Thesis Acknowledgements Example: How to Write Yours with 5 Real Samples (2026)
The thesis acknowledgements section is often the last thing students write and the first thing their friends and family read. It is brief — usually a single page or less — but it carries real significance: it is your chance to thank the people who made your research possible. Yet many students agonise over it precisely because the guidance is vague. What tone is appropriate? Who do you thank first? How personal is too personal?
This guide provides five annotated thesis acknowledgements examples across different disciplines and degree levels, a reusable template, and clear rules for order, tone, and length — so you can write yours with confidence.
What Are Thesis Acknowledgements?
The acknowledgements section is a short, semi-formal piece of writing placed at the front of your thesis — after the title page and abstract, and before the table of contents. Unlike every other section in your thesis, it is not assessed for academic merit. It is a professional courtesy and a human moment in what is otherwise a highly formal document.
According to the Grad Coach thesis acknowledgements guide, the acknowledgements serve two functions: acknowledging legitimate contributions to your research, and demonstrating professional maturity by correctly recognising the network that supported your work.
Structure and Order: Who to Thank First
The order matters because it signals professional priorities. Get it wrong and it can look inadvertently dismissive of key contributors.
- Primary supervisor / thesis advisor — always first, regardless of how much they actually helped. Failing to thank your supervisor prominently is professionally awkward.
- Committee members / second readers — thank by name, optionally noting their specific contribution.
- Funding bodies — if you received a scholarship, grant, or institutional funding, acknowledge it specifically. Some funding bodies require this as a condition of the award.
- Research participants, archives, or institutions — thank anyone who gave you access to data, collections, or materials.
- Colleagues and fellow researchers — lab partners, writing group members, fellow PhD students who gave feedback.
- Personal support network — family, friends, partners. This is the most personal section and can be warmer in tone.
Tone and Style
Acknowledgements are the one place in your thesis where first-person (“I”) is not only acceptable but expected. The tone should be warm and genuine, but not overly effusive or humorous. Avoid inside jokes, nicknames unless widely known, or anything you would not want an external examiner reading.
As Scribbr’s acknowledgements guide notes: “You can use a more informal style than is usually permitted in academic writing, but the section should still read as a professional courtesy, not a social media post.”
Example 1: Master’s Thesis — Social Sciences
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Sarah Mitchell, for her unfailing guidance, incisive feedback, and patient encouragement throughout this project. Her expertise in organisational psychology shaped my thinking in ways I will carry forward long after this thesis is submitted.
I am grateful to my second reader, Professor James Okafor, for his generous time and constructive critique during the review process. I also thank the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for supporting this research through the Doctoral Training Partnership.
The thirty participants who agreed to be interviewed deserve particular thanks — their candid reflections on hybrid work are the heart of this study.
Finally, I thank my parents, Amara and David Osei, who have never once doubted that I could do this, even when I did.
Annotation: Clean, professional structure. Supervisor first, then committee, then funder, then participants, then personal. The final sentence is personal without being maudlin. Note that the ESRC funding acknowledgement uses the exact language required by the funder.
Example 2: PhD Thesis — STEM (Biology)
This thesis would not have been possible without the mentorship of my principal investigator, Professor Lena Brandt, whose intellectual rigour and sustained enthusiasm for the lab’s work have been a constant source of inspiration over five years. I am indebted to my thesis committee — Dr. Felix Weber, Dr. Yuki Tanaka, and Dr. Priya Singh — for their expert guidance and for asking the difficult questions that made this research stronger.
I gratefully acknowledge funding from the Wellcome Trust (Grant No. 220384/Z/20/Z) and from the Department of Molecular Biology at the University of Edinburgh.
I thank my colleagues in the Brandt Lab, particularly Mia Hoffman and Carlos Vega, for their technical assistance with the imaging data and for making the long days in the lab genuinely enjoyable.
My deepest thanks go to my husband, Tom, and to my daughter Sofia, who was born halfway through this PhD and has been a daily reminder of what really matters.
Annotation: The grant number is included (required by Wellcome Trust). Five years with the supervisor is noted — appropriate to acknowledge the length of the relationship at PhD level. The personal note is brief and dignified.
Example 3: Master’s Thesis — Humanities (History)
I owe the greatest intellectual debt of this project to my supervisor, Professor Ana Lima, whose expertise in postcolonial historiography and characteristically sharp editorial eye transformed both the argument and the prose. I am equally grateful to my second reader, Dr. Marcus Bell, whose questions during the viva voce pushed me to think more carefully about the archive’s silences.
This research was made possible by access to the Colonial Office records at The National Archives, Kew, and I thank the staff there for their expertise and assistance.
