Thesis word count
The framework’s general ranges guide expected length; they are not all universal hard limits. Topic, discipline and the way your argument is presented matter. Aim for clear, relevant and appropriately concise writing.
| Degree / component | Normal range in §6.2 |
|---|---|
| MRes / LLMRes | 20,000–30,000 |
| Prof. Doc | 50,000–60,000 |
| DBA | 50,000–60,000 |
| PhD | 50,000–100,000 |
| Published Works, conventional critical appraisal | 15,000–25,000 |
| Published Works, creative/hybrid critical appraisal | 25,000–50,000 |
Published Works exception: §9.4 expressly caps the critical appraisal at 25,000 conventional / 50,000 creative or hybrid. Those are route-specific maxima. Other creative-practice degrees use individually agreed expectations and no prescribed word limits in §9.5, normally a substantially shorter appraisal than a conventional thesis.
What counts?
The main body, from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion, including in-text citations and headings/subheadings.
Excluded: acknowledgements, abstract, tables and diagrams, their headings, bibliography/reference list and appendices. Footnotes/endnotes should be used appropriately without overuse; §6.2 does not expressly resolve every footnote-counting edge case. Confirm an unusual presentation with supervisors rather than inventing an exclusion.
Do not confuse thesis guidance with the separate RD5 report maximum in RD5 confirmation review.
Sources: Framework §§6.2, 9.4–9.5, pp. 62–63, 95–97. Read the table and inclusions.
Writing and submitting your thesis · Thesis format and required contents