what does a dissertation show

What Exactly Is A Dissertation (Or Thesis)?

If you’ve landed on this article, chances are you’ve got a dissertation or thesis project coming up (hopefully it’s not due next week!), and you’re now asking yourself the classic question, “what the #%#%^ is a dissertation?”…

In this post, I’ll break down the basics of exactly what a dissertation is, in plain language. No ivory tower academia.

So, let’s get to the pressing question – what is a dissertation?

A dissertation (or thesis) = a research project

Simply put, a dissertation (or thesis – depending on which country you’re studying in) is a research project . In other words, your task is to ask a research question (or set of questions) and then set about finding the answer(s). Simple enough, right?

Well, the catch is that you’ve got to undertake this research project in an academic fashion , and there’s a wealth of academic language that makes it all (look) rather confusing (thanks, academia). However, at its core, a dissertation is about undertaking research (investigating something). This is really important to understand, because the key skill that your university is trying to develop in you (and will be testing you on) is your ability to undertake research in a well-structured structured, critical and academically rigorous way.

This research-centric focus is significantly different from assignments or essays, where the main concern is whether you can understand and apply the prescribed module theory. I’ll explain some other key differences between dissertations or theses and assignments a bit later in this article, but for now, let’s dig a little deeper into what a dissertation is.

A dissertation (or thesis) is a process.

Okay, so now that you understand that a dissertation is a research project (which is testing your ability to undertake quality research), let’s go a little deeper into what that means in practical terms.

The best way to understand a dissertation is to view it as a process – more specifically a research process (it is a research project, after all). This process involves four essential steps, which I’ll discuss below.

Step 1 – You identify a worthy research question

The very first step of the research process is to find a meaningful research question, or a set of questions. In other words, you need to find a suitable topic for investigation. Since a dissertation is all about research, identifying the key question(s) is the critical first step. Here’s an example of a well-defined research question:

“Which factors cultivate or erode customer trust in UK-based life insurance brokers?”

This clearly defined question sets the direction of the research . From the question alone, you can understand exactly what the outcome of the research might look like – i.e. a set of findings about which factors help brokers develop customer trust, and which factors negatively impact trust.

But how on earth do I find a suitable research question, you ask? Don’t worry about this right now – when you’re ready, you can read our article about finding a dissertation topic . However, right now, the important thing to understand is that the first step in the dissertation process is identifying the key research question(s). Without a clear question, you cannot move forward.

Step 2 – You review the existing research

Once the research question is clearly established, the next step is to review the existing research/literature (both academic and professional/industry) to understand what has already been said with regard to the question. In academic speak, this is called a literature review .

This step is critically important as, in all likelihood, someone else has asked a similar question to yours, and therefore you can build on the work of others . Good academic research is not about reinventing the wheel or starting from scratch – it’s about familiarising yourself with the current state of knowledge, and then using that as your basis for further research.

Simply put, the first step to answering your research question is to look at what other researchers have to say about it. Sometimes this will lead you to change your research question or direction slightly (for example, if the existing research already provides a comprehensive answer). Don’t stress – this is completely acceptable and a normal part of the research process.

Step 3 – You carry out your own research

Once you’ve got a decent understanding of the existing state of knowledge, you will carry out your own research by collecting and analysing the relevant data. This could take to form of primary research (collecting your own fresh data), secondary research (synthesising existing data) or both, depending on the nature of your degree, research question(s) and even your university’s specific requirements.

Exactly what data you collect and how you go about analysing it depends largely on the research question(s) you are asking, but very often you will take either a qualitative approach (e.g. interviews or focus groups) or a quantitative approach (e.g. online surveys). In other words, your research approach can be words-based, numbers-based, or both . Don’t let the terminology scare you and don’t worry about these technical details for now – we’ll explain research methodology in later posts .

Step 4 – You develop answers to your research question(s)

Combining your understanding of the existing research (Step 2) with the findings from your own original research (Step 3), you then (attempt to) answer your original research question (s). The process of asking, investigating and then answering has gone full circle.

Of course, your research won’t always provide rock-solid answers to your original questions, and indeed you might find that your findings spur new questions altogether. Don’t worry – this is completely acceptable and is a natural part of the research process.

So, to recap, a dissertation is best understood as a research process, where you are:

• Ask a meaningful research question(s)
• Carry out the research (both existing research and your own)
• Analyse the results to develop an answer to your original research question(s).

Depending on your specific degree and the way your university designs its coursework, you might be asking yourself “but isn’t this just a longer version of a normal assignment?”. Well, it’s quite possible that your previous assignments required a similar research process, but there are some key differences you need to be aware of, which I’ll explain next.

Same same, but different…

While there are, naturally, similarities between dissertations/theses and assignments, its important to understand the differences  so that you approach your dissertation with the right mindset and focus your energy on the right things. Here, I’ll discuss four ways in which writing a dissertation differs substantially from assignments and essays, and why this matters.

Difference #1 – You must decide (and live with) the direction.

Unlike assignments or essays, where the general topic is determined for you, for your dissertation, you will (typically) be the one who decides on your research questions and overall direction. This means that you will need to:

• Find a suitable research question (or set of questions)
• Justify why its worth investigating (in the form of a research proposal )
• Find all the relevant existing research and familiarise yourself with the theory

This is very different from assignments, where the theory is given to you on a platter, and the direction is largely pre-defined. Therefore, before you start the dissertation process, you need to understand the basics of academic research, how to find a suitable research topic and how to source the relevant literature.

Difference #2 – It’s a long project, and you’re on your own.

A dissertation is a long journey, at least compared to assignments. Typically, you will spend 3 – 6 months writing around 15,000 – 25,000 words (for Masters-level, much more for PhD) on just one subject. Therefore, successfully completing your dissertation requires a substantial amount of stamina .

To make it even more challenging, your classmates will not be researching the same thing as you are, so you have limited support, other than your supervisor (who may be very busy). This can make it quite a lonely journey . Therefore, you need a lot of self-discipline and self-direction in order to see it through to the end. You should also try to build a support network of people who can help you through the process (perhaps alumni, faculty or a private coach ).

Difference #3 – They’re testing research skills.

We touched on this earlier. Unlike assignments or essays, where the markers are assessing your ability to understand and apply the theories, models and frameworks that they provide you with, your dissertation will be is assessing your ability to undertake high-quality research in an academically rigorous manner.

Of course, your ability to understand the relevant theory (i.e. within your literature review) is still very important, but this is only one piece of the research skills puzzle. You need to demonstrate the full spectrum of research skills.

It’s important to note that your research does not need to be ground-breaking, revolutionary or world-changing – that is not what the markers are assessing. They are assessing whether you can apply well-established research principles and skills to a worthwhile topic of enquiry. Don’t feel like you need to solve the world’s major problems. It’s simply not going to happen (you’re a first-time researcher, after all) – and doesn’t need to happen in order to earn good marks.

Difference #4 – Your focus needs to be narrow and deep.

In your assignments, you were likely encouraged to take a broad, interconnected, high-level view of the theory and connect as many different ideas and concepts as possible. In your dissertation, however, you typically need to narrow your focus and go deep into one particular topic. Think about the research question we looked at earlier:

The focus is intentionally very narrow – specifically the focus is on:

• The UK only – no other countries are being considered.
• Life insurance brokers only – not financial services, not vehicle insurance, not medical insurance, etc.
• Customer trust only – not reputation, not customer loyalty, not employee trust, supplier trust, etc.

By keeping the focus narrow, you enable yourself to deeply probe whichever topic you choose – and this depth is essential for earning good marks. Importantly, ringfencing your focus doesn’t mean ignoring the connections to other topics – you should still acknowledge all the linkages, but don’t get distracted – stay focused on the research question(s).

So, as you can see, a dissertation is more than just an extended assignment or essay. It’s a unique research project that you (and only you) must lead from start to finish. The good news is that, if done right, completing your dissertation will equip you with strong research skills, which you will most certainly use in the future, regardless of whether you follow an academic or professional path.

Wrapping up

Hopefully in this post, I’ve answered your key question, “what is a dissertation?”, at least at a big picture-level. To recap on the key points:

• A dissertation is simply a structured research project .
• It’s useful to view a dissertation as a process involving asking a question, undertaking research and then answering that question.
• First and foremost, your marker(s) will be assessing your research skills , so its essential that you focus on producing a rigorous, academically sound piece of work (as opposed to changing the world or making a scientific breakthrough).
• While there are similarities, a dissertation is different from assignments and essays in multiple ways. It’s important to understand these differences if you want to produce a quality dissertation.

In this post, I’ve gently touched on some of the intricacies of the dissertation, including research questions, data types and research methodologies. Be sure to check out the Grad Coach Blog  for more detailed discussion of these areas.

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34 Comments

Hello Derek

Yes, I struggle with literature review and am highly frustrated (with myself).

Thank you for the guide that you have sent, especially the apps. I am working through the guide and busy with the implementation of it.

Hope to hear from you again!

Regards Micheal

Great to hear that, Michael. All the best with your research!

Thank you. That was quite something to move forward with. Despite the fact that I was lost. I will now be able to do something with the information given.

That’s great, Pheladi. Good luck!

Thank you so much for your videos and writing research proposal and dissertation. These videos are useful. I was struggling, but now I am starting to write. I hope to watch your more videos to learn more about the dissertation.

Before this post, I didn’t know where to start my research, today I have some light and do certain % of my research. I may need for direction on literature review. Big thanks to you.

Very very good Derek

Thanks immensely Derek

You’re welcome 🙂 Good luck with your dissertation/thesis.

Thank you Derek for widening my scope on research, this can be likened to a blind man whose eyes can now see.

Remain bless sir🙏

You guys are doing really great… I am extremely grateful for your help… Keep going.. Please activate that research help for indian students as well I couldn’t access it being an indian.

Hello Derek,

I got stuck in the concept paper because I changed my topic. Now I don’t know where to pick up the pieces again. How can I focus and stay on track. I am getting scared.

Thank you so much Derek, I am a new comer, learning for the first time how to write a good research. These in information’s to me is a mind opener, I hope to learn more from you in the future, Thanks and God bless.

Thanks Guys this means so much to me

A pretty good and insightful piece for beginners like me. Looking forward to more helpful hints and guide. Thanks to Derek.

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Great to hear that

On cybersecurity Analytics research to banking transactions

This was of great help to me and quite informative .

Thank you so much GradCoach,

This is like a light at the end of the tunnel. You are a lifesaver. Thank you once again.

hello, I’m so grateful for such great information. It appears basic, but it is so relevant in understanding the research process.

Your website is very helpful for writing thesis. A big well done to the team. Do you have a website for paper writing and academic publishing or how to publish my thesis, how to land a fully funded PhD, etc. Just the general upward trajectory in the academia. Thank you

I have learned a lot from the lectures, it was beneficial and helped me a lot in my research journey. Thank you very much

Thank you for your gifts of enlightenment to a person like me who’s always a student. May your ‘well’not dry out.

