Dissertation Word Counter
Track your dissertation word count against target limits.
Dissertation word limits by level
These are typical ranges — always check your institution's specific requirements.
| Level | Typical word count |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate dissertation | 8,000–12,000 words |
| Masters / PGDip dissertation | 12,000–20,000 words |
| PhD thesis | 70,000–100,000 words |
What is typically excluded from dissertation word counts?
- Title page and abstract (usually, unless specified)
- Reference list / bibliography
- Appendices
- Tables and figures (content within them)
In-text citations (e.g. Smith, 2020) typically are included. Confirm with your supervisor.
Frequently asked questions
A typical 10,000-word undergraduate dissertation might split as: Introduction 10%, Literature Review 25%, Methodology 15%, Findings 25%, Discussion 20%, Conclusion 5%. Chapters vary by discipline — science dissertations often have shorter literature reviews than humanities dissertations.
Most institutions exclude the abstract. However, the abstract itself usually has its own word limit — typically 150–300 words for undergraduate, 250–500 for postgraduate work.