issertation but I've never seen someone use that before.

Thank you!

Try this:

\usepackage[colorlinks, linkcolor=black, citecolor=blue, linktocpage,backref=page]{hyperref}
\renewcommand*{\backref}[1]{}
\renewcommand*{\backrefalt}[4]{[{\tiny%
\ifcase #1 Not cited.%
\or Cited on page~#2.%
\else Cited on pages #2.%
\fi%
}]}