Dissertation - Content

The text below is an extract from the MSc handbook for students

The final part of the main project is to prepare the dissertation. It is important to allow plenty of time for this stage (typically at least one month). It is usually best not to leave writing of the entire dissertation to the end but to write parts of it during the summer. Usually your supervisor will read one draft version, (but will not usually read the same chapter several times) if it is given to her/him in good time. The students may want to give draft parts to the supervisor at earlier stages and not the entire dissertation towards the end of project.

The dissertation must include:

• Title page.

• Abstract (or Summary), which explains the aims of the dissertation and summarises the results.

• An introduction which outlines and motivates the topic of the thesis.

• A discussion of the existing literature on the subject.

• A presentation of the original content of the project, with a full explanation of the methods used and outcomes obtained.

• Conclusions which describe how the results relate to the wider subject area and/or  suggests some possible future lines of enquiry.

• Bibliography.