Quick answer: what does a good dissertation proposal look like?
A UK Masters dissertation proposal is usually 1,000–2,000 words and follows this structure:
- Working title
- Background and rationale
- Aim and research questions
- Brief literature review
- Methodology
- Ethical considerations
- Timeline
- References
Below is a complete annotated example, with notes explaining why each section works. Always check your module handbook for the required format and word limit.
Most students find it much easier to write a dissertation proposal once they have seen a good one. This page gives you a full, annotated dissertation proposal example for a UK Masters business and management dissertation. After each section you will find a short note on what markers and supervisors look for, so you can adapt the approach to your own topic in any subject. If you want the step-by-step method first, read our guide on how to write a dissertation proposal that gets approved.
Annotated dissertation proposal example
MSc Human Resource Management · approx. 1,400 words in full · Harvard referencing
1. Working title
Managing wellbeing at a distance: how line managers in UK small and medium-sized enterprises support employee wellbeing in hybrid teams
Why this works: The title names the topic (employee wellbeing), the population (line managers), the context (UK SMEs, hybrid teams) and implies the approach. A marker knows exactly what the study is about before reading further.
2. Background and rationale
Hybrid working has become a lasting feature of many UK workplaces. While large organisations often have dedicated HR and wellbeing teams, small and medium-sized enterprises usually rely on line managers to notice and respond to wellbeing concerns, often without formal training.
Most research on hybrid working and wellbeing focuses on large firms or on employees’ own experiences. Much less is known about what line managers in SMEs actually do day to day, and which practices they find effective. This study addresses that gap, with practical value for SME owners designing hybrid working policies.
Why this works: It moves quickly from the wider context to a specific, under-researched gap, then states why the gap matters in practice. It does not drift into personal motivation.
3. Aim and research questions
Aim: To explore how line managers in UK SMEs support the wellbeing of employees in hybrid teams.
- What practices do SME line managers use to support the wellbeing of hybrid workers?
- What challenges do they face in doing so?
- What organisational support do they believe would help them?
Why this works: One clear aim and three focused, open questions suited to a qualitative study. Each question can realistically be answered through interviews in the time available.
4. Literature review (summary)
The review will be organised around three themes: (1) hybrid working and wellbeing outcomes; (2) the role of line managers in implementing HR practices; and (3) HR in SMEs, where practices tend to be more informal.
The Job Demands–Resources model (Bakker and Demerouti, 2007) provides the theoretical lens: line manager support is treated as a job resource that may buffer the demands of hybrid working, such as isolation and blurred boundaries between work and home.
Why this works: The review is thematic rather than a list of sources, and it introduces a theory that will shape the interview questions and the analysis. See our guide to organising a literature review for other structures.
5. Methodology
The study adopts an interpretivist philosophy and a qualitative design, because the aim is to understand managers’ experiences and meanings rather than to measure them (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2019).
Around 10–12 line managers from UK SMEs with hybrid teams will be recruited through professional networks and LinkedIn using purposive sampling. Data will be collected through semi-structured online interviews of 40–50 minutes, recorded with consent and transcribed.
Transcripts will be analysed using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006), with initial codes informed by the Job Demands–Resources model while remaining open to new themes.
Why this works: Every choice is justified and linked back to the aim. The sample size is realistic for a Masters timeline, and the analysis method is named and referenced rather than left vague. Our guide to choosing a research methodology explains the options.
6. Ethical considerations
Participants will receive an information sheet and give written informed consent, and may withdraw up to two weeks after their interview. Names of participants and organisations will be removed from transcripts, and data will be stored securely on the university’s encrypted storage in line with UK GDPR. Approval will be sought from the Business School ethics committee before recruitment.
Why this works: It covers consent, the right to withdraw, anonymity, data storage and formal approval in a few sentences. Read more in our guide to ethical considerations in research.
7. Timeline
| Weeks | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | Ethics application; refine literature review |
| 4–7 | Recruitment and interviews |
| 8–10 | Transcription and thematic analysis |
| 11–13 | Write findings and discussion |
| 14–15 | Introduction, conclusion, editing and submission |
Why this works: A simple week-by-week plan shows the project is feasible and leaves time for editing. For a fuller plan, see our realistic Masters dissertation timeline.
8. References (extract)
Bakker, A.B. and Demerouti, E. (2007) ‘The Job Demands–Resources model: state of the art’, Journal of Managerial Psychology, 22(3), pp. 309–328.
Braun, V. and Clarke, V. (2006) ‘Using thematic analysis in psychology’, Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), pp. 77–101.
Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2019) Research Methods for Business Students. 8th edn. Harlow: Pearson.
Why this works: A full proposal would include more sources, but even a short reference list should be consistent and in the required style.
Dissertation proposal template
Use this outline to plan your own proposal, adjusting the word counts to your limit:
- Working title (10–20 words): topic + context + approach.
- Background and rationale (150–250 words): context, gap, why it matters.
- Aim and research questions (80–150 words): one aim, two to four questions.
- Literature review (300–500 words): two or three themes and a theory or framework.
- Methodology (300–500 words): philosophy, design, sample, data collection, analysis.
- Ethics (60–120 words): consent, anonymity, data storage, approval.
- Timeline: a simple table.
- References: in your required style.
Common dissertation proposal mistakes
- A topic that is too broad. Narrow it by population, place, time or theory. Our guide on choosing a dissertation topic that won’t get rejected can help.
- Questions and methods that do not match. A “how much” question needs quantitative data; a “how” or “why” question usually suits qualitative methods.
- An unrealistic sample. Plan for the number of participants you can actually reach in a few weeks.
- Missing ethics. Even desk-based studies should state how ethical issues have been considered.
More examples and help
For another worked example, read our sample research proposal on British Airways, browse our dissertation samples, or, if you are applying for a doctorate, see how to write a PhD research proposal. If you would like expert feedback on your own draft, our dissertation proposal help connects you with a specialist in your subject. For support beyond the proposal stage, see our Masters dissertation help. Use any example as a model and make sure your final proposal is your own work.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a Masters dissertation proposal?
Most UK Masters dissertation proposals are between 1,000 and 2,000 words, usually excluding references. Undergraduate proposals are often shorter. Always follow the word limit in your module handbook.
What should a dissertation proposal include?
A dissertation proposal normally includes a working title, background and rationale, aim and research questions, a brief literature review, methodology, ethical considerations, a timeline and references.
Can I use a dissertation proposal example as a template?
Yes, you can use an example to understand the structure, level of detail and style expected. Your topic, research questions, argument and wording must be your own.
What happens if my dissertation proposal is rejected?
Usually you will be asked to revise and resubmit it. Read the feedback carefully, narrow the topic if it was too broad, and make sure your methods clearly answer your research questions before resubmitting.
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