thesis submission nottingham

Dissertation and thesis support

The NTU Library offers support for undertaking dissertation, research projects, and theses work across all levels of study.

Find support by level of study

Undergraduate dissertation / final year research project, postgraduate masters dissertation / research project, phd or professional doctorate thesis.

A dissertation is an academic report that has a large word limit (5,000 - 10,000 words). It can be the biggest piece of writing you undertake during your undergraduate degree. You may be asked to select a topic to focus on and this may also require choosing a certain type of methodology or undertaking a literature review. We recommend the following material to help get you started.

Books and literature

• Take a look at our resource list of suggested titles focussing on dissertations and theses.

Useful links

• Writing an undergraduate dissertation (Royal Literary Fund)
• Literature reviews (an interactive presentation about what a literature review is, and how to go about writing one).

Further help

• Attend  one of our workshops about dissertation research, literature reviews, proofreading, etc.
• Book an appointment to talk to a member of staff.
• Talk with your dissertation or research project supervisor.

A masters degree usually has some sort of extended individual project. It typically involves a high word count (between 12,000 and 20,000 words). The structure is similar to an undergraduate dissertation, but you will be expected to investigate your topic in greater detail, and develop your research methodology skills further. The following resources will help you get started.

• Biggam, J., 2015.   Succeeding with  your master's dissertation: a step-by-step handbook. 3rd ed.  Maidenhead: McGraw Hill.
• Hart, C., 2005.   Doing your masters dissertation: realizing your potential as a social scientist. London: Sage.
• Jesson, J., Matheson, L., Lacey, F. M., 2011.   Doing your literature review: traditional and systematic techniques .  London: Sage.
• Murray, L., and Lawrence, B., 2000.  Practitioner-based enquiry: principles for postgraduate research .  London: Falmer Press.
• Parija, S. C., and Kate, V., 2018.  Thesis writing for Master's and PhD Program .  Singapore: Springer Nature.
• Wallace, M., and Wray, A., 2016.   Critical reading and writing for postgraduates .  3rd ed. Los Angeles: Sage.
• plus many more available via  Library OneSearch about dissertations, research methods, literature reviews, etc.
• Dissertation Guide (Royal Literary Fund)
• Attend  one of our workshops about search skills, literature reviews, proofreading, etc.

Undertaking a thesis at postgraduate research level requires you to conduct a literature review and original research. The NTU Doctorate Plus programme supports you throughout this process. Take a look at our  Research Students page to see what help is available.

You can also consult the  Researcher Development Brochure to see the full range of workshops available to postgraduate researchers, including guidance for academic writing, research methodologies, and practical support for working with long documents.

• Churchill, H. & Sanders, T., 2007.  Getting your PhD : a practical insider's guide . London: SAGE.
• Dunleavy, P., 2003. Authoring a PhD : how to plan, draft, write, and finish a doctoral thesis or dissertation.  Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Hayton, J., 2015.  PhD : an uncommon guide to research, writing & PhD life . James Hayton PhD: James Hayton.
• Lee, N.-J., 2009.  Achieving your professional doctorate . Maidenhead: Open University Press.
• Murray, R., 2016.  How to write a thesis.4th ed . Maidenhead: Open University Press.
• Phillips, E. and Pugh, D., 2015.  How to get a PhD: a handbook for students and their supervisors. 6th ed. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
• plus many more available via  Library OneSearch about research methods, literature reviews, etc.
• Theses by previous NTU research students – view these online in the thesis collection in  IRep .
• Research Development Gateway – this NOW learning room provides a wide range of resources to support your skills development as you undertake your thesis.
• Attend one of our workshops for more advice on getting started with your literature review, keeping up-to-date and managing your references.
• Book an appointment with your  Research Support Librarian .
• Talk with your supervisory team.

• Enquire and submit
• Knowledge Articles
• Find answers to our most frequently asked questions

The examiners have recommended a re-submission of my thesis; how long is the re-submission period and what is the fee?

The re-submission period is one year from the date formal written notification is sent to you by Student Services.

The fee for thesis re-submission is updated annually; see the fee schedule for the current fee (please choose ‘Postgraduate Research tuition fees’ and select relevant academic year from left menu).