It’s quite a fun and superb, now I have come to believe that the way one teach can have an impact in understanding and can change one’s assumption and position about a subject or a problem, before I came here and learn I consider research methodology a hard thing because, I wasn’t taught by a mentor like this one. Thanks so much who ever have make this effort to make this something easy and engaging

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This topic is intended for my MPhil. Work (The perception of parents on Technical and Vocational Education, the impact on educational policy). May you consider the suitability of the topic for me and refine if the need be. Thank you,

Hello here…

i have gone through the notes and it is interesting. All i need now is a pdf file that contain a whole dissertation writing inclusive of chapter 1 to 5 on motivation as a topic… thanks

Remarkable!!! You made it sound so simple

I got stuck in my writing because I need to change my topic. I am getting scared as I have a semester left 🙁

Thanks for such an educational opportunity and support

Thanks for your educational opportunity and support

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What is a Dissertation? Everything You Need to Know 

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Your dissertation, the final piece of the puzzle that stands between you and the completion of your doctoral degree . Okay, so that’s not the actual definition of the word “dissertation,” but when you’re writing one, that can feel true at times! Keep reading to learn the academic definition and take a more in depth look at what a dissertation is and how to navigate writing one. So, let’s go!  

Related : Top fully funded PhD programs

Dissertation vs. thesis  

While dissertation and thesis are sometimes used interchangeably, they actually refer to two different pieces of writing. A thesis is traditionally completed at the end of a masters program . It is based on pre-existing research and showcases your ability to understand the information you have been learning about in your program.   

A dissertation is much longer than a thesis and is completed at the end of a PhD or doctorate program . It is the last thing you need to complete in order to earn your doctorate in your chosen field. It will be about a topic of your choosing that is within your field of study. Instead of using all pre-existing information though, you will conduct a portion of your own research and propose new ideas.

See also : Top scholarships for graduate students   

What do you write about when completing a dissertation?

What you write about will depend on what field of study you are in. A dissertation is designed to be your own. Meaning that what you write about should be a new idea, a new topic, or question that is still unanswered in your field. Something that you will need to collect new data on, potentially interview people for and explore what information is already available.  

Generally, an idea will need to be approved or at least discussed with whoever is overseeing your dissertation before you begin writing. It’s important to put time and effort into choosing a topic that you will be able to find either existing research for and add to, or a topic that you will be able to establish your own methods of data collection for. Again, the goal of your dissertation is to add to your field.   

How long does a dissertation need to be?  

Your dissertation length will vary, but you can generally count on it to be around 2-3 times the length of your thesis. A standard thesis is roughly 80 to 100 pages. So, on the short end you’re looking at a 200 pages dissertation, while the longer end can reach as high as 400 pages.  

How long does it take to write?  

The page count for a dissertation is enough to scare even the best writers away, but take a breath and rest easy knowing that this is not something you complete in just one semester or even two. On the short end you will have a year to write your dissertation, while the longer end can offer as much as two years to complete your dissertation. During this time, you will work with an advisor who can watch over you and help you along the way.  

The parts of a dissertation   

A dissertation is not just one long paper you must write. Thankfully, it is broken down into manageable pieces that you complete over time.  

Choosing a topic  

The first thing you will do is come up with your topic. Again, your topic will need to be approved by whoever is overseeing your dissertation. If they think that it may not be a strong topic, they will let you know. Even if a topic is approved though, you’ll need to do research around that topic first to make sure that it has not already been covered, or if it has that you take into consideration what has been done and add to the topic in a new way.  

Research  

Research can mean looking at what already exists, as well as conducting your own research to add to a proposed idea of yours. Your research can take many different forms depending on what field you are in. Research can be costly at times, so be sure to check out what funding opportunities are available for doctoral research. There are even post PhD research grants you should be familiar with if you intend to continue researching.  

Chapter break down  

A dissertation generally consists of five chapters. We’ve written them out below with a brief description of each and what they include.   

Introduction – Just as you would expect, this is where you will introduce your topic and what you plan to discuss  

Literature review – This section will address the research you have found that has already been done, or found has not been done, that pertains to your topic  

Methodology – How you go about collecting information for your dissertation, whether it be conducting your own research or delving deep into what has already been done, will be discussed in the methodology section 

Results – Your results will analyze the information you gathered  in regard to your topic 

Discussion – Finally, your discussion section will assess the meaning of your results and it is also where you will add your own ideas, rooted in research, about what those results mean in a broader context in regard to your field 

There will be more parts of your dissertation that are not included in the chapters, but the bulk of your dissertation will be made up by these five chapters. Things like title pages, references, appendices, and table of contents will also be included.  

Defending your dissertation  

Believe it or not, it’s not enough just to write your dissertation–you also have to defend your dissertation. This is another reason why taking a thorough amount of time to choose your topic is so important. You’ll likely need to propose your initial dissertation idea, but that will be much simpler and shorter. Your final defense will be much lengthier and in depth.  

During your defense, you will present your dissertation to a committee. It’s likely that you’ll be at least somewhat familiar with those on the committee; they are not just randomly picked. They will ask you questions about your research, and you will need to respond to each question. A defense generally takes around two hours. The point of a defense is not to have people try to undermine your work, but for you to exemplify your expertise in your field.  

Failing your dissertation  

Nobody wants to think about failing, but unfortunately, you can fail your dissertation. However, let’s talk about a few things before we just leave it at that. First, if you are afraid of failing your dissertation, this is something that you should speak to your advisor about. They can help you determine if there should be legitimate concerns or if you are getting in your own head.  

Second, even if you do fail your dissertation, you are usually allowed to resubmit one time. This of course is not ideal, but it does give you a little room to breathe. Your goal is to do great from the start, but remember this is not an easy task. You’ll likely have plenty of bumps along the way! 

Again, if you have concerns about failing, address them sooner rather than later and seek help. There are bound to be plenty of people and services around you, as well as additional services that you can pay for which will help review your materials and guide you along.

Key Takeaways

• Dissertations are completed as the last step of your PhD or doctorate degree 
• Your dissertation will be related to a topic or question in your field of study that you choose 
• Dissertations take anywhere from one to two years to complete and can be upwards of three hundred pages long 
• Your dissertation is designed to showcase your expertise in your field and your addition of new ideas to the field about a particular question or area 

Frequently asked questions about dissertations  

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Dissertation Explained: A Grad Student’s Guide

Updated: August 7, 2023

Published: March 10, 2020

Higher education is filled with milestones. When completing your PhD , you will be required to complete a dissertation. Even if you’ve heard this word thrown around before, you still may be questioning “What is a dissertation?” It’s a common question, especially for those considering to join or are already in a graduate program. As such, here’s everything you need to know about dissertations.

What is a Dissertation?

A dissertation is a written document that details research. A dissertation also signifies the completion of your PhD program. It is required to earn a PhD degree, which stands for Doctor of Philosophy.

A PhD is created from knowledge acquired from:

1. Coursework:

A PhD program consists of academic courses that are usually small in size and challenging in content. Most PhD courses consist of a high amount and level of reading and writing per week. These courses will help prepare you for your dissertation as they will teach research methodology.

2. Research:

For your dissertation, it is likely that you will have the choice between performing your own research on a subject , or expanding on existing research. Likely, you will complete a mixture of the two. For those in the hard sciences, you will perform research in a lab. For those in humanities and social sciences, research may mean gathering data from surveys or existing research.

3. Analysis:

Once you have collected the data you need to prove your point, you will have to analyze and interpret the information. PhD programs will prepare you for how to conduct analysis, as well as for how to position your research into the existing body of work on the subject matter.

4. Support:

The process of writing and completing a dissertation is bigger than the work itself. It can lead to research positions within the university or outside companies. It may mean that you will teach and share your findings with current undergraduates, or even be published in academic journals. How far you plan to take your dissertation is your choice to make and will require the relevant effort to accomplish your goals.

Moving from Student to Scholar

In essence, a dissertation is what moves a doctoral student into becoming a scholar. Their research may be published, shared, and used as educational material moving forwards.

Thesis vs. Dissertation

Basic differences.

Grad students may conflate the differences between a thesis and a dissertation.

Simply put, a thesis is what you write to complete a master’s degree. It summarizes existing research and signifies that you understand the subject matter deeply.

On the other hand, a dissertation is the culmination of a doctoral program. It will likely require your own research and it can contribute an entirely new idea into your field.

Structural Differences

When it comes to the structure, a thesis and dissertation are also different. A thesis is like the research papers you complete during undergraduate studies. A thesis displays your ability to think critically and analyze information. It’s less based on research that you’ve completed yourself and more about interpreting and analyzing existing material. They are generally around 100 pages in length.

A dissertation is generally two to three times longer compared to a thesis. This is because the bulk of the information is garnered from research you’ve performed yourself. Also, if you are providing something new in your field, it means that existing information is lacking. That’s why you’ll have to provide a lot of data and research to back up your claims.

Your Guide: Structuring a Dissertation

Dissertation length.

The length of a dissertation varies between study level and country. At an undergraduate level, this is more likely referred to as a research paper, which is 10,000 to 12,000 words on average. At a master’s level, the word count may be 15,000 to 25,000, and it will likely be in the form of a thesis. For those completing their PhD, then the dissertation could be 50,000 words or more.

Photo by  Louis Reed  on  Unsplash

Format of the dissertation.

Here are the items you must include in a dissertation. While the format may slightly vary, here’s a look at one way to format your dissertation:

1. Title page:

This is the first page which includes: title, your name, department, degree program, institution, and submission date. Your program may specify exactly how and what they want you to include on the title page.

2. Acknowledgements:

This is optional, but it is where you can express your gratitude to those who have helped you complete your dissertation (professors, research partners, etc.).

3. Abstract:

The abstract is about 150-300 words and summarizes what your research is about. You state the main topic, the methods used, the main results, and your conclusion.

4. Table of Contents

Here, you list the chapter titles and pages to serve as a wayfinding tool for your readers.

5. List of Figures and Tables:

This is like the table of contents, but for graphs and figures.

6. List of Abbreviations:

If you’ve constantly abbreviated words in your content, define them in a list at the beginning.

7. Glossary:

In highly specialized work, it’s likely that you’ve used words that most people may not understand, so a glossary is where you define these terms.

8. Introduction:

Your introduction sets up the topic, purpose, and relevance. It’s where readers will understand what they expect to gain from your dissertation.

9. Literature Review / Theoretical Framework:

Based on the research you performed to create your own dissertation, you’ll want to summarize and address the gaps in what you researched.

10. Methodology

This is where you define how you conducted your research. It offers credibility for you as a source of information. You should give all the details as to how you’ve conducted your research, including: where and when research took place, how it was conducted, any obstacles you faced, and how you justified your findings.

11. Results:

This is where you share the results that have helped contribute to your findings.

12. Discussion:

In the discussion section, you explain what these findings mean to your research question. Were they in line with your expectations or did something jump out as surprising? You may also want to recommend ways to move forward in researching and addressing the subject matter.

