Quick answer: how much does dissertation editing cost?
At Dissertation Master, dissertation editing cost is quite transparent. The editing or proofreading a dissertation you have already written costs half our writing price, charged per page of 250 words. With a 15+ day deadline that is:
- Undergraduate: £5.25 per page (a 10,000-word dissertation costs about £210)
- Masters: £6.25 per page (a 15,000-word dissertation costs about £375)
- PhD: £7.25 per page (an 80,000-word thesis costs about £2,320)
Shorter deadlines cost more, and new customers get 20% off their first order. The price is fixed before you pay.
If you have finished writing your dissertation, a professional edit or proofread can catch the errors you can no longer see and make your argument easier for the marker to follow. But prices vary widely between providers, and it is not always clear what you are paying for. This guide explains how dissertation editing is priced in the UK, what affects the cost, our exact rates, and how to make sure the service you choose stays within your university’s rules.
Editing vs proofreading: what is the difference?
| Proofreading | Editing | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Surface errors | Clarity, flow and consistency |
| Typical changes | Spelling, grammar, punctuation, typos, formatting slips | Sentence clarity, paragraph flow, repetition, consistency of terms and referencing style |
| Best for | A final, almost-ready draft | A complete draft that reads unevenly |
| What it never does | Neither service should add new arguments, research or content. Your ideas must remain your own. | |
Edits are returned as tracked changes, so you decide which suggestions to accept.
Our dissertation editing and proofreading prices
Prices are per page of 250 words, in GBP, and depend on your academic level and deadline:
| Deadline | Undergraduate | Masters | PhD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15+ days | £5.25 | £6.25 | £7.25 |
| 11–14 days | £6.25 | £7.25 | £8.25 |
| 6–10 days | £7.25 | £8.25 | £9.25 |
| 5 days | £8.25 | £9.25 | £10.25 |
| 4 days | £9.25 | £10.25 | £11.25 |
For shorter deadlines and our full writing price table, see our prices page.
Worked examples
- Undergraduate dissertation, 10,000 words, 15+ days: 40 pages × £5.25 = £210.
- Masters dissertation, 15,000 words, 15+ days: 60 pages × £6.25 = £375.
- Masters dissertation, 15,000 words, 6–10 days: 60 pages × £8.25 = £495.
- PhD thesis, 80,000 words, 15+ days: 320 pages × £7.25 = £2,320.
New customers receive 20% off their first order, applied at checkout.
What affects the dissertation editing cost?
- Word count. Most providers charge per word, per 1,000 words or per page, so length is the biggest factor.
- Deadline. Urgent turnarounds cost more because editors have to prioritise your work.
- Academic level. PhD and Masters work needs editors with subject knowledge and postgraduate experience.
- Subject. Technical, statistical or heavily referenced work takes longer to check carefully.
- Extras. Formatting to a university template or checking a full reference list can add time.
Be cautious of prices that seem very low for a long dissertation: a thorough edit of a 15,000-word document takes an experienced editor many hours.
Is it allowed to have your dissertation proofread?
Many UK universities allow third-party proofreading but publish a proofreading policy setting out what a proofreader may and may not change. Typically, a proofreader can correct spelling, grammar and punctuation and point out unclear passages, but must not rewrite your argument, add content or change your analysis. Always check your university’s policy before you order, and tell us about any restrictions so your editor can follow them.
What you get with Dissertation Master
- An editor with a postgraduate degree in or close to your subject
- Tracked changes, with margin comments on unclear passages
- Consistency checks on terminology, headings and referencing style
- Free re-edits within your original brief, requested within 14 days of delivery
- Confidential handling of your work in line with UK GDPR
Choose dissertation proofreading for a final polish, or dissertation editing services for a deeper edit. If your formatting needs work too, see our dissertation formatting service. If you need help with writing as well as editing, see our MSc and MA dissertation help.
How to get the most from an edit
- Finish the content first. Editing works best on a complete draft. If chapters are still changing, wait.
- Share your guidelines. Send your referencing style, word limit, formatting template and university proofreading policy.
- Leave time to review changes. Plan at least a few days after delivery to go through tracked changes before submission.
- Self-edit first. Our guide to common dissertation pitfalls will help you fix bigger issues yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to edit a dissertation in the UK?
Prices vary between providers. At Dissertation Master, editing or proofreading costs half the writing price: from £5.25 per page (250 words) for undergraduate, £6.25 for Masters and £7.25 for PhD with a 15+ day deadline. A 15,000-word Masters dissertation costs about £375.
Is proofreading cheaper than editing?
At Dissertation Master, editing and proofreading are charged at the same rate: half the writing price for your level and deadline. Some providers charge more for editing because it involves more detailed work.
How long does dissertation proofreading take?
It depends on length and the deadline you choose. Longer deadlines are cheaper, and urgent turnarounds are available at a higher rate. Always leave yourself time to review the tracked changes before submission.
Will a proofreader change my arguments?
No. Proofreading and editing should improve accuracy and clarity without adding new content or changing your argument. This also keeps the work within most UK universities’ proofreading policies.
Get your dissertation edited by a subject specialist
Fixed price before you pay, tracked changes and a subject-specialist editor. From £5.25 per page, with 20% off your first order.
