The conclusion of a thesis states whether and to what extent the aim set out in the introduction was met, summarises the main findings, answers the research questions or evaluates the hypotheses, and names the contribution, limitations, and recommendations for both practice and further research. It adds no new facts, data, or sources cited for the first time. A good conclusion is usually similar in length to the introduction and is written only once the whole thesis is finished. As a chapter, it is not numbered.
What the conclusion is for and when to write it
The conclusion is the last thing your reader and the examining committee read, and often what they remember most. Its job is not to retell the content of the chapters but to close the arc of thought you opened in the introduction. The introduction promises, the conclusion confirms. If the introduction says "the aim of this thesis is to determine," the conclusion has to say whether that was achieved and what follows from it.
Write it right at the end, once you have finished both the theoretical and the practical part and know what you actually arrived at. Only then do you know exactly which questions you answered, which hypotheses held, and where the research hit its limits. A conclusion written in advance almost always promises something different from what the thesis ultimately delivers.
A practical tip we recommend to every author: before submission, place the introduction and the conclusion side by side and read them as a pair. Every aim and every research question from the introduction should have its answer in the conclusion. If one is missing, you still have time to fix it.
What belongs in the conclusion
The conclusion is not free-form reflection; it has several fixed building blocks. They do not have to be separate headings, and often they flow as continuous paragraphs, but they should all be there and in a logical order.
Restating the aim and confirming it was met
Start with why the thesis exists. Briefly recall the aim from the introduction and clearly state whether it was met and to what extent. This is the heart of the whole conclusion. Avoid evasive phrasing such as "this thesis dealt with the topic"; the reader wants to know whether you achieved what you set out to do.
Summary of the main findings
Summarise the most important results you reached, but without tables, numbers spelled out in detail, or a repeat of the entire analysis. This is distillation, not copying the practical part. A reader who reads only the conclusion should understand what the main message of your thesis is.
Answers to the research questions or evaluation of the hypotheses
If you posed research questions in the introduction, answer them explicitly in the conclusion, question by question. If you worked with hypotheses, state which were confirmed, which were not, and which were only partly confirmed. This link between the introduction and the conclusion is what the committee watches most closely, because it shows whether the thesis holds together.
Contribution of the thesis
Name what your thesis added. It may be a theoretical contribution (a new perspective, a synthesis of knowledge, a refined concept), a practical contribution (usable recommendations, a proposed solution), or both. Be specific and proportionate. A bachelor's thesis usually applies existing knowledge, while a master's thesis is expected to show a more substantial original input.
Limitations of the thesis
Honestly naming the limitations is not an admission of weakness but a sign of scholarly maturity. State what may have influenced the results: the size and composition of the sample, the time frame, data availability, the chosen method. Write the limitations factually, without self-blame and without playing them down.
Recommendations for practice and further research
Finally, point to where things could go next. For practice: how your findings could be used, by whom, and in what situation. For further research: which questions remained open and what would be worth exploring in more depth. Recommendations should follow from your findings, not be generic phrases that would fit any thesis.
How the conclusion differs from the introduction and the discussion
The introduction, the discussion, and the conclusion may look similar at first glance, because they all deal with the aim and the results. Their function, however, is different, and confusing them is a common mistake.
The introduction opens: it presents the topic, justifies its relevance, and sets out the aim and the research questions. It looks forward, into a thesis not yet written. If you are unsure about its structure, the breakdown in the article how to write a thesis introduction will help.
The discussion interprets: it explains what the results mean, compares them with the literature, looks for the causes of agreements and contradictions, and places the findings in the broader context of the field. The discussion is where you argue and debate.
