Last-Minute Dissertation Advice

Although I'm a postgrad student now, this time last year I was putting the finishing touches on my art history undergraduate dissertation. I thought I'd quickly share some of my last-minute dissertation tips with any current final year students!

Break your remaining workload down into smaller tasks.
If you're a frequent procrastinator, one 6,000-12,000 word essay is understandably intimidating - however, several 2,000-3,000 word essays might seem slightly more approachable. Break your dissertation down into chapters or tasks and set yourself a time limit for each one based on the required word count and the remaining time frame.

Remember to rest!
If you're only a few days away from your dissertation deadline, it might feel tempting to pull an all-nighter or two to complete it at soon as possible. However, it's important to remember that quick work rarely equates to quality work, and your best work certainly won’t be done when you're sleep-deprived. Even when short for time, getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night will help ensure the content of your dissertation reflects your true knowledge.

Reference as you go.
As frustrating as it may be, referencing your dissertation sources as you go can save you a lot of time and energy in the long run. Create a separate document with links/DOIs to any articles you read or cite, and try to write a full reference for each as you go. This way, all you have to do once you're finished is sort them into alphabetical order.

Check if any support sessions are available.
Depending on your university, faculty and course, your dissertation supervisor may offer a few last-minute support sessions in the week leading up to submission. My undergraduate supervisor offered a drop-in session three days before my dissertation deadline, which was incredibly useful for going over any last minute queries on structure and formatting.

Consider asking a friend to proofread.
If you only have a few days left to tie everything together, it's inevitable some sections of your dissertation may be slightly rushed. Consider asking a friend outside of your course to proofread your dissertation to ensure all of your points are clear and there's no spelling/grammar errors.

Hope this helps - and if anyone else has some last-minute dissertation advice, feel free to drop it down below! 🙃