Tesi universitaria: cos'è? Come si sceglie l'argomento? Come si scrive?

The doctorate is a post-graduate degree and the highest academic qualification in the world. It crowns several years of in-depth research in a specific field, leading to a doctoral thesis defended before an academic jury.

Choosing the subject of your university thesis or doctoral dissertation is a crucial step in any doctoral student's academic career. This decision not only shapes the course of your research, but also influences your commitment, motivation and the potential impact of your work in your field of study. However, given the vast breadth of knowledge and research possibilities, finding a challenging, feasible and original topic can be daunting.

To succeed in your university dissertation and earn your PhD, discover practical tips to guide you through the dissertation topic search and writing process.

Contents : 

What is a doctoral thesis?
📌 The 6 key steps to choosing your doctoral thesis topic

Step 1: Identify your interests and skills
Step 2: Analyze the literature on your topic
Step 3: Evaluate feasibility
Step 4: Assess its originality and relevance
Step 5: Define your subject
Step 6: Test your idea

How to write your doctoral thesis?

What is a doctoral thesis?

A doctoral thesis or university dissertation is an academic research project on a specific subject. It is carried out over several years (3 years or more) with the support of a thesis director, and is defended before an academic jury.

Writing a doctoral thesis is a way of exploring a subject in greater depth through research, showcasing one's expertise in the field and making an original, innovative contribution to the discipline. Validation of the doctoral thesis enables researchers and students in the doctoral cycle to obtain the doctoral degree.

Choosing the subject of a university thesis is a very important phase in your research process. It involves a great deal more thought than other academic work, such as a dissertation or internship report.

Here are the 6 key steps to choosing the right topic for your doctoral thesis 👇

Passion and Motivation Influence the Choice of Your Thesis Topic

The Importance of Choosing a Thesis Topic That Inspires You
Writing a doctoral thesis is a long-term project that can span several years. To maintain consistent motivation, choose a topic that excites you. A strong interest in your subject helps you overcome moments of doubt and fatigue, which are inevitable during the research process.

Your knowledge and skills validate your choice of thesis topic

The importance of your knowledge base

A thorough knowledge of your thesis topic reduces the time you need to adapt. This allows you to concentrate on more advanced aspects of your research.

Evaluate your academic skills

Select a research topic for which you have the required skills. Start by listing your academic and practical skills.

• What courses have you excelled in?
• What research methodologies have you mastered?
• Do you have any specific skills, such as statistical analysis or computer modeling?

Step 2: Analyze the literature on your thesis idea

The literature review helps you understand the current state of research. This enables you to identify information gaps and formulate a relevant thesis topic. 

Research status of your university thesis topic

Using academic databases

Academic databases offer access to thousands of articles and doctoral theses. Use precise keywords to refine your search. Consult abstracts to quickly assess the relevance of articles.

The theses.fr website is a search engine for French doctoral theses in various fields (human and social sciences, economics, science-politics, etc.).
The Dart Europe E-theses portal contains numerous European university theses.
The Open Dissertation and Thesis website offers free access to international doctoral theses.

Step 3: Assess the Feasibility of Your Doctoral Thesis Topic

Considering the feasibility of your topic is crucial. Make sure you have the necessary material and financial resources, and seek expert advice to refine your thesis topic.

Available Resources for Your Research Project

• Check access to necessary research tools
• List the tools you need and ensure you can use them throughout your project. Consult with your thesis supervisor to confirm their availability.

Step 4: Assess the originality and relevance of your thesis topic

Look for innovative angles and assess the potential impact of your doctoral thesis topic. This ensures that your research makes a significant and relevant contribution.

Innovation to add value to your subject

Find a new angle that responds to your problematic

Look for a unique aspect of your subject and avoid repeating research that has already been done. Think of new approaches or perspectives. 

Examples of innovative approaches to your doctoral thesis

Look at recent studies for ideas.
Identify under-used methods or theories.
Take inspiration from other disciplines to find original angles.
Use an approach that reflects your personality: funny, committed, curious, inventive...

Step 5: Narrow Down Your Doctoral Thesis Topic

Narrowing down your topic makes your research more manageable and focused. Choose a specific aspect and formulate a clear research question. These steps ensure a focused and well-defined study.

Specificity of Your Thesis Topic

Why a Too Broad Topic is Problematic?
A broad topic complicates your research. It makes comprehensive data collection difficult. You risk losing sight of your main objective.

Techniques to Narrow Down Your Thesis Topic
Choose a specific aspect of your topic. Focus on a particular period, population, or location. Formulate clear and targeted research questions.

Step 6: Test your idea with the doctoral community

To refine your work, write a research proposal and submit it for feedback. Carry out a pilot study to assess the feasibility of your research methodology. These steps will prepare you to undertake your research effectively.

Preliminary proposal for university thesis topics

Write a detailed research proposal

Start by writing a preliminary research proposal. Describe your topic, research question and method. Identify objectives and expected results.

Submit your proposal for expert feedback.

Share your proposal with your thesis supervisor, junior researchers or peers. Ask for feedback and suggestions. Use comments to improve your proposal.

How to write your doctoral thesis

Once you've chosen the subject of your doctoral thesis and your research methodology, you can start writing your dissertation.

Here are the 7 steps to follow when writing your university thesis: 

1. Plan and organize: draw up a detailed plan with deadlines for each chapter, and gather the necessary resources (literature, tools, etc.).
2. Conduct literature review: carry out an in-depth analysis of existing work related to the chosen thesis topic.
3. Collect data: implement the chosen research methodology, collect and organize relevant data in a systematic way.
4. Analyze collected data: analyze collected data using appropriate tools and techniques, then interpret results in relation to research questions and hypotheses.
5. Write chapters: write each chapter of the doctoral thesis, ensuring that each section is coherent, clear and precise.
6. Revising and editing: reread and revise the thesis several times to correct errors and improve the quality of the writing. We recommend that you analyze your thesis in plagiarism-checking software to identify misquoted sources, and add them to your bibliography.
7. Prepare to defend your thesis: prepare to defend your thesis, highlighting key points and significant results. For this final stage, it's essential to practice and prepare for potential questions from the jury.

Choosing the right subject for your university thesis is a crucial step in the success of your academic career. A good subject is one that excites you, matches your skills and makes an original and significant contribution to your field of study. By identifying your interests and skills, conducting a literature review, and considering the feasibility of your project, you'll ensure that you lay a solid foundation for your academic research.

To find out more 

How to write a thesis step by step?
How to write an internship report step by step 

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Information: this informative article, which does not require any personal reflection, was written in part with the help of ChatGPT. We have reworked the automatically-generated content (corrected repetitions, corrected turns of phrase, added clarifications, added quotations, checked the veracity of information, etc.).