathematics and statistical techniques can be applied to real-world problems. Participants in the internship will receive a stipend of $1,200 per week during the 10-week internship. In addition, there is travel reimbursement for up to $2,000 for those who live more than 50 miles away from their hosting site. 

NSF Research Traineeship Program Graduate students can apply for this traineeship through their institutions, if available. These topics can range across the scientific spectrum. Current projects can be found by state . 

Research Experiences for Graduate Students Supplemental Funding These awards provide additional funding for graduate students with mentors who have an active NSF grant. Currently funding is available through the following programs:  

Cultural Anthropology provides up to $6,000 per student for research activities. 

Human Environment and Geographical Sciences at Minority Serving Institutions and Community Colleges provides up to $7,000 per student for research activities. 

Postdoctoral Scholars 

Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship This fellowship supports research investigating a field within astronomy or astrophysics for up to three years. The stipend is $75,000, with a fellowship allowance (i.e., expenses for conducting and publishing research, fringe benefits) of $35,000. 

Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship This fellowship supports postdoctoral fellows in atmospheric or geospace sciences. Atmospheric science includes topics such as atmospheric chemistry; climate and large-scale dynamics; paleoclimate climate; and physical and dynamic meteorology. Geospace science focuses on aeronomy, magnetospheric physics and solar terrestrial research. This fellowship provides up to 24 months of support. The stipend is $70,000 per year, with a fellowship allowance of $30,000.  

Earth Science Postdoctoral Fellowship This program supports the study of structure, composition and evolution, the life it supports and the processes that govern the formation and behavior of Earth’s materials. Researchers are supported for up to two years at the institution of their choice, including institutions abroad. The stipend is $65,000 per year, with a fellowship allowance of $25,000 per year.  

Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

This program supports postdoctoral fellows performing impactful research while broadening the participation of members of groups that are historically excluded and currently underrepresented in mathematical and physical sciences. This fellowship can last between one and three years. The stipend is up to $70,000 per year, with a fellowship allowance of $30,000 per year. 

Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships This fellowship has two options:  

• The Research Fellowship provides full-time support for any 18 months within a three-year academic period.  
• The Research Instructorship provides a combination of full-time and half-time support over a period of three academic years, which allows the fellow to gain teaching experience. Both options receive up to $190,000 over the fellowship period. The full-time stipend is $5,833 per month and the part-time stipend is $2,917 per month. In addition, the fellow will receive $50,000 in two lump sums ($30,000 in the first year and $20,000 in the second year) for fellowship expenses.  

Ocean Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships This fellowship supports research in topic areas such as: biological oceanography, chemical oceanography, physical oceanography, marine geology and geophysics, ocean science and technology. This two-year fellowship with a stipend of $67,800 for the first year and $70,000 for the second year, with a fellowship allowance of $15,000 per year.  

Office of Polar Programs Postdoctoral Research Fellowships This fellowship supports postdoctoral research in any field of Arctic or Antarctic science. This two-years fellowship, with a stipend of $67,800 for the first year and $70,000 for the second year, with fellowship expenses of $15,000 per year.  

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology The Directorate of Biology offers a fellowship for postdoctoral researchers in one of three areas: 

• Broadening Participation of Groups Underrepresented in Biology. This area requires a research and training plan that is within the scope of the Directorate for Biology and that enhances diversity within the field.  
• Integrative Research Investigating the Rules of Life Governing Interaction between Genomes, Environment and Phenotypes. This area aims to understand higher-order structures and functions of biological systems. Research should use a combination of computational, observational, experimental or conceptual approaches. 
• Plant Genome Postdoctoral Research Fellowships. This area has a broad scope and supports postdoctoral training and research at the frontier of plant biology and of broad societal impact. Highly competitive proposals will describe interdisciplinary training and research on a genome wide scale. The fellowships are for 36 months and have a stipend of $60,000 per year, with a research and training allowance of $20,000 per year. 

SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships This fellowship supports postdoctoral research in the social, behavioral and economic sciences and/or activities that broaden the participation of underrepresented groups in these fields. Funding is up to two years and has two tracks available:  

• Fundamental Research in the SBE Sciences. This track supports research focused on human behavior, interaction, social and economic systems. 
• Broadening Participation in SBE Sciences. This track aims to increase the diversity of post-doctoral researchers in the social, behavioral and economic sciences. In addition to the research proposal, these applications should also answer the question: “How will this fellowship help broaden or inform efforts to broaden the participation of underrepresented groups in the United States?” The stipend for this program is $65,000 per year (paid in quarterly installments) and the research and training allowance is $15,000 per year. 

SBIR Innovative Postdoctoral Entrepreneurial Research Fellowship This fellowship supports postdoctoral researchers at start-up companies through the Small Business Innovation Research program. By recruiting, training, mentoring, matching and funding these early-career scientists, this fellowship addresses the need of doctoral-level expertise at small, high-tech businesses. The base stipend is $78,000 per year with optional individual health and life insurance, relocation assistance (company dependent), professional conference travel allowance, and professional development funds.  

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Individual Postdoctoral Research Fellowship This fellowship is for postdoctoral researchers to enhance their research knowledge, skills, and practices of STEM education research. If the fellowship is granted, the fellow is expected to remain affiliated with the host organization and PI sponsoring them. The fellowship can last up to two years with an annual stipend of $70,000, with fellowship expenses of $15,000.  

Multilevel 

CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service This program is for students earning their associates, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in cybersecurity. A stipulation of the program is that the recipients must work after graduation in a cybersecurity mission of the federal, state, local or tribal government for an equal amount of time as the scholarship's duration. It will provide full tuition and fees plus a stipend of $27,000 per academic year for undergraduates and a stipend of $37,000 per academic year for graduate students, in addition to a professional allowance of $6,000 for all levels. 

NSF-NIST Interaction in Basic and Applied Scientific Research This supplemental funding request is for NSF-supported researchers to collaborate with researchers at a National Institute of Standards and Technology facility. It can be used for travel expenses and per diem associated with on-site work at NIST. It is available for NSF-supported PIs, co-PIs, postdoctoral scholars, graduate and undergraduate students and other personnel associated with the research. PIs should contact their NSF program director for their award before applying. 

This extensive list shows the ways in which NSF helps train the next generation of STEM researchers. If you are interested in learning more about any of these programs, reach out to contacts listed on the award webpages.  

If you are interested in awards for high school students, undergraduates and post-baccalaureate scholars, check out our previous NSF101 for more information! 

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Research Process

• Brainstorming
• Explore Google This link opens in a new window
• Explore Web Resources
• Explore Background Information
• Explore Books
• Explore Scholarly Articles
• Narrowing a Topic
• Primary and Secondary Resources
• Academic, Popular & Trade Publications
• Scholarly and Peer-Reviewed Journals
• Grey Literature
• Clinical Trials
• Evidence Based Treatment
• Scholarly Research
• Database Research Log
• Search Limits
• Keyword Searching
• Boolean Operators
• Phrase Searching
• Truncation & Wildcard Symbols
• Proximity Searching
• Field Codes
• Subject Terms and Database Thesauri
• Reading a Scientific Article
• Website Evaluation
• Article Keywords and Subject Terms
• Cited References
• Citing Articles
• Related Results
• Search Within Publication
• Database Alerts & RSS Feeds
• Personal Database Accounts
• Persistent URLs
• Literature Gap and Future Research
• Web of Knowledge
• Annual Reviews
• Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
• Finding Seminal Works
• Exhausting the Literature
• Finding Dissertations
• Researching Theoretical Frameworks
• Research Methodology & Design
• Tests and Measurements
• Organizing Research & Citations This link opens in a new window
• Scholarly Publication
• Learn the Library This link opens in a new window

Library Basic Training: Resources for Doctoral Success

• Library Basic Training: Resources for Doctoral Success Reviews the most important resources for your dissertation research. Learn how to search for scholarly articles and dissertations, place Interlibrary Loan requests, find information about research methodology and design, use Google Scholar, and more.

NU Dissertation Center

If you are looking for a document in the Dissertation Center or Applied Doctoral Center and can't find it please contact your Chair or The Center for Teaching and Learning at [email protected]

• NCU Dissertation Center Find valuable resources and support materials to help you through your doctoral journey.
• Applied Doctoral Center Collection of resources to support students in completing their project/dissertation-in-practice as part of the Applied Doctoral Experience (ADE).

Dissertation Research

Dissertation topics are a special subset of research topics. All of the previously mentioned techniques can, and should, be utilized to locate potential dissertation topics, but there are also some special considerations to keep in mind when choosing a dissertation topic.

Dissertation topics should interesting, feasible, relevant, and worthy. The criterion of feasibility is especially important when choosing a dissertation topic. You don’t want to settle on a topic and then find out that the study you were imagining can’t be done, or the survey or assessment instrument you need can’t be used. You also want to make sure that you select a topic that will allow you to be an objective researcher. If you select a topic that you have worked closely on for many years, make sure you are still open to new information, even if that information runs counter what you believe to be true about the topic. To learn more about feasibility, see the Center for Teaching & Learning's Feasibility Checklist .

It is very important to think about these considerations beforehand so that you don’t get stuck during the dissertation process. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when choosing a dissertation topic:

• Access to the primary literature relating to your topic
• Access to grey literature relating to your topic
• Access to the surveys and assessment instruments that you will need
• Access to the study group to conduct your study
• IRB approval for your study
• Access to equipment for your study, if needed

Note that published surveys and assessment instruments are generally NOT free. Due to copyright laws you will more than likely need to purchase the survey from the publisher in order to gain permissions to use in your own study. Unpublished surveys and assessments (usually found in the appendices of articles) may be freely available, but you will need to contact the author(s) to gain permission to use the survey in your research.

Looking at previously published dissertations is a great way to gauge the level of research and involvement that is generally expected at the dissertation level. Previously published dissertations can also be good sources of inspiration for your own dissertation study. Similar to scholarly articles, many dissertations will suggest areas of future research. Paying attention to those suggestions can provide valuable ideas and clues for your own dissertation topic. Note that dissertations are not considered to be peer-reviewed documents, so carefully review and evaluate the information presented in them.

The literature review section in a dissertation contains a wealth of information. Not only can the literature review provide topic ideas by showing some of the major research that has been done on a topic, but it can also help you evaluate any topics that you are tentatively considering. From your examination of literature reviews can you determine if your research idea has already been completed? Has the theory that validates your study been disproved by new dissertation research? Is your research idea still relevant to the current state of the discipline? Literature reviews can help you answer these questions by providing a compact and summative description of a particular research area.

You may find it difficult to find scholarly articles, and books in which your hypothesis is directly addressed. If so, then expand your search to theories and variables that are related, but not directly so. No matter how specific or elusive your topic is, there is research out there that is relevant, so keep looking. Look for resources that address one or two of the variables in your study, theories that are either directly or indirectly related, as well as research that relates specifically to the population of interest. By focusing on resources that address different parts of your research topic, you can combine this information in a way that is directly applicable.

The sub-pages in this section provide resources for your Dissertation Research.

Dissertation Research FAQs

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Finding Disseration RAs within a PhD Student’s Budget

1 Johns Hopkins University

Participant recruitment can be a challenge to researchers, especially for those with limited resources and time. Doctoral students may need research assistants to recruit participants and complete data collection in a timely manner, but lack the experience and skills to find appropriate help for hire. By working closely with an adviser or mentor, doctoral students can successfully hire and lead a team of research assistants. This article provides concrete tips for doctoral students when hiring research assistants, and perspectives from a doctoral mentor-student dyad.

Student Perspective

Doctoral students conducting dissertations requiring primary data collection may need to hire research assistants (RAs). Although hiring staff can be challenging, the experience can be a valuable leadership learning opportunity. Other benefits for doctoral students include: (1) timely completion of a doctoral degree, (2) learning how to foster collaborations between graduate and under-graduate students, and (3) developing skills in hiring, training, and monitoring research teams. Below are some tips for overcoming potential challenges when locating, hiring, and training RAs from a doctoral student who recently hired three RAs for a mixed methods dissertation study.

Steps to locate, hire, and train RAs

• Determine how many RAs are needed. This is a good time to review recruitment tracking records to identify which days and times RAs are needed. For instance, if the majority of eligible patients are available on Mondays and Fridays then it is ideal to have RAs work on those respective days.
• If required, does the RA have a car to commute?
• Is past experience in human subjects research required or preferred?
• Does the potential candidate’s availability fit the work schedule?
• Define a research budget to determine the exact hourly compensation for the RAs. Consider accounting for pay raises if RAs are working for an extended period of time. Some academic centers provide student employment guidelines on how much students should be compensated in accordance with the type of work. For example, students doing work requiring little training (e.g., organizing printed study material into folders) are paid less than students requiring more training (e.g., consenting and administering surveys).
• When writing the advertisement: be clear and concise. Use lay terms; avoid jargon. Include: (1) a brief description of the study, (2) job expectations, (3) workload and schedule, (4) pre-requisites/training requirements, and (5) contact information. Consider including what the position offers to potential candidates (e.g., professional development, clinical experience, manuscript writing/authorship, leadership opportunities, and training).
• Interviewing candidates . Develop a strategy to quickly eliminate ineligible candidates based on the key traits identified in step 2. If potential candidates cannot meet the workload and schedule requirements for the position, then they can be easily eliminated. Employers can also quickly eliminate potential candidates by requiring a copy of the resume for review prior to scheduling an interview.
• Training RAs. Be clear on what constitutes training (e.g., online modules, hands-on training, classroom learning) and when training is required. If the study involves human subjects, your RAs will most likely have to complete human subjects research training. Contact the Institutional Review Board (IRB) office to determine the requirements.

