The final dissertation constitutes 100% of the mark for the dissertation module. The dissertation is worth 30 credits out of 120 credits that you take in the whole year. 

The dissertation aims to equip you with the practical and critical skills required to plan, design, and deliver an individual piece of academic research. To do this you will need to consolidate the knowledge, skills and interests you have developed during your taught modules, acquire a specific set of new research skills, and apply these to a global health problem.

Module aims and learning objectives

Academic content  

• Knowledge of the principles of scholarly literature review as applied to global health, primary care and public health 
• Knowledge of key data sources including journals, databases and grey literature relevant to these fields 
• Knowledge of approaches to appraising, summarising and synthesising findings from primary studies 
• Knowledge of word processing, reference managing and presentation software 

Research Skill development 

• Search academic and grey literature including databases, hand searching and citation tracking 
• Critically analyse literature on a chosen topic relevant to global health, primary care or public health 
• Summarise and synthesise the findings from primary studies to produce a coherent review of the topic 
• Present findings to an audience and respond to constructive criticism 

Other transferable skills/Attribute development 

• Personal organisation and project management 
• A reflexive and scholarly approach to published and other evidence
• Intellectual integrity and knowledge of own strengths and weaknesses 
• Ability to seek and follow advice and feedback in the course of a major literature review. 

Dissertation schedule

 The schedule for you dissertation is very different to other modules. The dissertation runs across terms 1, 2 and 3. It is delivered through a combination of:

1. Self-directed study that you schedule yourself.
2. 3 x 1.5-hour workshops that are delivered in term 1.
3. 3 x 1.5 hour workshops delivered in term 2.
4. Optional auditing of Advanced Research Methods 2 workshops in term 2
5. 10 hours of supervision that you schedule with the agreement of your supervisor over from term 2 until the hand in date (5pm, Friday May 17th, 2023)

Your dissertation is also linked to the weekly teaching and assessment for Advanced Research Methods 1 (research proposal). The diagram below maps out the activities that support your dissertation. Please also make sure you read and understand the dissertation timeline of activities (download here) across  term 1 and 2. The timeline includes key dates regarding:

• The dates and times of all dissertation workshops
• The timings of your supervisory meetings
• The allocation of topic submission and supervisor allocation 
• If applicable, the deadline to submit reseach ethics applications 
• The deadline for submission of your final draft dissertation for supervisor feedback
• The final dissertation submission deadline 

Teaching staff

Meg will deliver the term 1 workshops and regularly update you on the dissertation module during term 1. At the start of term 2 you will be allocated a supervisor. You will work closely with your supervisor on your dissertation during term 2 up until the hand in date (see teaching arrangements below).

Once you have been allocated your supervisor Meg will still be available for support with:

• The dissertation process and assessment criteria.
• Troubleshooting any issues that might arise (e.g. supervisory issues, questions about the dissertation assessment criteria etc.).

Teaching arrangements

Self-directed study (term 1 and 2)

The dissertation spans the duration of your degree. You should set aside a couple of hours per week during term 1 to work on your dissertation. The intensity of the dissertation work will increase as the academic year progresses, please make sure you plan for this in collaboration with your supervisor. Your Academic Adviser can also help you plan how you manage your workload. See the dissertation schedule to understand what dissertation work you should be doing and when.  

Time management is an essential research skill. Managing your dissertation work alongside the completion of your modules during term 1 and 2 is a way of honing this key research skill.  

Term 1 dissertation workshops

Over the course of term 1 the following three in-person workshops will be delivered. It is essential that you attend these workshops. They will help you to understand the requirements of the dissertation and how to develop, plan and conduct your dissertation research.

Term 2 dissertation workshops

If you engaged with all other term 1 and 2 activities, by the end of term 2,  you should have a clear plan for your dissertation including: a well defined research question arising from a background literture review; research aims; research objectives; and a clear research methodology. Throughout term 2 you will continue to meet with your supervisor and engage with the following 4 online workshops aimed at supporting with the dissertation writing process. The four sessions will focus on:

1. Introduction; Background and Rationale - April 9^th
2. Methodology and Conceptual Frameworks - April 16^th
3. Discussion and Results - April 23^rd
4. Conclusions and Recommendations - April 30^th

Note, your dissertation supervisor  is more suited to give specific advice on your dissertation topic. These workshops are an opportunity to ask general questions and advise about your writing process, and an opportunity to write together and motivate each other using the Pomodoro technique.

Dissertation supervision (term 2)

The dissertation is an independent project. It represents your own work and is therefore your responsibility. This includes responsibility for organising meetings with your supervisor, agreeing an agenda, providing your supervisor with draft chapters in advance for feedback at mutually agreed times. 

 Supervision will therefore involve:

• Initial guidance in developing and focusing your research question.
• Signposting relevant scholarship on the topic.
• Helping you to develop  feasible work plan for the dissertation.
• Advising you at strategic points to help you stay on track and alert you to any significant problems.
• Providing critical inputs in your argumentation and analysis. 

In addition to any necessary troubleshooting, supervision meetings should be utilised to seek critical feedback on the design of research and discuss choice of theory and the analysis and presentation of findings. 

Each student is entitled to 10 hours of dissertation supervision from when their supervisor is allocated. It is up you and your supervisor to decide how you use these 10 hours.  

If you are struggling with any personal problems that are making it hard for you to engage with your dissertation let you supervisor know. Most importantly let your Academic Adviser know of any issues you are having and get the support from QM Welfare if required.

 Recommended resources

QM Library Services Academic Skills pages:

•  FMD Literature Searching Drop-in Sessions
• Maths and Statistics Drop-In Sessions
• Academic and Research Skills Workshops
• Online Study Resources

Examples of past dissertations

Where to get help