How To Write Acknowledgement for Dissertation

You have spent months, possibly years on your dissertation. You have read hundreds of sources, run your analysis, revised chapter after chapter, and now you are staring at the one section that feels oddly harder to write than any of the others: the acknowledgements. 

It is brief. It is personal. It is the only section of your entire dissertation where you are allowed to speak as a human being rather than an academic. And yet, most students either freeze in front of it or dash off something generic that does not reflect how they actually feel, or both.

This complete guide to writing an acknowledgement for dissertation covers everything UK students need: what a dissertation acknowledgement is and why it matters, exactly where it goes in the document, how long it should be at each degree level, who to thank and in what order, what language and tone to use, what to avoid, and how to write it for a thesis or PhD as well as an undergraduate or Master’s dissertation. More importantly, this guide includes real dissertation acknowledgements examples, for undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD levels with commentary on what makes each one work, plus ready-to-use templates you can adapt immediately. There are also section-by-section writing tips, and a complete FAQ.

Acknowledgement for Dissertation: What It Is and Why It Matters

What is an acknowledgement for a dissertation? A dissertation acknowledgement is a short, dedicated section in which you formally recognise and express gratitude to the people and institutions who supported your research journey, your supervisor, your university, your research participants, funding bodies, and often family or friends. It is the one part of the document that is yours personally, not academically.

As the University of Oxford defines it, the acknowledgement is “a section of the dissertation where the researcher writes their gratitude for the individuals who helped them in the course of dissertation writing.” It is not assessed. It does not contribute to your grade. But it is expected, at every level, in every UK university and a poorly written or entirely absent acknowledgement can leave a quietly negative impression on examiners who have spent hours reading your work.

Think of the acknowledgement as academic courtesy combined with transparency. It credits people whose contribution did not show up as co-authorship but without whom the work would not exist in its current form. It is also, quietly, a chance to humanise your dissertation, to remind the reader that behind the methodology and the references is a real person who navigated real challenges.

Does the acknowledgement affect your grade?

No. Multiple UK universities, including the University of Essex, explicitly state that acknowledgements are excluded from the dissertation word count and are not assessed. This means you can write in the first person, use more personal language than the rest of the dissertation allows, and express genuine emotion, without worrying about academic register or marking criteria.

That said, the section is still part of your dissertation and examiners do read it. A rambling, over-emotional, or poorly structured acknowledgement can create a jarring contrast with an otherwise professional piece of work. The goal is sincerity and conciseness, not performance.

Is it compulsory to include an acknowledgement?

In the strict sense, most UK universities do not mandate it. It is widely considered standard academic etiquette, however, and its complete absence is unusual enough to be noticed, particularly at Master’s and PhD level where supervisors, funding bodies, and research teams have invested significant time in your work. The consensus across UK institutions is: include it.

Where Does the Acknowledgement Go in a Dissertation?

The placement of the acknowledgement in dissertation documents follows a standard order recognised across UK universities. The acknowledgement sits in the front matter of your dissertation, the pages before Chapter 1 begins. The most widely accepted order is:

Some universities,  particularly in sciences, place the acknowledgement after the abstract. A small number of universities place it at the very end, before the references. Always check your institution’s dissertation submission guidelines before assuming the above order. Your faculty or department handbook, or your supervisor, is the definitive authority.

At Cambridge University, the University of Essex, and most other UK institutions, acknowledgements are explicitly excluded from the word count. However, policies vary, always read your specific programme handbook before finalising your submission.

How Long Should a Dissertation Acknowledgement Be?

How long should a dissertation acknowledgement be? This is one of the most frequently asked questions about the section, and the answer is shorter than most students expect. An acknowledgement should never exceed one page. For the majority of UK dissertations, it should be considerably less.

According to Lærd Dissertation, which has examined hundreds of undergraduate and Master’s theses, the typical word count for an acknowledgements section is between 100 and 200 words. Separate guidance provides a more graduated set of targets by degree level:

These are guidelines, not rules. If your university has given you a specified format or word count for the acknowledgement, use that. Otherwise, the principle is simple: say what needs to be said, say it sincerely, and stop. An acknowledgement that stretches beyond one page is almost always too long.

Who to Thank in a Dissertation Acknowledgement and in What Order

Who do you thank in a dissertation acknowledgement? This is where most students hesitate longest. The instinct is either to thank everyone who has ever been kind to you, or to worry that leaving someone out is a social error. The practical answer is: thank those whose contribution directly enabled the research, in order of professional proximity first, personal support second.

The standard order of acknowledgement

How specific should you be?