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Thesis pending

Research programmes are designed to allow for the all research to be completed and written up within the registered period of study. For eligible researchers, time is allocated to allow for the completion of any research yet to be written up. This time is referred to as the thesis pending period.  

Students whose programme of study lasts for less than four years (eight years in the case of part-time students) and who have completed their research and the period of registered study , may enter the thesis pending period. In all cases the thesis must be submitted within four years (full-time) or eight years (part-time) of the start of study or within 12 months (full-time) or 24 months (part-time) of the end of registration, whichever is the lesser. This may vary depending on the terms and conditions in your individual studentship. More information on the regulations can be found in the Quality Manual . 

Entry into thesis pending is dependent on satisfactory progression in the final Progression Review. Most students enter the thesis pending period upon finishing the registered period of study, but you can also choose to enter the thesis pending period early or alternatively request a further period of registered study. You should discuss your options with your supervisor in the first instance. 

During the thesis pending period you will still be entitled to use the library and University computing facilities but not the facilities for research as this stage of your study should be concluded. 

The information on this page will signpost you to different processes and policies that may apply during this stage of your researcher's journey 

Registration in thesis pending, including council tax exemption

You can opt-in to register in your thesis pending period if you are a full-time researcher, and for a maximum of one year . Local authorities will provide an exemption of council tax for a maximum period of four years .

Registering in your thesis pending period is optional, and it may allow you to be exempt from council tax. You should always check with your individual Council as to their exemptions.

Some sponsors of international researchers also require their researchers to register in thesis pending.

If you want to register you need to download and complete the  Registration in Thesis Pending form  before you commence your thesis pending period. Late applications will not be accepted. Once you have submitted your first submission thesis for examination, you are no longer permitted to register, and you are no longer eligible for council tax exemption.

Please note, there is a fee payable to register in your thesis pending period, please visit the  Tuition Fees webpages . 

Registration in thesis pending form

Entering thesis pending early

If you have completed your research and the minimum period of registered study as required by regulations, you may enter the thesis-pending period earlier (before the agreed end of your registered period of study).

This would normally be an outcome from your final annual review, and it would have to be approved by your supervisor and Head of School.

Your thesis pending period will not extend as a result of this request. Please complete the form below and submit to Student Services.

Request to enter thesis pending early form

Supervision in thesis pending

During the thesis pending period and any period of corrections or thesis re-submission, supervisors and PGRs should continue to meet regularly. For part-time candidates, this should involve a minimum of  six recorded supervisions a year and for full time candidates, this should involve a minumum of twelve , monthly, recorded supervisions a year. Supervisors will read and comment on at least one draft of the canddiate's thesis prior to submission.

The aim of these meetings should be to support the PGR student to reach the point of final thesis submission in a timely way and minimise any extensions. 

Extension to thesis pending and/or submission deadline

In exceptional circumstances an extension to the thesis pending period (or submission deadline) may be granted. All applications should be agreed with your school and submitted with supporting evidence to Student Services for consideration.

You can access the ' Extension to Thesis Pending Period form ' and also find the regulations by visiting the Quality Manual . Normally, only circumstances affecting your thesis-pending period can be considered. Requests based on circumstance which occurred prior to your thesis pending period will be refused.

Normally, a maximum of 6 months ( 12 for part time researchers) extension will be granted for a first request. Second or subsequent requests which will exceed 12 months ( 24 months for part time researchers) will require approval by the university’s Quality and Standards Committee.

The fee for an agreed extension to the thesis pending period can be found in the fee schedule .

Extension to thesis pending form

Quality Manual extension to thesis pending regulations and form

Notification of submission

You are required to submit a thesis for examination before the conclusion of the thesis-pending period. You must give formal notice of at least three months to your school of your intention to submit.

The school should ensure that Student Services office is informed so that the procedure for appointing examiners can be initiated. Any delay in submitting your notification of submission form can lead to a delay in your examination taking place. Visit Examination research students for more information on the examination process. 

Your supervisor’s signature on the notification of submission of thesis form acts as confirmation that:

• the thesis is the result of work done mainly while you have been registered as a researcher of The University of Nottingham
• you have been given appropriate plagiarism guidance
• you have been advised on thesis embargo and/or restriction
• if appropriate to your discipline, you are aware of the requirement to submit all data collected during the period of study as a researcher of this university, to your school prior to arrangement of the viva voce examination.

