Researching and Writing a History Dissertation.
In preparing for a final-year History dissertation you need to bear in mind, firstly, that this is a 9,000 word essay and therefore a substantial piece of work (it is after all, a quarter of your assessed work for the year), and secondly, that to do it justice you need to give adequate time to think about your topic, the approach you intend to adopt, the sources you might use, and the way in.Technically, however, a dissertation refers to (at least for the sciences) an optional module which is basically one huge essay about 8,000 words long. Some people choose to do a dissertation instead of a few other modules.In countries like the UK a PhD usually takes 3-4 years to complete full time. However, the length of a doctorate can vary.
The thesis for the PhD is not to exceed 60,000 words in length (80,000 by special permission), exclusive of tables, footnotes, bibliography, and appendices. Double-spaced or one-and-a-half spaced. Single or double-sided printing.This thesis examines the political careers and strategies of the Roman adherents of Epicurean philosophy in the final three decades of the Republic.
PhD students independently conduct original and significant research in a specific field or subject, before producing a publication-worthy thesis of typically 60,000-90,000 words in length - although a number of institutions, such as the University of Cambridge, have set an upper limit of 80,000 words.