Use full names and titles. ‘My supervisor’ is less appropriate than ‘my supervisor, Dr Sarah Mitchell.’ ‘The university library staff’ is weaker than ‘the inter-library loans team at the University of Leeds.’ Specificity shows genuine gratitude rather than formulaic courtesy. It also means the acknowledgement actually reads as personal to your dissertation rather than a copy-and-paste section.

Do you need to thank everyone?

No. The acknowledgement is not a roll call. If a family member’s support was genuinely significant, if they gave up evenings and weekends so you could write, or supported you financially, include them. If they did not, you are not obligated to. Equally, if a particular academic, librarian, or colleague provided specific, substantive help, name them. If they were simply pleasant to you in passing, a generic reference to ‘department colleagues’ is sufficient.

Need full support through your dissertation, from structure to final submission? Our dissertation help service pairs you with subject-qualified UK writers who understand exactly what examiners expect at every stage.

How to Write an Acknowledgement for a Dissertation: Tone, Language, and Structure

Knowing how to write an acknowledgement for a dissertation comes down to three things: tone, structure, and specificity. Get those right and the section writes itself in twenty minutes. Get them wrong and you end up with either a stilted formal statement that sounds like a legal disclaimer, or an overly emotional outpouring that is more appropriate for a wedding speech than an academic document.

Tone: professional sincerity

The acknowledgement sits between fully academic writing and personal expression. It is the most human section of your dissertation, but it is still part of an academic document. The right tone is warm but measured, sincere without being gushing, professional without being cold.

• Write in the first person: ‘I would like to thank’ is standard and appropriate. The first person is the norm for acknowledgements, even in universities where it is restricted elsewhere in the dissertation.
• Use varied phrasing: Do not begin every sentence with ‘I would like to thank.’ Vary: ‘I am grateful to’, ‘I wish to acknowledge’, ‘particular thanks are due to’, ‘I owe a special debt of gratitude to’.
• Be specific, not generic: ‘for their support and guidance throughout the research process’ is forgettable. ‘for her rigorous and always prompt feedback on every draft chapter’ is specific and sincere.
• Keep it brief: Respect the reader’s time. The acknowledgement is one of the last things an examiner reads before diving into your introduction. A concise, well-written acknowledgement sets a positive tone.

Structure: a simple three-part approach

If you are unsure how to structure the acknowledgement, use this three-part framework:

1. Academic acknowledgements: Supervisor(s), second supervisor, other academic advisors, department staff who contributed directly.
2. Institutional and practical acknowledgements: Funding bodies, scholarship providers, research participants, libraries or archives.
3. Personal acknowledgements: Family, partner, close friends, briefly and sincerely.

Useful Acknowledgement Phrases

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to…

I am particularly grateful to… for…

This research would not have been possible without the support of…

Special thanks are due to… whose [specific contribution] proved invaluable.

I wish to acknowledge the generous support of…

I owe a particular debt of gratitude to… for their [specific help].

I would also like to thank the participants in this study, whose time and candour made this research possible.

Finally, I would like to thank my [family/partner/friends] for their patience, encouragement, and unwavering support throughout what has been a challenging but rewarding process.

Finalising your front matter? Our blog on the Harvard Referencing Guide for UK students covers every citation format your dissertation will need, from books and journals to websites and AI tools.

Dissertation Acknowledgements Examples — Undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD

The following dissertation acknowledgements examples are modelled on real UK student submissions, with identifying details changed. Each is accompanied by a commentary explaining what makes it work, or where it falls short, so you can apply the same principles to your own.

Example 1 — Undergraduate dissertation acknowledgement (150 words)

Undergraduate Dissertation Acknowledgement Example

I would like to thank my dissertation supervisor, Dr Rebecca Harris, for her

consistent support, constructive feedback, and willingness to answer questions

at every stage of this project. Her guidance was instrumental in helping me

develop a research question that was both manageable and academically rigorous.

I would also like to thank the library staff at the University of Birmingham,

whose assistance with inter-library loans significantly broadened the scope of

sources available to me.

Finally, I am grateful to my family for their patience and encouragement

throughout a process that was at times more challenging than expected.

Commentary: This example is appropriately brief (under 150 words), follows the correct order (supervisor → institutional support → personal), uses specific language (‘constructive feedback’, ‘inter-library loans’), and maintains a professional but warm tone. It does not over-explain or over-emote. The final sentence acknowledges family without dwelling on it.

Example 2 — Master’s dissertation acknowledgement (280 words)

Master’s Dissertation Acknowledgement Example

This dissertation would not have been possible without the expertise,

patience, and intellectual generosity of my supervisor, Professor James

Whitfield. His incisive questions pushed my thinking at every stage, and his

detailed feedback on successive drafts shaped this work in ways I could not

have achieved independently. I am deeply grateful.

