Writing Your Thesis Abstract: Tips and Examples

Learn how to write a concise abstract for your thesis, including helpful tips and an example from chemistry.

What is an Abstract?

An abstract is a brief summary of your thesis that concisely presents the main points of your research. It serves to give readers a quick overview of your topic, methods, results, and conclusions. Typically, an abstract contains about 150 to 250 words and appears either before or after the table of contents.

Since the abstract is often the first thing potential readers see, it should be clear, precise, and engaging.

Important Elements of a Good Abstract

An effective abstract for your thesis should include the following elements:

Topic and Objective: Briefly describe your thesis topic and what you aim to achieve.
Method: Explain which methods you used to answer your research questions.
Results: Summarize the main findings of your work.
Conclusions: What is the significance of your results for the field?

Tips for Writing a Successful Abstract

Follow these tips to write a compelling abstract for your thesis:

Write the Abstract Last: This ensures that all important points of your work are covered.
Observe Word Limit: Stick to the specified length of about 150 to 250 words.
Use Clear Language: Avoid jargon and complex sentences to make the abstract easily understandable.
No Citations or References: The abstract should be self-contained without direct quotes or references.
Use Proper Tense: Use present tense for general statements and past tense for completed actions.

Differences Between Abstract, Introduction, and Conclusion

While abstract, introduction, and conclusion may contain similar information, they differ in their purpose:

Abstract: Brief summary of the entire work, self-contained and concise.
Introduction: Introduction to the topic, presentation of the problem statement and research questions.
Conclusion: Summary of results and answers to research questions, including outlook.

Example of a Chemistry Thesis Abstract

Chemistry Thesis

"This thesis investigates the synthesis and characterization of novel organic semiconductors for use in next-generation solar cells. The aim is to increase the efficiency of organic photovoltaic cells through the development of novel donor-acceptor molecules. Various conjugated polymers were synthesized using Suzuki coupling reactions and subsequently characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The results show that certain structural modifications lead to a significant reduction in the bandgap, contributing to higher light yield in the visible spectral range. These findings provide valuable approaches for developing more efficient organic solar cells and contribute to sustainable energy generation."

This example illustrates how an abstract concisely summarizes the key aspects of a thesis.

Further Resources

For more detailed guides on writing abstracts for bachelor's and master's theses, visit our pages:

For more information about writing your thesis, visit:

Writing Your Thesis