Failed Your Dissertation? Here's What You Can Do Next

The Dissertation failure is not something anyone plans for. After months of work your dissertation is finally submitted, and then you find out you’ve failed. It feels like everything stops.

But here’s the truth. Failing a dissertation is not the end of your degree. It’s not the end of your future. Most students who fail get another chance. You might be allowed to resubmit your work. You might need to rewrite parts of it. In some cases, you’ll need to start again. But you do have options.

This guide breaks down exactly what happens if you fail your dissertation. What steps can you take? What to expect from your university. And how to come back from it. It also covers why so many students find it hard, including in high-pressure subjects like nursing where even your research question can make or break your grade.

Whether you’re waiting for results or already dealing with bad news this blog is here to give you clarity and support. If you need guidance towards you can consult service like dissertation writing service.

Is Failing Your Dissertation Possible?

The answer is Yes. It is, in some cases, possible to fail your dissertation.

In most cases, students pass it because they work closely with their supervisors and receive feedback. But failure can still be a part, and it usually comes down to one of a few common issues.

Certain factors can lead to your dissertation’s failure. For some students, incomplete submission of their work is sometimes a problem. Others miss key academic criteria. For instance, a weak research question, a lack of originality, or a poor structure can lead to a fail. In some cases, plagiarism and academic misconduct could also be the cause. 

Universities take dissertations seriously. They expect clear research, a focused argument, and evidence that you understand your topic. If your submission falls short in major areas, the examiners may not pass it.

The good news is that failure is not common unless the student has missed major steps in the process or ignored support along the way. And even if you do fail, you’re not usually removed from your degree. Luckily, Most students are given a chance to resubmit their work within a set deadline, sometimes with a capped grade.

The university process is designed to guide you, even through setbacks.

What’s Next if You’ve Failed Your Dissertation

The news of failing your dissertation is tough, but failing it does not mean your degree is over. You still have options, and a second chance to prove yourself worthy and can claim a degree as others of your colleagues do.

Here’s what usually happens:

• You get written feedback explaining what went wrong
• You’re allowed to resubmit — usually once, with a new deadline

The grade is capped

A capped grade is a criterion set by a university, where you get the least passing marks in your second attempt after failing in the first, even if you have made it for higher marks. For example, the passing mark is 50%, and in your second attempt, your dissertation deserves 70%, but you still get 50%. This is to ensure that students take the first one seriously to ensure transparency in the grading system. 

• You might need a meeting with your supervisor, especially if the failure was serious
• Graduation could be delayed, but you can still complete your degree

The key is to take the feedback seriously. What does it mean? It means based on the feedback you got, fix everything that went wrong; you can ask for help if you need to. It might not be the exact outcome you expected, but still a way forward. 

Let’s See How a Student Claimed her Degree Even After Failing her Dissertation at First

A student I knew during my time in uni was in her final year of a nursing degree. Being a nurse, she had to manage between shifts and part time work. She could not give herself enough time to build and submit a strong research question. Her dissertation ended up being too broad and lacked focus.

As a result, she failed. But it is not the end of her degree. 

At first, she panicked and thought that she had nothing ahead. But after reading the feedback properly and speaking to her supervisor, she realised she could resubmit. She didn’t start from scratch. What she did was just narrow the topic, build it based on the proper required structure, and work consistently for the next six weeks. 

The result? She passed the second submission. The grade was capped, but she got her degree on time and landed a job not long after.

She always said that failure taught her more about writing and focus than any module ever did.

How to Avoid Failing Your Dissertation

There’s no perfect formula for getting a top grade. But there are a few things that can stop your dissertation from going completely off track.

• Don’t leave it to the last minute — seriously

Most students say they’ll “start early” and then don’t. Because managing other things in life is important too. 

But here’s the thing — with a dissertation, the time runs out faster than it seems. You think you’ve got months, then suddenly it’s two weeks to go and nothing’s ready. Give yourself a bit of space. You’ll need it for edits, feedback, and when something goes wrong. Because something always does.

• Stick to your question – Avoid vague ones

You can better implement one question in your dissertation if the idea is clear. Try to make it clear and focused. Having multiple and vague options can confuse.

• Make proper communication with your supervisor
  Even if you feel behind or unsure, don’t go quiet. They’ve seen it all before and can spot problems early. Early problem detection means early fixing and early submission at the end.
• Read the brief again
  Formatting, references, word count, if you miss something basic, it can cost you marks for no good reason.
• Let someone else read it
  Doesn’t have to be a genius. Just someone who can tell you if it makes sense. That alone can catch a lot.

Bonus Option

If you think you won’t be able to do it on your own, getting a bit of outside assistance is always okay and can make a big difference. You can get assignments and dissertation writing services from platforms like Gradifyx.

Gradifyx supports students in their overall academic career by selecting a topic, defining the structure of the thesis and dissertations, and more. It might not be over the top, but it can help you not miss your degree anyway due to failure of the dissertation. 

Is Graduation Without Passing the Dissertation Possible?

In most cases, you cannot graduate without passing your dissertation.

For undergrad or master’s degrees, the dissertation usually carries enough credits that failing it means you don’t meet the full course requirements. So even if you passed every other module, you won’t be able to graduate until the dissertation is passed too.

That said, most universities will give you a chance to fix things. A resubmission, extra supervision, maybe even an extension, depending on the situation. But the original failure still has to be dealt with.

The only time you might graduate without it is if the dissertation was optional, but that’s rare and depends on your course structure. So always double-check with your department before assuming anything.

Some Subjects Need Special Attention – Like Nursing 

The problems with dissertations may not be the same for all students. They vary among subjects and topics. For some students, the challenge might not be writing but the topic they have chosen. Because some of them are directly relevant to real-world scenarios. 

Take nursing, for example. The pressure is higher because your work connects back to people’s health. A lot of students in that space run into trouble early on, not because they didn’t try, but because their nursing dissertation topics and questions weren’t specific enough. Too broad, too theoretical, or just not linked to real care settings.

If you’re in that kind of course that needs extra care, you need to choose something on something that is in everyday practice. The other important aspect is to go through your question with your supervisor before you commit. And one more thing, keep it realistic, especially if time and access are limited

It’s not about playing it safe. It’s about giving yourself a topic you can manage and do well.

Conclusion

So, will your degree end if you fail your dissertation? No. Then what happens when you fail your dissertation? Your dissertation failure does not lead directly to the end of your degree. Most students get a chance to resubmit, fix the issues, and move forward. It’s tough, but recoverable. 

What is more important is that you keep prepared, knowing how to respond to the situation after it arises. Many of the students can still find a way and get back on the track by fixing what needs to be fixed and they move on. It does not purely depend on your first marks, but more on what you do next.

If you’re unsure about whether you will meet the standards of your university, don’t let to delay your degree. Talk to someone, a supervisor, a tutor, whoever. The earlier you ask, the more room you’ll have to turn things around. One honest conversation can do more than a dozen Google searches.