A weak conclusion can undo months of strong research. Your conclusion is your final argument — and it needs to land. Here is exactly how to write one that does. Many students treat the conclusion as a simple summary, but a strong one synthesises your findings, directly answers your research question, reflects on limitations and makes grounded recommendations. This guide covers what to include, how long it should be, and a labelled fictional example.
Short answer: restate your question briefly, answer it directly, summarise two or three key findings, state your contribution, limitations, recommendations and future research, and end with a closing statement, with no new evidence. Length is often around 5 to 10% of the total word count.
📋 Table of Contents
The Purpose of a Dissertation Conclusion
The conclusion chapter serves three main purposes: it synthesises your key findings, it directly answers your research question, and it positions your work within the broader field by discussing its implications and limitations. Unlike the discussion chapter — which interprets findings in relation to the literature — the conclusion stands back and considers the overall significance of your work.
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How Long Should It Be?
Many conclusions take around 5 to 10% of the total word count. Treat the figures below as a guide, and follow your handbook if it gives a limit.
| Dissertation length | Typical conclusion |
|---|---|
| 5,000 words | about 250–500 words |
| 10,000 words | about 500–1,000 words |
| 15,000 words | about 750–1,500 words |
| 20,000 words | about 1,000–2,000 words |
What to Include
- A brief restatement of your research question and aims
- A summary of your key findings (not a repetition of your discussion)
- A direct answer to your research question
- The contribution your research makes to the field
- Limitations of your study
- Recommendations for practice, policy or education
- Suggestions for future research
- A closing statement
A simple order works well:
- Restate the aim and research question in one or two sentences.
- Answer the question directly.
- Summarise two or three key findings.
- State the contribution to knowledge.
- Acknowledge the main limitations.
- Give specific recommendations.
- Suggest future research.
- Finish with a short closing statement.
💡 Tip: Your conclusion should not introduce any new evidence or arguments. Everything in the conclusion should flow from what has already been established in your dissertation.
Discussion vs Conclusion
| Discussion chapter | Conclusion chapter | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Interprets each finding against the literature | Stands back and answers the research question |
| Detail | Detailed and result by result | Brief and overall |
| Literature | Compares your results with other studies | Refers to it only where needed for the contribution |
| New material | Interprets findings already presented | No new evidence or sources |
| Tone | Analytical | Synthesising and decisive |
Summary of Findings
Begin by briefly restating your research question and then summarising your most significant findings. Do not simply copy from your discussion chapter. Synthesise your findings into two or three clear, overarching points. What are the two or three most important things your research revealed? The detailed results belong in your results chapter (see our guide to writing a dissertation results chapter), so here you only pull the main points together.
Answering Your Research Question
This is one of the most important parts of your conclusion, and it is easy to overlook. You must explicitly state the answer to your research question. If your question was "To what extent does X affect Y?", your conclusion must state clearly: "This study found that X significantly/moderately/minimally affects Y, because..." Be direct. Be specific. Do not hedge excessively.
Contribution to Knowledge
What does your research add to the existing body of knowledge? Does it confirm, challenge or extend previous findings? Does it fill the gap you identified in your literature review? This section demonstrates academic confidence and shows your marker that you understand the significance of your own work.
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Limitations
Every study has limitations — acknowledging them honestly demonstrates academic maturity. Common limitations include small or non-representative samples, reliance on self-reported data, geographic or temporal constraints, and methodological choices. Frame limitations constructively: explain what they mean for the interpretation of your findings rather than simply listing weaknesses.
Recommendations
Based on your findings, what do you recommend? Recommendations should be specific, practical and directly grounded in your findings. Depending on your field, recommendations might be for: practitioners, policymakers, educators, organisations, or further researchers. Avoid vague recommendations like "more research is needed" — be specific about what kind of research, on what population, using what methods.
Future Research
Suggest two or three specific directions for future research that emerge from your findings or limitations. This shows that you understand your study as part of an ongoing academic conversation rather than a definitive final word.
Example Conclusion
This short fictional conclusion continues the study used in our dissertation introduction guide, so you can see how the two chapters fit. Use it as a model for structure, not as text to copy.
