Postgraduate Course: Dissertation (MSc Financial Management) (CMSE11197)
Course Outline
| School | Business School |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 60 |
ECTS Credits | 30 |
| Summary | The Business School MSc Dissertation is undertaken in the spring and summer period following Semester 2/2b. Undertaking the Dissertation requires the student to develop a deep level of analysis and understanding of the theory and processes of organisations and the business environment through the completion of a piece of individual research. |
| Course description |
The Dissertation aims to make a study in depth of a topic in which the student is particularly interested in within the field of financial management. It allows the student to gain experience of planning, designing, executing and reporting a significant piece of individual research. Experience is also gained in the processes involved in research, such as obtaining information from people, securing their co-operation, analysing and evaluating data, framing recommendations, and other methods of field study and data collection. Students learn how to communicate complex ideas and information in a coherent and structured manner.
Student Learning Experience
The Dissertation provides the opportunity for students to engage in a research project and, in particular, the ability to study a specific topic and question, identify the issues and how they may be researched, collect and validate appropriate data, organise and discuss the findings, their reliability and validity and present results in a logical and clear manner.
The Dissertation integrates elements from the course of study and requires students to identify and define a research topic, conduct the research and write it up in a Dissertation format. This is all within a predetermined time frame, which from start to finish lasts approximately 3 months (May/June through August for 12-month students).
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Block 5 (Sem 2) and beyond |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
600
(
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 3,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 12,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
585 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
The dissertation is approximately 15,000 words in length.
The grading of the Dissertation follows the University¿s Postgraduate Common Marking Scheme. The Dissertation should be able to demonstrate technical understanding and be able to integrate knowledge in order to apply it to a research question. Examiners will be looking for a range of attributes when assessing the Dissertation, to include:
-Well-defined objectives and clear focus
-Thorough review and evaluation of relevant previous literature/work
-Methodology and methods appropriate to research focus
-Adequate discussion of methods adopted (including rationale and limitations)
-Rigorous and appropriate analysis of research findings
-Conclusions/recommendations follow on from findings
-Thoughtful engagement with literature and findings
-Contribution to knowledge is clear (includes quality of argument)
-Dissertation is clearly structured
-Dissertation is presented to clear and professional standard
-Non-original work is adequately referenced
-It is clear which parts of the work are the student¿s own |
| Feedback |
Feedback
Once students have been allocated to an Advisor, they are under that staff member¿s guidance throughout the entire process. Guidance is provided as formative feedback but the responsibility for the academic quality of a Dissertation is the student¿s alone.
Students are required to keep in regular contact with their Advisor. As a minimum they should meet with their Advisor three times. In particular, the following key meetings are required:
-A preliminary discussion of the student¿s proposal with the Advisor (this will cover, broadly, the feasibility of the idea; possible sources of data and reading; methods of analysis; a plan or timetable). Students are responsible for arranging an appointment with their designated Advisor
-Assessment of progress to date. This is most likely to be a short meeting to discuss data collection and to map out further progress
-Final meeting. In the latter part of the process, students may meet with their advisor to discuss the analysis or interpretation of data collected or to provide feedback on a sample chapter.
The final mark for the Dissertation will usually be available after the final Board of Examiners in October. Individual summative feedback on the Dissertation will be available online via the Dissertation Support System, usually by the end of October.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Study in depth a topic within the field of business studies.
- Plan, design, execute and report a significant piece of individual research.
- Apply the processes involved in research, such as obtaining information from people, securing their co-operation, analysing and evaluating data, framing recommendations, and other methods of field study and data collection.
- Communicate, via a report, complex ideas and information in a coherent and structured manner.
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Reading List
Reading list
The dissertation provides the opportunity for the student to apply the knowledge and understanding from taught courses, with additional self-directed reading/research, and the analytical and problem-solving techniques acquired during the study courses, to investigate a specialist interest in greater depth. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Demonstrate skills of researching and writing that are relevant to a subsequent career.
Organise complex arguments and communicate these in an effective manner.
Apply advanced and in-depth knowledge and understanding.
Carry out self-directed reading and research
Apply analytical and problem-solving techniques to investigate a specialist interest in greater depth. |
| Keywords | Diss FM |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Ronan Gallagher
Tel: (0131 6)50 8075
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Rachel Allan
Tel: (0131 6)51 3757
Email: |
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