I also wish to acknowledge the support of my second supervisor,

Dr Priya Mehta, whose expertise in qualitative methodology proved

invaluable during the data analysis phase, and who directed me to

several sources I would otherwise have overlooked.

Sincere thanks are due to the twelve participants who gave their time

to take part in the semi-structured interviews on which this study

depends. Their candour and generosity made this research possible.

I would also like to acknowledge the AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership

for the studentship funding that supported this project.

Finally, I owe a particular debt of gratitude to my partner, Chris,

and to my parents, whose emotional and practical support throughout

a demanding year made the difference between struggle and progress.

This work is dedicated to them.

Commentary: This Master’s example demonstrates the correct structure and appropriate length for the level. Note: both supervisors are named with their specific contributions (‘incisive questions’, ‘expertise in qualitative methodology’). Research participants are acknowledged separately and specifically. The funding body appears before personal thanks. The dedication sentence at the end is a nice touch used in some UK dissertations, not compulsory, but appropriate if included.

Example 3 — PhD thesis acknowledgement (420 words)

PhD Thesis Acknowledgement Example

The completion of this thesis has required the support, expertise, and

generosity of more people than I can fully acknowledge here. I will do

my best to name those whose contributions were most significant.

First and foremost, I owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to my

principal supervisor, Professor Diana Carmichael, whose intellectual

rigour, unwavering commitment to the highest academic standards, and

genuine enthusiasm for this research have been an inspiration throughout

four years of doctoral study. She has made me a far better researcher

than I arrived as.

I am also deeply grateful to my second supervisor, Dr Marcus Osei,

for his expertise in mixed-methods research design and for his patient

and detailed engagement with the methodology chapter in particular.

This thesis was supported by a fully funded ESRC Studentship (Grant

No. ES/XXXXXXX/1), for which I am grateful to the Economic and Social

Research Council. I also wish to thank the Department of Sociology at

the University of Manchester for providing a stimulating and collegial

research environment, and for the travel grant that enabled me to

present findings at the BSA Annual Conference in 2024.

The empirical chapters of this thesis depend entirely on the

willingness of 34 participants to share their experiences openly.

I am grateful to each of them.

I would like to thank Dr Fatima Al-Rashid, Dr Tom Henderson,

and the other members of the postgraduate research community in

the Department for their intellectual companionship, feedback at

research seminars, and moral support during the more difficult

periods of this project.

Finally, and with profound gratitude, I thank my wife, Aisha,

and my daughter, Mia, who have lived with this thesis for four

years and whose love, patience, and sacrifice made its completion

possible. This thesis is for them.

Commentary: This PhD example is appropriately longer, reflecting the extended research process, wider team, and institutional relationships involved. Note: the ESRC grant number is included, this is standard academic practice for funded research. The research community (postgraduate peers, seminars) appears before personal thanks. The personal paragraph is the longest and most emotionally expressive, appropriate at PhD level, where the personal cost and journey are understood to be substantial.

Thesis Acknowledgement vs Dissertation Acknowledgement Is There a Difference?

Students often search separately for thesis acknowledgement and acknowledgement for thesis guidance, and in the UK context, the distinction between ‘thesis’ and ‘dissertation’ is worth clarifying.

In the UK, the terms are used differently at different degree levels:

• Dissertation: Typically used for undergraduate and Master’s extended research projects.
• Thesis: Typically used at PhD level in the UK, the doctoral thesis. (In the US, the terminology is often reversed.)

In practice, the thesis acknowledgement and the dissertation acknowledgement follow the same conventions, same placement, same tone, same order of priority. The main difference is length and scope: a PhD thesis acknowledgement is typically longer (350–500 words) because the research journey is longer, the team is often bigger, and the funding relationships are more formal.

Everything in this guide applies equally to a thesis acknowledgement for a PhD as to a dissertation acknowledgement for an undergraduate or Master’s. The PhD example above (Example 3) illustrates the key additions at that level: grant reference numbers, research community members, and conference acknowledgements.

Writing your PhD thesis and need expert support with more than just the acknowledgements? Our thesis writing service provides specialist assistance at every chapter, from introduction to discussion, for UK doctoral students.

What to Avoid in Your Dissertation Acknowledgement — 8 Common Mistakes

Even a brief, unassessed section can go wrong in ways that leave a quietly negative impression. These are the eight most common acknowledgement mistakes UK students make:

Ready-to-Use Acknowledgement Templates for UK Students

These templates are designed to be adapted, change the names, specific contributions, institutions, and personal details to make them your own. They should not be submitted verbatim.

