Succeeding with Your Master's Dissertation A Step-by-Step Handbook

“Biggam offers a clear rationale for why a dissertation is a standard part of many master’s programmes and provides a user-friendly approach to planning and writing large pieces of work. His pragmatic advice and guidance on good practice will help students to keep on track with their dissertations and avoid common errors. This new edition has been fully updated and includes useful advice on topics such as Generative AI and academic integrity. The writing style is accessible and reassuring, and the extensive content will be applicable to students across disciplines.”
Donna Murray, Head of Taught Student Development, University of Edinburgh, UK


Do you want to ensure you are successful with your master’s dissertation? Then, this book is for you! Brimming with examples of good practice, Succeeding with Your Master’s Dissertation offers clear, straightforward and practical support for each stage of the master’s dissertation, from proposal to submission.


It features step-by-step guidance on how to clarify your research objectives, produce a research proposal, complete each chapter of a traditional dissertation, reference sources and prepare for a viva. In doing so, it includes practical examples, highlights common pitfalls that students need to avoid and offers advice on how to achieve high marks. Now in its sixth edition, this handbook features:

• A brand-new chapter on Generative AI
• More examples on how to critique literature using a structured approach
• New material on research ethics, plagiarism, innovative research
• methodologies, and differences between types of dissertations

This is essential reading for postgraduate dissertation students across disciplines.


John Biggam has taught extensively at university level, published widely in academia and presented at prestigious global conferences. Although now retired, John gives guest lectures to share his extensive experience and expert knowledge on how to succeed with your dissertation.