| Unit name | Dissertation (SWDTC) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAWDM0113 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Dr. Alice Venn |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Completion of the core and optional units on the MRes Programme. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None. |
| School/department | University of Bristol Law School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The dissertation is an opportunity to carry out independent study, enabling the student to select a field of inquiry relevant to sustainable futures and to carry out research in depth over a sustained period. The student will have the opportunity to gain expertise within the chosen topic that allows them to move beyond discussions covered in the taught part of the Programme. Student learning is supported by regular individual supervision sessions, though the expectation is that the dissertation is primarily an individual piece of work.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The Dissertation is the final stage in the MRes Programme and students will already have gained an understanding of the issues and themes relevant to the Programme from the taught units they have followed. The Dissertation enables each student to work on their own particular interests and independently. Therefore students select their own topic in discussion with tutors - either building upon something already studied within the MRes Programme or exploring something new but within the overall theme of sustainable futures. Supervisors support students in developing their research and writing skills through this process. Research training is provided to students in the summer, shortly after the end of the examination period.
An overview of content
The dissertation allows students to develop and demonstrate research skills. These are skills associated with finding and selecting legal and non-legal materials. It also allows students to develop and demonstrate other skills with which they are already familiar – skills of analysis, synthesis, critical judgment and evaluation. The dissertation unit will provide students with experience of using research and theoretical literature to inform research design; designing and conducting a small scale research project; and communicating their research cohesively. Further, the students will be required to draw on previous research methods units in the design, implementation, data collection and analysis of their research. This unit will support students to adopt a critical understanding of research literature, to use the research methodologies introduced in their taught units and to generate their own independent research. This unit may also function as an important first step in supporting those students who wish to go on to further PhD study by providing the opportunity to test and evaluate their research practices and theoretical approaches.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
The dissertation allows the student to study a topic in depth relevant to key themes of study within the MRes Programme, linked either to units covered in the taught part of the programme or more broadly connected to the themes of sustainable futures. By working with the supervisor the student will have an opportunity to develop one or more research methodologies appropriate to the research question being asked within the dissertation study. The student will develop expertise on the given topic and will have the opportunity to produce an original research paper that contributes to knowledge in the field.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the dissertation unit, the student will be able to:
Following completion of the taught part of the MRes Programme students will undergo a training event that provides them with guidance and materials that will be relevant to the research and writing process.
All students are individually allocated a supervisor from among staff with relevant expertise on the research topic they have selected. They will meet with the supervisor to discuss themes, readings, research methodologies relevant to the topic and research question.
The student will present a dissertation outline and receive feedback and advice from the supervisor on how to progress with the research. The student will then submit a sample of writing (around 2500 -3000 words) to the supervisor who will provide written feedback on how to develop the dissertation to completion.
The student will spend the summer researching and writing up, ready for submission by early September. The student will conduct predominantly desk and library-based research and may adopt other research methodologies subject to ethical and practical considerations. The research methods will be discussed fully with the supervisor.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Students will work on developing a dissertation outline with support and advice from the supervisor in the first month of work on the dissertation. During July they will submit a 20% sample of their dissertation to the supervisor who will provide written feedback within three weeks.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
The student will submit a 12,000 to 15,000 word dissertation at the end of August or early September (a submission date will be confirmed during the year of study for the MRes). The mark for the final dissertation will comprise 100% of the mark awarded for the unit. The student must obtain at least 50% to be awarded a pass in this Unit. The assessment will judge:
When assessment does not go to plan
If the student has not been able to submit or pass the dissertation they will undergo a re-assessment for this unit, if they are eligible to do so. This will require the student to submit an improved dissertation within a specified deadline (students are not expected to change topic or re-write the whole dissertation). The dissertation for the re-assessment must fulfil the same requirements as for the first submission in order to pass.
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. LAWDM0113).
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.