Template 1 — Undergraduate dissertation

Undergraduate Template — Adapt and Use

I would like to thank my supervisor, [Full Name and Title], for their guidance,

feedback, and support throughout this project. Their expertise in [subject area]

consistently pushed my thinking in productive directions.

I am also grateful to [institution/library/department staff] for [specific help].

Finally, I would like to thank [family/friends] for their patience and

encouragement during the writing process.

Template 2 — Master’s dissertation

Master’s Template — Adapt and Use

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, [Full Name and Title],

whose [specific quality — e.g., rigorous feedback / expert guidance / patience] was

instrumental in shaping this dissertation. I am equally grateful to my second

supervisor, [Full Name and Title], for [specific contribution].

I wish to acknowledge [funding body / scholarship provider] for [the financial

support / studentship / grant] that made this research possible.

Special thanks are due to the [number] participants in this study, who generously

gave their time and insights.

Finally, I would like to thank [name(s)] for their unwavering support, patience,

and encouragement throughout what has been a demanding but rewarding process.

Template 3 — PhD thesis

PhD Template — Adapt and Use

I owe a profound debt of gratitude to my principal supervisor, [Full Name and Title],

whose intellectual rigour, [specific quality], and commitment to this project have

made it what it is. I am equally grateful to my second supervisor, [Full Name and

Title], for [specific contribution, e.g., expertise in methodology / detailed

chapter feedback].

This research was supported by [funding body] (Grant No. [reference]), for whose

support I am grateful. I also wish to thank the Department of [department] at

[institution] for providing an intellectually stimulating research environment,

and for [specific support, e.g., conference travel funding / seminar invitations].

The empirical work in this thesis was made possible by [number] research

participants, to each of whom I am sincerely grateful.

I would also like to thank [colleagues / peers / research group members] for

[specific support — e.g., feedback at seminars / intellectual companionship].

Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to [name(s)] for

[personal support — e.g., patience, sacrifice, love] throughout [duration of study].

This thesis is dedicated to [them / name(s)].

Working on a research paper alongside your dissertation? Our research paper writing service covers everything from literature reviews to full research papers, written by subject-qualified UK academic writers.

If you are struggling to get your thesis moving at all, our blog on how to write a thesis without getting stuck provides practical strategies to break through writer’s block at every stage of the process.

How to Acknowledge AI Tools in Your Dissertation (2026 Guidance)

One of the most searched questions in 2025–2026 is whether and how to acknowledge the use of AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, in a dissertation or thesis. UK universities’ guidance is evolving rapidly, but the current consensus is clear: transparency is required. If you have used an AI tool for any purpose i.e. for grammar checking, structuring suggestions, summarising sources, your university will expect you to declare it, typically within the acknowledgements section or in a separate AI use declaration.

What universities currently expect

Most UK universities introduced or updated their AI use policies in 2023–2025. The general requirements are:

• Disclosure: You must declare what AI tools you used and how.
• Limitation: AI-generated content should not form the substantive academic argument of your dissertation. The intellectual work must be yours.
• Turnitin compliance: Since Turnitin introduced AI detection in 2023, undisclosed AI use poses a significant plagiarism risk.

AI acknowledgement — example language

AI Use Acknowledgement — Example

I acknowledge the use of AI tools, specifically [tool name], in the preparation

of this dissertation. [Tool name] was used for the following limited purposes:

[grammar checking / proofreading suggestions / structural feedback on early

drafts]. All substantive academic content — argument, analysis, interpretation,

and conclusions — is entirely my own. The use of AI tools in this dissertation

complies with the [University Name] AI Use Policy (2025).

Always check your university’s specific AI use policy before submitting. Policies vary significantly between institutions and are updated frequently. If in doubt, including the disclosure, it is always better to be transparent than to risk an academic misconduct allegation.

Formatting Your Dissertation Acknowledgement Page

The acknowledgement is a front-matter page, and it should match the formatting conventions of the rest of your dissertation’s front matter. In the absence of specific university guidelines, the following conventions apply:

• Page heading: ‘Acknowledgements’ centred at the top of the page, in the same heading style as your Abstract and Declaration pages.
• Font and size: Match the rest of your front matter, typically the same font and size as your body text (commonly 12pt Times New Roman or Arial).
• Spacing: Usually 1.5 or double spacing, matching the rest of the document.
• Page number: The acknowledgements page typically carries a Roman numeral page number (iii, iv, etc.) as part of the front matter, before Arabic numerals begin with Chapter 1.
• No section number: The acknowledgement is not numbered as a section or chapter, it is a free-standing page of front matter.
• Word count: As noted above, acknowledgements are almost universally excluded from the official dissertation word count. Confirm this with your institution.

