Dr Panagiotis Kanavos COW.3.08

This course is compulsory on the MSc in International Health Policy and MSc in International Health Policy (Health Economics). This course is not available as an outside option.

This is meant to be a seminar aiming to prepare students for the dissertation, which is a compulsory component of the degree.

Students of this programme undertake a summer placement during which they will be writing up their dissertation. The purpose of the dissertation is to allow students to explore a particular topic or a relevant policy issue in some depth. The dissertation may take the form of an empirical research conducted on a topic or issue of relevance to health/social policy; or may be a literature-based providing an analysis of a specific research question of relevance to health/social policy.

4 hours of lectures in the LT. 2 hours of lectures in the ST.

The course comprising a total of 3 2-hour lectures/seminars/coaching sessions (2 2-hour sessions in the LT term and 1 2-hour session in the ST) will require participation from the entire class in order to discuss issues pertaining to the dissertation (topic selection, structure, methods, result reporting, ethics approval, linkages with the summer placements among others) and the student summer placement process.  The course will serve as a means to assist students with the preparation and finalisation of their dissertation proposals.  In this context, students will also receive feedback and assistance from their supervisors, with whom they will need to meet on at least three occasions.

Students will receive feedback and comments on a 1,000 work summary/outline of the proposed research proposal from their supervisors.

May T. (1997). Social research: Issues, methods and processes, Open University Press

Robson C (1993). Real world research: A resource for social scientists and practioner-researchers, Oxford University Press.

Wallimann N. (2001). Your research project: A step-by- step guide for the first-time researcher, Sage

Dissertation (100%, 10000 words) post-summer term.