Upon receipt of your completed form, Student Services will ask your school to nominate examiners. When approved, we will email you with the names of your examiners, asking you to declare any possible conflict of interest.

Notification of submission form

Find Student theses

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Improving the precision of 3d printing in vat photopolymerization using machine learning-driven boundary prediction.

Student thesis : MRes Thesis

Emerge or submerge: conceptions of mobile-assisted language learning in the transition of freshmen English-major students to higher education in a university in China

Student thesis : EdD Thesis

Development of efficient photocatalysts for the degradation of low-concentration NO under visible light

Student thesis : PhD Thesis

Characteristics, durability and degradation mechanism of CO2 electrolysis in solid oxide cells

Analysis of the policy influencing factors of china's greenness spatial-temporal change and its relationship with poverty, synthesis of porous materials for the removal of organic dyes in wastewater treatment, nato's new design: struggles, practices, and the alliance's post-cold war transformation, expatriate academics’ cross-cultural adjustment and future intentions in chinese transnational higher education, synergistic enhancement of ultrahigh sers activity via cu2o@ag core-shell structure for accurate label-free identification of cancer cells, non-algebraic domains for system analysis, enhanced naïve bayes classification framework with data reduction and transformation techniques, enhancing flood management in road transport system via news media data analytics, resource acquisition in innovation collaboration networks: evidence from co-patenting activities in china, determinant factors behind the high academic achievement of chinese rural-to-urban migrant children in a sub-urban state junior high school in ningbo, post-merger integration and innovation of emerging market multinationals in the context of strategic asset-seeking mergers & acquisitions, diagnosing financial anomalies in china: liquidity risk, information efficiency, and macroeconomic linkages, understanding the value logics of family businesses, a blockchain-based tool for improving the management of assets information models, optimized drop-on-demand printing path strategies for curved shapes, developing an effective monitoring system using sensors and artificial intelligence for sensory regulation of children with autism spectrum disorders, efficient organic solar cells based on thiophene [3,2-b] pyrrole non-fullerene acceptors, advancing indoor multi-person localisation system based on sensor fusion method, exploring the perceptions and experiences of returnee academics’ re-adaptation and professional identity (re-)construction at an application-oriented university in a second-tier city in china, studying the symbolic and cultural practices of city diplomacy: the case of seattle, green syntheses of silicalite-1 using hydroxyl free radicals and cellulose nanocrystals, implementing collaborative learning in second round review stage in senior high school physics class, an optimization model for developing time-based preventive maintenance strategy for cooling coils in air conditioning systems based on genetic algorithm, multi-task learning applications in deep learning, r&d expense stickiness in chinese listed firms, chinese ofdi in africa: economic opportunities vs. political risks, rational design of functional covalent organic frameworks for the oxygen and carbon dioxide reduction reactions, tourism-related consumption in relation to subjective well- being and sustainability, oxidative potential and cancer risk of ambient particles in an urban coastal area of china: chemical characterization, source apportionment, and respiratory deposition, development of a multi-frequency beidou ppp algorithm, numerical simulations and designs for high-efficiency solar cells, hegemony on a leash: neo-conservatism, american foreign policy, and the united nations, investigating pedestrians' trust in automated vehicles, mechatronics design of a vision-based laser cutting machine for soft materials, environmental catalytic materials for voc degradation, deep reinforcement learning hyper-heuristics for online marine port truck dispatching, machine learning assisted (hyper-)heuristic for combinatorial optimization problems with emerging challenges, improving the performance of discontinuous fibre reinforced composites, visibility of the translator: a data-driven study of julia lovell’s translator style, managing mega infrastructure complexity: a study on digital construction adoption in nigeria, machine learning and metaheuristic methods for optimizing dynamic truck dispatching in container ports, studies of the biomimetic synthesis of plumarellide, development of sustainable hybrid breathing materials and their multiple applications in polymer composites, investigate the learning efficiency of a dual language program in the computer-based flight training virtual environment, the examination of the implementation of learning in regular classes(lrc) from the perspectives of teachers, three essays about the community mental health in china.