Module overview
The dissertation stage of your Master's programme involves an extended, independent investigation of a topic of your own choosing and the preparation of a 15,000 word dissertation describing your work. Essentially, the dissertation is a test of your ability to create and investigate, on your own initiative, a text which demonstrates a Masters level understanding of a particular subject issue.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to interpret, conceptualise and critically evaluate the literature, and to relate it to practice as appropriate.
- Demonstrate independent judgement and critical self-awareness.
- Identify, set up and use a variety of learning strategies such as interactive and group work.
- Demonstrate your ability to work independently, carry out and evaluate a research project relevant to a business context.
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to plan, execute and report a significant piece of research or creative work with at least some element of originality.
- Demonstrate the ability to present ideas and research findings in a well-structured and convincing way, as oral presentations or written papers.
- Demonstrate the ability to formulate and test new ideas from a variety of approaches and justify the foundation of those ideas.
- Present a clear, logical, and coherent line of argument throughout your dissertation.
- Provide in depth, critical reflection in your analysis and discussion of results.
- Demonstrate the ability to test ideas including the application of models as appropriate, using a variety of research designs, methodologies, measurements and techniques of analysis.
- Ensure that your own ideas and analysis are a prominent part of your dissertation.
- Evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline.
- Demonstrate the ability to synthesise ideas and research findings.
- Evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses.
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Using concepts/techniques/frameworks from one or more of your taught modules.
- Demonstrating in-depth knowledge of your chosen subject and related conceptual literature, making appropriate reference to relevant sources of literature.
- Scoping a study in your subject area, stating clear objectives for your study and ensure that the dissertation addresses these objectives.
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Demonstrate critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, at, or informed by, the forefront of your academic discipline or field of study.
Syllabus
Details of supervision processes, deadlines and handing-in processes will be clarified in the supplied Dissertation Handbook supplied in February. A supervisor will be appointed in April; you are entitled to 6 hours of supervision which you must organise and complete by the 31 July when supervision ends. The dissertation must be handed in mid-September. In brief the process is described below; during the period April – September you will be required to:
•Identify a suitable topic for study;
•Design and undertake an appropriate investigation strategy;
•Identify and access useful sources of information;
•Plan and manage an appropriate schedule of work;
•Liaise with your supervisor;
•Write a well presented dissertation.
Subject to the completion of the University’s Risk and Ethics procedures, students are encouraged to study international topics and may carry out fieldwork in overseas contexts.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include
•Supervision (as detailed in Dissertation handbook)
•Your Programme Director may recommend attendance at other seminars or tutorials to aid the development of your topic
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Teaching | 6 |
| Independent Study | 594 |
| Total study time | 600 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
Resources. The resources offered to all students for supporting their dissertation include the supervision given by lecturers/professors, databases such as Datastream, Bloomberg, Fame, Bank Scope,…, software such as Eviews, Stata, SPSS, SAS, Matlab, Execel, Endnotes and journal articles and books.
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Dissertation | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Dissertation | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Dissertation | 100% |