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We’ve worked 1:1 with 5000+ students . Here’s what some of them have to say:

My Coach, Amy, saved my life. I met her during the most challenging time in my thesis. People around me constantly reminded me how bad I am at writing, and I ended up anxious and depressed. Then I met Amy, who agreed to help me improve my work. I have no words to explain how amazing she is as a teacher and a human being.

Damithri Chathumani (NZ)

So helpful! Amy assisted me with an outline for my literature review and with organizing the results for my MBA applied research project. Having a road map helped enormously and saved a lot of time. Definitely worth it.

Jennifer Hagedorn (Canada)

I had been struggling with the first 3 chapters of my dissertation for over a year. I finally decided to give GradCoach a try and it made a huge difference. Alexandra provided helpful suggestions along with edits that transformed my paper. My advisor was very impressed.

Tracy Shelton (US)

Everything about my experience was great, from Dr. Shaeffer’s expertise, to her patience and flexibility. I reached out to GradCoach after receiving a 78 on a midterm paper. Not only did I get a 100 on my final paper in the same class, but I haven’t received a mark less than A+ since. I recommend GradCoach for everyone who needs help with academic research.

Antonia Singleton (Qatar)

I was provided with the perfect level of support for my dissertation which allowed me to achieve a distinction level. I learnt a lot more through the experience due to the probing questions put to me by my coach, which led me to a deeper evaluation and analysis (and understanding) of my data.

Belle Moore (US)

Using Grad Coach was the best decision that I could have made. Apart from all the help that I received from Derek, I have also seen a tremendous improvement in my writing as well as my critical thinking not only in my assignments but also in my workplace.

Derek has a beautiful way of teaching, encouraging and honesty in his feedback. His style gives each module a level of excitement, and although it remains challenging, I never once found myself bored or confused.

Loyiso Bala (South Africa)

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Working with Kerryn has been brilliant. She has guided me through that pesky academic language that makes us all scratch our heads. I can't recommend Grad Coach highly enough; they are very professional, humble, and fun to work with. If like me, you know your subject matter but you're getting lost in the academic language, look no further, give them a go.

Tony Fogarty (UK)

I’m proud to say that I got my dissertation in, submitted on time and even got a great mark and very positive marker feedback. All thanks to the superstars at Grad Coach. Thank you so much.

I started using Grad Coach for my dissertation and I can honestly say that if it wasn’t for them, I would have really struggled. I would strongly recommend them – worth every penny!

Richard Egenreider (South Africa)

Grad Coach is saving my sanity and hope while completing my dissertation. Coach Ethar is outstanding - he brings his joy and wisdom into each session. I know he is there for my success. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the magnitude of this work, he has helped me break each section into manageable steps. Don’t go it alone - Grad Coach is amazing.

Michelle Thompson (US)

Looking back, I don’t know how I would have made it without the Grad Coach team. Thank you so much!

I would have been lost with Dr. Peter Quella coaching me through some of the toughest parts of the dissertation. His insight allowed me to understand the feedback from my committee and be able to respond in a meaningful way.

It was helpful to be able to hear his insights and apply them to my dissertation work. Thank you Peter and Grad Coach!

Joseph Yaksich (US)

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Learn More About Our Expert Dissertation Coaching & Consulting Services

Since 2000, we have helped thousands of graduate students finish their doctoral dissertations and master’s theses once and for all. We offer personalized dissertation and thesis coaching and consulting services to graduate students in a wide range of fields in the United States and around the world. Contact us for a free consultation to learn how we can help you earn your degree.

Our Commitment

We are committed to helping graduate students finish their dissertations or master’s theses and making graduate school as positive a learning experience as possible. We promise to focus on your individual needs and provide honest, straightforward, confidential, and high quality services that will help you successfully earn your degree. Each professional who works at The Dissertation Coach is an expert dissertation and thesis coach, consultant, statistician and/or editor carefully selected to work on our team. No matter how long it has been since you started graduate school, how much you have struggled, or how pessimistic you are about making it to the finish line, we are committed to helping you.

Our Philosophy

We believe that conducting a dissertation or master’s thesis is both a great challenge and a great opportunity. Your dissertation or thesis experience can be a time in your life when you learn to love and appreciate challenges for the growth in competence they foster, the life experiences they grant, and the wisdom they impart. We seek to foster learning and growth among all of our clients. We believe you can rise to the occasion of completing a dissertation or master’s thesis and earn the graduate degree you seek.

