Dissertations and Project Reports

How to choose a topic

As if writing a dissertation or report wasn’t hard enough, just picking the right topic can be a bit of a headache! Whether you’ve got a hundred ideas of things you’d like to write about, or none at all, we’re here to help you choose the topic that suits you best.

Many students will be given a prescribed list of topics or projects to choose from, which will narrow down your options. This may mean slightly less freedom to study a topic of your choice, but there’s usually a wide range on offer, and scope for personalisation.

Things to consider

This work is going to take up a large chunk of your time for several months, and is likely to be one of your most rigorous academic exercises. With that in mind, it’s essential that you choose a topic of genuine interest to you. The person marking your work will always be able to tell if you’re passionate about the topic you’ve written on, and passion ensures you remain committed to the work right the way through.

Personal interest isn’t the only factor you should take into account when picking a topic to focus on. It’s important to try and pick something with an original angle: something that hasn’t been done before. Your course will have a dissertation/project adviser who you can consult with as you pick a proposal for your work, and you should take every opportunity you can to seek their advice.

Another key factor to consider is the availability of resources you may need for research. You might have the greatest, most original idea ever, but if you can’t get access to the texts, papers and materials you require you won’t be able to produce the piece of work it deserves.

Check what’s available, either at your university library or through book transfer services and remember to use the IMechE virtual library: submit your query to our support team and we’ll get back to you with a list of suggested papers, journals and reviews that will help you begin your work.

Write it down!

Even if you only have a vague idea of the topics that would interest you, it’s worth writing down initial broad themes as early as possible. Your ideas will crystallise as you talk with others, and you can begin to look into the research possibilities open to you.

Once you’ve got some ideas down, use friends on other degree courses as a sounding board. It’s surprising what other disciplines can bring to the table.