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How long is a master’s thesis?
A master’s thesis is often between 10,000 and 40,000 words, or 40 to 160 double-spaced pages, but the real answer is in your program’s regulations, which set the limit.
Work it out
pages, single-spaced, Arial 12 pt, about 500 words a page
- Handwritten pages
- 60
- Reading time
- 1 hr 3 min
- Speaking time
- 1 hr 40 min–1 hr 55 min
- Typing time
- 6 hr 15 min
- Paragraphs
- 75–150
- Sentences
- 750–1,000
- Characters with spaces
- about 90,000
Write it in the word counter with a goal of at least 15,000 words.
Open the word counterMaster’s thesis in pages and minutes
| Length | Single-spaced | Double-spaced | Reading time | Speaking time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10,000 words | 20 | 40 | 42 min | 1 hr 6 min–1 hr 16 min |
| 40,000 words | 80 | 160 | 2 hr 48 min | 4 hr 26 min–5 hr 7 min |
Estimates for US Letter or A4 with 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins and ordinary paragraphs; reading at 238 words a minute, speaking at 130 to 150.
Typical lengths
| Kind | Typical length |
|---|---|
| UK taught master’s dissertation (MA, MSc) | 10,000–20,000 words, often 15,000 |
| Research master’s (MPhil, MRes) | 20,000–60,000 words |
| US master’s thesis | often 40–100 pages; set by department |
These are common ranges, not rules. Science theses with figures and tables are often shorter in words than humanities theses.
What counts
Most regulations exclude the bibliography and appendices from the word count, and many exclude the abstract and tables. Some allow 10% over the limit; some penalise any excess. Read the handbook before you plan your chapters, and keep a running total by chapter.
Questions and answers
How many words is a master’s dissertation?
In the UK, often 15,000 to 20,000 for a taught master’s; your program sets the exact limit.
How many pages is a master’s thesis?
Often 40 to 100 double-spaced pages, plus references and appendices.
Does the bibliography count?
Usually not. Check your regulations.