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Postgraduate Dissertations and Projects

You will find information about topic approval, supervision arrangements, module registration etc. in your Course Handbook and most courses will also produce a more detailed Dissertation/Project Module Booklet. These questions and answers are to assist you with completing your dissertation and ensuring that you hand it in on time, in the proper format.

Who will arrange my Supervision?

Course Leaders are responsible for arrangements for allocating supervisors with appropriate expertise to match your area of research interest. However, it is the responsibility of individual students to contact their Course Leader to arrange supervision at an appropriate time. This is particularly important in the case of part-time students whose rate of study will vary.

How much Supervision can I expect to receive?

The amount of actual supervisory contact time will vary between disciplines but you should expect to receive as a minimum at least 4 hours contact with your supervisor. You are expected to actively engage with your supervisor, agreeing timers and attending supervision sessions, remaining in contact and responding to communications.

When will I be expected to complete my Dissertation?

Full-time September starters will normally complete their dissertation/project during the Summer Study Period and full-time February starters will normally be expected to complete their dissertation/project during their second Spring Semester.

Part-time students need to consult their Course Leader/Supervisor as their completion date will depend on their rate of study.

It is important that students have their dissertation registered for the appropriate period (Autumn Semester, Spring Semester or Summer Studies Period) in which they intend to submit.


When and Where do I submit the Dissertation?

There are three standard deadline dates for submission in every academic year.

Completed Dissertations should be handed in to your Postgraduate Office

• The word limit will be specified in your Dissertation/Project Module Booklet. This normally excludes supporting text pages such as the bibliography, indented quotes, footnotes, appendices etc. as well as tables, graphs, diagrams and similar illustrative material. As a rough guide dissertations/projects are usually between 12,000 to 20,000 words long;
• It should be word processed or typewritten;
• The main text and bibliography should be double-spaced. Other sections, such as indented quotes, footnotes, appendices etc., can be single-spaced;
• It should be presented in 12 point font size on one side of each page of white A4 paper;
• Page numbers should be at the centre foot of each page;
• Left, right, top and bottom margins should be 2.5cm.

Your dissertation must include the following:

• Title Page
  full title of study
  full name of author or ID number - you should consult your Supervisor/Dissertation Handbook as some courses require ID No. only
  the qualification to which the dissertation relates, using a standard form of words, such as "A dissertation submitted in partial requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the subject of Education"
  the institution's name
  the month and year of submission
• Acknowledgments
  You should acknowledge those who have assisted, provided information, guidance and advice.
• Abstract
  This is a one page outline/overview of the work undertaken. It should be no more than 300 words, usually single-spaced type. The abstract normally goes in after the title page but before the contents list.
• Contents Page
  This should indicate chapter titles and page numbers. Lists of illustrations, figures and tables with page numbers should also be inserted at the beginning of your text.
• Main Body of Work
  Students should consult the Dissertation/Project Module Booklet specific to their course as expectation differs depending on discipline/subject area.
• Reference List / Bibliography
• Appendices

How many copies should I submit and do they have to be bound?

Most courses expect you to hand in two copies, both of which must be bound. One copy will be available for collection and one will be kept by the University for reference. However, please do check the specific requirements as detailed in your Dissertation Module Handbook.

The binding must be reasonably secure so that leaves cannot easily be removed, lost or replaced. It would be helpful, although not vital, if the front and rear boards are rigid enough to hold the dissertation upright on a shelf, and that it has a navy cover, with gold lettering if possible. (If you want to make properly bound copies you should expect to pay around £15 - £20 per volume).

Dissertation Binders

I will be unable to engage in study for the dissertation/project. What should I do?

Once you are registered for your dissertation/project you are required to submit in the period for which you are registered and the University's standard assessment arrangements and mitigating circumstances procedures apply. Students are only permitted to withdraw form a module be the end of Week 2 of the first semester of the academic year in which they have enrolled. International students who are student visa holders must consult an International Student Adviser in Student Services if they are unable to start their dissertation/project, as it is a requirement of the Home Office that they are studying full-time if they wish to remain in the UK.

What happens if I do not hand my Dissertation in on time?

First submission of your dissertation

You may hand in your work up to two weeks after the published deadline. However, this will result in your module being capped at 50% unless you also have submitted a valid claim for mitigating circumstances (in such cases, your work will be marked, as if submitted on time).

You may request a capped deferral via Evision, which defers your submission until the next assessment point. However, please note that your module result will be capped at 50%.

Students who do not submit their work on time (or within the two week late coursework period) and:

(i) do not have valid mitigating circumstances; or,
(ii) have not deferred the submission; will receive a 'Fail' result and will not be provided an opportunity for reassessment.

Students who submit, but fail on academic grounds, will be provided with a reassessment opportunity.

Reassessment

Students provided with a reassessment opportunity will not be charged a fee. However, as for all reassessments, the module will be capped at 50%.

For reassessment, any student submitting their work within the two week late coursework period must also have a valid claim for mitigating circumstances. Without a successful claim for mitigating circumstances, the submission will not be deemed valid as will result in a zero mark.

Finally, is any extra study support available?

The Learning Development Units provide study and academic skills support to students on both campuses: