Master's students often have plenty of experience when it comes to writing dissertations. Still, it’s a well-known fact that the process can be challenging and stressful. By the end, many students are just relieved to be done with it and ready to head straight to the nearest place to unwind.

Despite the struggle, completing a deep dive into a topic and putting together a final bound copy of your research or arguments brings a real sense of accomplishment.

For many, it’s the highlight of their academic journey, unless they decide to pursue a PhD, which presents a whole new set of challenges!

Choose Your Topic Early

With a big project like a dissertation, time can slip away faster than expected. At first, it might seem like you have plenty of months to get everything done, but deadlines for submitting your title, first draft, and final draft have a way of sneaking up on you. It’s a smart idea to start thinking about possible topics in the early weeks of your course, or even before it begins. This will give you extra time if your first ideas don’t work out.

Check Your Sources

One of the first things you’ll need to do is make sure there are enough sources for your dissertation topic, both primary and secondary. Knowing which sources you need and whether there are enough to support a 10,000-word paper is important and can take some time. You should figure this out before diving into reading and writing.

Once you’ve identified the sources you need, make a list and try to access them ahead of time. If you’re working with primary sources that can’t leave the institution where they are kept, plan to visit them with enough time to spare. Don’t forget to account for travel time, too. Getting started on your dissertation early means less stress later on, and you’ll be able to focus on the work without the last-minute panic.

Create a Timetable – And Stick to It!

Be realistic about how much time you have and what you can accomplish. Creating a timetable that stretches all the way to your hand-in day is a smart way to stay on track. While it may end up being more of a guideline than a strict schedule, sticking to it as much as possible will help avoid the last-minute panic of trying to pull 7,000 words together just 48 hours before the deadline.

Get a Fresh Set of Eyes!

Throughout the dissertation process, it’s important to stay ahead of the clock. Make sure you have enough time to write a draft and review it with your supervisor. After working on your dissertation for so long, it’s easy to lose perspective on it. Having others look over it is extremely helpful in spotting mistakes or flaws in your argument.

The more people who give it a read, the better. So, don't hesitate to ask family and friends, who care about you a lot, to go through it as well.

Time is Critical

The main takeaway here is clear: GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME! Dissertations are both tough and rewarding, and you don’t want to miss out on the satisfaction of completing it just because you left everything to the last minute. Avoid letting panic take over by planning ahead and starting early.