4.9 Dissertation – DENT60020 (60 Credits)

Each student must undertake a research project and a review of the relevant literature, methodology and results presented in the form of a dissertation. Guidelines for preparation of a dissertation and the notice of submission form can be found at the following website: http://www.mhs.manchester.ac.uk/intranet/admingroups/postgraduate/taught/Dissertation/.

A list of suggested topics and supervisors will be provided. Students are also encouraged to suggest potential topics. As this dissertation must be completed within the time span of the programme, it is essential that the project is commenced early in the programme. With this fact in mind, supervisors may request students to commence background reading and similar related tasks prior to the commencement of the programme.

Students are encouraged to disseminate their findings in a variety of ways:

• Presentation at research seminars
• Presentation at national/international meetings
• Publication in a professional journal (often non-refereed)
• Publication in a refereed journal

Regular meetings between each student and the academic member of staff nominated as his/her supervisor will be arranged. These are inevitably frequent in the early stages of the project when design and preparation work demands a high intensity of work. Each meeting should be recorded with outcomes summarised and objectives set for research to be performed prior to the next visit.

 

Submission of Dissertation

You must complete and pass the taught element of the programme (the first 120 credits) before submission of a dissertation can be accepted.

See below for dissertation submission dates (depending on the length of your programme).

Your Programme Administrator will advise you on the processes for submitting your dissertation online during the course of the academic year.

The deadline for submission of dissertations cannot be extended, unless approval is given in advance due to mitigating circumstances.

The dissertation must be submitted in accordance with University of Manchester prescribed guidelines, details of which may be obtained at:

Guidance for the presentation of Taught Masters dissertations

No other form of dissertation is acceptable.

Please note that dissertations will be run through the University’s plagiarism software.

Important note: Common deficiencies in dissertations include the bibliography. A meticulously systematic bibliography is required and advice on the presentation of the bibliography must be sought from Supervisors. As a guide, the dissertation should be approximately 10,000-15,000 words excluding the bibliography.

Graduate students are expected to write and submit their research dissertation during the prescribed period of their degree registration. Supervisors will exert pressure on students to ensure this important target is met. Dissertation production always takes longer than planned, so you are advised to start early, with the first draft completed three months before the end of the prescribed programme.

Submission Dates (approximate)

Degree	Dissertation to be submitted by:	Deadline for handing in ‘Notice of Submission’:	Notice of Submission and Dissertation to be submitted online (your Programme Administrator will give you details)
MSc (FT)	9 September 2019	26 July  2019
MSc (PT)	7 September 2020	24 July  2020
MSc (Clin)	6 September 2021	23 July  2021

 

N.B.:  If you are a student on a programme lasting more than one year, please double check these dates during your final year.