If you know any final-year university students, you’ve probably heard them talk about their dis. Different courses and universities will have different types of dissertations (and some won’t even call them dissertations), but most degrees will expect you to do some kind of extended project, often research-based. You will usually have free choice over the topic. This sounds great but, after years of being given direction with your studies, it can be intimidating to have to choose a topic yourself.
But don’t worry, even if you don’t have an idea that immediately sticks out, you will be able to find a topic you’re happy to research for a year.
What have you liked so far?
An easy way to decide on your dis topic is to think back to your degree so far and remember what you enjoyed studying the most. Was there a specific module you loved, or a book you found fascinating? If so, you might be able to write your dissertation on this topic. Of course, you can’t just write a longer version of an essay you’ve already written, but you might be able to come up with a related question. You could even send the module teacher an email asking if they can help you come up with a topic–they’ll probably be thrilled to know you enjoyed their module so much it inspired your dissertation.
What do you like outside your course?
Your dissertation doesn’t have to be about some complex piece of academia that has nothing to do with your life (although there’s nothing wrong with that). You can bring your own interests and hobbies into it. Do you love EastEnders? A sociology essay about class in soaps sounds fascinating. Do you enjoy yoga? A politics essay about yoga and cultural appropriation would be great. Even if your favourite hobby is going to the pub, there’s nothing wrong with writing a history dissertation about British drinking culture.
If you have a very niche interest you want to write about, it might be a good idea to have a quick look to see if there is much existing research on the topic. After all, you don’t want to be stuck with a topic and no sources. But otherwise, writing your dissertation on something you already care about is a great way to be passionate about it.
What do staff at your uni do?
If you still don’t have any ideas, take a look at the research done by the staff on your course. Usually, your university will have information about each staff member’s research on their website. You might find that someone wrote a paper that sounds really interesting to you. You shouldn’t just copy their research, and you shouldn’t do this to try and get in their good books. However, you might find a topic you would never have thought about on your own.
Talk to the dissertation lead
Obviously I’m not going to be the one marking your dissertation, so the best way to get advice about your dissertation is by talking to the person in your department responsible for dissertations. Pop into their office hours, ideally with at least some idea of what you want to do, and have a chat about it. They will be able to tell you if an idea is possible, and the might even come up with a new perspective you haven’t thought about.