Finish Your Dissertation Once And For All: How To Overcome Psychological Barriers, Get Results, And Move On With Your Life

Alison B. Miller, Founder of The Dissertation Coach

We are highly committed to helping graduate students finish their dissertations or master’s theses and making graduate school as positive a learning experience as possible. We promise to focus on your individual needs and provide honest, straightforward, confidential, and high quality services that will help you successfully earn your degree. Each professional who works at The Dissertation Coach is an expert dissertation and thesis coach, consultant, statistician and/or editor carefully selected to work on our team. No matter how long it has been since you started graduate school, how much you have struggled, or how pessimistic you are about making it to the finish line, we are committed to helping you.

Dissertation Coaching

Dissertation coaching is a service we designed to help you successfully structure the dissertation or thesis process, create realistic work plans, increase accountability and effectively help you overcome internal and external barriers that students experience on the path to earning a doctoral or master’s degree. Common barriers are negative thinking, anxiety, stress, procrastination, writer’s block, perfectionism, lack of faculty support, committee issues, managing multiple roles and responsibilities, and difficulty managing time effectively. We have developed a sound coaching model specifically designed to help graduate students succeed and develop skills they can use in their future careers. Read more information about this service on our Coaching page.

Dissertation Consulting

Dissertation consulting is a service we designed to offer technical assistance to graduate students as they carry out their thesis or doctoral research. We can help you develop a sound study, support you to competently execute the study, and successfully complete and defend the final product. Our dissertation consultants are experts in developing a dissertation or thesis topic, developing literature reviews, research design, methodology, developmental editing, statistical analysis, qualitative analysis and writing up research findings. As consultants we provide clear, direct guidance and mentoring that will help you succeed while you remain the author of your own work. Read more about dissertation consulting on our Consulting and Statistics pages.

Get To The Finish Line!

How to Write a Dissertation: Step-by-Step Guide

• Doctoral students write and defend dissertations to earn their degrees.
• Most dissertations range from 100-300 pages, depending on the field.
• Taking a step-by-step approach can help students write their dissertations.

Whether you’re considering a doctoral program or you recently passed your comprehensive exams, you’ve probably wondered how to write a dissertation. Researching, writing, and defending a dissertation represents a major step in earning a doctorate.

But what is a dissertation exactly? A dissertation is an original work of scholarship that contributes to the field. Doctoral candidates often spend 1-3 years working on their dissertations. And many dissertations top 200 or more pages.

Starting the process on the right foot can help you complete a successful dissertation. Breaking down the process into steps may also make it easier to finish your dissertation.

How to Write a Dissertation in 12 Steps

A dissertation demonstrates mastery in a subject. But how do you write a dissertation? Here are 12 steps to successfully complete a dissertation.

Choose a Topic

It sounds like an easy step, but choosing a topic will play an enormous role in the success of your dissertation. In some fields, your dissertation advisor will recommend a topic. In other fields, you’ll develop a topic on your own.

Read recent work in your field to identify areas for additional scholarship. Look for holes in the literature or questions that remain unanswered.

After coming up with a few areas for research or questions, carefully consider what’s feasible with your resources. Talk to your faculty advisor about your ideas and incorporate their feedback.

Conduct Preliminary Research

Before starting a dissertation, you’ll need to conduct research. Depending on your field, that might mean visiting archives, reviewing scholarly literature , or running lab tests.

Use your preliminary research to hone your question and topic. Take lots of notes, particularly on areas where you can expand your research.

Read Secondary Literature

A dissertation demonstrates your mastery of the field. That means you’ll need to read a large amount of scholarship on your topic. Dissertations typically include a literature review section or chapter.

Create a list of books, articles, and other scholarly works early in the process, and continue to add to your list. Refer to the works cited to identify key literature. And take detailed notes to make the writing process easier.

Write a Research Proposal

In most doctoral programs, you’ll need to write and defend a research proposal before starting your dissertation.

The length and format of your proposal depend on your field. In many fields, the proposal will run 10-20 pages and include a detailed discussion of the research topic, methodology, and secondary literature.

Your faculty advisor will provide valuable feedback on turning your proposal into a dissertation.

Research, Research, Research

Doctoral dissertations make an original contribution to the field, and your research will be the basis of that contribution.

The form your research takes will depend on your academic discipline. In computer science, you might analyze a complex dataset to understand machine learning. In English, you might read the unpublished papers of a poet or author. In psychology, you might design a study to test stress responses. And in education, you might create surveys to measure student experiences.

Work closely with your faculty advisor as you conduct research. Your advisor can often point you toward useful resources or recommend areas for further exploration.

Look for Dissertation Examples

Writing a dissertation can feel overwhelming. Most graduate students have written seminar papers or a master’s thesis. But a dissertation is essentially like writing a book.

