Thesis acknowledgements, which are also known as dissertation acknowledgements, are similar to the acknowledgements found in printed books. In fact, when theses are published as books, the thesis acknowledgements are frequently used as the book’s acknowledgements. The names of editors and publishers may be added to the list in these cases. The primary goal of thesis acknowledgements is to express gratitude to the many people who helped the student during the thesis research and writing process. Faculty members, such as professors, are frequently listed in the acknowledgements, but they may also include librarians, lab workers, family and friends, and any other university staff who contributed to the thesis’ development.
Writing thesis acknowledgements can be a rewarding experience for the student because it allows him to reflect on the years he spent working on his thesis, which may have been many. Additionally, writing the acknowledgements allows the student to reflect on the many people who offered suggestions, support, and advice while he was conducting research for his thesis and translating that research into a dissertation. Many students may discover that the list of people who could potentially be included in the acknowledgements is quite long. However, thesis acknowledgements should be kept to one single-spaced page at most.
Though a single page of acknowledgements is generally recommended, some programs have their own thesis acknowledgement requirements. As a result, before beginning to compile and write an acknowledgements page, you should consult the university’s guide and rules. It is required in some cases and optional in others to include an acknowledgements page.
Reading successful examples is a good way to prepare for writing thesis acknowledgements. All theses written by matriculated students are bound and stored in the campus library at many universities. Looking over acknowledgements written by other students is a good place to start. Reading the acknowledgements of students in the same field who may have conducted similar research for their theses is a particularly good idea. Finally, before submitting the thesis, an acknowledgements section can be reviewed with a thesis adviser to ensure that it is complete and written with the appropriate tone of respect and gratitude.