A dissertation is written in a fixed sequence: title page, abstract, and table of contents, followed by a literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion, then a reference list and appendices. Each section builds on the last.
The literature review situates your research within existing scholarship and identifies the gap your study addresses, while the methodology explains and justifies exactly how you collected and analysed your data.
Results present findings objectively, without interpretation, while the discussion chapter is where you interpret those findings, link them back to the literature, and address any limitations of your approach.
Formatting expectations for abstracts, abbreviations, and reference lists vary between universities, so check your handbook alongside our dissertation writing guide, which covers each chapter in more depth.
Because a dissertation can take months and spans tens of thousands of words, many students bring in dissertation writing support for guidance on structure, methodology, or a specific chapter.