FAQs 

What is an acknowledgement in a dissertation?

An acknowledgement in a dissertation is a short, dedicated section, typically placed before the abstract, in which the author formally recognises and thanks the people and institutions who supported the research process. It is not assessed and does not contribute to your grade.

How do I write an acknowledgement for a dissertation?

To write an acknowledgement for a dissertation: (1) thank your supervisor(s) first, by name and title, with a specific reference to their contribution; (2) acknowledge any funding bodies or scholarship providers; (3) thank research participants if applicable; (4) acknowledge any other academic or institutional support; (5) close with a brief personal acknowledgement of family or close friends. Keep the tone professional but warm, write in the first person, and aim for 100–350 words.

Where does the acknowledgement go in a dissertation?

The acknowledgement typically appears as the third page of your front matter, after the title page and declaration, and before the abstract. Some universities place it after the abstract. Always check your institution’s dissertation submission guidelines for the exact required order.

Do dissertation acknowledgements count towards the word count?

In almost all UK universities, no. Acknowledgements are explicitly excluded from the dissertation word count, along with the abstract, table of contents, references, and appendices. The University of Essex, Cambridge, and the University of Warwick all confirm this in their official submission guidelines. Always confirm with your own institution.

Who should I thank in my dissertation acknowledgement?

In order of priority: (1) your supervisor(s) and academic advisors; (2) funding bodies and scholarship providers; (3) research participants; (4) other academic or institutional support (librarians, statisticians, department staff); (5) colleagues and peers; (6) family and close friends. Use full names and titles for academic and professional acknowledgements.

How long should a dissertation acknowledgement be?

For an undergraduate dissertation: 100–200 words. For a Master’s dissertation: 200–350 words. For a PhD thesis: 350–500 words. Lærd Dissertation’s analysis of hundreds of UK theses confirms the typical range is 100–200 words. An acknowledgement should never exceed one page.

What is the difference between a thesis acknowledgement and a dissertation acknowledgement?

In UK universities, ‘thesis’ typically refers to a PhD submission and ‘dissertation’ to undergraduate or Master’s work. A thesis acknowledgement follows the same conventions as a dissertation acknowledgement, same placement, tone, and structure,  but is typically longer (350–500 words), as the research journey is longer, the team broader, and the funding relationships more formal.

Can I write my acknowledgement in the first person?

Yes, and you should. The acknowledgements section is one of the few places in a UK dissertation where first-person writing is standard and expected. Unlike the body chapters, where ‘this study found’ or ‘the evidence suggests’ is the norm, the acknowledgement is written as ‘I would like to thank…’ throughout.

Should I include research participants in my acknowledgement?

Yes, if your study involved human participants, interviews, surveys, focus groups, or observations. You cannot usually name them (for reasons of anonymity), but a sentence acknowledging their time and contribution is expected and considered good academic etiquette. Example: ‘I would like to thank the [number] participants in this study for their generosity of time and candour.’

Can I dedicate my dissertation to someone?

Yes. A dedication is a separate short page that typically follows the acknowledgements. It is distinct from the acknowledgements, it is a personal tribute, often to a loved one or someone who has passed away, and may be as brief as a single sentence. Not all dissertations include one, but it is a recognised and accepted convention in UK academic work.

Should I acknowledge AI tools in my dissertation?

Yes, if you used them. UK universities increasingly require explicit disclosure of AI tool use in academic submissions. This declaration typically appears in the acknowledgements section or in a separate AI use declaration page. State what tool you used and how, for example, for grammar checking or structural suggestions, and confirm that all substantive academic content is your own.

What should I avoid in a dissertation acknowledgement?

Avoid: thanking your supervisor last (they should be first); using only first names; excessive superlatives; including personal information that is inappropriate for an academic document; going beyond one page; copying a template verbatim without adaptation; and omitting research participants who gave their time to your study.

Make Your Dissertation Feel More Complete

An acknowledgement may not be the longest part of a dissertation, but it adds a personal and meaningful finish to the work. It gives students a chance to thank supervisors, teachers, family, friends, participants, or anyone who supported them throughout the research journey. The key is to keep it sincere, clear, and professionally written without making it too casual or overly emotional.

A strong dissertation acknowledgement should sound natural, respectful, and personal to the student’s experience. Whether the support came through academic guidance, emotional encouragement, or practical help, the right words can make this section feel polished and genuine.

If you need expert help with dissertation writing, editing, formatting, or academic guidance, visit Assignment Helper UK and get reliable support for your next submission.