The dissertation allows students to undertake original work over an extended period by investigating primary sources (where necessary in translation), and by setting their findings against existing research and/or theories and/or methodologies in the chosen field. The choice of topic and approach are shaped by the student, but in consultation with a supervisor.

None. Students are responsible for arranging up to five meetings with their supervisor.

4281P: Applied Dissertation with Placement in History

None

The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ Students submit a brief dissertation proposal at the outset, after discussion with a putative supervisor, but they are graded on the 12,000-word dissertation submitted at the end of course. The word count includes footnotes and appendices, but not the bibliography and front matter (such as title page, table of contents, acknowledgments). 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ There are no alternatives to the dissertation, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.

[No exceptions]

This course aims to:

■ Introduce and foster research methods.

■ Develop students' capacity for independent research and writing.

■ Provide the opportunity to study in depth a carefully defined historical topic on the basis of guidance from a specialist tutor.

■ Allow students to undertake sustained independent analysis of a substantial body of primary sources (where appropriate, in translation).

■ Enhance students' research skills by requiring that they undertake extensive independent work in libraries and, where appropriate, archives and other repositories.

■ Foster a combination of investigative, creative and organisational skills valuable not only in historical research but also in most branches of graduate employment.

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

■ Formulate their own research questions relating to historical problems or debates.

■ Evaluate a particular topic in terms of subject-specific context/theories/methodologies and critically incorporate this engagement into their own research.

■ Organise, pursue and complete a programme of independent research.

■ Make judicious and critical use of a broad range of secondary and primary material by synthesising it appropriately and using it to construct a cogent argument.

■ Write up a substantial piece of scholarship based on their own research findings.

■ Articulate the individual Graduate Attributes that they have developed by producing their dissertation.