13. Conclusion:

A conclusion ties it all together and summarizes the answer to the research question and leaves your reader clearly understanding your main argument.

14. Reference List:

This is the equivalent to a works cited or bibliography page, which documents all the sources you used to create your dissertation.

15. Appendices:

If you have any information that was ancillary to creating the dissertation, but doesn’t directly fit into its chapters, then you can add it in the appendix.

Drafting and Rewriting

As with any paper, especially one of this size and importance, the writing requires a process. It may begin with outlines and drafts, and even a few rewrites. It’s important to proofread your dissertation for both grammatical mistakes, but also to ensure it can be clearly understood.

It’s always useful to read your writing out loud to catch mistakes. Also, if you have people who you trust to read it over — like a peer, family member, mentor, or professor — it’s very helpful to get a second eye on your work.

How is it Different from an Essay?

There are a few main differences between a dissertation and an essay. For starters, an essay is relatively short in comparison to a dissertation, which includes your own body of research and work. Not only is an essay shorter, but you are also likely given the topic matter of an essay. When it comes to a dissertation, you have the freedom to construct your own argument, conduct your own research, and then prove your findings.

Types of Dissertations

You can choose what type of dissertation you complete. Often, this depends on the subject and doctoral degree, but the two main types are:

This relies on conducting your own research.

Non-empirical:

This relies on studying existing research to support your argument.

Photo by  freddie marriage  on  Unsplash

More things you should know.

A dissertation is certainly no easy feat. Here’s a few more things to remember before you get started writing your own:

1. Independent by Nature:

The process of completing a dissertation is self-directed, and therefore can feel overwhelming. However, if you approach it like the new experience that it is with an open-mind and willingness to learn, you will make it through!

2. Seek Support:

There are countless people around to offer support. From professors to peers, you can always ask for help throughout the process.

3. Writing Skills:

The process of writing a dissertation will further hone your writing skills which will follow you throughout your life. These skills are highly transferable on the job, from having the ability to communicate to also developing analytical and critical thinking skills.

4. Time Management:

You can work backwards from the culmination of your program to break down this gargantuan task into smaller pieces. That way, you can manage your time to chip away at the task throughout the length of the program.

5. Topic Flexibility:

It’s okay to change subject matters and rethink the point of your dissertation. Just try as much as possible to do this early in the process so you don’t waste too much time and energy.

The Wrap Up

A dissertation marks the completion of your doctoral program and moves you from being a student to being a scholar. While the process is long and requires a lot of effort and energy, you have the power to lend an entirely new research and findings into your field of expertise.

As always, when in the thick of things, remember why you started. Completing both your dissertation and PhD is a commendable accomplishment.

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What is a Dissertation? Undergrad, Masters & PhD

A dissertation is a long written piece of academic research completed as part of a university degree.

The dissertation will be the longest thing you write at university. It might be anywhere from:

• Shortest: 5000 words long (a baby undergraduate dissertation), up to
• Longest: 100,000 words (a PhD dissertation in the social sciences).

Your dissertation will explain the processes and results of research that you conducted. You would also write an analysis of the results and recommendations for further research.

You usually complete your dissertation at the end of your degree, so in North America you might hear people calling it the “capstone project”.

Difference between a Dissertation and Thesis

We often use the terms ‘dissertation’ and ‘thesis’ interchangeably. I’ve also read a lot of articles out there on the internet that claim that there are clear differences between the two. There aren’t.

I’ve completed an undergraduate and a doctoral dissertation. I’ve supervised well over 100 dissertation students at undergraduate, masters and PhD level. I’ve taught at universities in Europe, Australia and North America. In all my time, it’s been quite apparent to me that people use the terms interchangeably.

Now, there is also another time we use the term ‘thesis’. A thesis is also known as your main argument in an essay and/or dissertation.

So, technically, a dissertation contains a thesis . The dissertation is the written report that you can pick up and carry around. The thesis is the key argument you’re making within the written report.

But save yourself the stress of trying to differentiate between the two: in 90% of all situations, when someone says ‘dissertation’ or ‘thesis’ they mean the same thing: they just mean “that big project you’ve been working on for the past 2 years of your life and you want to throw out the window.”

What is a Dissertation Supervisor?

When you start your dissertation, you’ll be allocated a dissertation supervisor. Your supervisor will guide you through the process.

For undergraduate students, this may be the first time you’ve worked closely in a one-to-one environment with a university professor before. You’ll meet up for regular meetings and they’ll look over drafts of your work and tell you how to improve it.

The 3 Levels of Dissertation

Dissertations can be written during undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Here are the three different levels:

Honors or Undergraduate Dissertation

You may be asked to write a dissertation to get your undergraduate degree. Outside of North America, this is a requirement if you want to graduate “with honors”.

An undergraduate dissertation will range from about 5,000 to 30,000 words. Most undergraduate dissertations that I’ve come across usually come out at about 10,000 words and take their full senior to complete. However, different universities have different standards.

Undergraduate students are not usually asked to do complicated research studies. It’s an introduction to academic research, so you’re likely only going to do a small pilot study, but it’s good for learning how research happens and getting your toes wet.

You’ll also get to zoom-in on a topic of your choice, so it’s a chance to show future employers what your interests are and how you’ve pursued them at university level.

Masters Dissertation

A masters dissertation is completed by people who choose to do a masters degree “by research”. Some masters by coursework degrees don’t have a dissertation component, so you may not have to do a dissertation at all.

At masters level, you’ll need to step up your game a little. Masters-level dissertations typically range from 15,000 to 50,000 words and involve a small but rigorous research study.

Many of the masters students who I have supervised in the past have conducted case study or ‘action research’ projects where they did a study in their own workplace.

Others have done standalone studies where they’ve come up with a topic to research and gone ahead to conduct the research over about a 12 to 24 month period.

PhD Dissertation

A PhD or doctorate dissertation is the big kahuna of dissertations. If you successfully write one of these, you can call yourself ‘Doctor’ for the rest of your days (but you won’t be one of those doctors – you know, the ones with stethoscopes).

Most PhD dissertations are 80,000 to 100,000 words long – or about the length of your average novel. Now that’s a lot of words!

Your PhD absolutely has to (at a minimum) make a unique contribution to knowledge. That means you need to study something no one else has ever studied before and convince experts in the field that it was a well-done and valid study. Ideally you should also be able to tell people that you’re a world-leading expert in the topic you studied.

What is the Structure of a Dissertation?

There are many different ways you can structure your dissertation. Different disciplines have different expectations and standards.

Many of my students freak out that they have to write such long pieces of work. But, by splitting the dissertation up into sections like I have done below, they come to realize that it’s just a whole lot of short pieces all glued together to make a coherent, interesting story.

Here’s one of the most common structures that 95% of all of my students in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences follow:

1. Introduction (10%)

The introduction gives an overview of the topic to readers and lets them know of its importance. It will introduce the reader to the research topic and the question you’re studying. It might also introduce some key terms and give an overview of the structure of the piece to come.

2. Literature Review (15 – 25%)

A literature review will give a detailed overview of everything that’s currently known about the topic. It’ll show the reader that you have deep knowledge of the topic and that you’re qualified to conduct the study.

Ideally, you’ll also use the literature review to show how your study builds upon what’s already known. You don’t want to just do a study that’s already been done, but you can learn a lot from previous studies and use their knowledge to make your work better.

3. Theoretical Framework (15 – 25%)

This section isn’t always used (you’ll probably skip it for an undergraduate dissertation), but it is common in some Masters and PhD level studies. It outlines what lens you’re using to critique concepts. Maybe you’ll use a theory like ‘grounded theory’, ‘ postmodernism ’, ‘ critical theory ’ or ‘feminist theory’ to study something from a particular perspective. You’ll need to show your reader that you have deep knowledge of that theory that you’re using, and why the theory is worth employing in your study.

If this is all too confusing to you now, never mind: you may not even need to use a theoretical framework , depending on the requirements of your course.

4. Methodology (15 – 25%)

A methodology section outlines how you will conduct your study. What methods, procedure and ethical guidelines will you use? How will you ensure your work is honest, trustworthy, reliable or accurate?

5. Results (10%)

The results section outlines what you found out. Particularly in quantitative work (that’s a study that uses methods that measure things using numbers and algorithms), you’ll have a results section separate from the analysis section. In qualitative work , often the results and analysis are blended together.

6. Analysis (15 – 25%)

The analysis is the section where you critique the results. What do the results reveal about your topic? How do your results show us something new or provide fresh insights into an old topic?

7. Conclusion (10%)

The conclusion will usually sum up what you’ve said and explain its relevance for researchers or practitioners. You will give recommendations to future researchers on what studies they might want to undertake, or you might tell practitioners how your findings could be used to improve their workplace.

Conclusions also often outline weaknesses or challenges you faced. This is important to show that you’ve reflected on your blindspots and acknowledged them. No study is perfect.

How to Conduct a Research Study for a Dissertation

You’ll have to choose a research topic, study it in depth, and conduct original research on it. It seems like a daunting task, but with your dissertation supervisor, you’ll work together to break it down into manageable chunks.

An Example: Laura’s Undergraduate Dissertation

Let’s say Laura has to write a 10,000 word undergraduate dissertation in her Education Studies degree. This would be pretty common if she wants to graduate with honors. Here’s what she might do:

1. Choose a Topic

Laura needs to choose a topic to write about. She is really interested in play-based learning , so she chose this as her topic for her dissertation.

>>>RELATED POST: 51 BEST EDUCATION DISSERTATION TOPIC IDEAS

2. Conduct a Literature Review

Laura started reading up about the topic and write a 2,500 word review of all of the literature that’s out there on play-based learning. She found a few themes in the articles she read, so she split it up into 6 sections for the 5 themes she found, with 500 words in each section.

3. Come up with a Research Question

Now that Laura has some in-depth knowledge about her topic, she’s going to have to conduct some original research of her own to prove her expertise in the topic. Usually, we ask students to do research that no one has done before so that it is unique and tells us something new about the topic. Fortunately, because she’s done her literature review, Laura will now have deep knowledge of the topic and know things about play-based learning that haven’t been researched in the past.

Let’s say Laura decided that she wanted to interview teachers about the challenges they face during play-based learning lessons. She has decided to go out and interview, say, 10 teachers at the local school.

4. Devise a Methodology

Because it’s an academic study, Laura needs to prove that she did the research systematically. If she doesn’t have a procedure to follow, her results won’t be valid. So, she has to write a section in her dissertation about how she conducted the research to ensure it is reliable. This might be another 2,500 words and explain her methodology (procedure) and how she did it ethically (didn’t cheat or harm anyone).

5. Get Approval to Conduct the Study

Before Laura conducts the study, she’ll have to get it approved by:

• Her supervisor
• Her university’s research ethics committee

Usually, she’ll have to present a written research proposal that outlines her plans and shows she’s thought about her methodology and literature review. This can be a long process, but it’s helped by the fact that he’s already conducted her literature review, written her methodology, and gotten them checked by her supervisor on a regular basis.

