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Dissertation (MA HE)
The Dissertation is taken as the last unit of the MA HE. There are three enrolments per year, in September, January and April. Please contact the programme leader, Bernard Lisewski b.lisewski@mmu.ac.uk to discuss eligibility and enrolment.
NB: to register for the Dissertation unit (60 M level credits), you must have completed the PG Diploma (120 M level credits) stage of the MA in HE programme.
The Dissertation should focus on an area of Higher Education academic or professional services policy and or practice. It can be composed of one of three formats:
- A traditional research-based Dissertation using primary research or a combination of primary and secondary research or
- A structured and critical examination of a topic/material/issue or
- A product plus accompanying narration
Where participants elect to produce a research-based Dissertation the work will normally follow the traditional pattern of rationale, conception, literature review, methodological design, data collection, analysis, and synthesis of outcomes.
Where participants are conducting a structured examination of existing data this may take the form of a systematic review of literature, a case study of intervention, an organisational study or a study of an aspect of curriculum or professional service delivery.
Where participants elect to produce a product this will be narrated via a written introduction, methodology and bibliography with a brief executive summary.
These are only examples and participants are encouraged explore any aspect of their Higher Education practice in a variety of ways. During the Researching Higher Education unit which precedes the Dissertation unit, there will be discussions on possible topics and formats. An individual supervisor will be allocated at the start of the 12 month period of registration for the Dissertation.
Non-desk literature based Dissertations are strictly subject to MMU’s Ethics Procedures.
On successful completion of this unit, participants should be able to:
- Critically evaluate relevant Higher Education literature in the context of your individual research
- Apply relevant research paradigms, theoretical frameworks and methodologies in the context of your Higher Education research
- Plan, organise and execute an ethical enquiry in a Higher Educational context illustrating critical analysis and evaluation
- Synthesise assumptions, arguments and evidence in developing an organised and coherent research project
Participants are encouraged and facilitated to form and sustain an informal community of practice with their peers and supervisors during their Dissertation year. We aim to foster and provide peer and tutor support, critical questioning and feedback. Meetings to discuss and present and critically feedback on ‘work in progress’ will be arranged to facilitate such interactions.
Meetings with supervisors occur at intervals as agreed between the participant and supervisor and up to 5 hours of tutor time are allocated.
Formative assessment:
- Submission of formal ethical ETHOS application and approval if required.
- Participants to present their ‘work in progress’ to a group including peers and supervisors, at a defined point during the period of registration.
Summative assessment:
Participants will produce an extended piece of work. There is flexibility in the formats as previously described.
Please contact the Dissertation Unit Leader (and Programme Leader), Bernard Lisewski b.lisewski@mmu.ac.uk for further information about eligibility and enrolment.
Please do not register for this unit until you have acquired 120 M level PG Diploma credits or their equivalent.
As well as registering below, in some circumstances you may need to complete an application form to study this unit. Please check on the application form page »
Please contact the UTA CPD team if you have any queries.
Delivery Dates and Registration
Please note: Units are delivered online. Processing time required for applications and preparation time for participants means that the last registration date cannot be extended
- Click here to see full timetable
Dissertation
Date Activity Location 28 Sept 2021, 1-2pm Dissertation starters' get-together online 12 Sept 2022 Final Submission Deadline Moodle - Click here to see full timetable
Dissertation
Date Activity Location 11 Jan 2022, 1-2pm Dissertation starters' get-together online 9 Jan 2023 Final Submission Deadline Moodle - Click here to see full timetable
Dissertation
Taught sessions on n/a
Date Activity Location 26 April 2022, 1-2pm Dissertation starters' get-together online 24 April 2023 Final Submission Deadline Moodle - Click here to see full timetable
Dissertation
Taught sessions on n/a
Date Activity Location 12th Jan 2021, 10-11am Dissertation starters' get-together TBC 10th Jan 2022 Assignment Submission Moodle - Click here to see full timetable
Dissertation
Taught sessions on n/a
Date Activity Location 27 April 2021, 2-3pm Dissertation starters' get-together online 25th April 2022 Assignment Submission Moodle
Timetables for units that are currently running can be found at the bottom of this page. Go to current timetables »
Autumn 2021
Online sessions begin:
Tuesday
28th September
Delivery:
Venue: online
Spring 2022
Online sessions begin:
Tuesday
11th January
Delivery:
Venue: online
Summer 2022
Online sessions begin:
Tuesday
26th April
Delivery:
Venue: online
Timetables for currently running units:
Taught sessions began: Tuesday 12th January 2021, 12:00am
Taught sessions began: Tuesday 27th April 2021, 12:00am
Please contact the UTA CPD team if you have any queries.