| Unit name | Dissertation (MSc Economics + Economics Pathways) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ECONM0045 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Dr. Sokullu |
| 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 Economics |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The dissertation is the final piece of your Master's journey. It showcases the economic skills that you acquired during the whole study period. It provides students with the opportunity to read extensively and apply research skills to a research question that they choose among the many possible topics.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
The dissertation uses potentially either some of the statistical/econometric methods and/or the economic concepts that the compulsory or elective units cover. It provides an opportunity to synthesize learning outcomes of several units into a single coherent and independent research piece.
An overview of content
It is an extended report of an independent study that identifies and investigates a particular research question and explores it systematically over a sustained period of time. Projects may be based around empirical topics or provide a review of the literature based on extensive reading of the literature.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students will be able to demonstrate that they are able to provide an elaborate analysis of a policy-relevant research question using appropriate graduate-level economic methodology.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the dissertation, students will demonstrate the ability to:
Student learning is supported by regular individual supervision sessions, although the expectation is that the dissertation is primarily an individual piece of work.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Preparing a dissertation requires extensive reading of the relevant literature to put the research question into greater context, to contrast the results of published papers with a similar research topic and to justify and explain the methodology used.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
A dissertation of 10,000 to 15,000 words. The dissertation will assess students' ability to: frame a research question in the context of the relevant literature, apply a suitable research strategy for either an empirical or a library-based research study, analyse resulting data and draw relevant conclusions, and integrate these into wider academic debates. The dissertation will also assess students' ability to produce a substantial piece of work independently and by a deadline, and which conforms to the conventions of academic presentation.
When assessment does not go to plan
Where required, students are permitted to submit a revised version of their dissertation following the Faculty Exam Board.
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. ECONM0045).
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.