6. Conduct the Study

Once she’s gotten approval, Laura will have to go out and conduct the study!

She’ll go out to schools and interview the 10 teachers using a recording device – asking them all the same questions – and then come back to university and look over their answers.

7. Analyze the Results

Laura will have to look through the interviews to see what key points were that kept coming up in her interviews. We call these recurring points ‘key themes’.

The first thing Laura will do is transcribe the interviews. This means she’ll listen to the interviews and type them up word-for-word (‘verbatum’). Then, she’ll print them out and highlight important or revealing quotes that she thinks appeared multiple times in each interview.

Sometimes, people use software to help them find these themes.

8. Write up the Results

Now that Laura thinks she has some key themes from the interviews, she’ll write her ‘analysis’ and /or ‘results’ sections of her dissertation. She will write about all the themes she found and provide some quotes from the teachers to back up her points.

9. Write an Introduction and Conclusion

Lastly, Laura needs to write her introduction and conclusion . These come last when everything else was written. The introduction will give the reader a fly-by of what is said throughout the dissertation. The conclusion will highlight the importance of the results, maybe discuss some weaknesses of her study, and make recommendations for practitioners or future researchers based on her newfound knowledge.

How to Get Started

I’ve got a ton of resources on this website to help you write your dissertation. My goal is to show you how to do it in easy to understand language – no academic B.S.! I recommend you get started with your dissertation by reading my post on how to choose a dissertation topic .

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
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What is an Ed.D. Dissertation? Complete Guide & Support Resources

Wondering how to tackle the biggest doctoral challenge of all? Use our guide to the Ed.D. dissertation to get started! Learn about the purpose of a Doctor of Education dissertation and typical topics for education students. Read through step-by-step descriptions of the dissertation process and the 5-chapter format. Get answers to Ed.D. dissertation FAQs . Or skip to the chase and find real-world examples of Doctor of Education dissertations and websites & resources for Ed.D. dissertation research.

What is an Ed.D. Dissertation?

Definition of an ed.d. dissertation.

An Ed.D. dissertation is a 5-chapter scholarly document that brings together years of original research to address a problem of practice in education. To complete a dissertation, you will need to go through a number of scholarly steps , including a final defense to justify your findings.

Purpose of an Ed.D. Dissertation

In a Doctor of Education dissertation, you will be challenged to apply high-level research & creative problem-solving to real-world educational challenges. You may be asked to:

• Take a critical look at current educational & administrative practices
• Address urgent issues in the modern education system
• Propose original & practical solutions for improvements
• Expand the knowledge base for educational practitioners

Topics of Ed.D. Dissertations

An Ed.D. dissertation is “customizable.” You’re allowed to chose a topic that relates to your choice of specialty (e.g. elementary education), field of interest (e.g. curriculum development), and environment (e.g. urban schools).

Think about current problems of practice that need to be addressed in your field. You’ll notice that Ed.D. dissertation topics often address one of the following:

• Academic performance
• Teaching methods
• Access to resources
• Social challenges
• Legislative impacts
• System effectiveness

Wondering how others have done it? Browse through Examples of Ed.D. Dissertations and read the titles & abstracts. You’ll see how current educators are addressing their own problems of practice.

Ed.D. Dissertation Process

1. propose a dissertation topic.

Near the beginning of a Doctor of Education program, you’ll be expected to identify a dissertation topic that will require substantial research. This topic should revolve around a unique issue in education.

Universities will often ask you to provide an idea for your topic when you’re applying to the doctoral program. You don’t necessarily need to stick to this idea, but you should be prepared to explain why it interests you. If you need inspiration, see our section on Examples of Ed.D. Dissertations .

You’ll be expected to solidify your dissertation topic in the first few semesters. Talking to faculty and fellow Ed.D. students can help in this process. Better yet, your educational peers will often be able to provide unique perspectives on the topic (e.g. cultural differences in teaching methods).

2. Meet Your Dissertation Chair & Committee

You won’t be going through the Ed.D. dissertation process alone! Universities will help you to select a number of experienced mentors. These include:

• Dissertation Chair/Faculty Advisor: The Chair of the Dissertation Committee acts as your primary advisor. You’ll often see them referred to as the Supervising Professor, Faculty Advisor, or the like. You’ll rely on this “Obi Wan” for their knowledge of the field, research advice & guidance, editorial input on drafts, and more. They can also assist with shaping & refining your dissertation topic.
• Dissertation Committee:  The Dissertation Committee is made up of ~3 faculty members, instructors and/or adjuncts with advanced expertise in your field of study. The Committee will offer advice, provide feedback on your research progress, and review your work & progress reports. When you defend your proposal and give your final defense , you’ll be addressing the Dissertation Committee.

3. Study for Ed.D. Courses

Doctor of Education coursework is designed to help you: a) learn how to conduct original research; and b) give you a broader perspective on your field of interest. If you take a look at the curriculum in any Ed.D. program, you’ll see that students have to complete credits in:

• Practical Research Methods (e.g. Quantitative Design & Analysis for Educational Leaders)
• Real-World Educational Issues (e.g. Educational Policy, Law & Practice)

When you’re evaluating possible Ed.D. programs, pay attention to the coursework in real-world educational issues. You’ll want to pick an education doctorate with courses that complement your dissertation topic.

4. Complete a Literature Review

A literature review is an evaluation of existing materials & research work that relate to your dissertation topic. It’s a written synthesis that:

• Grounds your project within the field
• Explains how your work relates to previous research & theoretical frameworks
• Helps to identify gaps in the existing research

Have a look at Literature Review Guides if you’d like to know more about the process. Our section on Resources for Ed.D. Dissertation Research also has useful links to journals & databases.

5. Craft a Dissertation Proposal

During the first two years of your Doctor of Education, you’ll use the knowledge you’ve learned from your coursework & discussions to write the opening chapters of your dissertation, including an:

• Introduction  that defines your chosen topic
• Literature Review of existing research in the field
• Proposed Research Methodology for finding the answer to your problem

When you’re putting together these elements, think about the practicals. Is the topic too big to address in one dissertation? How much time will your research take and how will you conduct it? Will your dissertation be relevant to your current job? If in doubt, ask your faculty advisor.

6. Defend Your Dissertation Proposal

About midway through the Ed.D. program, you will need to present your proposal to your Dissertation Committee. They will review your work and offer feedback. For example, the Committee will want to see that:

• Your research topic is significant.
• Your research methodology & timeline make sense.
• Relevant works are included in the literature review.

After the Committee approves your proposal, you can get stuck into conducting original research and writing up your findings. These two important tasks will take up the final years of your doctorate.

7. Conduct Original Research into Your Topic

As a Doctor of Education student, you will be expected to conduct your own research. Ed.D. students often use a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods (quantitative/qualitative) approach in this process.

• Quantitative Research: Collection & analysis of numerical data to identify characteristics, discover correlations, and/or test hypotheses.
• Qualitative Research: Collection & analysis of non-numerical data to understand & explain phenomena (e.g. questionnaires, in-depth interviews, focus groups, video artifacts, etc.).

Your Ed.D. coursework will ground you in research methods & tools, so you’ll be prepared to design your own project and seek IRB approval for any work involving human subjects.

Note: Occasionally, universities can get creative. For example, the Ed.D. program at San Jose State University asks students to produce a documentary film instead of conducting traditional research.

8. Write the Rest of Your Dissertation

Once you have written up the first few chapters of your dissertation (Intro, Literature Review & Proposed Methodology) and completed your research work, you’ll be able to complete the final chapters of your dissertation.

• Chapter 4 will detail your research findings.
• Chapter 5 is a conclusion that summarizes solutions to your problem of practice/topic.

This is where you and your faculty advisor will often have a lot of interaction! For example, you may need to rework the first few chapters of your dissertation after you’ve drafted the final chapters. Faculty advisors are extremely busy people, so be sure to budget in ample time for revisions and final edits.

9. Defend Your Dissertation

The final defense/candidacy exam is a formal presentation of your work to the Dissertation Committee. In many cases, the defense is an oral presentation with visual aides. You’ll be able to explain your research findings, go through your conclusions, and highlight new ideas & solutions.

At any time, the Committee can challenge you with questions, so you should be prepared to defend your conclusions. But this process is not as frightening as it sounds!

• If you’ve been in close contact with the Committee throughout the dissertation, they will be aware of your work.
• Your faculty advisor will help you decide when you’re ready for the final defense.
• You can also attend the defenses of other Ed.D. students to learn what questions may be asked.

Be aware that the Committee has the option to ask for changes before they approve your dissertation. After you have incorporated any notes from the Committee and addressed their concerns, you will finalize the draft, submit your dissertation for a formal review, and graduate.

Ed.D. Dissertation Format: 5 Chapters

Chapter 1: introduction.

Your Doctor of Education dissertation will begin with an introduction. In it, you’ll be expected to:

• Provide an overview of your educational landscape
• Explain important definitions & key concepts
• Define a real-world topic/problem of practice
• Outline the need for new studies on this topic

Chapter 2: Literature Review

The literature review is a summary of existing research in the field. However, it is not an annotated bibliography. Instead, it’s a critical analysis of current research (e.g. trends, themes, debates & current practices). While you’re evaluating the literature, you’re also looking for the gaps where you can conduct original research.

Sources for a literature review can include books, articles, reports, websites, dissertations, and more. Our section on Resources for Ed.D. Dissertation Research has plenty of places to start.

Chapter 3: Research Methodology

In the research methodology, you’ll be expected to explain:

• The purpose of your research
• What tools & methods you plan to use to research your topic/problem of practice
• The design of the study
• Your timeline for gathering quantitative & qualitative data
• How you plan to analyze that data
• Any limitations you foresee

Chapter 4: Results & Analysis

Chapter 4 is the place where you can share the results of your original research and present key findings from the data. In your analysis, you may also be highlighting new patterns, relationships, and themes that other scholars have failed to discover. Have a look at real-life Examples of Ed.D. Dissertations to see how this section is structured.

Chapter 5: Discussions & Conclusions

The final chapter of your Ed.D. dissertation brings all of your work together in a detailed summary. You’ll be expected to:

• Reiterate the objectives of your dissertation
• Explain the significance of your research findings
• Outline the implications of your ideas on existing practices
• Propose solutions for a problem of practice
• Make suggestions & recommendations for future improvements

Ed.D. Dissertation FAQs

What’s the difference between a dissertation and a thesis.

• Dissertation: A dissertation is a 5-chapter written work that must be completed in order to earn a doctoral degree (e.g. Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.). It’s often focused on original research.
• Thesis: A thesis is a written work that must be completed in order to earn a master’s degree. It’s typically shorter than a dissertation and based on existing research.

How Long is a Ed.D. Dissertation?

It depends. Most Ed.D. dissertations end up being between 80-200 pages. The length will depend on a number of factors, including the depth of your literature review, the way you collect & present your research data, and any appendices you might need to include.

