Among various challenges you face from the get-go of writing a dissertation, preparing a dissertation proposal tops the list. A dissertation proposal is a crucial item that allows you to gauge your aims and objectives and test the relevance of the methods you’ll use to analyze your hypothesis. 

The dissertation proposal usually gives your readers a gist of the research you’ve conducted and highlights the problem you intend to tackle. Read on for tips to employ when writing and presenting your dissertation proposal defense.

What is a dissertation proposal?

A dissertation proposal is a paper written to inform your readers, instructors, and tutor about what your paper will entail and the methods you will employ in testing your hypothesis. 

This paper is crucial as it allows you to get relevant feedback on the feasibility of your paper and guidance on the items to rectify before you start writing your essay. The paper also gives you clarity on your goals and helps you sort the ideas in your paper, escaping various pitfalls associated with writing a dissertation.

As such, the dissertation proposal can be termed as the start point of your essay as it guides you on what to do in various stages of writing your dissertation. 

Dissertation proposal template

The dissertation proposal comprises some key areas of a thesis with some sections of your argument summarized to give your reader a gist of what the sections will entail. The dissertation proposal outline entails the:

1. Abstract
2. Definition of the topic
3. Introduction
4. Research questions
5. Literature review
6. Methods
7. Timeline
8. Conclusion

You should however consult the dissertation handbook provided by your institution to determine the areas to which you should pay more focus. 

How to write a dissertation proposal

Like all other academic writing tasks, writing a dissertation proposal can prove a daunting task if approached poorly. When writing the proposal, 

1. Come up with an abstract

The abstract is the initial element of your dissertation research proposal. This section offers a summary of your paper and highlights the hypothesis, relevance of your study, and the research methodology in a single paragraph.

It is thus key to prepare this section after you’ve prepared your outline as you are better acquainted with the scope of your paper. 

2. Select a topic

Finding a narrow topic that falls within the general research question can prove a challenging task for many students. For this, search for a topic that evokes your curiosity and unveils new data in your field. 

Note that your topic should be feasible with the resources at your disposal. You may consider engaging your librarian and supervisor on various topics you’ve come up with. 

These people are exposed to the field and can thus gauge how well your topic can be handled per the expectations of the faculty. Finally, come up with a title that encapsulates the key idea of your paper and hooks your readers in. 

3. Pen your introduction down

The introduction should cover the background information of your topic and justify the relevance of your study. Ideally, the introduction should hook your readers and cover the main argument for your paper. 

4. Present your literature review

Here, presents an analysis of the sources you’ve used in your work and analyze the weaknesses and strengths of each source. 

5. Methodology

This is a vital section of your proposal that highlights the data you intend to collect for your study and the methods you’ll employ to collect it. You should also highlight various approaches that will be employed to test your hypothesis, helping the faculty gauge the extent to which you shall cover the dissertation.

6. Show your timeline

How many weeks do you need to finalize your dissertation proposal? This section should comprise a Gannt chart, a task list, or another form of a schedule to help the committee gauge the duration of covering your study. 

7. References

Although some institutions provide a conclusion, it is not relevant for the dissertation proposal as the study has not been conducted yet. However, the references are crucial for the research proposal. 

References help the panel to gauge how well you’ve conducted your research, thus determining if you can exhaust the topic you’ve selected. 

How many pages is a dissertation proposal?

A dissertation proposal ranges between 1500 and 4000 words, which translates to between six and sixteen pages. These pages can be divided as:

• 2/3 pages for the introduction
• 6/10 pages for the literature review
• 3/6 pages for the methodology
• One page for the timeline

Tips for the dissertation proposal presentation

• Proofread your paper for any grammatical errors as it may put your faculty off, resulting in rejection. 
• Master the topic and make short notes for the presentation. This will help you engage the panel in a conversational tone and avoid the verbatim reading of the notes which may make you seem disconnected from your work. 
• Rehearse the presentation with friends to help beat the anxiety that comes with presenting the proposal to the panel. 