Looking at examples of dissertations can help you set realistic expectations and understand what your discipline wants in a successful dissertation. Ask your advisor if the department has recent dissertation examples. Or use a resource like ProQuest Dissertations to find examples.

Doctoral candidates read a lot of monographs and articles, but they often do not read dissertations. Reading polished scholarly work, particularly critical scholarship in your field, can give you an unrealistic standard for writing a dissertation.

Write Your Body Chapters

By the time you sit down to write your dissertation, you’ve already accomplished a great deal. You’ve chosen a topic, defended your proposal, and conducted research. Now it’s time to organize your work into chapters.

As with research, the format of your dissertation depends on your field. Your department will likely provide dissertation guidelines to structure your work. In many disciplines, dissertations include chapters on the literature review, methodology, and results. In other disciplines, each chapter functions like an article that builds to your overall argument.

Start with the chapter you feel most confident in writing. Expand on the literature review in your proposal to provide an overview of the field. Describe your research process and analyze the results.

Meet With Your Advisor

Throughout the dissertation process, you should meet regularly with your advisor. As you write chapters, send them to your advisor for feedback. Your advisor can help identify issues and suggest ways to strengthen your dissertation.

Staying in close communication with your advisor will also boost your confidence for your dissertation defense. Consider sharing material with other members of your committee as well.

Write Your Introduction and Conclusion

It seems counterintuitive, but it’s a good idea to write your introduction and conclusion last . Your introduction should describe the scope of your project and your intervention in the field.

Many doctoral candidates find it useful to return to their dissertation proposal to write the introduction. If your project evolved significantly, you will need to reframe the introduction. Make sure you provide background information to set the scene for your dissertation. And preview your methodology, research aims, and results.

The conclusion is often the shortest section. In your conclusion, sum up what you’ve demonstrated, and explain how your dissertation contributes to the field.

Edit Your Draft

You’ve completed a draft of your dissertation. Now, it’s time to edit that draft.

For some doctoral candidates, the editing process can feel more challenging than researching or writing the dissertation. Most dissertations run a minimum of 100-200 pages , with some hitting 300 pages or more.

When editing your dissertation, break it down chapter by chapter. Go beyond grammar and spelling to make sure you communicate clearly and efficiently. Identify repetitive areas and shore up weaknesses in your argument.

Incorporate Feedback

Writing a dissertation can feel very isolating. You’re focused on one topic for months or years, and you’re often working alone. But feedback will strengthen your dissertation.

You will receive feedback as you write your dissertation, both from your advisor and other committee members. In many departments, doctoral candidates also participate in peer review groups to provide feedback.

Outside readers will note confusing sections and recommend changes. Make sure you incorporate the feedback throughout the writing and editing process.

Defend Your Dissertation

Congratulations — you made it to the dissertation defense! Typically, your advisor will not let you schedule the defense unless they believe you will pass. So consider the defense a culmination of your dissertation process rather than a high-stakes examination.

The format of your defense depends on the department. In some fields, you’ll present your research. In other fields, the defense will consist of an in-depth discussion with your committee.

Walk into your defense with confidence. You’re now an expert in your topic. Answer questions concisely and address any weaknesses in your study. Once you pass the defense, you’ll earn your doctorate.

Writing a dissertation isn’t easy — only around 55,000 students earned a Ph.D. in 2020, according to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. However, it is possible to successfully complete a dissertation by breaking down the process into smaller steps.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dissertations

What is a dissertation.

A dissertation is a substantial research project that contributes to your field of study. Graduate students write a dissertation to earn their doctorate.

The format and content of a dissertation vary widely depending on the academic discipline. Doctoral candidates work closely with their faculty advisor to complete and defend the dissertation, a process that typically takes 1-3 years.

How long is a dissertation?

The length of a dissertation varies by field. Harvard’s graduate school says most dissertations fall between 100-300 pages .

Doctoral candidate Marcus Beck analyzed the length of University of Minnesota dissertations by discipline and found that history produces the longest dissertations, with an average of nearly 300 pages, while mathematics produces the shortest dissertations at just under 100 pages.

What’s the difference between a dissertation vs. a thesis?

Dissertations and theses demonstrate academic mastery at different levels. In U.S. graduate education, master’s students typically write theses, while doctoral students write dissertations. The terms are reversed in the British system.

In the U.S., a dissertation is longer, more in-depth, and based on more research than a thesis. Doctoral candidates write a dissertation as the culminating research project of their degree. Undergraduates and master’s students may write shorter theses as part of their programs.

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