The author's abstract is a mandatory document in the preparation for the defence of a candidate's or doctoral dissertation. It is through this document that members of the dissertation council, the opponents and the wider academic community form their first impression of the work. How accurately the abstract reflects the substance of the research largely shapes the discussion at the defence, which is why a number of requirements apply to its preparation.
What is the author's abstract of a dissertation?
The author's abstract is a concise account of the main content of a dissertation, prepared by the author once work on the full text has been completed. The document takes the form of a booklet and conveys the key elements of the research: its aim, scholarly novelty, the methodology applied and the results obtained. Because its length is considerably smaller than that of the dissertation, the abstract often becomes the source through which most specialists become acquainted with the work.
Why the author's abstract is needed
The author's abstract serves several functions within the certification process. It ensures the openness of the defence by allowing the academic community to review the work in advance and, where appropriate, to submit feedback; it also helps members of the council to assess how well the research corresponds to the declared speciality, along with its novelty and practical significance, without consulting the full text.
The main purposes of the author's abstract include the following:
- informing the academic community about the content and results of the work
- confirming the independence and scholarly novelty of the research
- substantiating the correspondence of the dissertation to the field of the speciality
- providing information on the author's publications related to the topic
What does the author's abstract of a dissertation consist of?
The structure of the author's abstract follows the logic of the dissertation, but in condensed form. The specific formatting requirements are established by the attestation commission and by the standards in force in the country where the defence takes place. In general terms, the document comprises the following elements:
- Title page stating the topic, the speciality, the academic degree sought and the year of preparation.
- General characteristics of the work: relevance, aim and objectives, object and subject, scholarly novelty and the propositions submitted for defence.
- Main content, with a sequential account of the dissertation's sections and principal results.
- Conclusions summarising the outcomes of the work carried out.
- List of the author's publications reflecting the main scholarly results.
Length and timeframes for preparing the author's abstract
The length of the author's abstract depends on the type of dissertation. For a candidate's work or a PhD-level dissertation it usually amounts to about one printed sheet (roughly 24 pages), whereas for a doctoral dissertation it may extend to two printed sheets. The exact norms are determined by the requirements of the attestation commission and may vary depending on the field of science.
The timeframes are also regulated. The electronic version of the author's abstract is published on official resources a set period before the defence, while printed copies are distributed to members of the council and to interested organisations, as a rule, no later than one month before the date of the defence. This gives specialists the opportunity to prepare their feedback and comments in good time.
Which mistakes occur when preparing the author's abstract?
A number of common shortcomings arise when preparing the author's abstract that hinder understanding of the work or lead to comments from the council. The most frequent include:
- a discrepancy between the content of the abstract and the text of the dissertation
- incomplete coverage of the scholarly novelty and the propositions submitted for defence
- failure to meet the requirements for the structure and formatting of the document
- inaccuracies in the list of the author's publications
- non-compliance with the prescribed length
The author's abstract is a self-contained document that largely shapes how the completed work is perceived. Careful attention to its structure, length and consistency with the main text improves the chances of a smooth defence, while checking it against the requirements of the particular council in good time helps to reduce the likelihood of additional revisions and postponed deadlines.
Preparing for your defence and want your author's abstract to reflect the substance of your work precisely? The specialists at Scientific Papers will help you prepare and format your dissertation and author's abstract in line with the applicable requirements, and will support you at every stage. To arrange a free consultation, fill in the form below and our manager will contact you shortly. Here's to new scholarly achievements!
