Dissertation Acknowledgements: Format, Examples & What to Avoid

Introduction

Dissertation acknowledgements are usually written at the very end, when you’re exhausted, slightly relieved, and trying to finish “all the remaining pages” in one sitting. That’s why this section often ends up either too formal to feel genuine or too emotional to feel academic.

The good news: writing dissertation acknowledgements is much easier when you treat them like a short, structured note of credit—professional, specific, and sincere. This guide breaks down who to thank, what order to follow, how long it should be, what to avoid, and gives you templates you can safely adapt without sounding like you copied a sample from the internet.

What dissertation acknowledgements are

At a basic level, dissertation acknowledgements are a short section where you thank the people and institutions that supported your work but are not listed as authors.

They are not:

• a summary of your findings
• a dedication letter (though some universities allow a separate dedication page)
• a place to explain your struggle in detail
• a space to hide major contributions that should count as authorship

Think of dissertation acknowledgements as academic courtesy plus transparency. You’re documenting support honestly and briefly.

Where dissertation acknowledgements usually go

In most formats, dissertation acknowledgements appear in the front matter, typically after:

• title page
• declaration/certificate pages (as required)

and before:

• abstract
• table of contents

Some universities place dissertation acknowledgements after the abstract. Your department template is the final rule, but the key point is: it’s part of the front section and should match the tone of the dissertation.

Ideal length and tone

A common question about dissertation acknowledgements is “How long is too long?”

Typical ranges:

• UG/PG dissertations: 150–250 words
• PhD dissertations: 250–400 words
• Journal articles: much shorter (but that’s a different format)

The best tone for dissertation acknowledgements is:

• respectful and calm
• warm but not overly personal
• specific without becoming a list of every name you know

If your acknowledgements are longer than your abstract, trim them. A one-page acknowledgement is usually enough.

Who to include in dissertation acknowledgements

Strong dissertation acknowledgements usually thank people in this order:

1. Supervisor/guide (first)
2. Co-guide/advisory committee/mentors (if any)
3. Department/institution (facilities, library, lab, administrative help)
4. Participants/organizations (if your study involved respondents, patients, or field sites)
5. Peers/colleagues (optional, brief)
6. Family/personal support (optional, brief, more common in theses than papers)

The rule is simple: acknowledge based on the research journey—who enabled the work—not based on personal closeness.

The best order

If you’re unsure how to structure dissertation acknowledgements, use this five-part flow:

1. One sentence stating gratitude for support overall
2. One paragraph for academic guidance (guide, committee)
3. One paragraph for institutional/technical support and permissions
4. One paragraph for participants/peer help (if relevant)
5. One closing line for family and personal support (optional)

This structure keeps dissertation acknowledgements readable and avoids the “random thank-you list” effect.

What NOT to write

Bad dissertation acknowledgements aren’t “too short.” They’re usually inappropriate in tone or risky in content. Avoid:

• jokes, sarcasm, or informal nicknames
• long emotional storytelling (especially about delays or conflicts)
• exaggerated praise (“the best guide in the universe”)
• thanking someone for doing work that should be credited as authorship
• sensitive details (internal disputes, personal health issues, private information)
• naming people who prefer not to be named (in sensitive research)

If someone made a substantial intellectual or writing contribution, that may be an authorship discussion, not an acknowledgement line. Keep dissertation acknowledgements clean and safe.

The “specific but simple” trick that makes acknowledgements sound real

Most dissertation acknowledgements sound generic because they repeat the same phrases:
“for guidance and support”
“for constant encouragement”
“for valuable suggestions”

Those lines are fine, but adding one specific phrase makes your writing feel human.

Instead of only “for guidance,” try:

• “for feedback that helped refine the methodology”
• “for timely corrections during drafting”
• “for encouraging a more critical interpretation of results”

One specific detail is usually enough to make dissertation acknowledgements feel authentic.

Copy-ready dissertation acknowledgements templates

Below are templates you can copy into your dissertation and edit quickly. These are designed to keep dissertation acknowledgements professional, not overly formal.

Template 1: Balanced (works for most UG/PG dissertations)

Dissertation Acknowledgements
I express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Dr./Prof. [Name], for consistent guidance, constructive feedback, and encouragement throughout this dissertation. I also thank the faculty members of the Department of [Department], [Institution], for their valuable suggestions and academic support. I acknowledge the assistance of the library and laboratory/technical staff for providing the necessary resources and facilities. I am grateful to all participants/respondents for their time and cooperation. Finally, I thank my family for their patience and support during the completion of this work.

