The following table offers a suggested structure and approximate word counts for your MSc Dissertations. It is not set in stone and should be changed to suit your project and your institution.
Remember a key rule for success – Follow the advice of your supervisor!
It is important to understand that the table is offered here only as a set of non-specific suggestions for your (hopefully!) very specific project. All dissertations are different, and your supervisor is the best person to talk to about your specific institutional, school, or college requirements, which may vary quite significantly. Creating your own outline through discussion with your supervisor gives you both a sense of where you are in the process and what needs to be done, whilst also functioning as a reference point when completing smaller intermediary targets.
Section | MSc Dissertation |
Introduction | 1500 |
Pre-theoretic overview | 500 |
Why this is interesting? | 100 |
Research Purpose | 600 |
Aim and Objectives | 300 |
Literature Review | 3500 |
Historical Overview (of Theory) | 500 |
Contemporary Review of Theory | 2000 |
Context for Study | 1000 |
Methodology | 2000 |
Philosophy | 500 |
Data Collection Technique | 600 |
Sourcing and Selecting Data | 200 |
Research Ethics | 200 |
Data Analysis Tool(s) | 500 |
Empirical Material | 2500 |
Presentation of Data | 750 |
Analysis | 1000 |
Findings | 750 |
Discussion | 2500 |
Discussion | 2000 |
Theory Development | 500 |
Conclusion | 2000 |
Reviewing the Aim and Objectives | 500 |
Contribution – Theory | 500 |
Contribution – Context | |
Contribution – Method | |
Contribution – Management Practice | |
Methodological Review | 300 |
Limitations and Further Research | 300 |
Overall Conclusion | 400 |
Total | 15000 |
Picture by Dom Pates under CC license.