Dissertation content and format
The regulations in this section cover the content and format of a research degree dissertation (thesis) submitted for examination and subsequently deposited with the library.
On this page
General requirements
18.1. PGR students must submit a dissertation based on their research activities. Students are responsible for the content of their dissertation and for the decision to submit for examination. Comments from supervisors on the contents of the dissertation are only advisory.
18.2. The dissertation together with the oral examination must fulfil the relevant criteria for the award of a research degree.
18.3. The dissertation must comply with the University’s academic integrity standards.
18.4. Following their award, PGR students must deposit the definitive version of their dissertation with the Library for public access. The dissertation will be publicly available in full unless a request to defer or to redact is approved.
18.5. Where stated, the regulations on dissertation content and format also apply to submissions for doctoral degrees by published work.
English language requirements
18.6. PGR students must submit their dissertation or submission by published work in English, except for:
18.6.1. Students in the School of Modern Languages, who can choose to submit their dissertation in the language of the culture studied.
18.6.2. In exceptional cases, students who have agreement from the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) to submit their dissertation in another language. In these cases, the student must make a request to the Faculty Academic Director (PGR) or delegate, who will make a recommendation to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) for a decision.
18.7. Where a dissertation is submitted in a language other than English, it must contain an extended summary in English. For example, a summary must be at least 5,000 words for a Doctor of Philosophy dissertation.
Dissertation length
18.8. The maximum word counts for dissertations are listed below. References, appendices and lists of contents are excluded from the word count.
Degree type |
Maximum word count |
Doctorates |
|
|
80,000 words∗ |
|
30,000 words |
|
45,000 words |
|
45,000 words |
|
80,000 words |
|
60,000 words |
Research master’s degrees |
|
|
Separate rules |
|
25,000 words∗
30,000 words |
|
25,000 words
30,000 words |
∗ There are separate rules on word counts for the PhD in musical composition, for combined PhDs in musicology and composition and for the MPhil in Musical Composition.
18.9. Doctoral degrees by published works have separate rules on the word count.
18.10. Examiners can refuse to examine a dissertation if it exceeds the maximum word count. Examiners can also direct the student to reduce the word count as part of required corrections after the examination.
18.11. If a PGR student needs to include significant additions to their dissertation as part of the required corrections, the examiners can accept a corrected dissertation that exceeds the maximum word count.
18.12. If a student is awarded a research master’s degree as a result of a doctoral examination, either unconditionally or with minor errors, they do not need to reduce their dissertation to the research master’s maximum word count. A student must however reduce the length of their dissertation if they are required to resubmit for a research master’s degree.
Creative works
18.13. PGR students can submit a dissertation containing creative works alongside a written commentary.
18.14. The commentary, which will form the focus for examination, must be of sufficient length to provide an extensive analytical account setting the creative works in their research context. For example, a commentary for a Doctor of Philosophy must be at least 30,000 words.
18.15. There are separate rules for dissertations that contain musical composition for the Doctor of Philosophy, the Master of Music, and the Master of Philosophy degrees.
18.16. The definitive version of the dissertation deposited with the library must combine a permanent record of the creative works with the commentary.
Professional practice
18.17. PGR students can, where relevant, include material related to the professional practice in which their research is embedded, such as portfolios of work and project reports. This must be accompanied by an extensive commentary that provides a critical evaluation that sets the material in its academic and research context. The commentary will form the focus of the examination.
Ethical approval
18.17. If a PGR student has obtained ethical approval for their research, they must include a statement in their dissertation including the date approval was granted and any approval reference number/s.
Preliminary pages
18.19. PGR students must include preliminary pages at the beginning of their dissertation. This includes submissions for doctoral degrees by published works. The preliminary pages must be presented on separate pages and in this order.
18.19.1. Title page.
18.19.2. Abstract.
18.19.3. Dedication and acknowledgements. This page is optional.
18.19.4. Covid-19 statement. This page is optional.
18.19.5. Statement on the inclusion of the student's published and collaborative work.
18.19.6. Author’s declaration.
18.19.7. Contents page/s.
Title page
18.20. PGR students must arrange the title page as follows.
18.20.1. The title of the dissertation at the top of the page. If the dissertation is in a language other than English, the title must be given in that language and in English.
18.20.2. The student’s name below the title in the centre of the page.
18.20.3. The following statement at the bottom of page. ‘A dissertation submitted to the University of Bristol in accordance with the requirements for award of the degree of … in the Faculty of ...’ followed by the name of the school and month and year of submission.
