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Module Catalogue

PO943-60 Dissertation

Department
Politics & International Studies
Level
Taught Postgraduate Level
Module leader
Florian Reiche
Credit value
60
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

The 10,000-word MA dissertation (15,000 words for double degree students) addresses a single subject of the student’s choice. The topic may concern any aspect of the subject matter of their programme, but may not fall decidedly in the realm of some other field, such as Economics.

You should take special care to formulate a dissertation topic that can be handled effectively in 10,000 words (15,000 words for double degree students) and in the limited preparation period of less than four months. Dissertation titles are agreed with the dissertation title and plan advisor and approved by the External Examiner.

The dissertation is an exercise in independent study in which you pursue a topic that interests you in greater depth than is possible in a research essay. It allows you to further develop your skills of literature search and bibliography construction, theoretical argument, appraisal of empirical evidence and judgement.

Please note the difference in dissertation length for students on single MA programmes and students on a Double Degree programme with one of our international partner universities. Single degree students must not exceed 10,000 words. Double degree students must not exceed 15,000 words.

Module web page

Module aims

This module aims:
to develop a deep knowledge of the chosen research topic
to develop written communication skills
to develop time-management skills in the establishment of a research and writing plan
to develop research skills
to develop IT skills – both in terms of the presentation of the dissertation and in the use of on-line resources whilst researching the topic

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

https://moodle.warwick.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=35328

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • produce a long piece of written research over an extended period of time conforming to the substantive focus of the degree programme
  • present a research project in a logically-structured manner
  • develop a research question that can be effectively answered with a sustained argument within the confines of the word limit and available resources
  • use appropriate evidence from a variety of sources to support a sustained argument
  • develop the scholarly tools of appropriate citation of sources and to work independently to a strict deadline
  • collect and evaluate research material from a variety of sources

Research element

This is a dissertation module, which is entirely based on research.

Subject specific skills

TBC

Transferable skills

TBC

Study time

Type Required
Private study 600 hours (100%)
Total 600 hours

Private study description

tbc

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A1
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
10,000 word dissertation 100% Yes (extension)
Feedback on assessment

TBC

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • TPOS-M9PE Double MA in Politics and International Studies (with NTU Singapore)
    • Year 2 of M91B International Political Economy (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 2 of M91C International Politics and East Asia (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 2 of M91D International Politics and Europe (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 2 of M91E International Relations (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 2 of M91G International Security (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 2 of M91K Political and Legal Theory (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 2 of M91H Public Policy (Double Degree - NTU)
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M1PA MA in International Politics and Europe
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9Q1 Postgraduate Politics, Big Data and Quantitative Methods
  • Year 1 of TIMA-L981 Postgraduate Social Science Research

This module is Core optional for:

  • Year 2 of TPOS-M9PX Double MA in Global Governance (with University of Waterloo, Canada)
  • Year 2 of TPOS-M9PV Double MA in Journalism, Politics and International Studies (with Monash University)
  • Year 2 of TPOS-M9PW Double MA in Politics and International Service (with American University, Washington DC)
  • TPOS-M9PE Double MA in Politics and International Studies (with NTU Singapore)
    • Year 2 of M91L International Development (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 2 of M91B International Political Economy (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 2 of M91C International Politics and East Asia (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 2 of M91D International Politics and Europe (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 2 of M91E International Relations (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 2 of M91G International Security (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 2 of M91K Political and Legal Theory (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 2 of M91H Public Policy (Double Degree - NTU)
  • TPOS-M9PR Double MA in Politics and International Studies (with Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona)
    • Year 2 of M93B International Political Economy (Double Degree - Barcelona)
    • Year 2 of M93H Public Policy (Double Degree - Barcelona)
  • TPOS-M9PP Double MA in Politics and International Studies (with Universität Konstanz, Germany)
    • Year 2 of M92B International Political Economy (Double Degree - Konstanz)
    • Year 2 of M92C International Politics and East Asia (Double Degree - Konstanz)
    • Year 2 of M92D International Politics and Europe (Double Degree - Konstanz)
    • Year 2 of M92E International Relations (Double Degree - Konstanz)
    • Year 2 of M92G International Security (Double Degree - Konstanz)
    • Year 2 of M92K Political and Legal Theory (Double Degree - Konstanz)
    • Year 2 of M92H Public Policy (Double Degree - Konstanz)
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PT MA in International Development
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M1P3 Postgraduate Taught International Political Economy
  • TPOS-M1P8 Postgraduate Taught International Politics and East Asia
    • Year 1 of M1P8 International Politics and East Asia
    • Year 2 of M1P8 International Politics and East Asia
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9P9 Postgraduate Taught International Relations
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PC Postgraduate Taught International Security
  • TPOS-M9PS Postgraduate Taught Political and Legal Theory
    • Year 1 of M9PS Political and Legal Theory
    • Year 2 of M9PS Political and Legal Theory
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PF Postgraduate Taught Public Policy
  • TPOS-M9PQ Postgraduate Taught United States Foreign Policy
    • Year 1 of M9PQ United States Foreign Policy
    • Year 2 of M9PQ United States Foreign Policy

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PP Double MA in Politics and International Studies (with Universität Konstanz, Germany)

This module is Core option list A for:

  • TPOS-M9PE Double MA in Politics and International Studies (with NTU Singapore)
    • Year 2 of M91B International Political Economy (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 2 of M91C International Politics and East Asia (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 2 of M91G International Security (Double Degree - NTU)

This module is Core option list B for:

  • TPOS-M9PE Double MA in Politics and International Studies (with NTU Singapore)
    • Year 1 of M91F Globalisation and Development (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 1 of M91B International Political Economy (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 1 of M91C International Politics and East Asia (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 1 of M91D International Politics and Europe (Double Degree - NTU)
    • Year 1 of M91G International Security (Double Degree - NTU)