The conclusion confirms and closes: it briefly and soberly summarises whether the aim was met, what the main findings are, and what the recommendations are. It does not launch into new argument and does not repeat the whole discussion. In some theses and fields the discussion and conclusion are merged into one chapter, but their roles remain distinct. We cover the topic more closely in the article research methodology in your thesis.
| Aspect | Introduction | Discussion | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direction of view | forward, into the thesis | into the depth of the results | back, over the whole thesis |
| Main function | present the topic and aim | interpret and compare | summarise and evaluate the aim |
| New sources and citations | do not belong here | commonly used | do not belong here |
| Argumentation | minimal | central | none new |
| Typical length | usually 1 to 3 pages | depends on the field | comparable to the introduction |
What does not belong in the conclusion
Knowing what does not belong in the conclusion is just as important as knowing what does. This is exactly where the most common needless mistakes appear.
- New facts and data. The conclusion is not the place to present another result that did not appear elsewhere in the thesis. Everything you summarise must already have been stated in the practical part or the discussion.
- Sources and citations introduced for the first time. If you cite an author in the conclusion who has not appeared in the text before, something is wrong. Citations and references to the literature belong in the theoretical part and the discussion.
- New argument and polemic. The conclusion is not an extended discussion. If you feel the need to argue something further, it belongs in the discussion, not here.
- Verbatim repetition of whole passages. A conclusion that copies paragraphs from the introduction or the analysis reads like filler. The goal is to summarise, not to write it out again.
- Apologising and self-criticism. Limitations are named factually. Sentences such as "unfortunately I did not have time" or "the thesis is surely full of mistakes" come across as unprofessional.
- Emotions and personal confessions. Thanks, impressions from your studies, or personal feelings belong in the acknowledgements, not in the conclusion.
How long the conclusion should be
The conclusion is usually similar in length to the introduction, roughly 1 to 3 pages depending on the type and size of the thesis. A bachelor's thesis needs a shorter conclusion, while a master's thesis tends to have a slightly longer one, because the aim and the research design are usually more demanding. The binding length is set in your faculty's or department's guidelines, which always take precedence over general advice from the internet.
A good rule is balance. If the introduction is three pages long, the conclusion should be neither half a page nor fifteen. Length is counted in standard pages of text rather than in physical pages of the document. You can find more about how length and word count work in the article thesis length and word count.
Watch out for two extremes. A conclusion that is too short looks as if you just wanted to get the thesis over with, and leaves no room to evaluate the aim properly. A conclusion that is too long usually means that things which do not belong have crept in, most often new argument or a repeat of the analysis.
Sample phrasings for the conclusion
Treat these sentences as a template you adapt to your topic, not as text to copy. The committee will recognise borrowed phrases, and every thesis goes through an originality check (typically Turnitin or a similar tool). Build your conclusion from your own results.
Confirming the aim was met: "The aim of this thesis was to [verb and object of the aim]. Based on the analysis carried out, it can be stated that the aim set was met, since [brief justification]."
Summarising the main finding: "The main finding of the thesis is that [key result], which is also confirmed by [a short reference to the relationships identified]."
Answering a research question: "To the research question of the extent to which [variable A] relates to [variable B], the thesis answers that [specific finding]."
Evaluating a hypothesis: "The hypothesis that [group X] reaches higher values of [indicator] than [group Y] was, based on the data obtained, [confirmed / not confirmed / partly confirmed]."
Naming a limitation: "The findings should be interpreted in light of [a specific limitation, for example the sample size], which may limit their generalisability."
Recommendation for practice: "Based on the findings, the thesis recommends [a specific step] for [the target group or area]."
Recommendation for further research: "Further research could focus on [an open question] that remained outside the scope of this thesis."
Notice that the sentences are specific and contain slots to fill in. It is precisely this specificity that sets a strong conclusion apart from an empty summary.
How to write the conclusion step by step
If you do not know where to start, a simple procedure that mirrors the logic of the whole thesis will help:
- Open your introduction and write out the aim and all the research questions or hypotheses.
- To each item, assign the finding from the practical part that answers it.
- Formulate the statement that the aim was met as the first paragraph of the conclusion.
- Add a brief summary of the main findings without any new information.
- Name the contribution of the thesis and, right after it, the limitations.
