EH499 One Unit
Research Dissertation
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Prof Olivier Accominotti
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MSc in Financial History and MSc in Global Economic History. This course is available on the MSc in Economic History and MSc in Political Economy of Late Development. This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply: All Economic History courses are controlled access and capped. Priority will be given to students for whom the course is within their programme regulations.
All course choices submitted before the deadline will be considered. It is advisable that students submit a statement in support of their course choices as these will be used to allocate places where a course is oversubscribed.
Deadline for application: First round offers will be sent on Monday 29 September 2025. Students who submit their course choices after the deadline and students wishing to take an Economic History course as an outside option will be waitlisted initially and informed by Wednesday 1 October 2025 whether they have been successful.
Once an offer has been sent, you have 48 hours to accept it before it times out. Once an offer has timed out, it will be re-allocated to someone on the waitlist. In all cases, it is strongly advised that you have an alternative course choice as a back-up in case you are unable to secure your first choice.
For queries contact: If you have any questions, please contact the MSc Programmes Officer (o.harrison1@lse.ac.uk) A list of all taught master's courses in this Department are listed on LSE's course guide webpages. Guidance on how to apply to individual controlled access courses can also be found on LSE for You.
Course content
The dissertation should be an empirical study using primary source material to write on a topic of economic history. The topic should relate broadly to one of the economic history courses taken.
Students on the MSc in Political Economy of Late Development are encouraged to consider topics that relate to themes in development, but are still required to develop a clear historical perspective within their analysis.
Students on the MSc in Global Economic History are encouraged to consider topics that relate to themes in global economic history, broadly conceived.
Students on the MSc in Financial History are encouraged to consider topics that relate to monetary and financial problems in an historical context.
Teaching
Starting in the first term, students will receive advice on choosing a topic and how to tackle it, both from the Department and, individually, from their supervisors. There will be several taught sessions in Autumn Term for all students on the programme in addition to meetings with supervisors during the course of the year.
Formative assessment
Students are expected to complete a sequence of preparatory stages during the year. (1) The title must be approved by the student's supervisor; (2) an outline of the Essay must be submitted in Winter Term (3) a one-page project summary and an extended draft by the end of the Spring Term. Supervisors will not normally provide comments on drafts submitted after that date.
Assessment
Dissertation (100%, 10000 words)
This course includes the following threshold element(s) linked to the Dissertation failure to submit these elements will result in 5 marks being deducted from the final Dissertation grade for each threshold element:
1. Research Proposal
2. Dissertation Draft
3. Replication file of data and/or sources to be submitted with the Dissertation
The dissertation should not exceed 10,000 words, excluding tables, references, and bibliography. The title must be approved in advance by the student's supervisor. Marks will be deducted for late submission or excessive length.
Key facts
Department: Economic History
Course Study Period: Autumn Term
Unit value: One unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 67
Average class size 2024/25: Unavailable
Controlled access 2024/25: NoCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Specialist skills