AC499     
Dissertation

This information is for the 2014/15 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Ane Miren Tamayo OLD 5.05

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in Accounting and Finance. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Students will normally elect to take this as an option in paper 3 or 4. Permission to select the long essay option must be obtained from the Programme Director by the end of the third week of MT. Students wishing to select this option must first identify and secure agreement from a member of staff who is willing to provide supervision for the dissertation. Approval for this option will not be granted if such an agreement is not obtained from an academic staff member.

Course content

The dissertation may focus on analysing the relevant literature and other source material on a particular topic and writing a critical survey or commentary, indicating clearly the main problems and their nature, or investigating and reporting on a selected problem, either by some small-scale empirical research, or by using information derived from secondary sources.

The dissertation must identify relevant issues, sustain reasoned argument, and draw supportable conclusions. It must be arranged in an organised manner and include a full bibliography.

Teaching

There is no teaching associated with the dissertation, but students who select this option are encouraged to attend the dissertation workshop sessions organised by the Teaching and Learning Centre.

Arrangements for supervision

Students writing a dissertation will be supervised by a member of staff who will not necessarily be their normal supervisor. Students are responsible for identifying an appropriate member of staff to supervise their dissertation essay, and for ensuring the member of staff agrees to provide supervision. As a general rule, supervisors of dissertations will not comment on the work after a discussion of the first draft.

Assessment

Dissertation (100%, 10000 words) in the ST.

Two typewritten copies of the dissertation must be submitted to the MSc Programme Manager, due by 31 May. The dissertation should be double-spaced, on A4 paper, with a maximum world limit of 10,000 words, not including Appendices. Mark penalties will apply if the word limit is exceeded.

Key facts

Department: Accounting

Total students 2013/14: 5

Average class size 2013/14: Unavailable

Controlled access 2013/14: No

Lecture capture used 2013/14: No

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills