Writing a PhD dissertation is an extremely lengthy task. It requires and demands originality. You must discuss a problem which was not investigated earlier and therefore should be unique. In this article, I am going to discuss three common things that students should know when they start writing their dissertations.

PhD Dissertation Related to Master's Dissertation?

Your doesn't have to be related to your Master's dissertation at all. If you have written your dissertation on a particular topic in your Master's program and would like to choose a completely different topic for your PhD dissertation then you may do that. It's not a problem at all.

You should actually aim to choose a different topic for your PhD dissertation because when you start your PhD and get ready to write your dissertation, you might not be interested in your Master's dissertation topic. However your can be a starting point for your PhD dissertation but it is a significantly different and focused work which demands originality and uniqueness.

Dissertation Topic:

Write your PhD dissertation on a topic that you find interesting and in which you want to become an expert. Then try to slowly narrow it down. If there is a particular topic that can make you scream with happiness whenever it's discussed, go for it. Also, choose a topic that will give you an edge when you are ready to apply for a job. Do consider the job market. So, talk to your advisor and professors about it.

It Should Take As Long As It Should:

There is no hard and fast rule that you should finish your in 4 years or 5 years. However, some universities might ask to finish your degree within 8 years. If you are dedicated and focused then you should be able to finish writing it in 12 months. But if you are required to observe something for 2, 3 years or more then of course you can't finish it in a year. Remember, you can't afford to sacrifice the quality of your dissertation just to complete it early. If you have a definite plan and you stick to it then you will finish your dissertation much earlier than you think.

Your PhD dissertation has to be new and should be about something never researched before. It is not an easy task but it's not impossible either. Stay away from copy-pasting and stay in touch with your advisor and professors. Make a plan and stick to it, you will be done before you know it!!