How Long Does it Take to Finish an Ed.D. Dissertation?

It depends. If you’re in an accelerated program , you may be able to finish your dissertation in 2-3 years. If you’re in a part-time program and need to conduct a lot of complex research work, your timeline will be much longer.

What’s a Strong Ed.D. Dissertation Topic?

Experts always say that Doctor of Education students should be passionate about their dissertation topic and eager to explore uncharted territory. When you’re crafting your Ed.D. dissertation topic , find one that will be:

• Significant

See the section on Examples of Ed.D. Dissertations for inspiration.

Do I Have to Complete a Traditional Dissertation for an Ed.D.?

No. If you’re struggling with the idea of a traditional dissertation, check out this guide to Online Ed.D. Programs with No Dissertation . Some Schools of Education give Ed.D. students the opportunity to complete a Capstone Project or Dissertation in Practice (DiP) instead of a 5-chapter written work.

These alternatives aren’t easy! You’ll still be challenged at the same level as you would be for a dissertation. However, Capstone Projects & DiPs often involve more group work and an emphasis on applied theory & research.

What’s the Difference Between a Ph.D. Dissertation and Ed.D. Dissertation?

Have a look at our Ed.D. vs. Ph.D. Guide to get a sense of the differences between the two degrees. In a nutshell:

• Ed.D. dissertations tend to focus on addressing current & real-world topics/problems of practice in the workplace.
• Ph.D. dissertations usually put more emphasis on creating new theories & concepts and even completely rethinking educational practices.

How Can I Learn More About Ed.D. Dissertations?

Start with the section on Examples of Ed.D. Dissertations . You can browse through titles, abstracts, and even complete dissertations from a large number of universities.

If you have a few Doctor of Education programs on your shortlist, we also recommend that you skim through the program’s Dissertation Handbook . It can usually be found on the School of Education’s website. You’ll be able to see how the School likes to structure the dissertation process from start to finish.

Ed.D. Dissertation Support

University & campus resources, dissertation chair & committee.

The first port of call for any questions about the Ed.D. dissertation is your Dissertation Chair. If you get stuck with a terrible faculty advisor, talk to members of the Dissertation Committee. They are there to support your journey.

University Library

An Ed.D. dissertation is a massive research project. So before you choose a Doctor of Education program, ask the School of Education about its libraries & library resources (e.g. free online access to subscription-based journals).

Writing Center

Many universities have a Writing Center. If you’re struggling with any elements of your dissertation (e.g. editing), you can ask the staff about:

• Individual tutoring
• Editorial assistance
• Outside resources

Mental Health Support

It’s well-known that doctoral students often face a lot of stress & isolation during their studies. Ask your faculty advisor about mental health services at the university. Staff in the School of Education and the Graduate School will also have information about on-campus counselors, free or discounted therapy sessions, and more.

Independent Dissertation Services

Dissertation editing services: potentially helpful.

There are scores of independent providers who offer dissertation editing services. But they can be expensive. And many of these editors have zero expertise in educational fields.

If you need help with editing & proofreading, proceed with caution:

• Start by asking your Dissertation Chair about what’s permitted for third party involvement (e.g. you may need to note any editor’s contribution in your dissertation acknowledgments) and whether they have any suggestions.
• The Graduate School is another useful resource. For example, Cornell’s Graduate School maintains a list of Editing, Typing, and Proofreading Services for graduate students.

Dissertation Coaches: Not Worth It

Dissertation coaches are defined as people who offer academic & mental support, guidance, and editorial input.

• That means the person who should be your coach is your Dissertation Chair/Faculty Advisor. Remember that faculty members on the Dissertation Committee can also provide assistance.
• If you’re looking for extra support, you might consider consulting a mentor in your line of work and collaborating with fellow Ed.D. students.

But hiring an independent Ed.D. dissertation coach is going to be an absolute waste of money.

Dissertation Writing Services: Just Don’t!

Universities take the dissertation process  very seriously . An Ed.D. dissertation is supposed to be the culmination of years of original thought and research. You’re going to be responsible for the final product. You’re going to be defending your written work in front of a phalanx of experienced faculty members. You’re going to be putting this credential on your résumé for everyone to see.

If you cheat the process by having someone else write up your work, you will get caught.

Ed.D. Dissertation Resources

Examples of ed.d. dissertations, dissertation databases.

• Open Access Theses and Dissertations
• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
• EBSCO Open Dissertations

Ed.D. Dissertations

• USF Scholarship Repository: Ed.D. Dissertations
• George Fox University: Doctor of Education
• UW Tacoma: Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice
• Liberty University: School of Education Doctoral Dissertations
• University of Mary Hardin-Baylor: Dissertation Collection

Ed.D. Dissertation Abstracts

• Michigan State University: Ed.D. Dissertation Abstracts

Ed.D. Dissertation Guides & Tools

General ed.d. guides.

• SNHU: Educational Leadership Ed.D./Ph.D. Guide

Dissertation Style Manuals

• Chicago Manual of Style

Style manuals are designed to ensure that every Ed.D. student follows the same set of writing guidelines for their dissertation (e.g. grammatical rules, footnote & quotation formats, abbreviation conventions, etc.). Check with the School of Education to learn which style manual they use.

Examples of Ed.D. Dissertation Templates

• Purdue University: Dissertation Template
• Walden University: Ed.D. Dissertation Template

Each School of Education has a standard dissertation template. We’ve highlighted a couple of examples so you can see how they’re formatted, but you will need to acquire the template from your own university.

Literature Review Guides

• UNC Chapel Hill: Writing Guide for Literature Reviews
• University of Alabama: How to Conduct a Literature Review

Resources for Ed.D. Dissertation Research

Journal articles.

• EBSCO Education Research Databases
• Education Resources Information Center (ERIC)
• Emerald Education eJournal Collection
• Gale OneFile: Educator’s Reference Complete
• Google Scholar
• NCES Bibliography Search Tool
• ProQuest Education Database
• SAGE Journals: Education

Useful Websites

• Harvard Gutman Library: Websites for Educators
• EduRef: Lesson Plans

Educational Data & Statistics

• Digest of Education Statistics
• Education Policy Data Center (EPDC)
• ICPSR Data Archive
• National Assessment of Educational Progress
• National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
• UNESCO Institute for Statistics

• Future Students
• Current Students
• Faculty/Staff

• Current Students Hub

Doctoral handbook

You are here

• Dissertation Content

A doctoral dissertation makes an original contribution to knowledge, as defined in a discipline or an interdisciplinary domain and addresses a significant researchable problem. Not all problems are researchable and not all are significant. Problems that can be solved by a mere descriptive exercise are not appropriate for the PhD dissertation. Acceptable problems are those that:

• pose a puzzle to the field at a theoretical, methodological, or policy level;
• make analytical demands for solution, rather than mere cataloging or descriptive demands; and
• can yield to a reasonable research methodology.

The doctoral dissertation advisor, reading committee, and oral exam committee provide further guidance and details with regard to dissertation content and format. General formatting and submission guidelines are published by the University Registrar. The American Psychological Association (APA) publication guidelines normally apply to GSE doctoral dissertations, but is not required if the advisor and relevant committees determine that an alternative, and academically acceptable, protocol is more appropriate.

Published Papers and Multiple Authorship

The inclusion of published papers in a dissertation is the prerogative of the major department.  Where published papers or ready-for-publication papers are included, the following criteria must be met:

1. There must be an introductory chapter that integrates the general theme of the research and the relationship between the chapters.  The introduction may also include a review of the literature relevant to the dissertation topic that does not appear in the chapters.

2. Multiple authorship of a published paper should be addressed by clearly designating, in an introduction, the role that the dissertation author had in the research and production of the published paper.  The student must have a major contribution to the research and writing of papers included in the dissertation.

3. There must be adequate referencing of where individual papers have been published.

4. Written permission must be obtained for all copyrighted materials; letters of permission must be uploaded electronically in PDF form when submitting the dissertation.  Please see the following website for more information on the use of copyrighted materials: http://library.stanford.edu/using/copyright-reminder .

5. The submitted material must be in a form that is legible and reproducible as required by these specifications.  The Office of the University Registrar will approve a dissertation if there are no deviations from the normal specifications that would prevent proper dissemination and utilization of the dissertation.  If the published material does not correspond to these standards, it will be necessary for the student to reformat that portion of the dissertation.

6. Multiple authorship has implications with respect to copyright and public release of the material.  Be sure to discuss copyright clearance and embargo options with your co-authors and your advisor well in advance of preparing your thesis for submission.

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How to Write a Dissertation Proposal | A Step-by-Step Guide

Published on 14 February 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 11 November 2022.

A dissertation proposal describes the research you want to do: what it’s about, how you’ll conduct it, and why it’s worthwhile. You will probably have to write a proposal before starting your dissertation as an undergraduate or postgraduate student.

A dissertation proposal should generally include:

• An introduction to your topic and aims
• A literature review  of the current state of knowledge
• An outline of your proposed methodology
• A discussion of the possible implications of the research
• A bibliography  of relevant sources

Dissertation proposals vary a lot in terms of length and structure, so make sure to follow any guidelines given to you by your institution, and check with your supervisor when you’re unsure.

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Table of contents

Step 1: coming up with an idea, step 2: presenting your idea in the introduction, step 3: exploring related research in the literature review, step 4: describing your methodology, step 5: outlining the potential implications of your research, step 6: creating a reference list or bibliography.

Before writing your proposal, it’s important to come up with a strong idea for your dissertation.

Find an area of your field that interests you and do some preliminary reading in that area. What are the key concerns of other researchers? What do they suggest as areas for further research, and what strikes you personally as an interesting gap in the field?

Once you have an idea, consider how to narrow it down and the best way to frame it. Don’t be too ambitious or too vague – a dissertation topic needs to be specific enough to be feasible. Move from a broad field of interest to a specific niche:

• Russian literature 19th century Russian literature The novels of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky
• Social media Mental health effects of social media Influence of social media on young adults suffering from anxiety

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Like most academic texts, a dissertation proposal begins with an introduction . This is where you introduce the topic of your research, provide some background, and most importantly, present your aim , objectives and research question(s) .

Try to dive straight into your chosen topic: What’s at stake in your research? Why is it interesting? Don’t spend too long on generalisations or grand statements:

• Social media is the most important technological trend of the 21st century. It has changed the world and influences our lives every day.
• Psychologists generally agree that the ubiquity of social media in the lives of young adults today has a profound impact on their mental health. However, the exact nature of this impact needs further investigation.

Once your area of research is clear, you can present more background and context. What does the reader need to know to understand your proposed questions? What’s the current state of research on this topic, and what will your dissertation contribute to the field?

If you’re including a literature review, you don’t need to go into too much detail at this point, but give the reader a general sense of the debates that you’re intervening in.

This leads you into the most important part of the introduction: your aim, objectives and research question(s) . These should be clearly identifiable and stand out from the text – for example, you could present them using bullet points or bold font.

