Resources for Dissertation & Research Support (UK Universities) 

By utilizing the below resources effectively, you can significantly improve your dissertation writing process and increase your chances of success.

University Library Services

University libraries are a goldmine for research support.

• Research Databases: Access to journals via JSTOR, Scopus, EBSCOhost, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, etc.
• E-books & Online Journals: Most universities offer 24/7 online access.
• Subject Librarians: Experts assigned to different faculties who can help you find resources.
• Referencing Guides: Libraries offer detailed guides for referencing styles like Harvard, APA, MLA, OSCOLA.

Academic Skills/Study Support Centres

Most UK universities offer specialized centres to help with:

• Academic Writing: How to structure a dissertation, write critically, and improve academic tone.
• Research Planning: Narrowing your topic, developing questions, and building an outline.
• Time Management for Long Projects: Setting goals, milestones, and avoiding burnout.
• Proofreading Services: Some centers provide peer-review or light proofreading.

Examples:

• • University of Manchester: My Learning Essentials
  • University of Edinburgh: Institute for Academic Development
  • UCL: Academic Communication Centre

Supervisor Support

Your dissertation supervisor is your key academic guide.

To get the most of their support, ensure that

• Meet regularly: Don’t wait for them to chase you.
• Come prepared: Bring questions, ideas, or drafts.
• Ask for feedback: On structure, research methods, and writing style.
• Be open to critique: It helps improve your work significantly.

Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

Each university has its own online learning platform (e.g., Moodle, Blackboard, Canvas).

Why it’s useful:

• Access Course Materials: Lecture notes, reading lists, and assignment instructions.
• Submission Portals: Turnitin or other platforms for submitting your work.
• Discussion Boards: Engage with peers and tutors on academic topics.

Software & Tools for Research

Reference Managers:

• Zotero: Great for organizing sources and citing them with one click.
• Mendeley: Excellent for PDFs, collaborative research, and citation generation.
• EndNote: More advanced and often used in postgraduate research.

Data Analysis:

• SPSS / R / STATA: For statistical research.
• NVivo: For qualitative data (interviews, thematic analysis).
• Excel: Surprisingly powerful for basic data analysis and charts.

Writing & Editing:

• Grammarly / Hemingway Editor: Improve clarity and correctness.
• Turnitin / iThenticate: Plagiarism checkers used by most UK institutions.

Research Ethics & Approval Support

If your research involves human participants, animals, or sensitive data:

• Ethics Committees: Universities have research ethics committees you must apply to.
• Guidelines & Templates: Found on your university website or via your supervisor.
• Workshops: Many unis hold sessions on how to complete ethics applications properly.

Workshops & Webinars

Offered by libraries, graduate schools, or departments. Topics might include:

• How to conduct a literature review
• Choosing a research methodology
• Structuring your dissertation
• Writing a strong introduction or conclusion
• Quantitative vs qualitative methods
• Referencing & avoiding plagiarism

Tip: Check university events calendars or bulletin boards for upcoming sessions.

Peer Networks & Study Groups

• Join Dissertation Bootcamps: Focused writing days with group accountability.
• Form Peer Review Groups: Share drafts and give feedback.
• Use Discord, Slack, or WhatsApp: Many departments have student-run groups for research tips, questions, and motivation.

External Resources & Open Access Platforms

If your uni’s library doesn’t have what you need:

• Google Scholar: Search scholarly articles.
• CORE (https://core.ac.uk/): Open access research papers.
• OpenDissertations: For accessing theses and dissertations globally.
• Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) (https://doaj.org/): Peer-reviewed open access journals.
• British Library EThOS (https://ethos.bl.uk): UK PhD theses database.

Ask for Help Early

It’s better to ask than to struggle alone.

• Academic Advisors
• Graduate School Offices
• Writing Support Tutors
• Mental Health & Wellbeing Services

They’re all there to support you—don’t wait until the last minute.

Rough Dissertation Timeline Breakdown

A rough structure to follow (for a one-year Master’s or final-year undergrad):