Potential barriers & strategies addressing these barriers

Acquiring dissertation funding to pay RAs can be challenging as doctoral students. Fortunately, nursing organizations, foundations, and government programs offer funding assistance to doctoral students. Within the United States, doctoral students can apply for grants and awards specific for dissertation research through organizations such as the National Institute for Nursing Research (NINR), American Nurses Foundation (ANF), and Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS). Internationally, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) offers research awards. However, if funding is still insufficient, below is a list of practical strategies doctoral students can employ to hire RAs on a tight budget:

• If training is a prerequisite for employment, RAs do not have to be paid during training. Be sure potential candidates are made aware of this in the advertisement or during the interview.
• Undergraduate students are usually competent and can be inexpensive workers. Students who are in health related majors (e.g., biology, pre-medicine, psychology, and nursing) may be especially interested in research. To find these students, (1) contact their academic advisers/core course teachers, (2) advertise in areas with high student foot traffic, and/or (3) advertise in an undergraduate newsletter.
• Consider targeting undergraduate students with majors that require research credits for graduation. Keep in mind that some students need research credit in one semester but not another. For instance, a student may be hired to work for pay in the summer and for credit during the fall semester.

Finding, hiring, and training RAs is time consuming, especially if the study has a complex study protocol. Before hiring RAs, doctoral students should carefully evaluate the time commitment required to hire, train, and supervise RAs against the time to complete the dissertation without RAs.

If multiple RAs are hired, it can be challenging to ensure consistent training. Create a detailed study protocol, and use the same study protocol to train each RA to ensure training consistency. The study protocol is a living document that evolves and serves as a guide for RAs. If possible, RAs can be trained in a group setting; however, this strategy may not be possible if space is limited (e.g., hospital units).

When working as a team, interpersonal conflicts and study problems may arise. Newly hired RAs may not openly report problems when they occur in the field. This can be especially detrimental if a problem is related to a study protocol deviation, which may need to be reported to the IRB. Employers should establish an honest environment and practice open and constructive communication. For instance, if a RA reports misplacing a paper with human subjects information, the RA should be thanked for reporting the problem. Then the employer and the employee should cooperate together to resolve and prevent the problem from occurring again. By problem solving as a team, RAs feel more valued as employees and the team feels more cohesive.

Faculty Mentor Perspective

Assuring adequate number of study participants, without exception, has direct relevance to the methodological rigor of human subjects research. Without adequate sample size, the ability of a test to correctly accept the alternative hypothesis when the alternative hypothesis is true (we call it, statistical power) is uncertain. It is not surprising to find numerous articles that talk about how to recruit participants in a research study. Indeed, using recruitment strategies and participants as search terms, a quick PubMed search yielded 1,000+ articles published since 1979. Despite added knowledge, the reality is that recruitment can be a challenge to any researchers, especially those with limited resources and time such as doctoral students.

Some doctoral students choose to do a secondary analysis of data with or without additional data collection (often, qualitative in nature) to minimize such a challenge, while others do whatever they can to meet their recruitment goals for primary data collection. Secondary analysis of data is becoming increasingly popular among doctoral students and in some cases, encouraged by their mentors. However, secondary analysis of data may not be accepted by every doctoral program in the United States and abroad to make up a dissertation study. Another core challenge in using an existing dataset involves the data fit with the purpose of the new study.

When primary data collection is chosen, the student and the faculty mentor can work together to develop a recruitment plan which would require constant monitoring and modification, as necessary. As the faculty mentor of a student who is currently conducting primary data collection for her mixed-methods dissertation study, I believe hiring research assistant(s) can be a good strategy for a student-mentor team to consider in facilitating timely recruitment and completion of a quality dissertation. There are other added benefits to note. In addition to offering stronger motivation to the student to put in a grant to support his/her own research assistant(s)—which will strengthen the student’s CV—the recruitment process using research assistant(s) can become a great learning opportunity for the student to develop his/her research leadership skills. For example, in order for a doctoral student to adequately utilize his/her research assistant(s), the student needs to train one’s research staff, monitor their human subjects compliance and fidelity with the study procedures, hold research team meetings, and maintain adequate recording of study progress and data, all of which are anticipated roles when a student launches an independent research career as a PhD-prepared nurse scholar. With hands-on help and supervision of the faculty mentor, the student can develop these research leadership skills in advance in an environment where he/she can be supported and such activities can still be considered a part of one’s doctoral training.

• How it works

How To Write An Effective Declaration Page For Your Thesis – Template

Published by Alvin Nicolas at March 13th, 2024 , Revised On April 5, 2024

A declaration page stands as a testament to the integrity and authenticity of a thesis. It is a succinct section at the beginning of the document and outlines key information and affirmations regarding the authorship and originality of the work. 

Essentially, it serves as a formal declaration of the author’s adherence to ethical standards and their acknowledgement of the contributions made towards the completion of the thesis. 

A declaration page acts as a cornerstone of academic integrity and helps reinforce the credibility of the research presented within the thesis or dissertation . 

By explicitly stating that the work is original and free from plagiarism, the author not only upholds the principles of honesty but also demonstrates their commitment to scholarly standards. 

Let’s explore this further. 

What Is A Thesis Declaration Page

The declaration page within a thesis serves as a foundational element, providing essential information and affirmations crucial for academic integrity. 

The declaration page, often positioned at the beginning of a thesis, is a formal section dedicated to asserting the authenticity, originality, and ethical adherence of the work presented within the document. It serves as a declaration of the author’s commitment to scholarly integrity and honesty.

This declaration is typically mandated by academic institutions as a requisite component of thesis submission, aimed at upholding rigorous standards of academic conduct.

Purpose Of A Dissertation Declaration

The primary purpose of the declaration page is twofold: to affirm the originality of the research and to acknowledge the contributions of individuals or sources that have assisted in the thesis’s completion. 

By formally declaring the work’s authenticity and adherence to ethical standards, the author establishes credibility and trustworthiness, essential qualities in academic discourse.

Moreover, the declaration page functions as a transparent record of the author’s involvement in the research process , delineating their contributions and attributions. 

It serves as a testament to the author’s accountability and responsibility for the content presented within the thesis, thus safeguarding against plagiarism and intellectual dishonesty.

