Postgraduate Module Descriptor

POLM877: Dissertation

This module descriptor refers to the 2020/1 academic year.

Overview

NQF Level	7
Credits	45	ECTS Value	22.50
Term(s) and duration	This module ran during term 1 (11 weeks) and term 2 (11 weeks)
Academic staff	Professor Oliver James ()
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	POLM876 Dissertation Skills
Available via distance learning	No

A good dissertation is a core element of a successful Masters degree. It equips you with key, transferable research skills that will be invaluable to your career whether you decide to take up PhD research or not. A dissertation is not a long essay. It has a certain number of core components that must be evident to varying degrees. Like a good essay, it must demonstrate research skills, independent learning, good organization of complex material, clarity and erudite expression. But a Masters dissertation will be driven primarily by your own interests, the questions you devise and the material you want to research. It will be a mark of your initiative, independence and inquisitiveness. You should expect to start thinking about and working on your dissertation immediately on beginning the Programme. Good early preparation will stand you in good stead later.

Module created	01/10/2008	Last revised	02/11/2020