To vaguely answer your question, a dissertation should be as long as needed to answer the essay question. However, this vague answer, which is common among professors and some experts, barely guides students in writing their essays. 

Here, we will guide you in analyzing your paper to determine the ideal Ph.D. dissertation length. 

What is the average dissertation length?

Dissertations range between 30-200 pages depending on the level of study, field, and complexity of the topic. However, various institutions will prescribe their preferred length of the dissertation to achieve a standard paper and ensure that each candidate prepares quality work.

It is thus ideal to engage your tutor and other candidates to establish the standard length prescribed by your institution. While many students ruminate over the dissertation length, some experts recommend that you focus less on the word count and focus on covering your study topic in detail. 

From this perspective, your paper should reach the ideal word count if each section is well handled, increasing the chances of acceptance by the examining panel. We however recommend that you strike a balance between the content covered and the recommended word count. 

When determining your essay length, put into consideration the:

• University guidelines
• Tutor’s instructions
• Amount of content required to exhaust a given topic

How Long is a Dissertation Paper? 

From the previous section, we can deduce that institutions serve as guidance on the ideal length of a dissertation. We thus recommend that you analyze your topic and prepare a dissertation outline first before diving into the writing stage.

Submit your outline to your tutor for analysis of how well the paper addresses the topic within the range accommodated by your faculty. This feedback will help you gauge the breadth of your paper, improving the likelihood of acceptance by the examining panel.

Institutional guidelines

Some institutions may offer guidelines e.g. chapter two should range between 35-50 pages. These guidelines ensure that you don’t overburden the faculty and also that you maintain a quality dissertation standard. 

Some institutions may offer a guideline where you can enter the ideas under various sections and determine how your work fits in with the recommended essay length. 

How long is a dissertation chapter?

Establishing the total essay length is usually part of the puzzle for many students. Determining how to allocate these words to various sections can prove a major challenge. 

Here, we will highlight the word count for various sections to help you determine the amount of information you should cover under each section. 

Abstract

This portion of your essay covers the key idea of your paper and shows the hypothesis, thesis statement, and key argument corroborating your findings. This section usually ranges between 250-350 words and should be written in prose form.

Dissertation introduction length 

This section should usher your reader into the topic under discussion and cover the reasons as to why the topic is important, and the background study of your argument.

As such, your introduction justifies your study and introduces your thesis statement. This section should range between 10-15 pages to capture your readers’ attention without disclosing your argument. The intro should thus serve as a teaser to hook your reader to read your entire paper.

Dissertation paper length: the body 

The body makes the bulk of your doctoral dissertation paper as it includes all essential portions to introduce your argument and analyze various pieces of evidence that support your hypothesis. The body of your paper comprises:

Literature review

This section should analyze your sources for their strengths and weaknesses and their relevance to the topic. The section should range between 20-25 pages.

Methodology

This is a key section of your doctoral dissertation. The methodology should highlight the methods used to prove/ test your hypothesis and highlight the criteria used to find your sample group. 

Next, outline the procedure for your experiment in a manner that can be easily replicated and includes the challenges encountered and the remedy for these challenges. All this information should be presented in a concise manner and range between 10-15 pages.

Results section

This portion comprises charts and other data that was collected from your experiment. Together with a summary of your findings, the results section should not exceed ten pages. 

Discussion section

The discussion makes the bulk of your paper, with various elements coming together to show your argument and supplement your claims with your sources. This section may range between 15-20 pages depending on the scope of your argument. 

Dissertation conclusion length

As the final section of your paper, the introduction should sum up your argument and cover the implications of your research. You could also cover some counterarguments and highlight how your research dispels these claims. 

Overall, the conclusion should not exceed fifteen pages of your dissertation.

Final take

Determining the ideal dissertation page length often proves a daunting task for students. However, this manual should help you with your paper and guide your research as you work toward a quality paper.