Key Components To Include

Here are some of the key components to include in your declaration guide. 

Title Of The Thesis

The declaration page typically begins with the title of the thesis , serving as a concise identifier of the research topic or subject matter. The title should accurately reflect the scope and focus of the thesis, providing readers with a clear understanding of its contents.

Name Of The Author

Following the title, the declaration page includes the name of the author, affirming their authorship and responsibility for the research presented within the thesis.

The author’s name serves as a key identifier, linking them directly to the work and asserting their ownership of intellectual contributions.

Declaration Of Originality

Central to the declaration page is the declaration of originality, wherein the author asserts that the work presented within the thesis is their own original creation.

This declaration typically includes statements affirming that the research has not been plagiarised and that any sources or references utilised have been properly cited.

Statement Of Contributions

The statement of contributions provides an opportunity for the author to acknowledge the individuals or entities that have contributed to the completion of the thesis. This may include supervisors , advisors, collaborators, or funding agencies, among others. 

The statement should clearly delineate the specific contributions made by each party, highlighting their roles in the research process.

Acknowledgements (If Applicable)

In some cases, the declaration page may include a section for acknowledgements, wherein the author expresses gratitude to individuals or organisations who have provided support, guidance, or inspiration during the course of the research. 

Acknowledgements may include mentors, peers, family members, or institutions that have facilitated the author’s academic pursuits.

Date Of Submission

Finally, the declaration page concludes with the date of submission, indicating the date on which the thesis was formally submitted for evaluation or examination. 

The inclusion of the submission date serves as a record of the thesis’s completion and submission timeline, ensuring compliance with academic deadlines and requirements.

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How To Write A Declaration Page

Creating a declaration page that is both impactful and professional requires attention to detail and adherence to certain principles. 

Clear & Concise Language

One of the cardinal rules of crafting an effective declaration page is to use clear and concise language. Avoid ambiguity or verbosity, and strive for clarity in expressing your affirmations and acknowledgements. 

The declaration should be easily understandable to readers, conveying your commitment to academic integrity without unnecessary embellishment.

Formatting & Presentation Tips

Formatting plays a crucial role in the presentation of the declaration page. Ensure that the page layout is clean and organised, with consistent font styles and sizes. 

Use headings and subheadings to delineate different sections of the declaration, making it easier for readers to navigate. Additionally, pay attention to spacing and alignment to maintain a polished appearance.

Honesty & Integrity

Honesty and integrity are paramount when crafting a declaration page. It is essential to uphold the highest ethical standards and truthfully affirm the originality of your work. 

Avoid any misleading statements or exaggerations, as they can undermine the credibility of your thesis. Demonstrating integrity in your declaration not only reflects positively on your character but also reinforces the trustworthiness of your research.

Institutional Guidelines & Requirements

Every academic institution may have its own specific guidelines and requirements for declaration pages. Before crafting your declaration, familiarise yourself with these guidelines to ensure compliance. 

Pay attention to formatting specifications, word limits, and any specific language or statements that may be required. Adhering to institutional guidelines demonstrates your attention to detail and respect for academic conventions.

Writing The Declaration Of Originality

The declaration of originality is a crucial component of the declaration page, affirming the authenticity and uniqueness of your work. 

What Constitutes Original Work

Original work refers to content that is created by the author and has not been previously published or plagiarised from other sources. When writing the declaration of originality, it is important to understand what constitutes original work within the context of your field of study. 

This may include original research findings, innovative ideas, or creative interpretations of existing knowledge.

Avoiding Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a serious offence in academia and must be strictly avoided. When writing the declaration of originality, explicitly state that the work presented in your thesis is your own and properly acknowledge any sources or references used. 

Take care to cite all sources accurately and follow citation conventions prescribed by your institution. By demonstrating a commitment to academic honesty, you uphold the integrity of your research.

Declaration Template

I, [Your Name], hereby declare that this thesis entitled “[Title of Your Thesis]” is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at any university or equivalent institution.

I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project’s design and conception or in style, presentation, and linguistic expression is acknowledged. Where applicable, any part of this thesis containing materials prepared jointly with others has been explicitly identified.

Any views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of [University Name] or any other institution.

Signed: ____________________

Date: [Date]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an example of a declaration in a thesis.

An example of a declaration in a thesis might state: “I hereby declare that this thesis is my original work, conducted under the supervision of [supervisor’s name], and all sources used have been properly cited and acknowledged.”

Where does the declaration go in a thesis?

The declaration typically appears as a preliminary page in a thesis, preceding the abstract and acknowledgements. It is usually located after the title page and before the table of contents, providing a formal statement from the author regarding the originality and integrity of their work.

What is an example of a declaration statement?

An example of a declaration statement in a thesis could be: “I solemnly declare that this thesis is the result of my own research endeavours, conducted under the guidance of [supervisor’s name]. All sources used have been duly acknowledged and referenced according to the conventions of academic integrity and citation.”

What is the declaration format for Phd thesis?

The declaration format for a PhD thesis typically includes a statement asserting the author’s originality of work, acknowledgement of sources, compliance with ethical standards, and declaration of any assistance received. It’s usually structured in a formal, concise manner and is placed at the beginning of the thesis document.

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8 Part-Time Jobs for MBA Students Writing Dissertations

Most MBA students have gone through a situation during their academic life when they were hurting for money. What’s the answer? Maybe a part-time job.

However, for an MBA student pursuing a graduate degree, managing an MBA dissertation along with the need to earn some money is not easy. While exploring new avenues through research is fulfilling, finding the right part-time job that will work with your studies can be tough. To address your worries, we have compiled a list of the top eight part-time jobs in 2024 that are a perfect fit for busy MBA students like you.

A National Center for Education Statistics survey found that around 40% of undergraduates work at least 20 hours a week while in college. Another study in 2019, published in Nature , found that 19% of PhD students have part-time jobs, mostly to cover their living expenses. In other words, the majority of graduate students need part-time jobs along with studies.

Most MBA students plan to have careers related to their studies in business and management. Fortunately, many of these career paths also offer part-time jobs. In this article, we will discuss the eight best part-time jobs for MBA students as they pursue their dissertation journey.

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Top 8 Part-Time Jobs for MBA Students Writing Their Dissertations

Are you wondering what the top part-time jobs for MBA students writing dissertations could be? The jobs we describe here will help you cover your expenses while you pursue your education at the same time. Students can also look for dissertation writing services to help them balance their professional and academic lives. This company provides the best dissertation writing services. They will work to address your needs and help you manage your dissertation while you continue with your part-time job.

Now, here are the best part-time jobs for MBA students who are working on their dissertations:

1. Sales and Marketing Roles for MBA Students

Salary: Ranges from £28,000 to £76,000 in the UK, with an average of £45,961 .

