What is the Typical Length of a Dissertation?

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Nicholas Thomson

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Dec 26, 2024, 1:57:07 AM12/26/24

to write my dissertation

I hope you're doing great! Today, I wanted to bring up a topic that many of us either deal with directly or find ourselves wondering about—how long a dissertation usually is. Whether you're in the middle of writing one, gearing up to start, or even thinking, "How am I going to write my dissertation?" this is definitely an interesting subject to explore.

Dissertation lengths can vary a lot based on your field, degree level, and even the rules at your university. Still, there are some common trends that can give us a good idea of what’s typical.

Length by Academic Level

Master’s Dissertations: These are generally shorter than doctoral dissertations, typically ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 words. Some programs may require more, especially in research-heavy fields.
Doctoral Dissertations: These are much more extensive, often ranging between 50,000 and 100,000 words. In some cases, dissertations in humanities or social sciences can even exceed this range due to their narrative and analytical nature.

Length by Discipline

The length also depends heavily on the subject:

STEM Fields: Dissertations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are often concise. They usually range from 50 to 80 pages, as they focus more on experimental results and technical details.
Humanities and Social Sciences: These dissertations are typically longer, sometimes spanning 200 to 300 pages. This is because they require in-depth analysis, literature reviews, and extensive discussions.
Professional Programs: Fields like business, education, or law may fall somewhere in between, with dissertations averaging 100 to 150 pages.

Institutional Guidelines Matter

Many universities provide specific guidelines regarding dissertation length. Some institutions set minimum and maximum word limits, while others leave it more flexible, emphasizing the quality of research over quantity.

Factors That Influence Length

Research Topic: A broad, interdisciplinary topic may require more pages to cover all aspects thoroughly.
Methodology: Qualitative studies often result in longer dissertations due to detailed descriptions and analysis. Quantitative studies may be shorter but denser.
Supplementary Materials: Appendices, charts, and graphs can add to the page count but aren’t always included in the word limit.

What’s Your Experience?

For those of you who have written or are writing a dissertation, what was your experience with its length? Did you find it challenging to meet the word count, or did you struggle to stay within the limit?

Let’s use this thread to share insights, tips, and even funny stories about the writing process. If you’re just starting, feel free to ask questions—we’ve all been there!