Unit information: Dissertation: MSc Global Development and Environment in 2023/24

Unit name	Dissertation: MSc Global Development and Environment
Unit code	GEOGM0059
Credit points	60
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Professor. Richards
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
School/department	School of Geographical Sciences
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Unit Information

The dissertation is based upon an independent research project developed by the individual student in consultation with an advisor. The dissertation provides students with practical experience of formulating, designing, and undertaking a substantive and original piece of social science research. Students are introduced to key principles of research design and research ethics through intensive training in this unit. The submitted dissertation is evaluated to judge the individual student’s ability to formulate, design and conduct independent research into a clearly defined research problem; to select and deploy appropriate methodologies in investigating the problem; and to assess critically the relationships between empirical research findings and broader substantive and conceptual issues.

Your learning on this unit

Successful completion of the dissertation will:

1. Demonstrate a sound understanding of research design and ethics;
2. Give students the experience and confidence necessary to carry out all stages of a research project;
3. Require that students review and evaluate the existing, relevant literature on a chosen topic, challenging them to link their own results to that wider literature;
4. Deepen students’ understanding of a particular area of research and its connections to other areas of knowledge;
5. Sharpen students’ ability to present a clear, coherent, and structured argument in written form;
6. Demand that students’ successfully organise their own resources, including time, to produce a piece of work under a tight timeline.

How you will learn

Independent study and research supported by supervisor

How you will be assessed

(100%) 12,000 word dissertation [ILOs 1-6]

Resources

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. GEOGM0059).

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 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.