Most universities require that dissertation proposals are submitted electronically or by fax or mail. To meet these deadlines, you’ll need to submit your proposal in a timely fashion. Your adviser will likely be able to provide you with a template for a standard dissertation proposal, but he or she may not be aware of all the stipulations that apply to individual universities. So if you want to submit a dissertation proposal based on a particular dissertation advisor or dissertation committee, be sure to ask that particular question before you begin writing your proposal.
As soon as you have finished writing your proposal, you should send it back to your adviser for review. It’s very possible that your adviser will reject your proposal, and there is nothing to be embarrassed about doing so. On the other hand, you might also find that your adviser recommends your proposal to a committee, either as the sole candidate or as an alternate. If this occurs, you can ask for a copy of any correspondence regarding your proposal. This will allow you to ensure that the committee is recommending your proposal in good faith.
Your proposal must be filed with your dissertation as soon as possible, because it will be reviewed. In fact, some universities require that you send in your dissertation proposal no earlier than two weeks before the university exam you’re taking. After the review process has been completed, the university will review your dissertation and will publish it within a specific period of time, usually a couple of months to a year after the submission. If your dissertation is accepted, you will receive a diploma from your university, which is an official document signed by the chairperson of the committee or faculty of your dissertation committee.
As you progress in your studies and are preparing for the dissertation, it’s vital to ensure that your proposal, as well as your dissertation itself, are up to date and contain a thorough discussion and outline of your research. This will make the university exam go more smoothly.
Another aspect of your dissertation that’s extremely important is citations. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up missing out on opportunities for further study and research because your research is not listed properly in the dissertation. For example, if your dissertation is written in footnotes, you may not be able to reference an article you read in a journal.
You’ll find many dissertation examples online at your local library or in reference books. You can also hire a professional to create sample citations for you, as well as a list of common ones. If you decide to go this route, be sure to check the sources that you use so you won’t be plagiarizing someone else’s work.
If your dissertation is passed on the first attempt, your adviser will likely provide you with feedback, but some universities don’t require a second try. If you get an unsatisfactory grade, however, you may not get another chance to pass your dissertation. There are, however, options available to you to avoid having to go back to school, such as completing a course or doing a research fellowship.