The first job that we found was in sales and marketing. MBA students know these areas well. That’s why these are among the best part-time jobs for MBA students, as they know how to research various topics and can create marketing strategies for the company they work for.

Students get chances to present and execute new sales plans, which will also be helpful in dissertation writing . In the initial stages, you may start as a part-time worker. But later on, a job like this could give you various growth opportunities, such as brand manager, sales manager, B2B sales manager, and more.

2. Finance Careers

Salary: An average salary is £43,583 per year in the UK.

While looking for part-time finance jobs for MBA students, we found some relevant jobs where professionals make critical decisions within a company. Their main focus is on areas such as investment banking, risk management, budgeting, financial planning, and more. The MBA student’s value to the company is that they give the company opportunities for more profit and growth.

So if you are pursuing an MBA in finance, look for roles as a financial analyst, finance manager, accounting manager, and other similar positions.

You will be a great fit for this role if you stay updated on recent trends and technological issues. In addition, you should have good writing skills to represent the company at a high level. This is because you will likely handle queries regarding your company on social media.

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3. Freelance M&A Acquisitions Specialist

Salary: Freelancers can earn up to £80,000 or even £150,000 per year .

Well-established companies frequently offer freelance opportunities for MBA students when they need, for example, a dedicated and dynamic acquisitions specialist to join their firm on a contract basis. Students enjoy freelancing because these jobs offer flexible work hours along with high salaries.

This role could involve working directly with the boards of both public and private companies, focusing on corporate strategy and the SME market. Students with any of these qualifications, such as ACA, ACCA, MBA, or equivalent, are eligible for this role. Basically, if you have strong financial and operational analysis skills, proficiency in database research, and excellent interpersonal abilities this part-time career path could work out well for you.

4. MBA Students as Research Assistants

Salary: On average, graduate research assistants earn £31,193 per year in the United Kingdom.

Becoming a research assistant is another great option for MBA students when searching for part-time jobs. This not only benefits the company you are working with but also gives you a fantastic chance to improve your research skills. This, in turn, could give you a better dissertation.

So, explore your passion-driven research in greater detail. Academic research assistantships offer significant benefits such as tuition fee compensation or a stipend. The company might even directly support your dissertation topic and provide you with valuable research experience.

5. Human Resource Jobs for MBA Students

Salary: An average salary is £39,397 per year .

Human resource (HR) jobs for MBA students involve various responsibilities such as managing talent, overseeing compensation and benefits, conducting employee training, and ensuring workplace safety. Positions within this field include HR manager, HR assistant, and employee relations manager. As an MBA student, if you get this job opportunity, it could be very beneficial for your future.

6. IT and Systems Jobs

Salary: The average salary for an IT Systems Engineer is £36,331 per year .

In these roles, professionals handle the hardware and software needs of organizations they are working with. These are among the best jobs for MBA students who have a great interest in the IT field. Common job titles include project manager, product manager, and business analyst.

7. MBA Operations Manager Jobs

Salary: The average salary for an MBA operations manager is £45,533 per year in the UK.

Responsibilities in operations management include forecasting, product design, supply chain management, inventory management, and maintaining quality standards. Job titles for this specialization may include business operations manager and logistics manager.

8. Data Analyst

Salary: the average salary for a data analyst in the UK falls between £38,000 and £49,000 per year .

Data powers the world these days. Everything depends on the availability of data.

Moreover, it is best for students to gain experience in data analysis, so whenever you find these jobs listed for MBA students, don’t let the opportunity pass you by. You can develop critical skills by taking a part-time job with an organization that needs assistance with data input, cleaning, or analysis. This experience also looks fantastic on your CV and can be directly used in your dissertation study.

As an MBA student, you sometimes struggle to manage your finances, especially while you’re writing your dissertation. In this critical situation, look for a part-time job that would work well for you as an MBA student while also helping you make your dissertation the best it can be.

So look at your skills and subject specialization before you select a job. You can complete your dissertation and set yourself up for success in the future with the help of a well-chosen part-time job. However, this will take perseverance. One thing some students do is buy dissertations online . This can help to ease your burden in these circumstances and further your success.

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Reimagining Design with Nature: ecological urbanism in Moscow

• Reflective Essay
• Published: 10 September 2019
• Volume 1 , pages 233–247, ( 2019 )

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The twenty-first century is the era when populations of cities will exceed rural communities for the first time in human history. The population growth of cities in many countries, including those in transition from planned to market economies, is putting considerable strain on ecological and natural resources. This paper examines four central issues: (a) the challenges and opportunities presented through working in jurisdictions where there are no official or established methods in place to guide regional, ecological and landscape planning and design; (b) the experience of the author’s practice—Gillespies LLP—in addressing these challenges using techniques and methods inspired by McHarg in Design with Nature in the Russian Federation in the first decade of the twenty-first century; (c) the augmentation of methods derived from Design with Nature in reference to innovations in technology since its publication and the contribution that the art of landscape painters can make to landscape analysis and interpretation; and (d) the application of this experience to the international competition and colloquium for the expansion of Moscow. The text concludes with a comment on how the application of this learning and methodological development to landscape and ecological planning and design was judged to be a central tenant of the winning design. Finally, a concluding section reflects on lessons learned and conclusions drawn.

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The landscape team from Gillespies Glasgow Studio (Steve Nelson, Graeme Pert, Joanne Walker, Rory Wilson and Chris Swan) led by the author and all our collaborators in the Capital Cities Planning Group.

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Evans, B.M. Reimagining Design with Nature: ecological urbanism in Moscow. Socio Ecol Pract Res 1 , 233–247 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42532-019-00031-5

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Dissertation Structure & Layout 101: How to structure your dissertation, thesis or research project.

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) Reviewed By: David Phair (PhD) | July 2019

So, you’ve got a decent understanding of what a dissertation is , you’ve chosen your topic and hopefully you’ve received approval for your research proposal . Awesome! Now its time to start the actual dissertation or thesis writing journey.

To craft a high-quality document, the very first thing you need to understand is dissertation structure . In this post, we’ll walk you through the generic dissertation structure and layout, step by step. We’ll start with the big picture, and then zoom into each chapter to briefly discuss the core contents. If you’re just starting out on your research journey, you should start with this post, which covers the big-picture process of how to write a dissertation or thesis .

*The Caveat *

In this post, we’ll be discussing a traditional dissertation/thesis structure and layout, which is generally used for social science research across universities, whether in the US, UK, Europe or Australia. However, some universities may have small variations on this structure (extra chapters, merged chapters, slightly different ordering, etc).