Make sure that your research questions are specific and workable – something you can reasonably answer within the scope of your dissertation. Avoid being too broad or having too many different questions. Remember that your goal in a dissertation proposal is to convince the reader that your research is valuable and feasible:

• Does social media harm mental health?
• What is the impact of daily social media use on 18– to 25–year–olds suffering from general anxiety disorder?

Now that your topic is clear, it’s time to explore existing research covering similar ideas. This is important because it shows you what is missing from other research in the field and ensures that you’re not asking a question someone else has already answered.

You’ve probably already done some preliminary reading, but now that your topic is more clearly defined, you need to thoroughly analyse and evaluate the most relevant sources in your literature review .

Here you should summarise the findings of other researchers and comment on gaps and problems in their studies. There may be a lot of research to cover, so make effective use of paraphrasing to write concisely:

• Smith and Prakash state that ‘our results indicate a 25% decrease in the incidence of mechanical failure after the new formula was applied’.
• Smith and Prakash’s formula reduced mechanical failures by 25%.

The point is to identify findings and theories that will influence your own research, but also to highlight gaps and limitations in previous research which your dissertation can address:

• Subsequent research has failed to replicate this result, however, suggesting a flaw in Smith and Prakash’s methods. It is likely that the failure resulted from…

Next, you’ll describe your proposed methodology : the specific things you hope to do, the structure of your research and the methods that you will use to gather and analyse data.

You should get quite specific in this section – you need to convince your supervisor that you’ve thought through your approach to the research and can realistically carry it out. This section will look quite different, and vary in length, depending on your field of study.

You may be engaged in more empirical research, focusing on data collection and discovering new information, or more theoretical research, attempting to develop a new conceptual model or add nuance to an existing one.

Dissertation research often involves both, but the content of your methodology section will vary according to how important each approach is to your dissertation.

Empirical research

Empirical research involves collecting new data and analysing it in order to answer your research questions. It can be quantitative (focused on numbers), qualitative (focused on words and meanings), or a combination of both.

With empirical research, it’s important to describe in detail how you plan to collect your data:

• Will you use surveys ? A lab experiment ? Interviews?
• What variables will you measure?
• How will you select a representative sample ?
• If other people will participate in your research, what measures will you take to ensure they are treated ethically?
• What tools (conceptual and physical) will you use, and why?

It’s appropriate to cite other research here. When you need to justify your choice of a particular research method or tool, for example, you can cite a text describing the advantages and appropriate usage of that method.

Don’t overdo this, though; you don’t need to reiterate the whole theoretical literature, just what’s relevant to the choices you have made.

Moreover, your research will necessarily involve analysing the data after you have collected it. Though you don’t know yet what the data will look like, it’s important to know what you’re looking for and indicate what methods (e.g. statistical tests , thematic analysis ) you will use.

Theoretical research

You can also do theoretical research that doesn’t involve original data collection. In this case, your methodology section will focus more on the theory you plan to work with in your dissertation: relevant conceptual models and the approach you intend to take.

For example, a literary analysis dissertation rarely involves collecting new data, but it’s still necessary to explain the theoretical approach that will be taken to the text(s) under discussion, as well as which parts of the text(s) you will focus on:

• This dissertation will utilise Foucault’s theory of panopticism to explore the theme of surveillance in Orwell’s 1984 and Kafka’s The Trial…

Here, you may refer to the same theorists you have already discussed in the literature review. In this case, the emphasis is placed on how you plan to use their contributions in your own research.

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You’ll usually conclude your dissertation proposal with a section discussing what you expect your research to achieve.

You obviously can’t be too sure: you don’t know yet what your results and conclusions will be. Instead, you should describe the projected implications and contribution to knowledge of your dissertation.

First, consider the potential implications of your research. Will you:

• Develop or test a theory?
• Provide new information to governments or businesses?
• Challenge a commonly held belief?
• Suggest an improvement to a specific process?

Describe the intended result of your research and the theoretical or practical impact it will have:

Finally, it’s sensible to conclude by briefly restating the contribution to knowledge you hope to make: the specific question(s) you hope to answer and the gap the answer(s) will fill in existing knowledge:

Like any academic text, it’s important that your dissertation proposal effectively references all the sources you have used. You need to include a properly formatted reference list or bibliography at the end of your proposal.

Different institutions recommend different styles of referencing – commonly used styles include Harvard , Vancouver , APA , or MHRA . If your department does not have specific requirements, choose a style and apply it consistently.

A reference list includes only the sources that you cited in your proposal. A bibliography is slightly different: it can include every source you consulted in preparing the proposal, even if you didn’t mention it in the text. In the case of a dissertation proposal, a bibliography may also list relevant sources that you haven’t yet read, but that you intend to use during the research itself.

Check with your supervisor what type of bibliography or reference list you should include.

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Caulfield, J. (2022, November 11). How to Write a Dissertation Proposal | A Step-by-Step Guide. Scribbr. Retrieved 29 April 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/thesis-dissertation/proposal/

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How X-Men '97 embraced the 'Magneto Was Right' slogan-turned-meme

Episode 8, "Tolerance Is Extinction, Pt. 1," delivered the thesis of the entire season.

Warning: This article contains spoilers from X-Men '97 season 1, episode 8, "Tolerance Is Extinction, Pt. 1."

Beau DeMayo, the showrunner of X-Men '97 season 1 who has since parted ways with the project, previously told Entertainment Weekly that he wanted to cast Catherine Disher, the original voice of Jean Grey from X-Men: The Animated Series , as the character Dr. Valerie Cooper in the sequel for a specific reason.

"Val has a very interesting arc in our first season, I will say," he said in a February interview. "I remember when I first met with Catherine. I was like, 'You'll be delivering the thesis of the series in this one particular episode, and we are going to be building it very carefully through these episodes.' To me, she was such the heart of the original series, to have her deliver the thesis felt right to me."

That thesis arrived this week in X-Men '97 episode 8, "Tolerance Is Extinction, Pt. 1."

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Bastion ( Theo James ), a human-machine hybrid and the ultimate evolution of all the Sentinels that came before him, used the same techno-organic virus Mister Sinister (Chris Britton) exposed to baby Cable earlier in the season to rewrite the DNA of humans and create a new breed of Sentinels to destroy the X-Men: human hybrids capable of reproducing. But Val, once on Bastion's side, releases Magneto (Matthew Waterson) from his prison upon discovering how Bastion has been weaponizing civilians — and not just civilians, but the most radicalized of the anti-mutant zealots. When Bastion learns this, Val delivers a speech that DeMayo confirms is the thesis he was talking about.

"You know, in Genosha, I felt a lot of things: pain, grief, admiration for those who fought despite the odds. But you know what the oddest thing was? No one seemed shocked or surprised — not even me," Val begins. "Yes, I was scared, but really I just had the most profound sense of déjà vu, as if past, present, and future didn't matter and never had, because we always end up in the same ugly place. Thing is, Magneto knows us better than Charles ever did, knows we know better, that most of us experience tragedies like Genosha as a bit of déjà vu before getting on with our day. But the scariest thing about Genosha wasn't the death or the chaos. It was a thought, the only sane thought you can have when being chased by giant robots that were built to crush you: Magneto was right."

The phrase "Magneto was right" was popularized by a 2003 Grant Morrison-penned New X-Men comic, in which a young mutant at Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters by the name of Quentin Quire wore a red t-shirt with the Master of Magnetism's face in the style of Che Guevara, accompanied by the phrase, "Magneto was right." It's since spawned actual t-shirts and similar fan merch, as well as a slew of memes online.

While Professor Charles Xavier (voiced in X-Men '97 by Ross Marquand ) always preached tolerance and fought for a world in which mutants and humans could coexist with each other, Magneto never believed this. A survivor of the Holocaust, he had first-hand experience of the darkest sides of humanity.

Writer J.M. DeMatteis and artist Todd Nauck further explored the notion that "Magneto was right" in a 2023 comic book run, which was later released as a collection in 2024 with the three-word phrase as its official subtitle. These comics maintain parallels to the arc of X-Men '97 : when Xavier leaves Earth to receive life-saving treatments off world, Magneto takes over as the head of his school and lead the super team known as the New Mutants. Similar events transpire on the show when Magneto becomes the new leader of the X-Men.

In "Tolerance Is Extinction, Pt. 1," Bastion's ultimate plan is revealed. Cable shares that, in his future, Bastion created a utopia for mankind built on the subjugation of mutants. He upgraded humans into his hybrids, while any surviving mutants were put into camps and forced into manual labor. "Xavier's dream came true: mutants ushered in a bright and peaceful future as its backbone." This is the future, it seems, that Magneto always knew could happen.

In the grand tradition of the X-Men being a metaphor for the plight of minority groups, DeMayo and his season 1 writers have expertly used the dueling ideologies of Xavier and Magneto to explore the idea of collective trauma, using references to real-life events like the Pulse nightclub shooting of 2016, the "Unite the Right" rally of white supremacists in Charlottesville in 2017, and even 9/11 in various episodes.

DeMayo live-tweeted episode 8 late Thursday night and released his own "Magneto was right" meme.

The episode ends with a now-freed Magneto flying to the northern magnetic pole to manipulate Earth's magnetic field. He not only uses his powers to wipe out the human hybrids, but he also destabilizes humanity's infrastructure. Then, in the final moments, Xavier arrives back on Earth and uses his telepathic abilities to call out to his X-Men.

For what it's worth, DeMayo isn't firmly on the side of Magneto. "It sounds so cheesy to say this, I do subscribe to the Charles Xavier model: Even at our most different, there's a lot we still have in common," he previously told EW. "Ultimately," he added, "you can take all the philosophy of Xavier's dream, but if you boil it down, empathy is the way into the future." It would seem Xavier's arrival back home will offer a foil to Magneto's stance.

X-Men '97 episode 9 will drop on Disney+ on Wednesday, May 8, followed by the season finale a week later.

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly 's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

Related content:

• X-Men '97 cracks a live-action movie joke in trailer for 3-part finale
• Theo James' surprise X-Men '97 character revealed
• X-Men '97 creator Beau DeMayo breaks silence after exiting series to explain the importance of episode 5

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What to Know About China’s Export Dominance

From cars to solar panels to furniture, China is using lavish bank lending and enormous investments in robotics to cement its global leadership in manufacturing.

By Keith Bradsher

Reporting from Beijing and Tianjin, China

China’s car shipments to foreign markets have quintupled in the past four years. Its solar panels dominate global markets. Even exports in labor-intensive industries like furniture making, which China was once expected to lose to lower-wage countries, are surging.

American and European leaders have become increasingly vocal that a flood of Chinese exports is swamping their markets. Developing countries like India and Brazil are joining them in starting to put limits on purchases from China. Rich and poor countries alike fear that many of their factories may need to close, unable to compete with newer, more automated ones in China.

But China’s manufacturing sector is so strong that its export push will be difficult to counter. China already installs more factory robots than the rest of the world combined. China’s low-cost supply chains produce almost every imaginable part. And Xi Jinping , the country’s top leader, is pushing the country’s banks to lend more money for the construction of even more factories.