RestateThis dissertation set out to explore how employees of small UK businesses perceive the effect of flexible working on their wellbeing.
Answer and key findingsIt found that flexible working was mostly seen as beneficial, but only where employees had control over when they worked and a suitable place to do it. Three findings stand out. First, autonomy over schedules was the factor most often linked to better wellbeing. Second, blurred boundaries between work and home reduced the benefit for some staff. Third, in roles with overlapping duties, flexibility depended on colleagues' availability.
ContributionThese findings extend research on large organisations by showing that team size shapes how flexibility is experienced.
LimitationsThe study used a small interview sample from one region, so the findings describe perceptions and cannot be generalised.
Recommendations and future researchOwner-managers could agree core hours and clear expectations on availability. Future studies could use larger, multi-region samples or follow employees over time.
Closing statementIn small firms, flexibility works best when it is designed with the people who rely on it, not imposed on them.
Weaker: "In conclusion, this dissertation has been very interesting and more research is needed."
Better: "In small firms, flexibility works best when it is designed with the people who rely on it, not imposed on them."
Common Mistakes
- Introducing new evidence or arguments in the conclusion
- Simply repeating the discussion chapter word for word
- Failing to directly answer the research question
- Vague or generic recommendations
- Ignoring limitations entirely
- Ending abruptly with no closing statement
- Making the conclusion far shorter or longer than the length guide suggests
Checklist
- ✅ Restates the research question briefly
- ✅ Answers the question directly
- ✅ Summarises two or three key findings, not the whole discussion
- ✅ States the contribution to knowledge
- ✅ Acknowledges limitations constructively
- ✅ Gives specific, grounded recommendations
- ✅ Introduces no new evidence or sources
- ✅ Ends with a clear closing statement
- ✅ Proofread for clarity, tense and referencing style
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a dissertation conclusion be?
It is often around 5 to 10% of the total word count, but requirements vary, so check your handbook. The length guide above shows typical ranges for common dissertation sizes.
How long should a conclusion be for a 10,000-word dissertation?
Roughly 500 to 1,000 words is a common guide, which is about 5 to 10% of the total. Some departments set their own limit, so check your handbook or ask your supervisor.
What should a dissertation conclusion include?
Most conclusions include a brief restatement of the research question and aims, a summary of the key findings, a direct answer to the research question, the contribution to knowledge, limitations, recommendations, suggestions for future research and a closing statement. Check your institution's guidelines.
How do I start a dissertation conclusion?
Begin with a one or two sentence restatement of your aim and research question, then answer the question directly. Avoid opening with "In conclusion" followed by a copy of your introduction.
What is the difference between the discussion and the conclusion?
The discussion chapter interprets your findings in detail against the existing literature, addressing each result individually. The conclusion stands back from that detail: it synthesises the overall picture, directly answers your research question, and considers the broader significance and limitations of your work as a whole.
Can I introduce new references in my conclusion?
No. Your conclusion should draw only on evidence and arguments already established earlier in your dissertation. Introducing new sources or evidence at this stage is a common mistake and can suggest that your argument was not fully developed in the main body.
Should I restate my research question in the conclusion?
Yes, briefly. A short restatement reminds your marker what you set out to investigate before you state your answer. Keep it to one or two sentences, because this is not the place to repeat your full introduction.
What if my findings don't fully answer my research question?
Say so honestly. Explain what your findings do show, acknowledge the extent to which your question remains open, and frame this as a legitimate limitation rather than a failure. Markers generally value honest, critical reflection over an artificially neat answer.
Should I include recommendations in my dissertation conclusion?
If your department expects them, yes. Keep them specific and tied to your findings, and say who they are for, such as practitioners, policymakers or other researchers.
How do I end a dissertation conclusion?
End with a short closing statement that states the main takeaway or its significance. Avoid new evidence, apologies, or a vague call for more research.
Can you give an example of a dissertation conclusion?
Yes. This guide includes a short fictional example with each part labelled. Use it as a model for structure, not as text to copy.
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