Programme Director of relevant MSc programme. Other teachers involved: Dr Susana Mourato STC. S420, Professor Ian Gordon STC. S505a, Professor Andy Thornley, STC. S420, Professor Sylvia Chant STC. S515.

For students taking LSE-Sciences Po Double Degree in Urban Policy, MSc Environmental Policy and Regulation; MSc Environment and Development; MSc Human Geography and Urban Studies (Research); MSc Environmental Economics and Climate Change; MSc Local Economic Development;  MSc Real Estate Economics and Finance; MSc Regional and Urban Planning Studies and MSc Urbanisation and Development.

The dissertation may be on any topic within the field of the MSc programme studied. Approval for the topic must be obtained from the relevant Programme Director.

The dissertation should take the form of a personal investigation of an issue chosen by the candidate. It may include some original fieldwork, or other empirical analyses, or derive more substantially from a review of secondary sources. In either case, candidates are expected to offer original reasoned argument and interpretation and show evidence of competence in research methods. Guidance on topic selection and methods will be organized by each Programme Director and will include three individual tutorials. The dissertation is primarily a reflection of the candidate's own work; hence feedback will not be given on drafts of the dissertation, and no supervision will be provided after the end of the summer term.

Two general lectures for all MSc students on dissertation preparation in the MT: An introduction to preparing, planning and writing a Master's dissertation, including choosing a topic, writing and keeping track of sources, time management and data sources and information handling. One topical workshop on environmental dissertations in the MT for students of the MSc Environmental Policy & Regulation and MSc Environment & Development only. Two topical workshops in the LT and ST respectively for students of the MSc Urbanisation & Development only.

The course is assessed 100% by Dissertation. Dissertations must be submitted on a specified date in late August/early September in the academic year registered (Full-Time), or the subsequent year (Part-Time). Exact dates will be provided in Induction materials. They must not exceed 10,000 words and must be word processed, fully referenced using a recognized citation system, and include a statement of originality.