How to Write an MPhil Dissertation

Master of Philosophy or MPhil is a prestigious degree and a stepping stone to getting a PhD degree. MPhil dissertations require demonstrating strong writing and communication skills as well as research effort.

They are easy to write if one follows and understands the basic guidelines of writing a dissertation. This article discusses the various aspects required to be understood when writing an MPhil dissertation.

MPhil Dissertations - Finalizing a Topic

The first step in writing an MPhil dissertation is to come up with a suitable topic with the help of your advisor. MPhil dissertations can be written on a variety of subjects depending on the specialization chosen as well as your personal preferences.

With the internet, it is easy to discuss your topic with peers and experts in this field through discussion forums and other sites. Once you have finalized the topic, then you need to follow the basic guidelines for writing a dissertation. The following sections in this article provide some quick guidelines on the chapters to be included in an MPhil dissertation.

MPhil Dissertations Main Chapters

MPhil dissertations like any other dissertation consist of five main chapters. The first chapter is the introduction chapter that provides a quick background to the research problem and gives insight into the research aims and objectives.

The next chapter of an MPhil dissertation consists of the literature review. This involves a critical evaluation of academic sources that highlights the research done on the topic till date. However, literature review is not about presenting the opinions of different writers in a paragraph each. Rather, literature review is a synthesis of the arguments and opinions of various writers.

The third chapter of an MPhil dissertation explains the research methodology that will be used in order to conduct the research. There are many research methodologies that could be used in a research and hence, it is important to find the one that is most suitable for the current research and provide justification for this choice. The actual process that you took when conducting your research right from determining your sample to collecting and analyzing your data should be discussed in sufficient detail so that another researcher could repeat the research if required.

The fourth chapter presents the findings of the research along with analysis and discussion wile the fifth chapter provides a summary, recommendations and conclusion of the research.