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The Level 3 dissertation course provides students with the opportunity to undertake an extended in-depth research project in a subject area of their choice using appropriate methods. It gives students the opportunity to consolidate bibliographical and critical analytic skills and a further opportunity to improve communication skills.

An introductory session will be held in Semester 1 outlining the aims and ILOs of both the dissertation and placement options. For those students undertaking the dissertation a series of weekly preparatory seminars will take place in the first half of Semester 2.

Thereafter, students will meet with their dissertation supervisor regularly up to a maximum of 7 contact hours. Students should note that it is their responsibility to maintain contact with their supervisor.

300 credits should normally have been obtained before embarking on the dissertation.

Dissertation 3 (full session) DUMF3023P.

Placement (Home) DUMF3068 or Placement (International) DUMF3069.

Dissertation proposal (approx. 2,000-2,500 words) = 20%

Dissertation, including abstract (10,000-12,000 words) = 80%

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

Reassessment is not possible for any student undertaking the dissertation as part of her/his Honours curriculum. However reassessment may be possible for those students completing it in pursuit of the 3-year exit award in Primary Educational Studies.

1) To encourage the skills of independent research.

2) To encourage professional standards for the presentation of research material.

By the end of the course, students will be able:
1. to identify a research topic that is viable within the constraints of time and length that makes a contribution to knowledge in the area of their designated degree.
2. to demonstrate initial awareness of a possible research topic within a literature review that acts as a foundation in relation to context, focus, direction and substantive material.
3. to demonstrate an ability to select and apply an appropriate methodology from the range of qualitative, quantitative, critical, historical and theoretical options.
4. to access and utilise a range of information sources and technologies in effectively retrieving, storing, processing data.
5. to organise material in a well structured and clearly presented form.
6. to apply consistent rules of presentation of bibliographical materials, appendices and footnotes, using recognised academic standards.
7. to write and submit a finished dissertation that shows significant progression from the initial review in relation to added literature, analysis and drawing of conclusions.
8. to demonstrate an awareness of the relationship of the topic to other work in the same area.
9. to present orally progress in relation to practical, strategic and reflective elements
10. to identify and develop generic learning outcomes associated with the execution of the research

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.