How to Reference Your Dissertation on Your CV UK

Your dissertation should appear on your CV. But how it appears matters far more than most graduates realise.

A poorly formatted dissertation entry takes up valuable real estate and communicates nothing beyond "I wrote a thing." A well-formatted entry tells employers something meaningful about your research capability, your field knowledge, and your thinking depth.

The difference is actually simple. But most CVs get it wrong.

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Where Your Dissertation Goes on Your CV

Your dissertation sits in your Education section, immediately after your degree line.

Structure it like this:

University of [X], [Location] BSc/MA/MSc Psychology (2:1) 2022-2024

Dissertation: [Title] (First Class) Researched [topic] using [methodology]. Findings revealed [key result/insight relevant to your field].

That's the template. Let's talk about what each part means.

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The Basics: Title, Grade, and Institutional Context

Your dissertation title appears exactly as it appears on your official submission. Use italics (which most CV software supports). If your title is long, it's fine, don't truncate it.

Your dissertation grade appears in parentheses after the title, but only if it's first-class or strong upper-second. A distinction-level dissertation (70+) is worth noting because it shows excellence at research level. An upper-second dissertation (65-69) you can note or omit, your choice. A lower-second dissertation (60-64), you probably omit unless your overall degree is higher (which flags something interesting).

Don't include a grade if your dissertation doesn't warrant it. And never lie about your grade. It appears on your official transcript. Employers occasionally request verification.

Institutional context matters too. If you did your dissertation at a Russell Group university. Cambridge, Oxford, LSE, Durham, Warwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, you might emphasise that context. Not by mentioning the institution again, but by slightly improving your language about what you did. The expectation at Cambridge is higher than it is at some other universities. Examiners know this. Employers know this (at least implicitly).

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The Most Important Part: What You Actually Did

Don't just put the title. Explain what your dissertation was about in one concise sentence.

"Researched [topic] using [methodology]" is the important formula.

Example: "Researched employee engagement in remote working contexts using mixed-methods analysis of survey data and qualitative interviews."

That's one sentence. It tells the reader three things:

1. Your research topic (employee engagement in remote contexts)
2. Your methodological approach (mixed methods)
3. Your specific methods (surveys and interviews)

That tells employers something meaningful. It shows you can design research, select appropriate methodology, and execute complex data collection. All in one sentence.

Another example: "Investigated the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy interventions in primary care settings using systematic review methodology."

Again: clear topic, clear methodology, clear methods.

The point is precision. You're not describing your dissertation to your mum. You're communicating research capability to professionals. Specificity does that.

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The Secondary Part: Key Findings or Insights

Optionally, add a second sentence about what you actually discovered.

"Findings revealed that organisations with explicit remote-working policies achieved 30% higher employee engagement than those without formal structures."

Or: "Results indicated that CBT interventions in primary care reduced presentation rates for anxiety-related conditions by 25% compared to standard care pathways."

These aren't full findings. They're headline findings. They're the takeaway. What should the reader remember about your research?

Not all dissertations have quantifiable findings. If yours doesn't, you can still include the key insight: "Analysis revealed that UK policy frameworks for X systematically overlooked [specific issue], suggesting future policy should address [direction]."

The point is that you're communicating what your research contributed. Most graduates omit this. Which means their CV just says "I wrote something" rather than "I researched something and discovered something useful."

Key Considerations

Understanding the fundamental concepts and best practices in this area is essential for academic success and professional development.