18.20.4. The word count (which excludes references, appendices and lists of contents) at the bottom right-hand side of the page.
Abstract
18.21. PGR students must include an abstract of no more than 300 words. If the dissertation is in a language other than English, the abstract must be given in that language and in English.
Dedication and acknowledgements
18.22. This page is optional. PGR students can include a personal dedication and acknowledgment of the role of others in their work and life.
Covid-19 statement
18.23. This page is optional. PGR students can include a Covid-19 statement in their examination copy to highlight how restrictions related to the pandemic modified or limited their research and the contents of their dissertation. The policy on PGR dissertations and the impact of Covid-19 restrictions provides more information.
Statement on the inclusion of the student’s published and collaborative work
18.24. PGR students must complete a statement covering the inclusion in full or in part of their own published work and/or work that they have produced in collaboration with others. The statement is required from all PGR students even if they do not have any of their published or collaborative work in their dissertation.
18.25. PGR students must use the statement template and include it in the preliminary pages of their dissertation.
18.26. The statement must include details of any work that has been incorporated either in full or in part into the dissertation in these categories:
18.26.1. Previously published work by the student.
18.26.2. Work by the student that has been submitted or prepared for publication. This includes submission to preprint servers such as bioRxiv and SocArXiv.
18.26.3. Non-published collaborative work by the student that contains data or contributions from others.
18.27. The statement must provide the following information:
18.27.1. It must confirm whether the student has incorporated any of their published and/or collaborative work in their dissertation.
18.27.2. It must provide a summary of those publications and/or collaborations.
18.27.3. It must provide clarity on the contribution of the student and of any co-authors or contributors to those publications and/or collaborative work.
18.28. The statement will count as the references to the PGR student’s own publications in the dissertation if those publications are used as whole chapters or as whole sections of chapters.
18.29. If work from the student’s own publications has been incorporated as smaller segments, the student must include individual references to them in the relevant part of the dissertation so that it is clear where work from their own publications is located. This will be in addition to the statement.
18.30. All dissertations are subject to a plagiarism check normally through Turnitin. The statement and, where required, individual references to the student’s own publications will be considered as part of this check.
Author’s declaration
18.31. PGR students must include the following declaration unless their degree is part of partnership for a dual or joint award with another University. Students must print their name rather than sign the declaration.
I declare that the work in this dissertation was carried out in accordance with the requirements of the University's Regulations and Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes and that it has not been submitted for any other academic award. Except where indicated by specific reference in the text, the work is my own work. Work done in collaboration with, or with the assistance of, others, is indicated as such. Any views expressed in the dissertation are those of the author.
SIGNED: [print name]. DATE:
18.32. Where the degree is part of a dual or joint award partnership with another University, students must include the following declaration. Students must print their name rather than sign the declaration.
I declare that the work in this dissertation was carried out in accordance with the requirements of the University's Regulations and Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes and that it has not been submitted for any other academic award (other than one authorised as part of a dual or joint award approved in advance by the University). Except where indicated by specific reference in the text, the work is my own work. Work done in collaboration with, or with the assistance of, others, is indicated as such. Any views expressed in the dissertation are those of the author.
SIGNED: [print name]. DATE:
Contents page/s
18.33. PGR students must include a contents page/s. The contents list must indicate the page number for each item and must include:
18.33.1. Chapters, including any sections and subsections.
18.33.2. A reference list (if included). Where a unified reference list is not included, there must be chapter-based reference lists.
18.33.3. The bibliography.
18.33.4. An abbreviation list.
18.34.5. Any appendices.
Main body of the text
Text and numbering
18.34. PGR students must present the text in the dissertation in double or 1.5 line spacing and in a font size that ensures readability. The pages must be numbered consecutively at the bottom centre of the page.
Referencing style
18.35. PGR students must set out citations and references in a style appropriate for the discipline and which is consistent throughout the dissertation.
18.36. If a PGR student uses their published works as full chapters in the dissertation, they must follow the policy on integrating publications as chapters in a PGR dissertation.
Digital media and research data
18.37. For the examination version of dissertations, PGR students must submit any digital media, such as databases, audio files or digital images in a standard format (for example, Excel, MP3, JPEG, etc.). The student must include a statement in their dissertation covering the programme/s used and the file size/s. These additional files must be submitted for examination alongside the dissertation/commentary.
18.38. For the definitive version deposited with the Library, PGR students must combine digital media files with the dissertation text in a single pdf file where this is practicable.