So, always check with your university if they have a prescribed structure or layout that they expect you to work with. If not, it’s safe to assume the structure we’ll discuss here is suitable. And even if they do have a prescribed structure, you’ll still get value from this post as we’ll explain the core contents of each section.  

Overview: S tructuring a dissertation or thesis

• Acknowledgements page
• Abstract (or executive summary)
• Table of contents , list of figures and tables
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Literature review
• Chapter 3: Methodology
• Chapter 4: Results
• Chapter 5: Discussion
• Chapter 6: Conclusion
• Reference list

As I mentioned, some universities will have slight variations on this structure. For example, they want an additional “personal reflection chapter”, or they might prefer the results and discussion chapter to be merged into one. Regardless, the overarching flow will always be the same, as this flow reflects the research process , which we discussed here – i.e.:

• The introduction chapter presents the core research question and aims .
• The literature review chapter assesses what the current research says about this question.
• The methodology, results and discussion chapters go about undertaking new research about this question.
• The conclusion chapter (attempts to) answer the core research question .

In other words, the dissertation structure and layout reflect the research process of asking a well-defined question(s), investigating, and then answering the question – see below.

To restate that – the structure and layout of a dissertation reflect the flow of the overall research process . This is essential to understand, as each chapter will make a lot more sense if you “get” this concept. If you’re not familiar with the research process, read this post before going further.

Right. Now that we’ve covered the big picture, let’s dive a little deeper into the details of each section and chapter. Oh and by the way, you can also grab our free dissertation/thesis template here to help speed things up.

The title page of your dissertation is the very first impression the marker will get of your work, so it pays to invest some time thinking about your title. But what makes for a good title? A strong title needs to be 3 things:

• Succinct (not overly lengthy or verbose)
• Specific (not vague or ambiguous)
• Representative of the research you’re undertaking (clearly linked to your research questions)

Typically, a good title includes mention of the following:

• The broader area of the research (i.e. the overarching topic)
• The specific focus of your research (i.e. your specific context)
• Indication of research design (e.g. quantitative , qualitative , or  mixed methods ).

For example:

A quantitative investigation [research design] into the antecedents of organisational trust [broader area] in the UK retail forex trading market [specific context/area of focus].

Again, some universities may have specific requirements regarding the format and structure of the title, so it’s worth double-checking expectations with your institution (if there’s no mention in the brief or study material).

Acknowledgements

This page provides you with an opportunity to say thank you to those who helped you along your research journey. Generally, it’s optional (and won’t count towards your marks), but it is academic best practice to include this.

So, who do you say thanks to? Well, there’s no prescribed requirements, but it’s common to mention the following people:

• Your dissertation supervisor or committee.
• Any professors, lecturers or academics that helped you understand the topic or methodologies.
• Any tutors, mentors or advisors.
• Your family and friends, especially spouse (for adult learners studying part-time).

There’s no need for lengthy rambling. Just state who you’re thankful to and for what (e.g. thank you to my supervisor, John Doe, for his endless patience and attentiveness) – be sincere. In terms of length, you should keep this to a page or less.

Abstract or executive summary

The dissertation abstract (or executive summary for some degrees) serves to provide the first-time reader (and marker or moderator) with a big-picture view of your research project. It should give them an understanding of the key insights and findings from the research, without them needing to read the rest of the report – in other words, it should be able to stand alone .

For it to stand alone, your abstract should cover the following key points (at a minimum):

• Your research questions and aims – what key question(s) did your research aim to answer?
• Your methodology – how did you go about investigating the topic and finding answers to your research question(s)?
• Your findings – following your own research, what did do you discover?
• Your conclusions – based on your findings, what conclusions did you draw? What answers did you find to your research question(s)?

So, in much the same way the dissertation structure mimics the research process, your abstract or executive summary should reflect the research process, from the initial stage of asking the original question to the final stage of answering that question.

In practical terms, it’s a good idea to write this section up last , once all your core chapters are complete. Otherwise, you’ll end up writing and rewriting this section multiple times (just wasting time). For a step by step guide on how to write a strong executive summary, check out this post .

Need a helping hand?

Table of contents

This section is straightforward. You’ll typically present your table of contents (TOC) first, followed by the two lists – figures and tables. I recommend that you use Microsoft Word’s automatic table of contents generator to generate your TOC. If you’re not familiar with this functionality, the video below explains it simply:

If you find that your table of contents is overly lengthy, consider removing one level of depth. Oftentimes, this can be done without detracting from the usefulness of the TOC.

Right, now that the “admin” sections are out of the way, its time to move on to your core chapters. These chapters are the heart of your dissertation and are where you’ll earn the marks. The first chapter is the introduction chapter – as you would expect, this is the time to introduce your research…

It’s important to understand that even though you’ve provided an overview of your research in your abstract, your introduction needs to be written as if the reader has not read that (remember, the abstract is essentially a standalone document). So, your introduction chapter needs to start from the very beginning, and should address the following questions:

• What will you be investigating (in plain-language, big picture-level)?
• Why is that worth investigating? How is it important to academia or business? How is it sufficiently original?
• What are your research aims and research question(s)? Note that the research questions can sometimes be presented at the end of the literature review (next chapter).
• What is the scope of your study? In other words, what will and won’t you cover ?
• How will you approach your research? In other words, what methodology will you adopt?
• How will you structure your dissertation? What are the core chapters and what will you do in each of them?

These are just the bare basic requirements for your intro chapter. Some universities will want additional bells and whistles in the intro chapter, so be sure to carefully read your brief or consult your research supervisor.

If done right, your introduction chapter will set a clear direction for the rest of your dissertation. Specifically, it will make it clear to the reader (and marker) exactly what you’ll be investigating, why that’s important, and how you’ll be going about the investigation. Conversely, if your introduction chapter leaves a first-time reader wondering what exactly you’ll be researching, you’ve still got some work to do.

Now that you’ve set a clear direction with your introduction chapter, the next step is the literature review . In this section, you will analyse the existing research (typically academic journal articles and high-quality industry publications), with a view to understanding the following questions:

• What does the literature currently say about the topic you’re investigating?
• Is the literature lacking or well established? Is it divided or in disagreement?
• How does your research fit into the bigger picture?
• How does your research contribute something original?
• How does the methodology of previous studies help you develop your own?

Depending on the nature of your study, you may also present a conceptual framework towards the end of your literature review, which you will then test in your actual research.

Again, some universities will want you to focus on some of these areas more than others, some will have additional or fewer requirements, and so on. Therefore, as always, its important to review your brief and/or discuss with your supervisor, so that you know exactly what’s expected of your literature review chapter.

