Written by: Mirjam de Winter
Last updated: 22 September 2026
Recommendations in your thesis are concrete pieces of advice that you give to your client, the field, or future research, based on your research results. They connect directly to your problem statement and show how the problem you studied can be addressed. You can also use this section to suggest directions for follow up research into questions your thesis was not able to fully answer.
In the recommendations section of your thesis, you give advice that ties directly back to your central problem statement. Based on your research results, you present possible solutions here.
In short, your recommendations consist of advice and solutions for your problem statement, along with suggestions for possible future research. Not sure whether the recommendations in your thesis are well enough substantiated?
Recommendations are especially useful when you carried out research for a client as part of an internship. The client usually presents a concrete question they would like to see solved. In your recommendations, you then explain which steps should, in your view, be taken to solve that question.
Recommendations are mainly used for problem solving research questions aimed at finding solutions to a specific issue. Research questions that are more descriptive or explanatory in nature are not primarily focused on finding solutions, but even here it can sometimes be useful to make recommendations for practice.
Recommendations are also useful if you believe that further research should be carried out to find additional or better solutions to the problem you studied.
The recommendations form part of the closing section of your thesis. Normally you follow this order:
Check your institution’s graduation guide. It usually contains guidelines on which sections your thesis should include and in what order. It can also help to brainstorm possible recommendations with people around you, since this often sparks creativity, which is exactly what writing good recommendations is about. Just make sure your recommendations connect to and follow logically from your thesis. For example, start each recommendation with a short explanation of how you arrived at it.
Use the following 5 tips when writing your recommendations.
Make sure your recommendations are clear and easy to put into practice. The person or organization the recommendations are aimed at should be able to act on them without further explanation. Your assessors will pay close attention to how well your recommendations are substantiated, so always make sure you back them up properly.
You can find examples of good recommendations in sample theses. Here are two short examples to start with (in your own thesis you should of course write these out in more detail).
Recommendation from an International Business student
“To increase footwear sales in foreign markets, it is recommended that the company focus on expanding its e-commerce strategy by making use of local platforms and online marketplaces. It would also be useful to develop a diversified product range that matches local taste preferences and seasonal trends. Further research into consumer behavior in specific regions can help identify new growth opportunities and optimize marketing campaigns.”
Recommendation from a Psychology student
“Based on the findings of this research, it is recommended that future studies pay more attention to the role of social support in reducing stress among students. Specifically, research could look into how different forms of social support, such as peer support and guidance from teachers, can contribute to better psychological resilience. In addition, a longitudinal study could offer insight into the long term effects of social support on academic performance.”
Example sentences for recommendations in your thesis
Recommendations for a company or organization
“To increase customer satisfaction, it is recommended to introduce an automated feedback system that allows customers to share their experiences directly.”
“This research shows that employees want more flexibility in their working hours. The company could consider implementing a hybrid work model to increase job satisfaction.”
Recommendations for further research
“Future research could focus on the long term effects of [topic] to gain a fuller picture of its impact on the market.”
“Since this study focused on a specific sector, it is advisable to conduct follow up research in other sectors to test the generalizability of the findings.”
Recommendations for policy or government
“The results indicate that stricter legislation around sustainability requirements could have a positive effect on environmentally conscious behavior among consumers.”
“It would be useful if the government provided subsidies to companies that invest in the circular economy, to encourage sustainable innovation.”
Practical recommendations for implementation
“To improve internal communication, it is recommended to introduce monthly team meetings and a central digital workspace.”
“Since the current marketing plan is not performing optimally, it is advisable to run targeted A/B tests and adjust course based on data driven insights.”
Good luck writing the recommendations for your thesis!
Would you like professional help from a thesis coach who thinks along with you when writing your recommendations?
Your conclusion summarizes what you found. Your recommendations explain what should be done with those findings, either in practice or in future research. Recommendations should never introduce new findings that were not discussed earlier in your thesis.
There is no fixed number. Focus on quality rather than quantity, and only include recommendations that follow directly from your results and problem statement. A handful of well substantiated recommendations is stronger than a long list of vague ones.
Not necessarily, but it is often valuable if there are questions your thesis could not fully answer. If you noticed limitations in your own research or topics that fell outside your scope, this is the place to point them out.
Recommendations usually come at the very end of your thesis, after the conclusion and discussion. Always check your institution’s graduation guide, since some universities have their own preferred structure.
A strong recommendation is specific, realistic, and clearly tied to your research results. It should be actionable, meaning the reader can do something with it without needing further explanation, and it should stay within realistic constraints such as budget or timeframe.
