Module description

The Dissertation is worth 60 credits for iMSc, MSc and MRes students. It is compulsory for all students.   

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 outcomes

Academic Content 

• Critical appraisal and knowledge of different research methods 
• Principles of a scholarly literature review as applied to global public health and primary care. 
• Knowledge of key data sources including journals, evidence databases, and grey literature. 
• Approaches to appraising, summarising, and synthesising evidence and data.   
• Foundations of expertise in a specific topic area 

Research skill development 

• Basic understanding and skill of designing research in global/public health 
• Searching & appraising academic and grey literature on a chosen topic. 
• Awareness of different methods and methodological approaches. 
• Appraisal and synthesis of findings. 

Other transferable skills/ Attribute development 

• Ability to plan and manage time effectively. 
• Ability to reflect on and develop a scholarly approach to published and other evidence
• Intellectual integrity and knowledge of own strengths and weaknesses. 
• Ability to seek and follow advice and feedback. 
• Ability to write effectively and confidently in an academic and professional manner.

Dissertation schedule

The schedule for your dissertation is very different to other modules. The dissertation runs across terms 1, 2 ,3 and part of the summer. 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. 6 x 1.5 hour workshops delivered across term 1 and term 2.
4. 10 hours of supervision that you schedule with the agreement of your supervisor over from term 2 until the hand in date (5pm, 2nd August, 2024)

Your dissertation is also linked to the weekly teaching and assessment for Advanced Research Methods 1 (term 1) and Advanced Research Methods 2 (term 2). 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 all terms and the summer. 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

 

Specific information for part time students

If you are in year 1 of your part time MSc you are not required to submit a dissertation topic idea this academic year. That said you are welcome and encouraged to engage with the dissertation pages and start thinking about the dissertation you will conduct in 2024-25. You are also welcome to attend the online sessions. 

 Teaching staff

Name	Megan Clinch
Role	Module Lead
Bio	I am looking forward to supporting you with your dissertation. I firmly believe there is no such thing as a stupid question so if anything is unclear please just ask.  Try to remember that the dissertation is an independent piece of work, along with your supervisor I can help you develop a work plan and talk through your ideas. That said, it is your responsibility to do the  work and keep on track with the dissertation process.  If you do this you will find the dissertation an incredibly satisfying and exciting endeavor.
Contact	m.clinch@qmul.ac.uk
How to schedule meetings	Please email me to schedule meetings. We can decide the length of the meeting depending on the issue we need to discuss.

 

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 1,2 and 3)

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 3 dissertation workshops 

If you engaged with all term 1 and 2 activities, by term 3,  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 3 you will continue to meet with your supervisor and engage with the following eight online workshops aimed at supporting with the dissertation writing process. The eight sessions will focus on:

1. Introduction; Background and Rationale - 2-4, May 14th
2. Open topic writing retreat - 2-4, May 21^st 
   
3. Methodology and Conceptual Frameworks - 2-4, May 28th
4. Open topic writing retreat - 2-4, June 4^th 
   
5. Discussion and Results - 2-4, June 11th
6. Open topic writing retreat - 2-4, 18th June 
   
7. Conclusions and Recommendations - 2-4, June 25th 

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 (terms 2 and 3)

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