At the same time, Chinese companies are finding ways to bypass trade barriers in the West. They are breaking shipments into small parcels each worth little enough that they are exempt from tariffs. Chinese companies have increased exports to the West through indirect routes in Southeast Asia and Mexico, sidestepping tariffs on goods that come directly from China.

What are China’s leading exports?

No category of China’s exports has attracted more attention than cars. In just four years, China has grown from an also-ran to become the world’s largest car exporter, with almost five million cars exported last year.

China’s electric car exports have grabbed the most attention, but three-quarters of its exported cars have gasoline engines. As electric cars have gobbled up market share in China, automakers have shipped their excess gasoline-powered cars to markets like Russia, where Chinese cars have captured more than half the market , and Mexico.

China has begun building its own fleet of 170 transoceanic car-carrying ships to transport its glut of cars to distant markets several thousand at a time. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the world’s shipyards were delivering only four of these vessels each year.

Ships themselves have also emerged as a big Chinese export, more than doubling in the first three months of this year compared with the same period last year. The United States began an investigation on Wednesday of whether China was using unfair trade practices to expand its shipbuilding industry.

Solar panels and their key component, solar wafers, are among China’s fastest-growing exports as measured by quantity. Wafer exports nearly doubled last year. But because solar product prices nearly halved, the total value of China’s solar exports actually edged down slightly last year.

The European Union has opened an investigation that could result in limits on Chinese solar exports. The United States has been considering tighter rules on solar imports as well.

Why is China pushing exports so hard?

China is trying to export its way out of a housing crisis. Construction of apartment buildings used to be the motor of China’s economy. But a decades-long housing bubble burst and apartment prices plummeted, leading to a sharp slowdown in construction. Dozens of real estate developers have run out of money.

Beijing’s hope is that strong overseas sales of manufactured goods, together with heavy investment in the factories to make those goods, will help offset the country’s housing debacle. The early signs are that Beijing’s bet is paying off.

The economy grew at an annual pace of 6.6 percent in the first three months of this year, faster than expected. Manufacturing investments and exports led the way.

How much is Beijing helping its manufacturers?

China’s state-directed banks are shoveling money into manufacturing businesses. Loans at low interest rates mean that companies can afford to build factories with lots of robots and invest heavily in research and development.

The net increase each year in lending to industry has been enormous. It was $83 billion in 2019. By last year, the annual increase in industrial loans had skyrocketed to $670 billion.

Big Chinese cities are also vying to assist local manufacturers. Shenzhen is helping electric car producers, like BYD , to obtain export insurance, buy ships and set up overseas research and development centers. Tianjin, a vast port near Beijing, is upgrading its docks and streamlining customs procedures.

The export boom comes as China already produces almost a third of the world’s manufactured goods — more than the United States, Japan, Germany , South Korea and Britain combined, according to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

Can China overcome trade barriers?

European leaders in Brussels have recently taken preliminary steps toward trade restrictions on Chinese goods. In addition to solar products, they are focusing on electric cars, wind turbines and medical devices.

The Biden administration is following up on the Trump administration’s trade actions. On Wednesday, President Biden called for sharp increases in tariffs on steel and aluminum from China.

But Beijing and Chinese companies have had years to learn from President Trump’s imposition of tariffs on nearly half of China’s exports to the United States. China’s precautions may make its exports very hard to stop.

China has concluded 21 free-trade pacts with 29 countries and territories in recent years. Many of them, like Vietnam and Thailand, are countries the West has also been wooing as it tries to encourage a shift in global manufacturing away from China.

Because of its trade deals, China has sold those countries many more components of every sort that are built into goods bound for the West. China’s exports to Southeast Asia have leaped 75 percent over the past four years, according to China’s General Administration of Customs.

Chinese companies like Shein have also become adept at sending packages directly to homes in the United States, avoiding tariffs. The United States allows residents to import up to $800 a day worth of goods without paying tariffs, or nearly $300,000 a year.

Senator Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana, has begun a legislative push for the United States to match China’s limit on tariff-exempt imports, which is $6.50.

Li You contributed research.

Keith Bradsher is the Beijing bureau chief for The Times. He previously served as bureau chief in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Detroit and as a Washington correspondent. He has lived and reported in mainland China through the pandemic. More about Keith Bradsher

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What does Israel have in its arsenal that it could use against Iran?

Israel has airborne and naval capabilities that it can use against Iran, but it must choose any target carefully.

On Friday morning, Iranian air defences shot down three drones above its central province of Isfahan.

Iran has yet to announce the results of its investigation into the incident, but the US said early on that Israel launched the attack. Israel has not commented despite speculation that it was behind it.

Keep reading

Who is arming israel’s war on gaza, israel’s response to iran and the factors that will shape it, israel’s killing rage.

Observers have, however, been anticipating an Israeli attack on Iran as the next link in a chain of escalation that began with an April 1 attack on the Iranian mission in Damascus that Iran blamed on Israel.

The second was Iran launching 331 drones and missiles towards Israel on Saturday night in a well-choreographed attack, giving rise to expectations of an Israeli response.

But if Israel were to strike Iran, how would it go about it?

Israel has been planning strikes on sensitive Iranian sites for decades, but this response would have to be limited, part of the coded diplomatic and military dialogue between Iran and Israel.

Israel would have to hit a high-value target but not one so valuable it would warrant a further military response from Iran and push the escalation into a full-on conflict.

So what are Israel’s choices?

Air strikes

The two countries are more than 900km (560 miles) apart at their closest point with most of Iran’s military bases and nuclear sites more than 2,000km (1,243 miles) away from Israel.

For strikes deep inside Iran, F-15i Ra’am and F-35i Adir stealth jets would be used.

Both aircraft are optimised for long-range, but they would still need to refuel unless taking the shortest routes to Iranian targets near the border. The route would also be tricky.

It is unlikely Saudi Arabia or Jordan would give Israel permission to fly through their airspace to attack Iran because it could draw them into a potential conflict and stands a good chance of inflaming domestic opinion, already vocal against Israel’s war on Gaza.

Flying down the Red Sea and around Yemen and Oman to attack targets in southern Iran would mean a 4,700km (2,920-mile) trip before Israeli jets even reach the Iranian coastline.

The fastest route to attack targets in the north of Iran would be through Syria and Iraq. The Israeli air force would have to suppress Syria’s air defences either by jamming or by cyberattack, as in 2007 when Israel destroyed what it said was a nuclear reactor being built in Syria. Israel “switched off” a large section of Syria’s air defence radar network beforehand.

A technique like this could be used only in strategically important moments like a major air strike or at the start of a conflict. Even if Israel could still do this, it’s highly unlikely it would “show its hand” and reveal a major capability.

Extended range

External fuel tanks added to fighter jets can significantly extend their range but would make them show up on enemy radar.

There have been reports of Israel-designed fuel tanks that can be fitted on their F-35 Adirs that would still allow them to stay moderately stealthy and invisible to radar.

The tanks, to be jettisoned later, would allow the aircraft to reach and destroy targets much deeper inside Iran, return to their home airbases without being seen and fly unaided by the usual accompanying jets needed to destroy radar and protect fighter-bombers from other fighters.

The plan would still be complex and, like all complex plans, subject to failure at its weakest link. Bad luck or enhanced radar the Iranians have not yet revealed could contribute to Israeli jets getting shot down – not the message of invincibility or revenge Israel wants to send.

The naval option

Israel has at its disposal five Dolphin-class submarines, German diesel-electric subs that run quietly and are ideal for coastal operations.

Two of the latest subs built for Israel have AIP, or air-independent propulsion, meaning they can stay submerged for weeks as they stalk potential targets.

One of the more obvious targets is the Behshad, an intelligence-gathering command ship that belongs to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC). It had been at sea for three years and was positioned up until recently at the mouth of the Red Sea near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

It was ordered back to port, and satellite imagery put it just outside the naval base at Bandar Abbas, just within the Strait of Hormuz.

The ship is now in home waters and protected by shore defences but not invulnerable. The Dolphin-class subs are armed with a land attack variant of the Popeye cruise missile, the Turbo Popeye, having a range of 200km to 350km (124-217 miles) and launchable under water through the submarines’ torpedo tubes.

The Dolphin subs are part of Israel’s nuclear deterrent, and there are reports a version of the Popeye has a range of 1,500km (932 miles) and the latest version of the improved Dolphin-class has a VLS (vertical launching system) in its sail, allowing for longer missiles to be launched that would hold more fuel and, therefore, have a longer range.

It would be far easier to attack Iranian coastal targets from international waters, then submerge and disappear. Again, the target would have to be big enough to make its point but not large enough that it has to invite a response from Iran.

These are the two real options. Any other military action, such as using special operations troops – Israeli boots on Iranian soil – stands the chance of escalating the conflict.

The real question is, will Israel risk a full-scale war while it is already fighting on two fronts, one war on Gaza and a slow-burning confrontation with Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar': Release date, cast, where to watch the 'epic saga of love, power, betrayal'

"heeramandi: the diamond bazaar" is touted as netflix's most expensive production in india..

Step into the world of glamor, opulence, old-school charm, courtesans and nawabs (royalty) with Netflix's much-anticipated "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar."

The series created and directed by award-winning director Sanjay Leela Bhansali follows arch nemeses and reigning courtesans Mallikajaan and Fareedan as they battle for the succession of Heeramandi, a bustling center for performing arts, culture, poetry and dances in pre-partition Lahore. Bhansali's previous works include "Bajirao Mastani" and "Devdas," which premiered at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.

"Set in pre-independent India against the backdrop of the freedom movement, Heeramandi is an epic saga of love, power, betrayal, struggle and, ultimately, freedom," says Netflix about the series.

Bhansali, in a statement, added the series tells the story of "extraordinary women, their desires, and struggles".

Here's everything you need to know about the "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar," touted to be Netflix's most expensive production in India and "grandest endeavor yet" according to VP Netflix India Monika Shergill.

When does 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' premiere?

"Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar" is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on Wednesday, May 1 at 3 a.m. EST / 12 a.m. PT.

How many episodes does 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' have?

"Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar" will have eight episodes.

Is 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' based on a true story?

While "Heeramandi," or diamond market in English, is an actual location in Lahore, Pakistan, Bhansali on multiple occasions has said that characters in the series are not based on real people.

What is Heeramandi?

Heeramandi, Lahore's oldest red-light district, was once a bustling entertainment district for royalty with seductive courtesans, music and dance. In the evenings, buildings in the area, located just outside of the royal Lahore Fort, would be lit up as men would gather to watch the performances.

While Heeramandi is commonly associated with sex and prostitution, it was far from that at the peak of its existence. The courtesans were trained in music, etiquette and dance and the women of the area were a social symbol for the elite, with their presence at ceremonies a statement of class and wealth akin to Japan's geishas. Nobles and elite families in the city would send their daughters and sons to learn dance and etiquette from them, according to the New York Times .