- Close with recommendations for practice and for further research.
- Read the introduction and the conclusion side by side and check that they meet.
This procedure ensures that the conclusion is not a random summary but a precise answer to what the introduction promised. If you want to see the full context of how the conclusion fits among the other chapters, look at the overview in the article how to structure a thesis.
Common mistakes in the conclusion
The aim is not evaluated in the conclusion. The most common and most serious mistake. The aim was formulated in the introduction, but the conclusion never returns to it, so the reader does not know whether the thesis achieved what it promised. Always begin the conclusion by confirming whether the aim was met.
New information in the conclusion. The author introduces a figure, source, or argument for the first time in the conclusion. This breaks the basic rule that the conclusion only summarises and evaluates what has already been stated in the thesis.
The conclusion as a copy of the introduction. Some conclusions are just a lightly rewritten introduction. But the introduction promises and the conclusion is meant to confirm, so their content cannot be the same.
Research questions left unanswered. The questions were posed in the introduction, but the conclusion leaves them hanging. Every question from the introduction should have a clear answer in the conclusion, ideally question by question.
Unbalanced length. A half-page conclusion next to a three-page introduction looks rushed, while a fifteen-page one means that something which does not belong has crept in.
Generic recommendations. Sentences that would fit any thesis ("more attention should be paid to the topic") reveal nothing about your findings. Recommendations should grow out of specific results.
How to check that the conclusion holds up
Before submission, go through a short checklist:
- Does the conclusion state, right at the start, whether the aim was met and to what extent?
- Does every research question or hypothesis from the introduction have its answer in the conclusion?
- Are the main findings summarised in the conclusion without any new facts?
- Have you used no source or citation that did not appear in the text before?
- Are the contribution of the thesis, its limitations, and recommendations for practice and further research all named?
- Is the conclusion balanced in length with the introduction and in line with the faculty's guidelines?
If you are unsure about any item, go back to it before you submit the thesis for the defense. A well-written conclusion makes the defense itself considerably easier, because the committee quickly grasps from it what you achieved and how. You can then prepare for the defense using the article thesis defense: preparation and process.
If you need expert help with the conclusion or the whole thesis, our writers can help you align the aim, the research questions, and the findings so that the conclusion fits the introduction exactly. You can take a look at our services or go straight to placing a no-obligation order and we will advise you on what your thesis specifically needs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the conclusion and the discussion?
The discussion interprets the results, compares them with the literature, and looks for the causes of agreements and contradictions. The conclusion only states whether the aim was met, briefly summarises the main findings, and offers recommendations. In some theses they are merged into one chapter, but their function is different: the discussion argues, the conclusion closes.
Can I introduce a new source or citation in the conclusion?
No. No sources or citations introduced for the first time belong in the conclusion. Everything you summarise there must already have been stated in the theoretical or practical part. A new citation in the conclusion signals that the information is placed in the wrong section.
How long should the conclusion of a thesis be?
Usually similar in length to the introduction, roughly 1 to 3 pages depending on the type of thesis. A bachelor's thesis needs a shorter conclusion, while a master's thesis tends to be a little longer. The binding length is set in your faculty's guidelines, which take precedence over general advice.
Do I have to answer all the research questions in the conclusion?
Yes. Every research question or hypothesis from the introduction should have a clear answer in the conclusion, ideally question by question or hypothesis by hypothesis. This link between the introduction and the conclusion is what the committee watches most closely.
Are the introduction and conclusion numbered?
No. Neither the introduction nor the conclusion is numbered as a chapter. Numbering starts with the first content chapter, usually the theoretical part, and the conclusion follows after the last numbered chapter.
What if my findings differ from my original assumption?
That is fine and common in practice. Research both confirms and refutes hypotheses. State honestly in the conclusion which assumptions were not confirmed, and do not try to bend the results. A hypothesis that was not confirmed is also a valid result, as long as you reached it through a sound procedure.