Now that you’ve investigated the current state of knowledge in your literature review chapter and are familiar with the existing key theories, models and frameworks, its time to design your own research. Enter the methodology chapter – the most “science-ey” of the chapters…

In this chapter, you need to address two critical questions:

• Exactly HOW will you carry out your research (i.e. what is your intended research design)?
• Exactly WHY have you chosen to do things this way (i.e. how do you justify your design)?

Remember, the dissertation part of your degree is first and foremost about developing and demonstrating research skills . Therefore, the markers want to see that you know which methods to use, can clearly articulate why you’ve chosen then, and know how to deploy them effectively.

Importantly, this chapter requires detail – don’t hold back on the specifics. State exactly what you’ll be doing, with who, when, for how long, etc. Moreover, for every design choice you make, make sure you justify it.

In practice, you will likely end up coming back to this chapter once you’ve undertaken all your data collection and analysis, and revise it based on changes you made during the analysis phase. This is perfectly fine. Its natural for you to add an additional analysis technique, scrap an old one, etc based on where your data lead you. Of course, I’m talking about small changes here – not a fundamental switch from qualitative to quantitative, which will likely send your supervisor in a spin!

You’ve now collected your data and undertaken your analysis, whether qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods. In this chapter, you’ll present the raw results of your analysis . For example, in the case of a quant study, you’ll present the demographic data, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics , etc.

Typically, Chapter 4 is simply a presentation and description of the data, not a discussion of the meaning of the data. In other words, it’s descriptive, rather than analytical – the meaning is discussed in Chapter 5. However, some universities will want you to combine chapters 4 and 5, so that you both present and interpret the meaning of the data at the same time. Check with your institution what their preference is.

Now that you’ve presented the data analysis results, its time to interpret and analyse them. In other words, its time to discuss what they mean, especially in relation to your research question(s).

What you discuss here will depend largely on your chosen methodology. For example, if you’ve gone the quantitative route, you might discuss the relationships between variables . If you’ve gone the qualitative route, you might discuss key themes and the meanings thereof. It all depends on what your research design choices were.

Most importantly, you need to discuss your results in relation to your research questions and aims, as well as the existing literature. What do the results tell you about your research questions? Are they aligned with the existing research or at odds? If so, why might this be? Dig deep into your findings and explain what the findings suggest, in plain English.

The final chapter – you’ve made it! Now that you’ve discussed your interpretation of the results, its time to bring it back to the beginning with the conclusion chapter . In other words, its time to (attempt to) answer your original research question s (from way back in chapter 1). Clearly state what your conclusions are in terms of your research questions. This might feel a bit repetitive, as you would have touched on this in the previous chapter, but its important to bring the discussion full circle and explicitly state your answer(s) to the research question(s).

Next, you’ll typically discuss the implications of your findings? In other words, you’ve answered your research questions – but what does this mean for the real world (or even for academia)? What should now be done differently, given the new insight you’ve generated?

Lastly, you should discuss the limitations of your research, as well as what this means for future research in the area. No study is perfect, especially not a Masters-level. Discuss the shortcomings of your research. Perhaps your methodology was limited, perhaps your sample size was small or not representative, etc, etc. Don’t be afraid to critique your work – the markers want to see that you can identify the limitations of your work. This is a strength, not a weakness. Be brutal!

This marks the end of your core chapters – woohoo! From here on out, it’s pretty smooth sailing.

The reference list is straightforward. It should contain a list of all resources cited in your dissertation, in the required format, e.g. APA , Harvard, etc.

It’s essential that you use reference management software for your dissertation. Do NOT try handle your referencing manually – its far too error prone. On a reference list of multiple pages, you’re going to make mistake. To this end, I suggest considering either Mendeley or Zotero. Both are free and provide a very straightforward interface to ensure that your referencing is 100% on point. I’ve included a simple how-to video for the Mendeley software (my personal favourite) below:

Some universities may ask you to include a bibliography, as opposed to a reference list. These two things are not the same . A bibliography is similar to a reference list, except that it also includes resources which informed your thinking but were not directly cited in your dissertation. So, double-check your brief and make sure you use the right one.

The very last piece of the puzzle is the appendix or set of appendices. This is where you’ll include any supporting data and evidence. Importantly, supporting is the keyword here.

Your appendices should provide additional “nice to know”, depth-adding information, which is not critical to the core analysis. Appendices should not be used as a way to cut down word count (see this post which covers how to reduce word count ). In other words, don’t place content that is critical to the core analysis here, just to save word count. You will not earn marks on any content in the appendices, so don’t try to play the system!

Time to recap…

And there you have it – the traditional dissertation structure and layout, from A-Z. To recap, the core structure for a dissertation or thesis is (typically) as follows:

• Acknowledgments page

Most importantly, the core chapters should reflect the research process (asking, investigating and answering your research question). Moreover, the research question(s) should form the golden thread throughout your dissertation structure. Everything should revolve around the research questions, and as you’ve seen, they should form both the start point (i.e. introduction chapter) and the endpoint (i.e. conclusion chapter).

I hope this post has provided you with clarity about the traditional dissertation/thesis structure and layout. If you have any questions or comments, please leave a comment below, or feel free to get in touch with us. Also, be sure to check out the rest of the  Grad Coach Blog .

Psst… there’s more (for free)

This post is part of our dissertation mini-course, which covers everything you need to get started with your dissertation, thesis or research project. 

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36 Comments

many thanks i found it very useful

Glad to hear that, Arun. Good luck writing your dissertation.

Such clear practical logical advice. I very much needed to read this to keep me focused in stead of fretting.. Perfect now ready to start my research!

what about scientific fields like computer or engineering thesis what is the difference in the structure? thank you very much

Thanks so much this helped me a lot!

Very helpful and accessible. What I like most is how practical the advice is along with helpful tools/ links.

Thanks Ade!

Thank you so much sir.. It was really helpful..

You’re welcome!

Hi! How many words maximum should contain the abstract?

Thank you so much 😊 Find this at the right moment

You’re most welcome. Good luck with your dissertation.

best ever benefit i got on right time thank you

Many times Clarity and vision of destination of dissertation is what makes the difference between good ,average and great researchers the same way a great automobile driver is fast with clarity of address and Clear weather conditions .

I guess Great researcher = great ideas + knowledge + great and fast data collection and modeling + great writing + high clarity on all these

You have given immense clarity from start to end.

Morning. Where will I write the definitions of what I’m referring to in my report?

Thank you so much Derek, I was almost lost! Thanks a tonnnn! Have a great day!

Thanks ! so concise and valuable

This was very helpful. Clear and concise. I know exactly what to do now.

Thank you for allowing me to go through briefly. I hope to find time to continue.

Really useful to me. Thanks a thousand times

Very interesting! It will definitely set me and many more for success. highly recommended.

