How to write an acknowledgement for a thesis: Full guide & Examples

The acknowledgements is a section in a thesis or dissertation where you thank individuals and organizations that supported your research. It is a way to express gratitude for academic, financial, or personal contributions. Unlike other parts, a thesis acknowledgement is more personal and is usually written in the first person.

Thesis acknowledgements take no more than 1 page and are dedicated to those who influenced your work, either professionally or personally. Here are the examples of individuals and entities you might express gratitude to:

• Academic supervisors, advisors, or mentors
• Research collaborators or colleagues
• Funding organizations or scholarship providers
• Institutions that provided resources or facilities
• Professors, teachers or instructors
• Family, friends, or loved ones who inspired you.

The acknowledgements section is not mandatory for every thesis, but it is strongly encouraged. Some academic institutions may require them, while others leave it optional. Even if it’s not requisite, including the acknowledgements adds a personal touch to your work.

In this guide, we’ll cover how to write an acknowledgement for a thesis and what order to follow when thanking contributors. Additionally, we will attach free acknowledgement examples and templates that can be used in both a Master’s thesis or PhD paper.

Where to put acknowledgements in a thesis?

The acknowledgement section is placed near the beginning of your thesis, typically after the abstract and before the table of contents. This way, your acknowledgements will be easy to find, but the main content will remain uninterrupted.

If your thesis includes both a preface and acknowledgements, the preface usually precedes the acknowledgements.

Whom should you thank in thesis acknowledgements?

When deciding whom to acknowledge in your thesis, consider everyone who had an impact on your research. Generally, acknowledgements can be grouped into 3 main categories: academic, institutional, and personal contributors, listed in hierarchical order.

Structure your thesis acknowledgements in the following sequence to reflect the formal and personal levels of influence:

1. Start with academic contributors, such as your supervisor, advisor, committee members, and colleagues who provided guidance or feedback.
2. Next, acknowledge institutional contributors, including universities, funding bodies, libraries, research labs, and technical assistants.
3. Finally, thank personal contributors, such as family, friends, or mentors who offered emotional support.

While prioritizing those directly involved, you can also include anyone whose influence made a noticeable impact on your work.

Types of acknowledgements

Acknowledgements can be formal, informal, or a mix of both. Choose the tone based on your audience and school requirements, if there are any.

How to write an acknowledgement page for a thesis?

Preparing the acknowledgement for a thesis requires careful planning and organization. Below, you will learn how to write an acknowledgement section for your thesis step by step, from listing contributors to concluding your final draft.

To make the process even easier, we’ve prepared templates for your acknowledgement section in both Word and Google Docs formats. These templates include placeholder text and formatting that you can customize to suit your needs.

Step 1. Make a list of contributors

Before you write the acknowledgements for your thesis, create a list of everyone who contributed to your work. Jot down individuals and organizations that played a role in your research, whether directly or indirectly.

To keep the process organized, separate your contributors into 2 groups: professional and personal. This way, you will be sure that no one important is overlooked.

Once the list is complete, you can prioritize contributors and structure the thesis acknowledgements accordingly.

Step 2. Start with professional acknowledgements

Begin your thesis acknowledgement section by expressing gratitude to those who directly supported your academic work. This includes your supervisor, advisor, and thesis committee members. Even if you feel their involvement was minimal, it is courteous and professional to acknowledge them first to reflect proper academic conventions.

Additionally, thank any colleagues, cohort members, or fellow researchers who collaborated with you or offered valuable insights during your work. Recognize their efforts in a way that clearly conveys their impact on your thesis.

Example of professional thesis acknowledgements

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Jane Smith, for her invaluable guidance and support throughout the research process. I also sincerely thank Dr. John Doe, a member of my committee, for his thoughtful critiques and suggestions on my statistical analysis, which greatly enhanced the rigor of this study.”

Step 3. Acknowledge institutional support

After thanking academic contributors, express your gratitude to universities, research labs, funding agencies, or other entities that provided resources and facilities. Be specific about the type of support you received, such as access to equipment, research grants, or administrative assistance.

If your work involved collaborations with external organizations, you can mention their role in facilitating data collection or other essential processes. Additionally, if your research benefited from specialized software, archives, or datasets, consider acknowledging the entities responsible for providing them.

Example of institutional thesis acknowledgement

“This research was made possible by the generous funding provided by the ABC Research Foundation, which supported my fieldwork and data analysis. I would also like to thank XYZ University for granting me access to its state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and advanced analytical tools. Special thanks go to the university library staff, who provided invaluable assistance in sourcing rare academic materials critical to this study.”

Step 4. Include personal gratitude

When writing your thesis acknowledgements, take the opportunity to thank those in your personal life who supported you during your research journey. Focus on individuals who significantly influenced your work, rather than mentioning every relative or friend.

Begin by recognizing family members who encouraged you or provided practical help. Acknowledge their role in creating a supportive environment, assisting with day-to-day responsibilities, or offering motivation during challenging times. For example, if a family member took on extra responsibilities to give you more time to focus on your thesis, be specific about their participation.

Include close friends who stood by you emotionally, celebrated your milestones, or helped you navigate stressful moments. You can also acknowledge mentors outside your academic circle who inspired or guided you along the way. If someone provided logistical support, such as managing childcare or household tasks, their contribution is worth mentioning.

Example of personal thesis acknowledgments

“I am deeply grateful to my family for their unwavering love and encouragement throughout this journey. My parents, John and Mary, have been a constant source of strength and inspiration, reminding me of the value of perseverance. A heartfelt thanks to my partner, Alex, for their patience, understanding, and late-night coffee runs during the most stressful moments. I would also like to thank my close friends, Sarah and Mike, for always being there to cheer me on and provide emotional support when I needed it most.”

Step 5. Conclude your thesis acknowledgements

End your thesis acknowledgements with a final note of gratitude that ties everything together. This conclusion can be a general statement expressing appreciation to anyone you may have unintentionally left out or a reflective remark about the collective support you received. Keep the tone sincere and appreciative.

Example of collective acknowledgements

“Finally, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported me in ways big or small throughout this journey. This thesis is a testament to the collective effort of so many wonderful people, and I deeply appreciate their contributions.”

Proofread your thesis acknowledgements section

After you finish writing the acknowledgements, take time to carefully proofread the section. Ensure the tone is consistent and the grammar is correct. Double-check the spelling of names, titles, and institutions to avoid errors.

Consider reading the section aloud to ensure it flows naturally. If possible, ask a trusted colleague or friend to review it and provide feedback.

Tips for writing thesis acknowledgements

Follow these tips to write thesis acknowledgements without flaws.

• Always check your institution’s formatting and structural rules for acknowledgements. This ensures your section meets all necessary academic standards.
• Arrange names and organizations in order of their significance to your work, even within each category (academic, institutional, and personal).
• Skip minor details and focus on those contributors whose support had a tangible impact on your work.
• While personal acknowledgements can be heartfelt, avoid using language that may feel overly sentimental, especially in professional contexts.
• Maintain formality by excluding personal jokes or overly casual remarks.

Thesis acknowledgement examples

If you are looking for a decent acknowledgement sample for your Master’s thesis or PhD work, check out our examples below.

Thesis acknowledgement example: Formal tone

"I am deeply grateful to my primary advisor, Dr. Emily Johnson, for her steadfast guidance and constructive feedback, which shaped the foundation of this research. Her mentorship and encouragement throughout each stage of this journey have been invaluable. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the members of my advisory committee, Dr. Michael Lee and Dr. Karen Taylor, for their insightful questions and thoughtful suggestions, which helped refine the scope and depth of this thesis.
I am equally thankful to the Department of Environmental Studies at Greenfield University for providing the necessary resources and administrative support to carry out this study. The generous financial assistance from the XYZ Grant Program enabled me to complete both the data collection and analysis phases. Additionally, I wish to acknowledge the staff at the Central Research Facility for their technical expertise, particularly in handling the advanced equipment that was crucial to my experimental work.
Finally, I appreciate the broader academic community, including my peers and colleagues, for fostering an environment of intellectual exchange and collaboration that greatly enriched my research experience."

Thesis acknowledgement sample: Informal tone

"I honestly couldn’t have completed my thesis without my advisor, Dr. Sarah Carter. Thank you for being patient with all my questions and for always helping me see the bigger picture when I felt stuck.
I also would like to thank my committee members, Dr. Robert Wilson and Dr. Anne Baker, for their insightful suggestions, even when it meant rewriting entire sections! I’m very thankful to the research lab staff for always having a technical solution when things went wrong.
Special thanks go to my family for encouraging me and my partner Alex for putting up with my late-night stress sessions and always being my biggest cheerleader."

Acknowledgement page example: Combined tone

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my advisor, Dr. Emily Johnson, for her expert guidance and unwavering support throughout this journey. Her constructive feedback and encouragement have been instrumental in shaping this thesis. I also thank my committee members, Dr. Michael Lee and Dr. Karen Taylor, for their insightful suggestions and for challenging me to think critically about my work.
I am deeply grateful to the Department of Sociology at Greenfield University for providing the resources and facilities necessary to complete this research. Special thanks to the funding team at the XYZ Research Foundation for their financial support and to the library staff for their assistance in locating essential materials.
Heartfelt thanks go to my family, especially my partner, Alex, for their constant encouragement and for taking on extra responsibilities so I could focus on my work. To my parents, John and Mary, thank you for your unwavering belief in my abilities and for always cheering me on. I also appreciate my friends, Sarah and Tom, for their constant motivation and for reminding me to celebrate small victories along the way."

Final thoughts on how to write acknowledgements for thesis

Now you know how to write an acknowledgements section for your Master’s thesis. When describing contributions, be clear and specific. Avoid generic phrases and tailor your thanks to reflect the unique role each person or organization played in your success.