To my cohort in the History Department — especially Ellie, Rory, and Aisha — thank you for the writing group sessions, the shared frustrations, and the dinners that kept this survivable.
Lastly, to my grandmother, who told me the stories that made me want to become a historian: this one is for you.
Annotation: The humanities-appropriate phrase “intellectual debt” signals familiarity with the register. Acknowledging the archive specifically is important in historical research. The final dedication-style sentence is charming and appropriate.
Example 4: Short, Professional Acknowledgement
I thank my supervisor, Dr. Paul Reeves, for his guidance and support throughout this research. I am grateful to my committee members, Dr. Laura Chen and Dr. Michael Torres, for their valuable feedback. Thanks are also due to the participants who gave their time to this study.
Annotation: Sometimes shorter is better. For students without major funding to acknowledge or personal stories to share, a concise three-sentence acknowledgement is entirely appropriate and professional. There is no minimum length requirement.
Example 5: First-Generation Student
My sincerest thanks go to my supervisor, Dr. Rachel Green, who believed in this research from our very first meeting and whose mentorship extended far beyond academic guidance. I am grateful to the entire committee for their investment in my development as a researcher.
I acknowledge the generous support of the Sutton Trust Access to Research Fellowship, which made it financially possible for me to undertake this master’s degree.
To my mother, Sandra — who has worked two jobs for as long as I can remember so that I could have choices she never did — this thesis is as much yours as it is mine. And to my friends Dani and Marcus, who listened to every draft crisis: thank you for never once telling me to be quiet.
Annotation: Acknowledging access funding (Sutton Trust) is important and shows awareness of support systems. The personal section is powerful and appropriate — genuine emotion in acknowledgements is never wrong when expressed with dignity.
Copy-and-Adapt Template
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, [SUPERVISOR NAME], for [specific contribution — e.g., “their expert guidance, consistent support, and valuable feedback throughout this project”].
[Optional: I am also grateful to my committee members, [NAME 1] and [NAME 2], for [their constructive critique / their expert input on methodology / their time and engagement with this work].]
[If funded: This research was supported by [FUNDING BODY], Grant No. [XXXXX], and I gratefully acknowledge their financial support.]
[If data/archive access: I thank [INSTITUTION / PARTICIPANTS] for [granting access to / generously giving their time to] this research.]
[Personal: Finally, I thank [NAMES] for [brief, genuine expression of support].]
What to Avoid
- Thanking too many people — Long lists of names without context read as box-ticking. If someone significantly helped you, say how.
- Skipping your supervisor — Even if the relationship was difficult, your supervisor must come first.
- Inside jokes or humour — Your external examiner will read this. Keep it professional.
- Wrong tense — Use past tense (“Dr. Smith provided…”) or present perfect (“I am grateful for…”).
- Omitting grant numbers — Many funders require specific acknowledgement language as a condition of the award. Check the terms.
- Making it a platform for grievances — Do not use acknowledgements to note that you overcame an unsupportive department or difficult supervisor. Save that for your memoir.
Once your acknowledgements are written, move on to polishing your full thesis. Our guides on writing a thesis abstract and writing a thesis introduction will help you perfect the most-read sections of your document.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should thesis acknowledgements be?
Thesis acknowledgements are typically one paragraph to one full page in length. There is no minimum. A concise, genuine three-sentence acknowledgement is far better than a rambling page of excessive praise. Most universities do not specify a word limit, but convention suggests keeping it under 300 words.
Are thesis acknowledgements required?
Acknowledgements are not required in most institutions — they are conventional rather than mandatory. However, if you received funding from an external body, your funder almost certainly requires a specific acknowledgement as a condition of the grant. Check your funding terms carefully.
Where do acknowledgements go in a thesis?
Acknowledgements are placed in the front matter — after the abstract and before the table of contents. They are paginated with Roman numerals (e.g., page iii or iv) in most thesis formatting styles.
Do I need to thank my supervisor in the acknowledgements?
Yes. Your supervisor should always be mentioned first in your acknowledgements, regardless of the nature of your working relationship. Not thanking your supervisor would be noticed by examiners and could create an awkward professional dynamic during and after your viva.
Can I be funny in my thesis acknowledgements?
Light warmth is fine — a brief, genuine personal touch is well-received. However, avoid jokes that require insider knowledge, references that could be misread as unprofessional, or anything you would not want an examiner, future employer, or your university library’s permanent record to contain. When in doubt, err toward warmth rather than wit.
Polish Every Section of Your Thesis with Tesify
From acknowledgements to your final chapter, Tesify helps you write with clarity and confidence. Check grammar, improve academic tone, and ensure every word earns its place.
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