School of Social & Political Sciences

Starting your dissertation can feel like a monumental task, especially when juggling coursework, friends, societies, and other academic responsibilities. If you're anything like me, the thought of simply committing to a dissertation topic can feel terrifying. I know I certainly felt a mix of excitement and anxiety when it came time to begin. One of the biggest concerns was that choosing a dissertation topic felt like a decision with lifelong implications. 

But here's the thing - while your dissertation topic is undoubtedly important, it is not the end of the road. The dissertation is a tool for your personal and academic growth, not a final destination. Think of the dissertation as an opportunity to combine your interests with the goal of developing and applying the skills you've honed throughout your studies. In fact, once you start focusing on applying your knowledge and research skills, you may find that the process becomes much more manageable. 

If you're someone who tends to overthink or struggle with big decisions, don't let that anxiety rob you of time. The hardest part really is just getting started. To help you do that, here are some key step to begin preparing for your dissertation: 

1. Broad preliminary topic investigation

Before delving into the specifics, I advise taking some time to explore broad areas of interest within your field. This is the first step and can be done even before you set foot on campus! Give yourself the freedom to explore but also make sure you're looking at the right kind of content. Early exploration helps you to identify general areas that could eventually lead to more focused research questions. Take notes of any of these trends, debates and theoretical frameworks. Making sure you look at theoretical underpinnings and debates within these topics will not only give you a good foundational understanding of these topics generally, but what peaks your interest even more and gets those gears moving. 

As a public policy student, ensuring a solid understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of certain topics is crucial and allows you to engage more in-depth with literature as you continue to research. I personally started off with three general topics: housing policy, democratic norms, and education policy. Doing some poking and prodding into these helped me understand just the depth of research each field undergoes and also helped me gain greater clarity for what I didn't want to do. 

2. Understand how to conduct research

Your programme will likely provide a research course wherein you learn the basics of research. Here you'll learn in depth about the variety of methodologies, ontologies, epistemologie and various concepts that go into research design. Don't let this course slide by without challenging yourself to reflect on these concepts!

Make sure to consider which design aspects resonate with you and how you would want to implement them in your dissertation. For me, this course occurred in my first semester, allowing me to really understand these concepts before my dissertation proposal was due. Understanding what separates good and thoughtful research from poor research is crucial to having a successful dissertation. 

Personally, I knew that I was not interested in quantitative methodologies. This was an obvious decision for me because I am pretty terrible at math and rigorous coding. Knowing if you're interested in certain methodologies and understanding your practical abilities can help you as a starting point for understanding what epistemological and ontological frameworks you would like to adopt.

3. Narrow down your topic and identify research gaps

Once you have a grasp on research methodologies, it's time to dive back into content! From there, dig deeper into niche areas and identify where knowledge gaps might exist. Keep in mind that you can always create a knowledge gap for almost anything by narrowing your scope - but sometimes it's good to see what knowledge gaps might be a bit more obvious. This requires a lot of reading. But, you will feel confident in your topic if you understand what knowledge gaps exist - then you can pick the knowledge gap that makes the most sense for you. 

Once you have a better understanding of your subject area, you'll be able to identify the smaller, more manageable pieces of research that will form the basis of your dissertation.

I was personally torn between a few broad topics like housing policy, democratic norms, and education policy. While each of these topics is rich and complex, I had to do a lot of reading and in-depth research to narrow down the scope. Understanding what's already been researched in those areas, and where further exploration is needed, was essential to finding my own niche. 

It can also be helpful to keep up with current news and academic discussions related to your field. For me, as a student in Public Policy & Management, it was incredibly helpful to stay updated with the latest policy debates through podcasts and news articles. While academic reading is important, remember that staying informed about the real-world implications of your topic can help make picking a topic more achievable. 

4. Seek guidance from mentors and utilise university resources

One of the most valuable aspects of preparing for your dissertation is consulting with others. Whether it's a mentor, a professor, or a peer, getting feedback and advice can help you to refine your ideas and identify potential gaps in your thinking. 

I was fortunate enough to have a career and life mentor with a background in research. They played a huge role in helping me process my dissertation ideas - especially because I am a yapper whose brain moves a mile a minute. My mentor was able to give me guidance on how to shape my topic and more importantly, pointed me toward potential research gaps that I hadn't considered. 

If you don't have a mentor like this, consider reaching out to a professor or classmate you trust. UofG has very friendly staff and a variety of workshops - don't hesitate to take advantage of these.

I also found it incredibly helpful to attend dissertation workshops offered here. While they were sometimes generic, they provided useful insights into the expectations for the dissertation, especially when it came to incorporating theoretical frameworks. Workshops are also an excellent opportunity to ask specific questions, learn more about your programme's specific expectations, and connect with other students. 

Your programme should have a dissertation specific Moodle page available to you. Make sure to check this out! This page outlines key deadlines, guidelines and expectations. I found it really helpful in familiarising myself with this early on, even before I officially started working on my dissertation. Understanding what's expected of you will give you a clearer idea of where and how you need to focus your attention. 

5. Continue researching and stay on top of your coursework

As you move closer to finalising your dissertation topic, keep in mind that this is not an isolated process. You'll likely be expected to submit your dissertation proposal midway through the semester, which may feel rushed. But remember, you've been selected for your programme because the university believes in your ability to handle these types of challenges!

Pay attention in class - after all, much of the coursework is designed to support your dissertation research in some way. Because you'll likely have to do some dissertation work while trying to finish up course work, paying attention in class also makes keeping up with coursework easier which will help you with the time management.

For many of us, the hardest part of the dissertation process is simply getting started. But remember, this is pretty normal. Completing a dissertation is no easy task, especially if it's your first time like me. But the key to success is breaking it down into manageable steps.

The dissertation journey may feel overwhelmed at times, but remember that it's an opportunity to showcase the skills you've developed over your course of study. And while it might feel like a major decision at first, trust that it's okay to evolve and refine your topic along the way. The process itself will help you grow as a researcher and as a professional. 

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First published: 7 May 2025