London is home to over 40 universities and more than 400,000 students are studying at higher education institutions in the city during any given academic year. Many courses require you to write an undergraduate dissertation during the final year of study and this can often account for a significant percentage of your overall grade. In this article, we will offer some useful preparation tips so you can ensure your dissertation gets the grade you desire.
Get the Logistical Issues Sorted Early
You want to spend as much time as you can focusing on research and actually writing your dissertation, so it can be helpful to get some of the logistical issues out of the way quickly. Find a reliable dissertation printing service and make sure you familiarise yourself with your university’s rules and preferences on binding and overall presentation.
Universities can have different ideas about precisely how your dissertation should be submitted. In many cases, you will need to submit a physical and digital copy, so make sure you know the rules for your institution.
Check online for some top tips for undergraduate dissertations in the UK, as this can help you to create a plan of action in advance. In particular, it can be good to look for advice on managing your time and following guidelines.
Choose an Interesting Dissertation Title
Next, you need to give careful consideration to your chosen topic and your dissertation title.
The length of a dissertation can vary significantly depending on your course and the university you are attending. However, the typical length of undergraduate dissertations in the UK is around 8,000 to 12,000 words.
Make sure your title interests you and gives you adequate scope to write thousands of words. In many cases, you will need to take a firm stance, create a hypothesis, or pinpoint a question you are going to answer.
It is also important to run your title by your dissertation supervisor and listen to any feedback they provide.
Make Good Use of Research Resources
Research plays a crucial role in your final dissertation, so make sure you are using all of the resources available to you. In particular, services like the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses: Global service and the reading rooms offered by the British Library in Euston Road in London can be a goldmine for dissertation research materials.
Combined, these resources offer up more than 5 million postgraduate dissertations, theses and citations, dating back to the 1800s. You can potentially use these resources to find inspiration for your dissertation title, identify useful primary and secondary sources, and understand the academic debate around your chosen topic.
The British Library offers a free reader pass, while PQDT Global is accessible using your university library credentials.
Final Thoughts
Once you address logistical issues, have a great title and have access to resources for carrying out research, you can focus your efforts on actually writing your dissertation. Take your time, explore your chosen topic thoroughly and ask for advice from your dissertation supervisor, who can help to steer you in the right direction.
