Course Catalogue

Dissertation (Education) EDUC51104P

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Education
  • Credits: 60
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Full Year
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

Dissertation (Education)

Timetable

Regular one to one supervision with designated tutor and group sessions.

Requirements of Entry

none

Excluded Courses

none

Co-requisites

none

Assessment

The dissertation can take 2 formats:

■ traditional: should contain between 12 000-15 000 words (excluding appendices) (100%)

■ 3-part: 10-minute presentation (10%); 2000-3000 words policy brief/ executive summary (40%); 7000-8000 words dissertation (50%).

 

A great variety of studies can be accepted as legitimate research exercises for the Dissertation. An experiment of classic design; a survey by questionnaire; interviews of pupils and staff; a study by ethnographic, systematic or participant observation; a case study; a review of policy; discourse analysis of official reports are possible examples.

Course Aims

To provide students with an opportunity to conduct a supervised research exercise that involves examining literature, gathering relevant data and analysis of findings.in an educational context.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

1. critically review relevant literature

2. identify an issue of strategic importance to their field of professional practice (based on literature and personal experience)

3. develop research question(s) which will act as the conceptual basis of the research

4. develop a research methodology, whether empirical, historical, philosophical or other, which is adequate to the research question(s) (including research methods)

5. demonstrate a rigorous and ethical engagement with research material which is adequate to the research strategy

6. present the findings of the research

7. draw conclusions from the research process which are rooted in the research, are in proportion to its scope and have relevance for the researcher's filed of educational practice, arguing priorities for future development

8. present output(s) which conform to the remit and guidelines for completion of the dissertation (traditional or 3-part)

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions