Dr Grace Lordan OLDM2.26 and Dr Irene Papanicolas COW G.04

This course is compulsory on the Executive MSc in Health Economics, Policy and Management. This course is not available as an outside option.

The aim of the dissertation is for students to pursue an independent piece of research that will contribute to the field of health economics, health policy or health management.

The contribution of the work to the chosen field must be made clear. The output will be a piece of work of 5000 words or less that is written in an article format that is suitable for submission to a peer reviewed journal. Students must obtain the approval of their supervisor before embarking on any research.

Arrangements for supervision

Students' tutors will act as their dissertation supervisor in the first instance. If the specific topic a student wishes to cover for his/her dissertation requires a different supervisor, a MSc programme director can arrange this change. The dissertation supervisor will advise the student, help provide information and bibliography and identify likely problems with the proposed research.

The dissertation process is supported by three teaching sessions.

Students will have an opportunity to have one draft of their thesis proposal read by their tutor in December of Year 2. In addition, they will have an opportunity to have a 1000 word outline of their thesis read by their tutor.

Dissertation (95%, 5000 words) in September.
Research proposal (5%) in the MT.

5% of the mark will be based on a dissertation proposal due in the December of the second year of study. In this case students will receive 5% if their thesis proposal is deemed a viable and a relevant contribution to the literature by two examiners. If a student does not receive 5%, they will still have their dissertation marked out of 100.

The dissertation paper copies must be handled in to the Department by the specified deadline of the second year of the MSc programme. An electronic version of the dissertation must be also submitted. Penalties will be applied to any late submission. The world limit for the dissertation is 5,000 words (excluding references and tables) and it must be in a journal article format.