Template 2: PhD-style (more formal, slightly longer)

Dissertation Acknowledgements
I would like to express my deep gratitude to Dr./Prof. [Name], my research supervisor, for insightful guidance, critical inputs, and unwavering support throughout my doctoral work. I sincerely thank my advisory committee members, Dr./Prof. [Names], for their valuable feedback and suggestions at different stages of the research. I acknowledge the support provided by the Department of [Department], [Institution], including access to laboratory facilities, academic resources, and administrative assistance. I am grateful to [Organization/Institution/Field Site] for granting permission and support for data collection, and to all participants for their time and cooperation. I also thank my peers and colleagues for helpful discussions that contributed to refining this dissertation. Finally, I express heartfelt thanks to my family for their constant encouragement and understanding during this journey.

Template 3: Survey-based management/social science dissertation

Dissertation Acknowledgements
I sincerely thank Dr./Prof. [Name] for guidance and timely feedback throughout this dissertation. I acknowledge the support of the Department of [Department], [Institution], for providing access to academic resources. I am grateful to all respondents who participated in the survey and shared their perspectives, which made this study possible. I also thank my classmates and friends for support during tool piloting and data collection. Finally, I thank my family for their encouragement and patience during the completion of this dissertation.

Template 4: Lab-based/STEM dissertation

Dissertation Acknowledgements
I express my sincere gratitude to Dr./Prof. [Name] for technical guidance and consistent support throughout this dissertation. I thank the Department of [Department] and [Lab/Center Name], [Institution], for providing the facilities and equipment required for this work. I acknowledge the assistance of technical staff for support in maintaining instruments and facilitating experimental procedures. I also thank my peers for discussions and suggestions that improved the quality of this dissertation. Finally, I thank my family for their encouragement throughout the completion of this work.

How to acknowledge funding, permissions, and institutional support

If your dissertation had funding, scholarship support, or institutional permissions, add a factual line. Good dissertation acknowledgements treat funding like documentation.

Examples:

• “This research was supported by [Funding Agency/Grant Name], Grant No. [XXXX].”
• “I acknowledge [Institution/Organization] for granting permission to collect data for this study.”
• “I thank [Lab/Center] for providing access to [software/equipment] required for analysis.”

If your university has a separate “Funding” section, follow the template; otherwise, dissertation acknowledgements is usually acceptable.

Acknowledging editing, proofreading, and statistics help

You can acknowledge support like proofreading, language editing, or statistical guidance, but the wording matters.

Safe lines:

• “I thank [Name] for language editing and proofreading support.”
• “I thank [Name] for guidance on statistical planning and interpretation.”

Avoid lines that imply the person wrote the dissertation or performed core intellectual work. Strong dissertation acknowledgements don’t create authorship confusion.

Discipline-specific nuances you should know

A small adjustment can make dissertation acknowledgements feel aligned with your discipline.

• Medical/clinical work: include thanks for department/hospital support, and participants/patients if ethically appropriate.
• Engineering/science: include lab facilities, equipment access, and technical staff.
• Humanities: often focuses more on supervisors, archives/libraries, and intellectual discussions.
• Management/social sciences: often includes respondents, organizations granting access, and pilot-testing support.

Whatever your field, keep dissertation acknowledgements consistent with your dissertation style.

Making your dissertation acknowledgements sound like you

Here’s a simple way to personalize without oversharing:

• keep the structure
• change 3–4 phrases into your natural voice
• add one line that reflects the type of help you received (methodology feedback, field access, lab troubleshooting)

That’s enough. Dissertation acknowledgements don’t need dramatic originality; they need authenticity and professionalism.

Where Anushram can fit into acknowledgements

Some researchers benefit from communities outside their department—peer feedback, research discussions, or help shaping structure. If that was part of your process, you can acknowledge it briefly and neutrally.

For example, if you used Anushram as a research community:

I also acknowledge the academic discussions and peer support received through Anushram, a collaborative platform for researchers and scholars, which helped improve the clarity and structure of this dissertation.

Keep it one line, factual, and non-promotional. That’s the right tone for dissertation acknowledgements.

Final checklist before you submit

Before you finalize dissertation acknowledgements, check:

• Supervisor name and designation spelled correctly
• Department and institution names match official wording
• You didn’t accidentally omit a key academic contributor
• You didn’t include someone whose contribution should be authorship
• Tone is respectful, not overly casual
• Length fits your dissertation format
• No private or sensitive information is included

This 2-minute check avoids awkward corrections later.

FAQs

1) Can I thank my family in dissertation acknowledgements?
Yes, especially in a dissertation or thesis. Keep it brief and respectful.

2) Should I thank my friends and classmates in dissertation acknowledgements?
You can, but one sentence is enough. Mention practical help (piloting, moral support, discussions), not long personal notes.

3) What if I genuinely did everything alone?
Most people still had institutional support (library access, lab facilities, administrative permissions). Keep dissertation acknowledgements short and focus on academic and institutional support.

Conclusion

Good dissertation acknowledgements are simple: they thank the right people in the right order, with a professional tone, and just enough specificity to feel real. If you’re stuck, start with two sentences—one for your supervisor and one for your institution—then add participants and family only if relevant. That’s usually all you need for dissertation acknowledgements that read mature, sincere, and submission-ready.

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