PhD Thesis Acknowledgements Examples: How to Thank the People Who Got You Through It
Introduction: Yes, You Need to Thank the People Who Carried You
Congratulations! You’re finally wrapping up your thesis—and you’re faced with the part no one ever talks about: the acknowledgements page.
It might seem like a small section, but it matters. This is your opportunity to publicly express your gratitude to those who have helped you, put up with your angry outbursts, edited your work, or simply reminded you to occasionally eat.
Your acknowledgements are a final tribute to your academic journey and the people who helped make it bearable, not just filler.
So how do you write them? What’s the tone? Who do you include? Let’s break it down, and I’ll even give you some examples to steal (well, adapt!).
How to Structure Your PhD Thesis Acknowledgements
You’re not writing a thank-you card. But you’re not writing a formal research chapter either. Think of this as a professional love letter to your academic and personal crew.
Here’s one structure that works like a charm:
- Start with your supervisor(s): They likely had the biggest influence on your academic journey.
- Mention your committee or department: Keep it professional here—no need to gush.
- Acknowledge collaborators and colleagues: Especially anyone you published with or who helped with data/labs.
- Thank your friends and family: The emotional support crew!
- Give a nod to funding sources: If your research was funded, they legally and ethically deserve a line.
Keep it organized, and you won’t forget anyone important.
Acknowledging Your Supervisor (Even If It Was Complicated)
Even if your supervisor was a pain sometimes—or you clashed on ideas—you should still thank them. You don’t have to exaggerate or fake affection, but it’s good form.
Example 1:
I would like to sincerely thank Dr. Thomas Grant for his insightful criticism, unwavering support, and critical eye during this project. Your advice had a positive effect on my research methodology as well as this thesis.
Example 2 (if things weren’t so great):
The guidance provided by Professor Lee during the early stages of this work, and his commitment to high research standards, pushed me to grow as a scholar.
You can tailor this to how close you were. Just stay classy, even if you were secretly counting the days to graduation.
Shouting Out Your Lab Mates, Collaborators, and Academic Community
You spent countless hours debating theories, debugging code, or just staring into space with these people. They deserve a mention.
Don’t just write, “Thanks to my lab group.” Be specific! That’s what makes your acknowledgements meaningful.
Example:
A special thanks goes out to Emily, Jonah, and Priya of the Cognitive Neuroscience Lab for their technical guidance, snacks, and endless Slack jokes. The late nights were much more enjoyable (and productive, I promise) because of you.
Example for collaborators:
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Renata Silva, whose insightful feedback and collaborative spirit made a meaningful impact on our co-authored study on memory encoding. Our work together not only resulted in a publication I’m proud of, but also challenged me to broaden my perspective in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Your guidance pushed me to think in new directions—thank you for that.
Make sure to mention it if you co-published. It demonstrates professionalism and gratitude.
The Emotional Support Crew: Family, Friends, and Pets
This is for the ones who stuck with you through the long nights, confusing jargon, and emotional roller coasters—even if they didn’t always know what you were talking about.
Example for your significant other:
To Miguel—thank you for every midnight snack, every pep talk, and every quiet moment when all I needed was someone beside me. Your humor kept me sane, and your belief in me never wavered.
Example for friends:
To Sasha and Rachel, my constant lifelines—thank you for listening (again and again), for talking me through the worst of the self-doubt, and for making sure I celebrated the little wins, like getting out of the house or remembering to eat. You reminded me that progress isn’t just academic.
Pets? Totally fair game.
Special thanks to my dog, Nala, who made sure I took breaks—even if they were just walks around the block. You kept me sane.
This section is about love and realism. It’s okay to be heartfelt here.
Don’t Forget the Money (Grants, Fellowships, and Scholarships)
It’s not romantic, but it’s essential. If your PhD was funded in any way, you need to acknowledge that support clearly.
List all of your funding sources if you had more than one.
Example:
This project came to life thanks to the generous funding provided by the Wellcome Trust [Grant Number 123456], whose support made every stage of the research possible.
I’m also sincerely grateful to the Clarendon Fund and the Economic and Social Research Council. Their commitment to investing in early career researchers like myself played a crucial role in bringing this work to fruition.
This part is essential, even if it seems like a formality.
PhD Thesis Acknowledgements Examples (Full-Length Templates)
Here are two complete examples that you can modify according to your own path:
Example 1 (Warm but Formal):
I’m deeply grateful to my supervisor, Dr. Sarah Jenkins, whose steady guidance, sharp insights, and high standards shaped this project from its earliest ideas to its final form. Her mentorship challenged and inspired me every step of the way.
I’d also like to thank my doctoral committee—Dr. Mark Bennett and Dr. Aisha Rahman—for their thoughtful feedback and encouragement throughout this process. Their perspectives helped strengthen both the research and my confidence in it.
Conversations with colleagues in the Language and Cognition Lab, especially Maya and Linh, were very beneficial to this work. Your advice and friendship were really helpful.
I am grateful to the Clarendon Fund for helping to pay for my living expenses and research during this project.
Lastly, I would like to thank my mom, sister Jess, and parents for believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. And to my friends, Rob and Katie in particular, who always know when to say “Back to work” and when to say “Let’s get a drink.”
Example 2 (Genuine and Casual):
First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Reuben Adler, who served as both my supervisor and a sounding board. Your cool head and broad perspective were greatly appreciated.
Thanks to my amazing lab mates—Adrian, Sofia, Leo, and Nina—for making the worst days bearable and the best days even better. You all made me laugh when I needed it most.
To my parents: I still can’t explain my thesis to you, but thanks for acting like you understood. I love you for that.
A massive shout-out to the friends who stuck by me through the “Sorry, I’m working on my thesis” years. You know who you are.
Finally, to my cat, Fergus, for sitting on my keyboard at all the right moments. You kept me company through it all.
Conclusion: Don’t Overthink It, Just Write From the Heart
Here’s the thing—your acknowledgements don’t have to be perfect. They don’t need to be poetic or overly formal. They just need to be honest.
So take a deep breath, grab a coffee (or glass of wine, you deserve it), and think about the people who got you here. Then write like you’re talking to them directly. That’s the magic of a good acknowledgement section—it feels real, because it is.