'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' cast

The star cast of "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar" includes:

• Manisha Koirala as Mallikajaan
• Sonakshi Sinha as Fareedan
• Aditi Rao Hydari as Bibbo
• Sanjeeda Sheikh as Waheeda
• Richa Chadha as Lajjo
• Fardeen Khan as Wali Mohommad
• Sharmin Segal as Alamzeb
• Shekhar Suman as Nawab Zulfiqar
• Adhyayan Suman as Zorawar
• Taha Shah Badussha as Tajdar

'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' trailer

Netflix dropped the trailer for "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar" on April 9.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7.

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NCAA.com | April 29, 2024

2024 ncaa di men's lacrosse championship: how to watch the selection show, bracket, schedule.

The 2024 NCAA DI men's lacrosse championship kicks off with the selection show on Sunday, May 5 at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 . The tournament runs from May 8 through the title game on May 27 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

2024 NCAA DI men's lacrosse championship bracket 

Click or tap here to see the interactive and printable bracket

2024 NCAA DI men's lacrosse championship schedule 

Sunday, May 5 — Selection show

• 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2  

Wednesday, May 8 — Opening round

• 1 TBD opening round game

May 11-12 — First round games 

• 8 TBD matchups

May 18-19 — Quarterfinals 

• 4 TBD matchups

Saturday, May 25 - Semifinals 

• TBD | Semifinal 1
• TBD | Semifinal 2

Monday, May 27 - Championship 

• TBD | National championship game

2024 NCAA DI men's lacrosse championship history

Notre Dame captured its first title in DI men's lacrosse last season after defeating Duke, 13-9. Syracuse leads all programs with 10 national championships including their most recent championship win in 2009. 

*After the 1990 championship, the NCAA Committee on Infractions determined that Paul Gait had played in the 1990 championship while ineligible. Under NCAA rules, Syracuse and Paul Gait's records for that championship were vacated. The NCAA does not recognize Syracuse and coach Roy Simmons Jr.'s 3-0 record, and Paul Gait's 7 goals, 7 assists and his participation in that championship.

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2024 NCAA DII men's lacrosse championship: How to watch the selection show, bracket, schedule

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When Does the ‘Turtles All the Way Down’ Movie Come Out on Max? How to Watch the New John Green Movie

Where to Stream:

• Turtles All the Way Down

John Green’s ‘Turtles All the Way Down’ Cameo Is a Treat for His Longtime Fans

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If you loved The Fault in Our Stars , it may interest you to know that there is a brand new movie based on another John Green book coming out this week: Turtles All the Way Day , which will be streaming on Max on Thursday.

Based on Green’s 2017 novel of the same name , Turtles All the Way Down stars Isabela Merced as a 16-year-old named Aza, who struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Despite encouragement from her best friend Daisy (Cree Cicchino), Aza thinks she’ll never be fit for a normal romantic relationship. But then an old (and hot) childhood friend, Davis (Felix Mallard), comes back into her life, and the sparks begin to fly.

Directed by Hannah Marks, with a screenplay by Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker, Turtles All the Way Down is a touching coming-of-age story that is sure to make you cry. (In a good way! I promise!) Read on to find out everything you need to know about how to watch the Turtles All the Way Down movie online, including the Turtles All the Way Down release date and the Turtles All the Way Down release time.

Turtles All the Way Down movie release date:

The Turtles All the Way Down movie release date is Thursday, May 2. The movie will be released on streaming, on Max (formerly known as HBO Max).

What time will the Turtles All the Way Down be on Max?

Turtles All the Way Down will stream on Max at 12 a.m. Pacific Time, or 3 a.m. Eastern Time, on the morning of Thursday, May 2. That means if you live on the West Coast, you’ll be able to watch the movie at midnight on Wednesday night. But consider getting some sleep first!

Where to stream the Turtles All the Way Down movie online:

You can stream Turtles All the Way Down on Max beginning on Thursday, May 2. A subscription to Max starts at $9.99 a month. Unfortunately, there is no Max free trial option at this time.

At this time, you will not be able to buy or rent Turtles All the Way Down on other digital platforms. The only way to watch the movie is with a subscription to HBO’s Max.

Is the Turtles All the Way Down movie on Netflix?

Turtles All the Way Down will not be on Netflix, because the distribution rights for Turtles All the Way Down currently belong to the Warner Bros. streaming service, Max. The film was produced by New Line Cinema, which is a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. So, for now, the only place you’ll be able to stream Turtles All the Way Down is on Max.

Is the Turtles All the Way Down movie playing in theaters?

Turtles All the Way Down will not be playing in theaters. The only way to watch the movie is by streaming Turtles All the Way Down on Max . Sorry!

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Morgan Wallen in Nashville: Who's opening, Nissan Stadium weather policy and what to expect ahead of concert run

"the people's artist" of 2023 and the holder of 2023's "song of the summer" is playing on may 2, 3 and 4, 2024 in music city at nissan stadium..

There's a solid argument to be made that Sneedville, Tennessee native and Nashville-based Big Loud Records-signed Morgan Wallen is pop music's latest superstar.

2023 saw the "Last Night" vocalist named "The People's Artist" of 2023 by Billboard and the holder of 2023's "Song of The Summer" by Spotify.

Thus, the shows he's playing on May 2, 3, and 4 in Music City at Nissan Stadium are kind of a big deal.

Wallen's been a proven live-event ticket mover in Nashville and elsewhere recently. He sold millions of tickets worldwide in 2023 for his One Night at a Time Tour, sold out Bridgestone Arena for three consecutive nights in March 2022, and released his album with a sold-out pop-up concert in the venue a year later.

Are you headed (or considering heading) to Nissan Stadium to hear Wallen play hits like 16-week all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper and  Spotify's Song of the Summer  "Last Night," or top 10 country radio hits "Everything I Love" and "Thinkin' Bout Me?"

Here are a few (of many) things that bear highlighting about the trio of concerts:

What time does Morgan Wallen's concert start?

The gates will open at 4:30 p.m. each day and the show will start at 6:00 p.m. Nissan Stadium officials say parking lots near the stadium will open at 2:30 p.m. each day.

Who else is appearing at Morgan Wallen's concert?

Wallen's team notes that a to-be-announced artist (on May 3 and 4), plus country chart-toppers Bailey Zimmerman (not appearing on May 3 and 4), Nate Smith, and Big Loud-signed upstart Lauren Watkins, will join as support.

As was recently seen on April 28 at the Stagecoach Festival, Wallen's keen on having collaborators and friends join him onstage during the festivities. Of the potential guests, given their touring schedules, here is what exists currently as their potential for showing up at Nissan Stadium.

• Eric Church (longtime ally, business partner, confidant, and collaborator on the current radio single "Man Made A Bar"): Plays a date of his 19-date residency at Chief's on May 1, available May 2-4.
• Drake (appeared in his "You Broke My Heart" video, also seen backstage at his headlining concert with J. Cole and Lil Durk at Bridgestone Arena ): Currently available to appear on all three evenings.
• ERNEST (collaborator on "Flower Shops" and "Long Live Cowgirls"): Available on May 2, on tour with Brooks and Dunn on May 3-4.
• HARDY (currently sings "John Deere Green" on just-released Joe Diffie-honoring "Difftape" album, numerous other songwriting features): Currently available to appear on all three evenings.
• Jelly Roll (Nashville native country and rock chart-topper, no released or teased Wallen collaborations): Currently available to appear on all three evenings.
• Miranda Lambert (new Republic Records/Big Loud signee, co-writer of his No. 1 hit "Thought You Should Know"): Currently available to appear on all three evenings.
• Post Malone (currently anticipated to release Wallen collaboration , "I Need Some Help," soon): Currently available to appear on all three evenings

Where to park for the Morgan Wallen concert?

Parking near Nissan Stadium for a weekend event is difficult. A pass must be purchased before the concerts if you hope to park there.

However, other parking options include the following:

• MTA Parking at 400 Charlotte Avenue (near Woodland St.)
• Metro Courthouse/Public Square Garage at 101 James Robertson Pkwy (near Woodland St.)
• 222 Garage at 222 2nd Avenue (near the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge)
• 333 Garage at 128 4th Ave N (near the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge)

Arriving early is best to avoid parking and traffic issues. More parking options are noted at tennesseetitans.com and nashvilledowntown.com .

Those taking a rideshare can be dropped off and picked up near Nissan Stadium's Lot E.

Expected weather at Nissan Stadium on the day of the show

• May 2: Sunny, with a high near 89 during the day, with an overcast evening low temperature of 66. A chance for precipitation later in the evening is set at 30 percent.
• May 3: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81, with a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 p.m. CT. There is a 70 percent chance that showers and thunderstorms will continue through a cloudy evening with a low temperature of around 64.
• May 4: Partly sunny, with a high near 84 and a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms extending into a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms during an evening with a low of around 63.

Best practices during rainstorms include wearing a raincoat and using plastic sandwich bags to keep your phone and your belongings dry. If lightning strikes near the venue, concerts can be delayed or canceled. Nissan Stadium and the Tennessean's social media will advise regarding potential weather-delay updates.

Last-minute Morgan Wallen in Nashville tickets

Wallen's tickets on second-hand reseller Stubhub are priced between $100-$2000 for each of the three nights, with similar values being reflected on Vivid Seats . Limited all-in pricing tickets are also still available via Ticketmaster .

For every ticket sold for Wallen's American tour dates, $3 will benefit his Morgan Wallen Foundation, which supports sports and music youth programs. Community revitalization efforts for ballparks in local neighborhoods in some touring cities, including Boston and Chicago, plus $500,000 to Habitat For Humanity of Greater Nashville's Parkwood community transformation project, have benefitted from his recent tour success.

Is Morgan Wallen's bar open yet?

However, a sign currently highlights the upper levels of the 107 4th Avenue North location next to Lower Broadway's legendary Ryman Auditorium, where Wallen's multi-level venue is currently being renovated.

Announced in Feb. 2024 , "This Bar" — a partnership with TC Restaurant Group — is slated to open in Summer 2024. Designed and built from the ground up, the six-story venue will be approximately 30,000 square feet and will include three live music stages, six bars, and a rooftop. It will incorporate a "Tennessee Kitchen" element, which Wallen and Chef Tomasz Wosiak will curate. The menu will include southern classics and some of Wallen's mother's recipes.

What about that May 3 court date?

On April 7, 2024, Wallen was arrested after Nashville police said he threw a chair off the rooftop of Eric Church's Chief's on Broadway honky-tonk. Because of that event, he's currently facing three counts of reckless endangerment and one count of disorderly conduct in connection with the incident.

He's scheduled to face a day in court for those charges on May 3, one of the dates of his  three planned concerts at Nashville's Nissan Stadium .

Update: Morgan Wallen won't appear in Nashville court amid three-night Nissan Stadium concert run

No tour dates have changed at this time, and Wallen is still scheduled to perform in Nashville on May 2-4.