A thesis or dissertation preface is written last, once the main body is finished, even though it appears near the front of the document, before the introduction and after the table of contents, since it usually reflects on the completed project.
A preface typically covers why you chose the topic, the personal or academic motivation behind the research, and acknowledgements for supervisors, participants, or funders, distinguishing it from the introduction, which focuses on the research problem itself.
Writing it last makes sense because a preface often references how the project evolved, including any changes in direction or scope, which only become clear once the research and writing are substantially complete.
Not every UK programme requires a separate preface, since some departments fold acknowledgements and rationale into the introduction instead, so it is worth checking your department’s format requirements early. Our dissertation writing guide explains typical front-matter order in detail.
If deadlines mean the preface gets left until last minute alongside final formatting checks, our PhD thesis help service can review front matter for consistency before submission.


