| Unit name | Dissertation (MSc F&I) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ACFIM0011 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Dr. Sonny Biswas |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Accounting and Finance - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The dissertation is a significant component of the MSc Finance and Investment programme. Students will identify and analyse a research question in corporate finance or asset pricing. This process is an opportunity for students to investigate an original problem, collect and process relevant financial data, conduct a thorough analysis, and form well-founded conclusions. The multi-faceted assessment includes coursework on research methods, a dissertation proposal that outlines the research trajectory, and the final dissertation project.
The unit mainly comprises two distinct components with the second component building on the first: research methods in TB2 and the project in TB3.
The research methods component introduces empirical techniques which will equip students with the skills necessary to critically evaluate the academic literature and produce original research for the dissertation report. Student learning is supported by lectures and computer tutorials.
The dissertation project is an extended independent study that identifies and investigates a particular question and explores it systematically over a sustained period of time (all of TB3 is devoted to developing the dissertation project). It provides students with the opportunity to read extensively and apply research skills to a chosen area of study selected from a range of projects. Projects may be either empirical or theoretical. Student learning is supported by regular individual and/or small group supervision sessions.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit will be a culmination of the main concepts and ideas encountered in the course, applied to a specific project which will be chosen by the student. The objective of the dissertation project would be to gain expertise on a specific topic and to get to the frontier of research on this topic.
An overview of content
The Research methods component starts with a combination of lectures and hands-on computer tutorials during which standard quantitative methods applied in empirical asset pricing are covered. Students will be exposed to leading quantitative research and will replicate selected published empirical results by commanding an appropriate statistical software and utilising the wide range of databases offered by the Business School.
Students will then commence the work on their dissertation project with the guidance of an allocated supervisor. Workshops delivered throughout the academic year on wider topics surrounding research, such as academic integrity, ethics of conducting research and writing in academic style supports students in their research.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
The unit will enable students to produce and critically appraise quantitative research in finance. They will build an understanding of the challenges surrounding empirical research projects, including data collection, computer programming, identifying the relevant academic literature and writing up a report in academic style.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the dissertation, students will demonstrate ability to:
Across TB1 and TB2, lectures and seminars will prepare students for independently conducting empirical research in finance.
In TB3, students will be allocated an appropriate supervisor based on their topic choice. This will allow students to obtain feedback and guidance on their ongoing dissertation related research from an expert.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
MCQs during TB2. These focus on assessing students’ technical knowledge on data preparation, implementation of empirical analysis and other data-related tasks.
Regular feedback and guidance from allocated supervisors during TB3.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
25% - 2000-word Individual coursework to be submitted towards the end of TB2. This component focuses on assessing students’ knowledge on working with relevant secondary data sources; developing empirical strategies; navigating the academic literature and writing in a formal style. (ILO3, ILO4, and ILO7)
10% - The Dissertation Proposal, comprises a written component and a 10-minute in-person presentation. For the written component, students are expected to prepare a 1000-word proposal on their chosen topic, which may include a survey of the literature and outline future research steps. The presentation provides an opportunity for students to share their ideas with their allocated supervisor and a small group of peers who have chosen a similar topic. If a student has exceptional circumstances that mean they are unable to do a presentation, an alternative assessment will be arranged (ILO1, ILO2)
65% - Dissertation report. This will be a 7000-word report prepared on the basis of original research conducted by the student. (ILO1, ILO2, ILO3, ILO4, ILO5, ILO6 and ILO7)
When assessment does not go to plan
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, failed components will be reassessed by the following:
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ACFIM0011).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