Thank you soo much sir, for the opportunity to express my skills

Usefull, thanks a lot. Really clear

Very nice and easy to understand. Thank you .

That was incredibly useful. Thanks Grad Coach Crew!

My stress level just dropped at least 15 points after watching this. Just starting my thesis for my grad program and I feel a lot more capable now! Thanks for such a clear and helpful video, Emma and the GradCoach team!

Do we need to mention the number of words the dissertation contains in the main document?

It depends on your university’s requirements, so it would be best to check with them 🙂

Such a helpful post to help me get started with structuring my masters dissertation, thank you!

Great video; I appreciate that helpful information

It is so necessary or avital course

This blog is very informative for my research. Thank you

Doctoral students are required to fill out the National Research Council’s Survey of Earned Doctorates

wow this is an amazing gain in my life

This is so good

How can i arrange my specific objectives in my dissertation?

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Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics — MTUCI

Description of Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics — MTUCI

• Location: Moscow, Russia
• Year of foundation: 1921
• Language of instruction: Russian
• Forms of education: full-time, part-time, part-time, distance
• Number of students: about 9000
• Type of education: mixed.

Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (MTUCI) is an industry university, the main profiles of which are information technology, security, telecommunications. In 1921, the Moscow Electrotechnical Institute of People's Communications was opened, which became the predecessor of the current MTUSI. At the moment, about 9,000 students study here, with about 500 highly qualified teachers in the teaching staff.

The university has faculties in the following areas:

• Information Technologies
• Radio, television
• Networks, communication systems
• Cybernetics, information security
• Two distance learning centres
• Department of Individual Training
• Advanced training, retraining.

MTUSI also has a college that provides students with secondary vocational education. The university is trained in bachelor's, specialist's, master's, postgraduate programs.

Programs and prices, tuition fees in Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics — MTUCI

College of telecommunications at mtuci.

• Age – grades 9-11 of school
• The form under consideration is full-time
• The training period is 2-4 years.
• Multi-channel telecommunication systems
• Radio communication, radio broadcasting, television
• Communication networks, switching systems
• Network, system administration
• Ensuring information security of telecommunication systems
• Infocommunication networks, communication systems.

Specialist Degree

• Age – from 17 years (completed secondary education)
• The training period is 4-5 years.
• Business Informatics
• Advertising, Public Relations
• Fundamental Informatics, Information Technologies
• Radio engineering
• Applied Informatics
• Infocommunication technologies, communication systems
• Automation of technological processes, production
• Informatics, Computer Engineering
• Applied mathematics
• Information systems, technologies
• Control in technical systems
• Information security
• Information security of telecommunication systems.
• Age – from 22 years (bachelors, specialists)
• The training period is 2 years.
• Information security.

Postgraduate study

• Age – Masters
• The training period is 3-4 years.
• Mathematics, mechanics
• Electronics, radio engineering, communication systems
• Physics, astronomy

Preparation of a dissertation without mastering the program for postgraduate students who do not study at MTUCI

• Age – phD students
• The cost of training per semester is 30 000 rubles.
• Radio engineering, systems, television devices
• Systems, networks, devices.

Accommodation, meals, prices

For accommodation, three buildings of dormitories for 230 places for bachelors, 30 places for the placement of masters were built. Each living room is shared by 2-3 people, common areas: kitchens, toilets and showers, laundries, self-study classes.

Activities Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics — MTUCI

MTUSI has many options for extracurricular activities:

• Intellectual games
• Thematic festivals, music concerts, creative exhibitions
• Spartakiads, national teams: team sports, table tennis, aerobics, ski trips
• Social work, volunteering.

In social networks, students regularly publish photos, videos in the column "Through the eyes of the Student".

For pupils of MTUSI, a competition of scientific works is organized, the winners of which have the opportunity to receive a grant for research activities, payment for foreign tuition, etc.

• Member of the European Society for Engineering Education, the Association of Business Cooperation of International Departments of Universities of Central and Eastern Europe, the Council for Work with Foreign Graduates of Russian Universities
• Development laboratories of Japan, USA
• Opportunity to get a STP
• About 130 international, national partners
• 85% of students are employed immediately after receiving a diploma.

Facilities and equipment at Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics — MTUCI

Training takes place on three campuses in Moscow. On the territories there are:

• Buildings of faculties, institutes: classrooms, computer classes
• Scientific and technical library with a fund of 600,000 copies of books, electronic resources, periodicals
• Laboratories with equipment for conducting practices, experiments, research
• Event Center
• Printing house, publishing house
• Educational and sports complexes: games, gyms
• Museum of the History of Telecommunications
• Canteens, buffets
• Medical centers.

Many buildings are equipped with ramps, buttons for calling the duty officer for comfortable visits to MTUSI by people with disabilities.

• Rostov-on-Don
• Nizhny Novgorod.

Admission dates and extra charges

There are two semesters in the academic year, two sessions in winter and summer. The number of pairs per day depends on the schedule of the group, the beginning of the school day is 9:30, the end is 18:25. One pair lasts 1.5 hours.

Holidays are held in winter, summer, on public holidays.

Additional costs:

• Books, consumables
• Medical care
• Personal spending.

Entry requirements, how to apply, what is required to enrol

In the college at MTUSI you can get a secondary vocational education.

All applicants can attend Open Days, practical classes, participate in Olympiads. You can apply for admission when registering in the Personal Account on the official website of the institution.

To enroll in ACT programs, you will need:

• Application for admission, consent to enrollment
• Certificate of completion of 9th or 11th grades of school
• Individual achievements if available
• Results of the Unified State Exam if available
• Personal documents (passport, SNILS, etc.).

Future bachelors, specialists should be provided with:

• Certificate of completion of 11 grades of school, scorecard
• Personal documents (passport, SNILS, military ID if available, etc.)
• Documents entitling to special rights (benefits)
• Results of the Unified State Exam.

Applicants to master's and postgraduate programs should be provided with:

• Bachelor's/Specialist's/Master's Degree, Evaluation Sheet
• Individual achievements if available.

Documents are accepted from June to August. Entrance tests are held in July-September.

Scholarships Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics — MTUCI

Scholarship programs:

• Scholarships based on entrance points: from 6000 to 20 000 rub. per month
• Awards to winners, prize-winners of Olympiads accepted without entrance tests: 40 000 rubles per month
• Winners of the competition of student scientific works
• State programs: academic, social, increased types of scholarships
• Scholarship of the President, the Government of the Russian Federation
• Material support for students in need
• Personal scholarships.

Material assistance is provided on the basis of the needs, social criteria of the student.

Institution on the map

Residence permits, citizenship and other services.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision

Review about Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics — MTUCI

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