Preparing for your dissertation can take as many forms as one can conceive, varying according to supervisor, topic, and methods you choose to approach it. The process for me "officially" started with the research proposal in semester two and even that is prone to change as you dwell on the topic, so do not panic and think you should have it all figured out so soon. As a student in the earlier stages of dissertation within MSc Global Migrations & Social Justice, I hope my experience portrays some 'be's' that helped me through this process.

Be open-minded

It is perfectly fine to arrive with a set dissertation topic, but don't let preclude any possibility to change or adapt it. In my case, the classes, lecturers, and discussions with colleagues were central to think about the methodological approaches to studying migration from 'mobile' perspectives it entailed, which steered me away from my initial tendency to focus on static, document-oriented research more common in my Law background.

Be patient

However tempting it may be to start some research on your dissertation right away, you will soon note that most of that will be of little use and potentially a waste of time and energy. As I learned this, I dwelled on the course readings and made use of the office hours from our lecturers (sparingly, of course) to talk of potential dissertation topics connected to the most up to date debates on migration. It doesn't take long browsing through any media outlet to capture the complexity of navigating migration themes, so I really took my time absorbing the content of the lectures and thinking about how to insert my dissertation into this conundrum. 

Be curious and act on it

Taking your time should not mean refraining from thinking of your dissertation at all in the initial months. To the contrary, during this period it is best to take a more open stance and try to connect all that you are learning with potential research topics and / or approaches. I would always try and make loose connections between the course readings and a potential dissertation topic, which helped me better understand some concepts for the lectures and try out their usefulness in future research. The lecturers and the University themselves also proved important allies to exercise my curiority, as there are events, masterclasses and open lectures available to participate in. 

Be grounded

It can be tempting to reach for a groundbreaking topic or research concept. When you are assigned a supervisor - you can also talk to potential superviors beforehand and indicate to that in your dissertation proposal which may be considered when you are assigned a supervisor - take the opportunity to talk to them and get your expectations aligned. Doing this made me realise that the most excellent work often draws from simplicity to generate insightful analysis and I now hope that my own research does the same. Ultimately, preparing for my dissertation has been about making the most of the opportunities laid out to me and I have seen that in MSc Global Migrations & Social Justice as taking the form of events, debates and overall encouragement to think critically and be open-minded. 

First published: 12 May 2025

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