How to Write Your Dissertation Acknowledgements: UK Samples & Complete Guide
Reading Time: 13 minutesBy the time you reach the acknowledgements section of your dissertation, you’ve already done the hard part. The research is complete, the analysis is written, and you’ve probably revised your work more times than you can count. Then suddenly, you’re faced with a surprisingly tricky question: Who exactly do I thank—and how formal should I be? It sounds simple, but this section causes confusion for a lot of UK students. Some go too casual. Others make it overly long. And many just don’t know what’s expected within UK academic standards. This guide walks you through everything clearly. You’ll understand where acknowledgements go, who to include, how to structure them properly, and how to avoid common mistakes. You’ll also find multiple ready-to-use samples and updated guidance on acknowledging AI tools in 2026. What Are Dissertation Acknowledgements (And Where Do They Go?) Dissertation acknowledgements are a short section where you formally recognise the individuals, institutions, and support systems that contributed to your research. In UK universities, the placement is fairly standard. You’ll usually include the acknowledgements page immediately after your title page and before your abstract. While this may vary slightly depending on your university or programme, this structure is widely accepted across institutions. One of the most common concerns is whether acknowledgements count towards your word count. In most cases, they do not. However, it’s still important to confirm this with your university guidelines, especially if you’re studying under structured frameworks such as SQA or regulated programmes like nursing or healthcare linked to NHS standards. Even though this section is not assessed in the same way as your methodology or literature review, it still reflects your professionalism. A poorly written acknowledgement can leave a weak final impression. Understanding the UK Approach to Acknowledgements UK academic writing tends to favour clarity, structure, and restraint—even in personal sections like acknowledgements. That means your writing should still follow a logical flow rather than feeling like a random list of thank-yous. A useful way to approach this is by thinking in tiers. You begin with academic and professional contributors, move to institutional support, and finish with personal acknowledgements. This ordering is not just tradition—it signals that you understand academic priorities. Start with your supervisor. This is non-negotiable. Whether your experience was positive or challenging, your supervisor must be acknowledged respectfully and professionally. You should also include any lecturers, technicians, or academic staff who directly supported your work. Next, move to organisations. This includes funding bodies, universities, research centres, or companies that provided data or resources. If your research involved access to databases, labs, or corporate data, this is where you recognise that support. Finally, you can include personal acknowledgements. This is where your tone becomes slightly warmer, but it should still remain controlled and appropriate. Thanking family, friends, or a partner is completely acceptable and very common in UK dissertations. ❤️Need Affordable Dissertation or Assignment Support? WhatsApp our writer NOW (Click on Number to jump in WhatsApp Message Section): +44 7876 010823 A Clear Structure You Can Follow If you’re unsure how to organise your acknowledgements, use this simple structure: Begin with academic gratitude Acknowledge institutional or external support End with personal thanks This creates a smooth, professional flow and avoids repetition or awkward transitions. Dissertation Acknowledgement Samples for UK Students Below are expanded examples you can adapt depending on your academic level. Formal Academic Style (PhD or MPhil) “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. [Name], for their continuous support, guidance, and invaluable feedback throughout the development of this research. Their expertise and encouragement have been instrumental in shaping both the direction and quality of this dissertation. I would also like to thank the academic staff at [University Name] for their insightful comments and academic support. My appreciation extends to the research support team and library staff for providing access to essential resources. I gratefully acknowledge the support of [Funding Body or Organisation], whose contribution made this research possible. Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my family for their unwavering support, patience, and encouragement throughout this journey.” Balanced Master’s Level Example “I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. [Name], for their guidance, constructive feedback, and support throughout this dissertation. I am also grateful to [University Name] for providing access to the resources required for this research. Appreciation is extended to all individuals who contributed directly or indirectly to this work. Finally, I would like to thank my family and friends for their encouragement and support during my studies.” Short Undergraduate Version “I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. [Name], for their support and guidance. I also appreciate the encouragement provided by my family and friends throughout this process.” More Dissertation Sample Acknowledgment Examples Ready to Copy 1. Formal Academic (PhD Style) “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. [Name], for their continuous guidance, support, and invaluable feedback throughout this research. Their expertise has been instrumental in shaping this dissertation. I also extend my thanks to the academic staff at [University Name] for their support and to the library team for providing access to essential resources. Finally, I would like to thank my family for their unwavering encouragement and patience throughout this journey.” 2. Strong Master’s Level (Balanced Tone) “I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. [Name], for their guidance and constructive feedback throughout the development of this dissertation. I am also grateful to [University Name] for providing the academic resources required for this research. Finally, I would like to thank my family and friends for their continuous support and encouragement.” 3. Short and Professional (Undergraduate) “I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. [Name], for their support and guidance throughout this dissertation. I also appreciate the encouragement of my family and friends.” 4. Academic + Institutional Focus “I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my supervisor, Dr. [Name], for their valuable guidance and academic support. I am grateful to [Organisation/Company Name] for providing access