How to Write a Dissertation Introduction (UK Guide)

Knowing how to write a dissertation introduction means answering four questions for the reader: what is the topic and why does it matter, what problem or gap does your research address, what exactly are your aim, objectives and research questions, and how is the dissertation organised? A strong introduction takes about 10% of the word count and is finalised after the other chapters.

This guide gives you the standard UK structure, a word allocation, worked examples of aims, objectives and research questions, and the most common mistakes markers see.

What is a dissertation introduction?

A dissertation introduction is the opening chapter that sets out the context of your research, defines the problem or gap it addresses, states your aim, objectives and research questions, explains why the study matters, defines its scope and outlines the structure of the chapters that follow. It prepares the reader to evaluate everything after it.

How long should a dissertation introduction be?

A dissertation introduction is usually 5 to 10% of the total word count: around 500 to 1,000 words for a 10,000-word undergraduate dissertation and 750 to 1,500 words for a 15,000-word master's dissertation. Some departments set a specific figure, so check your handbook.

What should a dissertation introduction include?

Include, in order: background and context, the research problem or gap, the rationale and significance, the aim, the objectives, the research questions (or hypotheses), the scope and any key definitions, and a chapter-by-chapter outline. Use subheadings if your department allows them, as they help the marker locate each element.

How do you write the background and research problem?

Start with the broad context of your topic, using a few key sources and up-to-date facts, then narrow quickly to the specific issue you are investigating. State the research problem as a clear gap: something the literature has not resolved, a contradiction, an under-studied context or a practical problem without an evidence-based answer. Keep the detailed literature for chapter two.

How do you write aims and objectives?

The aim is one sentence stating the overall purpose of the research. Objectives are three to five specific, measurable steps you will take to achieve the aim, often beginning with verbs such as "to identify", "to examine", "to evaluate" or "to recommend". Each objective should map to a part of your methodology and findings.

Example (business dissertation):

• Aim: To evaluate the effect of hybrid working on employee retention in mid-sized UK accountancy firms.
• Objective 1: To review existing evidence on hybrid working and retention.
• Objective 2: To measure the relationship between working pattern and intention to leave among employees.
• Objective 3: To examine managers' views on how hybrid policies affect retention.
• Objective 4: To recommend policy options for firms reviewing their working arrangements.

How do you write research questions?

Research questions turn your aim into specific questions that your findings will answer. Write one main question and two to four sub-questions that are clear, focused and answerable with your chosen method. Quantitative studies may state hypotheses instead of, or as well as, questions.

Example research questions:

1. To what extent is hybrid working associated with lower intention to leave among accountancy employees?
2. How do managers perceive the effect of hybrid policies on retention?
3. What policy features do employees and managers associate with the strongest retention benefits?

How do you explain the significance of your research?

Explain who will benefit from your findings and how: for example, contributing evidence to an unresolved academic debate, informing practitioners or policymakers, or applying a theory in a new context. Be specific and realistic; an undergraduate dissertation rarely transforms a field, but it can add useful evidence to a defined question.

How do you write the chapter outline?

End the introduction with a brief outline of the dissertation's structure, one or two sentences per chapter, describing what each chapter does rather than repeating its title. This roadmap helps the marker follow your argument. For example: "Chapter 2 reviews the literature on hybrid working and retention and identifies the gap this study addresses."

When should you write the introduction?

Draft a working introduction early, because writing your aim, objectives and research questions clarifies the whole project, but finalise it last. Once the findings and discussion are written, revise the introduction so the aims, questions and chapter outline match exactly what the dissertation delivers.

Common dissertation introduction mistakes

• Too much background and too little on the research problem.
• Aims and objectives that are vague or do not match the methodology.
• Research questions too broad to answer in the word limit.
• Turning the introduction into a full literature review.
• No clear statement of why the research matters.
• A chapter outline that does not match the final dissertation.

When to get help with your dissertation introduction

If you are struggling to narrow your topic, frame a researchable question or write aims and objectives that match your methods, a dissertation specialist can review your draft and explain how to sharpen it. FLN Tutors' dissertation help supports every chapter, including the literature review, methodology and abstract.

We give guidance and feedback on your own dissertation in line with your university's rules and our academic integrity policy.

FAQs

What is the difference between an aim and an objective?

The aim is the single overall purpose of your research, stated in one sentence. Objectives are the specific, measurable steps you take to achieve that aim, usually three to five of them. For example, the aim might be to evaluate a policy, and the objectives might be to review evidence, collect data and recommend changes.

How many research questions should a dissertation have?

Most undergraduate and master's dissertations have one main research question and two to four sub-questions. Too many questions make the study unfocused and hard to answer within the word limit. Each question should be answered clearly in your findings and conclusion.

Should a dissertation introduction include a literature review?

The introduction should cite a few key sources to establish the context and the research gap, but the detailed critical review belongs in the literature review chapter. If your introduction runs into many paragraphs of source-by-source discussion, move that material to chapter two.

Can a dissertation introduction have subheadings?

Yes, many UK departments allow or encourage subheadings in the introduction, such as Background, Research Problem, Aim and Objectives, Research Questions and Dissertation Structure. They help the marker find each element. Check your handbook, as some prefer continuous prose.

What is a rationale in a dissertation?

The rationale explains why your research is worth doing: the gap in existing knowledge, the practical or policy problem it addresses and why now is a good time to study it. It is usually part of the introduction, often combined with the significance of the study.

Do you write the dissertation introduction in past or future tense?

In the final dissertation, describe the research in the past or present tense ("this study examined" or "this dissertation examines"), because the work is complete. The future tense ("this study will examine") belongs in a research proposal. Use the present tense for the structure of the document ("Chapter 3 describes…").

How do you start a dissertation introduction?

Start with a sentence or two that establish the importance of the topic, using a recent development, a key fact or a central debate, then narrow quickly towards your specific research problem. Avoid generic openings and long histories; the marker wants to know your focus within the first paragraph or two.

What should not be included in a dissertation introduction?

Leave out detailed literature discussion, full methodology, results and conclusions, and lengthy definitions of every term. The introduction should frame the study and state what it asks; the evidence, methods and answers belong in later chapters.