Dissertations

Studying at university isn't just about lecturers transmitting knowledge to students; it's about students and staff working in partnership to produce new knowledge through collaborative research, discussion and debate.

Writing a dissertation is an exciting and challenging opportunity to explore and research an issue or topic of particular interest and to be involved in the advancement of understanding in that field of study. This might seem daunting at times but you will have support from a supervisor or tutor to answer your questions and guide you through the process.

Your dissertation may have a very similar structure outlined in the reports section of this website.

Top tips on getting started

• Get organised!

  Plan your time working back from your deadlines for submission to ensure that you get each stage written up in good time. Plan in regular meetings with your supervisor to help keep you on track.

• Identify a problem

  Give yourself a good start by choosing a topic for your dissertation that addresses an existing gap in the literature, and make sure you've done your research to ensure there is a gap!

• Peer review

  Find some peers that you can meet for a coffee and discuss your work with; being open and receptive to others evaluating and critiquing your work will give you academic integrity.