Dissertation Structure: A Step by Step Guide for Students

Introduction:

A dissertation is defined as a formal project that is required to be undertaken by students particularly at the end of the university degree. Dissertation is a long piece of work that not only requires patience but also requires good understanding of the proper structure to be followed in completing it with flying colours. There are many chapters included in a dissertation, and each chapter has a proper structure to follow. It is one of the most important requirements among students in Singapore universities to undertake research on topics specific to their subject under study. It allows the professors to evaluate the level of knowledge and understanding among students, their critical thinking abilities and potential to contribute original insights into the subject.

Why Structure Matters?

The role and importance of structuring a dissertation is significant, as it allows for proper organisation of ideas, guides the readers throughout the research, and also allows you to present your findings in a better way. With the proper structure, it becomes possible for the readers to understand important components of a research in a better way. The important elements of a research including the research questions, literature findings and gaps, conceptual framework, research methodology followed and results can be presented in a well structured way which would allow you to not only attract the attention of readers, but also help you in scoring better grades.

How Dissertation Structure Differs Across Universities:

The core structure of a dissertation is generally the same across universities which includes an introduction, literature review, research methodology, data analysis and findings, conclusion and recommendations. However in the case of Singaporean universities, the structure differs slightly across different universities based on discipline and academic level such as undergraduate vs postgraduate. For example, the National University of Singapore follows the traditional structure while some specific departments like business or Social Sciences require a separate theoretical framework chapter.

In the case of Nanyang Technological University, some departments like Engineering or computer science require a combined results and discussion chapter. Singapore Management University requires students to follow a problem-solution structure and requires student to include information such as

• company background,
• problem statement,
• solution analysis
• recommendations

It is therefore important to comply with specific structural requirements of the university while writing a dissertation. The next section discusses the core dissertation structure that is followed everywhere, with a brief summary of what is covered in each section and includes some additional tips that will be helpful in structuring your dissertation in a better way.

Writing a dissertation Step by Step

Structuring a dissertation is a common question that arises among students that are willing to start writing a dissertation. Many students even wonder how to structure a dissertation introduction, dissertation findings, dissertation methodology, dissertation conclusion and even the entire dissertation. Lets understand how to write a dissertation step by step along with structuring different chapters as well.

1: Title of the project: The first important step in writing a dissertation is the proper selection of a topic. The title of the dissertation should be included in the first page which should further include the name of the student, institution, department, degree program, and date of submission.

2: Abstract: Title is followed by writing an abstract of approximately one page covering a brief introduction of the project followed by key findings, methodology followed and results accomplished. Writing an abstract is not that easy, as many students do common mistakes while writing abstract, and they should be avoided at any cost.

3: Acknowledgement: It is important to thank everyone that has contributed in successfully accomplishing the project findings. The acknowledgement should thank each and everyone who has directly or indirectly contributed to the successful completion of the project.

4: Table of content: This should include all the sections and subsections with page numbers for easy navigation of the entire project. It should include auto generated headings and sub headings to allow readers to easily access different sections of the dissertation.

5: List of figures and tables: All the figures and tables should be properly numbered and included in this section with proper page numbers.

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6: Introduction: As students baffles on how to structure a dissertation introduction, it should start with a brief background of the research followed by stating the research problem, objectives and questions to be accomplished, significance of the study, and providing a brief summary of the structure of the entire dissertation.

7: Literature Review: A literature review can be properly structured by including a review of relevant literature followed by the consideration of a theoretical framework, and finally identifying gaps in the existing literature. It is good to include a critical review of theories, studies and academic debates and based on the analysis, give a proper justification of your study by clearly specifying the gap in the literature.

8: Research Methodology: When it comes to structuring a research methodology, it is important to consider research design, research approach, research philosophy, data collection methods, data analysis method, ethical consideration and finally the limitations of the study. It should give a clear idea about how the data has been collected, what techniques and methods are used, and why they are relevant for the given research.

9: Data Analysis and Findings: The data analysis and finding section should include an interpretation of the results, comparison of results with existing literature, and implication of findings. It is good to utilise tables, charts and graphs wherever relevant, and provide clear representation of data collected.

10: Conclusion and Recommendations: The findings from the research needs to be summarised in the conclusion section, and it must include the implications of the research, and recommendations based on the findings.

11: References: All the sources utilised in doing the research should form a part of the references section of the dissertation.

12: Appendix: The appendix sections will include material that is not essential to be considered in the main text such as the questionnaire, raw data etc.

Structuring a dissertation requires the consideration of all the above important points, and by following them step by step, it can be possible to achieve the dissertation goals effectively. It is also important to understand the relevance of each and every chapter and how to structure dissertation methodology, findings and discussion, and conclusion and recommendation chapters for better research outcomes. Check this dissertation sample to learn how it is being structured, the dissertation chapters included and how they are written.

Additional Tips in Structuring Your Dissertation

Apart from following the above structure, consider some of these additional important tips to maintain the quality of your dissertation

Conclusion

A well structured dissertation is therefore a foundation to clear and professional research. It helps readers to properly navigate each and every section of the research, and following the university guidelines is also important, as it can help you in successfully completing your dissertation on time. Even if you are studying in any of the universities including SMU, NTU, SUSS or SMU, compliance with correct format reflects academic discipline and increases the credibility of your work. By prioritizing structure, you will not only meet the institutional requirement but also enhance your overall dissertation quality.

Still need help in structuring your dissertation? Connect with our professional dissertation helpers in Singapore. They can help you with structuring your dissertation by complying with your university requirements and also edit your dissertation if required.

Jonathan Wong

I am Jonathan Wong, an education blogger and academic content specialist. I write about assignment strategies, study skills, and university life to help students overcome common academic challenges. I also manage blog content at Assignment Help Singapore, where I share practical advice to support learners on their academic journey.